Night's Embrace: Part 1--A Touch of Darkness

[Boddynock]

[SBLOCK=RA & Titus]"OK. Down left, up right." He nods. "I'll be back with them as soon as I can. Watch yourself!"

Kelloran hurries off, excited by the prospect of making some progress for the first time in this long, weary day. He runs as fast as he can to the temple, ready to gather up the others and hasten back to the tracking ranger.[/SBLOCK]

 

[Rystil Arden]

[SBLOCK=SSB]"Ah, I'm not sure you understand. These are not merchant guilds, although we do have craftsmen's guilds, these are merchant houses. Unlike guilds, which specialise in one area, the merchant houses pursue all kinds of mercantile ventures, as far as I can tell. The merchant families here are the nobility...in our land, a keen eye for profit can bring a commoner and her family great status, while the erstwhile rich gone decadent can fall to penury."[/SBLOCK]

 

[Shayuri]

Sulannus stares blankly at the guard, finding this human mode of organization impossibly and meaninglessly complex. Finally she says, "Sir...if you, a man at arms, found yourself without work tomorrow and needing coin, what would YOU do in this city?"

Her cheeks flush a bit in humiliation at having to so obviously make their desperate straits known to a stranger...but time was short and getting shorter.

 

[Rystil Arden]

[SBLOCK=S,S,B]"Well, I'd probably sign up to be a city guard or a soldier in the king's army. Barring that, if there weren't any caravan guard spots, I'd have to do manual labour. There's really not all that much a man-at-arms is good for, just fighting. If I was really good and I knew all those fancy moves, which I don't, I might become one of those fencing masters and teach young snotty rich kids how to fight with a blade and look good doing it. Now really, I must be on my way. I'm not being paid for idle chatter."

*And with that, the guard continues on his way.*[/SBLOCK]

 

[Legildur]

[sblock=S,S,RA]OOC: Could have sworn I'd already replied to this thread about this post!
BIC: "I wouldn't think that we'd be wanting to sign up for the city guard - unless it was for a special job and short term," says Blunt to the others as the guard departs. "Otherwise we'll be spending the rest of our lives here. A caravan guard sounds more appealing, but takes us away from the city and the problem here. Thoughts?"[/sblock]

 

[Shayuri]

(psst...am I alone here?)

Sulannus opens her mouth...then reluctantly closes it again, realizing this guard has helped as much as he could, or was willing to. She looks to the other two with her and says, "Now what? I don't relish the idea of a long-term commitment to the guard. But his description of the guilds seemed monstrously complex. Does it make more sense to you two? You ARE human, after all."

 

[Rystil Arden]

[SBLOCK=S,S,B]*The trio realises that they didn't allot even close to enough time before the meeting time, as they are going to need to head there soon or else they'll be late.*[/SBLOCK]

*Heading back to the meeting place, though, Kel is about an hour late anyway. But he is running up to them as fast as he can!*

(OOC: Go for it Kel! )

 

[Legildur]

[sblock=S,S,RA]Blunt shrugs his shoulders in reply. "I am not familiar with these complex arrangements. But yes, a long term commitment should be avoided."[/sblock]

 

[Boddynock]

Kel races into the temple and searches hurriedly for the others. When he finds them, he rushes over and grabs the paladin by the arm. "Come on! Titus has found some tracks - but he's afraid that the storm that's coming may wash them out, so he's gone on ahead while I came back here."

The lad turns and starts to rush off again. "Hurry! I know how to find him again. We need to join him before he finds anything he can't handle."

 

[Legildur]

[sblock=RA,S,S,K]Blunt looks up from his considerations of many things as Kel bursts in. "I and thought we were late," he mutters to Sulannus and Shan. His brow furrows as he sees that Kel is without his friend Titus. Standing up, he is about to ask when Kel starts speaking. Without saying a word, Blunt gathers his meagre possessions and sets off with Kel and the others.[/sblock]