In Search of a Madman (Game Session)
Kaisa and Miradon awoke in their new, uncomfortable quarters. Most of the company was still in bed, bleary-eyed and hungover. After some slight morning preparation, and Kaisa's strange daily meditation, the pair made their way out of the barrack to investigate the whereabouts of their new superior - Woodsman Calain. After grabbing a passerby by the arm, and demanding Calain's residence, Kaisa realized that her methods could, perhaps, use some work. A group of red tunics passed by, making their way to duty at Othos and Ethos, the twin stone towers of Deal - and Kaisa was only a few inches behind them. Quickly, she hopped in front of them, leaning gently on her quarterstaff.
The eldest, and obviously, most important of the trio of men stopped, holding his hand up to signal a halt. He was old, yet strong, a square jaw and piercing blue eyes set beneath a long, tangled mane of gray hair.
"Scout." His voice oozed authority.
Kaisa nodded, and nonchalantly asked, "Woodsman Calain?"
"I am not. Do you seek him, Scout?"
Kaisa nodded, caught unawares when the old soliders mouth tightened into concern, and his eyes were cast downward a shade.
"I am sorry," he swallowed, "yet, he lies north of Deal, far north. He keeps a managerie in his compound, in the woods. He is most insane."
Miradon's worried voice broke it's usual silence, "So we are to report to a madman?"
"He has been kept, yet, for his exceeding tactical skill. If he is your superior, I am deeply sorry," the solider shook his head, slowly, before leveling his gaze at Kaisa, "the disrespectful are undeserving of respect." With that, the four men left, making their way to Othos and Ethos.
"He was wrong - I do have respect for him. Not many men are brave enough to speak to me in such a tone," Kaisa murmured.
"Such a tone? In his eyes, his tone probably befit your rank. Remember that to these people, we are at the bottom of the ladder, so to speak," Miradon quietly uttered, casting his gaze over his red-clad shoulder.
***
Having garnered infomation, at least, from the old solider, our duo made their way to Dray's Imports, in Northern Deal. They had learned that the madman Calain sells his wares there - furnature, of all things. While they are sold indirectly, surely someone at Dray's would know where the recluse lives.
Dray's Imports is a low, squat building, with a large, open-air enterance. People milled in and out, and upon approaching, Kaisa noted the myriad of things available inside. On large tables were things from fabrics to sweetened and spiced foods. And at each table stood a tall, handsome man, dressed in a knee-length cream tunic. Miradon inquired with one of these men, and found that the very person they were looking for was a young, blonde, unassuming carpenter by the name of Darden.
After a few moments of Kaisa's none-too-subtle powers of persuasion, a frightened Darden agreed to guide the two to Calain's compound.
"Be here at sunset, I suppose," he said, tucking his hands into his apron.
***
Miradon retreated to the barracks, leaving Kaisa to her own devices. She was strong, he thought, but incredibly rash and brutish. Strange, for a women - yet, she was a warrior, which was strange in and of itself. He sat hunched on his bed, attempting to ignore the drunkards and miscreants around him, all clad in a red he was becoming more and more embarassed to wear.
Gently, he ran his fingers along the feathers of an arrow, making sure this night would no go wrong.
***
"Who is the maker of that, if I may ask?" Kaisa said, admiringly.
She had immediately made her way to the place she should be least - the Imperial Inn, the Emperor's presence in Deal. While the establishment was meant to offer a place to stay and be nourished to any of his subjects, it was largely a rough moot spot for members of both His King's Blades and Swift Turquoise, the Imperials in Deal, hedged out by the growing All-Favors Mercenary Company. As such, the upturned gazes and rise in tension when Kaisa entered the Inn was not unwarrented. And after several attempts to gather information about Calain, all met with rude comments and near sexual assult, Kaisa paid for her two meads and left.
Walking back to the barracks, she had noticed that many of the buildings bore the name Finnius. Seeing what she guessed was his home, and guardhouse, Kaisa approached one of the guards, admiring the beautiful halberd he carried. The man was clad in a chain skirt and shirt, and was obviously foreign - dark complexion, tall, with dark, wavy hair to his shoulders.
Warmly, he answered, "I am."
Thunder cracked overhead, as the rain throughout the day continued, keeping the pair drenched.
"It's quite amazing, if not a bit gaudy for my tastes. May I see it?" Kaisa smiled honestly, for once.
The man insisted that he hold her scimitar, and spun it on his fingers, making it whistle through the air. "No less beautiful. I am Alexi, I come from the Shining Islands, east of here."
Kaisa nodded, running his gaze over his halberd. "I too come from elsewhere, I'm not entirely sure where. But Deal has become my home, because it's all I've ever really known," then she became curious again, "do you know of a man, Calain?"
Alexi gently bit at his bottom lip, and shook his head, "Based on your garb, I would guess we run in different circles. But if it helps, your blade bears markings of the Winter Islands, and you do show the heritage."
"Many thanks, Alexi..?" Kaisa asked.
"Alexi, indeed. But the sun is setting, and I fear my shift is ended. Perhaps you will visit again?"
Looking Alexi up and down, Kaisa gave another geniune smile, "Perhaps."
Alexi turned, leaving, before speaking over his shoulder a moment longer. "Since I do not know your name, I will call you Winter."
***
At sunset, Kaisa made her way to Dray's Imports. Miradon, too, was just making his appearance, while Darden stood just inside the now deserted building. His clothing was unchanged from earlier in the day, and he immediately made his way north from Deal, setting a quick, well-travelled pace. He was unarmed, and obvously expected little trouble.
It came as a surprise, then, when just inside the treeline the undergrowth suddenly surged up around the three, wrapping violently around Darden and Kaisa, while Miradon leapt out of harm's way.
"Ur-tor granuk tahl!" came a chant from somewhere in the darkness.
Quickly fitting a burning arrow to his bow, Miradon loosed a volley toward the sound. The arrow provided just enough light to see a figure moving away, but was soon snuffed by the rain. Behind, both Kaisa and Darden struggled to no avail, the vines straining against them, a sea of the writhing and reaching for Miradon. He quickly ran through the vines to Kaisa, tugging and pulling at her restraints, while she strained and pulled at them herself. After what seemed an eternity, punctuated by Darden's groaning against his bonds, Kaisa burst free.
It was far less of a surprise, then, when she leapt free, holding her hands in front of her, angrily chanting. The surprise came when a small pinpoint of light winked into exsistance between her hands, and erupted into a burning ball, which she heaved into the darkness.
