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[SeriousConcentrate]

Pasha shrugged. "One of the people I worked for... let's say we didn't part on good terms." He looked away and drained his glass. "I don't really like to talk about my work in Kothitas that much. Perhaps later. This is a time for celebration, not bad memories." He turned back to William. "If you want, I'll tell you about it later. For now, I'd prefer more interesting things..." he said, leaving the invitation open and seeing if Tala would object or not. He didn't think she would, being the adventurous sort of woman she was, but it was up to her in the end.

[Dwarmin]

Tala had been having a stare down session with Chironas for a few minutes. Then she heard a pause in Pashas speech...

"Interesting things, you say? I'm game. I like a little spice...I'm sure Pasha would agree..."

Chironas cocked her head to one side, smiling testily.

"Well, I know how to bring the heat. As William can surely attest..."

They stared daggers at each other, but both were smiling in a venomous way.

[SeriousConcentrate]

[22:32]   <Filex>   You have William' s Full consent Sercon.

"Such as what...?" William had asked, just before Tala and Chironas had spoken, the latter saying she knew how to 'bring the heat.' "Oh...? Is that right?" Pasha said, smiling too... but now it was a bit more predatory. "Well, while you're in town and until you get things worked out, you can stay with us. I'll show you to a guest room, if you'll just follow us..." he said, helping Tala to his feet. He could already tell from her expression that she was looking forward to a bit of competition with William's woman, and who was he to deny her?

He led them up into the bedroom and closed the door once all were inside. "Tala has thrown around the idea of a 'full' bed... and I think she would like to try it as well," he said, indicating Chironas, who was looking at Tala with a confident sort of 'anything you can do I can do better' expression. "And if it makes them happy and you're fine with it... what do you say?" William blinked, perhaps caught a little off-guard by the forwardness, but Pasha wasn't someone to beat around the bush when he knew where something was going to eventually end up anyway. Better to just get it out in the open than to dance around the idea.

"Well, I don't see why not," William said, still smiling. That's the tricky part over with... Pasha nodded. "Very well then, I'll tell the servants we're not to be disturbed for the rest of the evening... and perhaps get a bit more alcohol and dinner in here. I don't think any of us are going anywhere until tomorrow," he said, grinning at Tala.

(Curtain drop. )

[CyberGenesis]

Spoiler: Trade Actions (click to show/hide)

Hire three cargo ships. (9.84d Left)

4 Ships (One Heavy Carrack, Three cargo ships). Starting funds: 9.6d. Servirius is to oversee this operations from the Heavy Carrack.
Galam To Aching: Buy pigs, as many many units as funds permit. [1] Pirates, Escort scared off [3] No haggle change,  (-2 prod, -3 demand) = -5 incs*.4= -2d = 3 units pigs bought at 6d
Aching To Galam: Sell pigs. [2][3]
-1 inc from travel, no haggle change, +3 demand = +2 net gain = 3*4.8d sale price = 14.4*.8(20% tax) = 11.52d (5.52net gain)
Galam To Shola: Buy Dyes [2][3]
-1 inc from travel, no haggle change, base inc cost: 3*4d = 12d cost
Shola To Galam: Sell Dyes, Buy Raw Silk (3 Units.) Deposit any remaining funds back into accounts as well. [4][5][6]
No change from travel, +1 haggle, luxury demand +4 = 6d sale price*3=18*.8=14.4 (2.4 net gain)
-1 inc from haggle, +3 industrial, +4 Luxury = +6 inc cost, 1.6*3= 4.8d cost

12.96d returned to you in Galam

3 Ships (Three Cargo Ships)
Galam To Ligoria: Sell Raw Silk. [2][6]
-1 inc travel, +1inc haggle, +2 incs industrial, +3 incs luxury = +5incs sale price, 1.5*3=4.5*.85=3.83 (.97d loss)

Ligoria To Galam: No trades.

total ducats at end of season: 9.84+5.52+2.4-.97=16.79

[filiusenox]

William's eyes flicked open, and, for a while, he didn't move a muscle or alter his breathing. He stared up at the ceiling, which dulled the light of mid morning, which was quite lucky for William, because he had one Samhain of a hangover. His skull felt like it was trying to force it's way out of his head and his mouth tasted like an ashtray filled with wine and whisky. But no amount of drink had dulled or blurred his memory of last night, and everything he did during that...time. Chironas was sleeping on his arm, her blond hair covering her face rather adorably, in William's opinion.

Pasha and Tala wearing laying next to him, and he didn't feel like waking them or Chironas. But he really, really wanted a black rose roll to put this all into perspective. Slowly with patient small moves, he moved Chironas off his arm. He watched her for any signs of waking, before slowly slipping himself off the bed. He looked them over, wondering if they knew the same tricks he did, before picking up a pair of pants on the ground.

Those aren't yours.

William put the pair he picked up back down and found another pair that was his, as well as a shirt that looked like his and slipped them, before creeping over to his boots and pulling a tin out of the lining. With a glance over at his coat he noticed the pile of bandages and the dagger that lay on top of them. Before shrugging and limping as quietly as he could over to the balcony window.

He slipped a cigarette from the tin and lit it while leaning against the door frame. His eyes took in every detail of the flooring as the Black Rose Smoke kicked in.

"I wish every welcome back party was like this..." He whispered, mostly to himself, as he ran his hand over his face.

I can't tell if that sounded corny or not. Not one of your best.
Better then 'You don't have to get so heated up! It's only a job.'

[SeriousConcentrate]

Pasha awoke somewhat blearily as William left the bed. He had been sprawled out, with Chironas and William on his left arm and Tala enfolded in his right, and the sudden removal of weight brought him to consciousness. He stopped mid-snore and looked around to try and remember where he was and why the hell he had a headache. Well. There was Tala. Who was the other woman? And who had left? He took a minute to collect his memories, then gently disengaged from the girls and got to his feet.

The other nobleman was already up and smoking something. Pasha gave him a tired, 'I just woke up and am still trying to remember how to walk around' sort of smile and searched the room. Eventually he found the jug of water that had come with dinner and poured it into a tall mug, then joined William on the balcony. "Well, that was... something," he said with a rueful laugh, taking a seat on the railing and a long drink from his cup. There was a moment of silence as William smoked and Pasha stared across the Alanis lands. He wasn't worried about getting dressed at the moment; this particular window looked over the countryside. "...glad you two took me up on the invitation. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have liked to have missed out on that," he said.

The sunlight was hurting his eyes; probably the result of all the alcohol. Well, he'd bear it. He needed to take a bath later anyway and a good soak would help with the hangover. "So... you asked about Kothitas yesterday. Do you still want to know?" he said, turning his attention back from nature to the other man. That was the other part of the reason he hadn't dressed; as he stood now, the many scars on his body were plain to the eye.

[filiusenox]

William had closed his eyes, one arm hung limply at his side and the other held the cigarette, which moved up to his smiling mouth with irregular timing. Neither of his arms bore marks of injury.
"Sure."

[SeriousConcentrate]

"It's not exactly a long story. Just one that is a bit painful in the telling." Pasha shifted slightly to get more comfortable, adjusting his position so he was still sitting on the railing but with his back to the wall, staring out over the land. "I'm not sure if you've ever heard of Kothitas. It's far southeast of here. A man named Dysevik Marlax rules the country." He took a drink and rolled his shoulders, trying to work some of the stiffness and soreness out of them. "Dysevik's the sort of man who exercised Droit_du_seigneur. A lot. In addition to enticing women to him with his power... or just taking them anyway if they refused him."

"She didn't live very long after my birth, and certainly didn't tell me any of it, but I believe my mother was in the third category, and escaped to Moun once he was through with her. All of this..." Pasha made a gesture that encompassed his body, meaning not only his looks but also the scars, "I got from him. Some nights I'm scared that I inherited his mind, too." He closed his eyes for a moment and rested his head against the wall. "It was roughly four years ago when I came into his service. A lord Percival d'Aubrani - a minor noble of his court - hired me for a few seasons. I wasn't aware of it at the time, but the greater plan was to overthrow Lord Marlax. It didn't happen, of course. We won a few battles before he decided to take us seriously and crushed the rebellion. All the officers from the greenest lieutenant to the rebellion's leaders were beheaded one by one."

He took a drink. "Until he got to me, that is. He recognized me as a Marlax. Hell, how could he not? I look just like the old bastard." Pasha snorted in derision and bitterness. If his cup had been glass, and he was feeling slightly angrier, he probably would have thrown it against a wall to shatter it. "So he gave me the name Atrineas Marlax, and placed me in charge of his forces. I suppose I impressed him during my time in the rebellion, and he had probably heard of me from the other nobles I had worked for. In any case, I led his forces for a year before he told me of a marriage he had arranged in Ligoria and sent me on my way to meet my bride."

"The captain hadn't packed enough food for a full voyage, so we were forced to stop in Dalannor. That's where I met Tala." He smiled and looked down. "Well... I already told you that story. I went back to Dysevik, told him I couldn't go through with it, I loved a different woman. That was a stupid decision." He scratched at his chest idly, where a few of the more prominent scars were located. "I was stripped of the Marlax name, my rank, my rights, and locked in the dungeons below the castle for six months. Because I was such a disappointment, I ranked the attentions of his senior torturer, Angband. That was a fun time." If sarcasm was water, Pasha's last sentence would have flooded the world.

"Eventually he released me. I don't know why. I can't begin to comprehend why. Only that I'm grateful for it. The dungeons of Kothitas are no place for a man, William. I was one of the lucky ones - I don't think Dysevik wanted to kill me - and this is the result of only two seasons in there. I know of men and women who were carried down there and never came out... or did so years later, traumatized." He looked out across the landscape, but his mind wasn't in Ligoria at that moment. "Sometimes they would put me in a normal cell with the other prisoners. I hated that more than the torture. The woman in the cell across from mine was d'Aubrani's daughter. Sometimes..." he trailed off, not wanting to finish that thought.

He shook his head and came back to reality. "It's not a good place. It's a country of murderers and outcasts, sociopaths of the worst kind. Sadistic and ruthless. If six months of torture is all I had to endure, I'm glad I paid that price to be well away from there, with the woman I love and a future worth looking forward to." Pasha stood and looked inside the room. Both women were still dozing. "I'll have to wake her up soon. The wedding is later today," he said, before turning back to William. "There will be a place there for you and Chironas if you want it. The ceremony will be in the town square, around noon."

[Dwarmin]

Tala fluttered her eyes as if a panic. Calm, steady.

A sharp intake of breath. She took stock of her senses, her situation. There was a foot entwined with her own, lighter and softer than Pashas would have been. She rose wearily, raising her arms to skyward.

The memories of last night were still particularly strong-and particularly pleasant-so she laid down with her arms crossed and tried to recall them. She found three faces-Pashas was amused, Williams Intense and Chironas with a challenging grin. Oh it had been a challenge, and more fun than she thought it would be-Chironas and Tala had played anatomical chess most of the night, each defending their 'king' while trying to capture the other ones...

Tala did remember she fallen asleep first, though she had mind enough to make sure Pasha had been first and last. She recalled Chironas hands moving down her back with some real eagerness, and a silkily whispered word, resonating an actual hunger, but also a measure of warmth...and possessiveness.

"Checkmate..."

Tala smiled into the dark, enjoying the feel of her heart beating, her pulse racing. Such a wonder to be alive and whole, she mused. Did such wonders ever cease?

On that thought, sleep claimed her again, as her memories mixed into her dreams.

[filiusenox]

William was leaning against the door frame, smiling slightly and with his arms crossed across his chest.
"Of course I'll attend your's and Tala's wedding, if you wish. But it seems I'm going to leave soon after."
He looked up at Pasha, for a few seconds, then, when he finally spoke, his voice was hollow and unforgiving.
"That man, Dysevik Marlax, needs to die."

[thatkid]

[613]
After a night of crawling the seedier taverns in town your men come up with only two real jobs, and another where a tavern patron nearly had his eyes gouged out by one of your men because he was propositioned a job involving his mother. One of the legitimate jobs is a simple escort run to Lowlands and back. Pays about [3*.25=.75] ducats to sit on a boat known by other mercs to be carrying something valuble. The man that owns the ship is apparently [3] a modestly ranked SCTG merchant.

The other job pays well, almost [2] ducats from what the man was saying - but several of your men are under the assumption it'll get them killed, arrested or worse.

Terryn took a night to consider the two jobs, though that night was spent whoring and drinking more than anything else. In the morning, he groggily sent a message to Sanguine, before ordering his men to prepare to set out.

-Terryn accepts the first job, guarding the SCTG merchant boat.

Spoiler: Letter to Sanguine (click to show/hide)

Sanguine,
It would appear that you currently have no need for myself or my Brothers, and as the Thornbred are not presently engaged in a contract with you we will be unavailable for a short time. Fear not, however, for we will return to Ligoria soon enough and should you need my companionship I shall be happy to oblige- if the pay is right, of course, a man must eat.
Best of Luck,
Sir Terryn Selgvyrdson

ps. Should, by some fluke of fate, I find myself indisposed or otherwise not present when the new year rolls around I still will expect the 4 ducats I have been promised. I am sure a man as resourceful as yourself will find a way to ensure that I receive my payment. I would hate for lust of gold to sour our otherwise amiable relations.

[SeriousConcentrate]

Pasha raised an eyebrow. "William, that's an admirable sentiment, but how do you propose to do that?" He stood up, setting the cup on the railing. "Kothitas is a huge country, and unless he's let the military slide since my time he has what might very well be the largest army on the Storm Coast. The people of his country are absolutely terrified of it, and of him. The citizens would stop what they were doing and bow to me, foreheads to the ground, whenever they saw me in fear I'd tell him that they didn't show me the proper respect. That's how scared the people of Kothitas are."

He looked down. "That's the way it's always been in that country. I did some research during my time there and the Marlax line has been in control of the region for at least five hundred years. I don't think the citizens even think getting rid of him is possible." Pasha rubbed his forehead. ""Listen... I think this is foolish and you're going to get yourself killed, but I'll try to help you. I'll be busy today and... probably the next two days, too... but fairly soon Nikephoros and Tala are going to head out to the countryside and try to convince the nobles to officially join Ligoria. When they do that, come back here, and I'll give you what information I can."

He looked inside, watching Tala and Chironas sleep for a quiet moment. "Some things have probably changed, but I can draw you a map of the capital city and the castle, estimate some rough figures of his forces from my previous knowledge and maybe their old patrol routes. They might have altered them by now." He turned back to William. "And... if you want... I can try to teach you some of my old tricks. I've been a lot of things in the past, and one of them was assassin. If you're willing to dedicate some time, I can teach you the fundamentals of blending in with crowds and using your surroundings to hide your presence."

Pasha turned his eyes to Chironas. "You might want to ask her, too. I've watched her and she moves like I do - quietly, unobtrusively." He fixed his eyes on William's. "Are you absolutely sure that you want to take on the task of overthrowing an emperor?"

[filiusenox]

William smiled as he stretched his body luxuriously against the door frame.
"It sounds like a real challenge for once. So yes, of course I do. And thank you for your future help."

[CyberGenesis]

-Terryn accepts the first job, guarding the SCTG merchant boat.

[3] The trip to Vasir was uneventful. Your men were sorta hoping for a fight on the open seas. Maybe next time... [5] Welcome to Vasir, Kingdom of Coin. Where even the untitled bleed a little precious metal every once in a while. You made such good time that the captain throws in an extra quarter-ducat to round you out. Seems his shipment was worth more the sooner he made it back home.

+1d to your accounts

[micelus]

"Of course, of course, just know that you may soon become...greater than you currently are now." Retcyl took the captains hand and clasped it with his own. Retcyl smiled. "Don't betray me now, captain. Be ready by tomorrow." Retcyl let go of his hand, drank once more, and quietly left. As the captain pondered his new task and employer, he discovered that in his hand was a strange sigil; an iron flower inlaid with tiny emeralds. He didn't know what it was or what it could do, but he knew that it meant he had a job.


Sometime Later, At Retcyl's Office...

"It is interesting for you to say that...Does your lord have spies on me now?" He said nonchalantly. "Yes, I have acquired one, and he may use it...But only if he leaves soon. I cannot leave it here, not after just acquiring it."

Accept deal. Give him an iron sigil showing that he is employed by the Empire. Retcyl and his ships left for Talama.