Andaris
10-22-13, 08:10 PM
Andaris Rake, soldier turned mercenary, wondered for the fifth time today if he had made a mistake coming out here. He wasn't experiencing any fear but rather questioning his general decision-making. This was the same man who had fought countless battles during Corone's civil war and had stared death in the face more times than he cared to mention. One might wonder then what exactly Andaris was all worried about. The truth was that he was far too close to the capitol than he wanted to be. Radasanth was still under the control of the Empire and the Coalition that the mercenary had once served under. The city was still some ways away but it wouldn't be uncommon to run into imperial patrols out here. Andaris had no doubt that he could deal with a few soldiers but who knows what their deaths would bring after. Bodies had a way of bringing the past right to your doorstep. No one had cared about all that during the war but that was then and this was now. Mercenary life suited Andaris rather well but he didn't part on the best of terms with his former employer. His unexpected departure from his previous job made his life significantly more dangerous than it already was. Andaris knew there was no point fretting over it, one rarely found a person without something dark in their past.
Of course he had only really known soldiers so that wasn't all that surprising. Andaris had spent over a decade in Corone's elite military force, the Scarlet Brigade. They had trained him into a force to reckoned with and for that he was grateful. Unfortunately they had also done the same for every other member of the organization. And, almost every one of them wants me dead, thought the mercenary with a sigh. Andaris had kept his vow of secrecy but he suspected that would not buy him much credit in any case. There were a rare few who knew that he had once served in the elite force, only those perceptive enough to discern his true past. Andaris had found that most people didn't care where you came from so long as you did your job right. He had worked alongside Coronian Rangers despite the fact that he had probably killed a few of their friends. He had found that things became much simpler when you just worked for money. Expectations were quite clear and Andaris wasn't the type to get fussed over things in the past. Fighting for any other cause just led a man to an early grave. The mercenary didn't expect to live a long life but he sure as hell wasn't planning on dying just yet.
I may have made that particular goal just a bit more difficult for myself today.
The reason that Andaris had come out here was actually quite simple, he was here to kill Imperials. Well to be more precise, he was here to kill former soldiers of the Empire who decided they would find a new way to support themselves. The war had technically ended but that did not mean that Corone had suddenly put itself back together. There were those men, namely cowards and malcontents, who had decided that they would rather turn to banditry than do some honesty soldiering. Andaris couldn't really fault them for making that choice since he had deserted as well but he found the whole process somewhat distasteful. The mercenary earned his pay by getting a job done rather than jumping some unsuspecting travelers from the bushes. Trade had resumed for most of Corone and safe passage of goods was a necessity if the economy were to function properly. Now Andaris would have usually left a job such as this to the obnoxiously righteous Rangers or to the Ixian Knights but these particular bandits intrigued him. Their level of training suggested they were more than just the usual ragtag bunch and they were vicious bastards to boot. Andaris was far from being a moral guy but killing innocents left a bad taste in his mouth. Plus he couldn't fathom what sort of enjoyment a person could get out of it. War had a way of bringing out the worst in a man, the mercenary had seen enough of that first-hand.
Quickly realizing that he was getting distracted, Andaris focused on his surroundings. He stood now in the center of what was once a small village but was now nothing more than ruins. His charcoal dyed armor fitting in perfectly with what was left of the town. The mercenary had not been part of this particular massacre but it had been one of many. At the time, the Empire wanted to send a clear message to the rebellion. Shock and awe was a viable tactic, and usually a damned effective one. Andaris smirked as he ran a hand over his tattoo covered head. He couldn't help but be impressed by the tenacity of the Coronian Rangers. They were a bunch of damn fools but they sure as hell could put up a fight. The mercenary continued to reminisce as he waited for his companions for this particular contract. He may have been able to deal with the problem on his own but it seemed his employer, the Ixian Knights, weren't taking any chances; you couldn't fault a man for being too cautious.
Of course he had only really known soldiers so that wasn't all that surprising. Andaris had spent over a decade in Corone's elite military force, the Scarlet Brigade. They had trained him into a force to reckoned with and for that he was grateful. Unfortunately they had also done the same for every other member of the organization. And, almost every one of them wants me dead, thought the mercenary with a sigh. Andaris had kept his vow of secrecy but he suspected that would not buy him much credit in any case. There were a rare few who knew that he had once served in the elite force, only those perceptive enough to discern his true past. Andaris had found that most people didn't care where you came from so long as you did your job right. He had worked alongside Coronian Rangers despite the fact that he had probably killed a few of their friends. He had found that things became much simpler when you just worked for money. Expectations were quite clear and Andaris wasn't the type to get fussed over things in the past. Fighting for any other cause just led a man to an early grave. The mercenary didn't expect to live a long life but he sure as hell wasn't planning on dying just yet.
I may have made that particular goal just a bit more difficult for myself today.
The reason that Andaris had come out here was actually quite simple, he was here to kill Imperials. Well to be more precise, he was here to kill former soldiers of the Empire who decided they would find a new way to support themselves. The war had technically ended but that did not mean that Corone had suddenly put itself back together. There were those men, namely cowards and malcontents, who had decided that they would rather turn to banditry than do some honesty soldiering. Andaris couldn't really fault them for making that choice since he had deserted as well but he found the whole process somewhat distasteful. The mercenary earned his pay by getting a job done rather than jumping some unsuspecting travelers from the bushes. Trade had resumed for most of Corone and safe passage of goods was a necessity if the economy were to function properly. Now Andaris would have usually left a job such as this to the obnoxiously righteous Rangers or to the Ixian Knights but these particular bandits intrigued him. Their level of training suggested they were more than just the usual ragtag bunch and they were vicious bastards to boot. Andaris was far from being a moral guy but killing innocents left a bad taste in his mouth. Plus he couldn't fathom what sort of enjoyment a person could get out of it. War had a way of bringing out the worst in a man, the mercenary had seen enough of that first-hand.
Quickly realizing that he was getting distracted, Andaris focused on his surroundings. He stood now in the center of what was once a small village but was now nothing more than ruins. His charcoal dyed armor fitting in perfectly with what was left of the town. The mercenary had not been part of this particular massacre but it had been one of many. At the time, the Empire wanted to send a clear message to the rebellion. Shock and awe was a viable tactic, and usually a damned effective one. Andaris smirked as he ran a hand over his tattoo covered head. He couldn't help but be impressed by the tenacity of the Coronian Rangers. They were a bunch of damn fools but they sure as hell could put up a fight. The mercenary continued to reminisce as he waited for his companions for this particular contract. He may have been able to deal with the problem on his own but it seemed his employer, the Ixian Knights, weren't taking any chances; you couldn't fault a man for being too cautious.