The Price of Life [open]

[Arocraes]

Quinn grunted. Attacking a girl in public would hurt his reputation, as much as he wanted to jail her. "Get out!" he boomed as he stormed off into his office.

The mercenary continued to stare down the animal until Quinn was out of the main room. By this time, the majority of worshippers had left the church, save a couple. "My name is Jacques" the mercenary said as he sheathed his weapon. "I could use your help."

[JackieCat]

Kirl looked after Quinn as he stormed away, slight amusement on her face, as well as a sort of sadness.

She frowned at the mercenary when he spoke to her. "And why would you need my help?  It seems your boss has had enough of me."

[Arocraes]

Jacques chuckled at that assertion. "My boss" he mockingly repeated. "He's nothing but a delusional, power hungry hypocrite." His eyes shifted to each side, to see if anyone of importance was within earshot. "I cannot say more right now, but if you are interested meet me at The Green Tongue, 10 blocks south of here. My friends and I are having our weekly meeting." Jacques said that as he walked away, following where Quinn had left, hoping that he would see the girl again soon.

[JackieCat]

Well, this Jacques didn't seem to like his employer very much, and Kirl nodded as he spoke before he walked away.
_____________

Kirl didn't know what time she was supposed to meet the mercenary at The Green Tongue, but it was getting late in the day as it was, so the teenage girl made her way to the place.  Entering, some people gave her, and especially Oax, some dirty looks, but she ignored them and found a table.  She sat down, Oax sitting next to her, leaning against her leg, and waited.

[Arocraes]

As dusk settled in, Father Griffin began penning letters to several church officials; including Bishop Dupont.

Your Eminence; it seems that the sins of mankind are mocking me. Today I was assaulted and chastised for carrying out my duty--all by a witch who controlled a rabid beast with magic. However, I could not retaliate given that the situation occurred within our holy church and would disturb our devoted brothers and sisters. I pray to Ansgar that this witch be put to justice, but I humbly request your assistance. 

As Quinn completed the letter to the Bishop, he relaxed in his wooden chair as he reflected on the events of the day. In front of him was a large wooden desk positioned at the back wall of the small room. The room itself did not have an impressive decor, with just a couple of glass stained windows, a fern at the corner of the room, and several bookshelves lining the cobblestone walls containing important documents. He sighed as he gently shut his eyes, attempting to get a little bit of rest.


"Hey girl!" shouted Jacques from across the tavern. He was now dressed in ordinary street clothes as he stood up from a small table containing three other men. "Come sit with us" he beckoned with a cheery smile.

[JackieCat]

Kirl stood up from her chair when Jacques called to her.  She walked over to the table, and she appeared relatively relaxed, but she was really quite alert, and ready to defend herself if need be.  This could all be a trick that this mercenary set up with his employer.  After all, if the priest wanted her dead, it would be must easier to have her killed here, in some random tavern, rather than in the middle of a church.  It would just be brushed off as a everyday brawl and no one would ask any questions.

"So, what;s this all about?" Kirl asked as she slid onto a seat at the table.  Oax sat down next to her, the hyena's bright, alert eyes scanning the four men before them.

[Arocraes]

"Let me get you a drink" the mercenary said as he waved to a server, not knowing how old the girl was. The bar was quite crowded at the moment, but Jacques' voice was naturally a little bit louder than the average person's. Amongst the heaps of inebriated, obnoxious men and women Jacques' voice still stood out against the rest. "I was quite impressed with your showing at the church today" he said to the girl as he chuckled. "I was just telling my buddies here about it." He looked at the small group of men next to him, who were all fixated on the hyena that sat several feet from them.

"...Anyway, we could use your help. We have been trying to bring down that vile priest and his overzealous church for months now." He looked to his comrades once again, who were still visibly uncomfortable with the hyena in the proximity. Jacques stood up and walked behind the man immediately to his side, placing his hand gently on him. "This is Karl" he said as he introduced the crimson haired, pale man, who gave a light smirk. "He and I have been working as mercenaries undercover in order to get close to Quinn." He then stood in between the two other men. One had bronze skin and white hair while the other seemed to be completely hairless, whether by choice or by genetics was unknown. "This is Harun and Kayle" Jacques said of the respective men. "Harun is one of the cooks at this tavern, and Kayle... deals in a less savory business." Jacques sat back down as he looked at the girl with a light smile. "Now that we've introduced ourselves, what's your name?"

Elsewhere, Father Griffin had finished sending his letters, and was now on his private nightly patrol. Where he was headed he was not sure, but he kept his eyes peeled for any and all sin.

[JackieCat]

"No thank you," Kirl said to the man when he offered a drink.  "I would rather be completely focused for this."

She, of course, was aware of the other men watching Oax, but she ignored them, and listened as Jacques told her of what he and the other men were trying to do.  She hoped that what they were saying was true, but she couldn't trust them, not yet anyway.  She nodded when Jacques introduced the other men.

"I'm Kirl," she said. "And this is Oax," she motioned to the hyena. "Do you have a plan, or have you just started with your mission?"

[Arocraes]

"Oh we have a plan." The man leaned in closer to the girl, and shifted his eyes from side to side before continuing. "The only reason that the church has been able to persecute whoever it wants is because the government doesn't care. With all the mage business going on the church is doing a huge favor to the government. We need to get the city and the government to align against them, any means necessary."

He paused before continuing. "Blackmail, murder, thievery--we put our morals aside yes, but it is for the greater good."

Quinn sat on a bench in a small, local park. The candlelit street lights littered the sidewalk before him as he sat there and thought. All life matters to you, huh? He wiped the barrel of his pistol as he calmed down and remembered the girl. And you think as Ansgar's servant I am to teach away the sin? In the corner of Quinn's eye he could see a young street urchin, who must have been at least 10 years old, approaching slowly. But perhaps you have a point. Who truly does know Ansgar's will? Was he vigilant about the temptations of magic, or insecure about his powerlessness against it? The boy drew closer, who was visibly hungry and weak. How can any of us pretend to know his will? Who are we to judge those we do not know in the same breath that we revere and worship those we do not know? Perhaps we once needed Ansgar and his saints to protect ourselves and instill hope in our lives. Perhaps we no longer need that. The boy finally made his way in front of Father Griffin. He must have said something, but Quinn could not hear it. He was too deep in his own thoughts.

Or perhaps there was no true Ansgar. A myth told by our fathers to disparage the sinner and fear the unknown. Quinn loaded his pistol. Perhaps he was no man, just an idea. Quinn raised his pistol forward. Perhaps I am Ansgar. Quinn fired a bullet straight into the young boy's head. He wiped the pistol with the loose handkerchief before slowly getting up and making his way back to the church.

[JackieCat]

Kirl pursed her lips, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms.

"I agree that what the church is doing is wrong," she said. "But if you stoop to murder aren't you just as bad as they are?  I mean, killing people because of what they believe?  I don't kill unless absolutely necessary, and this isn't going to change that."

[Gawfy]

That was a nice shot Janne said as he stepped out of the darkness with a scripture is his left hand.  What i'm wondering is why you shot him Janne said as he walked armor clanking as he walked close to the man. He then got on his knees and said a prayer and with that the dead boy's body had vanished into a holy pillar of light. Janne then introduced himself My name is Janne, pleasure to meet you father Quinn  He said 

[Arocraes]

Jacques scoffed. The smile that had been occupying his face now receded. "So you'd condemn hundred, thousands of lives just to save a few? Listen here little girl, people like you who think they're so high and mighty are weak." Kayle, the bald man on the far side of the table, began to smile suspiciously. "And here I thought you actually cared about the well being of this city" Jacques said, growing in anger. "Leave" he demanded, as Kayle got up as well.

Quinn snorted in amusement. Someone dares use magic in front of Ansgar himself. "It was a nice shot, would you like a taste of it first hand?" No one else was nearby this park, luckily, as the man would swiftly be attacked and arrested should he be seen to use magic in public. Quinn could see that he was well equipped with armor, so confronting him would not be the best idea. However, he had the protection of the city should a situation arise. Magic was more hated than he was. "I see you know my name." He winced slightly. He was Ansgar now, and Father Griffin no longer. However, to openly say that could be blasphemous.

[Gawfy]

You misunderstand Janne said as he pacedI saw what that girl did in your church today awfully ballsy i must say to do that infront of your congregation He started to pace slower Dont you think it is a bit odd that the blasphemers are just now starting to question you?He asked the man I know i would He saw Quinn starting to get agitated Ill cut right to the chase I believe there are some people who would like to see you die, some quite close to you actually Janne now took a coin out of his pocket Think of me as an ally, someone to level the playing field Janne smirked under his helmet

[JackieCat]

Kirl didn't move, but Oax let out a low growl as the men stood. "You can think that, I guess," she shrugged. "But simply because I don't want to kill doesn't mean I don't want to help you or the people who are being targeted by the church.  There must be another way to go about this, a way more effective than killing.  Wouldn't it be better to find a way to turn the people against the church instead of killing the leaders of the church?  If we were to just kill them, the citizens would see us as the bad guy, and perhaps even try to stop us, but if we were to find a way to make the church look bad in the people's eyes, they wouldn't support the religion anymore, and the church would fall on its own."

[Arocraes]

"You're so naive" Jacques said with disdain. "Ansgar will always be a part of our lives, but to venerate him to a point of extremism is dangerous to us all." He slammed his palms against the table. "It's either kill or be killed now. The church versus us all. You're either with us or against us." He clenched his fists as the tavern patrons continues to be rowdy and lively.

Quinn tossed the coin across the park. "I don't need nor want your help you insect." Quinn walked away, confused if the recent encounter was a dream or real life. Regardless he felt slightly unnerved. An ally? I have my own followers, my own church, my own religion. Quinn wiped his pistol off as he returned to the church.

[JackieCat]

"I do not mean make the people hate Ansgar," Kirl said. "But to make them hate the methods which some use to preach his word or to uphold his laws.  Ansgar and religion is not a bad thing, but some of the things done in the name of Ansgar and in the name of religion are horrible, and that's what we should try and make the people see."

[Gawfy]

Janne laughed and threw a small piece of parchment at his feet.If you ever change your mind go to that address. I look forward to seeing what you do next. After "IT" happens And like Janne vanished

[Arocraes]

Jacques sighed as he clenched the bridge of his nose with his two fingers. He plopped down in his seat as the two quiet men next to him watched. "Forgive me; you're right. I seemed to have lost sight of what is truly good and evil lately. The church is not bad, it's just Griffin and that Arthurian church. But with the elites in their pocket and the fear of magic, they are difficult to stop." He paused before gathering himself and stared Kirl in the eyes. "We call ourselves the Seraphim. We are ordinary people who want to see the violence and hate stop." He looked around the tavern. "Everyone here is a Seraphim. Not all know they are, and not all actively fight against Arthurianism. But all of us reject hate and bigotry." He reached his hand out to her. "Join us."

Quinn stopped in his tracks as the man disappeared. You dare use magic in my presence and call yourself an ally. As he took another step forward, he felt his foot strike something light and fragile. He looked down and found a small parchment, which he picked up and glanced at before tucking away in his coat pocket. But maybe you could be useful to me.

[JackieCat]

Kirl nodded at his apology, she understood, and she smiled, leaning forward when he asked her to join them.

"I'll help you," she said, taking his hand and shaking it briefly before sitting back. "So, do you have a plan?"

[Incognus]

Evelyn was walking down the dark street deep in thought. She was troubled by the fact that she had gotten nowhere during the meeting with the slave trader and she wondered if she'd ever return home without being empty handed. One of these days or nights, I'll find something. I have to. she thought, brushing loose strands of long brown hair from her face. BANG! Evelyn jumped as she snapped back to reality. The gunshot's loud report made her stop in her tracks. She waited, listening, but the night was silent once again, except now it was eerily so. She knew what one shot meant, someone was just executed, and it was likely another mage. Evelyn knew this stuff shouldn't be bothering her so much, she had heard quite a few gunshots recently due to the civil war ramping up. It will only get worse... I'm losing time. She fingered the gold locket around her neck nervously before it occured to her that she should get moving. Glancing around quickly, she continued on her way back to the small shack she called home, only this time at a slightly faster pace.