• Closed • Consequences of a Thief [Lakia]

[Kydrel]

Kydrel watched Lakia’s face process the information, seeming to catch her attention at the mention of nel.


I hate to split the bounty but without her help I don’t stand a chance of finding this guy…though what the hell she needs nel for his beyond me.


He restrained from hissing, instead an expulsion of air burst out his nose signaling his irritation. He needed to readjust his earnings now since he was losing half of his pay.


But maybe I can pick up a few pointers from her in tracking to make up for it…


She finally turned back towards him, almost as reluctant to help as he was to offer, but he knew he had her. He listened as she rattled off instruction, glaring at her as she mentioned his torch but he dropped it wordlessly on the foliage and stomped it out, leaving its smoldering remains on the ground.


Everything was plunged into darkness and he stood there a moment, blinking. He could hear her moving off without him and he cursed under his breath. Still not fully adjusted to the darkness, the Avriel heedlessly plunged into the forest after her.


How the hell can see she anything…she was in the freaking light with me…


Kydrel squinted, making out the dim outline of Lakia a dozen feet in front of him to the left. Leaves crinkled and twigs snapped loudly, his very footsteps crushing dead leaves.


THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE. HOW DOES ONE REMAIN SO QUIET IN THIS FORSAKEN WOOD?!


The Avriel tried his hardest to remain as quiet as possible but he knew it was useless. He was nothing less of a stampede as he crashed through the foliage after her. Finally catching up and swatting angrily at branches that clawed at his face, she spoke.


She really found his trail?! What the hell, if I kept walking I could have probably found it myself!


…maybe.


He ignored the internal voice that mocked him telling him there was no way he would have found it without her help. But before he had a chance to respond she took off again. He glared at her again, starting off after her, this time however watching her as best he could.


She is really low to the ground. Probably looking for…tracks? I’m guessing deer tracks look different than human tracks? It would be so much easier if she wasn’t an ass and would just tell me. But you know she’s just going to mock you.


Kydrel growled in annoyance, leaves and vines catching on his gear, forcing him to yank himself free.


This whole forest needs to burn…


Lakia abruptly changed directions and he almost missed her shift in course so focused was he on remaining silent.


What? What did she see? How did she know the trail moved?


He looked around, but everything looked identical. He would just have trust her abilities, a feeling he did not like. He felt the helpless frustration welling up and he nearly exploded.


“How did you know the trail changed?! It all looks the bloody same!”

[Lakia Amaranthine]

Lakia grimaced as she heard the winged-creature crash through the brush behind her like a whole herd of cattle, but she ignored him and pressed on, at least until his sudden question distracted her. Gritting her teeth, she didn't turn to face him but instead pressed on. "I know what I'm looking for. We're parallel to the trail now, so shut up." she snapped, before suddenly pausing and taking a step to the side, looking closely at the way the criminals trail had changed. His walk had changed, after a rocky bit. A twisted ankle, perhaps, or more. Luck was with them tonight, it seemed.

"He's injured. Hurry up." she said quietly, pressing forward, now along the trail. Here the signs that something had passed were obvious, but the criminals tracks were becoming harder to track. Lakia frowned at this, curious as to the reason behind this. Pausing for a moment to take a closer look at the trail floor, she noticed something she can't believe she had missed. Wolf tracks trailed along their prey. Wolves were hungry this time of year, and such prey might be too tempting to pass up on.

Grimacing, she started moving again, now fully upright and running. If they wanted their prey alive, which was the likely scenario, then they had to move quickly. It wasn't long before they started to hear soft growls ahead of them. The wolves were close, and hopefully their criminal. Picking up the pace again, Lakia headed straight towards the growls ahead of them. Cresting a hill, Lakia growled at the scene before them. There was a human, she assumed, caught in a spike trap. His ankle, chest, and wrists had been pierced and while he was bleeding out slowly, there was too much blood on the ground already for him to possibly survive.

The wolves were in a circle around him, they'd arrived just in time to prevent him getting eaten alive. Letting out a sharp cry, Lakia picked up a rock and threw it at the wolves, who scattered from the noise. Taking a breath, Lakia walked over to the criminal. "H-help me. P-p-p-please." he gurgle, reaching weakly for her foot. Looking down at him, Lakia noded, then drew her bow and fired, the arrow peircing his skill and finishing him.

"Find what you came you for, and hurry. They'll be back."

[Kydrel]

Lakia didn’t stop at his question, but continued forward. Kydrel growled, anger churning in his chest, hand itching to reach for his crossbow and put a bolt between her shoulder blades.


It would almost be worth not finishing the contract just to off her…the insolence…


But a voice argued with him that he really did need her. He was hopelessly lost out here. He spat and then cursed as Lakia picked up the pace, almost running ahead. As if he wasn’t struggling enough already to keep up. But her words stirred up anticipation and he quickened his pace to match hers.


They crested a hill and Kydrel’s eyes fell upon the scene in front of them.


“You have got to be kidding me.”


There was no saving the boy. The trap was squeezing the remaining life out of him and if that didn’t finish him off, the wolves surrounding him certainly would. Kydrel would have felt pity for him, if he had cared. But he was only concerned with the contract. And right now, whether or not he would still be paid.


I wonder how pissed the blacksmith will be when he finds out the boy is dead. He definitely learned his lesson...


He briefly wondered if he would need to bring the body back with him to prove the death. But the way those wolves circled, it would probably be more trouble than it was worth. Lakia reached down and chucked a rock, scattering the wolves.


Kydrel moved in quickly, unfastening the soft leather that wrapped around the spikes of his weapon, leaving it attached to the strap that hung from his belt. Messing with a pack of hungry animals next meal wasn’t the best decision and he wasn’t about to do it unprepared.


A satchel lay a few feet in front of the incapacitated youth and the Avriel moved towards it, ignoring the gargling figure on the ground. Bending down, he flipped open the bag and looked inside. An assortment of gear, most likely for his escape, made up its contents. Kydrel reached in and pulled out a smaller bag and heard the clink of coins.


The sound of the man trying to speak and then the sound of an arrow thudding into bone turned his head. He saw an arrow protruding out of the boy’s head, the light extinguished from his eyes. The bounty hunter looked at Lakia, face expressionless.


“Pity. A human emotion. Not an animal after all.”


Kydrel’s gaze shifted back to the satchel and placed the nel back into it, lifting the bag and looping it across his chest.


Standing up, he turned his attention to their surroundings. In the time it took them to get to the boy, secure the nel and put him out of his misery, company had joined them.


Five wolves crept out of the forest, eyes glinting, growling menacingly. Apparently they were hungry enough to fight for their meal.


I’ve never fought wolves before. Should make for an interesting encounter. We could just back out and leave them to their meal…or….


“Hope you can hit something with that bow of yours. These targets will actually move.”


Reaching for his spiked mace and buckler, Kydrel pulled them both free and charged.


The first wolf was not intimidated and lunged forward, two others following suit as their leader attacked, the other two circling around towards Lakia. Kydrel swung his mace, slamming it into the head of the wolf as it jumped him, the spikes driving deep into the skull of the animal sending it crashing to the ground. He jerked his weapon free, blood spraying forth just as the second wolf snarled and attacked him.


Kydrel didn’t have time to bring his mace to bear. Instead he swung his buckler, clipping the wolf in the side of the face. It yelped in pain but wasn’t enough to completely knock the beast away and its body slammed into the Avriel sending them both to the ground. Mace and buckler now useless, he released his grip on the weapons and jammed his gauntlet into the wild animal’s jaw, keeping the teeth away from his face.


The third wolf lunged for Kydrel’s leg, teeth clamping down on the metal guards, gnawing on it but unable to get around the plates. He kicked at it, his boot connecting with its head. The Avriel reached with his free hand towards the kris that he kept strapped to his leg and pulled it free.Without hesitation, the warrior drove the sharp wavy blade into the stomach of the wolf, blood and gore spilling out. The creature howled and Kydrel shoved it off him, the animal staggering around.


The third wolf tried biting his leg again and he kicked at it once more before rolling and jumping back to his feet, breathing heavily, adrenaline pumping, a feral grin on his face.


The day seemed to be shaping up nicely.

[Lakia Amaranthine]

Lakia gave the winged-creature a cold look at his insult about mortal sympathy making her less than an animal. "Mortals have no sympathy. To think otherwise is blind denial." she said, her tone cold as the weather around them. When the wolves returned, the hunter grimaced and drew another arrow. "I could put an arrow through your eye at a hundred yards while you're flying, bird-boy." she said confidently, putting her arrow to the string and taking aim at one of the wolves was charging Kydrel. Lakia herself tended to smell a bit more like forest than most Mortals, so most predators didn't immediately think of her as food.

However, the arrow she sunk into one of the wolves back legs just as it made to leap at the flying creature made it clear to the wolves that he wasn't the only threat. To her surprise, the winged one was handling himself well, but now the wolf she had injured and another member of the pack changed their focus to Lakia. She wasn't hugely worried though, not with them so lean. She did feel bad as she put another arrow to the string and waited until the healthy one lept at her before firing, the arrow piercing its chest. Sidestepping the body of the now dead wolf, Lakia took aim at the injured wolf, who was definitely reconsidering the wisdom of this fight. Backing away from the hunter, Lakia watched the wolf step back.

Turning her attention back to the winged creature, she saw that he had killed two of the wolves already. The waste of life sickened her and the hunter turned back to the wolf she had injured. "Get out of here!" she snapped at it, firing her arrow just in front of the wolf. The animal jumped back with a yelp, then took another look at the situation and bolted for the woods. Growling in satisfaction, Lakia turned back to the winged creature, drawing another arrow and firing at the third wolf attacking him, hoping to scare it off as well.

[Kydrel]

Kydrel eyed the remaining wolf, kris in hand, trying to get a feel for the weapon. It wasn’t top heavy like his mace so it felt odd in his grip. Much more balanced. Faster. But it was his armor that he was really grateful for at that moment. Had the wolves not been half starved and weak they might have been more of a danger and more capable of inflicting more harm on him. But the metal plates kept their teeth at bay. For the time, anyways. He probably wouldn’t get so lucky next time.


Suddenly an arrow streaked past him and drove into the dirt in front of the wolf causing it to jump slightly and begin edging backwards.


Sensing the wariness in the creature, the Avriel expounded on it, throwing his head back and screeched, his wings bursting out from his sides, doubling his size. The wolf startled by the noise, the size of his opponent and seeming to realize he was alone, turned tail and bolted for the safety of the trees.


Kydrel breathed heavily, chest heaving from the exertion, retracted his wings to fold neatly against his shoulder blades. He wiped the blood off his kris in a patch of grass and slid it into his sheath before going over to his buckler and mace, picking both up and placing them back in their homes.


He looked around at the carnage, dead wolves, dead man, blood drenching the ground, recovered goods at his side. Things hadn’t gone as planned but at least they had gotten the stolen nel. There wasn’t much left for them to do other than return to the city and collect their reward.


The Avriel turned and looked at the tracker.


“We done here?”

[Lakia Amaranthine]

Lakia watched silently as the wolf ran off, then turned to the winged-one as he asked if the were done. "One moment." she said, before taking her arrows out of the wolves and boy she had killed. "Now we're done. Let's get going." she said, her tone calm as she turned her back on the bodies and headed back into the forest. She was less concerned about watched the trail, but she still kept her bow at the ready in case of more trouble. The city was still far enough away that wild animals might get in the way, though she rather hoped not. "Once we get to Etzos, you'll have to lead the way, not very familiar with city, I just sell meat and fur there." she said, her tone calm as she led the way towards the city.

[Kydrel]

Kydrel waited impatiently for Lakia to gather her arrows. He couldn’t leave because he didn’t know where they were or how to get back to the city. He didn’t like being dependent on someone else but he didn’t seem to have a whole lot of a choice in the matter. But finally the two left the carnage behind them and headed to Eztos.


It was a few breaks before the two finally reached the city. He didn’t know how much time had passed since he first received the job, the eternal twilight making the distinction between night and day difficult, especially under the covering of the trees. Kydrel felt exhausted from the day’s ordeal and was ready to finally finish the job and collect their hard earned money. Thinking back, they had actually accomplished quite a bit of work in such a short time. He could only hope every job was like that.


Having entered the gate and now taking the lead, Kydrel strode through the streets. He started to head to the Bounty Board, to realize the man wouldn’t be waiting for him there. He cursed at himself for not asking where to meet him should he finish the job but then he remembered that his client was a blacksmith.


They spent the next break weaving through the crowd, looking for a blacksmith shop. Eventually he spotted one and entered, hoping it was the right one. A wave of heat blasted his face as he stepped into the door, a small bell ringing as they opened the door. It was almost impossible to hear over the clanging of the hammer on the anvil.


Kydrel moved towards the back of the room where a man stood, sweat glistening on his skin, the back of his shirt soaked in sweat as he held a piece of shaped metal with a pair of prongs, hammer in the other hand. The man caught sight of the two of them as they approached and lifted his head. He seemed to recognize the Avriel and placed the piece of metal into a canister of water, steam hissing loudly as they touched. Wiping his hands on his apron he turned towards them.


“Did you find him?”


Kydrel looked at him, impassively. He reached into the boy's bag at his side and pulled a few large pouches of nel and held them out. He was keeping the contents.


“We did. Found him caught in a trap, spikes through chest. Wolves trying to eat him. We killed them. He died.”


He spoke in a monotone voice, uncaring whether or not the information would affect the man negatively. The words seemed to strike a heavy blow against the black smith.


“I-I know I wanted him taught a lesson but-but…” He said aghast, sorrow and shock coloring his words. “Where is his body?”


Kydrel looked at Lakia.


“A day’s travel north under a small hillside clearing. We could not bring him with us. Wolves were tracking.”


The blacksmith accepted the bags of nel from the Avriel’s grasp numbly. He didn’t seem to know how to process it.


“No one deserves that…not to go out that way…he was just a kid…”


Kydrel just looked at him. Waiting.


The blacksmith seemed to gather himself together and looked at the two of them, emotions swirling across his face.


“Who is your friend?”


“Needed…help tracking.” He mumbled the word help quickly, in hopes that he wouldn’t be heard. It still irked him that he couldn’t do it on his own. But a deal was a deal.


“I promised her half of earnings.”


The blacksmith nodded. Opening up one of the bags he counted out two piles of coins and handed them each their payment.


Accepting it, Kydrel spoke one last time to him.


“You know where to find me, if you need work.”


Kydrel turned and exited the shop. If Lakia followed he would look at her and curl his upper lip into what one could assume was a smile. But it did not reach his cold, amber eyes.


“Next time, we will see if you are as good with your bow as you say.”


Spinning on his heels, wage in hand, the Avriel left to return to his housing in the wall of Eztos, ready to fall upon his mattress and slip into a deep, deep sleep.

[Maltruism]

But before the avriel or the naer could indulge in a well-earned rest, they heard the blacksmith's door clatter shut behind them. Any thoughts they may have had that the man was falling into some grief-stricken hostility were dispelled by his arms raised in the general gesture of peace, one hand holding the bag from which he'd withdrawn their pay.

"Good sirs..." he said, his voice cracking ever so slightly, "I...I can't just leave him there...unburied. I hate to think of wolves savaging his remains. He may have been a selfish brat, but he's blood nonetheless. You know where he lies. I will give you the same pay again, just to guide me there and see his body either burned, buried or returned for burial here. I know you must be exhausted, but if you think a few breaks rest might see you refreshed enough, I will see you paid another 90 nel."

The man looked down for a moment, then looked back up, passing his sleeved arm across his eyes, leaving a wet streak of soot along both. "I'll tell you what. Give it some thought. I am going to go pack some things, and sit at the North gate. Should the guard change twice, I will know you have declined, and I will make the attempt alone. But I am no woodsman. But I can swing a mean hammer."

► Show Spoiler

HA HA...the thread that wouldn't die! No seriously, if you guys don't want to do this just let me know and I'll delete this post

[Lakia Amaranthine]

Lakia remained quiet as Kydrel spoke to their employer, taking her cut of the pay silently before they left the house, though the winged-creatures taunt brought her out of her silence. "Not worth the arrows. Besides, you'd taste foul." she said before the door behind them opened to reveal their employer, who asked for their help getting to his son. "You don't want to see it. Better to remember him as he was." she said coldly before walking away from the two of them. Yet despite her words, she was waiting at the North Gate when the man arrived.

Looking up from where she was sitting when their employer arrived, Lakia sighed quietly. "I figured as much. I couldn't have left it alone either, I suppose. I guess once the winged one gets here, we'll get going." she said, her voice softer than usual. Looking up the sky, Lakia thought for a moment before speaking again. "It won't be pretty. Brace yourself for that and you'll be better off."

[Maltruism]

Come and get your Loot!

(There's plenty more where that came from)

LAKIA AMARANTHINE:

Rewards:

• Story: +5
• Collaboration: +5
• Structure: +5

Knowledges:

• Field Craft: Always Collect Arrows After a Fight
• Field Craft: Be Near a Town in Cold Cycle
• Field Craft: Leave a Corpse Behind for the Wolves
• Field Craft: Torches Can be as Much a Liability as a Benefit
• Hunting: Blundering City Folks Scare Off Everything but Predators
• Hunting: Changes in Tracks Often Reveal Injuries
• Hunting: Crouching Gait For Speed While Tracking
• Hunting: Keep Beginners Behind So They Don't Ruin the Trail
• Hunting: Parallel the Trail, Don't Follow Directly
• Kydrel: Arrogant and Ignorant
• Kydrel: Not Bad With a Mace
• Medicine: Blood Loss: Knowing How Much is Too Much
• PC: Kydrel Sevnium
• Race: Avriel
• Ranged: Leading the Target
• Ranged: Sighting Down the Arrow

Loot:

Somehow, it seems to me that I had come to the figure of 180gn for the job.
So 90gn would be your share of the pay for the job

Loss:

Nothing but an arrow or two

Injuries:

Nothing to speak of

Fame:+1

"general good deed" is +1.
If wolves were "monsters", I'd give you a couple more

Comments:

Kydrel, if you come back, I will throw some your way as well.
PM me with any comments or concerns