Mercenary RP

[Jec94227]

The land of Hibara is far from united. The five great states are constantly vying for superiority, though there has been no major conflict for two generations now. Still, this is probably more due to the fact that the last war killed so many people, and the nationsa re only just now regaining their former size. And even if no great war occurs, bandits still roam the land, pirates still sail the sea, and caravans will need protection.

All of this bodes well for the Free City of Yakima, whose mercenaries will fight for anyone if the pay is right. There is a saying that everything has a price in Yakima, and unlike other sayings it is entirely true. How else would a band of mercenaries wind up in possesion of one of the great towers that help protect the city? Anything and everything can be bought here, from fine armour and weapons to exotic plants and animals, fine wine from Cathay to the cough inducing vodka from Russkin, and do not forget people. Assassins, thieves, whores and slaves can be bought here, as well as the mercenaries. Some of the finest craftsmen reside in this city as well, filling it with all manenr of useful things, like a powerful, modern fleet, repeating bolt throwers atp the walls, or even specialised gear for those who are willing to pay the extra bit of coin for that extra bit of quality.

 

[Grimmend]

Yakima could be seen through the morning mist as Garrik arrived along with a trade caravan from the Hearthlands.  He was able to barter passage along with them, with the promise that he would sharpen there swords and repair there armour, as the had been hit fairly bad by a bandit raid before he joined.  He never minded doing a little hard work, it always made him a little happy to use his old trade, and Yakima would be a new frontier for his skills to test.

After they arravied and he departed the wagons he was accompanying, he went immediately to the market district to see the near fabled brilliance of the stores, and the legendary craftsman who resided there.

After he had his enjoyment, and felt more humbled in his own skills, it was time to look for more work.  Something small, get a feel for the city, its people, and how best to survive it all.

He made his way to the dock, seemed like a good way to learn who the big traders are in the area, and who pays well to keep it that way.  Another building caught his eye, however, an old wooden shop, seem to be a guild post, or something of the sort.  He took a few steps into the building, but couldn't see anyone.

"Hello?  Is anybody here?  I was interested in a job, if you had any."

 

[Gopats]

"Land Ho!" shouted a sailer relieved that no pirates had attacked this vessel heading for Yakima.
Also on board was an ex-militia man named Jamendithas Fletcher who was relieved just to finnaly get to Yakima. Being a militia man he was not afraid of pirates. Like all men a crossbow bolt to the head kills any man.

After getting off Jamendithas took a walk around the city. He saw the famous tower of the Black Company but that guild is made of many members and the low ones barely get enough contracts to eat. No his destination wasn't there but at a new mans house that used to be a Black Company member. The last merc group that came over to hunt pirates near Jamendithas' home said he was pretty good with a blade and made enough to be ready to give out contracts. Now an ex Black Company man would have some more sway to get the higher contracts and that is who Jamendithas will find.

 

[RalliX]

Elwin strolled about the docks of this strange town. Yakima was filled with tall, old, stone buildings and polished, wooden shop-stalls in its streets, but as it rolled out to the water, beyond the bastions, it was open and simple. The hustle & bustle of the city was uncomfortable for the forest boy, raised in relative solitude. His old nasal skullcap was getting rusty on it's edges after a good 2 years of constant fighting in small coastal Westreach villages.

He took it off and eyed the reddish-brown blots on the leather neck's studs a little distastefully, and stuffed it in his rucksack he carried over back, revealing the short, dark-blond hair still greasy without being able to wash it over his long journey here.

Stepping onto the wooden planking that formed the actual dock, he looked about himself, the area covered with a fading mist, the sun high above.
Behind him were the old homes and apartments that formed a low-class fisherman's district. He'd been told someone of his talents would be of use to a contractor in that area, fresh to the business, who was looking to recruit.

 

[Ludial]

Taking in the disturbing smorgasbord of smells and colors of the boiling pot that is Yakima in the morn, the dog passes quietly through one of the smaller gates, where traffic is calmer and less monitored. By evening he has managed to explore a good part of the city, get into several fights and run from a patrol. He doesn't like the markets, where fat and noisy merchants trade with anything, including living people; the rich people's neighborhoods where getting mugged by a manor's private guard is the most likely outcome of venturing too close to the fence. The shadier parts are somewhat acceptable, although the same king that rules the rest of the city still has an iron hand there - gold. Having no money, the dog manages to pocket some cheese and fruit and a skin of beer before hiding on the roof of some dingy two-storey house. Warm on the inside, with a full belly and spirit calm from the cracking of skulls and thrill of the chase, he sets himself to sleep in a corner, covering himself with a blanket he took from a corpse he found by the road a few days earlier. However, he is not left to rest - banging on a door bellow and the yelling of some man looking for work shake him out of his wordless dreams. Irritated but curious, the dog inches his head a bit over the edge of the roof and peers downwards, knowing the dark and the leather covering the steel on him would keep him unnoticed.

 

[Majhudeen]

He strolled the docks, and Engels looked ahead. (Rallix, heads up.)
A rather curious individual strolled the docks and Engels thought to himself,
*Well.. a intresting fellow. I'll walk to him... mabye he knows where some recruitment officers are... *

"Ahoy lad! do you know where the nearest recruiting company would be?"

With prideful strides of a accomplished gentlemen, and the pier board creaking beneath his boot steps, he looked at the man calmly, and with a very chariasmatic tone.

 

[RalliX]

"Oh, hey." He said with a light start, his unstrung bow wiggling a little in its strap on his back. Elwin sized the man up briefly, and perceiving no threat from his attitude, he spoke again. 'I was about this wharf for the same purpose. As far as I know there's one in a house round here.'
Elwin gestured to his right, indicating a particular group of houses, 'One of those, probably.'

He looked back at the man, dressed fancifully and elaborately, his wide brimmed hat plumed with a purple feather. Being a man of practicality and survival, he thought the man appeared somewhat silly, but he hid his amusement. "My name is Elwin Orlok... Yeah, my last name is weird..." he said with an expectancy of chuckling, he was used to it. He smiled calmly, mirroring this man's expression.

 

[Rahn]

"When do you reckon we'll reach Yakima?" Alen asked the caravan leader. They'd been underway for several days now. Alen had been allowed to travel with them, in exchange for offering protection. Luckily, they had encountered almost no outlaws, except for a band of looters, whom were quickly dispatched by the caravan guards.

"Oh, it shouldn't be too long. A couple of hours at most. Tell me lad, what is it you seek there?" The merchant asked curiously. "I wish to join the mercenary guild there. Surely you have heard of them?" Alen said, whilst examining his sword. It might not have been in perfect condition, but it got the job done.

"I have heard the rumors, yes. I presume you have prior combat experience?" "I have fought against the pirates several times during their invasion. I am by no means a stranger to war." Alen replied.

"I see. In that case, I shall wish you good luck in your future journeys. Something tells me you'll need it.."

A few hours later, Alen was standing infront of the building he'd been directed to by the fellas in the tavern. Apparently, some ex-mercenary was looking for recruits. Alen took a deep breath and stepped inside.

 

[Majhudeen]

"A man with a funny name hmm? That makes two of us. Captain Engel Zootburg at your service..."
He waved his hat off, and bowed to the man.

"Well, seeing as were both looking for a job involving of cleaving a unfortunate bastard sons head clean off, I propose we look for this mysterious house together. Whats say you?"

 

[RalliX]

Elwin contemplated with a smile on his face, jokingly he brought his hand up to his chin, grasping a short, but full-faced beard obviously looking at Engel's equipment questioningly. Suddenly he dropped his hand out and shook the squashbuckler's hand, chuckling.
"Aye, you'll make a right good partner in such business I reckon." Without much else to say, he turned and walked towards the house he most suspected, another armed man walking in as well. He strode with Engel towards it.

 

[Gopats]

Fletcher was walking along until he saw a man banging on a door. Thats when he noticed a dog like man standiing above him hovering. Fearing for the mans life he quickly yelled out to him,"Hey you there watch out there is something above you!"

 

[Grimmend]

"Hey you there watch out there is something above you!"

At that remark made by the other man who just came in, Garrik looked up and sure enough, there was a man cover in animal furs on the second floor, staring right at him.  A little wary about the strange man, he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, though still in a relatively relaxed stance.

"I heard there was a new contractor setting up shop in this area, you wouldn't be the owner of this establishment, would you?"

 

[Gopats]

"No I am not but i believe this man is near by i have been looking for him too. My name is Jamendithas Fletcher and i would be wary of a man like that above I will keep my crossbow ready and i ask you up there to come down or something."

 

[Ludial]

The dog thought that luck was a strange thing. While darkness was supposed to keep him concealed from the man at the door, another one approaching the building managed to make out his form against the sky. Now they were talking about swords and crossbows. And again, a job. Some contractor living in the house or something. The dog though that not to be surprising, as Yakima was a city of things and people traded for gold, and on the side the trade of a merc might be fun. Curiosity did kill the cat, but a mad dog is something else when it comes to nosing around.
'Ye wok me up wi' yer bangin' an' yellin'! Wot's dis job ye'r ramblin' aboot?'

(lol Gopats, he doesn't actually look like a mut, but is just a wild, leather covered man. He's not even ugly, just lives like a dog )

 

[Gopats]

(I know but at night things look much different to the eyes) "It's a mercenary job a man hiring a group of people to perform random contracts," Fletcher says lowering his crossbow

 

[Jec94227]

Irritated by a combination of wine, lack of sleep for the past two days and the damnable knocking, Caramon buckled on his sword belt and pulled on his mail shirt. Walking down the stairs he saw that there was a man already in his house.
"You here for a job?" he barked at the man. After a confused moment, he nodded. "Good. Go into that room, and sit down. I'll be with you in a moment." He gestured off to the dining area, while he went to the door.

Pushing it open, he saw a pair of people on the street apparantly talking to his roof. A quick look up proved that they were in fact talking to a man who was on his roof. "Damn the sweet maker, why the hell is it one of those days?" Clearing his throat, he caught their attention.

"So I suppose you're looking for a Contractor, yes? Good, because you found one. If you wanted a job as a mercenary, come in. If not, piss off and quit with the racket."

Two other people were down the road a bit, but not quite far enough away to not hear what he said. Oh well, hardly anyone comes down this way, and odds are they were looking for a job as well. He turned and went back into his house, not turning to see if they followed.

 

[Majhudeen]

Engel and his new found friend walked into the tavern doors, which were ill lit by the condoned lights of the lamps.

Looking around they saw of what appeared to be a few patrons of the bar, your usual contingent of drunks, scum and other sorts of general grots. But a few individuals stood out. Most noticeablly a Brigand type fellow wearing a large fur cloak, of which he looked to have barbaric zeal to himself. Then, it seemed there was another, a sort of jumpy fellow with a crossbow and saber at his side.

"Well, I beleive we have found our contractor my friend. Let's get down to bussiness..." Turning his head to Elwin.

He walked up to the man who sat with a pitch of wine, at a chipped table. He appeared to be grogged somewhat, but noticing his tone while walking in, it seemed liek he was the man to talk to.

" Me and my friend here, are here to get a job with yer crew and piss off with some unfortunate bastard sons we'll be fighting soon enough, unless this company you have here is the dainty ladies regiment of course."

He grinned at the man with a whole hearted atonement, his boastful attitude emitting a humorous vigor about it.

 

[Gopats]

Turning to the man who spoke Fletcher said, " Ah a pirate I have killed many of your kind before and the best part is I found the cowards among you from the crossbow bolt in there back I shot when they tried to run away."

 

[Ludial]

After getting off the roof the dog strutted inside behind the other men, slowly enough to let his senses get accustomed to the new environment, reflexes tightened like fiddle strings. He was going into a house full of armed men, after all. Taking in the layout of the interior and all possible movable obstacles and exits, he huddled quietly in a corner close to the door while the others sat around a table and started talking. The chain covered, tipsy and smelling of wine grizzled swordsman was apparently the contractor. The other several people all looked like they had seen their deal of combat. Most seemed to prefer the sword as their main weapon. One of said swordsmen (the same that spotted him on the roof) also had a crossbow, so the dog made sure he could see the man's hands and bag of bolts. That same man threw a boastful remark about shooting pirates in the back with said crossbow to a man who resembled a peacock with his cape and feathered hat. The dog took an instant dislike for them both. Men of the cities, already fighting each other with words before even letting things follow their natural way. Some soldiers they would become. Instead of listening to the real war veteran sitting before them, they were beginning to quarrel over things of appearance. The dog decided to remain quiet, as things usually followed their own way, especially with mercenaries, who followed fairly closely the order of nature when it came to picking a leader. As always, the dog prepared quietly for a fight.

 

[Jec94227]

(uh, we're in my house/HQ, not a tavern.)

Caramon rolled his eyes. He didn't much care for the peacock man, and didn't exactly fear his little frogsticker so he didn't hide the feeling or gesture.

"Right then. You all want a job, and just so happen to have a job. Just so we're clear on where the money is going, let me tell you. If you don't like it, you can leave.
Ten percent goes to the guildhall, non-negotiable. When I was with The Black Company we had the pleasure of hunting down cheapskates who thought they didn't need to pay their dues. And to be blunt, even if The Black Company had as many men as whats here right now, they'd still kill all of you easily.
Five percent goes to me. I'm open to a little wiggle room after the first job, since we need each other for the cash anyways, me to find the jobs and you to do the jobs.
The rest you can do what you like with it. Buy weapons, women and wine for all I care. Divide it as you wish."

He had stood up as he spoke, talking with a loud commanding voice that he had used on battlefields so that his comrades could hear him. He waited a minute, to see if any left.

"Good. Now this is an easy contract, and the Guildhead thought it was a decent starting point for me. The Golden Company wants men to escort one of their caravans, from Ratzinger in Eastfarthing to Konigs in Westreach. It'll take about two, two and a half weeks there and back. All you need to worry about are bandits, and maybe some Norlanders if the Families are feeling active. Pay is 350 Guilders before deductions, meaning you guys will split about 300. Whether you want to stay on afterwards is up to you, but if you do then it'll be in your intrest to either get your gear into this house or find a better place to use as your HQ." He stopped for a moment "Our HQ, if you want me to stay as your contractor."

He finished his circut of the table. Sitting down again, he put the docutments of the contract on the table for them to reveiw as they wished. It included the deal itself, the pay, expected dangers and the map of the route. "So there it is. Who's in?"


The Map:

Spoiler