Kales - Guild District

[Astrid Starwind]

Aramiya was suprised when her father asked to go a quest to find an object that might or might not be there in a place no human dared tread for thousands of years. Here she was in Kales, to find appropriate hired help to begin her quest and this is how she ended up in the guild disctrict of Kales.

She walked through the Mercenary guild of Kales, and posted her ad for possibly up to two mecernaries, fit and able bodies and possibly well travelled. She was with her mentor dressed in their best to attract the best in the guild. Money her father gave her for initial payment was attractive amount of golds and silver for most mercernary. Luckily her mentor was better at assessing people then she was. How could anyone refuse such large amount of money for initial payment? All her ad said was that she requires up to two mercernaries, fit and well travelled. For a quest to southern rainforests to find fabled treasure within the rainforest.
At least her mentor thought that should attract a lot of curious well seasoned mercernaries who wanted to travel and a decent amount of money.

[Mia]

OOC: You didn’t set up where Aramiya is exactly, so I’m not going to make any assumptions.

Mia’s last job had brought her to the city of Kales, though she still found herself wanting to call the place Arkin. She had first become familiar with the place when it was the nation of Chegar, but that changed almost twenty years ago, which seemed like a blink of an eye to someone who had been roving the continent back and forth for nearly two centuries. The Oir’Idayn had done her best to avoid involving herself in the expansion of this new empire, though requests for mercenaries to join rebellion militias popped up from time to time. Despite how much time she spent amongst humans, the issues of their nations never felt like her place to intervene unless they infringed upon the rights of other races, especially at the risk of being tried for treason against a country she didn’t even belong to.

She was staying in the guild dorms until she found another job, and this morning she got out of bed to check the job postings for something worth her time. Making her way downstairs at a rather lazy pace, the petite Oir’Idayn sauntered over to the bulletin board for new jobs.

“Merchant seeking guards... Kuzo hunting... Protection detail for Samonight trip, ha!” Mia murmured to herself as she read over the messages. “Putting down a guerilla army, nuh-uh... Hmm?” she paused as she scanned over a particularly interesting notice. “A trip to the southern rainforests? Oooh... this is interesting, right up my alley too.” She deliberated for a moment, then headed over to the guildmaster to state her interest.

“Hey Brand,” she knocked on the office door of the guildmaster. She had known the man for practically as long as he had been at his post, so she was quite friendly with him.

“Come in, Mia,” he called from behind the door, prompting her to enter. As she stepped into the office, the burly aging man sat behind a desk, scrutinizing paperwork. He eyed her from under one bushy brown eyebrow. “Lemme guess, you want the wildlands job?”

Mia laughed, he knew her well enough. “Damn straight,” she replied, still chuckling.

“I was half-tempted to put a hold on hiring until you spoke up, but damned if you’re not the first merc to even show an interest. The lady wants to go into the forests, you know where those err... whatcha call ’em, wild elves and lizardmen are,” he explained.

“Ur’Idayn, Brand,” Mia corrected. “Eesh, you humans never get it straight, elves are spirits, Idayn are living-breathing people in the real world.” She rolled her jade-green eyes. She was partially teasing, but it was one of her peeves that she tried to correct at every turn. Humans had taken the name “elf” so long ago and warped it with their concept of the Idayn that it was practically inseparable.

“Yeah, yeah, as I was sayin’,” he continued. “Doesn’t seem like many of the kids ‘round here have the stones—or common sense—t’ go diving down into those forests. I think it’s a fool’s mission myself, but maybe havin’ you along’ll keep the girl alive long enough to drag her back to civilization in one piece once she pisses herself in terror.”

The Oir’Idayn woman chuckled again. “Yeah, well, we’ll see. It might not be so bad down there, ya know?”

“I’d feel more comfortable erring on the side of caution,” Brand chuckled to himself.

“Pssh, where’d your sense of adventure go?” Mia teased.

“I left it in the neutral zone along with my leg,” he quipped right back. Brand had lost his left leg in a skirmish with the barbarians during a mission many years ago, leaving him with a prosthetic peg leg and relieving him to desk duty for the rest of his career.

“Ha!” Mia chuckled at him. “Well, if any one else wants to join up, send ‘em out to me, I’ll be in the lounge,” she said, then headed out the door.

The lounge was just off the lobby, it was a quiet room with a small library, a bar, and tables and chairs to seat around fifty mercenaries, though it was rarely ever that full. Mia took a seat near the window and ordered herself a pint of the local brew to pass the time.

[Astrid Starwind]

Aramiya managed to pass some time in mage's guild, looking at all sorts of books and curious items. Her mentor gently tapped on her shoulder and told her that, they should go and check if anyone has shown intrest in their request.

What he couldn't quiet get was why Aramiya's father, who was over protective of his yougest child was willing to send her on a dangerous quest such as this.

Aramiya nodded back and took the lead and made the way back to mercernary guild. Aramiya knocked on the guild master's door to check for any intrest that might have come in. She hoped somebody at least shown intrest. Aramiya was dressed in beautiful silver bordered azure dress with lighter blue sleeveless coat decorated with silver embroidery. Her detached long sleeves also matched the azure dress. She patiently waited as the guild master made his way to the door.

[Mid-Boss]

Cade walked through the streets towards the mercenary guild, keeping his pace measured, though his mind was racing. He'd just come from a meeting with his patron, and the old man's words still sparked in his mind.

"More so then any other task I've given you Cade," Miklaus Arhen had said, his good left eye glinting, his milky right simply staring ahead, "this is vitally important. Of course, the more important the task, the greater the reward, true?"

I suppose. Cade thought with a shake of his head. He'd never refused a request from the old man, and he wasn't about to start, but the idea of such a trip, so far from home and in such inhospitible terrain, made even him nervous.

In the lounge, Cade looked about briefly. A stranger, some sort of elven woman, sat by herself near the window. Curious, even though his mission remained uppermost in his thoughts, Cade chose a seat nearby, though not at the same table. "Hello." he said as he settled in to keep watch for his target. "New in town?"

[Mia]

Mia glanced up from her drink to the man who had spoken too her. He looked like just another mercenary, and rather good-looking at that. Mia chuckled at his comment though. "Oh... not quite," she replied with an amused smile. "You a local, I take it?" she asked, taking a swig of her ale before his response.

[Mid-Boss]

"More or less." Cade responded easily, though he felt a slight twinge of guilt. He hadn't been back to his hometown for several months. Though he knew his mother and the girls understood and appriciated his work, he still missed them.

"Well," Cade continued, glancing casually around the lounge, "Not new in town? I guess it my fault then, for never noticing you before." He looked back at the elven woman with a friendly smile. "The name's Cade. Might I ask yours?"

[Random NPC]

Aramiya nodded back and took the lead and made the way back to mercernary guild. Aramiya knocked on the guild master's door to check for any intrest that might have come in. She hoped somebody at least shown intrest. Aramiya was dressed in beautiful silver bordered azure dress with lighter blue sleeveless coat decorated with silver embroidery. Her detached long sleeves also matched the azure dress. She patiently waited as the guild master made his way to the door.

"Come in!" Brand called from his desk, not wanting to bother with getting up and hobbling over to the door. With one false leg, such simple acts as getting out of his chair to open the door usually weren't worth the effort. The former mercenary was still working on his paperwork, which were reports from his assistants who handled guild dues and memberships.

[Mia]

"More or less." Cade responded easily, though he felt a slight twinge of guilt. He hadn't been back to his hometown for several months. Though he knew his mother and the girls understood and appriciated his work, he still missed them.

"Well," Cade continued, glancing casually around the lounge, "Not new in town? I guess it my fault then, for never noticing you before." He looked back at the elven woman with a friendly smile. "The name's Cade. Might I ask yours?"

"Well, I travel around quite a bit," Mia responded with a casual shrug. "I'm Mia," she replied, but found this extended conversation across tables a bit awkward now that he was getting so friendly. "How about you pull up a chair over here, eh?" she suggested, waving him over to her table.

[Astrid Starwind]

Aramiya heard the guild master call out and didn't hesistate to enter his office.

"Has there been any interest in my request?" Aramiya asked hopefully, so she can get prepared soon as she can. After all this surrounding area has been her prison for most of life and after all these years, her father finally let her go for a quest that is important to his own heart.

Aramiya's sky blue eyes did a quick glance towards the lounge area, couldn't see anything but could hear people talk.

[Mid-Boss]

Cade grinned cheerfully as he stood and walked over to Mia's table. "Always get the lady's permission before you join her at her table." he said as he sat across from her. Signaling one of the servers, he procured a mug of ale for himself. He raise his mug slightly in salute. "Well, to friendly meetings, Mia." he said.

[Random NPC]

Aramiya heard the guild master call out and didn't hesistate to enter his office.

"Has there been any interest in my request?" Aramiya asked hopefully, so she can get prepared soon as she can. After all this surrounding area has been her prison for most of life and after all these years, her father finally let her go for a quest that is important to his own heart.

Aramiya's sky blue eyes did a quick glance towards the lounge area, couldn't see anything but could hear people talk.

Brand looked up to see Aramiya and he suddenly became much more amicable, dropping the gruffness he seemed to have when she first knocked. "Ah, yes ma'am," he replied, sitting up from the lounging position he had been in in his chair. "One of our most seasoned mercenaries is interested, but I don't think many others have the err... courage to face the wildlands. She should be out in the lobby or lounge, her name is Mia, she's a spunky little elf--or Ear-Idayn, Or-Idayn, whatever she insists on callin' herself."

[Mia]

Cade grinned cheerfully as he stood and walked over to Mia's table. "Always get the lady's permission before you join her at her table." he said as he sat across from her. Signaling one of the servers, he procured a mug of ale for himself. He raise his mug slightly in salute. "Well, to friendly meetings, Mia." he said.

"Haha, as if I could rightly be called a 'lady'," Mia chuckled as she saluted her own mug in return to him. "So, you lookin' for work, or coming back from work?" she asked, striking up a conversation.

[Astrid Starwind]

Aramiya bobbed her head in thanks and made her way towards the lounge area first. Paraya whispered in Aramiya's ear, "You know these elves don't like sorcerers, most of the elemental races hate us for using mana"

Aramiya nodded but she couldn't just stop because of the unspoken hatred for sorcerers by clerics and elemental races. Aramiya walked gracefully (note: she is a lady after all) into the lounge and immediately her eyes caught the elven woman the guild master spoke of. Even someone naive as Aramiya could immediately tell she was well seasoned traveller and probably good at her job....and probably well aged.

Aramiya felt slight tinge of envy as she discreetly eyed the well toned body of the elven woman. She then made her way to the table where also a human mercernary was sitting down also. Aramiya stopped short of the table and spoke in a well learned tone,

" Excuse me, you must be Mia the guild master spoke of"

[Mid-Boss]

Cade had opened his mouth to reply when a young woman, with a older fellow trailing close behind, approached and spoke to Mia. Though miffed at the interruption, Cade settled down when he saw the young woman matched the discription Lord Arhen had given him. And so he merely watched, though he was sure to note where he'd been with Mia, hoping to pick up the discussion again later.

[Mia]

Aramiya felt slight tinge of envy as she discreetly eyed the well toned body of the elven woman. She then made her way to the table where also a human mercernary was sitting down also. Aramiya stopped short of the table and spoke in a well learned tone,

" Excuse me, you must be Mia the guild master spoke of"

"Aye, that'd be me," Mia replied with a grin, straightening in her seat. She eyed Aramiya up and down, appraising the sorcereress. Just how the hell does this woman think she can handle the wildlands? I'm going to have my work cut out for me... she thought to herself, noting the woman's fine clothes, slight build, and manicured features. "I take it you're the one looking to travel down south?"

[Astrid Starwind]

Aramiya grinned very unlady like way then answered Mia's question.

"Yes that had be me, I am leading expedition down south to do an expedition for a rumoured treasure."

Aramiya saw Mia sizing her up very discreetly, but nonethless still sizing her up.

" I still need to prepare, but getting at least one mercenary is a good start. My house is a little of town, we can go there in the evening and prepare to start out tomorrow...does that sound good to you?"

[Mia]

Mia felt a little awkward accepting the invitation to stay at her employer's home, but then she thought about just what kind of home she must have to dress so well. A soft bed, hot bath, and perhaps some fine liquors and wines? It didn't sound like too bad of an idea. "Sure," Mia replied curtly before leaning forward onto the table to speak of something more serious she considered. "But you might want more than just two mercenaries. The jungles are a dangerous place, especially if you have round-ears, you know," the Oir'Idayn explained.

Azala weighed on her mind as well. The Fayl'Idayn was a pacifist, and they expected to go their separate ways after she was hired, but if he knew she was going down south, he probably wouldn't want to pass up the opportunity to join her. Even if he was a pacifist, he could probably still prove useful on the expedition, and he didn't demand payment.

[Astrid Starwind]

Aramiya did not realise that southern rainforests were that dangerous that a seasoned mercernary would make such a comment. This made her worry a little.

"Then how many would you recommand taking? I didn't realise it was that dangerous.."

Aramiya hoped she will come back alive and in one piece.

[Mia]

Mia considered for a moment. "Well, two or three more, depending how skilled they are," she replied. "I do have a friend who tagged along with me, but he claims to be a pacifist. He probably won't pass up the chance to go down south though," she suggested. She didn't want to force her potential employer to overstretch her means, but at the same time, she couldn't rightfully let the girl wander around there with only two body guards.

[Astrid Starwind]

OOC: just a quick question where does cade come in? did his employer want what Aramiya is looking for?? is it some other ulterior motive?

Aramiya nodded and mused for a few moments,

"If it is dangerous, I shall hire three more mercernaries. My master is also coming with us as well."

Aramiya pointed to a man in his early thirties with raven black hair and golden eyes, that was standing few feet away.

" I will be back in a few hours and send a message to my estate to prepare for a few guests for a night. I will be relieved if you also can recommand any reliable mercernaries for me."

Aramiya then continued on,

" I will leave a word with the guild master but money is not a problem for me. so best you can find and recommand the better. so see you in few hours."

[Mia]

"I'll see who I can find," Mia replied with a nod to Aramiya. She wasn't sure if she could find anyone she knew here though... She traveled all across the continent, her more reliable comrades could be anywhere for now. However, she could at least help screen the mercenaries even if she didn't know them. She had a good understanding of the character and skill required, which she could read from body language.

[Zira]

Zira and Azala arrived at the guild, and Zira tied her horse to yet another hitching post. If necessary, she would move him to the guild stables later, but for now she didn't know how long she would be here. She led the way into the guild, her every movement seemed to carry tension after walking all the way from the shop with the Fayl'Idayn. It was somewhat uncomfortable for her, both for the fact that he seemed quite compelled to figure out her true identity, and for the fact he was undeniably attractive, yet she couldn't just outright flirt with him.

With her peripheral vision limited, Zira perceived the presence of several people off in the lounge, just off the lobby where she entered, but she didn't pay them much mind. Instead, she made her way up to the front of the lobby to glance over job postings before considering where she would go from here.

[little knight]

~Azala~

He had taken the opprotunity to poke and prod at her the entire way in the guise of simple small talk. It primarily maintained to what he knew about the Aeul'Idayn, although he didn't think she was one. Usually it referenced around cold weather, if meat tasted good, and other references. He also threw in blatent flirts here and there, to which she seemed to repress a reaction to.

By the time they reached the guild itself, he had to admit she seemed much more tense than when they had first met. As she entered and looked for a job, Azala suppressed the urge to chuckle. While he was about to continue his poking, his ears picked up Mia's voice, and that of an unknown woman, and his eyes caught periphery movement. "Well, that went fast. Looks like she managed to find a job. Want to meet her, she usually doesn't bite... although your quite attractive, so she may just..."

He teased, turning to face Mia and giving a light wave to see if he could get her attention.

[Mia]

OOC: Gonna just assume that Aramiya is heading home so we can get this reunion done without waiting for her to leave.

As Aramiya departed, Mia noticed Azala waving to her from the lobby. She was going to discuss the mission with Cade, but she hadn't expected Azala to come in on his own... until she noticed the figure in front of him. A woman in a fitted outfit, white hair cascading down from a ponytail on the back of her head, and every inch of skin covered, even up to her face, which was concealed by a cloth mask.

"By the gods, I never thought I'd see her out here," she murmured to herself. Azala had apparently come across her too, and knowing him, he was likely trying to peel those layers off of her to at least figure out what she was hiding. This is going to be tricky, she thought to herself. "Excuse me for a minute," she said to Cade, then slipped out of her seat to join Azala and Zira.

[Zira]

Zira was trying her best to ignore Azala, but it was such a strange position to be in. Both intimidated by his driving curiosity and drawn to his good looks and the potential for acceptance, she couldn't seem to tell him to leave her alone either way. As he referred to his friend, she looked over her shoulder into the lounge and paused in surprise. "Mia?" she said under her breath. If Azala were her friend, that could possibly make the reveal much easier--either that or let Zira know if it was a lost cause.