Too bad Harbringer had to eat those bad clams. We coulda started already!
Anyway, I'll take the chance for
yet more pre-game Rp, though pretty short for now, since we are getting thrown right into the dungeon soon.
---
In a series of unlikely, and possibly whacky adventures, Ari and Osirio had escaped from the pack of angry merchants.
Osirio stopped the little man with a gesture, before he could scamper off. He felt a lingering resentment to being in the Gnomes debt...
"Osirio is thanking you, little-fancy-man. He is owing you...he was hired to bring that man to justice. He supposes that has been done." He said, with a charming grin, all teeth. The job had been authorized by a local magistrate, bounty signed and seal in his hip pocket at the moment. Osi didn't bother to ask exactly why. It was all legal, however-he had made sure.
"In any case being, this one perhaps owes you share of the gold. But, he has a better offer-how about a place in Osirio's Bold Men? It is a mercenary company, of the adventurers. Though right now it is only, just Osirio. This one already has a guild-charter, and knows how to get jobs in the city, and they cannot cheat him. You are talent. Perhaps, in trade of the reward, you may take the honor of joining? Osirio is only one Bold Man. Perhaps two Bold men-or one and a half of a Bold man-may do bigger jobs, for more gold. And perhaps gain more Bold men, for even more gold."
Osirio put the full force of his diplomacy roll into his smile.
"Osirio's Bold Men will one day be the famous! Undoubting, you will prefer a founding place? You will agree, of course.
Also, the name is still in working. But Osirio likes it!"
Of course.
Osirio found Culpa once more, after a gruesome battle between rebel lords and the Kings Men-thankfully, they were on the same side. Osi's arm was in a sling, when he found the Cleric in the medical tent. He noted the man was far less injured than himself.
"Ah, the old man. You are seeming different, and a little older! And Osirio the Jasidin, do you remember your old friend? This one remembers. The Red Desert and the stars. We spoke long, and lived." He said warmly, as a man who oft fakes warmness only can.
...
"Unfortunate, now. Osirio's arm seem to have been kissed by a mace and gone to sleep-perhaps a few of the bones as well. But, he has his life, and what else matters?
Well, gold and pleasure. This one is glad the little-war is over, since he is getting paid...but, there are always more little-wars...and he is noticing you are still devoted to Hextor, the true warrior-as this one still pays heed to the Sweet Death, Wee Jas. Perhaps those we believe in have brought us around together. Osirio has an offer, you may want to hear. He is forming a strong-guild, a group of mercenary heroes called the Osirio's Bold Men-name pending.
He can promise much blood and wrath, if this one is interested. Enough even to sate your hungry God, perhaps! What does he think of it? Might he come and see, who Osirio has gathered-make his own decision? At the worst, come enjoy Osirio's company, and we will talk of our own adventures. He will not hold it against one, who goes a different path." He said, the spirit of magnanimity.
In this case, Ava found Osirio first-he half elven was playing a card game, and winning, when he spotted her out of the corner of his eye. He finished his hand, breaking roughly even as he usually did, and shooed the others player away. He had heard the tales-the laughing mountain. He had never been sure if it was her...but, seeing her fresh after these years, he was.
"Osirio needs this table, friends. Be going now-he has robbed you enough."
After that he turned to her and wait for her to approach.
...
"Little-snow-girl. Osirio did not expect to be seeing you again. Fortune, she is never one to guess at, it seems. This one is sorry to say, you still have nothing he wants. A little more of something, perhaps. But for a life debt-not quite enough."
He paused, gauging her reaction.
"The snow-girl has been making trouble, Osirio hears. A dragon clan that has fallen onto the hard times. Very unfortunate. And, the laughing mountain, riding South. He is hearing a group of slave-takers who sough to take one they found on the road, and now...are out of business?" He laughed, wondering if that was her.
Certainly the mess left behind was her style. A single fighter. A blunt weapon of tremendous size.
...
"Osirio recognized your courage, though, he does. You have come South, maybe to pay him back. He will oblige you the opportunity to do so. Osirio is making a...pack...of warriors, fierce and strong. We will work together-and find blood and glory, and they will all fear...Osirio's Bold Men! Working on the name.
Would you want to be one of Osirio's Bold...Women? I tell you, little-snow-girl, I was once like you. I came from the long-wastes of the hot sands, where there few people-my family was throwing me into the wind, and I was alone.. I was truly alone-in a land, that was a madness to me...this is indeed a dangerous land, and you will need my help if you wish to stay. People only trust paper and metal here...and you can be killed for the color of your boots, if that. You will be offered the spice, and the smoke-and it will kill you with pleasure, just as sure as the claw and tooth. It is no so different than the wild-lands you know, in a way, but it can end you in a hundred different ways all the same, and the predators are dressed as nicely as Osirio. Osirio thinks he can help you, if you are willing to learn. Why not take what he offers? It is better than returning to the North, in any way.
What say you, little-snow-girl? I will offer you a paper, and you will sign your name-or your mark, if words are strange to you. He will find us great adventures, and perhaps you can find a way to pay back this ones life-debt. Of course, he offers you a share of the gold and treasure we make...or we take. Things are different here, but not so much.
The strong still eat the weak."
He chanced a smile, a little more honestly this time.