What's Mine is Mine. And What's Yours Is Also Mine! (Open)

[samuraibobx]

"Hmmm.....nope trash."

It had been a rather bleak morning this cold day. The undertaker had once again hit the bottle a little to often last night and had left last night's shipment of poor unfortunate saps out in the cold of the cemetery. Granted, this was only to his benefit, but sometimes, Tamo felt sorry for the dead. Most of the ones coming in now were young manlings, little more than fifteen summers old. In his mind, war was going to kill every last living thing on earth until nothing remained but ashes.

And he had no problem with that, so long as it got him paid and it got him some good old fashioned booze. Because life takes booze. That, or a sufficiently large amount of gold. Of course, both would be better, but prices these days were getting outrageous and the hobgoblin was having to pick up more and more dangerous mercenary work...

He pried the lid off of the last coffin, revealing a large man-thing clad in the armor of the watch. It was strange really. Tamo didn't remember hearing one of the guardsmen getting killed recen-

Aw, crap.

Almost instantly, the armored figure sprang up, drawing a dagger from his belt and accosted the mercenary with a loud booming voice.

"HALT CRIMMINAL SCUM!"

Of course, he did quite the opposite and the looter ran as fast as he could, sprinting this way and that, dodging and weaving between the tombstones to lose his knightly friend. This was the first time outrunning the watch while sober and compared to the other couple of experiences, this was a piece of cake. When were they going to learn that more armor just makes people run slower? What a bunch of-

An open grave appeared rather unexpectedly in front of him and with a blink, he was gone, his skull careening quite painfully into a oaken coffin with a dull thunk. Luckily for him, the offending guardsman passed right by, his ironshod boots and booming voice fading into the early morning mist. Meanwhile, Tamo pulled himself out of the freshly dug grave and just shrugged. The guy must have had too much mist in his eyes to see him fall. Regardless, now was the time to get while the going was good.

A few hours and a couple wrong turns later, and Tamo Scaveye was back in the city. Problem was, it wasn't the part he was aiming for. Here lay the scum and villainy of Scara Brae. The knaves here would stab you in the back for a mere copper if they had a chance. He hustled this way and that, gradually making his way out of the labyrinthine streets. It was only after reaching a dead end that he felt a presence behind him. The hobgoblin gulped nervously and put his hands up in the air. That could only be his debt collector glaring through his soul to his rear!

"H-h-hey Lucious. Listen, I'm going to need a little bit more time to get you your money, alright? Let's just back away and not be hasty there..."

[Thomas_Patterson]

When the strange fellow in front of him jolted and threw his hands in the air, Thomas Patterson was as spooked as he. Thomas had been roaming the city of Scara Brae, studying its alien culture and surroundings. He had wandered into the winding streets and slums where He had grown bored quite quickly in the upper-class districts of the city, so he now was wandering amid the winding streets and slums where the real action could be found. He had been meandering at a steady and leisurely pace, but froze when the aforementioned character began twitch and speak about giving him money and needing more time.

“Whoa, there, fella, what is it? I don’t believe I’ve ever even seen you before, and you certainly don’t owe me money. Sounds to me like you’ve got your fingers in places they shouldn’t be with a conscience like that.”

Thomas glanced around him, as to make sure there indeed was no Lucious in the vicinity and he had not just made a royal fool of himself. Their surroundings contained a satisfying lack of people that could be the Lucius of which the strange man had spoken. Thomas’ hand clutched his morning star, despite the harmless sense of the character in front of him. The fellow was likely to run before he attacked, if he did take any action whatsoever. But Thomas Patterson was a trained gnomish warrior, and he was always prepared.

“Sorry if I disturbed you, at any rate. What is your name, stranger?”

[samuraibobx]

"Oh, phew. Sorry about that, I thought you were uh- somebody really really important to ummm.....me. Yeah, that's it. Somebody important to me!"

Oh the shame. He hadn't been here nearly a month and already he owed two loan sharks money and had nearly soiled himself in the presence of a total stranger. Speaking of which, where was the stranger? Tamo turned slowly and non-threateningly, his right hand pawing for his iron dagger just in case. What he saw, honestly didn't impress him. Just a small little man clad in armor with a morning star clasped at his side. Tamo was still a little nervous, his precious crossbow was slung across his back and it would take too much time to prepare it for firing, time he didn't have. He was going to have to talk his way out of this one. His single eye glared back at the small thing.

"Hows about you take your hand off your weapon and then we'll talk?"

[DT!]

Hunting down hobgoblins wasn't always so hard. They usually seemed to get their noses stuck in places they shouldn't have been and get lost a lot. Reimund took that easily and started tracking down the frightened hobgoblin that kidnapped a little girl and is holding her hostage against an upright citizen called Lucius. Upright was definitely not the word to call Lucius. Shady, conniving and perhaps lying conman were better words, but the young Jaeger had no right to complain about his employer. No, instead he had the right to complain about why there was a gnome about to attack his prey. Or rather how the gnome was able to follow the hobgoblin faster then he could. No matter though. He loomed a good three-four feet over head of the gnome overshadowing him and focused on the target.

"Toma Scaveye, Lucius would like to talk to you about his "daughter." "

[Thomas_Patterson]

Thomas Patterson was startled when the tall, white-haired human spoke in a grim voice.

“Beg your pardon, Mr. Scaveye, grasping my weapon is merely instinct, but it seems now I have new reason to do so.”

Thomas turned toward the man who had made the interference. He was stuck in a situation that would be nearly impossible to escape from without gaining enemies which he most certainly did not need. The white-haired man was eyeing him with what might have been wonder. He impulsively made a decision, and spoke a series of lies to the fellow behind him.

“I’m sorry to interfere, sir, but I was just about to discuss this very matter with Mr. Scaveye. No, Lucious did not send me, and I doubt he even knows that I am involved in this matter. You see, Lucious is small time, and he is highly in debt to others far superior to himself. I am here on that account, and Mr. Scaveye here has been working with me. I would advise you and Lucious to refrain from interfering in our designs.”

Thomas nervously turned and winked at Toma Scaveye, and then tried his best to hide his dread as he waited for a response. He had just sucked himself into a matter that he knew absolutely nothing about.

[samuraibobx]

This had gone from bad to really, really bad. Not only had Lucious found out about his little tryst with the dame, but he had sent a man after him. A man with armor and a mean looking sword loomed over the gnome and seemed intent on bringing him to the loanshark in as many pieces as humanly possible. Thankfully, the knightly kneebiter had positioned himself between the manling and Tamo, which would give him just the time he needed.

Thinking quickly, Tamo got the crossbow off of his back and loaded in one of the nasty steel tipped bolts. At this range, armor wasn't going to protect either of them from the sheer penetrating power his weapon provided him. He aimed it, the experience of similar life and death situations steeling his nerves. Right now, either or both of them could be enemies. The stuntie was treating himself all high and mighty like he was some kinda knight, while the pinkie was here for his head. Normally, Tamo could have just hamstringed the humie and gotten the hell out of there, but the gnome had stepped forward and openly aggravated the man. So now, there was a change in plans. Instead, the midget was first on the target list, followed by the collector. And after that, this little hobgoblin was going to get the hell out of this city and head for someplace quiet. Maybe Raeira would be nice and profitable. Sure there was civil war, undead abominations, and all sorts of other rumors flying about, but at least those wouldn't try and stab you for having a roll in the hay with their kid!

Tamo sighted down the length of yew and squeezed the trigger, hoping to place the steel projectile right inbetween the short one's calf and thigh.

[Thomas_Patterson]

When Thomas Patterson turned his head toward the hobgoblin, for that is what he had decided the strange fellow was, he glimpsed Tamo raising his crossbow, and it was pointing at him. The area above his kneecap erupted with a sudden jolt of unbearable pain. His knee buckled and he stumbled to the ground. This completely unnerved Thomas, as he had just gotten through the task of spinning a lie to protect the backstabber. The hobgoblin had infuriated a gnome, and Thomas intended to let him know it.

“If you shoot me again, you bastard, you’ll have an entire gnomish army after you with no one at your back! Now, if you would take the time to think about it, it doesn’t seem like I’m the one in front of you worth killing. My intention was to make conversation. This man’s intention is to make money from your blood!”

There was a pause. Thomas examined his knee. Luckily, the bolt had pierced only the skin on the side of his leg, and altogether, the wound was not deep. The iron tip peeked out from the back side of his leg.

"If you would learn to think a little, you might not get yourself stuck in such bad situations. You can't live properly if all you know how to make are enemies!"

Now oblivious to his surroundings, Thomas pulled the tip of the bolt the rest of the way through his leg. He cast a spell that soothed his pain a bit, and then in a single motion, he broke off the tip of the bolt and pulled the shaft out of his leg by the other end. His eyes watered. He cast another spell that would still the bleeding for a few minutes, and then looked back up at his undesirable company.

[DT!]

Weirdest Day Ever? Check

Catching a Jaeger by surprise was not an easy thing to do; you'd need to be doing one crazy possibly life-risking thing to really make a hunter from his society cock an eyebrow and scratch his head. A complete stranger was risking his neck to save a possible walking dead hob and that hob goes right ahead and shoot the gnome in the leg. On top of that the gnome is some type of general or something of a gnomish army.

Upcoming International War? Check.

Reimund tilted his head slightly. He had to get the assignment where crazy shit happens for no reason. The council couldn't have assigned him some beast wrangling or something could they? No, they had to send him to a possible war.

End of Worst Week Ever? Check

The young Jaeger quickly walked around the gnome who at the time was messing with the arrow in his leg and stood over the wanted hob. Sword pointed at his face of course. "Ok, initial shock is over now. Tamo, lets go. Can't keep Lucius waiting for ever." He did keep an eye on the gnome of course. Didn't need that little man sneak attacking him now.

In the alley though one could hear the strangely audible sounds of...a kitty meowing.

[samuraibobx]

Success, well...somewhat. He had managed to distract the little tyke, and that was all that mattered. Tamo shouldered his crossbow and quickly sprinted forward while taking out his favorite tin cup, aiming to clear the little guy and at the very least, knock the one trying to get his head off balance. From that, the only thing that he needed to do was just keep on sprinting and duck inside another alley or something and lay low until both of them were long gone.

The manling moved forward and without a thought, Tamo started running, coming up with a plan as his boots thudded along the cobblestones. Why was it that these people just kept showing up at the worst times in the worst places! Why couldn't they just leave the scoundrel alone and let him go about his merry business? Bah, they were all just jealous of his dashing good looks and witty charm!

And so he moved. He focused on just one thing, dodging the Jaegar. Room to the left? A little, but the gnome wasn't down and he was still right there. Room to the right? Nothing but a wall. Well, the left would have to do. Clutching his precious cup, he hoped for a prayer and right when he was on top of the Jaegar, he threw it at his head. As he did so, the crafty hobgoblin jumped and tried to vault over the midget with all his might. The situation looked hopeless, but who knows? He just might get lucky.

[Thomas_Patterson]

He was impressed by the Toma’s quick thinking. Thomas could have reached upward and easily tripped the fleeing hobgoblin as he leapt over his head, but he did not. Instead, he ducked his head down to provide him with easier passage. The hobgoblin was the type of small lonely criminal Thomas was not concerned with. It was powerful people like this Lucious character that he kept hearing about that deserved his attention. By now, Thomas’ weapon was drawn and he was standing in the way of the staggered monster hunter- or at least in the way of his legs.

“Look, I don’t want to hurt you, but I understand I’ll probably have to.”

By now, the man had completely recovered from Toma’s blow, and he was watching the gnome angrily.

“I came here because this town needs fixing, and I intend to fix it. It’s people like this man Lucious that are screwing this city up. Tell me where I can find him or take me to him, and I will let you back to whatever business you need to be doing. Your assignment is to track down that hobgoblin for Lucious, not to keep gnomes away from him, so I see no reason you cannot help me out a bit.”

While talking, Thomas had picked up the tin cup that had been hurled at the man in front of him and pocketed it. He waited for a response from the perturbed monster hunter in front of him, who was being quickly separated from his prey.