The Ruins of Vargin

Charles Cerebella · Post by **Charles Cerebella** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 4:29 pm

Hasan tightened his robes which were flapping the wind. He really did hate it when a sand storm hit the city. The streets just funnelled the sand into your face at higher speeds than it would in the open. Fortunately the mask stopped most of it, but it would still find its way in. Hasan was making his way through the back streets of Thebes to the bar he had arranged to meet his group in preparation for their expedition to Vargin.

Arriving, he looked around. A few motley customers were there but none looked up from their drink on his entry. It was a dark and dingy bar, with only small, high up windows, necessary on the poor outer parts of the city where they were liable to these sand storms. Hasan ordered a strong drink and took it to a corner table facing the door. He sat down, and without touching his drink, waited for the arrival of his fellow adventurers.

Raxion · Post by **Raxion** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 4:54 pm

Rashidi waltzed into the bar with a pleasant smile, desperately carrying all of his wares. He had prepared for the expedition, and his return the world of active archaeology, packed with as many papers and books he could find. Anything can be relevant to any situation. "I'm sure" he sarcastically thought "We're going to need to know where the arteries are during our expedition." Noticing the state of the building he slowly crept forward until he found that he made no progress from the door to the bar. He once worked with the poor, but never in this kind of atmosphere.

He searched for the man who summoned the group, scanning the faces of the vagrants. Suddenly Rashidi's eyes widened at Hasan's unusual mask...and those unnatural eyes glowing under it. "That might be him..." he thought. Rashidi swallowed.

The old man walked to a seat next to Hasan, fear, although not going away all together, being replaced by curiosity. Slowly taking a seat he spoke

"Are you the man who called for a group?"

Treize Dreizehn · Post by **Treize Dreizehn** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 7:32 pm

"As long as the gold is real, I could care less what you want me out there for," Shar had said as the Grandmaster handed him his orders. Strange ones too. Meet a man in a mask at the edge of town in a tavern.

No upfront payment, just a promise of a cut of whatever was found. That kind of structure usually meant someone got left in the desert with their throat cut, but the guild thought it was worth the risk.

Shar entered the tavern and let his eyes adjust to the light. A bit dimmer inside than out, which was saying something with the sandstorm. Still, he took another moment to wash the sand from his face with a towel from inside his robes.

Shar surveyed a room. He couldn't remember how many of these trips started in a tavern of some kind. Always dimly lit and always shady. Perhaps the two were related?

Anyway, if he had money to bet the contact would be in the corner. Aha, glowing eyes and a hood. That's going to be Hasan. Shar took a seat along the corner of the table, affording himself a view of the door while still having easy access to converse with the man in the mask.

"Barkeep, a water please?" Shar pointed at the table in front of him and turned to the hooded man, "I'm Shar Ericsson, I believe you wished to hire out a Water Summoner?" Shar laughed as the barkeep placed the drink in front of him.

"Ta-dah!"

Post by **shetef** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 8:11 pm

Adrias Kelikon had just arrived in Thebes. His journey had been longer than any he'd taken in quite some time, although the last voyage of this scale had been to Mar Duuk. He had taken a boat downriver from Lake Sarandis which formed the southern border of Zeira. He walked the streets using his quarterstaff as a walking stick until he came upon the tavern the call had been directed to. He walked in and saw the frantic merchant sitting with a masked figure.

An odd pair....sounds like the place.

Kelikon approached the duo, strapping his staff over his back, addressing them in his Thanosian accent of the common tongue. "Are you the one looking for people, then?"

Venico · Post by **Venico** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 8:59 pm

Enzo handed Valk the folded papyrus with his assignment. The king rounded his planning table and took his seat. "There are ruins near Thebes that have been uncovered. We have no idea what is in it, but if it's something world shattering, I want Romule's name on it. Do you want to do it? Or do you have someone you'd like to send."

Valk opened it and shook his head. "I have this one. If you need anything call on Melborn. He's not the best at listening but he's got a strong head on his shoulders." The assassin saluted quickly and walked back to a hallway window. Slipping out of it, he shimmied over to Claire's room and went in. He picked up his satchel and kissed Claire on the forehead. She barely stirred from her sleep and looked up at him with a smile.

"I have to go now, but I'll be back soon. A mission to Thebes as usual. Don't tear the kingdom down while I'm gone." Valk chuckled and kissed her quickly before heading out of the window again.

-Later at Thebes-

Valk walked into the bar and looked around. He hadn't been in here before surprisingly. Walking up to the barkeep, V surveyed the room. A lot of lowlifes and a man in a mask. "One glass of the hard stuff." Valk asked. He smoothly picked it up and sat down at the table looking around at his compatriots. This'll be interesting...

Raxion · Post by **Raxion** » Mon Dec 23, 2013 2:41 am

"Well, well." Rashisi was taken aback by the arrival of more. "I conclude that you must be the individual." he said, pointing at Hasan. "What with everyone choosing to sit right here.

Let's introduce ourselves!" Rashidi stood up, dropping some scrolls depicting ornate building designs. "My name is Rashidi Baruti. I adore ruins and this expedition is one I cannot afford to miss. What're your names?" he said, before kneeling down to pick up the scrolls.

Venico · Post by **Venico** » Mon Dec 23, 2013 3:01 am

Eying the weird man up and down, Valk sighed. "My name's V. I'm here on orders from King Enzo the Fair of Romule." Slowly, he brought his cup to his lips and drank from it. This group was going to be a sad bunch...

Post by **shetef** » Mon Dec 23, 2013 3:28 am

Although he was accustomed to it whenever he left Zeira, Adrias still bristled at the contempt he heard V's voice soaked in. Looking him in the eye, he responded calmly, unashamed of his accent or mannerisms that differentiated himself from the foreigners. "I am Adrias Kelikon of Thanos."

Charles Cerebella · Post by **Charles Cerebella** » Mon Dec 23, 2013 5:30 am

"Welcome all of you" Hasan spoke to the assembled group. His mask around his mouth opened and shut as he talked on some invisible hinge that kept it perfectly in place. "I am Hasan Ja-le, though you may call me Hasan. I owe my allegiance to no one, though you serve me and each other well and you will win my loyalty for the course of our time together."

Turning to the scholarly looking Rashidi, Hasan commented, "I think you may have packed rather too heavily Baruti. I am not expecting us to have too much leisure time to consult scrolls once we get to Vargin."

Venico · Post by **Venico** » Mon Dec 23, 2013 5:37 am

Valk looked into his satchel and noted that there was room enough for a few scrolls. "Rash, I can carry some scrolls if you need me to. Maps and information may be important enough once we're lost in the middle of nowhere." He then turned back to the masked man. "So what's the plan?"

Honors