The Gilded Tortoise

[Niril]

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Niril absolutely despised the Tavern. Oh how he loathed it. The smells of horses, men, alcohol and blood mingled into an olfactory nausea. He shuddered just to think of it. But, it was business, and important business at that. There was something he wanted, something of value and he couldn’t get it alone. He strode hastily down the cobblestone road. His destination was The Furry Goat.

What an awkward name for an inn… he thought to himself. Who the hell thought that was a clever decision?

It was slightly after dusk, and gravel cracked beneath his heels. It misted gradually, slightly heavier than the evening dew. His breath condensed in the air, forming a small wispy cloud that rose a few feet and dispersed among the low-hanging fog. It was, ironically, and incredibly eerie evening. It was right out of a book. Stone cottages, palely illuminate from within, were dripping moisture down moss and algae covered gutters. Said gutters dripped quietly into the street onto the greedily awaiting weeds and crab grasses.

A Con artist and a thief had a small wooden crate set up. It was such an obvious trap, only a complete moron would fall for it. It was one of those ‘hunt-the-queen’ games. The scammer swapped cards around, and you had a one in three chance of guessing it. What you didn’t see is that the switched out the queen in some sort of impressive, albeit still illegal, sleight of hand, while his friend snuck from behind and cut your coin purse. Radasanth really was pathetic.

A few blocks later, Niril saw the sign for The Furry Goat. It was also similarly moss-covered. and algae covered. It wasn’t a sea-faring town, and the mountain mists didn’t settle that heavily. Why the hell was everything so green? He spent a moment gathering his fortitude, and quickly swung into the inn.

It hit him like a sock to the gut. The smells of horses, men, alcohol and blood. He had forgotten about the noise. It was like entering a symphony hall, but instead of cellos and clarinets there were drunkards and prostitutes. The melody was a cacophony of hoots, bellows and laughter with the warm harmonies of breaking glass and belches set to the steady rhythm of a rather intoxicated fellow pounding on the bar. Oh how he loathed it…

Niril quickly hastened to the corner of the tavern, where it wasn’t so much quieter as it was less loud. A waitress began to approach him, eager to take his order and possibly make some money off of him after her shift. Whore. He dismissed her with a wave of his elegant hand and stewed. He had posted a wanted ad, and was here to conduct interviews. He needed two adventurers, preferably aggressive and good solid fighters, although anyone worth their weight in dirt would do. They were going dungeon delving, and he agreed to split the treasure evenly, with the exception of a particular artifact he intended to keep. It was just a golden turtle nobody would want it, but the book at the library had peaked his interest.

He sat, and waited for an applicant.

[Mutant_Lorenor]

Okay dude, count me in.

As a member of the Corone Armed Forces, the mutant was visible around Radasanth these days. He often traveled between Salvar and Radasanth to maintain the fiefdom he'd won in an earlier job. Sometimes taking mercenary work, the mutant found himself as part of a small group of guards spying on a reputed con-artist. They had set up their operation in front of an infamous tavern and inn known as The Furry Goat. Whilst, the name was laughable, the operations within the establishment were not. It was Syndicate territory, and the C.A.F. and Syndicate were currently at odds with one another. Though the Syndicate took no sides in the Civil War, they were still in full operation regardless of the war.

From across the street, the Guards casually watched the operation in full swing. Someone would get baited into the operation, and other members of the outfit would snatch the purse of the unwitting victim. Sometimes with violent result. People were going missing, and the Guard Captains could not allow that to continue. Action needed taking.

"He just did it again, what are we waiting for?" Lorenor asked his superior officer.

An argument had broken out in front of the Furry Goat. The latest victim realized his purse was gone and was still expected to pay the losses of the gambling game. It was a shame that jokers like these were still operating in Radasanth, tainting her good name. Lorenor had his hand on his weapon, when a fellow Guard placed his hand on the mutant's shoulder.

"We need the warrant. Things are sensitive with the Civil War going on. We can normally just arrest him, but its in the jurisdiction of the Syndicate. We have too many enemies as is." The knight said.

A short time later, a courier dressed in civilian attire approached the group. He bowed stiffly, perhaps too formally, and handed the leader of the Guards a small parcel. They were authorized to move in. Paying the courier a small fee, the Guard Captain looked at the rest of his troop and nodded.

"We can move in on the con-artist and his operation. Our steak-out was evidence enough that we needed to present to our superiors. We do this by the book." The man said.

Lorenor was already drawing his prevalida sword.

"By the book." Lorenor repeated. "Let's do this then."

***

The battle was not a very violent one as the thieves' operation was routed. There were some protests after the battle, but largely, the operation went smoothly. Lorenor himself had captured one of the thieves, and placed him in the custody of his superior officers. Military life had its benefits. Once the operation was clear, Lorenor had free time.

Moving upon the Furry Goat, Lorenor stared at the rowdy establishment for a time. Still wearing the uniform of the Corone Armed Forces, Lorenor walked into the establishment. Walking slowly, he moved towards the Job Board. He needed something to keep himself occupied. He saw that there was a recently posted job by one of the patrons in the board. He went towards the flier, and snatched it off the job board. Several other individuals were looking at the job board as well, but Lorenor was one of the ones quickest to act.

Reading the flier, the mutant saw that the job would be a good chance to test his skill. The mutant held the flier in his hand and began his search for a man named Niril. N'Jal spoke to the mutant and told him that it was his destiny to partake of this particular job. Obeying the will of N'Jal, Lorenor began to look for Niril.