Howdy y'all, been lurking here a while. Got some ideas going and figured I'd put them into a story and then post it here for your amusement. Starts out slow, fair warning, and it remains to be seen if it'll be good, but regardless, here goes!
---Proposal---
“Sir? Sir!” Rale almost tripped over a stray crate that blocked his path in his haste to catch up to his employer.
The tall, dark cloaked man ahead paused a moment, before turning to face his younger assistant.
Rale stopped cold, eyes locking with those of his employer. He'd been an assistant for several years now, but he had never quite become accustomed to Grath’s… presence? There was something off about him, but Rale found it difficult to pinpoint just what exactly it was.
Grath was certainly the strong silent type, though he would speak if need be. He was a sort of mercenary, though to say he was atypical would be putting mildly. Grath was skilled in espionage, protection of goods, even assassination. He had served one fellow as a common thug, and another as a House Guard. His skills seemed endless to one such as Rale, who fancied himself a sort of squire.
“Sir, Halanxe sent word from Luriea. Said she has an important task for you. Said she'll pay well.”
The edge of Grath’s mouth twitched, the closest he ever came to showing displeasure.
“Tell Halanxe to hang himself. He's cheated me from enough coin to last years.”
Rale held his hands up placatingly.
“But sir, Master Grath, Luriea is the ruler of this region of the Kingdom. Surely it wouldn't be in our best-”
He was cut off by Grath’s glare, not directed at him, but to the doorway behind. Rale turned to see the rotund form of Halanxe, captain of the City Guard, standing relaxed with a curious expression. How in the Seven Black Pits had he appeared so silently? Rale had to catch himself before he cursed from surprise.
“Grath, my good man. I was just looking for you.”
“Not interested.”
Grath’s reply was curt, as he spun to continue walking on.
Rale turned to follow, only to stop short. Halanxe stood on the opposite side of the room now, blocking Grath’s way forward. Rale looked back and found the previous doorway empty.
“Come now, you haven't even heard what I've come to tell you. Have some pity on an old Captain, my knees are screaming from the walk here.”
Grath eyed the fat guard.
“I don't need to hear what you have to say. There's money to be made, but it isn't here.”
He made to move past Halanxe, but the man nodded in the direction he had first arrived.
“If you aren't inclined to hear from me, at least listen to her.”
Rale turned to see a young woman leaning in the doorway, flowing gown glittering with every color jewel imaginable, and then some. Her long red hair easily reached her waist, braided in intricate webs around her head, lips painted black.
He almost cursed heavily, but instead, dropped to one knee and bowed as low as he could.
“M’lady!”
She ignored him, locking eyes with Grath.
“Luriea.” He said simply. Halanxe’s brow furrowed, and he stepped forward with a sharp rebuke ready on the tongue.
Luriea waved him off.
“Grath! So good to see you again, you're always welcome in my city. I expect you've found no better place to earn the gold you love so dearly?”
If Grath was a man prone to emotional outbursts, he might have snorted in derision. Instead, he replied.
“I've had better. At the very least, places that pay me in full.”
Luriea cocked one eyebrow, casting a glance back at Halanxe. The Captain had become very interested in the craftsmanship of the window frame, not meeting his ruler’s eye.
She tsked under her breath, shaking her head.
“I'm sorry, Grath. I wasn't aware there was such a miscommunication. I'll make sure you are paid what is fully owed you.”
Grath held her gaze a moment, before nodding once.
Luriea smiled. “Good. Now that that's decided, can we speak of doing further business together?”
The mercenary nodded once again, and allowed the lady to continue.
“I have a bit of a problem. I need someone dead, which I know you are quite capable of, but I need it done in such a way as to discourage anyone who would… copy, the perpetrator’s actions.”
Grath’s eye twitched skeptically.
“Have you run out of Executioners? Surely they would be more suited to a task such as the one you suggest.”
Luriea shook her head.
“Executioners I have, but not a single one with imagination. I need this wretch to die as painfully and as long as possible. I give any one of my brutes the task and the entire ordeal will last thirty seconds at best!”
With that, Grath couldn't argue. He'd seen plenty of executions in this city, the monstrous Executioners snapped strong men like twigs.
“I have a method in mind that would suffice. What is the pay?”
Luriea produced a small bag, handing it over to Grath with her intricately painted, delicate fingers.
He took the bag and opened it, peering inside for a long moment.
Rale stole over to the larger man, looking past his arm, trying to glimpse what the bag contained. He drew in a sharp breath when he realized what it was.
Grath quickly closed the bag and tucked it away into his sleeve, showing more caution than usual.
“I accept.” He said, simply
Luriea clapped her hands together, a bright smile spreading across her fair features.
“Excellent! Allow me to show you to her.”
---Proposal---
“Sir? Sir!” Rale almost tripped over a stray crate that blocked his path in his haste to catch up to his employer.
The tall, dark cloaked man ahead paused a moment, before turning to face his younger assistant.
Rale stopped cold, eyes locking with those of his employer. He'd been an assistant for several years now, but he had never quite become accustomed to Grath’s… presence? There was something off about him, but Rale found it difficult to pinpoint just what exactly it was.
Grath was certainly the strong silent type, though he would speak if need be. He was a sort of mercenary, though to say he was atypical would be putting mildly. Grath was skilled in espionage, protection of goods, even assassination. He had served one fellow as a common thug, and another as a House Guard. His skills seemed endless to one such as Rale, who fancied himself a sort of squire.
“Sir, Halanxe sent word from Luriea. Said she has an important task for you. Said she'll pay well.”
The edge of Grath’s mouth twitched, the closest he ever came to showing displeasure.
“Tell Halanxe to hang himself. He's cheated me from enough coin to last years.”
Rale held his hands up placatingly.
“But sir, Master Grath, Luriea is the ruler of this region of the Kingdom. Surely it wouldn't be in our best-”
He was cut off by Grath’s glare, not directed at him, but to the doorway behind. Rale turned to see the rotund form of Halanxe, captain of the City Guard, standing relaxed with a curious expression. How in the Seven Black Pits had he appeared so silently? Rale had to catch himself before he cursed from surprise.
“Grath, my good man. I was just looking for you.”
“Not interested.”
Grath’s reply was curt, as he spun to continue walking on.
Rale turned to follow, only to stop short. Halanxe stood on the opposite side of the room now, blocking Grath’s way forward. Rale looked back and found the previous doorway empty.
“Come now, you haven't even heard what I've come to tell you. Have some pity on an old Captain, my knees are screaming from the walk here.”
Grath eyed the fat guard.
“I don't need to hear what you have to say. There's money to be made, but it isn't here.”
He made to move past Halanxe, but the man nodded in the direction he had first arrived.
“If you aren't inclined to hear from me, at least listen to her.”
Rale turned to see a young woman leaning in the doorway, flowing gown glittering with every color jewel imaginable, and then some. Her long red hair easily reached her waist, braided in intricate webs around her head, lips painted black.
He almost cursed heavily, but instead, dropped to one knee and bowed as low as he could.
“M’lady!”
She ignored him, locking eyes with Grath.
“Luriea.” He said simply. Halanxe’s brow furrowed, and he stepped forward with a sharp rebuke ready on the tongue.
Luriea waved him off.
“Grath! So good to see you again, you're always welcome in my city. I expect you've found no better place to earn the gold you love so dearly?”
If Grath was a man prone to emotional outbursts, he might have snorted in derision. Instead, he replied.
“I've had better. At the very least, places that pay me in full.”
Luriea cocked one eyebrow, casting a glance back at Halanxe. The Captain had become very interested in the craftsmanship of the window frame, not meeting his ruler’s eye.
She tsked under her breath, shaking her head.
“I'm sorry, Grath. I wasn't aware there was such a miscommunication. I'll make sure you are paid what is fully owed you.”
Grath held her gaze a moment, before nodding once.
Luriea smiled. “Good. Now that that's decided, can we speak of doing further business together?”
The mercenary nodded once again, and allowed the lady to continue.
“I have a bit of a problem. I need someone dead, which I know you are quite capable of, but I need it done in such a way as to discourage anyone who would… copy, the perpetrator’s actions.”
Grath’s eye twitched skeptically.
“Have you run out of Executioners? Surely they would be more suited to a task such as the one you suggest.”
Luriea shook her head.
“Executioners I have, but not a single one with imagination. I need this wretch to die as painfully and as long as possible. I give any one of my brutes the task and the entire ordeal will last thirty seconds at best!”
With that, Grath couldn't argue. He'd seen plenty of executions in this city, the monstrous Executioners snapped strong men like twigs.
“I have a method in mind that would suffice. What is the pay?”
Luriea produced a small bag, handing it over to Grath with her intricately painted, delicate fingers.
He took the bag and opened it, peering inside for a long moment.
Rale stole over to the larger man, looking past his arm, trying to glimpse what the bag contained. He drew in a sharp breath when he realized what it was.
Grath quickly closed the bag and tucked it away into his sleeve, showing more caution than usual.
“I accept.” He said, simply
Luriea clapped her hands together, a bright smile spreading across her fair features.
“Excellent! Allow me to show you to her.”
