Old World Monsters Act One: Of Pagans

[Shark Bait]

It was early afternoon when Per approached the tree line just outside Wittenberge, He leaned his back against a large tree and looked towards the ground. Moving around like this in the day light was dangerous and exhausting, he rubbed his eyes they burned in this bright light. He took a deep breath and looked up cautiously, he moved slowly to a position where he could see the town but the woods still offered concealment. He could see three figures conversing with two guards, he took a deep breath his size alone often got him in trouble but these folks were already scared out of their minds. He thought for a moment before bending down to the ground and patting his hands on the soft slightly damp soil, he then rubbed his hands lightly together and patted the dryer dirt lightly on his face. He had learned this trick fairly quickly while traveling in human lands, the combination of the dark soil and his naturally gray skin tone made him simply look like a very ugly very dirty, large human. He then stood again and walked towards the road, he didn’t want to spook the natives so he figured he would play it straight and just walk up the main road like he had nothing to hide. With any luck if he acted as non threatening as possible he might even get a good meal before night fell and it was time to get to work.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Thank you, that will be fine" said the crazy armored mage to the terrified guards.

"You'll have nothing to worry about from me" the armored man almost sounded kind...

He started walking toward the mayor's home, and looked around for small birds that would report his good deeds back to the papacy and ensure his continued survival

[rhoenix]

While nodding in thanks, Agrilos expressed his gratitude to the guards verbally as well. "This is understandable that you were only doing your duty - it is to be commended in times such as these. Thank you for the information, and I bid you well."

With that, he began walking toward the house indicated, though at a slower pace than before.

[The Village Idiot]

Visira had been on this road for a fair bit. After hearing about a place in need of mercenaries due to attacks by roving monsters. He thought it would be a nice opportunity to gain a bit of coin, help a few people out, and maybe even feast a bit with out drawing to much attention, gods willing.

"That is," he thought to himself, "if I am not discovered", as he stepped into yet another deceptivly deep patch of mud. Throwing his head back in frustration, looking to the sky, the rain gently falling on his face "Gods I love the rain...", he mumbled to himself, "but i'll be damned if I don't hate this mud more," looking down at his now completly covered boots in disgust.

As he looked up, shaking off some of the mud, he saw that a particularly large man had stepped onto the road a fair bit ahead of him, and was now walking towards Wittenberge. "I wonder if he is on his way to help as well?" he said quitly, quickening his pace, unsure if would ever catch the giant. "Either way", he figured, "it will be nice to talk to somebody."

[Charon]

The two archers took pains to step ahead of the trio as they moved on the Mayor's home and coughed politely. "This way, if you would." And with that the second archer went around behind the group as the first started to lead towards one of the larger wooden buildings.

[Shark Bait]

Per slogged along through the muddy road towards the front gates of the of the town the other men he had seen talking to the guards had now gone into the town, this might work to his advantage too many people crowding around the guards at the same time might spook someone. As he continued toward the town he heard something coming up behind him, from the sound of it someone walking quickly through the mud. He turned his head just enough to catch a glimpse of a man in a dark coat and hat approaching him, he didn’t think this man was just someone on a pilgrimage, the cloths were too nice for that. And he did not have enough gear to be a merchant, given this town’s reputation that probably meant another mercenary looking for work. No sense in trying to out distance the man they would meet at the gate anyway, Per simply slowed his walk just enough to so the other man would reach him before the gate, but not enough to be overly obvious.

[The Village Idiot]

As he neared the large man, he slowed his pace to match the giant, noticing the large ornate sword and shield across his back.

[German]"Afternoon traveler," he said smiling up to the man, "such a fine day for a stroll."

By the look of him, Visira guessed he wasn't on his way to trade, and hoped he wasn't the roving monster.

[rhoenix]

Following the first archer, Agrilos decided to not pay visible attention to the second archer acting as rearguard. "After you," he said to the archer in front.

[The Silence and I]

A large man well covered in dark travel clothing walks along the path towards the town. He carries an odd staff of something like wood but divided into regular segments and seemingly lighter, and an oiled coat of unremarkable appearance is draped over his head and back, hiding his pack and keeping him comfortably damp. A stout sword swings with each step at his side and a close observer might hear the clink of chainmail under his brown and black attire.

He is an older man whose signs of aging are mostly around the eyes and he walks quickly with some purpose to his stride. There is evidence of recent travelers on the path before him, their tracks not yet washed away by the rain, and as he rounds the last bend two walking figures come into view between him and the town gates. One of them is very large, and John slows his pace so as to not over take them and instead to arrive a little behind the other travelers.

[Shark Bait]

[German]"Afternoon traveler," he said smiling up to the man, "such a fine day for a stroll." [/german]

Per cautiously glannced at the sky, "Indeed" he replied "though I can not say I would turn down a roof over my head and perhaps a warm fire at this point" Per eyed the man, definately a mercenary.

"What Brings you this way? Are you going to wittenberg for work as well?"

[The Village Idiot]

As they approched the town, he could see the two front guards looking intently at the two approching strangers.

"Aye, I was headed this direction anyway," he said starring off at the wall of the town, "thought I might get a hearty meal and a good tale or two". "Glad to see I'm not the only one."

[Shark Bait]

Per and the stranger reached the enterance of the town stopped a short distance from the guards. "greetings" Per said to the guards in an attempt to appear a little less threatening "I hear you are looking for mercenaries with an ear more sympathetic than the inquisition, Who do I speak to about this job. I trust the position has not been filled yet."

[Charon]

The two guards had spotted the two other newcomers and were grumbling to themselves, something about the rain and it pouring. As Per and Visira reached the two they had taken up their positions and despite the verbal thrashing they'd recieved not more than a minute before looked professional.

The older guard looked closely at the pair, giving particular interest to Per's appearance, and almost gagging at his appearance. "Slipped in the mud once or twice?" The old guard smiled in a friendly manner before continuing. "So I take it you two are mercenaries?"

[rhoenix]

Hearing the voices behind him, Agrilos slowed to a stop, and turned around to watch what was happening at the gate. He looked thoughtfully at the pair who had just gained the entrance, then resumed walking. This would be an interesting meeting with the town elder of Wittenberge indeed.

[Rukia]

As the two men stood at the gate, Krystyna's carriage pulled up a few feet from them. She stepped out, wearing a dress suited fro traveling, a cloak with the hood covering her face, and her slightly worn traveling boots she stepped down the small set of stairs and sunk a bit in the soft ground. Motioning to one of the men to follow her, she made her way over to the guards and the other men.

Bowing slightly she spoke, [Romanian]"Hello, Gentlemen. I guess it safe to assume none of you speak Romanian?"[/rom.]

[Comrade Tortoise]

Upon hearing a Romanian Bitch speak Manfred turned around and his consternation at hearing a romanian, not only that, a Gypsy speak was transformed into horror at what he saw.

The signs were there. The wagon shutting out all light, the ornate clothing. The look of complete and utter pretention to power she could only dream of having that he paid his sanity for.


He was not looking at a human being. He was looking at a Gypsy. He would have preferred the walking dead. The big man was also not a man. Far too large, the guy's swoard looked almost as big as the guards... He was probably a troll, no way to tell for certain until night fell. Not much to worry about.

On Gypsies though... His master had told him of them... right before she stopped having lucid periods and tried to create a work of art out of a passing caravan... By the time she was done their leader was hung by a harness made of his own entrails... very messy

He spoke first to Agrilos, in Gaelic.

"The caravan with the woman is full of Romanian Gypsies We will need to watch ourselves, or they will throw children at us and rob as we try to catch them"

"Paul" he said quietly in his native german "From now on we sleep during the day, never at night, and at least one of us must be awake at all times, do you understand?"

[rhoenix]

Raising an eyebrow in momentary surprise at Manfred, Agrilos took a casual glance over his shoulder at the three waiting at the gate before replying. "[Gaelic]So I see. Thank you for the warning, I might owe you one for that," he said in a carefully casual tone. "[Gaelic]Unless my eyes deceive me, the troll with them will be welcome if we are all hired for protecting this town."

He continued after a moment, sighing softly before speaking. "[German]I've now another reason to be grateful that I am a light sleeper."

[The Village Idiot]

"Indeed", tipping his hat to the guards, "my name is Visira, I have come to help".

As he finishes a carrage pulls up behind him. He turns to see a striking woman gently step from the carriage. Quickly pulling the hat from his head he respectfully snaps off a short bow. She says something incomprehensable, he half smiles and nods, looking back to the guards.

[Shark Bait]

"Slipped in the mud once or twice?" The old guard smiled in a friendly manner before continuing. "So I take it you two are mercenaries?"

Per shrugged "it has been one of those days" He replied dusting off his hands to no avail "Yes, I am Per auf Jottenheim, I hear you have had problems with some monsters lately."

As the woman stepped out of the carriage and Visira bowed Per turned and nodded respectfully to the woman. [german] do you think she comes to fight too?[german] Per whispered loud enough for Visira to hear him.

[Charon]

The two guards seemed stunned as the woman came out of her carraige, and then blank when she spoke in Romanian, it was clear they did not understand her. The younger guard spoke up, [Italian]"Sorry m'lady. We know this though. Do you know German?"[/italian]. He wasn't sure if she would understand him, but there were decent odds at least one of her men would.

The older guard looked back to the other two travellers. "Well we'll take you at your word than, you certainly look the part." He was looking at Per as he said this. "You two can follow the archers up there into the inn. We'll let you know when the lord can see you."

[Shark Bait]

The older guard looked back to the other two travelers. "Well we'll take you at your word than, you certainly look the part." He was looking at Per as he said this. "You two can follow the archers up there into the inn. We'll let you know when the lord can see you."

"Thank you" Per said and stepped quickly following the archers "It will be nice to be under cover once more, out of this weather."

[The Village Idiot]

[german] do you think she comes to fight too?[german] Per whispered loud enough for Visira to hear him.

"That or die", he whispered back softly.

"Thank you", he said stepping in behind Per as they passed through the gates, "i'll just be glad to have a rest from this mud".

[Cynical Cat]

"As you say, master," Paul replied. He wasn't looking at Manfred. His eyes were on the woman. Couldn't see much of her face at the moment, but she had a nice figure. His gaze lingered.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Eyes off!" the wizard commanded in german

"She will use her wiles to ensnare you Paul. She is a Gypsy, she will rob you blind as soon as look at you, seduce you to take what few belongings you have..."

There is something off about her

[Plattdeutsch]"Of course there is, she is a gypsy" he said out loud in a regional german dialect

No child, more than that. SHe will rob you of more than your money and belongings... perhaps your soul

"Well she needs to leave my soul alone!"[/Plattdeutsch]

Her turned around, giving very subtle cues that perhaps everyone should move faster. The shooing motions he was making with his hands probably gave it a way

[Rukia]

Hearing and understanding everything spoken in german, Krystyna cleared her throat loudly and glared pointedly at the slightly less than sane out crier. Speaking in nearly perfect German she addressed the guard who had spoke to her, "I do indeed speak german. I am here, alone," she turned to look at the gate officer now, "save for my guards, about the inquiry for mercenaries." She turned her head slightly and looked at the youngest of the travelers, that was still staring despite his masters warning, smiled and winked.