Sword_of_Aeons
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Post by Sword_of_Aeons on Mar 5, 2006 21:57:31 GMT -6
Alkesh glared as well, having reached the limits of his patience when Virose began snapping at him like he was an idiot child. The s'skarran wasn't exactly accustomed to having a human get in his face- and the fact that Esh had chosen this one only poured salt on the wound. He snapped out a clawed hand and seized Virose's left arm, the one he was favoring, while the hero was busy snarling at the smithy.
That brought everyone's full attention back to him. This was going to hurt, but maybe it could prove his point.
He stared into Virose's now feral eyes, mentally seeking out the injury before willing it to heal. He remembered a few seconds too late that the man he had grabbed was armed and had a temper. The sword, however, stopped short of his throat as Virose snarled at him to "Let. Go."
Alkesh lowered his head to protect the thinner scales around his throat and focused instead on the injury he was trying to heal; wielding the twists of blue and white energy like a master smith wielded hammer and tongs- not an easy task with a blade at his jugular.
His arm now in the claws of the man-eater, Virose fought for alertness in his mental faculties. This was real. His heart pounded in his ears and urged him to fight, though logic held him back. The priest had every advantage. Height, weight, surprise, health, and position. But... it was a lizard. An animal. He blinked and his eyes glimmered like firelight through stained glass. The lizard met his gaze, so Virose poured his attention into one thought. 'Let go.'
Alkesh noticed the shimmer in the hero's worryingly bloodshot eyes and felt something in the lizard brain of his that he'd spent his life trying to quiet. There was a sense of peace there as if he'd been meditating. It was unique and surprising.
"Oh, you're part elf," he intoned. He watched the glimmer disappear and be replaced by confusion. Then the hero blinked again and the shimmer was back, more intensely this time. Again, Alkesh felt at peace and his anger faded. But, he wasn't acting purely out of anger. He focused entirely upon the hero's arm and his own connection to Esh as he willed the pain of the injury into himself in exchange for it to heal.
Virose's attention also turned to his arm as the bone that had been fractured began to knit itself back together and the surrounding muscle and tendons followed suit.
By the hero's expression, it must have felt bizarre. Alkesh could not really offer many condolences, however, as he could already feel the pain of the injury building in his own arm- and he had not taken any pain remedies.
When he let go, he staggered back and gripped the 'break' in his arm, the limb hanging limply by his side.
"You no longer have any excuse, Virose of Tai-Lu," he hissed through the pain. "You must help me."
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FangedSmile
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Post by FangedSmile on Mar 5, 2006 22:04:37 GMT -6
Virose backed up as well when he was finally released, though his action was from surprise rather than pain. As terrifying as it was to be grabbed by a man-eater, he hadn't been quite willing to use his sword against an unarmed... priest. Now, however, his mind was overflowing with wild anger. The blacksmith grabbed him and held tight, cursing and telling Alkesh to stay back. Virose stared back at the priest with a wild fury. That fucking lizard had lost his bloody mind!
"Let him go," Alkesh advised, in response to the blacksmith. "Please."
"Give him a moment," the smithy grunted as the hero thrashed against him. "He gets crazy sometimes."
Virose sized the lizard up for a fight while preparing to mule-kick the blacksmith's bad knee. As his head cleared, however, he couldn't ignore the obvious signs of pain the lizard now exhibited.
The pain seemed to be in Alkesh's left arm.
Virose's attention fell to his own left arm and he stopped moving. The pain... was gone? The smithy released him and seemed to arrive at the same suspicion as he jerked his head towards Virose's arm. Virose sheathed his sword and pulled up his left sleeve. The angry bruising and swelling had completely disappeared, the bone was covered, and the arm was straight. When he moved his fingers, they all obeyed swiftly, and when he squeezed his fist there was strength instead of agony. Even the vivid lines that had been growing up his arm were gone.
A part of him realized this was amazing. This was a miracle.
This was detrimental to his plan. He wanted, oh how he wanted, to just walk away. Yet- and he wasn't happy about it- the lizard was right. He didn't have any more excuses.
He looked back at Alkesh, who had paled to a charcoal color and whose eyes looked unfocused. Though, there was something about Alkesh's face that looked smug.
Perhaps it was just his own mind perceiving something that wasn't truly there, but Virose felt annoyed all the same. He was also annoyed to see the blacksmith still watching them, like an old woman who had nothing left in the world except the sense of accomplishment that came from sticking her nose in everyone else's business.
You have to... his own brain reminded him as he glared at the witness. He healed you...
"...Fine," he managed curtly, and without hiding the disgust he felt. "B-but I'm not doing this out of love, so I expect to be treated like a contracted employee. Got it?"
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Sword_of_Aeons
Gone Crazy
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Post by Sword_of_Aeons on Mar 5, 2006 22:08:22 GMT -6
Alkesh nodded curtly in return. The pain he was feeling, however, subtracted from his sense of victory. He hadn't known Virose long, but the time they had shared together so far told him this fight wasn't over. He'd never hired a soldier before and wasn't sure what Virose meant by contracted employee.
"You will be compensated for your time and troubles, and the Order will supply any basic needs you have before we set out," he replied cautiously. "Money does not flow from our hands, so please do attempt to be frugal in your requests. And, if you are injured or have need of a new weapon, I will assist you at a cost that will be part of your compensation. Is that acceptable?"
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FangedSmile
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Post by FangedSmile on Mar 5, 2006 22:11:52 GMT -6
Sadly, that was acceptable. It was rather more than acceptable, actually. Considering Virose's oath left him without an option to turn down Alkesh's request at all, now that he was healed and armed. He had only made the 'demand' because he wanted to be an employee instead of a partner. He didn't want anyone to expect him to treat this mission as if it was anything more than a job. If it failed... Well, it was just a job. They didn't always go well... Though, he did have one question in response to Alkesh asking him if the terms were agreeable.
"If I say 'No,' what are the odds of you leaving it at that and going about your own business?"
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Sword_of_Aeons
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Post by Sword_of_Aeons on Mar 5, 2006 22:13:49 GMT -6
Alkesh smiled at him, though the exhaustion he felt made the action more smug-looking than benign. "I am a priest of Esh," he replied. "We're not known for giving up."
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FangedSmile
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Post by FangedSmile on Mar 5, 2006 22:22:19 GMT -6
Virose stared back with a clear lack of enthusiasm. He looked like a cat that had been left out in the rain.
"You realize this is harassment, right?"
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Sword_of_Aeons
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Post by Sword_of_Aeons on Mar 5, 2006 22:23:57 GMT -6
"Harassment you will be paid for," Alkesh reminded him pointedly.
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FangedSmile
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Post by FangedSmile on Mar 5, 2006 22:29:23 GMT -6
Virose slumped his posture slightly as he doubted that statement. These 'you're our last hope' missions usually had a token reward that barely covered supplies- let alone making a profit. People tended not to pay you very well when they knew you were obligated to help. Sure, you got a lot of 'gratitude' and promises and praise, but the coffers stayed shut. "If payment is your selling point, I can find you at least one sell sword who can help by day's end- two or three if you can wait until tomorrow."
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Sword_of_Aeons
Gone Crazy
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Post by Sword_of_Aeons on Mar 5, 2006 22:31:04 GMT -6
Alkesh frowned at Virose as the pride of winning completely ebbed from his brain. During the past few days, as he'd traveled and searched, he'd imagined finding Virose over a dozen times. Each time it felt like a burden had been lifted- even when he had feared that the hero would be busy. It had always worked out somehow once he asked for help. Now he'd asked, begged, and demanded the hero's help, had agreed to a contract, and still didn't feel like his trouble was over.
"I need your assistance," he replied, with a good attempt at sounding pleasant. He did his best to smile. Trying to set up a good relationship with his new companion- scratch that... His new 'employee.' Alkesh sighed softly to himself. "For today, we should gather supplies. I trust you have a better idea than I as to what we need."
His optimism had taken severe damage and his arm stung more than he wanted to admit. Virose had been walking around like this? If the man was that stubborn, Alkesh knew things were not going to be easy.
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Post by FangedSmile on Mar 5, 2006 22:36:27 GMT -6
"I should know what we need?" Virose questioned, not really obeying the politeness factor of being a hired blade. The blacksmith rolled his eyes at him, tired of the bitchy behavior, and retreated into the shop. "Where are we going? How long will this take? What do you have so far? Do we need horses or is your quest local? How am I supposed to know what we need when you're the only one that knows what we're doing?"
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Sword_of_Aeons
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Post by Sword_of_Aeons on Mar 5, 2006 22:48:57 GMT -6
Alkesh took a breath and tried not to let this public tear-down embarrass him, even as people stopped and stared. "It will take some time and isn't local," he replied vaguely, with his eyes on the street so he didn't have to look at Virose's reaction. "The Order has horses, and we can get some food from them as well. Anything else we will need to purchase. I don't want to take more from the Temple than I have to." He glanced at the hero and saw the same resistance as before. Money wasn't a problem. Health and equipment wasn't a problem. His schedule wasn't a problem... Most of the heroes had seemed enthusiastic to help the temple. What was the problem? Was he reluctant to help a s'skarran?
"... Can you tell me why you do not want to help? I know you said you were the worst choice, but I've interviewed many adventurers and I know you are the right candidate." He tilted his head and leaned in closer. "Why do you disagree?"
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Post by FangedSmile on Mar 5, 2006 22:51:58 GMT -6
Virose scanned the street for signs that anyone had heard Alkesh. He was relieved to see that the populace was giving the lizard a wide birth and did not appear to have heard him. At least, not that they were letting on. He sighed and decided that pissing and moaning wouldn't help... mostly because he'd already tried that.
He crossed his arms and quite definitely ignored the lizard's question. "Fine, give me the money and I'll get you some basic supplies."
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Sword_of_Aeons
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Post by Sword_of_Aeons on Mar 5, 2006 22:52:54 GMT -6
Noting that clear lack of an answer, Alkesh lifted his left arm instinctively and cringed; deciding instead to use only his right arm even if it made things a little awkward. He fished a small bag of coins from within his sleeve and handed it over- much to the blacksmith's surprise.
Yeah, said blacksmith had known the hero long enough to believe Virose wouldn't take the money and run, but... He said a silent prayer for the priest, hoping Esh would grant her Order at least some semblance of street smarts.
"I don't know where you're staying," said Alkesh, further driving the blacksmith insane. "But I'd prefer it if we spent the night at the Temple. It will be easier to get what we need that way, and allow us to set out earlier tomorrow."
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FangedSmile
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Post by FangedSmile on Mar 5, 2006 22:56:43 GMT -6
Virose took the money as it was offered and weighed it as best he could. Tight budget, considering the amount of harassment he'd endured and 'importance' of Alkesh's mission. Sanor used to get handed a gold bar or a satchel of gems for fetch quests.
Virose, on the other hand, had been living in a small attic above the third-worst tavern in the city and knew how to stretch a coin. Part of his ability to get work depended on looking reputable, and that came with the cost of laundry and grooming- neither of which he could truly afford. The amount of money he now held was... interesting.
"I'll meet you there," he lied. The fact that he now had two functioning arms, a bag of coins, a sword, and a boss that had no idea where he lived, was not lost on him. He entered a familiar general store with that thought quite dominant in his mind, actually. It would be easy to buy supplies, find an amateur mercenary that was down on his luck, combine the two with the promise of lodgings for the night, and send them on their way. In fact, that plan would probably work out better for Alkesh.
Sure, the priest seemed to think Virose was the best choice... but that was based on the fact that Virose was Sanor's apprentice, not on any actual proof. Thus, Virose was NOT, in fact, the last or best choice. All he had to do was find someone with even a decent success rate and that would fulfill the oath to act when there was no better choice available for people to turn to.
He negotiated half the funds for the procurement of some basic necessities for cooking and eating, a relatively nice hunting bow, a tent he was reasonably sure would fit Alkesh, and a bed roll. He didn't care what his chosen sword-for-hire slept on or in as that felt like none of his business. His debt was only to Alkesh, after all, and not to some random adventurer. Bargaining as much as possible, he ended up with supplies for a trip lasting roughly three or four days, and was happy to see there was enough money left over to catch the attention of a moderately skilled merc.
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Sword_of_Aeons
Gone Crazy
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Post by Sword_of_Aeons on Mar 5, 2006 22:59:35 GMT -6
Alkesh was standing vigilantly outside the general store, and greeted Virose with an approving smile. The big s'skarran had, of course, realized that the reluctant hero would likely bail at the first opportunity. Naive, maybe, but not stupid. The hesitation and annoyance upon the hero's face upon seeing him was all Alkesh needed. Feeling his instincts had been correct, he was left with a sense of pride mixed with sadness. Proud he had been right... and sad he had been right.
"I realized you didn't ask me which temple we were staying at," he informed the disheartened hero. Though, he then dropped the issue and wasn't sure if he did so because he didn't want to face the truth, or because the comment could start another fight. Instead, he released Virose from a judgmental stare and took back the coin purse.
"Ah, it seems you got some good deals," he praised, jingling the purse and deciding to focus on the positive.
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