OOC: This is it guys. Keep in mind the rules on posting and such, and have fun with it.

The small village of Lethgen, shrouded in the mist of early morning, awake with the same uneasy watchfulness that it did most mornings, the inhabitants wary of each other. In the thin air of the main street, six horses, well-fed and in good condition, walked down and stopped outside a non-descript tavern, the sort found in any number of towns along the border of Sepria. One figure, clad in a long black cloak, dismounted and tethered his horse to a nearby post. Normally in Lethgen the moment the man, presuming it was a man, stepped into the tavern the horse would have vanished like the evaporating mist, but the figure had eluded some feeling of threat, not to mention the five still mounted horsemen, who after a brief exchange of words trotted off down the street.

As the figure ducked under the doorway, he was met by the warm, foetid air of a place in which too many men had spent too many hours in. The bar was clear of people, save those drunks who had clearly abandoned themselves to the pursuit of the Answer, or at least the eradication of enough braincells to make them forget about the Question. He exchanged nods with the barman, and, his staff tapping on the flagstones, walked to a wall that was covered in paper notices, most of them written in shakey hands. His finger traced the wall for a moment, and having discovered a particular sign, removed it from the wall, then replaced it with another which he removed from within the robe.

Upon looking at the sign, those with a knowledge of letters would read:

Companions Required

Must be Fit of Mind and Body, and ready for Travel.
Payment of 5 Silver a Day for Services Rendered shall be paid upon Completion of a Most Important Mission. Apply to Erunanion.

Leaving Today!

Erunanion then moved to a table and sat down on the wodden stool, staff stood loosely against his shoulder, and waited.

Tiemmo is feeling flush with money after a particularly good haul in the bedrooms of a local lodging house. The anonymous tavern seems to be just the kind of place where he could spend the coin and get no questions asked. And he intends to spend it. It certainly isn't safe to carry it with him. There are thieves about!

He enters swiftly, the door might not even have moved, and sizes the place up. Full of drunks - good.

He notices that one patron is not drunk and seems to be waiting for something. It can't be anything honorable in this dive.

Tiemmo is not one for conversation but is equally sure that he needs to know a little about the man before he starts flashing his money around.

He approaches the table. "Good morrow sirrah, this is not usually the haunt of fine gentlemen such as yourself. Have you mistaken the meeting place?"

Vidala Lothén made her way through Lethgen by foot, having learned not to leave horses around. As she walked past the tavern, it struck her how hungry she was feeling. She stopped, turned around and walked into the warm room. Walking past the wall covered with paper, she inspected them for a few seconds before finding a new one. Carefully reading it, the promise of payment caught her eye.

"Apply to Erunanion..", she muttered and looked around the tavern. Noticing a man that looked nothing like the usual crowd, she realised that must be him. After seeing another man walk up to him, she decided to give them time to finish and get something to eat before she were to start thinking about work. Vidala sat down by a table in the corner with her belongings next to her, ordering some food from the barman with a simple wave, he knew what she meant after getting the same order weeks in a row.

Erunanion looked up at the scruffy-looking fellow before him. He smiled at the man's comment. "Perhaps you have mistaken who you are addressing? I am not a gentleman, at least not in the traditional sense." He sized up the man, in the many ways that a person skilled in magic can, and was surprised to find his mind unusually shut to his gentle probing. He did, however, take in the one or two heavier pouches on his person. "Nor have i mistaken my location. It does not seem likely that have come here to be engaged in my service, since you seem to be more than well-financed, at the moment at least. But perhaps i might tempt you; i can offer more than mere silver, and i could have use for that particular talent of yours in the future. Would you like a drink?" He motioned to the monstrously large bartender.

He also did not fail to recognise the attractive woman who sat down at a corner table, who was served her regular food and drink by the barman before he waddled over to his table.

After finishing her meal, Vidala rose to her feet and without doubt approached the man who she guessed was Erunanion. "Excuse me, but I must ask, is that", she pointed at the new note on the wall, "yours? And if so, what kind of mission could be important enough to pay 5 silver a day?", she asked him with a polite, but firm voice.

"I was just about to discuss that with my companion here. I assume that you are interested? Please, sit down." Erunanion looked between the two of them, in his mind turning over the possible effects these two could have on the future.

OOC: I will do the big intro post as soon as our new player joins us - i don't want to do it twice.

Tiemmo looks from one to the other. "If your work is interesting let me know more of it. You are observant I can tell but you are mistaken if you believe I do not need funds. I never carry anything beyond a few coins with me when I walk abroad. Perhaps you will accept my largesse while I have something to offer. I will have none when I leave here."

He waves the barman across.

OOC:Yeye I got in

IC: Lathran Vethilo made his way through Lethgen, looking to find the tavern where he knew word wa to be found. When he located the right door, he pushed it open and tramped in. Observing the wall, he found the new note and read it. Since he had barely had any sleep for 2 days, it took him alot longer than usual to read the note, but eventually he finished.

"Important mission..." he muttered to himself and looked over his shoulder, spotting the two men and the lady sitting by a table, obviously no locals. He tramped across the room and stopped in front of the small crowd. "That one's your?", he asked and nodded against the note.

Erunanion looked up at the armour-clad knight, who had obviously fallen on difficult times for his armour was tinged with tarnish, and rust showed in several places on his mail. Seeing the fatigue in the man, he gestured to the table. "It is. Do you seek to join us? I see you are tired. Pull up a stool and listen - i was just about to discuss my mission with these good people. This," gesturing to the woman, "is Vidala Lothén, and this gentleman i have not yet learnt the name of. Pray sit Lathran Vethilo, and listen while i make you all a proposition which you would be wise to accept." He sensed their reactions to his knowledge of their names, but ignored them.

While waiting for Lathran to sit down, he turned back to the other two, and composed himself visibly.

You may call me Tiemmo. Others have given me the nickname 'quickfingers' but I do not like it. Please remember that. If I had another name I have forgotten it.

Vidala sat about, her head resting in her palm as she heard her name spoken by the man who had put up the note on the wall. "How did you..", she asked with a confused look on her face.

Lathran looked very happy to rest his legs after days of walking through the muddy landscape and pulled up a chair on which he sat down. He had met many men who had known his name before he knew they did, but it still scared him a little every time someone spoke his name before he had. Still, he sat down and nodded towards the others gathered around the table. "Quickfingers", he thought and eyed the man. Lathran didn't care much for thieves and other criminals, but everyone had to make a living, and he accepted them unless they stole from him or his friends.

Tiemmo read the look.

"I do not steal from those who are honourable. I steal from thieves and murderers, those who extort wealth or charge exhorbitant rates to those who can ill afford it. If you are honourable I will not steal from you but if you are not I make no promises. You seem to bear the mark of one who is to be trusted but please bear with me if I take a little time to be sure. I have made mistakes in the past."

As he leans forward to pay the barkeep a long scar is visible along his right arm.

Erunanion nodded towards Tiemmo, although he was still slightly confused as to why he had not known something as simple as a name, something which is always at the forefront of a person's mind. It would bear further investigation later, he decided.

"This group seem to be who i had in mind - you all obviously possess skills which shall be of value to me. But let me tell you why i wish to engage your services.

I am sure you are familiar with the history of this fair land of ours; how the Grand Council was split by internal feuding; the two factions of Kataric and Melos and their sniping and covert war; and the assassination of Andor Kataric. What you may not know is that the Kataric family were left with a small holding on the edge of the Empire, which is now under siege by my lord Galen. He has his land bordering the Kataric castle of Falhar, and his decided to seize it.
But the siege has proved costly, even with my, ha, support. So Galen has been looking into a peaceful way to end the conflict. Since the existing members of the Kataric family will not negociate with him, he has been looking for the rumoured lost grandson of Andor Kataric. And he has found him. The direct heir to the second seat of the Grand Council exists." Erunanion looked around the group, watching their reaction to this news very carefully.
"But he is being put to a use which is far more foul, to my lord Galen, than he had anticipated. A group of lords displeased with Emperor Melos's rule, the grandson of the conqueror Puran Melos, is plotting to usurp the throne and replace the Katarics at the head of the Grand Council. I have been charged to stop this, for the coup would prove disasterous for the Empire itself, along with my lord Galen. I have been ordered to tell no-one of this, and act in complete secrecy."

He paused, then what could have been a wry smile flickered across the blank face. "I have already disregarded that order in telling you, and i will go on in my insubordination. I was serving Galen not to aid him, but in order to gain access to the Kataric family, who are the true leaders of the Council. This coup has given me an opportunity unlike any i have ever had in order to restore the damage that was done to Sepria the day Andor Kataric was killed.

I am asking you for help, in order to remove the plight Melos has lain upon our country, and aid the rightful leader of the Empire to come to power. What i suggest means treason, although i feel that you three will not be unduely perturbed by that," he glanced at Lathran inquisitively, "and certain death, which might perturb. If you choose to help me you shall receive the silver coins i promised on the advert, and more, for the gratitude of the Katarics will be great, i have been promised. I hope that you will look upon this mission with objectivity, and see the good in it. Should any of you wish to decline this, you may leave now, but i beg you not to tell anyone about this - the effect upon the coup should it become common knowledge would be catastrophic. You will probably need a moment to think about my offer."

He leaned back and closed his eyes oddly, and seemed to shut down. He sat, motionless, waiting for the group to speak.

Tiemmo is ill at ease. As a thief he lives well under the present regime.

"Sir, I know little of these feuds to which you refer. I keep away from armies and plots. What is so evil in the land at present that I should want to change it? Even if it is not the rightful heir who occupies the chair of state it would hardly be so much of departure from tradition. If I am to join you I need to believe the new ruler will have something to offer his people."

At first somewhat surprised to hear that the heir did in fact exist, Lathran thought about what the man had said. After a few minutes of considering the offer, Lathran had made up his mind. "Sometimes, treason is the only way to achieve what's right", he said. "And as I have sworn loyalty to the true emperor of Sepria, I accept your offer and I shall do all I can to help", he told Erunanion and waved for the barman to get something to drink.

Vidala thought for a moment, considering the offer. Finally, she realised that money is money and she didn't have much of it. Always eager for adventure, she found it a good offer. "I'm coming along as long as these 5 silver are paid when they are supposed to", she said and smiled.

Erunanion broke out of his reviere after they all spoke. He smiled brightly at Vidala and Lathran, and said words of encouragement and thanks. He turned to Tiemmo, the smile still in place. "It is right that you ask these questions, and it is true, the matters of state do not directly affect your life in any way. But the constant expansion of the Empire has caused unknown suffering to befall the ordinary people of Sepria. Take this town for example. Fifty years ago it was a prospering farming community; i know for i spent a good deal of time here in my younger days. Look at it now."

He gestured around the room. As if to prove his point, a drunk rose his head, mumbled something incoherent, and fell forward onto the table with a resounding thump. None of the other patrons looked up.

"Sepria has been raped of her vitality. Farming communities has been destroyed by the influx of tributes from the surrounding countries, and our coastline, once so beautiful, has been converted into a mass of harbours and dockyards to manage the vast pirate navy the Emperor commands. And the riches that are brought in by our conquests, do you see the effects of these on towns such as these?"

Erunanion sighed, and he suddenly looked as old as his years would have him be. "I will be frank with you, without the rehtoric. I have not met this heir, nor the lords who back him. I have only the word of the besieged Katarics that there that their relative will restore our country to its former position of benevolence and the name of one person to contact. But believe me when i say that i put all of my faith and belief into this hope for us. You ask what is so evil in this land of ours? I would say what now is good?"

"Now there are alot of good things in this world", Vidala said and looked very surprised about what Erunanion had said. "I don't know what kind of people you are used to, master Erunanion, but where I'm from, we have many good things", she continued before suddenly loosing herself in memories.

Draego walk's into the bar with his staff in one hand. He hears several mysterious people talking in the corner of the tavern. He walks over to the bar aware of all around him.

"Get me a Maze."
"Sure Thing, I wouldn't be eaves droping on them if I were you."
"Say's who?"
"Say's them by the sound of it."
"and you say i'm droppin eaves?"
"What can i say? You're Desperate aren't you?"
"Maybe but I'll stay low for a while."

Tiemmo considers the man's words. "If you get rid of all the dishonourable people in this society I will lose my livelihood! But I don't think you'll be able to do it. It's in human nature to want to cheat others. I'll come with you for the present if you think my skills will help."

"Then fight for those things that you value, for if the Emperor is allowed to continue in his reign they will surely be destroyed. He turned to Tiemmo. "We must trust that human nature can be overcome. In truth i do not know what we shall accomplish, but i do know that anything must be better for the people of Sepria than the status quo. I am glad you will come with us, for already i see that i may have need for your light-fingered skills.

He stood sudenly, and, after clearing the group's collection of chairs, walked over to the board where his notice was pinned. "For the present, you seem to be all that i shall need to aid me. It may be that we will encounter others, but for the moment my plans engender that there be a small number of us." He took the notice down and stowed it inside his robes.

He walked back to the goup, and stood before them. "I am afraid i may have to ask something of you even at this early stage. I am accompanied by five men-at-arms of the lord Galen, to "aid" me in my mission. We will have to rid ourselves of them before we can proceed. As i see it we can make use of what time i have allotted to me left and leave the town now, or confront them. They have with them my horse and their mounts, which will make our journey much easier, but i appreciate that you will not want to spill blood at the early stage."

OOC: I realise i have ignored you Chaosmaker - i'll add you in when you PM me about you char, as i've asked.

"Is there no way to simply lure them away and steal the horses?", Vidala asked and looked somewhat worried. "It's not that I won't help you if we need to spill their blood, but I would prefer a more peacefull way", she stated and watched Erunanion.

Lathran put his hand on his chest. "It does not matter which way of action we take, I'll follow you", he said. "If you find the need to fight these men, I will fight, and if you find them to many and decide to walk instead, I will walk", he said and put his free hand on the handle of his sword.

"If you do not wish to fight now, that is your choice. We can attempt to lure them away from the horses, if that is your decision. I can envision a way for us to do this, but only if i have all of you in agreement."

"Hmmmmm... most interesting."

Bartender - "What?"

"Nothing. Here's your tab i'm going for a walk."

Bartender - "Damn you are a desperate man."

Draego picked up his staff and made for the exit. Looking for the horsemen the stranger's were talking about. He walked in the way he alway's did looking humble and yet staying alert waiting for the right moment to strike.

"If that's the plan, I accept it", Vidala said and looked around. "But how are we going to lure away all of them?", she asked and looked a bit worried. As she spoke, she adjusted the sword in her belt, positioning it so it would be easier to pull out.

"Agreed, if you want us to lure them away, that's what we'll do, and if they put up a fight, then there's nothing to do except to fight back", Lathran stated and scratched his chin. "But.. if we are going to fight soldiers in this village, we should be ready to get out in a hurry", he continued and looked around the tavern.

Tiemmo thinks about it. "I am happy to go along with any plan that avoids bloodshed. Luring them away is all very well but it may be a two-edged sword. If they get back to Galen with the knowledge of your defection, Erunanion, will he not send others and more against us? If we could convince them that you were dead...?"

Erunanion watched distractedly as a robed strange walked out of the door, then turned back, and grinned suddenly as he heard Tiemmo's words. "I have always wanted to fake my own death. Very well."
He laid a hand on Tiemmo's shoulder. "You and I are going to go for a walk. If you go through the bar and out of the back door, walk down until you reach the stables. You can't miss it for the smell. When you hear the men-at-arms leave, quickly steal the horses, and lead them to the top of this street. We shall join you afterwards."

Erunanion lead him outside, looking surruptitously for the robed person, and spotted him walking down the street. Apparently ignoring him, he said to Tiemmo, "This is the stable, on the right. In a moment, i will break into a run, shouting. I want you to shoot an arrow over my head as i pass the doors. Then run, and don't stop, up the street, to where we will meet the others. Hide until you meet them, i will not be much longer behind you. Do you understand?"

OOC: Oops, first mistake of the RP. Cheers for telling me Adelbert.

"I feel like i'm being watched."

He turned to his left he heard 5 horse's each with men on top of them.

"There you are."

He began to walk towards them. Then he heard two of the stranger's from the bar talking. They were planning something. He turned a bit heading for a wall on the building. He took his Katana and Wakizashi and kneeled them against the wall and he leaned on it hearing with much antisipation at what is about to happen.

"I think i'll just wait here and hear how they'll do."

Vidala, still somewhat worried, walked through the bar, exiting from the backdoor, then turned down the street towards the stables. Feeling the awful smell, the stopped and got as close to the stable as possible without walking straight onto the men inside.

Lathran followed Vidala with one hand on his sword. As they reached the stables, he looked up and down the street, watching out for any local guards or such. When they got near, he got close to the wall and sneaked after Vidala towards the open stable door.

OOC: Malchik has given permission to post for him over the weekend.

Tiemmo nodded, and put an arrow to the string of his bow. "Shoot the arrow over your head, and run. I'll meet up with you at the top of the street. I'm ready." He drew the bow.

Having lost sight of the stranger, Erunanion started to walk, then run, towards the door. Suddenly, he started yelling. "Men of Galen! To arms! I am attacked!" Just as he reached the door, he waved his arm behind him. Tiemmo released the arrow, sending it arching over his head, in full view of the men-at-arms, who were hurriedly struggling to their feet in their awkward armour. As he waved, Erunanion intentionally tripped, landing heavily.

However, in the minds of the men-at-arms, there was suddenly the image of the arrow striking Erunanion high in the back, sending him sprawling onto the cobbles. As they watched aghast, he shouted hoarsely, "After him you fools!"

Four of the men-at-arms ran out into the street, swords bared, in time to see Tiemmo round a random corner, and took off after him.

One was left, who turned to grab at Erunanion to help him.

OOC: EDIT - God damn it!

OOC:After her? Her?

IC:Lathran waited untill the man had bent over to help Erunanion befor ehe seized the opportunity. He charged at the man, tackling him in the side before pulling out his sword, getting in position to fight. Being honourable, he didn't intend to kick a man lying down. "Get them, hurry!", he shouted to Vidala.

Vidala wasn't slow to react, quickly cutting the ropes holding them back and leading them out through the open doors. "Come on!", she shouted at Lathran and looked up the street after the remaining soldiers to make sure they weren't returning to look after their comrade.

The man at Lathran's feet held his hands up in submission. Down the street, there were sounds of the chase after Tiemmo, but no men-at-arms were in view, and the sounds were fading into the south-east part of the small town.

Erunanion had disappeared as soon as Lathran had leapt out on his would-be helper. He ran round a corner and stopped momentarily, getting his breathe.

Tiemmo had taken to his heels the moment he shot the arrow, and had been followed by the four men-at-arms. He had an ample lead over the armoured men, and easily out-stripped them. Passing an overhanging roof, he vaulted into the thatch, and remained hidden until his pursuers went past. Then, leaping deftly, he made his way over the roofs of houses and shops to the meeting point at the top of the main street.

Lathran gestured for the man to enter the stables, and when he did, Lathran shut the door, blocking it with a board he found inside. "It will not last for long, but hopefully give us the time to leave before they are all upon us", he said and sheated his sword. Taking the lead of three off the horses, he gestured for Vidala to follow. They both joined Erunanion to join up with Tiemmo.

Little did they know that Draego was waiting for them outside.

"Most interesting. I guess that having one men-at-arms left was not in the plan. But still I can't help feeling that the trip was not on purpose but a mere coincidence."

"But still I can't help to wonder what a party of 4 such as yourself's would be doing trying to pick a fight with 5 men-at-arms. I can only wonder."

Tiemmo is panting from the exertion. "I think we had better get away from here quickly. What do we do with the prisoner?"

"Knock him out and leave him."

"You, Erunanion. I trust these men don't know of your plan or if your allied with these men....."

"Sorry and woman. And leave one of your weapon's here, so it looks like we dragged you away. If you knock him out it will make his mind drift a bit so he will not remember his last moment's of you with these people."

Draego was careful with his wording.

"Follow me there's a backway out of this town. To narrow for horse's if they ever get them back. So I suggest you follow."

Draego turned around and began to walk to the back exit in the town, staying alert for any sound's of aproaching foot soldier's.

Erunanion looked hard at the new-comer's back, which he recognises from a brief glimpse before the horse-theft.

"You have no standing in this group, stranger, nor do you have any knowledge of my plans, as far as i am aware. Who are you to command us, or to bludgeon," he gestured to the unconcious man-at-arms, "our prisoners. I challenge you to tell me what you know of us, and our goal."

He locked his eyes on the back of the stranger's head, and waited for him to turn around. To the rest of the group, he said quietly, "Keep your weapons upon you, and do not follow him if he leaves. Get ready to mount the horses and leave the town quickly. The four that Tiemmo dodged will not take long to find us."

OOC: Chaosmaker see my PM, please.

Tiemmo slides to one side and nocks an arrow, ready to loose it at Draego if the man does not explain his business properly.

OOC:Alright, so I'm to confused to remember my own name, but whatever.

IC:Vidala, one hand on her sword and the other one holding two of the horses back, looked up the street once again for any signs of the men-at-arms returning. "We'd better get out of here before they get back here", she whispered to Erunanion and eyed the stranger. "Or before he calls them back here".

"My name is Draego, I'm a Samurai, a warrior of the east. I'm sorry for the rudeness but I over heard your conversation. I would like to help. If that's alright. How I over heard I shall explain later. And I have no intention of harming any of you or calling back the men at arms. It would do niether of us any good."

Erunanion continues to look at him, but puts his hand out slowly in front of Tiemmo's arrowhead. "I have heard rumours of the people in the East, but we have not the time to talk. If you really do mean us no ill intent, then follow us. We do not have time."

He gestured to the rest of the group to mount up, and jumped into the saddle of a horse. He motioned for Draego to mount up with him.

Lathran mounted one of the horses, offering Tiemmo the one he was leading. "So this is Draego", he said and nodded towards the man. Holding onto the horse with his left hand and the other one placed on his sword, he turned his horse around and quickly eyed the streets for any sign of the men-at-arms returning.

Vidala swung into the saddle of her horse. "Are we leaving now then?", she asked Erunanion and observed the man named Draego.

Tiemmo is quickly in the saddle but he hasn't forgotten the unconscious man on the floor. "Does anyone have the magic to make him forget what he saw?"

He looks around. "And if not, what are we going to do with him?"

"Don't worry his mind will be hazy. He will remember the moment slightly but he will not be positive. We should get going. And as for a ride, I got one."

Draego gave a sharp wistle and a beatiful white horse came through the barn door's. He munted the saddle.

"Shall we."