Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » The swordsman, the pirate and the hyena (closed)

Flavio cackles, shaking his head and taking another shot. "Ye canne. S'not a mustash. They're whiskers, tied togethr so -hic- so t'looks like a mustashe. I..genius innit?" The gnoll cackles again, so hard this time that he accidentally knocks his glass to the ground. "Oops, lemme go get it." He reaches down for the glass and, as expected, tumbles right off his stool. "But tell me, hic, Willuw. Wh-wa's t'difference tween fonz 'n satyrs. Gehehehehehehe." He cackles as he paws at the shot, only making it roll away from him. "Blazes! I'll shoot ye! Ye treacherous glass." The gnoll reaches to the musket on his back, but fails to find it.

Alsillia stood up on her own, though visibly in pain. She endured quite the beating."I can walk, it's fine." She said as she refused Lyphi's help. Lisette held Arien by his arm."Is that wise? I mean, have you seen the size of that guy? No offence, but you're a straw compared to him. We don't want to see you get hurt." Alsillia nodded."That's my job. Besides, I wasn't robbed. I take bigger beatings in the arena." With that said the girls would leave him to his fate, though they hoped he'd walk Alsillia home.

Soon they reached a wide street filled with small houses."Here we are." The elf said as she took her keys at home number 43."I can take it from here, you ought to get home yourselves. It's getting late."

Willow chuckled."Well, you're smarter than my mother. She just lets her 'stache hang." He laughed as he grabbed the bottle. That's when he got an idea."Sure, I'll tell ya, friend." He said as he gave him the bottle."Real men don't need no cups. You can have the bottle." He grinned."The difference? Well, Faun are shorter, have tiny horns, they're less rare than us and live in snowy areas. Our race is dying, theirs is thriving, and they're not even magical! Plus, they all walk around naked! At least I have the decency to cover myself up... sometimes. Anyway, they're little pricks who think they're better than us. I should send you over there, you might mistake them for babies and eat every one of 'em."

Arien grinned at Lisette's concern. "I've taken on bigger, meaner guys than him." Probably. Still he trailed behind until they came to Alsillia's place where he caught up to them.

"You're sure?" Arien asked, a little concerned because well Alsillia had taken a beating. "I'm not worried about the dark. And we're in a group still."

"I like ya Willw." Flavio answers, he takes the bottle and puts it to his mouth, emptying half in his mouth and half on the ground. "Me will -hic- go ta t'snowy regions. 'n..." The gnolls hugs his own body and curls up. "I'll sho-sho...." A few snores raise from the drunk musketeer. "Shoot all o' em." And with that he's asleep.

Willow patted the Gnoll's back."I'm sure you will, pal. I'm sure you will." The Satyr stood up."What does a guy have to do to get some help getting this jolly fella up to his room!?" He yelled through the bar. It didn't take long before the same guards Bender was talking to helped Willow carry the Gnoll to his room next to Bender's, who was snoring already."See you tomorow, baby eater." Willow grinned as he walked out of the room.

Alsillia nodded."I'm sure, you need to get some sleep, if you're serious about that spar, that is." She grinned."Usually it isn't dangerous here. The golems scare anyone who'd try to harm you." Lisette nodded."If you need a place to stay, I've got a spare bed you can use." the human girl offered."Whatever you planned, I'm going to bed. Tomorow's a bright new day... actually I think it's tomorow already."

Arien grinned and then chanced a look at the moon. "I guess you're right." It had been a long day, after all, and he was still up...

As the day's events started to catch up to him, he yawned. "I'll see the other ladies back home first;then make my way to the inn." If luck was with him, he'd make it back in time to catch a few hours of sleep. Or maybe if Bender and Flavio didn't have anything in mind for tomorrow in terms of travelling, he'd get to sleep in.

Cheered by that prospect he caught his third wind."You're on, Alsillia." He called back to the gladiator with a grin. "Anytime, anywhere."

Flavio lays in his bed, having drunken dreams of eating bunnies alive, joy!

Lyphi lived closeby and waved the two goodbye as she walked to her house only a few homes further away. Lisette lived closeby the inn. The walk back was uneventful. A lot of golems passed them as well as drunks trying to navigate their way home. When they got near Lisette turned to Arien."Well, today was surprising. Good thing Alsillia was alright." She sighed surprisingly in a happy way."Well, I'll see you around, mister hero." She smiled at him as she stepped inside. If Arien would go to the inn, that'd be uneventul as well. At this hour most people were either passed out or slowly leaving to head home.

Bender Of Iron Will went to bed early, and thus he was up early. He didn't wake his pals in a friendly way. He kicked the door open and started yelling at them."Up 'n at them, ya lazy scumbucket! Get ready, we're off to do some business! If yer aint up in ten minutes ye can kiss yer payday goodbye!" He did this to both Flavio and Arien before he walked downstairs to order himself a breakfast of sausages and boiled eggs with a can of milk to wash it down.

When Arien returned to the inn, he was more than happy to kick his boots off, unsling his sword, and dump his heavier equipment onto the floor before faceplanting into the bed.

It felt like only minutes passed before he was leaping out of bed, fumbling for a sword he didn't have when Bender woke him.

"Urgh," he muttered incoherently under his breath as he sluggishly splashed water on his face and...ten minutes later, found Bender at the table with food.

Arien looked tired. He was still sore, and in fact, looked a little worse for wear. His arm at least wasn't bleeding--but he could use a shower if Bender would permit him time. "How soon are we leaving?" he asked as he collapsed heavily into his seat across from Bender. He signaled to the passing server for the same food that Bender had ordered.

Flavio was not easy to wake, but a few well-placed kicks in the side would solve that. He woke grumbling and growling and rose with a paw stuck firmly to his forehead. "Owww... That... that was strong stuff." After those painful few words he'd just follow Bender downstairs, groaning every step he took downwards. "For me a breakfast of sausages and... urgghh." The gnoll blinked a few times like a blinded owl. "More... sausages..." With his order placed he stumbled to the table Arien and Bender would choose.

"After breakfast." The old sea captain answered Arien with a mouth full of food. After he swallowed his meal he chuckled."Yer both lookin' horrid. Been celebratin' too much?" He grinned."No matter, I ain't expecting ya both ta talk much 'nyway."

Soon Arien and Flavio's meal arrived so the two could get some of their energy back. The other patrons offered friendly smiles towards the three, but unlike yesterday, they weren't offering anything else in their thanks. Most of them were pretty tired themselves, except for Bender. He seemed well rested."If any o' ya got plans on seein' the city, ya best wash up after the deal. We'll all be smellin' like shit when this's done." He explained as suddenly the door got thrown open.

Walking through the opening was everybody's favorite Satyr, Willow. He walked straight for the table the three were sitting at."Ah, good morning, my little rosebuds." He said in an ironic tone."I hope I'm not too late for this deal." Willow said with a wide smile."What in the blazes are ya talkin' 'bout, goatman? I don' recall inviting you in." Willow shook his head."You didn't, sunshine. But my baby eating friend over there did, didn't you, Flavio? Remember last night? You wanted me to be part of this illustrious deal so badly, I just had to agree." Bender glared at Flavio."Ya did WHAT!?"

Arien nodded and then eagerly dug into his plate when it arrived. He had used up a lot of energy the previous day and it made itself apparent now as he went through yet another bottle of Tabasco sauce. As per usual, not a drop of the red sauce remained when he cleaned his plate at record speed--looking up only briefly to catch Flavio's appearance.

His fork clattered onto the plate at Bender's unhinged response to having invited yet another member to the party.

"Willow?" Arien gave the creature a wary look. "Do you know him, Bender?" In the back of his mind he was wishing he'd had the presence of mind to invite those three women he'd met last night. At the very least the gladiator.

Flavio stuffed his face full of sausage, nodding with his mouth full at Bender's plan. When Willow came in he swallowed though, and his ears dropped as he watched the satyr approach. "I never said that but..." The gnoll throws a look at the window. "We... can't shoot him here in town. Couldn't we use an extra hand?" The gnoll asks, trying his best to make a good thing about this rather sticky situation.

Bender Of Iron Will glared at the gnoll."What were ya thinkin', lad!? This ain't an open soiree! This was supposed to be discrete!" He spat out at him."If ya can't hold yer tongue when holdin' yer liquor ya shouldn't drink at all." He grumbled for a moment, having lost his appetite. But in the end, Bender thought back on how many times he had talked about secrets when he got drunk. He took a deep breath and looked at Flavio like a father would to his son if he was about to make a decision he didn't like."Alright, lad. He can come join us in our lil' escapade. He can carry 'round our heavy boxes. As long as lil' Willow agrees to be under Flavio's employment."

The Satyr nodded."Of course, of course. I wouldn't expect any less from such a kind seagull like yourself." Bender frowned."Since I ain't payin' ya for this, ask Flavio for yer coin." He grinned, liking the punishment he just gave."Ye two pups sort yer payment out between the two o' ya. I've got me some goods ta count." With at he finished his plate and stood up."Come meet me when yer done. The sooner we've dealt with this, the better." Then the pirate left for his cart where he'd stay until the group had finished his business.

Arien hid a grin with one of his hands at the verdict. Perhaps it was just as well he hadn't invited anyone along.

When Bender went back to the cart, Arien returned to his room to fetch his items, grab the quickest and briefest shower he could, and then head back to the cart.

He wondered briefly if he'd ever see Lisette, Alsillia and Lyphi around. But he figured he'd be back, soon, eventually to check up on them. He hoped. So fairly confidently he caught up to Bender.

Flavio was set to go at any time, so he just followed Bender, beckoning Willow along. Even though the gnoll seemed not too concerned about the extra hand he had accidentally acquired he kept an ear and an eye on the guy at all times, although trying to make it seem nonchalant.

"So what can you all do to help us Willow?" The musketeer asked the satyr as he watched Bender count the goods, they could serve as guards for him for now. "Got a magic flute like mot satyrs?"

Willow raised his hands."Aww yeah! Finally some work in this rathole of a city!" He laughed."Of course I do." He said as he took out an old looking pan flute, adorned with hides from various animals."If the deal goes wrong, those bastards won't know what hit 'em."

As soon as everyone was there, Bender pointed at the back."Unless ya have a horse, or a goat, Satyr, you're ridin' in the back o' me cart." Bender said as he looked at Willow."Be mindful, lad. I can see what yer doin' back there." Willow smirked."No need to be a peeping Tom, pal. I'll my mind my own." With that the Satyr took place in the cart. When the others got on their horse, the trip finally began.

Arien clambered onto his horse a bit more roughly than before, he was stiff and sore from all the teleporting and frankly if Bender hadn't wakened him, he probably would have slept the entire day.

As it was he settled for remaining upright in the saddle; well, mostly upright. He kind of slouched forward, head nodding a bit as he fought to keep his eyes open. His ears though worked just fine, so he listened to the sounds of the cart and the steady clop of the horses' hooves.

If he was lucky he wouldn't nod off and fall.

Flavio got on his horse in the same lazy way Arien did and gave it a leg. He hoped it'd just follow Bender's horse, the gnoll is in no mood yet to steer it. As soon as the horse was going the gnoll stretched his arms and looked about, these human towns smelled so alien, but for once his own smell was overpowering it, even for him.

"We celebrated too early." The gnoll comments to nobody in particular as he breathed on his hand and took a whiff. "I smell like a gnoll for once! What a delight."

Bender Of Iron Will lead the group through the busy streets of Kurin's Pride."No worries, we'll all smell like a pack o' Gnolls when we're done." He chuckled. In the streets the last day of the festivities were going on. Everywhere children were crawling up statues to adorn them with silly hats, and everywhere people were dancing or trying to sell useless things that seemed so much more desirable during festivities.

There was a lot going on today. A massive crowd gathered at large square in the center of the city. At the far end was a stage with two large monitors and an old fashioned looking microphone. The people gathered seemed anxious as they listened to the man giving the speech. Was it a man? For the people who did not know him, he looked more like a man made out of steel. But to those who knew history, this was once a great hero known by the name Fato Axis.

A great Human warrior kept alive through experimental technology. The man is 163 years old now, and is being kept alive through a husk of flexible steel, covering up his entire body, except for his limbs, though they're useless now at his age. The man moves around in a giant electronic wheelchair on which he keeps his containers with the liquid that keeps him alive. The most unnerving thing about this old man was his mask though. An oval shaped bland gray mask covering his entire head. From the back of the scalp a series of tubes are connected to his wheelchair, and as for eyes Axis has two round glasses like a gas mask, showing no sign of anything being behind these visors. Next to him stood another man with his arms behind his back.

This man wore a long black and leather coat and fitting wide black boots. The man had long brown black hair and a huge top hat fitted onto his head. This man was truly broad, even Bender Of Iron Will seemed small in comparison. However the thing that made him stand out was his face... he didn't have one. There were few straps of skin left on the sides of his cheeks, but the rest of his face was pure bone. Technology replaced his eyes with what seemed to be camera lenses. This man was called Gregori Parvus, Fato Axis' friend/bodyguard. He didn't move an inch and didn't even seem to be breathing.

To the people who favor technology these two were prime examples of progress. Magic was only for those who were born with the gift, but technology was for everyone, and true believers found this to be superior to magic in many ways. The crowd gathered here today were probably such fanatics.

Bender Of Iron Will had not noticed Arien falling off of his horse, though Willow did."Hey! Seagull! Hold up! Pretty boy here fell down." Bender stopped the cart and went to pick him up."It got pretty late with those ladies, it seems." Bender chuckled as he picked him up over his shoulder."Goat! Its yer lucky day! Ye can go ride the horse now. Try 'n run off with it, 'n I'll shoot ya." Willow rolled his eyes."You've got trust issues, my friend." The Satyr said as he crawled up on the steed. Bender gently placed Arien in his cart."Here ya go, lad. At least ya won't fall off o' ya horse."

While this was going on, the group could hear part of Axis' speech. Usually the man speaks about how proud he is of his people, but this time it was a bit different. This time it seemed like he was ranting about his hate for magic. Whenever he talked he stopped mid-sentence to catch his breath. His voice was slow and sounded very metallic, not much of a joy to listen to."...has kept us ... as a people back! Why would only those ... who were born with it ... aspire greatness? Only to learn how to ... destroy a life. Look at my ... friend here. Victimized by a ... spell, meant to ... burn once's face off! What kind of ... twisted madman invented something so ... disgusting?" He ranted on as he pointed with his bony finger at Gregori."Magic provides nothing but ... pain. I too was ... felled by magic. I thank ... technology ... that I am alive, speaking to such a wonderful crowd. Together ... we stand stronger than ... any spell!"

Soon the man would not be heard again through the noise of the busy streets. After a few more minutes Bender took a turn into an alleyway. It seemed abandoned, except for one manhole and a whole bunch of trash."Alright, load off, lads. We're here. Get them boxes unloaded near that manhole over there!"