Iron Kingdoms: Tides of War

[rhoenix]

Having remained outside the church to finish smoking his pipe, Zedrin stared upward into the night sky, seeing the glittering mosaic of stars above him forming a tapestry of light within the bluish-black darkness.

He unhurriedly took a few minutes to finish, letting his nerves settle after having faced an incarnation of death only a few minutes ago. His heart was no longer hammering madly within his chest, his breathing had slowed and deepened once more, and he was now calmly blowing smoke rings up into the night air. He smiled to himself - yes, things could have gone much worse.

Zedrin ashed his pipe out in the garden of the Church, making sure all the embers were out before taking his eyes from them. Gathering his few belongings, he walked into the Church, removing his wide-brimmed hat as he crossed the threshold. Seeing Jessica and the Exarch toward one of the forward pews, he walked at a slow, respectful pace toward them. Zedrin couldn't help but notice the armored woman talking with one of the priests, but he didn't let his gaze linger, as much as he might be tempted otherwise - he was in a holy place, after all.

[LadyTevar]

Teghe followed a few steps behind Jessica as she assisted His Holiness to the front, and while his thoughts were private, it could be noted that his eyes weren't ashamed to go to the priestess' backside once or twice. As Exarch Merwen sat down, Teghe respectfully placed the case on the pew beside him and took a few steps back.

[Cynical Cat]

"You have completed your obligations by escorting me here," said Merwyn. "Those of you who are doing it for pay, will be paid. It is clear that the problems here are much worse than expected. It would be appreciated if you continued to help. Those of you who are doing this job for pay will be paid extra, of course."

[rhoenix]

Zedrin looked down at the brim of his hat, frowning slightly as he slowly spun his hat around in his hands, thinking. He had signed onto this whole thing as a way to travel, have some stories to tell when he was done, and to earn some good money. He had done the first, which had been fun. The second he'd have in spades, and the third was already good.

However, seeing that horror of iron and necromancy simultaneously frightened him to the bone, and also made him wonder why such a monstrosity would be loose. This made him smile grimly - he wanted to shoot it again, now. Besides, there are far worse sights to see along the journey than Jessica's twin wonders held prisoner by her brassiere.

Looking up at the Exarch, he managed to look determined for a higher cause, despite the thoughts going through his head just a moment ago. "Given what's transpired just today, I'm tentatively in. How much more will we be paid?"

[Charon]

"Well," the priest hedged, "if you really mean it there is some aid you can give to us. But it is very dangerous. You don't have to do it."

Akina grinned as she affixed her greatcoat over her shoulders and pushed her shoulder length hair out of her face. "Dangerus? Hah! Do hyu know vat I vas doin' dat gots me here? I vas picking vight vith Trollkin. Dangur is my mittle name!" Akina paused for a moment. "Vell, aktually it is... Bah! is unimportant. Vat is de job?"

[Comrade Tortoise]

"You have completed your obligations by escorting me here," said Merwyn. "Those of you who are doing it for pay, will be paid. It is clear that the problems here are much worse than expected. It would be appreciated if you continued to help. Those of you who are doing this job for pay will be paid extra, of course."

"It is my pleasure to serve your grace. And I wont lie,the pay is good and my curiosity is piqued. I am in"

[LadyTevar]

"It's not like I have other jobs lined up begging for me, Your Holiness," Teghe answered. "As I said when I signed on, I'm here as long as I'm needed."

[Bloody Good]

Ardal grinned, an expression that was becoming very familiar, though this was a more savage, sinister one than typical. "I still owe dat friggin' tin man a boot to the skull. I'm in."

[Hotfoot]

Rogan let loose an exaggerated sigh. "Well, if Teghe is going, I'd better stick close to protect my investment. All the money he owes me isn't worth a tick if he ends up dead," a chuckle escaped his lips.

"Still, I think some more information would be worthwhile. As good as the pay might be, it's worthless if we're dead before we can spend it. I for one, would like to know what we're up against, what they're after, the usual sort of how do you do that goes with this sort of work," He eye Malkamar, giving him a challenging look. He respected Malkamar for certain reasons, but there were certain things he still clashed with the Paladin over. Blind service being one thing. He didn't mind tagging along from time to time, as the Church often had decent jobs available, but Rogan hated working for people who weren't up front about the details of the work, even the Church.

[Cynical Cat]

"A reasonable question," answered the exarch. "I will try to be brief. Several weeks ago, the dead began to be violated. Vilest necromancy. The Church has many of its bravest young men and women dealing with other crisis, like that brought on by the bloodthirsty members of the Protectorate.

"The task fell to me, in part. Jessica and Malkamar were dispatched to aid me, as I am no longer as young as I was but I am one of the few able to command the power of an ancient relic as well as the other powers Morrow has given me.

"Clearly the necromancer involved is the iron lich. It knew of my coming and it attacked, rather than retreated. Yes, you will probably face that monster again if you take up this task, but not unexpected this time. In the name of the living and the dead I ask you to take up this task."

[rhoenix]

Losing the feigned non-chalance of before to show a look of determination, Zedrin stepped forward. "I'm in. I still need to shoot out the cursed thing's other globe."

[B4UTRUST]

Engas looked at the others as the Exarch explained the situation. He was still unsure of going through with this, but felt he had to. Not for any real reason other then his own personal ones. To prove to himself that he could do it.

Engas glanced over towards Rogan and then back at the exarch.
"I suppose I must continue, as well," he stated, trying to smile and sound braver then it was known he probably was.
"After all, I can't let that Bodger show up a real mechanik..."

[Cynical Cat]

"Thank you all," said Merwyn. "I can set up spells to keep this church as a place of sanctuary that the iron lich cannot easily attack. I suggest you immediately begin searching for it. With one of its soul cages damaged, it will have less magic at its disposal and will probably be trying to recover its lost power. That means murdering people to refill its cages."

[rhoenix]

Taking a slow, deep breath, Zedrin nodded, and then grinned somewhat ferally. "To follow the beast to its lair...very well. I never thought I'd end up hunting an iron lich when I signed up for it, but I do enjoy a challenge. Everyone else ready to go, or do we need more time?"

[LadyTevar]

"From the sound of it, taking more time lets it get stronger," Teghe answered, grimacing. "Wish I had inscribed more bullets now, but no time now. Who knows how many people it'll kill before stopping."

[SirNitram]

"Were the situation not so dire, I would beg you spare a night's rest." Malkamar said simply. "But I've my rifle and Morrow's blessings, and that will need to be enough."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Indeed. Thankfully not many of my spells were used, so I am ready to go"

[Cynical Cat]

"There has been attempts to violate the graves of the dead," said the priest to Anika. "That's why the exarch has come, to stop it. Speak to him about how you can help."

[Charon]

Akina whistled slightly and then grabbed up what gear was on her person, the rest still being in her room. Bowing to the priest and thanking him for his efforts she stepped out of the room and looked around the temple. "Bah, I has forgoden to ask him vere de Exark is."

It didn't take long at all to spot the large group of non-priests congregated around an older man. "Den agin, maybe de findink is de easy part."

With an air of absolute assurance Akina strode up to the group, not worrying at all about how her presense may be taken, her greatcoat fanned out behind her quick strides. As she got close she got a better look at the group and snorted loudly. "Ha, no vunder dey vanted my help. Hyu is all skiny and tviggy. De only vun of hyu vit any meat on de bones is da cute vun over der." Akina gestured towards Malkamar as she nudged her way through the group to the Exarch. When she reached him she bowed deeply. "I vould be honor'd to help hyu in vatever his kneeded."

[Cynical Cat]

"And you would be?" the exarch asked kindly.

[Charon]

Akina paused, as if she was either pondering the question or realizing that she had not yet introduced herself. "Ah, vell, yes dat his important. I am Akina Zeitsev. I am of goot Umbrian ancestry, and am mercenary. De church haz help'd meh, so I now am offering servizes to church in vat vay dey see fit.

[Cynical Cat]

"I see," said the exarch. "Well, the expert in the matters is you Malkamar over there. Why don't you talk to him?"

[SirNitram]

Malkamar was still trying to penetrate the thick accent when he realized what had been said. "...Er.. When did I become in charge of mercenaries?" He asked helplessly, before remembering himself and drawing himself up. He tried to ignore the 'Cute' comment. "If you're willing and able, we're going to be trying to stop a necromancer as soon as possible. Er... I'm sure someone here will arrange pay."

[LadyTevar]

Teghe had been a little quicker to puzzle out the accent and was now elbowing Rogan and sniggering at the look on Malkamar's face as he caught on. The Umbrian was definitely something else ... tall and muscular in a way that made Teghe look nearly as 'tviggy' as she'd accused.

Teghe gave Rogan a wicked smirk, knowing the bodger had to be thinking the same thing: 'this would be amusing.'

[rhoenix]

Having noticed that the woman sitting off to the side would apparently be joining their rather mis-matched group, Zedrin looked her in the eyes as she approached, not looking away as she looked at all of them.

He chuckled. "'Twiggy,' eh? There are a number of comments to say to that, and none of them are appropriate within a church. Malkamar, I almost feel bad for you." At this, he grinned. "Almost."