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Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)
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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 1822634" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>Bargains of Spirit and Flesh - Part 2: Defenders of the Weak</strong></p><p></p><p>"What do you mean you can't find Kham?"</p><p></p><p>Vlad looked over his shoulder. "I told you: He went into one of the many taverns back there and he didn't come out. I don't know where he went. I'm sure he'll turn up."</p><p></p><p>Quintus looked took a deep, frustrated breath. "Well, he was the closest thing we had to a guide here. It's getting dark out. We'd better find a place to sleep."</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė pointed to a sign in front of an inn. "Perhaps there." The sign read "The Sins of Our Fathers." </p><p></p><p>Quintus shook his head. "I don't think-"</p><p></p><p>There was a shout off to their left. "Mind your own business, old man!" someone hissed, trying and failing to be silent.</p><p></p><p>Quintus and Vlad exchanged looks. Quintus nodded as he put his hand on the hilt of his gladius. Vlad slowly unsheathed his sword as he slipped into the darkness of the alleyway. Ilmarė followed.</p><p></p><p>As Quintus stepped into the alley, he could make out four rough-looking men standing over a crumpled form. A woman was weeping against a wall behind them, covering her face.</p><p></p><p>"Unhand them!" Quintus shouted. </p><p></p><p>The men looked up in surprise. One of the thugs had a hand on the old dwarf's collar, the other raised in a fist.</p><p></p><p>"I am Quintus Aurelius Ignatius, Signifer of the Legion of the Triumphant Rays of the-"</p><p></p><p>The lead thug dropped the old dwarf. "Get 'em!" </p><p></p><p>He rushed at Quintus but was intercepted by Vlad, who stepped into his path. The lead thug bounced off the larger man's breastplate. Vlad wagged his finger in the man's face. </p><p></p><p>There was a flash of steel and the man crumpled in a heap, clutching his chest. Ilmarė stood over the fallen man, her longsword covered in red. </p><p></p><p>"By order of the Emperor," began Quintus, "I demand you-"</p><p></p><p>The thugs fled, dragging their bleeding comrade with them. </p><p></p><p>"One of these days, I'm going to finish a sent-"</p><p></p><p>"Over here!" shouted Vlad. "I think the old man is hurt." He was crouched over the old dwarf. "I don't think he can get up." Behind them, Ilmarė calmed the woman down.</p><p></p><p>Quintus muttered something to himself and crouched down next to the old dwarf. </p><p></p><p>"Can you stand, father?" he said, his tone softening.</p><p></p><p>The old man's nose had been broken. "Looks bad," Quintus said. "Stand back."</p><p></p><p>Quintus leaned down and put both of his palms on the man's head. "Illiir, iuvo sana sua vulna levis."</p><p></p><p>A soft light emanated from Quintus' hands and suffused the dwarf with a golden glow. </p><p></p><p>"Ah!" the old man said, his wounds healed. "A brother…of Illiir! Bless you…for your kindness." He spoke in long, slow gasps that were painful to listen to. It seemed as if each breath was his last.</p><p></p><p>"You never mentioned you were a priest," Ilmarė said from the shadows.</p><p></p><p>Quintus glanced up at her. "I am not a priest. I am a signifer."</p><p></p><p>The woman weeping against the wall stopped sobbing. She slowly backed away, then turned and ran.</p><p></p><p>"Real friendly town," said Vlad.</p><p></p><p>"A prostitute," Ilmarė responded, "fearful of Coryani law."</p><p></p><p>"You shouldn't defend prostitutes, old man," said Vlad. "You were no match for that many men."</p><p></p><p>"Or even one man," Ilmarė added. </p><p></p><p>Quintus helped the old man to his feet. "It is fortunate…you were…nearby," he said. " What brought you…to Marketplace?"</p><p></p><p>"Caravan duty," Quintus said with a frown. "But we've traveled two weeks from Coryan, only to discover that there are hundreds of applicants for the task, with no clear explanation as to who will be selected."</p><p></p><p>The old dwarf pointed one crooked finger in the direction of The Sins of Our Fathers inn. "I…recommend staying…at that inn," he said. Then he began to hobble down the street.</p><p></p><p>"Are you sure you don't need any help?" asked Vlad.</p><p></p><p>Two dwarves rushed up to the older man. Vlad recognized one of them as the lazy note taker from the caravan line. "Master Elabac," one shouted, "are you alright?"</p><p></p><p>"Master Elabac?" Vlad and Quintus said in unison, blinking in surprise.</p><p></p><p>The old man turned and winked at them as the younger dwarves hustled him away. </p><p></p><p>"I think we were just went through the selection process," said Ilmarė. She walked across the street to the inn.</p><p></p><p>Vlad began striding towards the inn. "And we know where we're staying tonight."</p><p></p><p>Quintus looked skywards. "Thank you, Illiir." He started to follow his two companions into the peculiarly named inn. Then he paused. "I guess this means Kham's not dead." After chuckling to himself, he ducked through the door into the inn.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 1822634, member: 3285"] [b]Bargains of Spirit and Flesh - Part 2: Defenders of the Weak[/b] "What do you mean you can't find Kham?" Vlad looked over his shoulder. "I told you: He went into one of the many taverns back there and he didn't come out. I don't know where he went. I'm sure he'll turn up." Quintus looked took a deep, frustrated breath. "Well, he was the closest thing we had to a guide here. It's getting dark out. We'd better find a place to sleep." Ilmarė pointed to a sign in front of an inn. "Perhaps there." The sign read "The Sins of Our Fathers." Quintus shook his head. "I don't think-" There was a shout off to their left. "Mind your own business, old man!" someone hissed, trying and failing to be silent. Quintus and Vlad exchanged looks. Quintus nodded as he put his hand on the hilt of his gladius. Vlad slowly unsheathed his sword as he slipped into the darkness of the alleyway. Ilmarė followed. As Quintus stepped into the alley, he could make out four rough-looking men standing over a crumpled form. A woman was weeping against a wall behind them, covering her face. "Unhand them!" Quintus shouted. The men looked up in surprise. One of the thugs had a hand on the old dwarf's collar, the other raised in a fist. "I am Quintus Aurelius Ignatius, Signifer of the Legion of the Triumphant Rays of the-" The lead thug dropped the old dwarf. "Get 'em!" He rushed at Quintus but was intercepted by Vlad, who stepped into his path. The lead thug bounced off the larger man's breastplate. Vlad wagged his finger in the man's face. There was a flash of steel and the man crumpled in a heap, clutching his chest. Ilmarė stood over the fallen man, her longsword covered in red. "By order of the Emperor," began Quintus, "I demand you-" The thugs fled, dragging their bleeding comrade with them. "One of these days, I'm going to finish a sent-" "Over here!" shouted Vlad. "I think the old man is hurt." He was crouched over the old dwarf. "I don't think he can get up." Behind them, Ilmarė calmed the woman down. Quintus muttered something to himself and crouched down next to the old dwarf. "Can you stand, father?" he said, his tone softening. The old man's nose had been broken. "Looks bad," Quintus said. "Stand back." Quintus leaned down and put both of his palms on the man's head. "Illiir, iuvo sana sua vulna levis." A soft light emanated from Quintus' hands and suffused the dwarf with a golden glow. "Ah!" the old man said, his wounds healed. "A brother…of Illiir! Bless you…for your kindness." He spoke in long, slow gasps that were painful to listen to. It seemed as if each breath was his last. "You never mentioned you were a priest," Ilmarė said from the shadows. Quintus glanced up at her. "I am not a priest. I am a signifer." The woman weeping against the wall stopped sobbing. She slowly backed away, then turned and ran. "Real friendly town," said Vlad. "A prostitute," Ilmarė responded, "fearful of Coryani law." "You shouldn't defend prostitutes, old man," said Vlad. "You were no match for that many men." "Or even one man," Ilmarė added. Quintus helped the old man to his feet. "It is fortunate…you were…nearby," he said. " What brought you…to Marketplace?" "Caravan duty," Quintus said with a frown. "But we've traveled two weeks from Coryan, only to discover that there are hundreds of applicants for the task, with no clear explanation as to who will be selected." The old dwarf pointed one crooked finger in the direction of The Sins of Our Fathers inn. "I…recommend staying…at that inn," he said. Then he began to hobble down the street. "Are you sure you don't need any help?" asked Vlad. Two dwarves rushed up to the older man. Vlad recognized one of them as the lazy note taker from the caravan line. "Master Elabac," one shouted, "are you alright?" "Master Elabac?" Vlad and Quintus said in unison, blinking in surprise. The old man turned and winked at them as the younger dwarves hustled him away. "I think we were just went through the selection process," said Ilmarė. She walked across the street to the inn. Vlad began striding towards the inn. "And we know where we're staying tonight." Quintus looked skywards. "Thank you, Illiir." He started to follow his two companions into the peculiarly named inn. Then he paused. "I guess this means Kham's not dead." After chuckling to himself, he ducked through the door into the inn. [/QUOTE]
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