The Hunt

[WrenWind]

*musical laughter floats down from the rafters*

 

"It will take more than bravado to even get close to such as he who has been named target."

With effortless grace a small woman jumps down and lands beside the tall, still cloaked member of the gathering. She tosses a tumble of black curls out of her way and flashes mauve eyes around ,shakes her head and mutters

"We all must be insane ........ count me in but I would be paid a small sum in advance to prove your commitment and to get some supplies I will be needing.

* takes the pouch in her hand pours out 50 gold coins and then tosses it back to the stunned man on stage * "Thanks I'll meet up with you all in Tel Reth" *back up into the rafters and out the sky light and all that is left of the woman is a breath of fresh air*

[Tamaranis]

"Ten days..." Robby muttered.

 

Ten days was a fairly long time, especially considering that travelling alone he could make it much sooner. And magic could probably make it instant.

 

Then again, when he thought about it, Robby wasn't working against the clock in any way. And going after a man who had the capacity to threaten the entire world alone wasn't a good idea.

 

"Tel Reth in ten days then."

 

Robby walked towards the exit.

[Racouol]

Ugarte watched Tayne as he left. He then turned around and went to Bob. "Pack my things and keep an eye out for any dangers."

 

 

********************************************************************

*Meanwhile elsewhere*

 

 

In a pool of water appeared what looked like the inside of barn. the gathering had finally come to its conclusion and the people left were gathering their belongings. The three demons lords watched through this pool of water .

 

"So it begins. Does Gyrfalcon know about this?" the Fattest on said as he sat on his throne of skulls. He picked up a human leg and took a bite. "This would be so much easier if we could see Ugarte or Bob.

 

"No. I believe we were able to keep our activities and information about this hunt from him." A tall thin one said as he leaned against his staff.

 

"So onto the second part of the plan then?" The Third one asked.

 

"Yes." the fattest one said whille he took another bite from his meal. "Bring in the four so we can tell them wha thier mission is."

[Salinye]

“Very well. Tel Reth it is, then. I’ll find you there, I certainly don’t need an escort, nor will it be a ten-day trip for me.” With that the bounty huntress looked around at each of the men and women present observing them silently before standing straight and brusquely leaving the auditorium.

 

****Sometime later that evening****

 

Gyrfalcon sat at his desk going over some paperwork while Daryl lay curled upon the couch half napping. The rare silence of the room (rare when Daryl was around) was interrupted by a soft rapping at the door. Daryl’s head popped up off of his paws excitedly as his tail began to wag. Gyrfalcon put down the papers he was reviewing and walked to the door.

 

He opened the door wondering which member of The Pen was calling on him and stood surprised to find nothing but the emptiness of the corridor before him. It was only a moment before he realized that although the hallway looked empty, it indeed was not. He felt the warm air sway around him as a voice whispered very quietly into his ear “Close the curtain, look casual.” He recognized the voice, even in the whispered form, as that of Salinye’s. He felt her pass between him and the frame of the door to enter the room.

 

As the ranger shut the door a bit baffled, Daryl smelled a familiar lavender scent and leapt over the arm of the chair with an expectant “yip”. He stopped short, not seeing Salinye, but sure he smelled her and looked up at Gyrfalcon questioningly. The ranger shrugged unknowingly at the werefox as he casually walked over to the curtains and shut them as if preparing to retire for the night.

 

“This some sort of game, S….” Gyrfalcon started to ask before being interrupted.

 

“Shhh…” The whispered voice said. “Don’t say my name.”

 

Daryl raised a fox eyebrow at hearing this odd exchange. His first instinct would be to, like Gyrfalcon, think this was just one of their many games or pranks. Using his keen fox ears and nose he could sense which corner of the room she was in. Lowering his body into a playful crouch he stuck his tail up in the air and let out a low playful growl. Salinye could see that he was about to pounce, but not wanting to raise her voice there was little she could do to stop him.

 

As he pounced playfully upon her she gathered him within her arms and whispered feircely into his ear. "No, Daryl. Shhhh...not now." Daryl quickly jumped back out of her arms, but it was not her words that startled him, but her attire. He could distinctly smell the scent of leather. He was used to her in the traditional dress of a mage, or her more casual sun dress look. But never had he known her to wear leather. The werefox sat back upon his haunches and tilted his head looking curiously in her direction.

 

Once the curtains were shut Gyrfalcon stood looking around at the emptiness wondering what this was all about. As if he had asked out loud, Salinye quietly spoke, her voice coming from a far corner of the room and barely audible.

“Gyrfalcon, please come here.” She said as loud as she dared and using his full name, something she nearly never did, as she didn’t want any particular habitual wording to reveal who she was on the off chance than anyone else could hear them.

 

The ranger walked over to the corner that her whispering had come from an expression of seriousness growing upon his face.

 

“Is there anywhere, here in The Pen, that you can GUARANTEE no one could possibly overhear us or see us? You must be sure. There can be no errors.” She whispered again, barely audible.

 

The ranger thought for a moment before nodding his head indicating that he did know of a place.

 

“Good.” She replied relieved as she slowly stood not dropping her cloak of invisibility. "Please take us there immediately."

Edited September 2, 2003 by Salinye

[Gyrfalcon]

Gyrfalcon raised an eyebrow in the general direction of Salinye's voice, but she didn't respond to his unasked question. Wondering what could be so important that she needed to hide her presence, Gyrfalcon absently slung his katana over his shoulder and put on his cloak, drawing up his hood.

 

"Daryl, why don't you come with us?" Gyrfalcon said quietly, and Daryl nodded, his tail somberly not moving, for he had caught the urgency in Salinye's voice that said that this was no game or prank. The two visible companions and their invisible friend left the room and ghosted down the silent hallways. This late at night, few of the Pen's members were out and about, preferring instead to sleep, or read or work in their quarters. Of course, a few of the residents would still be about, but not many. Passing Wyvern's door, Daryl paused as he heard a sibilant voice muttering. Gyrfalcon looked back and motioned impatiently to Daryl, and the werefox trotted a little faster to catch up with Gyrfalcon. Quietly, Daryl asked who Wyvern could be talking to at this time of night. Gyrfalcon grinned briefly. "You know how some people sleep-walk? He's sleep-scheming." The half-elf said with a soft chuckle, and Daryl grinned. If Salinye was amused, there was no sound to indicate it.

 

Salinye grew curious as they descended many flights of steps, moving steadily from the heights of Gyrfalcon's tower down past the ground floor, entering the chambers located beneath the ground floor, then even beneath the foundations of the Pen's thick walls. The floor grew thick with dust, apparently undisturbed for many, many years. Salinye followed Gyrfalcon's tracks carefully, not wanting to reveal a third presence, but when she looked back, she saw that the dust continued to look smooth and undisturbed. Salinye shrugged, but she didn't want to fall behind, and thus could not investigate whatever enchantment that was causing this effect... at least, right now.

 

Finally, they stood in a wide corridor, deep under the Pen. In the corners, torches provided flickers of light. "Is this it?" Salinye whispered almost inaudibly, but Gyrfalcon held his hand up. Steam hissed and the floor shook as a massive iron golem stepped forward.

 

"Greetings, Elder Gyrfalcon." it rumbled.

 

Gyrfalcon bowed his head to the guardian. "Greetings. We need use of the chambers for an hour or two." the golem's head tracked between Gyrfalcon and Daryl, then turned farther to inspect Salinye's hidden presence.

 

"Do you take responsibility for those with you?" the golem finally rumbled.

 

"I do."

 

"You may proceed then." The golem announced before turning ponderously and striding away.

 

"Follow me." Gyrfalcon said, walking through the door, which opened as he approached.

 

As Salinye stepped through the door, she felt a tingle run through her. Gyrfalcon turned and raised an eyebrow. "Where'd the tattoo come from, Salinye?"

 

Salinye started and waved her hands for him to stop speaking, understanding now that the tingle had been an anti-magic ward, but the half-elf shook his head. "If whatever or whoever you don't want to let know you're here can breach the wards on this room, we're in very, very serious trouble."

 

Salinye relaxed slightly and looked around. The room was sparsely furnished, a large table with perhaps a dozen chairs around it taking up most of the space. Along one wall was a series of cabinets, and along another, the ever-present book cases. Salinye automatically drifted to the bookcases, reading titles that spoke of military deployments, supply, strategy, and in the case of one thin book. "Gruz's How to Kill Things".

 

"The lexicon of orc strategy." Gyrfalcon said with an amused chuckle. "Since orc strategy is pretty straightforward, the book is one of the smallest here."

 

Daryl yipped from where he is perched on the table, asking what the purpose of this room was, and Gyrfalcon shrugs.

 

"It's the Pen's war room, which is why it's so heavily guarded and warded." the half-elf explained.

 

Salinye looked puzzled. "Has the Pen ever been to war?" she asked curiously, and Gyrfalcon nods. "Once, very early in its history. A nearby king thought he could annex the Pen's fortress and use it for himself. The combined might of the members of the Pen defeated that little adventure, and no one else has really cared enough about a heavily defended fortress out on the fringes of the human controlled lands enough to try again. Still, the room is kept intact should it be necessary again, and it's one of the few rooms that's heavily warded but not well known around the Pen."

 

He turned and eyed Salinye again, noting her leather clothing and the tattoo again. "Now, what's going on Salinye?" He said.

[Salinye]

Salinye sighed before motioning to the table. “Perhaps we should have a seat.” She said pulling out a chair and sitting down. Gyrfalcon sat across from her while Daryl jumped up on the table and curled up in front of her where he could easily be pet while every once in a while looking up to stare at Salinye’s “odd” appearance inquisitively. She instinctively scratched the werefox behind the ears before looking up to meet Gyrfalcon’s eyes and explain.

 

“The tattoo is real. It has to be. If the markings were magical, they would be too easy to detect. However, I can remove them with magic.” As she said that she whispered an incantation while bringing the flat of her hand over her tattooed eye. When she removed her hand it was gone. “Simple really.”

 

Gyrfalcon nodded understanding the basic mechanics of magic. “I admit, the use of a facial tattoo is an intelligent addition to disguise. People tend to remember the tattoo more than the specific features. But, why the elaborate disguise in the first place?” He asked.

 

“Well, in this disguise people know me as “Dove”. I use it for situations that require it. This time I used it to pose as a bounty hunter.” Daryl raised his head to look at her as she said this and Gyrfalcon almost laughed. Salinye raised an indignant eyebrow. “I am not all sweet and sugar, GyrE! I can be quite rough and rugged when I need to be. I just prefer the softer side of life when I can choose it!”

 

Now Gyrfalcon did laugh. “I never thought you wouldn’t be capable of being a bounty hunter Miss “Rough and Rugged”. I just can’t see that as your preferred line of work.” He replied humored.

 

“Well, you’re right.” She said with a quick smile. “However, when you’re attending a call for bounty hunters, you need to look the part.”

 

“Why would you answer a call for bounty hunters?” Gyrfalcon asked again with a bit of concern. Bounty hunters were in a dark business, he wasn’t quite sure he liked the idea of his friend running around in it.

 

“I was originally there for my own reasons, however, that doesn’t matter now. I was very shocked to find you listed as the bounty.” A low soft growl escaped from Daryl, but Gyrfalcon didn’t seem surprised. It almost seemed as if perhaps this wasn’t the first time he had been in this situation.

 

Salinye then went on to explain the events of that days meeting. She described both men with precise details remembered by her keen elven mind. “They never said their names.” She then went on to give details about the other bounty hunters in attendance. “The one that called himself Tayne was given a map and left claiming you and your bodyguard would be dead before the rest reached you.” The worry etched in the wizardess’ features was now very apparent.

 

Gyrfalcon raised an eyebrow. “My bodyguard?”

 

“Yes.” She replied. “Daryl.”

 

“Daryl is my bodyguard?” Gyrfalcon asked with a grin. Daryl then stood up pacing around the table growling and bearing his teeth with much macho bravado before Salinye grabbed him and pulled him back to her. The ranger could only roll his eyes.

 

“I know he’s not really your bodyguard, but I could tell that the man employing us was very confident that his meat shield could take care of you in quick order. I wanted to make him doubt his plan a bit. I can’t tell you if it worked, because I have no idea the connections he truly has. But sometimes you have to talk the talk.”

 

The ranger nodded his face sobering again as he listened to her finish informing him of the details of that day. “I’m supposed to be meeting him in Tel Reth in 10 days so that he can prove he has the money to back up his promise. So, unless some of those bodyguards are really determined to find you without knowing for sure he has the geld to pay them despite the warnings that were given, and then I think you “might” have a ten-day lag. For now, it’s really important that my cover is not blown. I don’t know how many people he has placed inside The Pen Castle, if any. That’s why I didn’t want to be seen with you dressed like Dove. It’s important they think you know me only as Salinye and that I’m truly double crossing you.”

 

Salinye stood up and began pacing the room. “I’m open to hearing your thoughts and suggested plan of action. The one thing I do know is that we could have already been observed. It’s good that the three of us are naturally together a lot as it is. It will make it easier for my “bounty hunter bravado” to seem real.” The leather-clad mage turned to face both of them a light blush heating her cheeks. “So, if anyone asks, Daryl is your sidekick, and uh…well…in an effort to gain his trust and to think of me as his ace in the hole….I…..told him we were….intimate.” She said with red cheeks and a sheepish smile.

[Racouol]

"What do you mean you lost her!!!" the obese demon yelled as he threw what was left of an elven arm across the room. "I should have expected failure from you Lesiet; however I thought that you Graz'zt could...." the demon stopped speaking as he noticed Graz'zt glaring at him.

 

"I do not think that you want to finish that statement Arbal. You forget that I only joined for the entertainment value of this mission of yours, beside adding a third of that world would be a nice addition to my domain." He continued to glare at Arbal causing the fat demon to squirm around on his throne of bone. "I could instead destroy you and take over what is left of your domain instead." Graz'zt took his gaze off of Arbal. "I do know that this Dove character is meeting secretly with Gyrfalcon. However they went into a room heavely guarded against scrying."

 

"But couldn't you just destroy these barriers?" Lesiet asked.

 

"Sure I could. However by destroying the wards we would gain unwanted attention from the caster of that spell and possibly from the whole castle." Graz'zt answered.

 

"But we do not know what they are doing right now." Arbal said while forcing himself to stand.

 

"What is wrong with that. I believe that Ugarte will prove to be a very useful decoy. Anyway we stick with the plan" Graz'zt smiled. He then turned to Lesiet. "Did you give the four their assignments?"

 

"Yes Graz'zt. I made sure to be very specific about their job assignments and we will be hearing about their success shortly." Lesiet answered

 

"Good, now all we have to do is sit back and watch the show." Graz'zt said as his smile grew.

Edited October 22, 2003 by Racouol

[Racouol]

"To think after all these long years I will finally have him. It is a shame that the meeting didn't go as well as planned." Ugarte muttered to himself.

 

"I would have to disagree with you on that one Ugarte." A rasping voice said. Immediatly Bob got infront of Ugarte and Ugarte drew his rapier. "Hehehe, do not worry I am not here to fight you."

 

"Than what are you here for?" Ugarte asked while he stepped infront of Bob.

 

"I just want to tell you to stick to your plan. We should...."

 

"Be careful of what you speak. We do not know who else can hear us." Ugarte said in a harsh whisper.

 

"Do not worry I made sure this place was safe to speak freely. Anything that could have been a spy is . But as I was saying before you so rudely interupted me was that there are now going to be attacks on different towns by the demons serving Gyrfalcon. There will only be a few that will be allowed to survive while the rest of the villager will be turned into various undead creatures."

 

"While that does sound like a good idea I doubt that many people would be willing to believe that." Ugarte said while still looking about.

 

"Do not worry Ugarte we have also taken the liberty of spreading tales about his past when Gyrfalcon tried to freeze the world. Of course we had to leave out a few minor details."

 

"I still doubt it will work however I will continue as planned. Now if you do not mind I got to get myself to Tel Reth." Ugarte started walking off. After traveling an additional mile Ugarte broke out in a fit of laughter. "It is about time you damned demons decided to tell me part of your plan. Now that I have an idea of what you are planning to do I will be able to form my own plans." Ugarte continued to laugh as he walked on.

Edited October 27, 2003 by Racouol

[Tamaranis]

In Robby’s past dealings with mercenaries he’d gotten a very different impression of them than he was getting now. In the first battle he’d ever participated in he’d been one of a very few non-mercenaries. They’d seemed a little friendlier then, a little more cohesive.

 

The difference probably came of hiring a collection of individuals rather than a company. A mercenary company has to work well together, or they can’t accomplish what they’re hired to do, and no one hires mercenaries they expect to fail. Individuals skilled enough to be hired out on an individual basis, on the other hand, seemed to develop habits of trusting to themselves and no one else.

 

There was no inclination among the assorted mercenaries hired by Urgarte to work together, or even to travel to Tel Reth together. So he travelled on his own.

 

Not that this particularly bothered Robby. He’d get there in a few days instead of ten, this way. Rather than trudging wearily down the muddy road, or even travelling on horseback, Robby was running at a full sprint, only slowed a little by the poor condition of the road. A human in relatively good physical condition, pushing himself, would roughly equal Robby’s speed for a minute at most. Then exhaustion would slow him down. Not so for Robby. He’d been running since he’d set out last night, and he intended to keep on running until he reached his destination. It wasn’t a sense of urgency that motivated his pace, just the ease of maintaining it.

 

Of course he wouldn’t have anything to do in Tel Reth when he got there but wait around for the others to show.

[Gyrfalcon]

Gyrfalcon blinked a few times as he absorbed words, then he slowly chuckled and shook his head. "You told him that we were... as you put it, 'intimate'?" the half-elf asked. Daryl chuckled in Salinye's arms and yipped something about wishes, but both of them ignored the smug fox, despite more then a few hints of red in their cheeks. Salinye blushed even harder as she looked into Gyr's amused eyes and looked down.

 

"It probably wasn't the best of ideas, but it gained his trust quickly, and that means I'll be able to know what the mercenaries are planning. However, it means we'll have to play the role in public." Salinye admitted, wrapping a deceptively delicate hand around Daryl's muzzle to keep him quiet. He rolled his eyes back to glare at her, but Salinye ignored his look.

 

Gyrfalcon nodded, but it was obvious that his thoughts were elsewhere. He pulled out a chair and sat down, sighing. "You know Salinye... I had thought that this was over with a long, long time ago. It's been years since any bounty hunter has been serious about trying to collect the bounties on my head. But now they come again." He sighed, and Salinye was surprised to see the great weariness bowing her half-elven friend's shoulders. He had always seemed indomitable, acting as if whatever faced him was nothing next to past trials. Now, it seems, one of those past trials has caught up with him.

 

"GyrE..." Salinye said, and he looked up and forced a smile.

 

"Don't mind me, just feeling sorry for myself. I had sort of hoped I could have gotten away from having to look over my shoulder for bounty hunters. At least this time I have a friend spying on the hunters and another to help me with those who can actually find me."

 

Salinye nodded and Daryl sprang out of her arms, pacing around the two of them and sniffing at the floor. Gyrfalcon settled back and tried to remember about those two. a small man and a large brute, ... there was something familiar about the pairing, but with no names to go by, Gyrfalcon could not summon whatever memory niggled at the edges of his mind. He sighed and shrugged.

 

"For some reason, those two organizers sound familiar to me... but I can't seem to place them." Gyrfalcon said, before sighing again. He changed the subject, putting the question firmly out of mind for the moment. "Either way, you said that one of the bounty hunters meant to make a try for me immediately, so I think it's high time I went on another patrol and see how well he can find a moving target. You should head to that meeting and act like a good little money-grubbing mercenary." Gyrfalcon smiled and winked. And Salinye smirked back at him.

 

The elven sorceress pressed a hand over her left eye. There was a subtle blue glow and when it faded away, her tattoo was once more in place. Gyrfalcon stood and replaced his chair, and Salinye did likewise. "Once you're outside the room, you'll be able to teleport to the Hostel. From there, I'm sure you can go wherever you need to before the meeting." Gyrfalcon said quietly.

 

Salinye nodded. "I'll stay at the Hostel for a day or so making sure everything is in order and making plans." she explained.

 

Gyrfalcon nodded and motioned Daryl out ahead of him. "I probably don't need to say this, Salinye, but I will anyway. Be careful. If they discover that you're not a double-agent, they will kill you." His voice softened slightly with worry for her safety.

 

"Pshaw!" Salinye said, flicking a hand dismissively. "Don't underestimate the sorceress, GyrE!" She said with a smile, and he chuckled.

 

"Oh yes, I've learned that lesson." he said.

[Psimon]

He watched and he waited - unseen in the shadows, invisible in the light - watching the approach to Tel Reth, waiting for the others to arrive.

 

He allowed his mind to wander, in a very real sense, taking in his surroundings, processing the information, cataloguing every nuance of nature that enveloped him, flowed around him, over and through him.

 

It was so similar to the days of long ago, heady days when he had set out on the road that fate had lain before him, that the corners of his mouth twitched. Had he been centuries younger, they might almost have moved upwards in a wry smile, but he was not, and so they stayed precisely where they were. However, one eyebrow did break rank, springing skyward at the thoughts of his misspent youth, before realising the error of its ways and settling back to its former position.

 

Nothing to do but wait. And watch.

[WrenWind]

Getting to Tel Reth was easy getting into the city a little more difficult when you don't want to be seen and magic isn't always a good idea. Wren stopped a village away and went to visit the local wise woman . After tea and a small meal they get down to bussiness. Wren buys some herbs and a few of the womans clothes a leather satchel and one fat chicken she gives the wise one some of the gold and also a small packet of dried mushrooms that are very hard to find in these parts.

 

"Thank you Sister, peace and light be with you!"

 

Then Wren takes off towards Tel Reth on foot enjoying the scenery it will be a few more days till the meeting . She had time to smell the roses.

[Racouol]

Ten days had finally past and Ugarte and Bob walked through Tel Reth's gates. Ugarte scanned the city and smiled as he watched the meaningless lives of the ignorant masses. After a few moment Ugarte turned to Bob, "I think we have kept the bounty hunters waiting long enough." He then started walking towards his mansion.

 

Upon arrival to his mansion, several of Ugarte's servants rushed to greet him. Ugarte once again smiled "I am sorry I have been away so long. I am also sorry to say that My stay will be once again short. However tonight we are to have guests. When they arrive i want then to be brought to the waiting room. I also want them to be served with the finest elven wine we have. You are all dismissed." At once everyone was off to prepare the mansion for the guests. Ugarte then turned to Bob. "I suggest that you rest up my friend. Also make sure you wear your finest clothing I had made for you." Bob just grunted before heading off towards his Quarters.

 

Ugarte then headed towards the kitchen. There he gathered up all the cooks. "Tonight we are to have guests. I want you to prepare enough food for 50 men." He then turned around and left as the cooks started preprations for the the feast later that night. Ugarte's next stop was his own room where he layed out his finest jewels and best silk clothing before heading to the wash room to clean himself.

 

Finally, all dressed and prepared for his guest, Ugarte sat in his study looking through all of his notes about Gyrfalcon, Daryl, and The Pen. He also looked at the weapons he had taken out of his treasury. Gifts for the bounty hunters for their trouble coming all this way. Ugarte smiled as his eyes caught a strangly shaped sword with the word INNOCENCE written in an ancient demonic language. Now all he had to do was wait.

Edited November 26, 2003 by Racouol

[Salinye]

Dove sat alone at a table eating some stew. The tavern she chose in Tel Reth seemed the most frequented. She wasn’t sure where she was expected to meet the men wanting to hire herself and the other bounty hunters, however, she suspected she’d run into one of them before long. One of them had to know where they were supposed to meet. For now, she’d sit, enjoy a meal and wait in silent observation.

[Racouol]

Ugarte jumped up while he thought of his next move just remembering that none of the bounty hunters knew how to get to Tel Reth. "Damn, that plan was almost ruined." Ugarte muttered to himself as he looked out the window, "Hmm, still have some time." Ugarte then ran to his study's door and shouted out it. "BOB, COME UP TO MY STUDY WITH THREE SCRIBES IMMEDIATLY." He then rushed back to his desk and started writing a note.

 

You have been invited to join me at my mansion so that we may discuss more about the job over dinner.

To get to my mansion from the north gate go straight past the first five streets than take a left. Go straight past another two streets and take a right at the Land's End Inn. Go straight past another three streets and take another right. My Mansion is at the end of the street.

 

Ugarte looked up just as Bob opened the door letting the three scribes in. "I would like you to copy this letter about fifteen times." Ugarte told the scribes. He then noticed Bob's puzzled look and quickly added. "Just in case any of them get damaged in any way. I would for our guests to not be able to come due to the directions being smudged."

 

About two hours later the scribes got up and handed Ugarte the copies of the letter. Ugarte quickly scanned the letters maiking sure that there was no mistakes. he then placed each in seperate envalopes and sealed them. Looking up again he noticed the three scribes still standing at his desk. "You are dismissed" he said with a slightly annoyed expression on his face. As the door closed behind the last of the scribes Ugarte jumped up and rushed over to Bob. "Bob, please deliver these letters to each of the bounty hunters. I am sure it will be easy for you to find them becouse you where able to get their scent. Please hurry, the day is getting late." Ugarte then watched Bob as he departed.

[The Big Pointy One]

Elsewhere in the countryside, Tayne Demeron rode at an easy pace through open fields. The smell of char in the air hung heavy behind him, and smoke veiled the starlight night sky. The mercenary had wanted a horse, so he went to a farm he saw from the road towards the country which housed The Pen's keep. The farmer did not want to give him a horse, so Tayne killed him and his family, and set his farm ablaze. When Tayne wanted something, he got it. Usually by using overly unnecessary acts of violence and rage, which happened to be effective to the heartless warrior. A grim look of confidence hung on his face. Soon, the bounty on Gyrfalcon no'Dessu would be his, and he could finally put some of his plans into action. He'd probably kill Ugarte and the other bounty hunters, if they showed up, if he felt like it. That's the way he was; most of the time completely mad and insanely evil.

 

The next afternoon, after Tayne had finally decided to stop and rest, he changed his course slightly to head into a smaller province of the land. On the outskirts of a tiny farming community, the madman had set up a storehouse for some of his own equipment. He was sure to any degree that what had must be ultimately better than anything this Ugarte fellow had. And if not, well, he'd probably acquire all of that anyways. Kicking in his heels, Tayne rode along beneath the afternoon sun. There was that sweet taste of blood his memory seemed to keep conjuring up for him.

[Salinye]

Dove was just sipping the last of her stew from a bent spoon when a light shadow fell across her table. Looking up she found herself staring into the towering figure of Bob. Before she could inquire anything of him, he pulled a scroll out from a large coat pocket and dropped on the table before her then turned to leave the tavern.

 

“Uh..Thanks.” She called out an edge of sarcasm in her voice. She thought perhaps she heard a grunt of response just before he ducked (literally) out of the door, but she couldn’t be sure.

 

Unrolling the parchment she read the directions to Urgarte’s mansion with a slight smirk. So, the games begin. She thought leaving some coins next to her bowl. Rising she left the tavern. Squinting against the sun she slowly made her way towards the mansion a slight wave of nervousness rising within her.

[Tamaranis]

Robby had reached Tel Reth a full week before the agreed upon date of the second meeting of the mercenary company. Just as he had known it would, his haste earned him nothing but a long wait. He didn’t particularly feel like wandering the woods, and fields surrounding Tel Reth aimlessly, hoping to run across bandits or a kitten stranded in a tree to occupy his time.

 

Instead he searched for work as a labourer inside the city. The search didn’t go particularly well. Robby was short and slim enough to be an elf, and prospective employers weren’t willing to give him a chance. It would really just be something to pass the time anyway. Though Robby was low on funds, he wasn’t desperate to acquire money. Once the current mercenary job was complete he’d be either rich or dead, either way, money wouldn’t be a concern.

 

Failing to find any work, he spent a great deal of time frequenting taverns. He was rarely popular there, however, because he was almost completely unwilling to spend any of his limited coin on food or drink. Usually he’d order a single ale, and drank only sparingly if at all. He would stay until he was told he wasn’t welcome, at which point he’d leave without a fuss. On his second night in Tel Reth Robby spent some money to rent a room at an inn for the night, but that was the only time he spent a night with a roof over his head.

 

If he stayed in one place too long at night, the town guard would warn him against loitering, unless it was a slum. He had no particular inclination to spend his night in a slum, so Robby made a point of walking briskly through the streets for hours on end, aimless, but acting as if he had some specific destination in mind.

 

Robby didn’t particularly attempt to stay in “respectable” neighbour hoods, and on two separate occasions attempts were made to relieve him of what little money he had. The first time he got into a scuffle with his aggressors that lasted a quarter of an hour, with neither party being injured. The would be robbers became increasingly worried the guard would arrive, and so Robby allowed them to have most of his money, “for making such a good effort of it.” The second time he was feeling less generous, and several limbs ended up broken, none of them his.

 

On Robby’s fifth day in Tel Reth, his job search finally came to an end, though quite by accident. He’d spent his very last copper on a glass of ale that he hadn’t touched in the hour since he’d ordered it, and was occasionally chipping a comment or opinion into the animated discussion of a small group of farmers who’d come into the city to sell their crops and were taking advantage of the luxury of a Tavern before heading beginning their homeward journey. Robby considered his knowledge and interests to be fairly broad, but he was having a hard time participating in this particular conversation. Though he filed their eventual conclusion away in his mind, he didn’t really care what week was best to plant maize in a soil composition they described as “roamish.” The stories they told of villages being forsaken by God and so claimed by Hell, were of interest to him, however, and he tried to steer things in that direction.

 

Around the same time Robby decided he wasn’t going to learn anything, he noticed an altercation taking place. A large, surly drunk, was holding a barmaid by the wrist and didn’t seem inclined to let go. As Robby watched, one noble fellow stepped to her defence, and the larger man’s fist sailed out and left him lying on the floor, incoherent. Other patrons were either less courageous or more familiar with the drunk’s strength, and no one else moved to interfere.

 

With an exasperated sigh, Robby set down the ale that he didn’t particularly care for, stood up, and calmly walked across the tavern to where things were unfolding. The obstinate drunk didn’t register Robby as a threat until the much smaller man had seized his arm, and applied enough pressure to cause discomfort even through the fog in his mind.

 

The drunk man’s reaction was instantaneous, and Robby had underestimated just how instantaneous. His enormous fist connected with Robby’s skull before he could completely move out of the way. Contrary to the expectations of observers, he staggered back a step and shook off the slight dizziness, instead of falling to the ground the way the last man to attempt playing hero had.

 

The surly fellow didn’t at first recognize that this opponent had not collapsed the way the last one had. Once this dawned on him, he turned his attention completely to Robby and advanced, swinging both arms. For perhaps a minute Robby displayed amazing agility and completely evaded most of the belligerent drunk’s swings while trying to talk him down. The few that connected, and he was moving so fast that it almost seemed he must be letting them connect, didn’t affect him to nearly the extent the other patrons, now enthralled with the battle, thought they might.

 

After that minute, Robby abruptly lost patience and probably lost quite a few people some money by driving at the centre of the other man’s torso. His fist connected very audibly, and the larger man seemed to curl up around the impact, then collapsed. Robby didn’t wait around for thanks or round two. He was walking out the door by the time the crowd realized the fight was over.

 

Early the next day he happened to run into a dockmaster he’d sought work with, who happened to have witnessed the fight.

 

So it happened that he was loading a barge, working with some of the same endless energy that had allowed him to make the journey to Tel Reth in so short a time, and wondering exactly where he was supposed to meet with Ugarte, when Bob found him.

 

Bob, who would have stood nearly head and shoulders above the drunken ruffian Robby had disposed of and with width to match, walked into several other workers without breaking stride, and nearly knocked one into the river. When he reached Robby, who simply watched the careless display with mild curiosity, he made a grunting sound, and thrust a letter at him. Robby was about to ask where they were supposed to meet, but Bob had already turned around and was headed in the other direction, now given a wide berth by those he’d collided with previously.

 

Robby broke the seal, and unfolded the slightly crumpled letter. He read it twice, and satisfied that he’d memorized it in sufficient detail, and discarded it. He dropped the act of becoming slightly exhausted by his efforts, and contributed to loading the barge in near record time, collected the few coins he’d earned, and went to meet with the other mercenaries.

[Mira]

After receiving the directions to Tel Reth, Mira took the time to make sure all his tabs were clear, debts were paid, and affairs were in order, before “borrowing” a horse for the journey ahead of him. During the next week of traveling by day, and sleeping in hay-bales and under hedgerows at night, he took the time to contemplate this rather odd contract. By the time he arrived at his destination he had come to several conclusions.

 

First, there were many unanswered details that needed to be sorted out at Tel Reth before he would absolutly commit to this job.

 

Second, this whole thing probably wouldn't be worth his time anyways, since he tended to avoid situations that at best would result in a quick painless death, and at worse would end only after weeks of cruel and totally unnecessary torture.

 

And finally, he decided that that Dove gal’ was definitely more trouble then she was worth, unless of course his competition/contract, met with a most unfortunate early retirement.

 

All in all, as Mira approached the outskirts of Tel Reth he was quite bedraggled from the journey and in a sour mood to boot.

[Psimon]

Taking one last sip of his cooling cider he rose and followed Dove from the tavern, having observed the delivery. As messenger boys went this Bob was quite the artiste, reminding him very much of a previous acquaintance.

 

He smiled. Memories had their own way of surfacing when one least expected.

 

He was reasonably confident that Dove would not mind having another shadow for a while, however he maintained a respectful distance. One could just never tell in these troubled times.

 

He could sense her mood change - a tensing of muscles, an anxious glance about her - nerves. Not that he could blame her. These were dangerous times. This was dangerous company to keep. He thought of the other one and his pale heart skipped a beat. She could look after herself. If too much had changed and she could not... well then, he would be there, just as he had promised long ago.

 

Bah, he cursed silently, there is no point to this wistful thinking. Focus and let Fate do her worst, then react.... only then.

Edited December 16, 2003 by Psimon

[Racouol]

Ugarte sat in his study looking through the window down to the city. He watched as each bounty hunters made their way to his Mansion. He was sure that Bob was able to sniff out each bounty hunter that decided to show up.

 

Ugarte then turned around to his desk. He lifted a letter that he had recieved a couple months from one of his spies he placed into the pen a couple of years ago. He stared at it for a few moments and started frowning. Nowhere on that letter did it say that Gyrfalcon had a bodyguard. "What is she up to?" Ugarte muttered to himself. He then read alittle about Daryl. She can not possibly mean that this werefox is Gyrfalcon's bodyguard. "No matter, If this Daryl is indeed Gyrfalcons bodyguard than I am sure Bob will make short work of him." Ugarte then lit the letter on fire and let it burn in an empty silver cup.

 

 

********************************************************************

 

The fishing village of Tarx was the first of several villages to fall to the four demon's attack. The demons made sure that each village was more than a month's ride from the Pen's keep. Tarx was also where the demons have been building a huge portal to the abyss so that more demons could arrive to help with the conquest. With the portal almost finished Drihiml, the demon in charge, started attacking the nearby orcs.

 

His first attack against the first clan was considered a failure. Not because he was defeated in conflict, but because he slaughtered all the orcs in that clan instead of letting half of them escape. Still he now had an undead orcish army under his command.

[WrenWind]

Wren literally bumped into Bob in the market place dropping the packages she was carrying. Bob of couse didn't even flinch he just stood there a stared at her untuill she got herself collected then thrust out his hand and gave her the parchment , turned on his heel and dissapeared into the throng of shoppers lining the market alley.

She stopped at the the Golden Boar Inn and changed into something a little more feminine and called for a coach. She was going to arrive in style for this.

[Racouol]

Ugarte watched as the last of the bounty hunters arrive around dusk. He then turned around and headed towards his closet. His frown continued to grow as he thought about how many of his perfectly layed plans were already ruined and of how many more he intended to ruin before the night was over. He also thought about the amount of gold he was wasting tonight in entertainment and expensive, and rare elven wine. He had intended for the bounty hunters to mingle with each other for a couple of hours before getting to business. Grumbling to himself he threw on his black velvet cloak and straightened his appearance before leaving his study.

 

Ugarte opened the door to the waiting room and smiled, "I hope I did not keep you all waiting too long." he said.

 

"Hmph, Its about time!" Dove snapped. "Now how about showing us our payment"

 

"Of course, I will..." Ugarte then stopped and looked at the door across the room as it opened revealing a young man with brown eyes and hair, dressed in black leather. "Yes Leshiec?"

 

"I didn't realize you had visitors father. I am sorry to have interruptted you." Leshiec said as he turned around and left.

 

Ugarte chuckled for a moment as he stared at the door. "As I was saying, I will show you your payment but only after dinner. Now please follow me to the dining room and I will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have while we dine."

Edited January 6, 2004 by Racouol

[The Big Pointy One]

While everyone was enjoying their lavish feast, miles away Tayne found himself in the rain. And blood. This time though, it was demon blood. He wasn't quite sure where he was, or what was going on. One minute he's strolling through another hick town, the next everything's on fire and there's demons all over the place. Not one to complain, Tayne armed himself with his prized handaxes and went to work on the nearest cluster of demons.

 

'Gyrfalcon must be near by, if all these demons are here. That has to be it. Ha! I'll make short work of this rubbish, and then make my way towards the prize before anyone can even get here.' he thought to himself, as he split the skull of a gibbering beast about half his size. 'Odd though, he must not yet know of any current attempts on his life, because these demons don't seem very tough. Oh well.' Tayne moved on towards the town's gate, a trail of blood following behind him. He was almost there when a pack of the unholy monsters jumped at him from inside some ravaged home. Without a moment's hesitation, he let his handaxes fly handle over blade and directly into the chests of the first two. Charging towards the rest, he pulled out a pair of wickedly carved knives and went to work on eviscerating the first in line. The other two clawed at his sides, drawing a lot of blood, but Tayne simply twisted his blades free from the demon he had just finished with then sunk a knife into the skull of his agressors.

 

"Weaklings." Satisfied that no more of the demons were even going to bother coming near him, he retrieved his handaxes, replaced the knives after wiping them off and left the town to fate. The mercenary pulled out a small vial from inside his vest, drank the contents and within a few moments his wounds closed up and scarred.

[Racouol]

"We have a problem." a bowing figure said to the two demons chatting near the old town hall. Immediatly the two stopped and looked at the grunt that had dared to interup them.

"Go on, make it quick and it better be worth our time." One taller of the demons said.

"We lost several demons in our attempt to take the town of Faldorn. He seems to be very skilled. He seemed to have no problem carving his way through our ranks." When the bowing demon finished the shorter of the creatures took his spear and shoved it through the grunts head.

"Hmph, it sounds like we have been attracting to much attention to our operation. Shall we tell Keal'vera about our little problem."

"While I doubt that this little problem requires Keal'vera's attention we shall send her. I do not want this bug to interfere with anymore of our plans. Tell her to be completely merciless but if the opponent is too tough to immediatly make her escape." the taller one said as he left.

 

********************************************************************

 

Drihiml grinned to himself as he looked down at the final orcish tribe in the area. As he predicted all of the surviving orcs from all the other tribes to flee to this one. Now all that was needed was small push to drive this horde towards the The Pen's keep. Don't attack a voice said in his mind.

What do you mean don't attack? This is the perfect oppertunity to drive these weakling orcs towards the pen. If everything works out everyone there will think all the activity here was due to the orcs and....

Just shut up and listen. Our demons have resently been attacked by an individual, I want you to keep your army hidden until this indiviual has been taken care of. Do I make myself perfectly understood?

Yes. Drihiml lightly growled to himself as he continued to spy upon the orcish tribe. Before he turned away he thought he saw one of the orcs looking directly at him. He shook his head as he left knowing that no stupid orc would be able to detect him.