Old World Monsters Act One: Of Pagans

[Cynical Cat]

Paul knew that Gypsies were thieves and vicious fighters. Well, he had plenty of respect for both things. His soul, people worried too much about his soul. The priests cared more about saving his invisible soul than his starving body and his master was crazy. The woman, on the other hand, was beautiful. He averted his gaze in obedience, but not without resentment.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"I know what you are thinking. Your master is crazy. That is true, He has no illusions about this. But he has also been around since 1396 and has a good eye for such things. There is something off about her. Something off indeed. He doesnt know if it is his insanity and hatred of gypsies or an actual feeling worth listening too... but until he knows what it is be careful. Believe it or not, you are the closest thing to a son your master will ever have Paul. His heir, his legacy. And he would rather be put down like a rabid dog by the inquisition than see something happen to you" he said that in low tones, such that only perhaps Agrilos could have heard it.

[rhoenix]

The wind, eagerly carrying noises on the breeze to his ears as it always did, brought him the quiet voiced care Manfred had for his apprentice. Agrilos smiled softly, but said nothing about it; instead, he voiced his other thoughts. "[German]If she comes to lend assistance to this town as a mercenary, perhaps there is more to her than her speaking Romanian, or dressing as Gypsies do. From what I know of them, they do not generally place themselves in danger for a magnanimous cause. Besides," he said with a subtle glance back at her, "she is easy on the eye I will keep on her."

Blanking his mind, he listened to other voices carried to him on the breezes, and listened to the breezes themselves speaking with one another. The wind heard and saw everything, but remembered nothing - an amusing irony.

[The Silence and I]

"Damn."

A passing carriage had just flung mud across John's left boot and shin, up to his knee. The slick road had suggested to his feet that any sudden attempts to avoid the splash might have placed him on his back, and so he had made little attempt to move--he had been at the edge of the road as it was.

"Can this be normal traffic for such a place in the middle of this weather?"

Only the receding sounds of the carriage sloughing through the nearly flooded road answered him, of course. Perhaps he was seeing other souls answering Wittenberge's call, perhaps the place had more traffic than he thought. He was not far now; calling out to the guards would be the proper action soon.

"Ho!" He calls out, raising his odd staff. "What must a traveler do to get out from under this weather here? Perhaps I could volunteer to battle some monsters -- you wouldn't happen to have any, would you?" His tone is light, it should be clear he is well aware of the town's call for help.

[Comrade Tortoise]

The wind, eagerly carrying noises on the breeze to his ears as it always did, brought him the quiet voiced care Manfred had for his apprentice. Agrilos smiled softly, but said nothing about it; instead, he voiced his other thoughts. "[German]If she comes to lend assistance to this town as a mercenary, perhaps there is more to her than her speaking Romanian, or dressing as Gypsies do. From what I know of them, they do not generally place themselves in danger for a magnanimous cause. Besides," he said with a subtle glance back at her, "she is easy on the eye I will keep on her."

Blanking his mind, he listened to other voices carried to him on the breezes, and listened to the breezes themselves speaking with one another. The wind heard and saw everything, but remembered nothing - an amusing irony.

"We shall see I suppose. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. But one must never be too careful of knives to the back... And one's friend of convenience one minute can easily become a bitter enemy in the next. Whether she is here purely for money or some other motive, remains to be seen, and I shall keep a very different sort of eye on her methinks"

The mage had calmed down now. He was hardly going to act on what was, he grudgingly admitted to himself, a human being, until he had more information. He may be insane... but hardly stupid

[rhoenix]

"We shall see I suppose. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. But one must never be too careful of knives to the back... And one's friend of convenience one minute can easily become a bitter enemy in the next. Whether she is here purely for money or some other motive, remains to be seen, and I shall keep a very different sort of eye on her methinks"

Agrilos shrugged noncommittally. "[Gaelic]I'm certainly not saying I trust her. I don't trust anyone until they've demonstrated being worthy of it."

He smirked, and continued after a moment in the more common language for this country. "[German]I am saying, however, that watching what happens this evening will prove to be interesting, I'm sure."

[Shark Bait]

Per's long strides closed the gap between himself and the group of guards and travelers. "Greetings" Per said to the group cheerfully "My name is Per auf Jottenheim, do you come for work?"

[rhoenix]

Per's long strides closed the gap between himself and the group of guards and travelers. "Greetings" Per said to the group cheerfully "My name is Per auf Jottenheim, do you come for work?"

Stopping to face the rather tall newcomer, Agrilos smiled as he bowed in welcome. "Greetings to you, Per auf Jottunheim, my name is Agrilos Menshir, of Ireland. These two," he said, while indicating Manfred and Paul respectively, "are Manfred, a wizard of no small power, and his assistant Paul. We are indeed here for work defending this town from its night-time ills. I take it you are as well?"

[Shark Bait]

Stopping to face the rather tall newcomer, Agrilos smiled as he bowed in welcome. "Greetings to you, Per auf Jottunheim, my name is Agrilos Menshir, of Ireland. These two," he said, while indicating Manfred and Paul respectively, "are Manfred, a wizard of no small power, and his assistant Paul. We are indeed here for work defending this town from its night-time ills. I take it you are as well?"

"Certainly!" Per boomed in a still cheerful voice "Once more I find myself with a sword in the dark in hopes of earning myself a meal and perhaps a good tale. Perhaps when we reach the inn we can speak of how to defend ourselves over a tall glass of strong drink."

[rhoenix]

"Certainly!" Per boomed in a still cheerful voice "Once more I find myself with a sword in the dark in hopes of earning myself a meal and perhaps a good tale. Perhaps when we reach the inn we can speak of how to defend ourselves over a tall glass of strong drink."

At this, Agrilos grinned. "I just might take you up on that! First however, we must take care of business by introducing ourselves to the town mayor and discussing the terms of possible employment as defenders of this town. Afterward, however, I'd deeply enjoy discussing plans regarding defense with you over that drink! Come with us, Per - the sooner we speak with the town mayor, the sooner we can plan what needs to be done to defend this place."

[The Village Idiot]

"And I am Visira", he said slogging up slowly behind, "and I don't mind meeting the mayor first, so long as its out of the rain".

[Charon]

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.

The officer nodded. "Ah, good then. Well, I'm certain we can set up a safe place for you to stay m'lady. I'm certain your guards are excellent soldiers and will do very well for us." The guard looked over at the five men she had with her and nodded again. "If you and your retinue would follow the others, we'll set you up in the inn."

"Ho!" He calls out, raising his odd staff. "What must a traveler do to get out from under this weather here? Perhaps I could volunteer to battle some monsters -- you wouldn't happen to have any, would you?" His tone is light, it should be clear he is well aware of the town's call for help.

The younger guard looked out at the man speaking native German down the road. "Well I'll be blessed, you're here for monsters as well? God be praised indeed! Come closer man so we may have a look at you!" The guards spirits were visibly beginning to rise already, and the others inside the town already could notice faces now peering out of doors to get a better look at them.

As Per and Visira closed in on the rest of the group the archers had now led them to the inn. The door was openned by a short, thin man, almost emaciated looking. His hair a wisp of gray. "Welcome travellers. Come out of the cold, we'll start fixing you up a meal then, and the fires all ready started." The old man smiled at the party and then moved aside to let them in.

[rhoenix]

"And I am Visira", he said slogging up slowly behind, "and I don't mind meeting the mayor first, so long as its out of the rain".

Agrilos smiled and bowed in greeting. "Salutations, Visira - I am honored to meet you as well. Come - let us get out of this downpour."

Noticing the beautiful black-haired Rom lady and her retinue, as well as another traveller, Agrilos smiled. He was increasingly getting the feeling that this was, barring the sudden appearance of a dragon, going to be a one-night job. He was fine with that, though - from what he had seen, the townsfolk of Wittenberge had suffered enough from the greed and claws of monsters. Fittingly ironic then that other monsters would deliver them from such a continued fate.

As Per and Visira closed in on the rest of the group the archers had now led them to the inn. The door was opened by a short, thin man, almost emaciated looking. His hair a wisp of gray. "Welcome travelers. Come out of the cold, we'll start fixing you up a meal then, and the fires all ready started." The old man smiled at the party and then moved aside to let them in.

Walking with the others within, Agrilos pulled back his hood, revealing his somewhat startling silver hair, which contrasted with his youthful face of a healthy man in his mid-twenties - the length of his hair looked as if he had short hair at one time, but months of traveling had grown it out. Taking off his long cloak and placing it upon the peg near the entrance, the large assortment of weaponry he was carrying was finally revealed en masse.

Moving near the chair he'd sit down in, he took off his greatsword, and gently stood it in the corner next to his chosen chair. Removing his longbow and quiver, somewhat unusual with the advent of matchlocks and wheellocks, he placed them next to his greatsword. Next, he sat his large traveler's satchel next to his weapons. Removing his leather vest, where the handles of six identical knives appeared in a criss-cross fashion, he set that near the rest of his things. Finally, he stretched, and stood by his chair, watching the others.

[Shark Bait]

Takeing a cue from Agrilos Per entered the inn ducking down and hunching his shoulders to keep from banging his head on the door frame. Once inside he remained hunched and maneuvered as cautiously as he could to a table with a bench than ran its length, reaching down he moved the bench far enough so that he could sit at it somewhat comfortably. He removed his pack and leaned it against the wall near by then removed his sword from his belt and laid it allong the bench before sitting down next to it cautiously. The bench creaked and groaned in protest but finally accepted the weight and held. Per breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed a little but still looked rather comical sitting at a table that was clearly to small for him.

He rubbed his hands together "Come sit friends" he said gestureing to the others "We might as well rest our feet untill the mayor of this town is prepaired to speak with us." His mood had improved significantly now that he was under cover the near constant ach from the sunlight and he was quickly becoming his usual good natured self. He turned and reached into his pack with one hand and extracted a wooden mug that matched the gigantic size of the rest of his gear. "Perhaps my dear host" he said to the inn keeper with a smile "I could trouble you for a mug of strong drink?"

[The Silence and I]

"Well I'll be blessed, you're here for monsters as well? God be praised indeed! Come closer man so we may have a look at you!"

As john's face becomes clearer to his eyes the guard can see that his tone may be light but his face is eager, almost wild. "I have seen what monsters may do; I could not stand off to one side and ignore this chance to rid the world of some of their kind." He bares a grin as he continues, "And I have some experience with arms so I may be able to offer more than mere words." As he enters the gate he looks around pointedly. "Now where might I escape this rain and start this awful business?"

[Comrade Tortoise]

Manfred walked in with the rest of them and sat down across from the troll.

"It pleases me to meet you all and share a meal before glorious combat" he said in his nicest of formal high german. He slipped the light pack from his back, it was obvious he traveled very very light and probably mostly lived ofgf the land. Something that judging from the lack of emaciation, but he and Paul did rather proficiently.

[Charon]

"Well I'll be blessed, you're here for monsters as well? God be praised indeed! Come closer man so we may have a look at you!"

As john's face becomes clearer to his eyes the guard can see that his tone may be light but his face is eager, almost wild. "I have seen what monsters may do; I could not stand off to one side and ignore this chance to rid the world of some of their kind." He bares a grin as he continues, "And I have some experience with arms so I may be able to offer more than mere words." As he enters the gate he looks around pointedly. "Now where might I escape this rain and start this awful business?"

The older guard smiled as he gave a quick once over of the man that was coming into his town. "Just head into the inn. 'S the first large wooden building on your right lad, you should see some other guards just leaving it."

[The Silence and I]

John nods at the older guard and smoothly begins walking towards the inn.

At the inn's doorway John flattens his stride to prevent the natural bounce in his step carrying his hair into the frame--he has nothing on the exceptionally tall man sitting inside but John still stands half a head taller than most men and few doorways handle his height comfortably.

Once inside he removes his oiled rain covering and takes a seat beside Manfred, across from Per. Once seated he reaches to his backpack with the slight grunts of an older man and swings it bench ward at his side. Now the oiled coat no longer covers it the pack is revealed to be unremarkable, although there is a small wooden shield strapped to it. John spends a few moments folding his coat and stowing it within the pack before setting it at his feet. He lays his staff partly upright against the bench beside him and coughs slightly before looking briefly around the room.

"So many travelers in this rain! I assume I am in the company of others who have heard of this town's call for aid?"

[The Village Idiot]

Swinging his satchel and bed roll off, he sets them beside him. With a sigh of reliefe he takes off his coat, revealing the fine armor and modest armarment underneath, shaking out his coat a bit he hangs it on a peg by the door, his hat overtop the coat on the peg.

Shouldering his satchel and bedroll he walks towards the table, eyeing the already straining bench where per resided he looked to Manfred, seeing the rune covered armor and the total lack of mud and rain upon him, decideing he would be safer standing. Visira unfashioned his sword and leaned it against the wall near the fire, placing his other belongings beside it he leaned against the wall, his arm resting on the simple mantel.

[Shark Bait]

"So many travelers in this rain! I assume I am in the company of others who have heard of this town's call for aid?"

"Indeed you are" Per replied to the newcomer "I hope there are enough monsters to go around, would be a shame to leave this town without so much as a good story of the adventure. But, before all that, please what is your name, I am known as Per"

[rhoenix]

"So many travelers in this rain! I assume I am in the company of others who have heard of this town's call for aid?"

Agrilos chuckled at the man who had just spoken. "Aye, it doesn't rain, but it seems to pour - and not just the weather for this place," he said, while taking a seat.

The other newcomer who had just looked at Manfred, and thought better of sitting in favor of leaning against the wall also made Agrilos curious. "And how about you, good sir?" asked Agrilos of the man. "What made you decide to come to this fair town?"

[The Silence and I]

"Indeed you are" Per replied to the newcomer "I hope there are enough monsters to go around, would be a shame to leave this town without so much as a good story of the adventure. But, before all that, please what is your name, I am known as Per"

"Forgive me Per," John looks at the rest of the room inclusively, "I was forgetting my manners. I am called John." His blue eyes grow hard as the lines of age deepen around them. "There will be a story to tell of this later, of that you may be assured. I have fought more than one monster in my years and there is always something to tell of it. Grief, as often as not."

"Aye, it doesn't rain, but it seems to pour - and not just the weather for this place," he said, while taking a seat.

"As we seem to be starting the formalities, might I know your name, fellow journeyman?"

[The Village Idiot]

"And how about you, good sir?" asked Agrilos of the man. "What made you decide to come to this fair town?"

"My name is Visira, a simple man, who occationally draws his blade for work", he said looking about the room at the group that had gathered. "But I mostly travel around, listening for a good tale, or hear of a place to make my own."

"Thats what has brought me here, like some I would guess", he said with a smile on his face, "a chance to make a coin or two, and a good story to brag about while we spend it."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"That standing man has got to be tired" manfred thought to himself

Has something to hide perhaps? squeeked the voice in his head

"Would that be so odd?" manfred silently spoke back.

could be

"I suspect many of these men have something to hide... we shall see how it effects us...Kee[ an eye on them we will yes?"

something we can use?

"Maybe."

It was then manfred decided to test this man

"Come on, sit down and have a drink with us. We wont bite.. well... I wont, that one may" he said grinning and motioning in Per's direction regarding the bite but did so in such a way that he seemed to pick him at random.

[rhoenix]

"Forgive me Per," John looks at the rest of the room inclusively, "I was forgetting my manners. I am called John." His blue eyes grow hard as the lines of age deepen around them. "There will be a story to tell of this later, of that you may be assured. I have fought more than one monster in my years and there is always something to tell of it. Grief, as often as not."

At this, Agrilos nodded soberly. Aye, this traveler had indeed seen and understood some of the harsher truths of the world.

"As we seem to be starting the formalities, might I know your name, fellow journeyman?"

Smiling, Agrilos replied. "My apologies - I'm forgetting my manners as well. I am Agrilos, a wanderer from Ireland, and I'm honored to meet you, John. I too have learned in my travels that monsters are more like people than most would like to admit, especially when it comes to embracing who they are."

"My name is Visira, a simple man, who occationally draws his blade for work", he said looking about the room at the group that had gathered. "But I mostly travel around, listening for a good tale, or hear of a place to make my own."

"Thats what has brought me here, like some I would guess", he said with a smile on his face, "a chance to make a coin or two, and a good story to brag about while we spend it."

Upon hearing this, Agrilos chuckled and nodded. "Aye, I can agree with that. Though my blade isn't for sale, I do stop to help those in need, in exchange for a warm meal, a cold drink, a warm bed, and a good story to tell," he said with a smile. "Good coin isn't unwelcome however," he said while smirking.