Chronicles of Drasil (IC)

[Zender_Solarheart]

Intro

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

The world of Drasil is a realm of many things, if one knows where to look for them. Depending upon where a man wanders, he could find joy, sadness, compassion, anger, beauty, or violence. It has seen both peace and war, the former of which being its present state. The Kingdom of Koin and the Guild Federation are far from allies, but neither side sees any reason to go to war with the other, which is good. Truly, Drasil is a world of possibility, both good and bad. However, the future will soon take a detour that no one saw coming...one that will shake the very foundations of the earth, and steer the fates of every being and creature living upon it. The outcome of that very detour will be decided by a choice few people...people who are not trained for a destiny of grandeur, but will, in time, find greatness thrust upon them...

...people much like yourselves. Your own stories, be it by your wills or not, will one day be passed down into legend, as the finest chapters in a much grander story.

This story begins in the humble town of Erimos, in the eastern borderlands of the Geodian continent. It is from here that many caravans set out across the desert, some for travel, others for merchant work, and others still for reasons undisclosed. It is here, in this town on the edge of the desert, that your stories begin...

<Xiaotou. Location: Town outskirts, hermit's hut.>

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Today is more than just an average day for you. According to certain members of your guild, “shady figures” have been noticed in the vicinity of your safe-houses every so often, particularly the ones near the continental borders. While no tampering has yet been reported, it has been theorized that these figures may be spies, though for whom, no one can say. Your job today is to investigate these supposed spies, and who their client might be.

After a referral from a bystander, you have arrived where you stand now: a hermit’s hut on the outskirts of town. The hermit himself is cloaked and has his face hidden, but it’s said he knows who those “spies” are working for. As for potential things to steal off of him, the man pretty much has nothing except the hut itself, his clothes, and some food stores…and even if you did try to snatch some of his food, there’s an oddly foreboding presence around that makes it seem ill-advised to attempt that.

“So, I hear you’re seeking ‘shady figures,’ young miss. And your quest of discovery has led you to me, a supposed eye-witness, yes?”

<Nox Ius Ventus. Location: Coins of Fortune safehouse.>

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You are currently discussing a job offer with a potential client, one dealing in assassination. The client is none other than Leonard Chapel, President of the famous Coins of Fortune guild. Though, the Coins are known to seek mercenaries more for protection purposes than anything else; if they actually want a specific person dead, that person must be quite the villain...

“Velcome, velcome! Please, have a seat, Mr. Ventus. Business avaits, ya?” President Chapel’s voice carries a thick German accent, but you can still make out what he says easily enough. The President is definitely dressed to impress: a blue suit with a red tie makes up most of his apparel, with a monocle resting in front of his right eye. His dark grey hair is combed back, preventing so much as a single strand from drooping in front of his face. After sitting down, Chapel cuts right to the chase like any good businessman:

“I don’t do zis sort of zing very often, you know…but it is a matter ve cannot simply ignore as one of ze Federation’s greatest guilds. You see, somev’one in zis town…is plotting a coup against Koin, and intends to pin ze whole mess on us, ze Guilds. Naturally, zat vould involve you and your men, as vell, so it is a big nein-go for ze both of us, I’m sure.” A conspirator against Koin, who plots to use the Guilds as his scapegoat? That is indeed quite the sinister plan. “Obviously, ze Knighthood has yet to learn of zis treachery, and by ze time zey could find out…vell, it’d be too late. And so, it seems ve must take ze matters into our own hands…or razzer, yours. Simply put, ve need to ‘silence’ zis plot before it grows to uberly-bad proportions, ya?”

President Chapel then reaches for a box on his right, sets it down on the table, and opens it to show that it’s full of gold coins. “Naturally, ze Coins of Fortune have no shortage of funds to compensate you vith. Name your price, and ve shall vork from zere.” Knowing how much was in that box alone, it’s clear that the President can easily pay you quite the sum for the target’s head. Like he said, name your price…

<Irie Christings. Location: Town Market.>

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You currently stand near the entrance to the town marketplace. While Erimos has some nice tourist value to it, you don’t have time to sight-see right now. A whole platoon of Knights, led by none other than Joseph Edge, the Grand General himself, has come into town seeking a certain “special person.”

According to the records on him, this man has information vital to Koin’s political security, and since he lacks any crimes to be arrested for, the assignment of the platoon – yourself included – is to find this man, place him in protective custody, and have him meet with the Grand General to discuss his vital information. As for appearances, the man has a surprisingly rouge-like look to him: he wears a maroon tunic, white pants, grey leather boots, a brown leather cape, and a grey cloth mask that covers all but his green-colored right eye. Whether he’s dichromatic or not remains to be seen, as no one’s ever gotten a look at that left eye of his…

Unfortunately, his appearance and vital intel are all that’s officially known about him, so your first step will be to ask around town, and see if anyone knows where to find him. Had he left the city by now, the Knights would’ve seen him doing it, so he’s definitely still around. From your current position, you can spot a “welcome” booth for travelers, a blacksmith, and a man selling 1-pound fish. Who do you ask first?

<Ramses Cordunov. Location: Brewed Oasis tavern.>

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You have been hired to “take care of” a man named Marco Turilli, whose key features are a brown cape, dark red tunic, and a mask covering all but his right eye. The reward you will reap for success is quite the impressive one: a massive sum of 1800 Gold, and five brothel women to make into your personal…“attendants,” so to speak. Of course, that reward only comes around if you get the job done…but hey, you’re the leader of the Sentinels. Shouldn’t be a problem for a badass like you, right?

…well, that’s just it. The reason your client hired you, specifically, is because Marco is a very difficult man to kill, stealthily or otherwise. He has something of a “sixth sense” working for him, which not only heightens his awareness of his surroundings, but also seems as if he can predict his opponents’ moves in direct combat. Needless to say, stealth is the preferred way to go about it, but even one such as you must be very careful in doing so. Even if he’s only half the man that your client said he is, this one’s going to be tricky.

Speaking of your client, you never got the guy’s name. He was wearing a black cloak that completely hides his face from view, though it’d be hard to mistake his scraggly, almost snake-like form of voice. Of course, when a guy offers you 1800 Gold and five hookers for a job well done, it’s hard to turn that one down.

Anyhow, you’re currently inside the local tavern, the “Brewed Oasis,” which seems surprisingly tame for the time being. Sure, there’s still some noise, but not as much as you’d expect, and there’s nobody hooting and hollering amid a drunken daze, either. For now, your options are to either ask the bartender about where Marco is, or see if you can eavesdrop on the other customers to find out; given the somewhat crowded occupancy of the tavern, the relative calmness at present may be related to the dangerous man that is your mark…hey, you never know until you try, right?

<Amber Rictone. Location: Town Square.>

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

What brings you to this town is word of a mysterious ruined temple in the desert. Normally, this’d be a piece of cake for you and your guild; go into the ruins, dodge any traps set up, and come out with heavier pocketbooks. What makes this temple special, however, is the fact that it apparently sinks beneath the sands at night, then rises in a new location during the day. It’s because of this that the residents of Geodia have nicknamed it the “Swimming Shrine,” in reference to how it appears to “swim” with its rising and sinking pattern.

According to the locals, the Swimming Shrine has been sighted far off to the southwest of town, where it’d normally be too far to safely travel during the day, due to the desert’s extreme heat. However, if you can find a caravan well-stocked enough to make the journey, you might be able to pull this off.

As for your own personal company, you have three of the top-ranked members of your guild available. In particular, you have Earth-based spear-fighter Richter Zell, who prefers the nickname “Rick;” Terry Dozer, a rather muscular man who wields dual Air axes; and Ryoto Musashi, a Water-based ranger from Pramiz’s oriental island of Suzuyama. These men often serve as your personal bodyguards when you’re out and about, unless otherwise ordered by you in person, so defending yourself should be no problem.

To your left are the caravan stables, where merchants and travelers alike keep their mounts and supplies before heading out. To the right is the “Brewed Oasis” tavern, where both town residents and visiting travelers go to exchange info and take a load off. Where do you go first?

<Leona Serenvos and Jace Beleren. Location: Caravan stables, and Brewed Oasis tavern, respectively.>

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You have come to this town on business regarding a group of desert bandits, who have become an increasing headache for travelling caravans. Needless to say, your job is quite simple: accompany the small caravan led by Mr. Carl Elbert, which will serve as a diversion to draw the bandits out, and strike them down where they stand. You have 7 militia fighters to aid you in this task, and at least 3 of them are armed with P-Tech weaponry, just in case.

(Leona)
You’re currently accompanying Mr. Elbert as he checks up on the camels prior to the trip, though “guarding” may be a better word for it. Just remember that the whole stable is made of dry wood, so even the smallest stray spark could be dangerous. In other words, should anyone try anything funny, fire magic is basically out of the question.

(Jace)
You are currently chilling with 3 of the militia men at the Brewed Oasis, playing a game of poker. Those three men are the swordsman Reggie Filluss, axe-wielder Bill Barter, and staff mage Locke Barbosa. Your current hand is as follows:
2 of clubs;
Ace of spades;
Ace of diamonds;
8 of hearts; and
Ace of clubs.

As it stands, you already have the makings for a 3-of-a-kind with aces, but the way Locke keeps his poker face steady makes him hard to read. Bill appears as if he has a really good hand, though not by much, and Reggie seems to have neglected his poker face, as the disappointment with his current hand is pretty clear. At present, the whole table is waiting on you to either swap cards with the deck, or stay, then everyone must reveal their hand. Your move, slick.

<Jo Stryke. Location: Brewed Oasis tavern.>

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You’re currently taking a load off, sitting at a small table all by your lonesome…well, for the time being, anyways. From where you’re seated at right now, you can spot a good number of eye-catching guys, though the one shady-looking man with the green cloak catches your eyes for all the wrong reasons; seriously, he looks like he’d have residue from caked blood soaked into his boots. Definitely one to avoid right there…\

Those two guys playing cards at the right-hand table, on the other hand, look mighty cute. One’s a red-head, the other blonde, and both look young and full of “life,” so to speak.

Your occupation as a prostitute – or “bedside assistant,” if you’d prefer – has certainly left its mark, as just looking at those two gives you that feeling down in your loins. What’s your move, lassie?

[Inferi]

For probably the fifth time, Leona wondered why she had been the one chosen to guard her employer in this situation. The stable was less-than conducive to a favorable battleground for her in more ways than one, although her inability to use any open flames was the worst part. Why not choose any of the others, especially someone who had abilities that didn’t risk setting the entire place on fire if a bad situation came up?

Ah, well. She was here and that was that. Besides, the likelihood of someone actually attacking in the current situation wasn’t very good, and she wasn’t someone who was helpless without her fire. Not that whips were the best weapons to be using in a stable, no matter what they were made of. At the very least, her darts might still be feasible, as they could be used with precision if she absolutely needed to.

She was anxious to depart, although this didn’t show in her expression. Bandits were something she really didn’t like, no matter what form they took. Anyone that stole the money of others for their own use deserved to be taken care of, although, as with everything in the world, there were exceptions to the rule. On multiple occasions she had stolen something from a noble that didn’t need it to allow a family on the street to eat for another day, and she considered this acceptable because those that were so well-off that they didn’t understand the lower class’ situation needed a small trinket much less than those on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Regardless, she had signed on to this because she felt the bandits needed to be stopped. It was a little surprising that she would be one of nine combatants in the situation, although it did make a certain amount of sense. Sending too small of a group would undoubtedly cause the excursion to fail, and that would be unacceptable to everyone involved. As long as their diversion worked the way it was supposed to, Leona supposed there was no reason to worry.

“Everything in order, sir?” she asked calmly, eyes flitting around the stable as she kept watch for anything that might designate a threat. She looked at ease as she followed Mr. Elbert, but in reality she was ready to act should anything happen. It was clear from experience that threats could materialize out of the most unexpected scenarios, and since her job was to ensure this man's safety she wasn't going to let her guard down when there was no reason to. Her formal question to her employer was more force of habit than anything else, as she typically spoke formally to those she worked for unless they said she could do otherwise.

[MiscChaos]

It wasn't often that Xiaotou allowed herself to get sucked into this side of the business, but if Miahua really can't handle it it must be something serious enough to warrant her attention since there's not a lot Hua can't handle. That's why Xiao made her the right hand in the first place, her being a strong link to a wiped past notwithstanding. So here she is, sitting in front of the hermit who supposedly has the information she wants. She's not so petty a thief that she'd steal the food from the man's mouth without reason, but the aura he gives off makes her glad she has Hua and 2 other girls waiting on her in the shadows. No need to be careless after all. And no need to be rude either, so she puts on her best smile.

"Sums things up quite nicely, I'd say." she says brightly, leaning back in her chair. She's not quite relaxed enough to put her feet on the table, so she's on the balls of her feet at the moment, using her hands to emphasize her words. "So anything you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I realize information is power, so I'm not expecting a free meal here either. Tell me what you want and if it's within my power, I'll do it. If it isn't, we'll negotiate something that is if it suits you."

[RavenLord]

Nox remained silent, pondering on what Leonard said to him. It wasn't often that Guild Master of Nocturnus came himself to deal with a contact but this situation wasn't a usual one. A coup against royalty of Koin was a serious thing. Nox decided to see what he could gather from his own information sources after this meeting was over.

You know infamy of my guild Mr. Chapel so i doubt it will do us much harm in that regard but, i agree with you that this coup shouldn't succeed. Still, before i accept this task and name my price, i wish to know. How much do you know about this coup? Which factions and groups are supporting it? How much power and influence they currently have? Names, places.... Anything you know about those who are behind this coup. Nox said in a calm and polite tone, his orange eyes glowing slightly as always under the white mask he wore which covered his face and identity.

Guild Master of Nocturnus himself was intimidating though it was in a eerie way. His mask hid his face and his voice never betrayed any emotions. He carried himself with confidence. With his dark red robe, Nox looked pretty regal which coupled with his eyes and mask served only to make him more intimidating. Also, please call me Nox, Mr. Chapel. Ventus is a name i would rather not use. Nox added.

[Icaelus]

Irie stepped into the bustling marketplace, absentmindedly spinning Hurricane round and round. For safety reasons, Irie didn't usually do this. The magician's rod was spinning at a stupid speed and was leaving trails behind it where it had cut into the air. Yep, she was bored alright.
"Did Edge really have to drag me along?"
The mage grumbled, letting the spinning Hurricane slow to a stop, leaning her weight onto the cane. The Grand General, Joseph Edge had brought an entire platoon of the Knights and half-dragged her down to Erimos, this town on the edge of a damn desert. Normally, Irie would've protested to being dragged out of her comfort zone like that, but orders were orders and you didn't bloody disobey a direct order from the General himself. No "No way, Jose!"s or anything of the sort. And what was all this trouble for? All to find some dude that looked like a rogue?
Irie sighed deeply. This was going to be a royal pain in the ass. She gave a rather bored glance at her surroundings. Might as well ask around if anyone had seen this maroon tunic, white pants, grey leather boots, brown leather cape and grey cloth mask-wearing person. Why exactly there was so much info about the guy's damn clothing and not a single mention of his name, Irie didn't know. Then again, information worked in mysterious ways at times. She'd know. She passed around enough information here and there to.
She took notice of a few things, one of those so-called "welcome" booths for travelers that was probably in reality some rip-off souvenir shop, a blacksmith and some fishmonger..eh, what the heck. The fishmonger seemed like he would be watching each person that walked by in hopes of a potential customer, no? Might as well..
"Hey, fish guy. Have you seen anyone wearing a maroon tunic, white pants, grey leather boots, brown leather cape and grey cloth mask?"
Irie took a deep breath after rattling off that overly long description. Wow, was that a mouthful or what?

[daxtinator396]

Amber visibly bounced with excitement as they all looked about the town square and she looked eagerly to the southwest eager to get into someplace where no one had gone before. This could be the most exciting job she had had in years since she first founded the guild even! She had decided to bring along three of her best. They had been with her almost since the start of the guild! Seems when you start a guild of explorers word travels fast and they sure show up fast. Still their guild was small but then again not many other explorers were social creatures so it remained small with new recruits mostly budding explorers trickling in to learn the ropes. She had left them back home in Troplek where they could learn from the veterans on safer jobs. Now though it was time for her to choose. Tavern or Stables? Stables. She knew time was of the essence and she didn't want this wonderful job to sink through fingers and down back into the sand to slumber. This was her chance,"Hey fellas to the stables we go! Time is ticking down and I think we all want to see what's inside! Now I hope you packed light because we're taking anything that ain't nailed down!" She said happily her tail swishing in excitement as made towards the stables quickly her air of determinedness making people move away unconsciously.

[joeyjoey61297]

Jo gets up and wipes her clothes off and makes sure she looks good. She searched around in her small handbag and snatches a mirror out to look at her hair to make sure it's all up and gorgeous.
"Actually now that i I think I'm going to leave my hair down."Jo said to herself thinking that if it's down she would look less high maintenance and be better looking thanks to it.
Now that Jo thinks she looks top notch she slowly walks over to the table where the two cuties were playing cards and walks with a little more bump in her waist; making sure to show off that ass of hers.
Once she got to the table she looked at the two guys and asked "Do you mind if I join in on your game here? I might make it more interesting." Jo said with a flirty and happy smile, well leaning over the table slightly to show off some of her cleavage. Even though she was wearing her armor it doesn't really go too high up it is cut low and tight to the body of Jo.

[jayjaycaps]

Jace looked down at the cards in his hand, then to the other players eyes. He felt pretty good about his hand, even if he wouldn't be able to build much with it; three of a kind was probably the best he would do. But his poker face showed no hints of this, his deadpan expression hiding his emotions well. The only one he thought he would have trouble with was Locke. Being unable to read him, Jace assumed he had nothing. Reggie's bad luck was a dead give away, and he was still confident that Bill wasn't doing too well. Raising a finger at the next waiter/waitress that passed, Jace ordered another drink for himself.

Looking each man in the eye, he checked to make sure he was confident in his decision. Okay, let's see. Reggie? Ah, he's got nothing. Bad poker face: next. Bill? Well, maybe something there, but I'm sure he can't beat three aces. The fourth would be nice though. Let's see, Locke? Jace held Locke's gaze, his face showing no hints at his thoughts while trying to read Locke's. Meh, guy's got a good poker face. Probably bluffing. Putting on a great face to compensate for his poor hand. I've got the better hand here, fourth ace or not. His decision made, Jace splayed his right hand to signal that he was staying but without showing his hand. Keeping his cards hidden, Jace took a swig of his drink, slouched in his chair, and waited for everyone else to display their hands before he did.

[Reaver]

Ramses runs his hand down the grooves of one of his sword's hilt, admiring how the grip completely fits his hand while he slowly considers the offer. The offer was a good one that only a stupid person would refuse... or accept. "Fifty gold bars says I'm either being set up by another guild or he's with the Knights." Ramses grumbles as he walks towards the bartender. Regardless of the political affiliation of this "Marco", someone wanted him dead and Ramses was going to do it. If not for the money, for the "talented" girls who he might be able to recruit into his guild. He could always use some extra working girls especially with the way the economy was going.
Ramses taps the bartender's counter to get his attention before giving a dazzling smile that only a charismatic assassin would have. "Hey pal! I'm looking for a old war buddy of mine who is in town. he goes by the name Marco Turilli and he's probably wearing a mask hiding most of his face because he got his face slashed in the last border skirmish. Anyways I got a package for him and I want to drop it off somewhere before he gets there so it can be a HUGE surprise for him! You wouldn't happen to have this type of information, would you buddy? I mean that type of information is worth quite a lot to me and I'd be willing to pay for it." Ramses winks at the man before pulling out a small pouch full of coins and dangling it above the counter to show his meaning and interest in his answer.

[Zender_Solarheart]

Xiaotou

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You hear an amused huff escape the hermit’s shadowy cloak. “Well, first off…I’d like your friends to mind their own business.” During the pause in his statement, what appears to be a black barrier rises up behind you and around the hut, sealing off Hua and your 2 other backup units. “And second, I’ll need your life.”

Without missing a single beat, 4 cloak-wearing men appear as if from nowhere, each one identical to the “spies” your guild had mentioned. The 2 on your right carry a tonfa in each hand, while the 2 on your left sport a pair of daggers. The hermit, meanwhile, keeps his features hidden, and simply chuckles ominously.
“It’s nothing personal, really. We need to shake up the world order, and the best way to start is by chipping away at the Guilds. Yours just happened to be one of the lucky ‘winners’ from the lottery, hehehe!”

Keeping perfectly synchronized with their paces, the 4 aggressors slowly close in on you in a semi-circular formation, none of them having taken a stance just yet. It seems they want you to make the first move…choose that move wisely…

Nox

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Chapel turns his head to the right, with something of a disappointed look on his face. “Ya, I had a feeling you’d ask zat, Mr. Nox. Unfortunately, ve know precious little in ze vay of hard facts…but ve have heard rumors, some from ze lips of ze Guilds’ finest spies. Zey say ze man has eyes und ears everyvhere, from ze inner sanctums of Vasilias, to Arctul’s most remote peaks, und even in ze Guilds. It seems to be kvite ze vell-organized bunch, for sure; had ve not bagged vone of zeir moles, ve vouldn’t even know zis man existed.” Given the Coins of Fortune’s priority on business and sales over pure intel and research, it would make sense that much of their info would be obtained via word-of-mouth.

“But ya, I’m afraid ze most ve know right now is his location tonight: ze Hollow Hump.” The Hollow Hump is the most popular inn in Erimos, easily accessible to commoners and noblemen alike. It’s a really large building across the street from the Brewed Oasis tavern, and 2 buildings to the west of it. It also has a big oval-shaped sign that reads “The Hollow Hump,” so it’s not like it’d be easy to miss. “Given ze inn’s policies, I doubt he’d have too many guards around him. Zat vould draw unvanted attention, ya?”

Chapel leans forward, his hands clasped together in front of his smiling face (think like Gendo Ikari’s pose from Evangelion). “So, vat should I give you in exchange for ze man’s demise?”

Irie

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Even before he notices you, the fish salesman is already singing a song advertising his business. Once you reach him, he seems ready to ask if you want to buy any, but then you ask your question before he can ask his.
“Ah, you must mean Marco. That man has a thing for fish, I tell you; bought ten pounds worth of me stock in one go, he did. Last I heard, he was heading to the Hollow Hump for some shut-eye. So…would you like to buy some fish? Very very cheap, 1 gold per fish, you know?”

Ramses...the man in gauze, the man-*SLAP!*

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

The bartender has a rather stoic look upon his face at first…but once you start jingling the money in his face, he quickly changes to a smirk, and replies with a Western accent: “A friend o’ Marco’s, eh? Yeh got a real scary friend there; couple drunkards tried ta rough him up, and well…I thought he’d kill ‘em there fer a moment.” The barkeep then leans in closer, and tells you this:

“Word is the man’s at the Hollow Hump, getting a little rest…but that man’s got some purdy bad enemies. If yer thinkin’ to drop sumtin’ off fer him, yeh might wanna make it quick…hey, yeh never know.”

Amber

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

As you walk into the stables, your sensitive nose is met with a variety of smells. The most noticeable one is camel manure, but things like livestock feed and the camels themselves mix in with it. Here’s hoping you can find a caravan leader that’ll get you there soon…because that smell is RANK.

From your current position, you can spot 3 different caravan leaders. One wears dull tan robes, a turban on his head and cloth mask over his mouth; another wears red robes, and a can-shaped red hat; and the third one wears a tan-colored cape, a sheathed sword on his right side, and a bright red headband through his medium-length brown hair. Who do you start with?

Leona

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

“It would seem so…” Mr. Elbert replies over his shoulder, double-checking the camels that make up the caravan’s steeds. Horses and oxen aren’t physically fit for the desert, so the camel is the only animal that will suffice. He then turns around to face you, and says: “Could you go pick up Jace and the boys? They should be at the Brewed Oasis, all in one group…probably playing cards, knowing them.” Yeah, that does sound like those fellas, eh?

Jo

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Before you’ve even wandered into their field of conversation, you can overhear the blondie and his red-haired companion wrapping up a round of poker:
“Full House, bro. And you?”
“Heh…Royal Straight Flush.”
“Whoa, seriously?! Dayum, man!”

When you first arrive, the red-head blushes deep enough to go well with his hair, clearly rendered bashfully silent by your charm. The young blonde man simply smirks, and replies: “Sure thing, miss. I assume you know how to play Poker, right?” While waiting for your response, he passes out 3 hands of 5 cards each, and while he still can’t seem to summon any words, carrot-top manages to pick his hand up and put on the best poker-face he can muster…which apparently isn’t much.

If you peek at your own hand, you’ll find yourself with the following cards:
10 of Diamonds;
9 of Hearts;
3 of Spades;
Joker; and
7 of Diamonds.

Well, that’s not too good of a starting hand. Since you can swap some or all of your hand’s cards for replacements drawn from the deck, you haven’t lost right away…but it wouldn’t hurt to err on the side of caution, for now.

“My bro here and I have our own little spin on the game: from dealer’s left – dealer being me, this time – we each have up to 3 turn rotations in which to swap our hand’s cards. Of course, you can call on your turn to read ‘em and weep right there, if you think you’ve got the winning hand. Before we get started though, let’s introduce ourselves. My name’s Alex, and this here’s my bro…” Alex pauses, waiting for his “bro’s” response…
“G-Greg…my name’s Greg.”
“Wow G-Man, you should see your face! You’re blushin’ red as a tomato, bro!” Alex teases his brother a bit, to which Greg can only reply: “Oh, lay off it…”

Wait a minute…Greg and Alex? Could these brothers be Greggory and Alexander Alkaid, the sons of Jered Alkaid, Keymaster of the Past’s Locksmiths? That’d explain their well-groomed looks, given the revenue that Guild makes selling artifacts to museums…or perhaps it’s just coincidence?
“So…may we be graced with your name, lovely lady?”
“Laying it on a little thick there, Al…”

Jace

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Prompted by your signal to stay, the three men show their hands…

Reggie: (Junk)
6 of Clubs;
7 of Hearts;
9 of Hearts;
8 of Clubs; and
Jack of Diamonds.

Bill: (Straight)
Ace of Hearts;
4 of Hearts;
2 of Diamonds;
3 of Hearts; and
5 of Diamonds.

Locke: (5 of a kind!)
10 of Hearts;
10 of Diamonds;
10 of Clubs;
10 of Spades; and
Joker.

Locke is certain to show his hand last, letting the tension sink in after Bill plays his hand. Naturally, Reggie played his first, with a scoff of disappointment; seriously, why didn’t he just fold with such a bad hand? Still, that 5 of a kind Locke had is well-deserving of the grin on his face. Well, when you gamble long enough, you’re eventually gonna lose. At least this was one of those casual games with no real money on the table, eh?

If you look towards Reggie after Locke leans back to lounge in victory, you might notice the disappointment fade off of his face, as his gaze is drawn towards a woman near the middle of the tavern floor, apparently chatting it up with a blonde guy and a carrot-top.

Nyx

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You currently stand near the entrance to the market district of Erimos, on the side that connects it to the residential area. Having just completed a contract regarding some bandits and stolen goods, your coin purse is fat with enough earnings for a good meal at the tavern…or you could visit the local inn, known as the Hollow Hump, stay a night, and get the complimentary breakfast the morning after. Your choice, really.

[daxtinator396]

Amber rushed into the stables with the excitement that still permeated her whole being. She quickly stopped her charge into the stables as the smells associated with it assault her nose."Ewwww! Why do camels have to smell so... camely!" She complains as the smells sort themselves out and start to smell not so bad but the smell is still there baking in the heat. She saw the three caravan leaders and she decided to talk to the plain unassuming one first on the grounds that he was the hidden gem here,"Come on guys let's go see Drab guy. I think he's our ride." She says before she gets over there. Once she reaches it though she tries toncontian her excitement and says,"Excuse me! Excuse me! Um we need a ride out to that ruin and we need to get there before nightfall... Can you do it?" She asks hopefully.

[Angel_Slayer_Alcatraz]

"hrm I think it would be fun to get into a nice drink"
She said to herself, heading to the tavern

[MiscChaos]

Xiao starts as she's separated from her team through some kind of barrier, standing up and looking around. She sighs as the "hermit" brings out the very people she was looking for. "I wish I could say that this was completely shocking, but I'm not into telling obvious lies. The complex, almost truths are much more useful." she says. She points one arm towards one of the men on her right and the other towards one on her left and lets the hidden crossbows in her gloves let loose, aiming for the throat to try to take them out quickly. Regardless of whether she hits or not, she jumps back towards the barrier to limit the amount of ways they can come at her and draws Tou and Nusumu as a distraction. What she's really doing is preparing No Chance for when they inevitably try to corner her.

[Inferi]

Well, it was good that there wasn’t anything wrong. Leona didn’t really feel like hanging around here longer than she had to, although doing it without a complaint would go without saying if that had been the case. She wasn’t one to complain about a job to the employer except under the rare circumstance that what was happening went against her own morals. There had been a few jobs that she had simply walked out on because what was happening had been wrong, and the only reason she had been there was because it hadn’t been said at any point that such a thing was going to happen. Sure, it had gotten her in trouble, but not enough for her to stay on.

His next request was pretty much what she would have expected. Go get the rest of the crew, hm? Of course they were playing cards; they rarely did anything else. Then again, pretty much all men played cards all of the time, at least in her experience, and so it seemed she was continually fetching the people she was supposed to be working alongside while they were playing cards in whatever tavern existed in the town. Oh, well. Nothing she could do about the way people thought, no matter how much she might wish it sometimes.

“Of course.” she said, turning and walking to the exit of the stable. It wasn’t a long walk, and there didn’t seem to be any trouble, so she didn’t feel too uncomfortable about leaving her employer alone. Besides, even if something did happen, it wasn’t her fault. She was only doing what was instructed, and if she would get faulted for that…well, why was she even working for this guy in the first place?

The walk from where she was to where she wanted to be was (presumably) uneventful, and she quickly arrived at the tavern. Ignoring pretty much everyone else when she spotted the group she was after, Leona weaved her way through the tables and people to make it there. As Mr. Elbert had suspected, they were playing poker, although it seemed like a hand had just finished. Just because she didn’t like to play didn’t mean Leona didn’t understand the game.

“Hey, you four. Time to go.” she said shortly, not caring what, if anything, she was interrupting.

[jayjaycaps]

A wild grin on his face, Jace lays his hand out on the table. "Five of a kind? Son of a..." His voice trails off, taking another swig while eyeing Locke's hand. "Good thing we ain't playing for keeps, right Reggie?" Jace scoffed at his absolute shit hand. Noticing Reggie's gaze, Jace's eyes follow to Leona. Eyeing her up and down, Jace takes yet another swig. "Is that so? And what I'd we we're in the middle of a game here?" Jace motioned towards the cards in the table with a hand, the other moving his drink up to his lips. He never worried about getting drunk, and blamed it on himself being a water mage. All that water apparently made it pretty difficult to get dehydrated. At least, that's the excuse Jace always used to keep drinking.

Finishing his drink off, Jace slammed the bottle back down onto the table. With a satisfied sigh, he turned to the other mercs at his table. "Well apparently, play time is over boys. Shall we be off?" Jace stood, a sly smile in his lips. He really didn't mind leaving; all this staying in one spot was NOT why he became a sell sword.

[Icaelus]

And there we go, a name. Apparently the man went by Marco. Also, he seemed to really like fish. And he was staying at the Hollow Hump, an even more important bit of info..
"Marco, hm? Thank you for the information, good sir."
Irie smiled at the fishmonger, flipping the man a gold coin for his bit of info. She jingled the small purse that held her cash, intentions clear.
"Would you be so kind to point me in the direction of the Hollow Hump..?"
The magician asked. Again, a subtle and very suggestive jingle of her purse, the coins within clinking with each other.

A minute later, Irie proceeded on her way towards the Hollow Hump, presumably some sort of inn or tavern. All these info at the cost of two gold coins. Didn't really matter since she could get reimbursed for it afterwards, anyway. And it was but a small amount to Irie in exchange for getting the job done quicker..

[joeyjoey61297]

Jo looking at them she kind of liked the shy red head,Jo that it was cute. Now sitting down gracefully she said
"My name is Jo!"
Almost laughing a little because of the two infront of her sounded like little kids teasing each other. But Jo hadn't really played poker before so she was at a standstill on what to do even though she picks things up really quickly and becomes very good at them she didnt have a clue on how to play; so looking up at Al she had said in a blushing and flirty tone
"I'm not exactly sure on how to play this game..."

[Reaver]

Ramses grins at the bartender takes the bait and his money. People like them were the ones that kept him in buisness. The greedy ones that would sell out someone just for a little more. "Yep, that sounds like Marco alright. I've always tell him to calm down before he snaps someone's neck but he barely listens to anyone. I'll hurry down to the Hollow Hump to stop him from stirring anymore trouble. Thanks for your help and for the record.... I was never here." He gives the bartender another wink before sliding another bag of coins across the counter. The less people that knew of his activity, the better and a bag of money was almost as good as sliting a person's throat. However he wasn't being paid to kill the bartender and Ramses Corndunov DOES NOT do freebies.
Ramses glances back into the bar before he notices a particular woman playing cards with two guys. He instantly recognizes her as one of his guild members and he chuckles as she tries to woo her supposed targets. "Oh and Bartender if you could tell that fine lady over there that Ramses says hi and give her and her friends a couple of strong drinks I would appreciate it. I would probably even spread news of this wonderful establishment to my friends." Ramses says as he gives a few more coins over to him to cover the drinks. Afterwards he walks out the door with his pockets feeling a lot lighter. "This job better pay off or I'm going to level this whole damn place." he mutters as he starts walking towards the Hollow Hump.

[Zender_Solarheart]

Xiaotou

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Perhaps too accustomed to the close-range nature of melee attacks, the first man on your right is caught completely unawares by your hidden crossbow attack, and in a reflexive move of desperation, ducks down. That proves to be his downfall, as instead of landing in his throat, the bolt instead punches a nice hole in his forehead, causing instant death. The one on your left is a tad sharper, and manages to…almost evade the shot. His side-dash to the right (your left) sees the bolt impact in his left shoulder, rendering that arm effectively useless.

During that clever move, you could’ve sworn that the hermit let out a small chuckle…one that implied amusement, and perhaps even taunting. A prank of the imagination, perhaps?

Either way, you have no time to ponder that. There are still two enemies left, along with the hermit, and the remaining mook on your right is launching a magical offensive. Lowering his left arm down, his tonfa glows yellow, and he swiftly launches it into an uppercut motion, sending a line of rock spikes streaking towards you. Your light footwork and agile movements dodge the bulk of the attack, though one of the spikes manages to scratch your right calf (10 damage).

That earthen spike-line attack bears both pros and cons. Good news is, the spikes are currently barring the path of the two thugs that were previously on your left. Bad news is, you now have only half the breathing room between you and “Rocky” over there. Currently, that opponent is taking a squatting stance with both forearms held perpendicular to his torso, his tonfas emitting faint yellow light. One down, 3 to go…

{Battle Stats}

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

:Xiaotou:
Health: 90%.
Status: Small scratch on right calf. No present combat detriment, but the wound may become infected if sand enters it.

:Tonfa Mook 2:
Health: 100%.
Status: In squatting stance, with tonfas magically charged.

:Dagger Mook 1:
Health: 75%.
Status: Currently unable to rejoin combat. Left arm crippled.

:Dagger Mook 2:
Health: 100%.
Status: Currently unable to rejoin combat.

Irie

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

The fish merchant points you in the direction of the Hollow Hump, and you set out for it. (In other words, the GM felt too lazy to come up with anything witty for that dude to say, so he’s skipping to the next scene.)

Location: the Hollow Hump.

The Hollow Hump bears noticeable contrast to the “Brewed Oasis” tavern down the street. Instead of a pub inside, the inn has something more akin to an actual restaurant, and the people around seem more civilized than the Guildsmen and sailor-like types found at the other place. Furthermore, there’s 2 floors worth of rooms, the second floor having special rooms such as the penthouse and lovers’ suites.

A desk clerk waits next to the doors up to the bedrooms, along with a single guard to make sure no one tries to force their way past…y’know, just to be safe. If anyone in here knows which room is Marco’s, it’ll be that clerk. Also, that guy who walked in shortly after you – dressed in a green cloak, and with an air of suspicion around him – does seem a bit…off…

Ramses

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Nothing of particular interest happens as you make your way over to the Hollow Hump. Nuff said, moving on…

Location: the Hollow Hump.
(See Irie’s post for a run-down of the Hump’s restaurant area.)

If you’re going to learn what room Marco’s in, the desk clerk is the guy to talk to…though, bribing him in front of the nearby guard would be a bad idea, for obvious reasons. There’s also this magician-esque lady nearby, and you get the feeling there’s more to her than appearances suggest. Your move, Mr. Cordunov.

Amber

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

The man in drab can’t help but cock an eye quizzically at your manner of approaching him, but only for a second, then answers: “Err…I’m not sure which ruin you’re referring to…but I’m just a camel merchant. If ruins are your interest, talk to that guy over there.” He then turns a glance towards the sword-toting man with the headband, who seems a touch familiar now, though your memory fails to recall why. You could’ve sworn he had something to do with the Past’s Locksmiths, and if that’s the case, then he’d definitely be a viable partner in your search for the Swimming Shrine.

Jace and Leona

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

The trek to the tavern for Leona proceeds uninterrupted, and having been ordered to go, Jace’s posse packs it up and heads out with her. The group head back to where Mr. Elbert is waiting, decoy caravan ready to go, where he gives one last double-check of the head-count.

“Well, everyone’s here now. Normally, I’d give you all a re-brief on the task at hand, but I think it’s clear by this point. Just remember to keep your canteen supplies rationed; the desert is a cruel mistress to those who venture unprepared.” Elbert gives a brief glance at Locke with that last part, hinting at the man’s penchant for taking unneeded risks. The phrase “nothing ventured, nothing gained” should have come with a clause on recklessness, and at times, he’s a big reason as to why. “Oh, and one more thing. Rumor has it that these bandits have a strong Water mage-fighter among them. If you see him, take caution…especially you, Leona, though I think that goes without saying.”

With that last detail noted, Elbert motions for all of you to saddle up in the wagon. It’s a nicely-sized wagon, with a sun-shielding tarp over the top, so the lot of you would have no trouble sitting comfortably inside, ready to spring out on the bandits once they take the bait.

Jo

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Alex cocks a slightly cheeky grin, and replies: “It’s not that complicated once you know the hands. Here, lemme explain…”

(this is the part where you read the rules here, and base this on the “Five Card Draw” rules. No offense, but I don’t feel like typing out a whole “Poker 101” course for a one-time minigame…)

“And that’s about the gist of it. You don’t have to, but if you’d like to make a wager, name it, and we can work from there.” “Wha-…Alex, what are you doing?” Alex looks at Greg, sighs, and adds: “…s’cuse us for a moment.” He then stands up with Greg, walks off to the side, and they have a huddle-session about whatever. When they sit back down, Greg seems even more flustered than before, for whatever reason. Adorable when he’s embarrassed, isn’t he?

“So…play for stakes, or for fun? Your choice, sweetie.”

Nyx

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

As you walk into the tavern, you’re greeted with a variety of sights. First off, there’s a girl leaning over a table two card-players are at, and if the scene is any indication, she’s likely flirting with them. Second, the bar counter is largely unoccupied right now, save for a shady-looking man in a green hooded cloak who’s…apparently bribing the bartender for some information. Thankfully, it looks like he’s going to be done with that soon, so you can order your drink without interrupting him.

Finally, if you look around you, you may notice a few random guys in the tavern looking at you…”attentively.” A good number either fail to notice you altogether, or simply turn away, having heard of your Blade Priestess reputation. There is one individual further back, however, that looks at you more out of simple curiosity, instead of any thoughts the male libido might prompt. He’s real easy to spot, mainly because of the white hair that so clearly clashes with his otherwise youthful – and honestly rather powerful - appearance. A “strong, silent type,” perhaps?

[MiscChaos]

Xiao has mixed feelings about the results of her initial assault, glad that one enemy fell, but annoyed that the other escaped death. Those feelings are wiped away though as the living man on her right uses Earth magic. On the bright side, she now has two opponents less to worry about at the moment. The bad news is a) Goddammit, it HAD to be Earth, didn't it? She can't get a feel for how much he's build a tolerance for Wind magic thanks to his native one until she actually launches an attack against him. Then there's b) he actually managed to harm her.

"Dammit!" she mutters as she looks over the cut. She'll need to get that taken care of as soon as everything's over. No need to fall to anything stupid like infections or something of that sort. When she sees him gearing up for a second go at magic, she forces herself into action. "No Restrictions" she mutters to herself, creating a vacuum in front of her and a tailwind behind her. Then she uses a spike behind her as a platform and launches into the air, moving farther and faster because of No Restrictions. While she's in the air, she casts "No Conscience", creating a blade of wind 1.5 times the size of Nusumu along side the blade. If all goes well, she'll land right behind her opponent, cutting clear through his head with the wind blade if his resistance is low and cutting across his eyes with Nusumu anyway, keeping Tou close by in case of counter attack. It won't stop a counter, but it'll at least dampen the blow or allow her to deflect part of it away from herself.