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Post by Daos on Feb 9, 2022 10:13:02 GMT -8
Changing the subject, Daos asks Meine, "And what about your future? Your older sister will one day rule, and your younger sister told me she wants to attend the Grand Academy and one day open a potion shop. But what dreams do you hold?"
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Post by GravityEmblem on Feb 9, 2022 10:33:00 GMT -8
"Eh, I'd be happy to keep doing this," Meine says, her expression instantly lightening. "Go around, stab bad guys and get paid for it. ...hell, I don't even need the pay. Keeping people safe is payment enough."
"That's very noble of you," Valerie notes.
"Well, I am a noble," she jokes. "Maybe ask dad for some coin to start a whole organization. All going around, keeping the peace, fighting monsters and scoundrels..." Meine fantasizes. "Like something out of a novel, you know?"
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Post by Daos on Feb 9, 2022 11:23:39 GMT -8
A little pay would be nice, Daos notes mentally. Not that he regretted rescuing the duke's daughter; he'd do it again in a heartbeat. But he had thought he'd earn some kind of reward for it. Ah, well. At least he still has the duke's 'bribe' money; he never used it, so that will have to do.
"A sort of...adventurer's guild?" Daos asks. "Such a thing could be quite useful, especially in places with bandit and monster activity that is higher than normal."
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Post by GravityEmblem on Feb 9, 2022 12:29:23 GMT -8
"Yeah, Parsall has a lot of bandits. And I hear Music, Arcadia, and the Elven Lands have a lot of monsters," Meine explains. "You hear all sorts of wild stories, you know. Like of that Swamp Monster in Uhl'Jalimak."
Daos recognizes the Elvish name--translated into Humish, it means "Where fish go to die."
"My mother always told me, 'Val, the world's a strange and scary place,'" Valerie says. "'If you hear rumors about a horrific monster...they're true. Every. Single. Time.' Those Elves had better be careful!" she jokes.
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Post by Daos on Feb 9, 2022 15:02:27 GMT -8
"Sound advice," Daos agrees. "The world holds many dangers, although not all of them are gruesome looking monsters," he says, thinking of the Night's Breath and their spies and assassins.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Feb 10, 2022 5:55:10 GMT -8
Val nods. "I grew up in Deppsburg. Trust me, I know that Mortals can be the worst Monsters of all."
As dusk begins to fall on the Foccu plains, Meine and Valerie work together to build a fire.
"We ought to work out a watch schedule," Meine says. "You know, keep the--" She is interrupted by a man sliding in besides her. He wears a wide-brimmed hat with a square piece of paper inserted into it, and carries a pouch full of scrolls. Meine immediately rubs her forehead and mutters "Dear Elshodi...."
"Hail, travelers! What tidings do you bring?" he asks, pulling out a blank scroll and a quill. "And, uh, can you bring them slowly? I need to write this all down."
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Post by Daos on Feb 10, 2022 11:53:06 GMT -8
"If you're looking for a big scoop, newsman, then I have one for you," Daos says. "Deppsburg is soon to be cleaned up of crime. The Scarlet Dragons and Night Hydras are being taken down as we speak by General Blackpool and his men, on the king's orders. In fact, I would suggest you head there at once to verify their progress. An exclusive like that would no doubt do wonders for your career."
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Post by GravityEmblem on Feb 10, 2022 12:49:56 GMT -8
"Really!? Completely cleaned up?" the newsman says, jumping from his seat. "...yes, yes, it all makes sense! I can hear the headline now: 'Near death experience spurs King to curb Deppsburg crime!' At once, you say?"
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Post by Daos on Feb 10, 2022 13:18:43 GMT -8
"Oh, yes. This story is on-going. To hesitate is to risk someone else beating you to the punch," Daos says. "I would rush there at all speed, if I were you," he adds, hoping to get rid of the newsman quickly.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Feb 10, 2022 15:21:35 GMT -8
"Indeed!" he cries. "Well, if you think so, I'll be off there. My story will be the scoop of the new century! Good evening," he says to the noble prisoners as he tips his hat goodbye. Meine laughs as he races off.
"Nice one, Daos," she commends. "So, who wants first watch?"
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Post by Daos on Feb 10, 2022 15:52:26 GMT -8
"Hopefully it does some good. If word gets out that Deppsburg is being cleaned up, it may help demoralize the gangs there further. And I can take first watch," Daos offers.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Feb 11, 2022 5:49:17 GMT -8
"Put the fear of Elshodi into them. Good idea," Meine jokes.
She and Valerie set up bedrolls for the party, but the prisoners are forced to sleep on the ground. Lenkinshire protests, before the glares of Meine and Cryfold shut him up.
Daos keeps watch for the first few hours, seeing nothing but bats fluttering overhead. Until he spots, out of the corner of his eye, two skeletons, standing ten yards away. They aren't moving, either to attack or to leave. And they seem to be staring right at Daos.
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Post by Daos on Feb 11, 2022 12:59:44 GMT -8
Daos jumps to his feet, and uses the butt of his staff to prod Meine and Valerie awake. "Get up," he hisses quietly. "We have company." He watches the skeletons closely, wondering why they haven't done anything yet, but he remains prepared to fight if they make a move.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Feb 11, 2022 13:18:45 GMT -8
Meine and Valerie stir as Daos wakes them. Meine immediately reaches for her sword, while Valerie looks around for the threat.
"Skeletons?" she whispers, picking up her bow. "Are they...spying on us?" she wonders. Both undead continue to watch, without making a move.
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Post by Daos on Feb 11, 2022 15:46:27 GMT -8
"If they are spies, they are terrible ones," Daos notes. "They make no effort to hide themselves; unless whoever sent them wanted us to see them." But why? If they aren't spies and they aren't here to fight, then what purpose do they serve? A distraction, perhaps? Daos checks to see whether the rogue nobles are still asleep or awake.
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