• Closed • [Foster's Landing] Enemies of the Etzorsi Free Market

[Gangui]

Enemies of the Etzorsi Free Market

Ashan 24, 717

The unquenchable thirst never stopped tickling his throat. Squeezing his eyes shut did not give momentary rest, rather offered only various blinding shapes in exchange for reality. The sun shined directly into his face, claiming all the watery coolness that was the ocean, leaving only salt; the dry salt had rubbed his skin raw, as if he was being dried into jerky for a long journey.

"...fuck...where are they..." Too parched to actually holler for his team, Gangui trudged forward in relentless pursuit of the task of getting the chest open, only huffing for air when he could.

As the warrior's steel boots splashed through the surf, he towed the blue and white calcified links of a chain that had been submerged for way too long. It was long and brittle, creaking at every movement and turn. At the end of the iron rope was an Idalianium chest, as heavy as ever despite being made of a feathery substance.

When resistance occurred, the warrior heaved forward without regard, but the treasure chest didn't want to budge. It was stuck in the rocky sand. Then, a single calcified link on the chain snapped, sending him dick into the dirt, with a mouth full of seawater. Cursing blindly, Gangui let his anger get the best of him. Gripping his blade, he clambered into position next to the chest and prepared to break it open with 'Liberty'. The entire focus of his mind was bent on finding the perfect swing to get the container open.

Binnnnnnng! Failed attempt. The hammering on metal reverberated not only through his arms, but the air around him.

Binnnnnnng! No good.

Binnnnnnng! Nothing.

Binnnnnnng! Still nothing... Bracing himself on his sword and leaning on a knee, Gangui fumed in his frustration as he gained his breath back and cursed the thirst that plagued him.

"Where are you Moon? What's taking you so damn long..." Half a break earlier, his Mer friend Moon had swam back to the port to warn his mercenary squad that his was coming in hot with the loot, so they could meet him along the way.

OOC

Gangui is located at (19,U) indicated with a green dot. He was walking north along the coast line. I know the map is rough, but my first try!

[Noth]

Alcohol had a terrible smell when it lingered upon the breath of others. Certainly, it could make most drinks far more enjoyable when used properly, and its taste had been sought after by celebrating men and women for ages, but the scent that blasted its way across Noth’s face now made him seriously consider abandoning drinking forever. A lazy eye lingered upon his cheek, and finally the face of the ruffian turned and grinned a toothy smile at the hybrid, leftovers from his meal still plastered upon his unruly teeth.

The band of scum were poor replacements for Noth’s true allies, and they reeked as if though they had not bathed in far too long. On top of that, the liquid courage that they constantly packed around with themselves and passed between them seemed to dull their senses even further than normal, and they erupted into quiet fits of giggling or frustration at the slightest stimulation. The twilight hybrid had not made the effort to learn any of their names, because it seemed dreadfully unlikely that he would ever conduct business with them again, but he doubted that he would ever forget their stench.

There were five of them in total; six if the Prince of Eternal Mercies himself was counted, and they waited upon the rocky crags nearby the beach, awaiting their prey with eager and ravished eyes. Four of the group wielded whatever weapons they could furnish for the event, with one holding onto a bronze dagger which seemed almost as ancient as Mammon, and another wielding a notched hatchet. The other pair held hefty wooden clubs which may or may not have begun the trial as branches. The fifth kept somewhat more to himself, and his eyes seemed somewhat sharper than the others as they followed their prey. He was young with a ruddy complexion similar to the man hefting the chest, and he clutched a crossbow close to his chest. In the tavern where they had met, the fellow had bragged about how he had single-handedly slain a bear with the weapon, but the way his hands vibrated with nervous energy, Noth couldn’t help but wonder whether or not he could hit anything at all.

The hybrid himself wielded his adamantite mace, and a longbow which was strung around his back. A hauberk covered his form along with a pair of greaves protecting his shins. He was far more armored than anyone else in the group, but it seemed unlikely that he possessed more armor than the man upon the beach. With a sigh of contemplation, and a final glance cast out towards the otherwise empty beach, he donned a bronze helmet and began to creep out from cover.

Noth was not a peaceful person, and his history reeked as badly of blood as the scum’s breaths’ reeked of alcohol. Nonetheless, crimson eyes peered cautiously at the man, and identified him as someone who had been met earlier in the Arc. He was the Aukari outcast from before, the one who had assisted him in misleading several Etzori soldiers away from their dead comrades whilst he looted their corpses. There was little doubt that it was he, and the hybrid quickly hastened his step down the rocky outcropping until his feet touched down upon the sand. The majority of the bandits followed him, a couple of them waving their weapons around with eager anticipation, though an outstretched palm from the hybrid halted their bloodthirst for a few moments. The young bandit with the crossbow awaited further orders atop the outcropping, his hands still shaking with nervous anticipation as he aimed down the sights at the gathering.

“Fairest greeting, Red-One.” He spoke, vaguely remembering the title that he had been given upon their prior meeting. His face was obscured, and so he spread out his single darkly feathered wing in order to act as an identifier of himself.

Solutions prompted into his mind, and whilst the easiest was simply to assail the fellow and leave him dead and bleeding upon the ground, an alternative idea was thrust forth into his mind.

“We have been dispatched by Advisor Vuda to retrieve your package here. Payment will be given you upon your next visit to Etzos proper.” He spoke with confidence, though he somehow doubted that the redheaded barbarian would fall for the ploy. Still, throwing Vuda to the wolves would potentially grant him future allies against the government of Etzos when he eventually made his attack upon it.

[Moon]

Aqua Man Arrives to mess up some fools!