Archives: Liberation of Ales
Chapter 4: A New Job?
Dartin Etage was a local merchant who made a business of selling goods throughout the nation of Kanon, from the cities to the most remote villages. He led a caravan that dealt in a variety of things, but mostly it was bringing goods from the villages to the cities. However, when he paid a visit to the village of Ales a few days ago, he was turned away, told by the locals quite harshly, that they had nothing to sell and never to come back. He would have gladly agreed to leave them in peace after his rude reception, but about a mile away from town, a local girl had run out ahead of his caravan, forcing him to stop. When he did, she hopped onto his wagon and proceed to tell him just what was wrong in Ales. Apparently, the village had been taken over by a Baylos cult and the villagers were suffering the harsh judgement of the priests if they didn’t follow the letter of the law of Baylos. The girl, Saertia, had witnessed enough of this and slipped away into the forest to escape and get word to Shinning Hill. Dartin’s caravan had made her escape that much easier.
However, the problem was that Ales was not exactly within the realm of Kanon, and out of the jurisdiction of the kingdom’s military. Dartin also feared that the military might not handle the problem properly, and cripple Ales’ treasured freedom in the future. Instead, he decided to go to mercenaries. He had the gold to pay them, and there was the possibility of a more stealthy and varied force to handle the fire-wielding clerics.
After arriving in Shinning Hill, Dartin left his caravan at his favorite inn, then he and Saertia went to the Mercenaries’ Guild. As they approached the guild, Dartin and Saertia looked on in wonder and fear at the armored centauress who stood outside the building. She seemed furious, but Dartin wouldn’t be stopped. Saertia linked her arm with his and huddled close to the merchant as they gave Mora wide berth and entered the guild. Once inside, the guild wasn’t so intimidating. Several mercenaries and a priest of Myrii were in the lobby, minding their own business. Dartin and Saertia headed up to the main desk, which the clerk had just returned to, carrying Niklas’s papers.
“Can I help you?” the clerk asked.
“I have a job I’d like to arrange,” Dartin said, speaking in a low tone the clerk.
“Very well. I’ll take you to the guild master, just give me a moment,” the clerk replied, then filed away Niklas’s paperwork. Once it was put away, he led Dartin and Saertia back into the guild. After a few minutes, the clerk returned to his station at the guild’s front desk.
Lianora and Niklas left the training room after finishing the paperwork with the clerk. The priestess noticed the merchant and a harrowed looking girl speaking with the clerk, then going to the back of the guild. It looked like they might be looking for mercenaries, but Lianora assumed it might have been just a simple guard job. As they returned to the lobby, Lianora noticed another Myrii priest and her heart skipped up into her throat. He noticed her too, but only gave her a respectful nod. Lianora returned it, and breathed again. He didn’t seem to recognize her.
“So what do we do now?” Niklas asked.
“We can look over some job listings, but I have a feeling a new one might be posted soon,” she said. “Let’s look over the list.” Lianora led Niklas over to a bulletin board near the desk and the two looked over the jobs available, but the pickings looked sparse.
Flora walked into the Mercenaries’ Guild, looking around as she did so. Thangroth, a dwarven man she had met when she joined Olula’s group, had suggested that she join the Mercenaries’ Guild to make some money while she was traveling. The girl had no clue on what to do, but it sounded like a good guild at the moment. The lavender haired girl walked over to the wall and then back to the door. She looked around the place and sighed. Oh my, maybe I should go to the counter? the girl thought as she walked over to it.
The guild clerk looked over the young woman who had approached the counter with a raised eyebrow, as he tried to guess what she could be there for. She wasn’t dressed like a mercenary, but she did carry a bow and arrows. Could she be looking to hire, perhaps? “Can I help you miss?” he asked.
Flora watched the clerk with a nervous look. She nodded her head and said, “Yes, I would like to join this guild please.” The girl looked down at her hair and started to play with it.
“You would eh?” The clerk looked on the girl reluctantly. “Alright, there is an application and a test of physical ability. We can fill out the application right here,” the clerk explained and pulled out another application. Taking his quill out of the ink pot, he wet the tip on his tongue, then put it to paper. “Your name, please?”
Geo was on his way out when he caught a glimpse of the girl at the counter. His eyes surveyed her from her head down to the curves of her bodice, finally to her legs. What alarmed him the most was that she wanted to be a mercenary. His eyes surveyed her again, no matter how many times he looked over her form there was no strength or endurance present in her muscle tone. Women in his village, from the few memories he had as a child, at least had a strong looking physique, while not muscle bound, at least had more than just a plush body with attractive curves, but also strong looking arms, even if they didn’t look the same as a man’s arms. Mora could wait, Geo’s interests were piqued with this fledgling girl and how she would pass the trial of martial ability.
Flora nodded to the clerk and said, “Flora. F-L-O-R-A.” She kept her eyes on what he was writing, not even noticing the man that was watching her.
The clerk wrote down her name, then moved to the next section of the application. “Your age, please?” he asked.
“I am eighteen,” Flora told the clerk.
“And where are you from?” the clerk asked as he wrote down her age and moved to the next section.
“I am from Alecrast,” Flora responded.
The clerk raised his eyebrow as he wrote down her homeland, a little surprised at that. “Very well. Now, what weapons can you use and how much experience do you have with them?” he asked. This was the part he was most curious about.
“Well, I fight with a bow and arrows. My grandmother and some of the village women helped me with my training. It has been about seven years since I start using the bow. I have also trained with certain swords, but not as much as the bow, ” Flora told the clerk.
The clerk wrote down her claims of proficiency, then continued. “We will require a test of your ability. Please follow me to our archery range,” the clerk said, then stepped out from behind the counter, turning toward the hall that led further back into the building. He waited for Flora to follow him, then led the way to a back door that led into an open-air fighting range. This area was larger than the training room Geo and Niklas had sparred in and the far wall was lined with targets.
“Please stand on the line,” the clerk said, pointing to a line of bricks embedded in the dirt. “Five arrows are all you are allowed to use. If you miss, you cannot try again. Chose your target and begin.”
Flora nodded and followed the clerk as he led her to a very large area. The lavender haired girl stared at the area, looking at everything that she could. Then she turned her attention to the clerk as he spoke. The girl looked at the bricks and walked over to it, then she turned to face a target that was in the middle of the other targets on the wall, and sighed softly. “So, if I miss one, can I continue going or do I have to stop?” the girl asked as she looked at him with her lavender eyes.
“Just keep going,” the clerk replied, then stood back and waited for her to begin.
Flora nodded to the clerk then took out her bow and arrow. She aimed the first arrow and then shot it. The arrow landed at the top edge of the target. The girl blushed as she took a next arrow and aimed it at the target, this time focusing as she shot it once again. The arrow landed three inches away from middle of the target, and this made the girl blush even more, for a good reason this time though. She sighed and aimed the third arrow, then shot it. The arrow landed at the bottom edge, but the girl went on and shot the fourth one, which it landed closer the middle. The girl jumped up and down in excitement and quickly shot the last one, which missed entirely. “Umm...” was all that came out the girl’s mouth as she stared at the arrows.
The clerk was mildly impressed with the girl. She could fire a bow, but her hits were all over the board, one even missed. He gave a shrug; it was acceptable. He wrote down his review of her ability quickly. “You are acceptable, but I suggest you limit yourself to first level jobs until you have more experience with the bow,” the clerk responded, sounding somewhat condescending. “Come inside and we will discuss the terms of your membership in the guild.” With that,the clerk turned around and headed back into the building.
Flora sighed as she heard that she was accepted. The girl smiled as she listened to the clerk talk. “Alright,” the girl said as she quickly followed behind him.
The guild clerk led Flora back to his desk and described to her what she would have to do in the guild. There was no initial fee upon joining, but she was required to pay ten percent of her earnings from jobs to the guild to maintain membership. If her dues were paid up and she earned good reviews from employers, she would eventually go up in her guild rank. After filing her application, he pulled out two pre-printed leather sheet with the seal of the Shinning Hill’s Mercenaries’ Guild on it from one of his many drawers, then filled Flora’s name in one, and Niklas’s in the other. As busy as he had been this morning, he had yet to create Niklas’s official order.
“This is your order of membership in the guild. I will keep it here, and send letters to the other major guilds in Lodoss to recognize you as a mercenary,” the clerk explained while he rolled up both orders and pulled a couple bronze coins out of yet another drawer. “I will be back momentarily,” he told Flora, without giving her a chance to reply to his previous statement, then left her at his desk as he carried the coins to another room in the back of the guild.
Flora nodded as she stared at the man and listen to him. She looked at what he was doing, a bit confused as he spoke once again. The girl was ready to respond, but the clerk was already gone. The lavender haired girl frowned a bit as she looked around the guild, she sighed, then smiled as she looked at the entrance. The girl was very happy that she decided to come here. Flora closed her eyes, leaning against the desk as she hummed softly.
While Lianora and Niklas browsed the job listings—finding nothing interesting—both of them had taken notice of the new girl who wanted to join the guild. Lianora couldn’t see any sign that the girl was a capable fighter, but when she and the clerk came back from her testing, she had been approved. Perhaps she was a good archer, despite the flamboyant dress.
The clerk returned twenty minutes later and stepped behind his desk again. Holding up one of the coins, Flora’s name was engraved into the center of the coin. “This is evidence of your membership in the Mercenaries’ Guild. Keep it with you in your travels, and present it at any other guild you visit. If you lose it, you can be granted another one, but it is a complicated process, so I suggest you don’t lose it,” the clerk replied and handed the coin to Flora. “Would you please give this mark to the young man over there?” he added, offering her the second coin and pointing to Niklas.
Flora looked at the clerk as she came back out. She stared at the coin with her lavender eyes, reading her name as she took it from him. “Wow,” the girl said as she blushed softly. She looked at the clerk then at where he was pointing and she nodded and took the coin from him. “Niklas,” she said softly as she walked over to the white haired man. “Excuse me mister?” she softly as she looked at the ground and blushed. “This is yours.” The girl held up the coin, but it was the one with her name on it.
“Yes?” Niklas replied the girl, and his eyes drifted down to the coin she held. Taking it from her, he cocked his head to the side, examining it. “What is this for?” he asked.
Lianora leaned in over his shoulder to look at what the girl gave Nik. “Why does it say ‘Flora’?” the priestess asked.
Flora’s cheeks turned red as she stared at the coin with the man’s name on it. “Oh... well.. umm..,” the girl had no clue what to say to this point. The lavender haired girl looked up at the two and smiled nervously. “Sorry. Umm.. that is mine,” she said as she switched the coins then bowed to them. “I am sorry,” the girl sighed softly as she bit her lip.
“Oh, thank you,” Niklas replied, bowing his head, but he was still confused. “But you did not yet say what this coin is for.”
Flora looked up at the man and sighed softly. “The clerk told me that the coin is proof of your membership in the Mercenaries’ Guild. He also said that if you lose the coin, you can get another one, but it will take some time to replace,” the girl said as she thought. “You can present the coin at any other guild so that they know that you’re a part of the Mercenaries’ Guild. That is all,” she said as she smiled at the pair.
“Ahh...thank you...Flora?” Niklas replied. He assumed her name was Flora, as that was what was on her coin, and his name was on his. Pausing for a moment, the swordsman posed a question to her; “I am curious, why did you want to join the Mercenaries’ Guild? You do not dress like a fighter.”
Flora nodded to the man when he said her name. She still had her smile on her face as she listened to him. “Umm... well, I joined because one of friends told me about it. Since I was traveling, and not really getting paid for doing it, he said it would be best.” The girl looked down at her clothes and then back up at Niklas. “Well, I’m used to fighting in these type of clothes. My grandmother always had me in them, so it just sort of stuck on me,” she said.
“Odd,” Niklas replied, cocking his head to the side again. “My master always taught me that your clothing must be functional, though perhaps it is different for women... of other cultures, that is?”
Lianora chuckled. “Well, look at me after all,” the priestess said, sweeping her arms out to show off her outfit which had a very short skirt. “Some women like a little fashion, even if they’re fighting,” she told Niklas.
The young swordsman glanced back at Lianora and shook his head. Her garb wasn’t quite as risky as Flora’s, though it wasn’t quite ideal for a fighter. “I believe that function is much more important that form,” he insisted. Pointing to Flora’s dress, he critiqued her; “Flowing skirts can easily become snagged in battle, which could be deadly if an enemy takes advantage of your situation. A real battle is much different than training.”
Geo watched silently, stifling a yawn as he did. Niklas seemed to be quick at attracting the ladies, but had a hard time actually understanding why women dressed the way they did. The young swordsman sighed, he supposed it would be time enough to go find a job, and then check out whether or not Mora was right pissed or not. He looked over the board with a scoff. There was less pickings here than as his short time as a slave on a ship. Still, he reexamined them all to see if any had a hidden ‘catch’ to them. The chance to barter for more gold always appealed to a person who lived by the sword.
The guildmaster emerged from the back quarters of the guild with a new job mapped out on a piece of parchment. Behind him, the merchant and young woman waited patiently.
Clearing his throat to get the attention of all those in the common room, he announced the new contract; “New contract going up!” then took it over to the bulletin board and posted it up for all to see. Considering the number of people in the common room, had suggested that the merchant wait around for an immediate response. After pinning the new paper to the board, the guild master leaned back against the desk counter, waiting for a reaction from the present guild members.
The posting read:
“Employer seeking experienced fighters and scouts to liberate unaffiliated village of Ales.
“Ales is currently occupied by a Baylos cult that is subjugating the villagers. Baylos worship is outlawed in Lodoss, as agreed upon by the five nations, however, Ales belongs to no nation. This cult must be eradicated. Every dead priest brings a reward of fifty gold for those who can present proof. Inquire to the Guildmaster or Dartin Etage. A guide will be provided to lead the way to Ales, all interested parties must be prepared to leave within two days.”
When he heard a new job had become available, Geo took an immediate look. Scanning over the details quickly it sounded like something that was up Mora and his alley, however more up his own. While he was interested, whether or not Mora would go along with this was left up in the air. Regardless, he was at a disadvantage without Mora in here to explain to, and without someone to translate his signing into spoken language. He moved away from the poster and over towards the Guild Master. Pointing at the recently posted job he gave a small smile and a nod to indicate that he was interested in it.
The announcement caught Niklas and Lianora’s attention, and the two stepped over to the newly posted job. Niklas read it over, while Lianora glanced at it over his shoulder. Apparently Niklas found it interested and glanced back at Lianora for some sort of approval. The priestess only shrugged; it was up to him, she’d follow where he went. The white-haired swordsman understood her gesture, and stepped up to the guildmaster.
“I would like to take this job,” Niklas said, confidently.
Veriss, the tower of a woman, entered through the front door, the sound of silence on the walls a testament to her abilities. With no other real recourse, Veriss talked the centauress down and agreed to get the individual from the guild hall if she stopped assailing the building. Mora was also given a warning that this could be reported to the guild master as a violation of the rules.
The warrioress approached the posting. As her eyes scanned its contents, the guild master slapped her shoulder gently. “Are you taking this one on, Veriss? Sounds like your cup a tea, no?”
Veriss stared at it for a few more seconds, then turned her head. “I’m in,” she said simply.
The guildmaster laughed. “Just the way you like it, right? The more bodies, the better?”
Veriss had no response. It was true that her missions tended to be the bloodiest. When the guild was contracted for goblin infestations, raiders, anything that included large groups, they saw it as desirable for the beastly Veriss to sign up if available. But she also had a perchance for anything with a moral grounding. And a Baylos cult was more than motivation enough.
“Never had a sense of humor in her life...” the guildmaster muttered.
Flora stared at the large woman and guildmaster as they talked. The girl’s face started to turn red as she listened to them, but once she heard the guildmaster, the girl quickly walked over to the contract and started to read. Thoughts filled the girl’s head as she finish reading. Should she go or not? The lavender haired girl walked over to the guildmaster and said softly, “I would like to do the job as well.” The girl watched the group of people with her lavender eyes and sighed softly.
Geo shuddered as Veriss approached him. Something was off about her, yet she must have dealt with Mora. Geo nodded and put up an apologetic hand to Veriss to signify his leaving the desk behind and went out to see Mora.
* * *
“What in the hells took you so damned long?” Mora growled, her right hoof striking the cobbled street in angry—or rather impatient—reflex.
Geo held up his hands and attempted to explain through his sign language. Mora held up a single hand to slow him down so that the words weren’t coming out so fast.
“Alright, so you helped some kid, fought some battle and found a job?”
Geo nodded.
“Why didn’t you just come out and tell me?”
Geo shrugged impishly.
Mora sighed. “Alright, sign us up for the job, but be quick about it. All this standing around outside idly doesn’t sit well with me. Either get the details and come back, or set up a meeting with the clients.”
Geo nodded again and gave a short bow as he returned to the Mercenaries’ Guild desk to approach the guildmaster about the job.
* * *
After waiting a moment for all the available mercenaries to voice their interest, the guildmaster was pleased with the result. They already had a decent sized group together. “Alright. Everyone whose interested will need to meet back at the hall this evening after sundown. Get your gear together and we’ll write up a contract,” the guildmaster announced. The clerk had taken down the names of those who had shown their interest so they would be expected, but other mercenaries could still agree to join the group before the meeting.
