The Ecstasy of Gold: A Mercenary Tale

New character, will meet with the others at the Von Clarif's camp.

Name: Lieutenant Benjamin Hall (CE)

Age: 26

Gender: Male

Region: Altridge

Appearance: 5'11", short brown hair, grey eyes, lanky build. Dresses inconspicuously in order to blend into a crowd.

Personality: "Hall" is introverted. He can become slightly obsessive when he is working on a project, (and he is always working on a project.) He believes in plans and makes plans and contingencies constantly.

He is also prone to bending rules in order to achieve an objective, instead of fighting "honorably." His superiors have intentionally kept this unscrupulous young officer from exerting his influence on others.

Habits: Tends to fiddle with things when he is deep in thought.

Other: Recently graduated from the Altridge College of Military Science as a Combat Engineer. Combat Engineers are trained to design and fix anything that may need fixing in a combat situation. They are also trained to engage enemy forces, although they are discouraged from doing so. It takes a lot of time and money to train a Combat Engineer, they don't want them getting hacked up by some idiots.

So, if the group wanted to make a defensive position, construct traps for an ambush, repair weapons in the field, or destroy a bridge, then Lt. Hall would know how to do it.

Hall carries a large knife (for cutting rope, etc.) He has a sword, but he usually keeps that with his gear unless he is out in the field.

Bastilla

She sat indignantly on her horse, watching them all warily. None of them liked her it seemed. None of them trusted her. Feeling vulnerable without her weapons, she wanted to stay on her horse, her only means of defense. She needed to make allies if she wanted to stay with this group; if she wanted to get her chance. Sighing lightly, she unwillingly got off her horse.

"Hey, do any of you need help setting up camp?" She called to them. They seemed to ignore her, obviously not trusting who she was. Eyebrows furrowing lightly, she looked around for something she could do. "Hey, don't you think we should have scouts to patrol the area, to make sure it is safe?"

"I was going to get to that," Casion said, flashing a quick glance over towards her, but then continued to set up his tent.

"It seems everybody is busy, if you want I can go. I will just be needing my weapons back..." Looking around at the rest of the group, she caught a lot more hostile glances, and knew right away that she had demanded to much.

"Princess," Casion smiled, "Why don't you rest your weary feet. We have plenty of other people who can do such a thing. We wouldn't want you to get lost, eh? So far from home."

She gritted her teeth and started pulling out a sleeping mat from the saddle. "Fine by me."

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I wasn't sure who would be sent out as a scout or not. We need somebody out there to hunt down Tex's character. Any volunteers?

~Incognito

Rosaline

"What brought you this far south, though?"

Rosaline looked at Desmond, surprised. She hadn't expected him to ask that question, well, she hadn't expected anyone to. She didn't have an answer, nothing that wouldn't give away exactly why she had left the mountains. She looked at the ground, then back up at Desmond.

"Redemption," she finally said, ending the awkward silence that had been created between the two of them. "Amends."

Desmond looked at her, as if he was trying to find her soul amidst her eyes. Obviously he hungered for more than just two simple words. Rosaline hugged her knees to her chest and looked over at Casion.

She studied him for a moment, finding trouble discerning how a man such as him, who seemed so honorable, could lead a band of mercenaries. It was the same with the Wolfenguard. He looked humble. Ros shook her head. She knew that looks were nothing when it came to people who would willingly join a group such as this.

"Ros-" Desmond started, but Rosaline held her hand up to him. She heard something rustle in the bushes, and then a low groan. Her head turned to Desmond, a look of confusion on his face. Had he not heard that?

She studied the rest of the group. Tristin and Germine were busy finding loose sticks to throw into the tiny fire. The Wolfenguard stood against a tree, eying his hammer. Casion and Brunn stood near the woman, Bastilla, obviously arguing about something. Her face looked weary has Casion and Brunn waved their hands around, Brunn holding rope, Casion with a grip on the bed mat the woman had grabbed. None of them had heard what Rosaline did.

"... and I told you already, we need a scout!" all heads turned towards Bastilla. Finally one of them had raised their voice enough for everyone to hear without struggling to. Rosaline stood up.

"Well, then, why don't we let me do the honors," she said, picking up her sack tieing it around her waist.

"Ros-" Casion and Brunn had stopped arguing, and now they bothed look in her direction. Obviously Casion had not wanted a scout, and no doubt Rosaline was the last one he wanted as a scout in the first place. She shrugged and took off into the shadows.

Rosaline cleared her thoughts, which were still stuck on the explaination she'd need as to why she traveled. She had almost needed one back in the tavern, when Brunn commented on her scars. Excuses had never been her strong point, but now Ros needed a good one; and fast.

Branches broke beneath her feet as she ran. Normally, she would have tread swiftly and lightly, had she been back in the mountains; the crunch of snow beneath her feet could be even more trecherous than leaves and twigs. Instead she forgot that she was not far from danger. She forgot that, not too long ago, she had stolen someone's white mare, who she renamed Pattick, and that she had followed a band of mercenaries out of a burning tavern.

Her goal had been to sound as if a group of wolves were patrolling. That would scare off any intruder who cam near her camp. That was until she tripped in the black night. Wolves didn't trip over limp human bodies, but lucky for her, this one was unconscious.

The smell of alcohol and sweat clogged Rosaline's senses as she crawled closer to the figure. This had been what she heard; a mistaken drunk who had somehow wandered into the forest and collapsed - bleeding. Ros grumbled, the red liquid warm on her hands.

Pushing aside her want to just kill the man and leave him here, Rosaline lifted his upper body. He was lighter than expected, but still she could not see. She laced her other arm under his knees and summoned the strength of her own. She stood, still surprised by the lack of weight. Something was off, but she couldn't leave him here.

Slowly she made her journey back to the group. Through the trees she could see the fire, now bigger, and people sitting around it. She stumbled, and almost lost grip of the man, but caught herself. The horses whinnied as she came into view, and everyone turned.

"He was in the forest," she said as Casion came towards her. "he's injured, and extremely innebriated."

Rosaline set the man down on the ground near Bastilla. Hopefully the noble woman would know how to patch up wounds. With a glare, Rosaline stood straight and walked over to the fire, finding a free seat beside Desmond.

"So," she said, catching her breath. "What brings you here?"

>Aaron Piper -- before last post <

Aaron took another swig from the gourd of beer she carried as she trekked down the road. It was idiotic to travel this close to nightfall, but she hadn’t expected to be stopped by that friendly merchant with the playing cards and alcohol.

She felt someone behind her and turned her head, smiling. The traveler sped up a bit and Aaron headed for the other side of the path. He followed, like he was chasing her. Forget wolves and bears and anything else that might want to eat her flesh; she started to run into the woods, laughing back at him to go faster.

A sharp thud pierced the skin in the small of her back. She could feel it hit bone. As she gave out a yelp in pain and paused, the robber caught up to her and snatched his arrow from her body. When he reached for the pouch that carried her few remaining coins, she tried to fight back, only to be hit in the stomach so hard she could feel her last meal coming back. He took her pouch as she collapsed to her knees.

She continued to crawl forward, for no reason. It was probably killing her, but that was what shew wanted to do. Continue. A small light flickered in the distance, giving her a new longing. Lightning bugs. They loved to play. She continued towards it, and started to smell smoke. It was sickening. She groaned loudly and lay down, quickly falling asleep.


**Sorry for it being so short, I’ll get longer! I edited that last bit, after I re-read tha last post.**

Bastilla

Rosaline dropped the body infront of her, and instantly Bastilla took a step backwards. The stench of alcohol on this girl was incredibly heavy, and she did not wish to get blood on her armour. Frowning, she looked up at the rest of them.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" Bastilla askd angrily. She crinkled her nose distatefully when ever she looked down on the girl.

"Help her?" Someone called, it was almost a jest. "You wanted so much to help..."

"Well, there is nothing I can do about someone dying at my feet!" Bastilla said gruffly and stepped over the body. She strode over, leading Oleg to a far corner and started setting up camp ignoring the rest of them. She would fight, she would scout, but she wouldn't deal with corpses.

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I just had too. xD

~Incognito

Tristin~~

I moved around the circle to the body, "How old is the wound?"

Ros shook her head "I don't know."

I turned the body over gently and saw the wound. Arrow. I cursed and pulled my shirt off, tearing it into strips.

"Get me some warm water. The wound's probably infected, and the bleeding is bad. Its in a bad spot, so if she moves it could tear open, and thats if we can get a scab to form."

Someone set the pot of water we were going to cook with next to me and I dipped one of the rags in it. Most of the blood came away easily, which was good, it was fresh. Once it was clean, I could see the wound. It was clean, most likely made from flint, meaning a brigand,

Casion had come to the same conclusion as I had, "Brunn, take Mikhael and put up a perimeter, this was made by a bandit, they might still be out there."

I did my best to dress and bandage the wound, but I was no medic. I had only basic first aid training, and what I had was for minor injuries, people didn't tend to live through a major one in the mountains.

"Look," Brunn said, cutting Casion off before he could even begin his next sentence. "I know it seems mean now, but it'll seem a lot less cruel when you think that the alternative is lettin' her have free reign to do whatever she likes while we're all sleepin'." He looked their leader square in the eye. "I don't want to see another good man die when I could've prevented it."

Casion opened his mouth, shut it, and sighed. "Fine, whatever. You win. If she gives you any trouble, let me know."

Brunn nodded grimly and stalked back towards the girl. He made sure he had free access to at least one of his knives as he held the rope in one hand.

"Hey, Bastilla."

She turned around and eyed what he was holding warily. "What are you doing?"

"I don't care if you like it or not, but you haven't given us any reason to trust you just yet. As a matter of fact, you've given me some reason to distrust you."

"Your point?"

"I'm just sayin' that me and most of the others would feel a right sight better about you bein' here if you weren't at liberty to run around while we were sleepin'. Just until we get to know you better, that is."

Brunn tilted his head. "So we can do this one of two ways. Either you cooperate and I tie you up, or you don't and I tie you up anyways."

Desmond

His eyes fell on the wounded girl as soon as she was brought into camp. Bandits? Sure, this was the forest, there was plenty of cover, but in Minesse? He'd always thought that there was less of that activity in this place, since there weren't nearly as many places to conceal oneself as there were in Helase.

Could they have followed me this far? He mused, No. No Helasean is that determined. Besides, I didn't take enough that they'd want to come this far after me.

Ros' voice brought him out of his thoughts, "So, what brings you here?"

Desmond, determined not to keep fidgeting with his hat and betray just how nervous bandits in Minesse made him, plucked off his hat and set it to one side. He stretched out his legs towards the fire for a moment. "Well, like I said in the tavern, my life back home wasn't exactly lawful. Helenburg takes a very dim view of highwaymen. And, eventually, the bandits start taking the same view of each other. No honour among thieves down there."

He chuckled, "My 'partners' started getting too hostile for my liking, so, before they slit my throat one night, I took what I could and left, figuring Minesse'd be far enough away from them and Helenburg to start things afresh. No one bothers chasing up Helasean warrants in other nations, because there are too many of us to look through."

Opening his coat for a moment, Desmond gave his pistols a cursory check. Both were loaded, as he'd thought. Good. If it was his old partners lurking out in the woods, well, he could take the two of them. But then, he was probably being jumpy. He couldn't remember either of them ever using a bow.

Mikael

Mikael slumped quietly by a tree and began polishing the dents from his shoulder peice. As much as he loved the terror he could cause in full plate, the advantages of being able to move far out weighed his comfort.
A few moments later a fire was lit and quiet conversation began. No one seemed interested in the hulking Wolgenguard. He was fine with that. Instead he contented himself by putting a keen edge on the noble womans axe and swinging it experimentally.
He heard commotion and looked up to see Rosaline dump what looked like a corpse at Bastilla's feet. The noble woman did nothing to help but turned and walked away. He half rose to go and assist the injured figure when Tristin took hold of the situation.
"Mikael," Brunn called striding over. "We need a perimeter and you seem proffesional enough to help."
With a wry smile he rose, opted for his faithful warhammer over the now viciously sharp axe, and set off with Brunn to begin clearing a safe are for the rest of the misfit group. Memories of the injured figure kept his senses sharp as he trod through the undergrowth
Suddenly two grinning bandits swept out from behind a large shrub. One fired off a crossbow and was startled when the bolt simply ricocheted off the warriors half plate. Mikael ducked beneath a throat level blow from the other and snapped out his hammer, breaking his attackers legs at the knee and leaving him groaning. Pouncing up he pinned the other to a tree with a ham sized fist and began to squeeze down on the bandits larynx.
"Brunn," He called into the tree's. "We have company."

Bastilla

As Brunn grabbed her, Bastilla instantly caught into motion kicking and shrieking. She had no will to be tied up to a tree, to be treated like an animal. She refused to be treated that way. Despite her efforts, Brunn was just to strong. After a couple minutes, Brunn had her tied up to the tree and was walking away towards the injured person. Bastilla couldn't stand this, she wouldn't stand for it. Looking over towards Oleg, she saw him standing around perfectly content with the rest of the horses. 'i]The traitor,[/i]' Bastilla thought.

Looking over to the rest of the group, it seemed that they were a lot farther then she thought they were. They were speaking in hushed voiced, Tristin kneeling down beside the injured. She watched with no surprise as the Wolfenguard walked out into the forest probably got sent to patrol the perimeter. Bastilla did not like that man already. She had watched him playing with her axe, and she did not like it. She would rather have her axe by her side, rather then in a man's hands that looked like he could break it like a twig. The rest of the people were pacing, some of them circling the kid like vultures.

They were all idiots. None of them would be able to do anything. She was trained in basic medical and she knew there was no hope. Unless of course, they got the kid to a hospital, or an infirmary. But of course, they wouldn't do that. They would just stand around with their mouths agape wondering what had hurt this child. She could wait to see their faces when the kid died once and for all because they didn't do anything.

"Stop being idiots. That kid needs medical attention, far greater then any of you can do for it. There should be an infirmary somewhere around here. Maybe one of you should perhaps go and save this kids life?"

They didn't even seem to notice that she spoke. They all stood around the person, some of them speaking to each other. They were too far off for her to hear anything. Swearing under her breath, she tried again.

"I have the fastest horse here, and if you untie me, I might just be able to save that kids life."

"Untie you? Are you kidding me? You would just run away and slit our throats in our sleep." One of them said gruffly. She couldn't stand this anymore.

"I had my chance to leave before, and I didn't. Are you guys just going to sit around and watch this kid die or what? Something needs to be done!"

Before Bastilla got her answer, a bellowing call came from the forest, scaring her. If was from the Wolfenguard.

"Brunn! We have some company!"

Bastilla's eyes widened and she struggled with her bindings. No way would she be caught tied to a tree and be cut down easily like that. She would fight to save her life and she would serve nothing left. The rest of them seemed to leap to their feet too, and scramble for weapons. She would have done the same if given the chance.

"Damn it all to hell!" Bastilla yelled as the first bandit burst into their camp.

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Pssh, I have a message in the Discussion thread for y'all.

~Incognito

Bastilla screamed and put up a fight, but Brunn patiently dragged her to a tree. With a little bit of difficulty, he was able to pull her hands behind and bind her there. Then he walked over to the injured girl, Bastilla's yells pounding at his eardrums. He massaged his temples. I'm getting too old for this.

"Settle down, this wound shouldn't be fatal as long as we care for it properly now," Brunn said, kneeling by the girl's side.

But then the bandits arrived.

"Brunn, we have company!"

"Damn it all to hell!"

The first thing he did was run back to Bastilla. He didn't want to untie her just yet, not with everyone else distracted by their attackers. It would be too easy for her to take advantage of the chaos and attack either himself or, more likely, Casion. He did feel responsible for her in part though, and there was no way she was letting her get cut down while she was incapacitated.

"Someone protect the hurt kid!" he called.

Desmond

The Wolfenguard's shout was enough warning for everyone in the camp, clearly, the man was suited to yelling at soldiers on the battlefield. Desmond sniggered inwardly - it would be amusing to see how long Mikael lasted in Helase. But the impending threat of the bandits meant that he only dwelt on that thought for a moment. He heard the snap of a crossbow through the trees, and drew his swords. A crossbow - not his people, then.

"Someone protect the hurt kid!" Brunn shouted.

Desmond crossed the clearing, instinctively ducking and dodging to one side as he heard another crossbow fire, the whizzing sound of the bolt passing just where he'd been. He threw himself to the ground, scattering dust and rocks as he skidded the rest of the way to the kid, another few bolts hitting the ground in the clearing.

The former bandit drew himself up, seeing a few of these idiots who thought it wise to attack mercenaries emerging from the shadows of the woods around them. "Hm." Desmond smirked, looking from one to the other, shifting into a duellist's stance, "I invite any one of you to try finishing this kid off. You guys've really bitten off more than you can chew here."

One of the bandits laughed, and then saw the trident dagger in Desmond's offhand. "Hang on...he might just know what he's doing." He gestured two of the other bandits forward, "Kill him." Steel flashed in the firelight as they engaged Desmond, who was put on the back foot immediately, rapier easily keeping one at bay, while he struggled with the other, trying to trap his blade. By everything holy...someone'd better get the kid out of here soon so I can fight these two properly.

Mikael

Mikael head butted the bandit in the face and left him slumped against a tree. Hefting his hammer onto his shoulder, he jogged back into the clearing where the others were defending the makeshift camp.
He saw Desmond standing over the wounded man, keeping two bandits at bay. Mikeal ran over, bringing his hammer round in a steep arc and crunching it into the ribcage of one of the bandits who fell gurgling his last words through a freshly stamped on larynx. Another bandit darted forward and open a long shallow cut in Mikaels arm. Instead of slowing the warrior, it drove him into a deep state of bloodlust. Letting out a berserk cry of "Slac Toth Fien" he dove toward a large group of bandits, going absolutely feral. Lashing out with his hammer determined to cause as much damage as possible.

Tristin~~

Mikael's shout echoed through the woods and I reacted instantly. I picked the kid up just as three bandits charged Desmond. I started running, my steps even and fluid over the smooth forest floor. Ros and Germine followed close behind me, weapon ready. When the sounds of battle had faded I stopped and laid the injured girl at the base of a tree.

"Ros, Germine, I want both of you to stay here. I'm not going far, I just want to make sure no one followed us."

"Why should I listen to you?"

A smart retort rose in my throat, but I bit it down. I was not going to see someone else die, "Because, I'm asking very nicely, and if you don't Casion will never trust you. Now both of you guard the girl. I'll be back in just a minute."

Before she could protest I climbed up a tree and ran across a branch, using my momentum to throw me to the next trunk. Running like this I made it back to camp quickly. I pulled my bow out of its quiver and fired an arrow into a thief running at Casion. He looked up and I motioned the way we had gone. He nodded and turned back to the bandits pressing in on him.

Desmond

Giving an inward sigh at having been relieved by Tristan, Ros and Germine, Desmond was finally able to turn his full attention on the two in front of him. Well, granted, one had fallen, gurgling as blood filled his throat, lungs having been crushed by the massive warhammer Mikael was wielding.

Well, there you go. He's actually good for something. Desmond was about to yell his thanks in some appropriately sarcastic manner, when Mikael's arm was opened by a bandit's blade. The warrior roared something in his native tongue, launching himself amongst the remaining thieves in the clearing. Better not to get his attention, then...

Desmond was left to face just the one bandit. The dagger and rapier worked together now, darting in to try and disarm the bandit over and over, driving him backwards, not giving him a chance to recover and counter attack. Time and again, the blindingly sharp point of Desmond's sword licked the man's skin, tearing shallow cuts in his arms and shoulders.

Then, Desmond finally achieved what he'd been aiming for, the thief tripping over the edge of the fire and collapsing back into it with a panicked scream. Desmond, not one to tarnish himself by letting someone burn (when he could end them faster), stabbed downwards, opening the man's throat. Glancing around the clearing, he saw that it was mostly empty now, the thieves beating a retreat after the damage they'd had inflicted on them.

"Mikael!" Desmond shouted, "Wake yourself up, we've gotta get moving! They'll stick to arrows next time!" He started out of the clearing, the way Tristan and the others had gone.