Smash. The mug flew
through the air, eventually crashing into the wall just behind its
original target.
“Ha! You missed me you
stupid crab” a voice of man boasted, resonating around the tavern.
“Ok ka tt ka ta tito cad
tatso” replied the crablike creature in a series of clicks
“You expect me to
understand your incoherent clicks. Pah. You mirelurks really are as
dumb as they say.”
The man raised his head
slightly above the table that he was taking shelter behind.
Woosh. Another mug flew by
his face, missing by less than an inch, but managing to spill its
contents all over the man's garment
“That’s it you piece
of crustacean. You really want to fight, so come on. FIGHT ME” he
shouted as he jumped up, expecting to come face to face with his
mirelurk opponent. A look of surprise washed over his face as he saw
no opponent in front of him.
“Umph. Coward of a crab.
They really are as pathetic as I thought they would be. Wouldn't even
fight an old man.”
“That is correct. They
won't fight an elderly man. Seasand, escort him outside” announced
the tavern keeper as he stepped in front the man
“Seasand? Seasand...who
the bloody hell is--”
The man was suddenly
interrupted as a giant pincer grabbed him by the waist and pulled him
into the air. The pincer belonged to Seasand the mirelurk, who had
patiently been waiting behind the man as the tavern keeper talked to
him. Still keeping the man trapped in its pincer, the mirelurk walked
across the tavern and proceeded to throw the man through the doorway
and into the dirty mud below the tavern steps.
“Pah..... pah”
sputtered the man as he scraped off a layer of mud that had entered
his mouth. “So... you mirelurks really are as strong as they say”
he said, admiring the creature that now stood in front of the
tavern's door, completely blocking if off. With four legs that
protruded from a large torso and large arms that ended with pincers
that could sever a mans head with ease, the mirelurk was a fearsome
sight indeed.
“Let me parley with this
man for a moment. Go inside and enjoy a plate of shellfish on the
house. If I am in need of your services again, I'll call you.” came
the tavern keeper's voice from inside. The mirelurk turned and went
back inside, but not before letting of a stream of clicks that the
man assumed were meant to be offensive against him.
“So, by what name are
you called?” called out the tavern keeper as he stood out of the
tavern's door and started walking towards him.
“Pssh” the man
shrugged as he stood to his feet. “I have been called many names,
especially by the ladies – if you know what I mean.” He winked,
while giving the tavern keeper a friendly elbow. “But my friends
here call me Llyr.... And your name?”
“Well Llyr, I am pleased
to make your acquaintance. My name is Verius Hurea Thiul Ligustus. My
fam---”
“Pleased to make your
acquaintance Verius Hurea Thiul Lebustus” interrupted Llyr, as he
pulled off a mocking bow
“Ligustus....Not
Lebustus my dear fellow. Ligustus. Nevertheless, as I was saying
before, my family has run this tavern here in Rudvain for the last
200 years. We are also beginning to set up other taverns in the other
cities of the Free League such as Yylus, Burian and---”
“Cut to the chase
Verius. What do you want from me?”
“Aah. A decisive man. I
respect that. This is my proposition to you. We go back inside the
tavern, have a couple of drinks, and you tell me your story about how
you ended up here in Rudvain. You see I have always been a bit of an
aspiring writer, and therefore I would thoroughly enjoy talking to a
man, who at the ripe of 49-50, picks fights with mirelurks without
even being drunk. So... What is your answer?”
“Now you're
talking, mate” grinned Llyr as he started making a beeline for the
tavern door.
“One more thing Llyr”
said Verius
“What?”
“Don’t pick another
fight in my tavern, especially not with that mirelurk. Is that
agreed?”
Llyr paused on the tavern
steps, contemplating Verius's words, before turning around to face
Verius, a grin plastered over his face
“Sure.”
“...and so that is how I
ended up here, in Rudvain.” finished Llyr, before sculling the
last contents of his mug.
A content smile spread
across Verius's face “Well, that was quite the tale. Thank you my
friend, for recounting it to me.” He suddenly hesitated, his
eyebrows furrowed together in concentration
“Wait...Wait a second.
Forgive me if I am wrong, but you never told me what clan you are
from. Or is my memory wrong?”
Llyr took a deep breath,
and then slowly let it out in a pensive sigh. “No. You are right. I
forgot to tell you.... My full ti-” he hesitated, then resumed “
My full title is Llyr of Kraash.”
“Kraash.... Kraash...
Hold on. The Kraash? As in the great forest of Kraash?” He
uttered in astonishment, finally recognising the name.
“Sadly. Yes. Unless you
know of some other forest named Kraash?”
“No. No, of course
not... I am just completely bewildered. The only human clan that ever
roamed those woods were supposedly wiped out, victims of some
genocide from an invading Awolk colony.”
Upon hearing those words,
Llyr's eyes suddenly fell to the table as if a heavy burden had just
been placed upon his shoulders. Verius looked at him, trying to make
eye-contact, yet Llyr's gaze avoided him as if he was stared down at
something more than just his empty mug.
“Llyr” Verius softly
called, trying to break whatever reminiscing was taking in Llyr's
mind, yet no acknowledgment or response was made. “Llyr....?” He
repeated, receiving the same silent answer as before. “Llyr.”
he finally shouted.
Llyr's
head suddenly jerked up, his eyes taking in his surroundings, as if
he had just been somewhere else. His eyes locked with Verius's,
confusion momentarily clouding his face before he smiled, recognising
the bar tender's face.
“Enough
talk about me” said Llyr “Tell me some news about Rudvain. What
are the spice prices like here?”
“Spice
prices are starting to rise dramatically as both spice caravans &
cargoes are becoming and less and less frequent. The Scepter has sent
ambassadors to both the spice caravan and cargo routes to inquire as
to why spice shipments to the Free League have become rarer. Some in
the city claim that it is the fault of the Alvaca Empire, that they
once again are trying to interfere with the Free League, but I
believe such rumours are simply frauds. The Alvaca Imperials have not
marched on the Free League for over 500 years, and they are even
weaker now then before.”
“Pah.
Those pompous Imperials aren't a threat to anyone outside of their
tiny empire. They would never interfere with the dealings of the
influential Free League, that I can assure you”
“I
do agree with you there Llyr. But the Imperials are not the ones who
have me worried. Far stranger things seem to afoot. Local fishermen
are reporting that the ocean waters are slowly rising every day. This
season of the Sun has just passed the record for the hottest that the
Athenaeum has on record. And amidst all of this, rumour has it that
the Muerkilids have started meeting in secret once again..... But my
lips betray me, I probably shouldn't have told you this much.”
“Rest
easy mate. I am no Imperial sympathesir nor am I a Murkilid cultist.
Though..., I'd imagine that an Imperial or a Murkilid would say the
very same thing.” Llyr smiled, an ironic grin spread over his face.
“But getting to the point of why I am here, do you know of any work
that is up for grabs in this city? I'm somewhat a jack of all trades,
and can pretty much do anything that is needed... So?”
“Well...
Rudvain has few job niches in which an accomplished individual could
make some profit, but currently with the spices running out, I'd say
that your best hope was to get a job with the Sceptre. They
constantly send out expeditions to faraway lands, so they are always
looking for skilled individuals to guard them on their journey.”
“Mercenaries,
in other words”
“Mercenary
is such a derogative term. We, here in Rudvain, prefer to call them
'Soldiers of Fortune'.”
“Hmph.
You can call them whatever you want. It doesn't change what they
are..... Nevertheless, I think it would be suitable work for me. It
wouldn't be the first expedition I've guarded as it traveled into
some unknown land. Now would you would you be good enough to guide me
in the right direction”
“Consider
it done. I was going to be closing up the tavern after how long last
night was anyway. Meet me in around 30 minutes at the marketplace,
and I'll lead you to the place and even get you a meeting with your
soon-to-be employers.”
“That
would be great. I truly appreciate your help. Is there someway I can
help you out in return?” They both rose to their feet, as Llyr
prepared to leave.
“Not
now. But maybe...Maybe another day.” Verius hand rose from his
side, stretched open in an expectant handshake. Llyr's hand completed
the handshake, as they both let out a small grin. They had helped out
one another, and as side consequence had started to establish a
friendship between one another.
“Fresh
fish. Fresh fish going cheap” called out a large creature from
behind it's stall
“Hot
bread. Hot, tasty bread going for 1 ounce of spice” shouted back a
fat lady from the opposite side of the marketplace. The market was
crowded with it's usual morning customers, all jostling around trying
to get the best bargains before everyone else did.
Amidst
all this busy hecticness, Llyr wandered aimlessly throughout the busy
crowd. His eyes searched randomly through the crowd, searching.
Stupid Verius. He said
he'd be here to meet me. I knew I-
His
thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the market crowd suddenly
started condense, as if making a passageway for someone to get
through. Llyr strained his neck, while stretching on tippy toes,
trying to see who was passing through. Failing to see, he started to
elbow his way through the dense crowd. Finally making it to the edge
of the crowd, he finally laid eyes on what everyone else was so
enraptured by. Marching in front of him, was a ragtag group of what
seemed like soldiers, many of them limping along due to their wounds,
while a few others carried what seemed like an unconscious woman.
Strange. They don't
seem like soldiers. Must be some patrol of some sorts....
Turning
to a large karuuni squatting next to him, he asked “Who are they?
Soldiers?”
“Ha.
They aren't even close to soldiers. They are the Seaside Watch.
You're unlucky in you get drafted into them.”
“Interesting.
What happened to them?”
“Rumour
has it that they come upon frenzy of wildlife eating all the
survivors of a shipwreck down at Scuttle Cove. That unconscious woman
was the only one they managed to save. No one knows who she is
though. So they're taking her to the Sceptre, so that they can
question her when she comes to.” replied the karuuni, as it swatted
a fly away with it's long tail.
“Llyr.
There you are. I finally found you.” called out Verius from behind
them.
“Well,
I've been waiting here for over an hour. And now you finally show up.
Hhmph.” Llyr sighed “Well, are you going to take me to my future
employers?”
“Patience...
Yes I will, but I believe that we will want to hear this tragic story
of this unconscious woman first of all. This might be your chance to
get some work. Plus, she is going to the Sceptre as well, we may as
well just tag along.”
Smash. The mug flew
through the air, eventually crashing into the wall just behind its
original target.
“Ha! You missed me you
stupid crab” a voice of man boasted, resonating around the tavern.
“Ok ka tt ka ta tito cad
tatso” replied the crablike creature in a series of clicks
“You expect me to
understand your incoherent clicks. Pah. You mirelurks really are as
dumb as they say.”
The man raised his head
slightly above the table that he was taking shelter behind.
Woosh. Another mug flew by
his face, missing by less than an inch, but managing to spill its
contents all over the man's garment
“That’s it you piece
of crustacean. You really want to fight, so come on. FIGHT ME” he
shouted as he jumped up, expecting to come face to face with his
mirelurk opponent. A look of surprise washed over his face as he saw
no opponent in front of him.
“Umph. Coward of a crab.
They really are as pathetic as I thought they would be. Wouldn't even
fight an old man.”
“That is correct. They
won't fight an elderly man. Seasand, escort him outside” announced
the tavern keeper as he stepped in front the man
“Seasand? Seasand...who
the bloody hell is--”
The man was suddenly
interrupted as a giant pincer grabbed him by the waist and pulled him
into the air. The pincer belonged to Seasand the mirelurk, who had
patiently been waiting behind the man as the tavern keeper talked to
him. Still keeping the man trapped in its pincer, the mirelurk walked
across the tavern and proceeded to throw the man through the doorway
and into the dirty mud below the tavern steps.
“Pah..... pah”
sputtered the man as he scraped off a layer of mud that had entered
his mouth. “So... you mirelurks really are as strong as they say”
he said, admiring the creature that now stood in front of the
tavern's door, completely blocking if off. With four legs that
protruded from a large torso and large arms that ended with pincers
that could sever a mans head with ease, the mirelurk was a fearsome
sight indeed.
“Let me parley with this
man for a moment. Go inside and enjoy a plate of shellfish on the
house. If I am in need of your services again, I'll call you.” came
the tavern keeper's voice from inside. The mirelurk turned and went
back inside, but not before letting of a stream of clicks that the
man assumed were meant to be offensive against him.
“So, by what name are
you called?” called out the tavern keeper as he stood out of the
tavern's door and started walking towards him.
“Pssh” the man
shrugged as he stood to his feet. “I have been called many names,
especially by the ladies – if you know what I mean.” He winked,
while giving the tavern keeper a friendly elbow. “But my friends
here call me Llyr.... And your name?”
“Well Llyr, I am pleased
to make your acquaintance. My name is Verius Hurea Thiul Ligustus. My
fam---”
“Pleased to make your
acquaintance Verius Hurea Thiul Lebustus” interrupted Llyr, as he
pulled off a mocking bow
“Ligustus....Not
Lebustus my dear fellow. Ligustus. Nevertheless, as I was saying
before, my family has run this tavern here in Rudvain for the last
200 years. We are also beginning to set up other taverns in the other
cities of the Free League such as Yylus, Burian and---”
“Cut to the chase
Verius. What do you want from me?”
“Aah. A decisive man. I
respect that. This is my proposition to you. We go back inside the
tavern, have a couple of drinks, and you tell me your story about how
you ended up here in Rudvain. You see I have always been a bit of an
aspiring writer, and therefore I would thoroughly enjoy talking to a
man, who at the ripe of 49-50, picks fights with mirelurks without
even being drunk. So... What is your answer?”
“Now you're
talking, mate” grinned Llyr as he started making a beeline for the
tavern door.
“One more thing Llyr”
said Verius
“What?”
“Don’t pick another
fight in my tavern, especially not with that mirelurk. Is that
agreed?”
Llyr paused on the tavern
steps, contemplating Verius's words, before turning around to face
Verius, a grin plastered over his face
“Sure.”
“...and so that is how I
ended up here, in Rudvain.” finished Llyr, before sculling the
last contents of his mug.
A content smile spread
across Verius's face “Well, that was quite the tale. Thank you my
friend, for recounting it to me.” He suddenly hesitated, his
eyebrows furrowed together in concentration
“Wait...Wait a second.
Forgive me if I am wrong, but you never told me what clan you are
from. Or is my memory wrong?”
Llyr took a deep breath,
and then slowly let it out in a pensive sigh. “No. You are right. I
forgot to tell you.... My full ti-” he hesitated, then resumed “
My full title is Llyr of Kraash.”
“Kraash.... Kraash...
Hold on. The Kraash? As in the great forest of Kraash?” He
uttered in astonishment, finally recognising the name.
“Sadly. Yes. Unless you
know of some other forest named Kraash?”
“No. No, of course
not... I am just completely bewildered. The only human clan that ever
roamed those woods were supposedly wiped out, victims of some
genocide from an invading Awolk colony.”
Upon hearing those words,
Llyr's eyes suddenly fell to the table as if a heavy burden had just
been placed upon his shoulders. Verius looked at him, trying to make
eye-contact, yet Llyr's gaze avoided him as if he was stared down at
something more than just his empty mug.
“Llyr” Verius softly
called, trying to break whatever reminiscing was taking in Llyr's
mind, yet no acknowledgment or response was made. “Llyr....?” He
repeated, receiving the same silent answer as before. “Llyr.”
he finally shouted.
Llyr's
head suddenly jerked up, his eyes taking in his surroundings, as if
he had just been somewhere else. His eyes locked with Verius's,
confusion momentarily clouding his face before he smiled, recognising
the bar tender's face.
“Enough
talk about me” said Llyr “Tell me some news about Rudvain. What
are the spice prices like here?”
“Spice
prices are starting to rise dramatically as both spice caravans &
cargoes are becoming and less and less frequent. The Scepter has sent
ambassadors to both the spice caravan and cargo routes to inquire as
to why spice shipments to the Free League have become rarer. Some in
the city claim that it is the fault of the Alvaca Empire, that they
once again are trying to interfere with the Free League, but I
believe such rumours are simply frauds. The Alvaca Imperials have not
marched on the Free League for over 500 years, and they are even
weaker now then before.”
“Pah.
Those pompous Imperials aren't a threat to anyone outside of their
tiny empire. They would never interfere with the dealings of the
influential Free League, that I can assure you”
“I
do agree with you there Llyr. But the Imperials are not the ones who
have me worried. Far stranger things seem to afoot. Local fishermen
are reporting that the ocean waters are slowly rising every day. This
season of the Sun has just passed the record for the hottest that the
Athenaeum has on record. And amidst all of this, rumour has it that
the Muerkilids have started meeting in secret once again..... But my
lips betray me, I probably shouldn't have told you this much.”
“Rest
easy mate. I am no Imperial sympathesir nor am I a Murkilid cultist.
Though..., I'd imagine that an Imperial or a Murkilid would say the
very same thing.” Llyr smiled, an ironic grin spread over his face.
“But getting to the point of why I am here, do you know of any work
that is up for grabs in this city? I'm somewhat a jack of all trades,
and can pretty much do anything that is needed... So?”
“Well...
Rudvain has few job niches in which an accomplished individual could
make some profit, but currently with the spices running out, I'd say
that your best hope was to get a job with the Sceptre. They
constantly send out expeditions to faraway lands, so they are always
looking for skilled individuals to guard them on their journey.”
“Mercenaries,
in other words”
“Mercenary
is such a derogative term. We, here in Rudvain, prefer to call them
'Soldiers of Fortune'.”
“Hmph.
You can call them whatever you want. It doesn't change what they
are..... Nevertheless, I think it would be suitable work for me. It
wouldn't be the first expedition I've guarded as it traveled into
some unknown land. Now would you would you be good enough to guide me
in the right direction”
“Consider
it done. I was going to be closing up the tavern after how long last
night was anyway. Meet me in around 30 minutes at the marketplace,
and I'll lead you to the place and even get you a meeting with your
soon-to-be employers.”
“That
would be great. I truly appreciate your help. Is there someway I can
help you out in return?” They both rose to their feet, as Llyr
prepared to leave.
“Not
now. But maybe...Maybe another day.” Verius hand rose from his
side, stretched open in an expectant handshake. Llyr's hand completed
the handshake, as they both let out a small grin. They had helped out
one another, and as side consequence had started to establish a
friendship between one another.
“Fresh
fish. Fresh fish going cheap” called out a large creature from
behind it's stall
“Hot
bread. Hot, tasty bread going for 1 ounce of spice” shouted back a
fat lady from the opposite side of the marketplace. The market was
crowded with it's usual morning customers, all jostling around trying
to get the best bargains before everyone else did.
Amidst
all this busy hecticness, Llyr wandered aimlessly throughout the busy
crowd. His eyes searched randomly through the crowd, searching.
Stupid Verius. He said
he'd be here to meet me. I knew I-
His
thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the market crowd suddenly
started condense, as if making a passageway for someone to get
through. Llyr strained his neck, while stretching on tippy toes,
trying to see who was passing through. Failing to see, he started to
elbow his way through the dense crowd. Finally making it to the edge
of the crowd, he finally laid eyes on what everyone else was so
enraptured by. Marching in front of him, was a ragtag group of what
seemed like soldiers, many of them limping along due to their wounds,
while a few others carried what seemed like an unconscious woman.
Strange. They don't
seem like soldiers. Must be some patrol of some sorts....
Turning
to a large karuuni squatting next to him, he asked “Who are they?
Soldiers?”
“Ha.
They aren't even close to soldiers. They are the Seaside Watch.
You're unlucky in you get drafted into them.”
“Interesting.
What happened to them?”
“Rumour
has it that they come upon frenzy of wildlife eating all the
survivors of a shipwreck down at Scuttle Cove. That unconscious woman
was the only one they managed to save. No one knows who she is
though. So they're taking her to the Sceptre, so that they can
question her when she comes to.” replied the karuuni, as it swatted
a fly away with it's long tail.
“Llyr.
There you are. I finally found you.” called out Verius from behind
them.
“Well,
I've been waiting here for over an hour. And now you finally show up.
Hhmph.” Llyr sighed “Well, are you going to take me to my future
employers?”
“Patience...
Yes I will, but I believe that we will want to hear this tragic story
of this unconscious woman first of all. This might be your chance to
get some work. Plus, she is going to the Sceptre as well, we may as
well just tag along.”
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