Spirits of the Earth

   A peaceful river in Western Connlaoth. The Mystral.
   The early morning sun peeking through the leaves of the temperate trees. Reflecting off of the ripples of the flowing water. The far western mountains of the Kilanthro range through the trees; their distant snow-capped peaks crowning the canopy of the forest. Birds singing their songs. The breeze, like the breath of the Earth, rising and falling. Swaying the branches above the dirt and the grass. The serenity of nature undisturbed.
   The river flowed.
   And flowed.
   A body. Face down. Carried along by the river. The water red all around it.
   The moment slowly dying. The wind howling now. Hinting at a coming storm.
   The body passed.
   Clothes in the water. Flowing in the wake of the body. A woman's clothes. White shirt. Brown underbust. Bracers. Boots. Pants. Socks. Underwear.
   And the river flowed.


   Sharon didn't know what to expect as she approached the old wooden shack by the river. There could be one person, or ten. A normal person, or a mage. Anything.
   But she was ready. As ready as she'd ever be. She had to do this.
   Sharon stepped up to the door of the shack. Stopped. Listened. The steady flow of the river behind her. Birds above in the trees. Nothing from inside. She glanced about her surroundings. Alone, as far as she could tell.
   She steeled herself.
   And pushed open the door. Stepped inside.
   A woman. Pretty and gentle-looking. Wearing a white robe. Standing by the far wall. She glanced up and smiled once she saw Sharon.
   "Ms. Gordon?"
   Sharon shut the door behind her. Nodded. "Yes."
   The woman stepped toward her, extending her hand. "Good to meet you in person. I'm Adelaide Ingram. From the Healer's College in Sanctuary, Adela."
   Sharon shook her hand. Smiled back. "Nice to put a face with a name."
   "Likewise. So, has Ms. Bowen told you about everything in our correspondences?"
   "Everything I need to know."
   "Okay, good. Good. I was expecting to meet with her today, but it's good to hear you're all caught up. As Siro's sister and proper guardian, meeting with you will certainly make this easier."
   Sharon took in a breath. Her chest heaving. Appearing nervous. "Will Siro be alright?"
   A reassuring tone from Adelaide. "I've done this many times before, Ms. Gordon. I promise you, nothing bad will happen to your little sister. Truth be told, I've learned a few things about smuggling  and trafficking from my brother. Unlike him, I decided to use these skills to do something good in the world. It's a shame, really, that this must be necessary. The Grand Duke Allarrick and his foolish ways. Perhaps a new day will dawn on Connlaoth, and these barbaric days of unjust persecution against mages will end. But until then, I will do what I can and help the innocent escape safely into a land where they can live their lives in peace."
   "I see."
   Adelaide tilted her head some. "You still sound nervous, Ms. Gordon. I understand. But Ms. Bowen could not have picked a better place for Siro to live than Sanctuary. We'll take good care of her, and she'll be able to freely practice and master her life magic without fear. I'd even go so far as to encourage you to move to Ketra, but, if that's too much, you'll always be free to visit when you can. Our doors are always open."
   Sharon nodded. Her gaze askew from Adelaide's. Appearing uncertain. "I just want the best for Siro, you know?"
   "Of course, Ms. Gordon. I know this has to be hard for you: parting with your sister. But, as Siro's sponsor, I'll make sure to encourage her to write you as often as possible."
   "Please do." A moment passed. Sharon said, "May I ask how you'll be getting Siro out of Reajh safely?"
   Adelaide smiled again. "Ah. I see. This is what's been troubling you. Unfortunately, for the safety of myself and your sister, I can't tell you the specifics. I can only ask that you follow my instructions, and bring Siro to the agreed upon location. But you need not worry. I'll safeguard Siro with my own life if I must."
   "You're...going to do this by yourself?"
   Adelaide nodded. "Yes. I come alone on these jobs. Not only is it easier for me to do what I need to do, but I think it makes meetings like this much less stressful for those in your position if it's only myself, unaccompanied by a room full of rough-looking men. Wouldn't you say so?"
   Sharon lightened up. Appeared amazed. "Wow. So just you then?"
   "Yes, ma'am. Just me. So, when would you like—?"
   Sharon unsheathed her dagger and lunged forward and grabbed Adelaide by the shoulder and pulled her close and rammed the blade straight into her gut. She gasped, her body tensing against Sharon's. Sharon twisted the blade and pulled it out. Stabbed her again. Again. And again. Then drove the dagger up and between her ribs and punctured her lungs. Slicing and ripping and tearing the tissue as she dragged the blade out.
   Sharon allowed Adelaide to fall away from her. Down to the floor. Blood running from her stomach, down between the creaking old wooden boards. Blood staining the front of Sharon's clothes.
   Adelaide, in a panic, tried casting a healing spell. But blood bubbled up out of her mouth. A fit of coughing. A spatter of blood to the floor. The magic fizzled away in her hand. She tried backing up. Crawling away on her elbows. But she lacked the strength.
   Sharon stepped forward. Crouched down and mounted Adelaide. Straddling her wounded stomach. She could feel the warm blood seeping into fabric of her pants.
   Adelaide looked up at her. Shock. And horror. "Why? I just wanted to help..."
   Sharon leaned forward. Grabbed a handful of Adelaide's hair with her left hand. Held her head steady. Brought the tip of the dagger to the soft skin of her neck.
   And plunged the blade down.

   The door to the shack opened. And Sharon dragged Adelaide's bloody body down to the river.
   How dare she. How dare she try and take Siro away. To a land of full of filthy mages, and to a college of magic no less. And to accuse Siro of being a mage too? Unforgivable.
   It was fortunate that Sharon happened upon one of the letters, hidden away in one of Siro's books. Intercepted the rest and started her own correspondence with Adelaide. Had she not, she might have just come home one day and Siro would have simply been gone. The only good thing in her life, just vanished without a word.
   Merissa. That bitch. She had some serious explaining to do once Sharon got back to Reajh. First Jorge betrayed Sharon's confidence with Siro, and now Merissa too? Was there anyone she could trust?
   Sharon dumped Adelaide's body into the river, and the water started to carry it away. She walked to a nearby bush and pulled out a hidden burlap bag. Set it on the ground.
   Then she started to take off her clothes. Unbuckled her belt with her holstered pistols and set it down. Unstrapped her underbust. Her bracers. Took off her shirt. Her boots. Her pants. Socks. Underwear. And all of it went into the river.
   But there was some blood on Sharon's skin.
   So she dipped a foot into the water of the river. Winced at the coldness of it. She sat down on the dirt, naked, both her feet in the water to get somewhat acclimated before she washed up.
   She looked down at her hands.
   They weren't trembling.
   And a small, dying part of her wished that they would.


   Twin Rivers was a small, cozy sort of town. A population of between three hundred and four hundred people. Mostly wooden buildings. Being relatively close to the western end of the Kilanthro mountain range, the town wasn't very flat. Practically separated into several different tiers, ascending the hilly terrain. Two small rivers flowing down from the mountains merged into one large river, the Mystral, in the center of the town, hence the name. The town also served as a trading post and a common stop for travelers going from Sirantil Valley through the western passes of the Kilanthro range and into the Niahi Woods and vice versa. Inns and lodges were a thriving business not just for these travelers, but for quite for a few wealthy nobles from Reajh and Uthlyn and from abroad that fancied a vacation to the scenic, verdant, and mountainous landscape of Western Connlaoth.
   Sharon, a fresh set of clothes on, walked through the roads of Twin Rivers and up the hills toward one such inn. A high-class place, named The Overlook. Appropriately named, and expensive, as it offered a gorgeous view of the entire town from the highest tier in the hills. The leftover money that she had from the Cerenis job bought her this luxury. For a small time.
   Sharon crossed the iconic wooden arch bridge over the conflux of the two smaller rivers into the Mystral. Smiled and nodded to a local couple as they passed her. Pretended to be a good person.
   More walking. Small shops. Homes. A few wagons rolling past her on the road. Children running by, laughing and chasing each other. An idyllic place. A certain peace that just couldn't be found in Reajh.
   Just the sort of place for a monster to hide in plain sight.
   Sharon started up the steep, narrow, winding road that led up to The Overlook. Exposed, gray rock always to one side of the road, and some sparse old, wooden railings to the other. Several carriages were parked at the base of the road, with a small stables nearby for the horses. Seemed the road—which was honestly more of a path—was too treacherous for vehicles.
   But Sharon reached the top. Passed a well-to-do nobleman and his wife and son as she entered the front doors of The Overlook. Walked through the spacious lobby and toward the door leading to the outside deck.
   The large wooden deck had an absolutely stunning view of the whole town and the Kilanthro mountains in the distance, even if the view right now was obscured. Gray clouds had gathered in the sky, and the misty haze covering most of the mountains suggested rain. A slow moving storm, likely to be over Twin Rivers within an hour or two.
   Several tables were out on the deck. And there was only one person sitting there, gazing out at the landscape. Jorge Vrouge.
   Sharon walked up to his table. Pulled out a chair and slid it next to him and sat and looked out over the town and the Valley and the mountains with him.
   "Morning, Jorge," Sharon said.
   "Mornin', love," Jorge said. He glanced at her, his mask down around his neck. She wished he had it up; she hated looking at the nasty burns on his face. "So what the fuck were you doin'? Takin' a little stroll?"
   "Something like that."
   "Shoulda told me. I'da come right the fuck along, lemme tell ya." He glanced back out over the railing of the deck and at the landscape. "Ya know, I think I'll just start savin' up my coin. Retire here. Start up a little gamblin' house or tavern or some shit. Never really thought I'd be the kinda guy who'd like a quiet place like this, but I guess we're all full of surprises, aren't we?"
   "This place isn't so quiet. You know that."
   "Well, maybe after we're all done here, it will be."
   Two weeks ago, Sharon and Jorge and were on a job here with Charles. Non-wetwork for once. Just a simple transport job. Moving a large shipment of arms and supplies. Mr. Winters was diverting resources from Twin Rivers back into Reajh. Maybe he had something big planned in the near future, maybe he didn't. Regardless, it meant that his operations in Twin Rivers would be weakened.
   And Sharon saw the opportunity she was waiting for. Their contact during that job, Halis Durandan, was the right-hand man for the local underboss. A ruthless man, known simply as Reese. She knew where Durandan lived, met him in his own house even. So she could get him to talk. Squeeze all the relevant information on Reese from him. And then go and take Reese out. With so many weapons—and possibly even men—transferred away, it should be easy. At least, easier than it would have been.
   And with Reese dead, Sharon will have made her first mark on the criminal underworld of Reajh and Connlaoth. Established a name for herself. Gained some territory. The first and most crucial steps in imposing her own brand of order on the business.
   "Did you get any responses?" Sharon asked.
   "Oh yeah, of course," Jorge said. "Just a matter of who bothers to show up."
   Sharon narrowed her eyes. A slight frustration. The caliber of these mercenaries or whoever Jorge had contacted seemed far too much up to sheer chance.
   Still, Sharon had patience. Not that she had much of a choice. She and Jorge, despite the transferring of resources away from Reese, probably wouldn't be able to take him down by themselves.
   So she entwined her fingers together. Rested her hands on her stomach. Looked over the railing and toward the distant rain in the mountains.
   Waited.
   And tried not to think about Adelaide.

Something was making loud stomping noises from below. From the deck, people could make out the vague suggestion of something in big in black...suit of sorts used for protection? One would hesitate to use the word "armor", as it would be an insult to the craft. Sitting on top of...it's, shoulder, was another, smaller green creature in what looked like rags. The smaller one was making a disgusting sound to the rhythm of the clanking.

Moments later it disappeared into the bar, down below a lot of yelling and screaming could be heard, before the loud clanking could be heard acsending the stairs...

Across the known countries of realm, there was a tale...  No, not a tale.  A legend.  They say there is a highwayman - a master thief and rogue - who performs in every way known from hold-ups to whole-sale stealing.  He was driven and dangerous, but never a desperate desperado.  He's cunning and vicious, quick and backstabbing, devious and undaunted.  He even has his own ballad, which some people - despite his drain upon the economy - will sing and tell the tale of this daring and dreadful being.

"Hello, everyone!  My name is Juggalo Jim Batmire, and I'll be your entertainment for a while!"

Gary Blight. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02ccGSFoEUs)

He was a hero to his kind, the robbing hood of who steals from everybody and gives to The Goblin Way.  What do people know about him?  Lots of things.  According to the public, Gary Blight is a goblin, which IS true, who has a height of 6'7", wielding an axe and a giant scimitar, which is NOT true.  Other accounts of him call him a wizard, a doppelganger, an imp, and - amusingly - the Grand Duke in disguise.  He is claimed to have a poison touch, teeth of gold, and balls of steel.  That last one is actually true, figuratively speaking.

Here's what's actually true, though some or all of this may not be exactly known by the public...or they may 'know' it like they 'know' he's responsible for the Connlaoth Civl War: He is a goblin of dark skin who wears an black eyemask and dark clothes.  He's very-well prepared for numerous situations and given to be a massively successful thief who mounts a Hunter Spider Queen that he calls 'Concord'.  He has robbed various places in Serendipity, Connlaoth, and Adela...and rumor would have it in other more obscure places, as well.

He's also right here, right now, in disguise.

Gary was, in fact, Jim Batmire, a short-ish bald entertainer who dresses up as a hokey Musketeer and does various forms of entertainment for money and - to his own benefit - rumors and information.  To everyone he met as Jim, he was just a funny little man who wasn't winning any beauty pagents, but seemed quite human...thanks to this convincing mask.  'Jim' was currently wandering around the bar and sometimes to the deck, strumming a guitar and making up funny tunes on the spot.  Drunks would chuckle when he occasionally messed up a line or said something hilarious.

He was really watching and listening to all things of interest, such as rumors about a local worthless human trashbag's money.  Strangely enough, this was when an orc and a fellow kinsman arrived!  Now, this was interesting...

Black Skull looked down from his perch atop the roof of the inn. He preferred showing up early when responding to 'advertisements' such as this. He liked to get a good look at who he would be dealing with.

Black Skull descended to the deck below. It was always good to be the first arrival when it came to things like this. He approached the table where the man and woman sat together.

"Who needs to die," he asked.

Gabe didn't know how she did it.  Two days ago Gabe was doing his own thing, Drinking the night away when a letter came to him. All it had written on it was The overlook's Address and a Small plea for help. Signed Sharon Gordon.  What a way to contact someone after two months. Sounds of mayhem and Mischief where just freshly made as gabe made his way into the bar. A short man playing a guitar, A man with one arm, and a Orc? Gabe chuckled to himself and wondered if they had anything to do with Sharon being here.   The Deck's door would open and Jorge and Sharon would hear a familar clack of Dress shoes on wood.

Long time no see. Gabe would say to the both of them with a smile on his face

   The payout was good. The job simple. Track and observe.
   Zhang Shin had followed the mark ever since she left Reajh. Stayed close, but not too close. Just watched from afar. Waited, perhaps, for an opportunity to arise. To get close. Mingle in. Gain her trust.
   Sharon Gordon was her name. And the Contact wanted him to keep an eye on her.

   Zhang had woken up before the sun had risen. Staked out The Overlook from far below until, at first light, he saw Sharon descending the path down sheer hillside. She had a burlap bag slung over her shoulder.
   Someone was up early. And heading out somewhere.
   Zhang followed her covertly. Out from Twin Rivers. Off the road and along the Mystral River until she came to a small, abandoned shack. Sharon set the bag down in a bush, making sure it was hidden. And she walked up to the shack. Stopped to listen. Glanced around. Zhang carefully edged back around the thick tree he was observing from.
   And she entered.
   After some time, she came back out. Dragging a woman's body.
   Zhang's eyes narrowed slightly. Unexpected. He thought of his own sins. His own transgressions against the innocent. The price he himself would have to pay. One day.
   Sharon discarded the body in the river. Stripped naked. Sat down by the edge of the water and waited for some time.
   Zhang watched quietly as she washed the woman's blood from her skin. Watched her get dressed again. Set off back in the direction she had come. Toward Zhang.
   He crouched down behind the tree. Held his breath. Stayed perfectly still.
   And Sharon passed by. Not even fifteen feet from him. Oblivious to his presence.
   When she was out of sight, Zhang stood up. Walked back up to the nearby road and made his way back to Twin Rivers.


   The still quiet of the morning (when it wasn't occasionally interrupted by some short, bald bard making the rounds about the inn) soon gave way to the loud stomping and clanking below the deck. Clearly, that was no vacationing noble. Sharon stood up from her seat and took a few steps forward to the railing of the deck and looked down.
   The deck was positioned such that it was on the very edge of the cliff-like drop down to the rest of the town. A good vantage point to see the winding path that led up to The Overlook. And what Sharon saw made her scowl and cringe. There was no way. No way those filthy green things were coming up here. No way they'd be allowed—and they just entered the inn. Seemed to be causing a ruckus with their mere presence, presumably in the bar next to the lobby. Goddamn it.
   Sharon turned her head slowly. Glared back at Jorge.
   "You cannot be serious."
   Jorge almost laughed out loud. A stifled noise in his throat as he held it back. "What's the matter, love? You wanna pick a fight with a big-time underboss, right? Gonna need all the help we can get."
   "I swear to god, Jorge."
   "You ain't ever seen an orc before or somethin'? You really need to get outta Connlaoth more."
   Pure exasperation from Sharon. "I swear to fucking god, Jorge."
   "Well, if you don't like the orc, maybe you'll like him."
   "Who?"
   "Him. Guy right behind ya."
   Sharon twisted her body and turned her head a little more. Then her eyes snapped wide open when she saw the dark, one-armed man approaching them. On a reflex, she yelped in surprise and spun around and drew her main pistol and pointed it at him.
   "Easy, Sharon, easy. He's one of the guys here for the job. Name's Black Skull. Just Black Skull, if you were wonderin', love."
   Sharon breathed a sigh of relief and holstered her gun. This man, Black Skull, seemed to get right to the point, asking her directly who she was after. "We'll talk. In a moment. Just...knock or say hello or something next time, would you?"
   Then, finally, a face Sharon was glad to see. The door to the deck swung open, and out came Gabe. A veteran of the battle at Cerenis. One of the small number of people Sharon felt she could trust.
   She returned the smile. "Gabe! Good to see you again. I was a little worried the courier might not find you in time. How have you been?"

"OI!" Came a loud holler, it was from the orc in black, the goblin on its shoulder laughing like a manic to the rock the orc produced with each step. "Dis suppose ta be you!?"

The orc was holding a massive, one might add crude, great axe. But in the other he held in front of him a paper, upside down, scribbled upside down was the words "muffins".

Turns out he had held the wrong paper, the same paper he got right before that pesky courier literally slammed into him. After literally shaking the courier by his leg, Zaggit found a paper meant for some big shot mecnary, and the courier had skittishly explained what was it about.

Needless to say, the courier had him at the word fight.

Black Skull hadn't even flinched when Sharon had pointed the gun at him. When she told him they would talk later he figured it was because they were waiting for the others who were undoubtedly also interested in the job. It was then that he heard footsteps way too heavy to be human. He turned and saw the orc and was immediately displeased.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," he muttered and turned to Sharon and Jorge.

"You don't expect me to work with that slackjawed brute, do you?"

So, as it appeared, here was an unusual gathering of fellows over on the deck overlooking the territory of The Overlook.  That much was interesting, even made him wonder what they were up to.  Actually, he wondered...  Could it be the same as he?  Maybe.  However, the more pressing and immediate matter was that of the orc and the goblin who had disrupted his playing with a shout, and paper, and a question.  Gary - or rather Jim - couldn't help himself, and came over.

"What's this?"

He looked at the paper, smiling, then called out.

"Muffins!  Muffins!  Has anybody seen Muffins?!  Does anyone know the Muffin Man?!"

There was...no reply.  This was a high-class joint.  Nobody here was going to go by the monniker of 'Muffins'.  Jim looked over at the orc and the goblin rider.

"Nice mount, fella.  I think, perhaps, you want those people on deck, over there.  The one with the one-armed bandit and so forth."

As good as i could be i suppose, Getting in petty fights and drinking mostly. Believe  it or not i still haven't lost my pay from 2 months ago gambling. He said as he turned to Jorge. Now Fuckin hell That aint Jorgie is it? He said playfully as he  went in for a hug.  God All we need now is Charles and Rains and the gang would be back together for another mission. Gabe's  laugh was the only one was Sharon looked at the floor and Jorge seemed visibly  Uncomfortable  What? Gabe would ask them as they stood there.

"Wot!?" The orc shouted at the top of his lungs as he looked at the paper he was holding. The orc couldn't really read "cvilized" languages, and was blankly staring at the paper. It was only when the goblin on his shoulder whispered into the orc's ears did the big greenskin emote.

"Muffinz! 'Ere!" The orc yelled at the top of his lungs, the fight more then forgotten.

"Of ova dere boss!" The goblin on the orc's shoulder crackled like a maniac as he pointed at the group at the deck.

"MUFFINZ" the orc yelled as he raised his great axe into he air with one hand and began clanking over to the group with the goblin hanging on.

   Time to move in.
   Zhang had observed Sharon and her associate, a man named Jorge Vrouge, from down below in the town. They sat on the deck of The Overlook together. Looked to talk to one another briefly. Then simply waited.
   Perhaps he was reading to much into it. Sharon's actions back at the abandoned shack suggested that she wouldn't be staying in Twin Rivers for much longer; that she would soon do what she had come to do. But the possibility remained: he could be wrong.
   A cautious approach was necessary. Learn as much as possible from afar.
   As Zhang made his way to the winding path leading up to the inn, a loud orc clad in massive armor was already halfway up it. Curious. Not the type that would be going to a place like The Overlook all of his own accord. Bidden by something or someone. Perhaps Sharon. Perhaps not.
   Zhang entered the inn. Stood for a moment in the lobby and listened to the orc shout something...odd. A short bald man in a funny outfit directed the orc out onto the deck, and the orc clanked and clattered his way out there to join Sharon, Jorge, a one-armed man in black, and a shirtless man with an intricate dragon tattoo.
   Zhang looked out from the large windows of the lobby at the deck. Then he approached the short bald man, still gazing at the group through the windows.
   Said, "A strange bunch there. Seems...out of place."

   Jorge had grinned and stood as soon as he heard Gabe's voice. Well, how 'bout that? A right proper stroke of luck: Sharon actually got a hold of him.
   "Fuckin' hell, mate, if it ain't ol' Gabe himself in the flesh! Come 'ere, you!" Jorge said as he spread out his arms and returned Gabe's friendly hug, clapping him on the back a few times as he did.
   Sharon, despite herself, seemed a bit jealous as the two men embraced.
   Jorge pulled back. Heard Gabe's next comment, and his grin faded away. Sharon averted her eyes.
   What?
   And Jorge cleared his throat in an awkward way. "Jessos is dead, mate. Murdered a few weeks back. And her fuckin' killer is still out there."
   No time for a solemn moment.
   The loud green monster who had clamored his way up to The Overlook stomped out onto the deck—by some unholy miracle managing to fit through the doorway.
   Sharon laid a hand on her pistol as the "orc", or whatever sort of freakish species it was supposed to be, approached, its weapon raised high above its head. She glanced at Black Skull—she was starting to like the man already. Despite the initial prejudiced misgivings that crossed her mind about his lack of a left arm, she'd work with him any day of the week over the green foreign filth that Jorge had scrounged up. And, god, that fucking inhuman stench.
   "Believe me," Sharon said to Black Skull. "I'm not thrilled about this either."
   Jorge was far less apprehensive about the big orc than Sharon. And, keen on diverting the subject away from Jessos Rains' murder, said to him, "Guessin' you're that Ugdanak Badaxe fellow, eh? And that's Zaggit? Lovely. Sharon, Ugdanak. Ugdanak, Sharon."
   Sharon didn't say anything. Just glared at the orc. Her hand still on her holstered pistol.
   Jorge continued, "Well, ya got the right place but the wrong note in your hand, mate. Ain't no muffins here."
   "Tell me this is all," Sharon said to Jorge, not taking her eyes off of the orc.
   "Maybe, love. Think so. Should, uh...should we move this to the room then?"
   Ugh. That's right. Sharon had planned on discussing the details in the room she and Jorge had purchased for their stay in Twin Rivers. Jorge just would go and recruit some disgusting freak like this Ugdanak beast. She could barely stand the creature now, and she found it hard to imagine that she'd be able to sleep comfortably tonight if it infected the room with its foul stink.
   Sharon didn't answer Jorge's question. Instead, she spoke to the orc. An unwelcoming tone of voice. "Why are you here?"
   She wanted a reason, any reason, to dismiss the vile beast and send it back to whatever hole it crawled out from.

Shit.... Was all Gabe could mutter as he heard the news. To think that the walking Force of nature known as Jessos rains could be murdered. Sent a chill up his spine just thinking about it.
Luckily the orc barged in Destroying the awkwardness he has just kicked up.
Wholly shit Jorge, Where the fuck do you find people like this?! Gabe said ecstatically as he saw the gargantuan being. Gabe then waltzed over to Sharon throwing his arm around her tense body.
Cmon Sharon it aint every day a orc comes up to you wanting to help our noble cause. Besides our team could use a bit more muscle! At this point it sounded like less of him making a point and more of gabe begging Sharon to let him see the Orc in action. Wait a minute,What is our noble cause here? Gabe said as he turned to Sharon wearing a more stern look. You mentioned in your letter we where doing another raid.Usually we go to Sir elf dick's estate get briefed then get paid. Whats the deal here? He asked

"I hope whatever you had planned doesn't involve stealth," Black Skull commented to Sharon. "Orcs have no clue what the word even means."

If this was, in fact, a stealth mission then maybe they would send the orc away. On the other hand, if they felt his brute strength was necessary then they must have some big plans. At least Sharon shared his disapproval of the green beast. Getting along with your employer based on common ground such as that was good for business.

It seemed to take an effort, but the curious twosome did find their way to the deck, as indicated.  Gary watched them head over there, the orc declaring 'Muffins' still.  Shame, really.  It was hard for The Man Who Would Be Jim to accept that not everyone was as learned - out of necessity, mostly - as he was.  Ah well.  So, while he was getting an idea of how many of them had any magic - Basically a case of 'not many' or 'not much' - a new fellow came by and spoke to him.

"Oh yes, I agree.  Definitely not the sort of people you find in an establishment such as this."

He gave the stranger a smile.

"Part of the party or just an interested party yourself?  I know I'm interested, but that's just my insatiable curiosity talking."

Yes...  He had to find out if they were around to do some of the same things he was planning.  So far, he could just hear a bit here and a bit there...because his assistance to the orc and goblin had gotten him semi-within-earshot.

"Iz come 'ere fere da muffinz, an' iz alwayz git me muffinz." The orc said in his deep cockneyish voice, as he bent down and began to move his "helmet" face inches from Sharon's face , to the point where full gusts of foul smelling stench were bombarding the women's face, before the orc shouted "W'EREZ DA MUFFINZ!"

Meanwhile Zaggit had scurried off of the massive orc, and was now tugging at a piece of paper attached to the orc's belt. What writing that was visible indicating something of a "muscle needed" help poster.

Seemed the big greenskin was preoccupied with thoughts of food, the small greenskin had thoughts of fighting.

   Zhang listened. The short man didn't seem to know for sure. Unfortunate. But now was a fragile time. An opportunity, perhaps, existed for him to get close. It came with risk, but any more delay, and the door would close on him.
   "Interested," Zhang said to the man. "I believe these are the people I've been looking for."
   And with that, Zhang casually walked toward the door to the deck. Stepped outside. Stood with his arms crossed behind his back and observed, a bit distant from the group.
   A few moments' worth of patience paid off.
   Zhang noticed the smaller greenskin reaching for a paper on the larger one's belt. A paper in the style of a bounty poster, from what he could see. The word "muscle" seemed prominent.
   And Zhang heard the tattooed man speak. Confirm the need for muscle. Mention something about an upcoming raid.
   Perhaps the Contact's suspicions were correct. Perhaps Sharon was indeed targeting Reese.
   As expected.

   Sharon hadn't taken her eyes off of the orc.
   And Black Skull was right beyond measure.
   The first part of the plan involved stealth. Fortunately, Gabe and Black Skull ought to be more than sufficient for getting Durandan to talk. After that though, for the actual assault on Reese's hideout, the big green brute could be useful. Hopefully it would die "valiantly" in the assault, using its massive bulk as a living shield against the gunfire or whatever other tricks Reese's men had up their sleeves. What a shame it would be if there was a small case of friendly fire. Happened all the time in a big, chaotic battle. Or maybe Black Skull might want a bonus payment for an extra service. He fit the bill of an assassin-type.
   There were options for dealing with the orc.
   So, for now, Sharon just replied to Black Skull with, "I'll make it work."
   Jorge grinned and shrugged. Said to Gabe, "You know me, mate. I'm a nice guy, when you get to know me. A real man of the people. Get around and such. I know lots of odd characters and the like."
   Sharon stood stock still when Gabe came up and put an arm around her. Her body only tensing more. The grip on her holstered pistol tightening, ready to draw and fire at a second's notice.
   And he was right, of course. Confirming her thoughts on the orc's usefulness during the assault on Reese's hideout. Sharon knew she wasn't in much of a position to be picky. She didn't have very many allies, especially for what she sought to accomplish in the long run.
   Gabe had another question, but Sharon never heard it. The orc had come close and stuck its ugly face only inches from her own, its breath washing over her like a hot tidal wave of filth. Sharon felt nauseated; as if the mere sight of the creature wasn't bad enough. Sickness bubbled in her stomach. She shut her eyes and pursed her lips, mustering all the willpower necessary to endure.
   Maybe Black Skull might want two bonus payments after all was said and done. One for the orc, and one for Jorge, for recruiting the damn thing in the first place.
   Still, all the brute's strength and bulk would be useless if it remained confused as to why it was even here. Especially so if it couldn't follow the simplest of orders.
   Sharon opened her eyes. Clicked the dog's head of her pistol back into the ready position. Her finger now on the hair trigger. Ready to draw. Hopefully, unlike mages, this thing could be killed by mere bullets if it came down to it. She'd prefer not to cause a scene and compromise the whole mission, but the orc might leave her no choice.
   Her heart thumped in her chest.
   "I'm only going to tell you this once," she said to the orc. "Take. A step. Back."
   Jorge glanced between Sharon, Ugdanak, Gabe, and Black Skull. Uncertain.

   And Zhang, still by the door leading back to the lobby, simply observed.

Gabe figured he could leave his question on the back burner for now as the orc shouted at them. Gabe sat there at the orc's words. "werz the muffins" He sat there confused as he goblin scurried to Sharon's poster with the words Muscle needed. Gabe snapped his fingers as it clicked. He then pointed to the orc. You are the muscle! He said as he turned to Sharon and Jorge.  I think he has been trying to say Him and his friend are the muscle.  Gabe guessed confidently. He let go of Sharon and approached the orc. Ugdanak we got people to smash and you are just the person to help, and  you to uh Zaggit was it? You guys stick with me and well make some easy money yeah?
Gabe said as he tried to defuse the tension that was in the room and calm Sharon down. Behind the orc there was another man just standing in the door way watching the group's shenanigans unfold.
Gabe cut a look then wrote him off as another person that saw the ad. 

Black Skull positioned himself behind Sharon. If things got ugly, he was going to preserve the one paying him.

Although Gary was close by, he wasn't quite so overtly trying to maintain observation and easy-listening as the other man, who was leaning on the door frame, leading out upon the deck.  He was overhearing, while doing a bit of juggling, this and that, though mostly when the voices were raised.  It didn't matter if he heard the whole of the conversation or not.  He had already decided that the suspicious lot were after something big, and the big fish in town happened to be none other than Reese.

Even if his assumptions were false, he could always get the answer out of the goblin on the orc's back.  Goblins look out for goblins, because they've got few others who would do the same.  If he asked the orc-rider what was what, he'd more than likely get the answers he sought.  That said, the orc might be getting the little guy into trouble.  The woman of the group was clearly a Connlaothian with all the prejudices therein.  He'd seen it a thousand times.  Plus, the gun was a bit of a clue, in of itself.

Gary wasn't going to act, just yet, but if those people gave him good reason to...

Meanwhile, the goblin was able to pull free the poster, tumbling over as the recoil sent him to the side. A second later the goblin was holding the poster above its head, the manic smile still present from he beginning, as it bounced up and down next to the orc yelling "boss!" over and over like a overly eager school boy.

When that failed to catch the attention of the orc, who was still staring at the women and bombarding her with his foul breath, the goblin had a brilliant idea. He ran to the nearest table and snatched something from the table, before chucking it at the head of the orc.

The item shattered upon impact on the orc's helmet, but it was less the impact and more of the noise that caught the orc's attention.

"Wot ya want!?" The orc turned it's head and shouted.

The goblin was now standing before him, holding out the poster up to him. "Look boss we'z 'ere fer a fight!"

"Fight?" The orc said, as his tiny brain took a moment to process that, before he realized. "FIGHT!"

With all thoughts of the muffin gone down the drain, the orc grabbed the goblin with one hand and held it up to Sharon. The goblin meanwhile began its manic laughing again, as he held up one of Jorge's poster.

"Iz 'eard dere waz a fight in town!" The orc's normal talking volume was a kin to a normal human yelling. "An' we'z want in!"

Oh goodness.

Raizel glanced around, eyes bright blue. Sure she was a little late to the party but... It was tempting to turn right back around and leave. What a mess of people this was. Aki perched himself somewhere on a wall, watching. Waiting. Raizel glanced up at the raven and frowned at him - no doubt he was looking for food bits to steal.

Either way. Her pockets were empty, her sword was thirsty and her hands were itchy.

"I take it I'm late?" She spoke to the figure by the door, glancing at him. She'd snuck in behind him, deciding that the quiet one was the bet. The quiet one not trying to look like he'd killed before. A slight frown as she looked around, head tilting slightly. Hood was down, hair hanging around her face, hiding her slightly pointy ears. Maybe this hadn't been a good idea.  A quick roll of her shoulders and she watched the hot mess do it's thing. "I wander all the way from Adela and I find myself here," She mused with a small smile, voice low, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

At least it would be entertaining. For now.

   Zhang glanced over at the new woman. Seemed to be another interested party in Sharon's gathering. A favorable turn of events, that Sharon had managed to amass a number of people for her endeavor. Each new person could call more attention away from him. Make it easier for Zhang to blend in. Allow him to simply get close, participate, and not be asked too many questions.
   A curious detail. Had Sharon reached as far as Adela for aid? Or was this new woman already in-country when she caught wind of this?
   He said, "Only as late as I am."

   The combined efforts of Gabe and the little green shit got the beast back on the right idea.
   Sharon couldn't hold back a small groan as the orc practically shouted about the fight and wanting in. At the very least, Twin Rivers wasn't as populated as Reajh: less ears overall. But she had no idea how far the creature's bellowing voice would carry, especially up here on the deck of The Overlook, so high above the rest of town.
   Still, the beast was more than eager, and certainly had its use as an effective battering ram against Reese's defenses, if nothing else. And Sharon felt far more comfortable tolerating it with Black Skull and Gabe watching her back—just in case the thing decided to turn on her for some reason.
   Sharon thumbed the dog's head of her pistol forward, back into the safe position, and relaxed her hand from the handle.
   And she finally noticed the jacketed man with the black hair and the woman with the bright blue eyes and the sword standing by the door.
   Time to get the plan in motion. One, before the loud mouth orc compromised the entire thing, and two, because she simply wouldn't be able to afford to pay any more mercenaries that showed up. The payout from the Cerenis job had been substantial, but some of it went to living expenses, to Volkhard and Otto, and the rest would be for this: paying the small group of sellswords/assassins she had been hoping for. This venture would break her financially, and she'd be living job to job again immediately afterwards, but it was worth it. Of course it was.
   "Alright," Sharon said in general to those gathered on the deck. "Let's talk specifics. In my room."
   She glanced at the little orc in Ugdanak's massive hand. Zag...something. Zaggit. That sounded base and brutish enough to be its name. It definitely seemed to be the smarter of the two.
   "You can come. Tell your friend..."
   She looked back to Jorge, who said, "Ugdanak."
   "Ugdanak, here, to go and do...whatever it is that he does for an hour or so. Ugdanak is...not required to attend. And then you can let him know when the fight is going to be."
   Sharon eyed the man and the woman by the door again. Met eyes with Jorge, who nodded. He got it.
   And Sharon walked across the deck. Then through the door and back into the inn.

   Jorge walked up to the man and the woman. Maybe they were like Sharon and Black Skull; put off by the orc and his goblin companion. Seemed like only Gabe appreciated the brilliance of getting an orc's help for a big slobberknocker of a battle. Good ol' Gabe, what a guy.
   Jorge said to the two, "You here for the job, then?"
   "Yes," said the man. "My name is Zhang. I saw one of those posters on a bounty board. I'm in."
   "Right. Good shit, good shit. Follow Sharon and the rest of the bunch."
   Jorge looked to the woman with the—holy shit, her eyes were really blue up close. Said, "Well, how 'bout you then, love?"

   The Overlook was a big inn with big rooms. The lavishly decorated and well-furnished rooms needed to live up to the demanding expectations of their typically wealthy and noble clientele, and Sharon's was no different. A good thing, considering the number of people that needed to fit inside comfortably. A room at a cheaper inn, like a lot of the ones in Reajh or out in the towns smaller than Twin Rivers on the road, would've been a horrible place to conduct such a meeting.
   Through a couple hallways, up a flight of stairs, down another hallway on the second floor, and finally Sharon got to her room and pulled out the key and opened it and stepped inside.
   Two large beds, a polished circular table with a chairs, two sofas sharing a low table in front of them by the corner. There was no shortage of places to sit.
   Zhang entered the room shortly after Sharon did. Took a seat on one of the sofas. A quiet man.
   Sharon opted to stand. Walked over to one of the three large windows in the room. Crossed her arms and looked out through the glass.
   The storm that had been brewing over the Kilanthro mountains was getting close to town.
   Sharon thought of Cerenis. Of Deegan. Of the dungeon. Of the innocent girls.
   This was worth it. It had to be.
   The low rumble of thunder in the distance.
   As Sharon buried the spectre of Adelaide in her mind.

Gabe followed Sharon back into the inn as he breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone filed in as Sharon took her place by the window. Things where quiet as they always where before shit goes down. Hard to think what she was thinking about. Everyone took their seats or stood as they pleased. Things where silent as they where. Gabe then grabbed the low end table and dragged it to the middle of the room. His dress shoes clacked loudly as he jumped onto said table before killing the silence that perforated the room. 
Ladies and gentlemen, Thank you for making your way here today. I can guarantee your time was not wasted in coming here. I would like introduce Miss Sharon over there. Gabe said as he pointed to Sharon. One thing I would like for you to drill into your heads is that She will be paying you,and needless to say she can not do that if she catches a bullet or a blade. So do please mind our hostess. If you dont mind lets go around the room get to know each-other,  Gabe said sarcastically Really though im sure Sharon would like to know the extent of each of your abilities so she may plan accordingly.   Gabe still had no idea the extent of this raid but if it was anything like the last two it was gonna be a fucking doozy. Ill start us off. Name is Gabe and im good at hurting people. No Magic abilities to speak of. Whoever would like to speak up next please do. Gabe said as he hopped down from the table.

That fantastic display between goblin and orc seemed to have prevented any in-fighting.  Not that it would've gone well for the woman.  An armored orc like that was going to soak up a fair few bullets before going down.  And given that there was precious little magic power between them all, it would be fair to say that he could very likely kill them all before he fell.  Still, they'd managed to reach an accord, and the orc had pretty much spelled out what they were up to.

Gary was planning on getting further specifics, if he could obtain any, but he did not need them.  Simply following the group would be enough.  For now, he waited and pretended that Jim was having a bit of a drink break.  Truth be told, he was a bit parched, so why not a little ale?  Now, he was sure that the one identified as Zhang was not...exactly in on things, or he was something different.  Just a thought, nothing more.

Once everyone was away and off to their room to discuss things - plans, probably - Gary looked over at the orc who'd been left behind while the goblin was off to discuss matters.  They'd left him behind because he was a bellower, no doubt.  So, after they were gone, 'Juggalo Jim' approached the orc, drink in hand.

"Hellooo.  Could I talk with your friend after he's done with the meeting he's gone to?"

The orc gave a look between Jorge and Sharon, before looking at Zaggit, who gave the orc a manic grin and a thumbs up.

Said goblin was then promptly punted into the building by the large orc, crackling with laughter all the way.

The orc then stood they're, contemplating on what to do, probably go find a fight before this fight, least he was contemplating until he was intrupted in his contemplating when a human approached him.

"Wot you want wiv 'm dat iz kant do, 'umie" the orc breathed om the man.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He very second the room's door cracked open the goblin was already in the room, tuning it completely upside down, bouncing from bed to bed, throwing the sofa covers that wasent occupied over to the sids, opening everything and anything that could and even can't be opened, all the while snickering and giggling as he went about.

Had he been with the rest of his goblin crew, they would have taken everything that wasn't nailed down in the room, which was proabably everything. But since it was only him, he opted to find the shiniest object in the room...

Oh yeah, the fight.

When he lifted one of the cushions into the air, he realized they were speaking about him.The goblin gave a toothy grin, before saying.

"Da namez Zaggit da Nutkrusha. Ha! Iz a goblin dat kan shoot an' chop!." The goblin said, lowering the cushion to his belly. "Da boss outside, 'z Ugdanak Badaxe! Big, 'ard, black orc! Kan stomp all ya enemiez."

After that little into, the goblin went back to looking behind that cushion...

As soon as Black Skull entered the room he found the nearest corner and stood in it eerily silent. The man he'd heard referred to as Gabe got up on the table and recommended they all introduce themselves after his corny little speech. Like that was going to happen. Black Skull fully intended on maintaining his silence.

Love?

Raizel had watched the exchange silently, blue eyes gliding between the pair before those startling blue eyes were thrown to Jorge. A curious tilt of her head and she gave a little nod of confirnation. While being called Love wasnt high on her list of prefered nicknames there had been no ill intent.

"Raizel," she said after a moment, then she nodded to the Raven that was picking though what he could. "That is Aki," a simple raise of her hand and the bird flew over, finding his perch on her shoulder. Still, a glance to the fellow, a polite smile and she followed the people into the room, moving to stand off to the side to listen.

The bird peered curiously at the boy in black in the corner, while Raizel watched this... Sharon. At least whatever mess this was, was proving to be interesting. "You're not intent on hiring everyone are you?" She asked softly, glancing at the... little green rodent with distaste clear on her face.

   Jorge entered Sharon's room after Raizel. So that was her, Gabe, Black Skull, Zaggit, Zhang. Looked to be everyone, so Jorge shut the door. Locked it.
   "Sharon. Raizel, Zhang," he said, pointing to each. "They're here for the job too."

   Sharon nodded when Jorge said the names of the last two mercs to join in. Good. At least Jorge managed to scrape up some actual human beings and not more orcs or god-knows-what else. Both were armed with a sword and/or a pistol, so they probably weren't mages. Well, Jorge got the recruiting job mostly right, but it just wouldn't be Jorge if he didn't fuck some part of it up.
   And the woman, Raizel, had a question almost as soon as Jorge had closed the door.
   Seemed Sharon, Raizel, and Black Skull were all birds of a feather. Raizel's face mirrored Sharon's own when the Zag thing had started its childish rampage through her room; a job for the service workers in the inn to fix. Also, new sheets. New pillows. New every-fucking-thing Sharon's body would have to touch tonight that the green creature had the gall to put its filthy paws on.
   "Everyone here has their place," Sharon said with a forced smile. As useful as the orc might be in the assault, if push came to shove and either Raizel or Black Skull had any further objection to working with the foul creatures, then she'd cut the greenskins out of the job immediately in favor of fellow humans.
   Then Gabe pulled the low table forward and hopped onto it and kicked the meeting off. Sharon appreciated his initiative, but it seemed that only the stupid little Zag thing bothered with an introduction. The true professionals, as Sharon expected, weren't so keen on—
   "'Ey there, mates," said Jorge. "Name's Jorge, but you all probably know that by now. I got two pistols, and I miss 'bout half of my shots, so there's that. You lookin' for somebody to drink with after this, though, then I'm your guy."
   Sharon closed her eyes for a moment. An annoyed exhale through her nose. Of course it would be Jorge. Of course.
   "Thank you, Gabe," she said. Added grudgingly, "Jorge."
   "Anytime, love."
   Sharon walked over to the center of the room, near where Gabe had dragged the low table. Glanced over all assembled.
   Time to get started.
   "Greetings," she said. "I represent the interests of The Maitri. He wants a local underboss, named Reese, dead. And I'm here to ensure that happens."
   Maitri. An ancient word from a dead language. One Sharon had remembered from the old, dusty, and worn out books that her father absentmindedly tossed to her to keep her occupied when she was a child, the books she had slowly taught herself to read with. It meant a number of similar things, but above all: Order. That which brought peace and benevolence.
   And it was just as important for Sharon's hired help to hear of The Maitri—this fabricated and enigmatic figure of Sharon's own making behind which she would operate—as it was for any survivors at Reese's compound that Sharon would intentionally let go. The legend needed to grow. Spread. And this was just the first seed she would plant.
   "The job is simple. Straightforward. I don't know where exactly Reese's hideout is, but I know who does. His right-hand man, Halis Durandan, lives here in Twin Rivers. Pretends to be a normal member of the town. Handles Reese's business here. We get Durandan, and we get Reese.
   "Tomorrow morning, before sunrise and while the town is mostly asleep, we'll go and get Durandan. Gabe, Black Skull, you'll be with me. We'll get Durandan to talk. Zhang, Raizel, you'll be the lookouts on the outside."
   Zhang and Raizel looked to Sharon to be the best candidates for blending in. They could even come up with a husband-and-wife routine in the unlikely event that an early morning guard patrol or other nosy people happened upon them. Gabe and Black Skull were better suited inside Durandan's house.
   "So Durandan talks," Sharon continued, "we get him to lead us directly to Reese's hideout, we ambush his men while most of them are probably still sleeping as well, and then we get Reese. I don't have any intel on the amount of men he's got, so be ready for anything. Spoils inside Reese's hideout are free-for-all. Grab whatever you like. The important thing is that Reese dies."
   Sharon looked down to Zaggit. Unable to keep the condescending tone from her voice. "Now, I've got an important job for you. A very important one. Are you ready? I need you...to get..."
   She glanced at Jorge again.
   "Ugdanak," he said.
   "Ugdanak. I need you to get Ugdanak...tomorrow morning before sunrise...and go to the east end of town, the one with the sign that says 'Twin Rivers'...and wait. Don't do anything else. Just wait. We'll come and get you. And then you'll have that fight you want at Reese's hideout. Got that?"
   Sharon paused. Glanced over the group again.
   Her tone back to normal. "Make yourselves comfortable until tomorrow morning. Jorge can handle your payments. Half now, half when the job is done, if that's how you prefer it."
   Jorge opened the room door. Stood by it.
   Then Sharon looked to Gabe. "Gabe, can I speak to you privately, please?"

   Zhang listened to the briefing intently. Two major items of note.
   One, the Contact's suspicions were confirmed. Sharon was targeting Reese.
   And two, the Contact had wondered if Sharon was working for someone. It would seem this man known as "The Maitri" was it.
   Zhang was glad that this was the case. Had Sharon been acting alone in targeting Reese, the Contact's orders were for her to be terminated. A simple track and observe job turned assassination. For today, at least, Zhang's hands could remain clean.
   In this case, with the identity of Sharon's employer unknown, the Contact's orders were quite...different. Hard to discern. Now, Zhang's orders were to warn Reese and his men, giving them ample time to prepare a strong defense. But Zhang was to remain close to Sharon. Even participate in the attack, but he was to flee if the battle turned against them. The Contact had said that Reese was ultimately expendable, if necessary.
   Zhang stood up from his seat. Walked out the door that Jorge held open.
   He would warn Reese, as ordered. But not yet. It was too soon.
   Zhang walked to the staircase leading down to the first floor. Intent on heading to The Overlook's bar.

Gabe cracked a smile at Jorge's comment. Say what you will but the man is one hell of a character. 
Gabe then listened closely at the plan Sharon was laying out, and was immediately confused.
He shrugged it off for now but planned on bringing it up whenever he had the chance, and a chance he would have as Sharon called out to him. Yeah sure. He responded. He would follow Sharon to wherever she would deem private before speaking. Maitri, is that Winter's new handle or somthing?

Orc's breath equated to a summer's breeze to Gary Blight, so he didn't so much as flinch at the greenskin's losing battle with halitosis.  The goblin incognito just wouldn't be affected by it, considering that goblins will live virtually anywhere to be rid of pesky humans interfering in their goblin-y lives.  The 'little humie' remained passive and smiling, even as the large orc asked him what business that Gary could have that was unsuitable for the likes of him.

"Oh, there's nothing wrong with you.  Just uhh...don't shout this all over the room, alright?  I merely wanted to get in touch with...my own kind."

Gary was standing in a spot that put his back to the now-empty deck and with the orc blocking the line of sight of anybody else in the room.  He also wasn't talking loudly either.  This was all in effort to show big, tall, and greeny that the gloves he was wearing hid inhuman hands, and to momentarily stretch the mask he was wearing to show that he was in disguise.  The orc would certainly see his yellow eyes more clearly.

"I'm not a humie, I'm a friend.  If you and your friend help me, you'll not only get that fight you're looking for...but alot of money, as well, from pilfering Reese's fortunes."

He had no idea if an orc that large and potentially destructive even cared for money, but he generally had a goblin on his back, and goblins like things.  If he snagged a huge wad of cash for his rider, that would be fine, surely.  Gary waited to see if the orc was interested or not, making sure to replace his glove and such.

So that was the plan. It seemed straightforward enough. Infiltration and interrogation were two things Black Skull was good at. As for storming a base? Killing men in their sleep was easy, but a brawl was a bit more iffy. Black Skull was capable of handling a single opponent just fine, but fighting multiple opponents simultaneously showed just how handicapped he was having only one arm. He would have to tread carefully and try to pick off stragglers closer to the edges of the fight. The rampaging orc would make doing so a bit easier.

With the meeting concluded, Black Skull left the inn entirely. He wasn't going to be sleeping there. He was going to camp out in the woods and return at the appointed time in the morning.

In the end, the goblin settled with stealing a shiny candle post, as he ran out of the room holding up his loot with his tongue flying hap hazardously out of his mouth and only half the information from the meeting. The goblin hurtled at the orc and so-called human with great speed.

The orc, meanwhile, was scratching his chin in a bit of confusion. "You'z want ta touch ya own kind? Iz don't know wot you'z 'umiez up to all dey, but if ya want ya touch ya touch ya own kind den dere are a lot of ova 'umiez 'ere..."

It took a moment for the rest of the information to reach the orc's conscious. "Oh! You'z one of uz!" The orc boomed, before the part about not shouting it to the room reached his brain as well.

Crouching down, the orc lowered his volume to normal human talking volume "But ya don't look like one of uz? You'z not green, an' You'z skin Iz all', ur, 'umie kolor. You'z surez youz not a 'umie?" The orc scratched his head. Maybe this human hit his head on a rock, or a rock hit it, either way some sort of violent upslapped might have made this human think like a goblin,-ish. Happen to that one orc in the klan, now the orc thinks like a human!

Raizel rolled her shoulders. Interested. Confused. This was something much deeper than she was counting on. More interesting. A calculating look to Sharon and then Zhang. Being quiet was key.

Aki gave another look around the room before he made his way back to Raizel's shoulder. Then... The mini-meeting was over. A mob. Some underground Connlaothian mob. Raizel frowned softly, her spine tingling. A nod of her head to Sharon. A quiet understanding.

Then she was out of the room.

Heading towards the bar, intent on finding herself a drink. Because Raizel wasn't about to converse with a green rabid rodent and the strange quiet boy had practically disappeared, she caught Zhangs shoulder before he poofed from her sight completely.

"Is this a common theme in this country?" She asked him, bird tilting his head curiously to the.man. "I thought crime would be low in such a God fearing section of the world."

   Sharon smiled a little in response to Gabe's question. "No. Not quite." Then, to Jorge, "Can you get the door?"
   "Alright, then." Jorge swung the door halfway shut on his way out. Poked his head back in momentarily. "Take your time, Sharon. You do got all night, don't ya?" A suggestive wink.
   Followed by an immediate flushing of Sharon's cheeks. "Get. Out."
   Jorge chuckled. But closed the door. Leaving Gabe and Sharon alone in the room.
   A moment as the quiet settled in. Small drops of rain on the windows. Streaking down the glass. The vanguard of the approaching gray clouds.
   Sharon sighed. Put her hands on her hips and looked down and away for a second. It wasn't easy to say this. To dredge up the memories of it and make Gabe relive them, even if for such a short time.
   But it needed to be done.
   "You have to know why I'm doing this. You might already." She looked back up to Gabe. "Back in Cerenis, when I saw those little girls and the hell they'd been through...I imagined Siro could have easily ended up just like them. Maybe not in Deegan's dungeon, but in some other godforsaken place. I couldn't stand the thought of it, and I...I needed to do something."
   Sharon took a few steps. Back and forth by the low table. "That's why I saved Jessos. Well, tried, at least. I wanted her help, but now I have to make do without it."
   She stopped. Hooked her thumbs down into her belt. A familiar stance. "I want to establish some semblance of order in Reajh's criminal underworld. Just killing men like Deegan and Reese won't work; new ones will pop up to fill the power void. No, if you want real, lasting change...you have to take over. Take control. You know as well as I do that as long as there's desperation and struggle and suffering in this world, people will to turn to a vice of some kind for relief. Be that booze or drugs or whatever the hell Jorge is into these days. And if the demand won't go away, neither will the supply. That's just the way the world works. The only thing you can hope for is some level of order and decency in the suppliers, the criminals who are always going to exist. And that's what The Maitri is, and why I'm working for him. He's the order the underworld needs."
   Sharon paused for a moment. Took in a slow breath through her nose. Her stance tensing a bit. Said, "So you know where this is going, don't you? If The Maitri wants to take over, then eventually he'll have to go after Mr. Winters. And Charles built his whole career, his whole life, working for Mr. Winters. If Charles is anything, he's loyal to a fault. Maybe he'd understand why I'm doing this—maybe—but it wouldn't matter. I'm pretty damn sure that Charles won't come around to the idea of switching sides unless it's absolutely clear that Mr. Winter's empire is finished."
   Sharon walked over to Gabe and looked up to him and clapped her hands onto the sides of his shoulders. "So you can't tell him what I'm doing or who I'm really working for now. I'm serious. Don't. Under any circumstances. It'd be dangerous for both me and him. Okay?"

   Zhang heard the orc shouting something as soon as he reached the first floor from the stairs. Didn't pay any attention to it. That is simply what most orcs did. Shout. And fight. Little value in either.
   Zhang walked back through the hallway and to the lobby.
   Several of the noble guests of the inn were walking in a wide berth around the orc. Confused as to its presence. The innkeeper at the front desk of the lobby seemed incredibly agitated by the whole ordeal.
   Surely a hint of desperation, or lack of more suitable allies on Sharon's part, to rely on the such a crude creature for aid.
   But someone touched Zhang's shoulder as he stood there. He glanced to his side. The blue-eyed woman. The Adelan. Raizel. And a question.
   "Fear alone seems an insufficient deterrent. That, or the God believed in is either dead, impotent, or callous." A slight pause. "If I had to guess, I would say impotent."

   Jorge went right past Raizel and Zhang and the unmistakable Ugdanak and straight into the bar. With the coming storm, a number of the inn patrons were here instead of outside enjoying the sights. Classy joint, this bar, and all the fine folks in it. The kind that didn't very much care for the loud orc out in the lobby or a guy with a burnt mug in their establishment.
   Jorge strolled right up the counter and plopped down some coins from his pocket and grinned at the bartender.
   "Just keep 'em comin', mate."


(((Everybody okay with me prepping a time skip to the following morning next post, then time-skipping in the one after? Could work, but Elekta/Wrath may need a few back-and-forth posts before then to hash out things between their characters.)))

[OOC: Once I feel Gary has either gotten through to them or has to make a hasty retreat, you can timeskip.]

Oh, how did he know he shouldn't have used that expression, or ANY expression, around the orc.  They don't really go for that kind of talk, but Gary had to 'speako the lingo' to get humans to hand over their valuables without much fuss.  The best way was to be dazzlingly dangerous and quick with the witty word.  Still, as the other goblin bounced back into play, he made some progress...sort of.  The orc still thought he was human.  Good gods, this disguise was something else, wasn't it?  Gary quickly removed his mask and showed his goblin-y face for a moment.

"Boo."

Once replaced, and once the orc and goblin had had their reaction, he laid it on the line, speaking low

"I'm Gary Blight.  I help goblinkind and those that help them.  You're after Reese, I think.  So am I.  But I am largely after his gold and valuables to spread among our kind.  If you help me gather alot and keep it away from those humans, there will be much to split down the middle."

Oooh...  An offer to grab loads of goods for a fifty-fifty split, and if either of them had heard of Gary Blight - Big likelyhood for Zaggit - then they'd have good reason to believe his offer.

(OOC: I'm good with a time skip. I don't have anything to add until morning when Black Skull can get down to business.)

What? Gabe said confused as the soft pitter patter of rain started to get ever so harder.
He sat down on one of the sofas as he took it all in. His earlier question now answered.
Sharon you remember the raids we had to go on against Deegan right? Hell i dont know what kinda work you had to do for winters but workin as a part timer it was fuckin down and dirty. Now everything has just calmed down and now this "Maitri" character wants to throw more wood on fire.  Gabe shook his head. To think they where just freed from the fighting in the raids,bombs in carriages and all of the blood in the streets.
Still Gabe could not deny she made vaild points. He sat there in silence for awhile before speaking again
Sharon.
Gabe thought back to the Girls they found. Thought back to all the horrible shit his brothers and sisters had to do to stay alive.
Do you really think this Maitri can end all of this horrible shit that goes on in our line of work?
Gabe thought of the men screaming as he killed them in the last raid.
The sound of their bones breaking.
Their Screeches as they realized a blade was going to end them.
All of the men that had died by his hand
Gabe then stood up as he walked back over to Sharon. Shit it was just like her to do somthing like this. First with jumping out of that elf bastard's carriage to get Rains. Now this. Both times ending up a miracle they both lived from it.

Ill trust your judgement. If This maitri can really pull something like this off ill help him with his cause, and you as well.  Gabe said as he stood up. I wont tell Charles either.  He said as she clapped her hands on him. He returned the notion with a hug of his own.
By the way good to see you aint dead, and i plan on keepin it that way
(OOC yeah time skip sounds good)

 The orc's first instinct was to bring out his fist at the new goblin, but unfortunately it was caught by the speeding Zaggit, as the goblin still clinging onto the candlestand flipped to the side and slid against the floor.

A few seconds later the goblin was on its feet, now a bit miffed about being punched in the face, as it went over to the orc and began yelling at him, banging his newly acquired loot against the orc's armor. The orc in turn began yelling at the goblin, raising his axe into the air and shaking it menacingly.

They only stop yelling when both of them heard the new goblin speak.

Zaggit seemed content after the words gold and valuables, making no comment on the name, but didn't hear anything after that. The orc meanwhile had an objection. "Wot 'bout da fight!?"

Those words snapped Zaggit out of his momentary trans. "Zog, dem 'umies told uz ta stand at 'ere dem two rivaz ar. Told uz dey git us fer da fight."

"Wot!? Wotz we'd do until den!?" Exclaimed the orc.

The goblin shrugged. "We'z kan go see if deer ar anyfin' gud ta stomp in the forezt."

"Huhu, dat a gud idea." The orc said with a low chuckle, before looking back over to Gary. "You'z want in gobbo?"

[Good to go for the time skip.]

The shouting and the commotion seemed to have an advantageous effect on anyone around.  Most people didn't seem to want to get near, what with the goblin and the orc carrying on before him.  It was one of those distractions that was too loud to ignore, but too loud to approach, as well.  It damn-well worked to his favor, at least for now.  So, the alliance had been set, or well enough that they seemed to be okay with his being a part of the attack on Reese.  Good, good...  Now, however, they wanted to go out and find something to kill, wondering if he wanted to be along.

"Why not?  I'm hungry."

He stepped back so that he was getting out onto the deck.

"I'll meet you down there.  I just need to change."

He suddenly leapt up, snagged the overhang for the roof, and was heard to clamber up it, where he would change out of his disguise in relative privacy, back into the normal attire of Gary Blight, no human mask or disguise, just his usual bandit mask.  So yes, he'd be joining Zaggit and Ugdanak in a romp in the forest, talk a bit of business about the following day and the attack, and probably introduce them to his steed, Concord, who would be helping out with the work to come.

[OOC: We can go now.]

(((Got the go ahead from Draconian too. Time skipping in this post.)))


   Gabe seemed unsure at first. A tremor of worry as Sharon considered what he had said. More wood on the fire. More blood, more violence. More innocent lives gone; more Emogenes, who would simply be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
   Adelaide.
   And even when she had it, the power and the control she sought, it wouldn't be over. It would be an ordered carnage, but still carnage. Those who broke her rules would have to be put down, those who made power plays against her would have to be put down, those who attempted to compromise her operations to the Reajh guard would have to be put down. Quickly. Violently. Enough to send a powerful message to others with similar ideas. A message that, if she were lucky, might buy her a small time of peace, before the next crackdown was necessary.
   But the alternative was Deegan, and men like him. Unrestrained. And the abuses and atrocities they would commit. That they were committing right now.
   Sharon took heart when he came around to the idea. Smiled and embraced him as he came close. An encouraging warmth in her chest.
   "Thank you, Gabe," she said. "Good to know you've got my back."
   And she closed her eyes. Savored the moment. One of the few in her life she could cherish.


   Rain fell on a small abandoned fort in the foothills of the Kilanthro mountains.
   Reese walked into the underground dungeon of the fort. Two metal hooks in his right hand. He sung a ballad to himself as he walked. Taking his time. He wore only pants. A big man, bristling with muscle. Close-cut hair, piercing hazel eyes. A massive black tattoo on his chest and stomach: that of the Circled Snake. Eating its own tail.
   A lantern hanging from the ceiling of the room. A man, naked and bound by chains at the wrists and ankles to the wall. He had a name. Once.
   The man looked fearfully to Reese. "Please. I have a family."
   Reese stopped. Stood in front of the man. "Do you know why you're here?"
   "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have stolen from Mr. Winters. I just needed to make ends—"
   "No. Ask me."
   "What?"
   "Ask me why you're here, and I will tell you the truth."
   "Listen to me, listen, it won't happen again—"
   Reese brought up his left hand. Laid it gently over the man's entire face. Spread his fingers so he could see through them.
   "Ask me."
   "W...why am I here?"
   Reese let his hand slide down the man's face. "Because you have always been here. And now you are here again. You've lived this moment countless times before. And the last time was merciful. This time, it will be worse. The next, worse still."
   The man's lips trembled. "What?"
   "We cannot see the cage we are born into. It is shrouded from our eyes. Disguised as dirt and grass and trees and sky. And there is no escape from it. Our eternal prison."
   The man's arms and legs shook as Reese grabbed hold of his chin and forced his mouth open. "No, no, no—!"
   Reese slid one of the hooks into the man's mouth and jerked it down. The pointed end tore through the man's tongue and the bottom of his mouth and burst out of the skin beneath his chin. Blood dripped to the floor as the man cried out. Reese slid the other hook inside the man's mouth on the other side. Punctured the soft flesh in the same way.
   Reese grabbed two thin ropes from the table on his right. Secured them to the bottom of the hooks. Then tied them to twin loops of iron on the floor. Made sure the ropes were taut.
   And Reese looked back to the table. Grabbed a pair of crude iron pliers.
   "Samsara is the name of this prison. The gilded cage for all who live and die. And it knows only one King."
   Reese clamped the pliers onto the first of the man's teeth.
   "Monarch."
   And pulled.
   Screams in the dungeon.

   It was only when Reese had a bowl full of the man's teeth that one of his men opened the dungeon's door. He had a note in his hand.
   "Boss, you're gonna wanna see this. It's important."


   Sharon had a difficult time sleeping. She tossed and turned in bed, thoughts of the upcoming assault making her restless. It wasn't so much a feeling of nervousness or unease, strangely, but one of a quiet and persistent eagerness to get it done, and get it done right. She hopped out of bed several times, walked over to one of the large windows of the room in just her shirt and underwear, and peered out the glass at the dark night sky. The storm clouds had blotted out the stars, rain fell at a steady pace, and mostly silent lightning illuminated the Kilanthro mountains lurking in the distance. Only the low rumble of thunder every few minutes or so.
   A pattern. Trying to sleep. Standing by the window. Sitting and thinking on the sofa. Repeat.
   This had to work. Everything depended on it. Not only did she need to successfully kill Reese, but rumors of The Maitri being ultimately responsible needed to be spread effectively, or else what was the point? A tricky balance.
   Now Sharon started to understand why Rains was always on edge. Why she liked to destress often with working girls. This anxiety, this hyper-vigilance, frayed the nerves.
   And she tried to sleep again.

   The faintest sliver of light to the east. A tiny purple tide in the sky, pushing up against the black.
   Sharon walked out onto the deck of The Overlook fully dressed, a cloth mask down around her neck and ready to be pulled up to conceal her face. The wood of the deck was still wet, the smell of fresh rain thick in the cold air. Half the clouds were gone from the sky now, allowing the meager light from the exposed stars and the moon to shine down.
   Jorge followed her out. Stood next to her by the railing of the deck. Looked out over Twin Rivers with her.
   "Mornin', Sharon," he said.
   "Good morning, Jorge." She glanced over at him. "You look...huh, well-rested. I was expecting you to look like shit."
   "That's 'cause I know my gut. Drank just enough yesterday to help me find a nice, cozy spot in my pillow and knock out early. Maybe you ought to've tried it, love. You look fuckin' beat."
   "I'm fine."
   "Jus' sayin'." He waited a bit, then added, "So did you go one round or two with Gabe? Ow! Fuck me, Sharon, that's my good arm. Now I'm gonna miss both my shots."
   "Maybe you should've kept the commentary to yourself then."

   Zhang ascended the narrow path leading up to The Overlook. Reached the top. Saw Sharon and Jorge out on the deck again. He arrived just in time to see her punch Jorge in the arm.
   A minor dispute, it seemed.
   Zhang entered the inn, the lobby illuminated by a couple lanterns. He crossed the distance to the door to the deck. Opened it. And stepped out.
   "Good morning," Zhang said, standing by the door in same spot as yesterday.
   "Mornin', mate," Jorge said as he turned around.
   Sharon didn't. Kept her hands on the wooden railing and her gaze out over the town.
   Zhang could only hope that she was prepared for what was in store.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, near where the set meeting place was for the orc and goblin, the orc and goblin were trekking out of the forest and down the river towards where they were suppose to be.

The goblin was standing on the orc's shoulder and was resting one of its hands on the orc's helmet. The orc meanwhile was dragging part of a dead carcass behind him, having a good chuckle.

"Now dat waz a propa fight, haha." The orc boomed as he began to chant a crude war tune.
The goblin meanwhile was snickering along, looking over to Gary, who presumably was also with them.

"Iz didn't know youz one of dem forezt gobboz!" The goblin crackled. "Wot tribe you'z from? Da SpidaBitaz?"

"At least you still have both of them," Black Skull said to Jorge after he complained about his arm.

Black Skull had shown up out of nowhere once again, but Sharon seemed too distracted to pull a gun on him this time. Hopefully Sharon would snap back into focus during the job. As good as it was to be properly compensated for his services, Black Skull wasn't about to risk his life for the woman. It was hard enough keeping himself alive sometimes with only one arm.

Raizel returned early. Found lodgings elsewhere. Aki did bird things all night and came back in the morning fat and happy. Bird things complete. Raizel rubbed sleep from her eyes and fixed her cloak, finger combing her hair before she pulled it back into a ponytail, her pointed ears working to keep her hair hooked back. The various curious glances she got from people she wandered by were returned by hard blue looks.

Finally, she entered the inn and glanced about, finding the familiar faces before getting close - but not close enough. Her hands went to the hood before she fluffed it out to easily pull it over her head. The piece of cloth around her neck so she could quickly pull it up over her nose and mouth. The simple talking going on set things at ease and she saw from a distance the woman hit the kindly man.

Raizel frowned ever so slightly before she huffed a breath and headed over.

At least she knew where she was going, even if she didn't know where she was coming from.

"Good morning," She stated, finally making her way to the deck, glancing at the one armed man before she meandered her way to Jorge. Raizel found that she liked Jorge. There was an easy air about him and she kept her chin up and nodded. Aki crowed before he hopped himself into Raizel's hood, where he hunkered down and watched what he could. "I take it violence towards teammates is usually frowned upon?" She tilted her head, smirking and glancing between Sharon and Jorge.

Between yesterday and now, Gary had become somewhat acquainted with Zaggit and Ugdanak.  Not exactly the gory details, but the general idea of how these two operated.  In a way, Zaggit acted as the orc's conscience, keeping him focused on certain things, even though they may argue about it.  In its own way, it works.  Goblins were not super-strong, so being sly and cunning was a necessity.  Apply that to a strong and battlecharging orc and you've got a deadly combination.  They would learn, of course, that Gary was quick-footed rogue of a fighter, that he had a number of nifty things for battle, and that he had a large spider creature who assisted him, that being Concord.

We take you to now, now.  What happened to then?  We missed it.  When?  Just now.  Everything that is happening now, is happening...now.  And so on.  ...  Where was I?  Oh yes!  Now.  Ahem...  Putting aside all of that, the two would certainly learn that Gary had a penchant for leaping around, taking high places and low places, and being generally stealthy and quick.  This would probably be why Zaggit was thinking that he was a member of a forest goblin tribe.  There were many kinds of goblin tribes, of which that was only one, but he could see why Zaggit assumed that.  What he didn't know was that Gary was rather skilled in many places.  So saying, he shook his head.

"Actually, I'm an underdweller.  I was born deep in caves, away from humans and their laws and edicts.  Well, not far away enough..."

He was staring straight forward, for now, then glanced their way.

"You know how it happens.  Some idiot gets lost in a cave or some explorer finds out there's goblins somewhere, so the humans naturally balk and pay a bunch of so-called Adventurers to clean them out.  That's why I do this, you know.  They must be made to pay, and pay they shall with every last coin, to make our kind the rich and them the poor."

Gabe awoke on the couch in the room Sharon had ordered. The sun peaking in the sky. He moved himself off of the couch and looked back to the bed Sharon was trying to sleep in, now Sharon-less.
He made his way downstairs and back onto the deck.  It would seem he was the last to wake up among those in their motley crew. Mornin Jorge, Mornin Sharon. He said as he found a chair and pulled it close to the group before sitting down. Mornin everyone else. He said with a friendly wave. Hope you didnt get too boozed up before bed Jorge, i also hope you are going to get slightly boozed before we head out. I dont think i ever seen you hit any of your marks sober.
Gabe said jokingly.

   Jorge grinned once he heard and saw Black Skull. God damn, that guy was good at that, the whole poppin' in outta thin air thing. Shit, if he could pull that off with one arm, imagine what he'd do to Reese and his boys. "Too right, mate. Guess my lot in life is 'bout as good as its gonna get. Still got both my hands for double the fun at brothels. What more could I ask for?"
   Then Raizel showed up. Blue-Eyes. If that wasn't her nickname, it oughtta be.
   "'Ey there, love." And she made a pretty solid point, she did. "Yeah, Sharon. What gives? Here I am, mindin' my own business like a nice guy, and you just up an' punch me. See what I have to work with here, Blue-Eyes?"
   That finally got another rise out of Sharon, but not as big a one as he had hoped for. She turned around from the railing and said to him, "Hush."
   And lastly, there was Gabe.
   "Mornin', mate."
   "Good morning, Gabe," Sharon said.
   Jorge had to grin again. Hey, maybe Gabe was onto something there. Not the slightly boozed part, no, take it all the way. Maybe, just maybe, Jorge was a secret deadeye when he was drunk off his ass. He'd heard stories, yeah. So who knew? Couldn't be any worse than his sober accuracy, that was for damn sure.
   "Well, like I told Sharon, if there's one thing I know its my gut. Drank just enough for a nice buzz to sing me a sweet little lullaby yesterday. Got a touch of it right now, matter of fact."
   Sharon glanced over those assembled. All concerned were present. She didn't waste any time. "Alright, let's go. You all know what to do."
   She walked to the deck door, and Jorge followed.
   Ah, now came the shitty part of a job. Actually doing it.

   Sharon walked down the narrow path leading to The Overlook and down the road she had come yesterday morning. The small homes and shops almost taking on a different character in the intensely dim light of the pre-sun morning. Black and looming.
   A local guard stood by the arch bridge over the Mystral River. He covered his mouth as he yawned. Sharon had learned two weeks ago that Twin Rivers had a constable and a small force of about a dozen guardsmen. Mostly inexperienced, since the town was such a quiet place, even with the presence of Reese and his operations.
   Sharon walked past him and across the bridge. The guards were very accustomed to people, lone or in groups like Sharon's, passing through town at odd hours. Travelers, adventurers, caravans of traders, all those sorts. So he stayed at his post, only sparing a fleeting and disinterested glance to the group as they passed. It was evident that he'd rather be sleeping right now.
   Sharon continued on. Through a terrace of shops and stores with some light activity. A wagon had just pulled in to one store and two men were unloading cargo into the building.
   Onward.
   To the eastern end of town. A small sliver of orange underneath the purple in the sky, but the sun was still hidden beneath the Earth. And the night still held sway over Sharon's head.
   And she led the group into a quaint neighborhood. Small homes made almost entirely of wood. Dozens of them arranged with no particular order, with the road branching off into a few wide and different paths to accommodate. The sort of environment it'd be easy to get lost in, if Twin Rivers was a big town.
   Sharon passed a number of these homes. Slowed as she eyed one to the group's left.
   And she pulled up her mask over her face.
   "Gabe, Black Skull, on me," she said. "Zhang, Raizel, keep watch."
   Zhang nodded. Turned around and looked back the way they had come. Stood casually, glancing around like a visitor.
   Sharon approached the house. Her hand resting on her pistol.
   The sound of the Mystral behind the house. The river flowing.
   Sharon stood in front of the door. Carefully laid her hand on the handle. Pushed it slowly, less than an inch. Open. Just like when she and Jorge and Charles had come two weeks ago. Seemed the people of Twin Rivers didn't lock their doors as often as they should. Even Durandan.
   Sharon pulled out her pistol. Nodded back to Gabe and Black Skull.
   Shoved the door open.
   And the fire rune etched into the other side of the door exploded.

   Zhang whipped his head around when he heard it. Saw a geyser of smoke and flame erupt from the home, a directed blast in the shape of the doorway. Sharon flew back ten feet through the air, hitting the ground and rolling to a stop on her back, steam rising from her body.
   His mouth dropped open. He had not expected this.
   Then the first shot of the ambush cracked through the air. Sailed past Zhang's head. He dived for cover beside one of the homes, pulling out his pistol after he landed.
   Jorge, who was caught in the middle of the road, his own pistol now in hand, shouted, "What the fuck!"
   Then his body jerked. Jorge clamped his free hand to his neck, spun around, and collapsed to the ground, accidentally firing his pistol into the air as he fell.
   Glass shattering. Wooden window shutters being thrown open. Doors popping open. More flashes of light in the darkness. All around the group. All sides and directions. Bullets cracking and crossbow bolts hissing.
   "Return fire!" Zhang shouted. He peeked out from the side of the house. Aimed toward one of the open windows across the road. Fired. A shout from inside and the thump of a body.
   He reached into the pistolier's kit on the side of his belt. Started the process of reloading. Hours and hours of practice would not be in vain now.
   And as he did, he considered the scale of the ambush. Had Reese brought his entire gang to town for this? He had eighteen men had his disposal. An unexpected outcome. Perhaps—
   A crossbow bolt slammed into the wall next to Zhang. He backed away, further between the two houses he hid behind, and continued reloading.

   Halis Durandan threw open the shutters to the back window of his home as soon as he heard the trap at the front door go off. Crossbow in hand, he vaulted out the window. Started running west, along the base of the Mystral River behind his home and the others of the neighborhood.
   Hopefully, the boys would take care of the intruders. Durandan might not even have to fire a shot. He'd still shoot off the bolt in his crossbow though. Make it look like he got some. Appearances and all.
   And he ran. Trying to escape.

   After the initial volley, the door to a home down the road burst open. Five men, armed with swords and axes and shields, all rushed out and charged at the group, shouting a battle cry as they closed in.

   Everything was a blur. The sounds of the world and the ambush crushed by the ringing in her ears.
   Sharon coughed harshly, her body twitching and quivering. Pain ravaged every inch of her. Blood pouring from her nose. Leaking from her ears. Her clothes were blackened and burnt and spotty with holes, the bangs of her hair singed. A tiny fire on her mask.
   She tried to lift her left hand to take the mask off. A lightning bolt of agony made her see red for a moment. So she tore the flaming mask off her face with her right hand. Glanced to her left arm.
   The bone of her forearm was jutting out of her skin.
   She started to breathe heavily. The onset of panic.
   She couldn't see out of her left eye. She lifted her right hand to her face. Felt a jagged piece of wood lodged into the eye socket.
   Something else was wrong. Her left leg ached and throbbed. But not her right.
   Sharon lifted her head from the ground slightly. Enough to see.
   Half her right leg was missing. Severed just below the knee.
   Something to her side.
   She looked.
   Her foot. Attached to her severed leg. Strips of flesh and red muscle dangling from the end.
   No. Not like this.
   Not like this.
   "Help..." she said weakly. A whisper crushed beneath the fury of battle around her. "Help me..."

Everything went to shit immediately. This had not at all been according to plan. They had known. They were prepared. But how?

Sharon had been practically blown to pieces and they were now under heavy fire from all directions. Even amidst the sound of chaos, Black Skull heard Sharon's plea. The last time he was faced with a dying woman he had failed to save her. He had told himself he wasn't going to risk his life. But that look of helplessness. It was a feeling he was all too familiar with. And her now-missing leg made their situations even more similar in context.

Fuck it.

The first man to charge Sharon collpased before he could reach as his leg gave out. The man pulled the throwing spike out from his knee just to have his neck slashed open by Black Skull's armblade. Black Skull picked the spike back up and hurled it through the eye of the next man. The third managed to close the distance and take a swing witb his sword, but Black Skull parried the blow and followed it up with a headbutt and a hard kick to the groin. He then finished the man off as he collapsed to the ground. Three down, an unknown number more to go.

Black Skull went to Sharon's side. She was hurt bad. Really bad. Her arm needed to be set and the bleeding put under control. He knew how to go about it, but everything that needed to be done required two hands. He needed another pair of hands. That Gabe fellow seemed close to Sharon. Perhaps he would come to her aid as well. Until then, he would simply have to kill anyone who tried to come finish her off.

FUCK Was all Gabe could utter as The explosion happened. Slivers of Metal and wood rocketed at Gabe as he threw his arms up. It throwing him backwards as well. Ears still ringing and shrapnel in his arms Gabe yelled.  BLACK SKULL FIND OUR GUY! He said as he stood up as looked behind him to Sharon. The men where running out now with blades in hand and murder on their minds.
SOMEONE GET TO SHARON! Gabe took his fighting stance as the men charged him.
Calm your mind and your body will follow.
A Glint of light trickled off of Gabe's arms.  He stood completely still until the first man a sword was almost on top of him. Gabe rushed him while he winded up for an attack.
A wet sound radiated as his Jab slipped through the man like a hot knife through butter. He twisted his arm before pulling it out leaving a substantial hole. He picked up the man's sword and threw it at the Axeman now on him.  The man put up his Axe to block the sword and in fact did, but the sword was merely a feint. Gabe slashed his arms downward on the man's open body effectively gutting him. The others where already dead, must have been killed by black skull or shot. Hardly mattered.
He turned around to see black skull crouched near sharon watching on. 
He turned around and ran over to Sharon.
Gabe felt his stomach churn as he saw her.
The bone. Her leg. Her eye.  Gabe looked at black skull.  I can set the bone by myself, handle the bleeding!. He grabbed on to her arm and felt for the correct place for it to go before pressing down.
Hard.
He struggled against sharon as she writhed in pain.  Holding the bone in place he then tore a segment of his pants off with his free hand. He then used the Cloth to tie the bone in place. It would work for now but she would need a brace or a split in the near future. He then turned to black skull. I can handle this from here. Find Durandan

Luckily Gabe had indeed made his way over to Sharon and they were able to get her...well...bleeding less at least. With that taken care of Black Skull took Gabe's advice and took off after Durandan, which he assumed was the man running away off in the distance and holding a crossbow. There would be no mercy once he caught up to him.

Zaggit was actrually thinking that Gary was a forest goblin because of the spider, hence the tribe he referred to was called SpidaBitaz, because they rode spiders of all sizes into a fight.

"So youz one of dem night gobboz, eh?" Zaggit said, mostly to himself.

"''It em w'ere it 'urtz, roight?" The orc said. "Usually ya 'it dem in between dem legz fer it ta 'urt, but 'umiez like dere shiny bitz don't dey?"

The orc then gave a low chuckle, before glancing at the Gary. "You'z know, fightin' dem 'umiez uz fun an' all, but it be borin' ta do it yaself. But gettin' stuck in wiv da boys; now datz props fun."

The goblin began to crackle at the last part. Both had fond memories from back in the day when there was an actrual war with massive amounts of orcs and goblins all charging their enemies or getting to the enemies in some other violent manner. Sure, at times orcs and goblins didn't get along, and if wasn't just the fact that orcs didn't get along with goblins or vise versa, it was also the fact that orcs didn't get along that well with other orcs and goblins didn't get along with their kin all too well either. The fact that Zaggit and Badaxe's klan was made up of several other tribes, and in fighting was common, if not a sport. Still, when they weren't busy beating each other senseless and had/could band together, it was proper fun. All of the combined was like a green tsunami that could not be stopped, and that momentarily feel of power during the rush for the enemy was like no other experience.

"'Umiez kan be propa mean, but dey ain't az green and mean az uz greenskinz." The orc said, almost roaring it out. "We'z orcz and gobboz got ta stikk ta getha, ya neva know wot dem 'umiez 'ave fer u-"

The orc was intrupted by a massive explosion coming from the town, his head whipped around in the direction as the goblin on his shoulder a bit startled. Sounded like a fight, without him! Now he was cross.

"Dey started da fight wiv out uz! Dem sneaky gitz!!" The orc yelled in anger.

"But boss, da 'umie lass told uz ta wait at da two rivaz place." Zaggit respond, still trying to keep balance.

"Zog dat! Iz waz promized a fight!" The orc yelled, before looking at a Gary. "Let'z go show dem 'umiez some green an' mean, eh?" Then started to run in the direction of where the explosion came from with the goblin clinging onto the orc's shoulder.

Actually, Concord was cave-dwellar too.  At least, it was where she hatched and Gary found her.  Never you mind about that, though.  'Tis not important.  Their conversation soon turned to that of fighting alongside his own kind, or at least with that of abnormal beings.

"I never really thought about having a gang.  I've worked alongside other goblins and creatures before, but mostly on single missions, like this one.  I don't know.  I'll have to think on it."

Besides, he wasn't truly alone.  He had to agree, though.  Humans weren't really as suited to getting down and dirty as others, but...the thing is they had their own brand of dirty deeds that Gary didn't like.  They did so, but then made like they were lily-white clean and nothing wrong was ever done.  'Oh no, we are not monsters.'.  Bullshit.  Still, this conversation came to an abrupt halt when there was a sudden explosion!

"Dammit, I had a feeling this might happen."

After all, they'd sent Zaggit and Ugdanak to wait in a forest.  Gary had wanted to follow the human party, see what they were up to, but he had a feeling that it would be better off if humans fought humans first, and then they could swoop in and tackle the very chaos stirred.  Plus, being a rogue himself, it wouldn't surprise him if Reese's group learned of a group of mercenaries staying at a posh place like The Overlook.  Nevermind about that now.  Ugdanak ran with Zaggit, and Gary was whistling for his ride.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Somewhere in the woods - where a dug-up area had been covered by a board with dirt, moss, leaves, and twigs - a spider stirred.

[OOC: Gobbos and orc arrive next turn, I assume.]

Aki trailed from above. Keeping watch. Eyes high above the ground to see what they could not. Raizel knew he was just a bird but he was a smart bird. When he wasn't hungry. The journey to where they were going left her feeling tense and finally, the instructions to keep watch were met with a nod before she pulled her hood up and moved the cloth to cover her nose. Slipping to the side of a building to keep watch like she was told to.

Then there was a shrill cry from the raven and Raizel went on high alert.

Then noise.

Moving quickly, she rushed towards the explosion, heart picking up. Aki had gone to safety but Raizel ran into it, though she wasn't concerned about being hurt. The first thing she spotted was a wayward foot and pair of men around... Eyes wide she moved in a black cloaked blur, hands going to the clasp to remove it. Easily a strip was torn off the end and she went to the meat that was once a leg. "Fuck," She hissed, looking at the man who had set her arm. The one armed one had gone off, chasing someone.

The strip of cloth was used to tie a tourniquet as close to the missing part of her leg as possible, then another higher up. The blood had turned the ground a sick shade of muddy and Raizel put the cloak over her, gasping softly at the... "Well, that'll hurt. You," She looked to the wood in the womans head then to Gabe, "get her somewhere safe, she'll go into shock, make sure she stays as conscious as you can keep her. Don't remove the wood from her eye until you can apply pressure and keep it there, do you understand? Your job is to keep her from bleeding out - I'll try to take care of the rest." Raizel paused and looked around.

Where was Jorge?

Raizel didn't know him. Didn't know anyone in this ragtag of people but she pulled her sword from its sheath and held it, shoulders back, chin up. "Well, the nice woman's plan went tits up," she huffed out, moving into the thick of things, trusting their patron with the Gabe fellow - he seemed emotionally invested in the woman so... Leaving her to him was best. With elegant precise movements one of the ambushers was sliced, the blade kissing flesh and spilling out guts. Then his arm was lopped off, the axe falling to the ground with a thud. Then the rest of him went down and added to be added to the bloody mud. Then she stood, sword out, silvery metal stained by the dripping blood. All the way down to the elegant looking handle.

What a mess this turned out to be. Though, it was slowly getting personal, she hadn't been expecting an ambush.

(((@Wrathwyrm Yup.)))


   Sharon saw Black Skull rush at something. Then Gabe. She turned her head and watched the three of them quickly dispatch the five sword-and-axe men. Saw some kind of light through the blur and the blood in her eye.
   They came back. Gabe dropped down to her side. Said something. His voice far behind the oppressive ringing in her head.
   Then he grabbed her broken arm. Felt around for a bit. And Sharon knew what was coming.
   "Wait, wait...FUCK! AGH, GOD!"
   Sharon's mouth stretched open as far as it could go as she screamed. Her right hand clamping down on Gabe's leg and digging nails into his skin. Her eye pinched shut. A vicious collage of colors bursting through the blackness of her eyelid as another streak of white-hot pain radiated from her arm and throughout the rest of her body.
   Her breathing came in ragged, desperate gasps after the bone was set back under the torn skin.
   Sharon opened her eye. Heard Gabe shout something else. Saw Black Skull break into a sprint. Disappearing around Durandan's house.
   Raizel came. Another harsh crackle of pain as she tied the makeshift tourniquets around the upper half of Sharon's right leg. Sharon's eye rolled up into the back of her head for a second. Pure darkness claiming her. Then she snapped back to reality. Blinked a few times. Saw Raizel get up and deal with a sixth ambusher who tried rushing the three of them while they were busy.
   Her eye found Gabe again.
   "Tell Siro..." Her eye started to roll back again. She shuddered. Fought to stay conscious. "Tell...please..."

   A small moment of quiet as the melee ambushers were all slain and the riflemen and crossbowmen lurking in the buildings had all dropped back behind cover to reload.
   Zhang finished turning the wheellock mechanism on his pistol, and he slid the spanner back into his pocket.
   He had seen Black Skull take off. Likely in pursuit of Durandan. Good. Retribution would soon be at hand if they could use him to find Reese.
   A troubling thought: had the Contact known that Reese would react this way to the warning note Zhang had delivered? A full-scale counter-ambush right in the heart of the town itself? With innocent bystanders surely caught in the middle?
   Zhang dashed over to Jorge, who was down on the road not far from Sharon and Gabe and Raizel. The man had his left hand clamped to the base of his neck by the top of his shoulder. Blood seeped out from between his fingers. But it wasn't profuse.
   "Fuckin' hell..." Jorge said as he rolled over onto his back.
   Zhang crouched down. Keeping eyes on the windows and doors of the homes around them. No movement. Yet.
   "Can you walk?"
   "Yeah," Jorge said as he holstered his empty pistol and haphazardly pushed himself up to his feet, left hand still pressed to his neck. "I can walk. Just grazed a little b—"
   A crossbow bolt sliced through the air and hit Jorge in his right thigh. He yelped and staggered forward, close to losing his balance.
   Zhang whipped his pistol around and fired back in the direction of the bolt. His bullet pierced the thin wood of the shutters and hit the crossbowman in the chest. He fell back out of sight.
   Zhang glanced back to Sharon and Gabe and Raizel. They needed to get the hell off the exposed street, and Sharon needed medical attention. Quickly.
   "Up the road!" Zhang yelled to Gabe and Raizel. "There's an apothecary shop. In the terrace with the other stores. Grab her and run! I'll cover you!"
   Zhang holstered his empty pistol and grabbed Jorge's loaded reserve. Gave Jorge a hard shove in the back. "You too! Go! Go!"
   Some shouts from the homes. Two more flashes of light. Bullets zipping past Gabe and Raizel. Another flash. And Zhang heard the crack next to his ears. Felt the disturbance in the air.
   "God fuckin' dammit!" Jorge yelled as he hobbled forward, working his way up the road and back toward the shop terrace.
   A man. Far up ahead. Out in the open and running across the road. Zhang aimed but couldn't level the pistol out in time. The man disappeared behind some houses.
   Zhang stayed close to the slowly moving Jorge, scanning the buildings and their rooftops. Searching for more movement or more flashes.

   Durandan had a good stride going, felt in his bones that he'd get a clean getaway. Reese was nearby, close enough to observe the ambush from a good vantage point. The path along the banks of the Mystral hid him from the boss' sight, but he'd have to fire off that bolt sooner or later. All those screams back there. Sounded like the boys were roughin' those intruders up good.
   And Durandan hazarded a glance back.
   Shit, shit, shit!
   Somebody was onto him. Chasing him.
   Durandan took a hard left, turning away from the river and running up to the back door of one of the homes of his neighborhood. Keltic had to be in here. This was his spot for the ambush.
   Durandan kicked open the back door and ran inside. There he was. Keltic stood beside the window, his back pressed against the wall, reloading his matchlock rifle.
   "Hey, Keltic, heads up!"
   Durandan tossed him his crossbow. Keltic had to drop his rifle to catch it. "What the fuck, Halis?"
   "Shoot the guy comin' in behind me!"
   Keltic didn't ask anymore questions. Just kneeled and aimed the crossbow at the open back door.
   Durandan, meanwhile, threw open the front door of the home and ran across the road. To his left and some distance away down the road, a hobbling man and an armed man. Durandan couldn't tell if they were intruders or some of his boys. Didn't care either way.
   He ran into a narrow space between two houses.

Gabe started patting Sharon on the face as her eyes rolled back. Sharon stay with me god dammit!. Gabe looked down at the tourniquet that woman had made. This was his first time doing most of this shit so he thanked what ever god was out there that she not only did that but also covered them. Tell Siro yourself Sharon I aint lettin you die here!  He said as he picked her up.
His head twisted back as he heard zhang yell about the apothecary shop.
Gabe ran with her as fast as he could holding her. Sharon Listen to my voice for the love of God do not black out! Gabe had no idea if his words were reaching her.
The slivers of wood and metal were aching in Gabe's arms as he carried her up to the shop.
He Used his Shoulder to nearly break the door off its hinges as he came in much to the shopkeeper's dismay. Gabe then knocked everything off of his counter then placed sharon on it. GET ME ALL THE FUCKING MEDICAL SUPPLIES YOU HAVE, NOW! He bellowed at the shopkeeper. Gabe grabbed sharon's hand. Giving it a firm squeeze to keep her awake.



Talk to me Sharon.... Gabe could start to feel tears welling up in his eyes.

"Boss, lok!" Zaggit yelled as he saw Durandan running out of the building, pointing with his crude looking spear. "Dem a-AAAAAAAGAHAHAHAHA!" The goblin screamed before manically laughing, as he was launched into the air, and I mean launched, by the orc up into the air so high that he could see down at the tree tops.

The goblin was launched towards the runner, he began to flap his hands like wings as he try to direct himself towards the runner, shirking at the top of his lungs as he hurtled in the vague direction of the runner.

Neither the orc or the goblin knew who this was, but to hell with it, they wanted to fight!

The goblin was beginning to home in on the vicinity of the runner, just a little more and...

The goblin face planted into the ground, the momentum from his flight slid him forward so fast that he slid under the feet of the runner.

Meanwhile the orc barreled towards the door at great speed, having dropped his breakfast to throw the goblin, he now raised his axe up high, and gave a mighty roar that the entire village could hear above the shirking of the goblin.

He ran out into the streets of the village, ramming down any stray objects in his way like a charging bull, before he yelled at the top of his lungs "W'ere dem kowardz!"

The village was in total chaos.  There had been an explosion, and by the time they were in range here, plenty of gunshots and sounds of battle had followed.  Gary could not know the extent of the damage until he investigated more thoroughly, but for the time being, Zaggit had been thrown by Ugdanak, and the orc had gone into a loud battle frenzy.

And then, a new sound followed.

To the combatants, it began faintly, but was soon to be recognized as heavy impacts upon a series of roofs, getting closer. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-r9HXKbTbU)  The odd spacing of the houses required a bit of jumping power, and soon - in full view of a number of the people in battle - there was a giant red-and-black spider and a masked goblin with daggers out.  He had a sword on his back and a pistol in his belt, which seemed to carry - like his pockets - a number of things.

"Stand and deliver...your lives!"

Concord spat venom at whoever was closest, as Gary leapt off of her head - quick as you like - down at the first person he met that was not being spat at, fully prepared to parry-and-spin with his daggers into that man's throat.  Keep in mind, of course, that he knows which side is which.  He saw them all earlier.  He would be making his way towards the direction that Zaggit went.

Black Skull continued to run down Durandan. He was pretty quick, as cowards tended to be, but not quick enough. Durandan then took a sudden left turn and kicked in the back door to one of the houses. Why would he pick that house compared to all the others they has run by? Was is a spur of the moment thing? Or was it planned? Why would he kick in the door without even checking if it was locked? Was he not concerned about disturbing the occupants?  Or did he know whi was occupying that house?

Black Skull wasn't taking any chances. He had already been ambushed once today. There was no way in hell he was going to let it happen twice.

Black Skull cut between two houses and out into the street just in time to see Durandan run between two houses on the other side of the street. Black Skull was quick to follow. Black Skull may be missing an arm, but both his legs work just fine and he could run for quite awhile before having to stop and rest. It was time to see if Durandan shared that ability.

Following quickly, foot steps light and quiet. Aki soaring above. He perched his feathery butt somewhere on the roof while the Gabe fellow rudely destroyed a display of things and scared the poor man white and scurry away.

How had his day turned into shit? He wondered, gathering things to help. Cloths. Salves. Things to help. "I...I'm not a surgeon," he whimpered, putting the string and the needle and the scissors down.

"That's fine," Raizel said, pushing her hair behind her ears and pushing her sleeves up past her elbows. "I know how to at least make it not kill her." A glance over her shoulder before she dragged a loose side table over with the things she'd think she'd need. Alcohol to sanitize the wound. Which would sting like seven bitches.

"It won't be pretty and it won't feel good, but if we don't fix this soon she's going to die. If not from blood loss than from fever," she grabbed a pair of scissors and looked at the messy pulp of leg, "if you're confident enough about anything you can patch up her eye socket and set her arm. Give her something to soothe. I need to take care of whats left of this leg." and then she started to work. Raizel wasn't sure how she knew this but the supplies were there and her hands found the right tool.  "If you people had healers instead of people that sniffed herbs this would be way easier," she grumbled.

If time allowed it, the sounds tuned out and Raizel was lost in the operation. The last time she did this her hair was longer and there was an unfamiliar weight on her back. In a tent. "Guess next time you go out you'll watch for traps," she muttered, grabbing for something else sharp. What a mess of a wound.

   The world moved, and Sharon's body protested in pain. The burns and the cuts and gashes scattered across her skin all lit up in agony as the cold air of forward motion rushed over them.
   Gabe had her. Was carrying her. She knew that much.
   Some distant yelling. An unfamiliar voice. Stifled. No more.
   The stars swayed above her. White and out of focus in the remaining black of the sky. Tiny celestial judges. Casting a hard and callous gaze down upon her.
   A thought: This was punishment. For Adelaide. For Emogene. For the sum of all the wrong she had done in her life. It mattered not what her reasons were for what she had done. She had breached the laws of the divine time and again. And the divine were cruel.
   A loud crash.
   The sky was replaced by a ceiling. Gabe shouting. She felt hard wood under her. Raizel cutting away what was left of her pants around her right leg.
   Gabe taking her cold hand. Sharon clenched her teeth and squeezed hard as the sharp sting of the alcohol rampaged through her body like an army of knives.
   She winced when it subsided. Gasping for breath. Sweat rolling down her forehead. Her life in the hands of those around her.
   Talk to me Sharon...
   Sharon turned her head. Looked to Gabe. A drop of blood from the shard of wood in her left eye falling to the floor.
   Bone pressed against the skin of her right hand as she squeezed his. "I'm still here."
   Her lips trembled.

   Zhang walked backwards most of the way to the shopping terrace, one hand on Jorge's shoulder and the other aiming the pistol back towards Durandan's house and the site of the ambush. Gabe and Raizel, both much more mobile than the wounded Jorge, rushed past them.
   Zhang caught sight of the orc and the goblin charging onto the scene from further down the road. A favorable turn of events. And an odd feeling, to actually take heart in seeing them.
   Then it appeared they brought something...else. Zhang heard the strange clatter on the rooftops, as did a couple ambushers who had run out of their hiding places and sought to pursue.
   A giant spider. Plus another small being riding it. Both the spider and its rider fell upon the two ambushers, dispatching them in their own ways.
   Three crossbow bolts flew out of the windows of nearby homes. Two at the charging orc, and one at the giant spider.
   Good. The orc and his reinforcements would distract some of the ambushers and continue flanking them from behind. Perhaps this whole thing could be turned around.
   Zhang and Jorge made it to the shopping terrace. Gabe and Raizel already barreling toward the apothecary shop.
   The sleepy guard from the bridge came running toward Zhang and Jorge then. Shouting, "What the hell is going o—?"
   A crossbow bolt punctured the guard's chainmail, piercing into his chest. His knees buckled, and he toppled back onto the ground. The two men by the wagon who had been unloading cargo scattered and ran away in a panic.
   "Go! Go!" Zhang said to Jorge, looking around the shops for where the shot might of come.
   "I'm movin' as fast as I can, mate!"
   They made it into the shop without taking any additional fire. Zhang slammed the door shut and Jorge pressed his back up against the wall next to it and slid down to sit on the floor.
   Sharon was on the counter. Gabe and Raizel and the shopkeeper were all attending to her. So Zhang hazarded a peek out the large shop window. Said to Jorge, "Reload. Quickly! They're coming."
   "I got it! I got it!" Jorge said as he pulled out his empty main pistol and reached into his own pistolier's kit and began.
   Zhang tried to count. Six melee ambushers were killed. He'd shot two. The spider and the rider got two. That should leave eight men, not counting Durandan and Reese himself—
   A gunshot. The shop window shattered, as did a few of the display potions, liquid spraying across the front of the shop.
   Zhang leaned out from behind the wall and returned fire through the broken window. Didn't see if he hit or not.
   Then he, too, started reloading.
   And knew they were vulnerable.

   Durandan saw something fall from the air. And that something hit the ground and slid and made him trip and fall face first into the dirt. Down between two houses.
   Shit!
   He whirled around onto his back, holding up his hand to the one-armed man pursuing him.
   "Wait, wait, wait! I know things, okay? I know things. I can more useful to you alive than dead. I swear!"

   Four of Reese's men, including Keltic, who had given up waiting, lined up outside the apothecary shop. Kept their distance in the open terrace. Two were reloading their crossbows, one his rifle, and the last of them popped off a shot at the window. A flash from inside, and the bullet cracked past the four men.
   And they flinched.
   Not from the bullet. But from the sudden appearance of Reese, stepping in front of them from behind. His hands on his hips, he eyed the shop. Said to the men without turning around, "Why are they not dead yet?"
   "We've got them trapped in there, boss," Keltic said, the only one brave enough to speak.
   "That wouldn't be necessary," Reese said. "Had you killed them all in the first volley." A pause. "Come here."
   Keltic swallowed, but did as he was bidden. He stepped up to Reese's side.
   And Reese turned to face him. Placed his hand upon Keltic's chest. "You have earned the chance to redeem yourself."
   A fire rune etched itself onto Keltic's skin. Glowing brightly underneath his shirt as it formed. The man had become a living bomb, ready to be detonated at Reese's discretion.
   "Now run," Reese commanded. "And I will see you again in the next life."
   Fear compelled him. Not the fear of death, but the fear of what Reese would do to him if he offered so much as a hint of disobedience.
   And Keltic started his suicide run toward the apothecary shop.

Was that the goblin? Well, damn, he actually did something useful. That was the first lucky break that he had all day. Well, that and not getting shot.

Black Skull closed in on Durandan, his eyes filled with murder. Durandan begged for his life saying that he knew things. Black Skull gave him a simple reply.

"I'm counting on it."

He the kicked Durandan hard in the stomach before dragging him to his feet and slamming him against the side of the house.

"You have a lot of explaining to do."

Black Skull brought his forehead down hard onto Durandan's nose with a wet crunch. He then kneed him in the groin and slammed him into the other house, allowing him to collapse to the ground afterward.

"Zaggit, if you're still alive go find a rope. I don't care where you get it from."

Black Skull then knelt down beside the battered and bloody Durandan.

"First things first," Black Skull began, extending his armblade. "How did you know we were coming?"

The goblin slowly got up, giving the one eyed man an annoyed face before sticking his tongue out at him.

The goblin wanted to proceed with looting the man he had literally fallen, but then he noticed Gary was headinn this way. Now the goblin was only slightly, slightly more smarter then the orc, but he at least was cunning enough to know what surprise was and to save it.

"Sure...'boss'" the goblin muttered.

He gave Black Skull one last look, stuck out his tongue again, before slowly walked away...only to run back and supposedly gave Black Skull's butt a good kick, before dashing off to meet Gary, snickering all the way. What ever he hit or missed, he was too busy snickering to find out, that and running into straight into a wooden post, before grumbling angrily at himself and continued to run at Gary.

The orc meanwhile, who was hit by the crossbow bolts, turned about to see who hit him. To his delight saw actrually armed people not from before. He gave a roar and started charging at the group.

The orc was charging from the side of them, and had spotted the now glowing red human.

The orc smiled. Maybe this was one of the, human fire breathers looking to clear the enclosed space! Or maybe a human with runic powers? Or better yet! A beserker! Glowing red of anger! The orc's mind raced with possibilities as he quickened his pace to intercept the runner.

He was successful, bursting into the scene by grabbing the human by the face as he ran in the left direction of the human, and slammed the human's face violently into the ground.

Finally! The moment of truth! The moment where this human struggled and fought him! Aaaaaand it was just another scrawny, little, tiny, little, puny, little human, did he mention little? Cause this man seemed much bigger from afar.

Truth be told the orc was too busy thinking about what this man could be rather then what he was.

Disappointed, the orc just threw the human back in the direction he came. Sure he wasent rocketing like Zaggit, but he was still flying, straight back at the group of humans to- wait a second! More humans!

The orc grew more excited, his muscles flexing excitedly some how. Maybe a group will pose more challenge. He gave a roar so loud the gods could hear, before gripping his axe into two hands, raising said axe, then spcharge still yelling towards the group.

The crosssbow bolt intended for Concord struck in one of her legs.

Pt!

A drop in the bucket, really, but she noticed it.  The owner of the crossbow in question would no-doubt watch in horror as her eyes fixed on his location in that house and flashed...before she leapt from the roof, right into the front of said house!  Concord shrieked and hissed in anger as her high-velocity bulk rammed into the place, causing some of it to collapse as she pulled out and jumped on top of it and stomping her weight down.  Someone might've heard the man inside scream before the little house fell in on him, the giant spider on top of the debris.

And then, her posterior turned up and fired a web-net into the fighting area.  Anyone sneaking up behind her was gonna get caught up in that, unless they had an immediate escape.

Gary had been dealing with combat his own way.  Folks had to strike down at him in some way, or be crouched down to hit normally, or just short.  Most of the attackers were no short, and he had loads of experience dealing with the tall.  For intance, he barely had to bother outright killing anyone.  He could just toss a knife at their ankles and immediately stagger them, or throw bolas to catch their legs and let them fall into the caltrops he tossed under them before they fell.

Look, let's just be blunt here.  He was at a good height to parry attacks and almost immediately make eunichs of any man not wearing a codpiece.  You don't mess with Mr. Blight.

Such was the sort of harm that the goblin highwayman left in his wake for any man attempting him harm.  He hadn't even fired a pistol-shot or drawn Bitterfang.  He'd found no need for his darts or any poison at all.  He had to be cautious of the guns himself, of course, but still he was able to make it over to Zaggit as the other goblin approached.

"So, any sign of Reese yet?"

Gabe breathed a sigh of slight relief as Sharon spoke to him. 
While Raizel and the man who was presumably the store owner patched what was left of her up Gabe started to dig the shrapnel out of his arm that was holding Sharon's hand.
More blood ran down his arms as he ripped them all out. He looked behind him to see Jorge and the other fellow reloading. He turned to Sharon before speaking.  Sharon listen to me, I gotta help the others, Do not die on me.
Gabe let go of her hand and joined Jorge.
How many shooters do we have out there? Gabe asked as he reached for the pistol he had stolen from one of Rain's men back in their first raid together.

   Something warm. Running down Sharon's hand.
   She looked. Blood. Gabe's blood.
   And then he spoke.
   She gave his hand a hard squeeze. "Get him..." she said as firmly as she could. "Get Reese. Make him pay for this."
   Gabe's hand pulled away from hers, and she allowed her arm to rest over her chest.
   Sharon fought to stay conscious as Raizel worked on her injured leg. Grit her teeth to force herself to stay awake. To fight through the pain. To summon the last few scraps of strength left.
   The world fading in and out. Darkness about the edges of her eyes.

   Zhang dropped the bullet down the barrel of the pistol and started to ram it home.
   The shirtless man approached. Gabe was his name.
   Jorge replied to him first. "Way too many for my likin', mate!"
   "Hard to say," Zhang said. "I didn't get a good look. I'd guess five. Six. Maybe more."
   Zhang finished with the bullet and slid the rod back into the slot under the pistol. He gestured with his head toward the broken shop window. "See for yoursel—"
   A loud roar. From outside. Sounded like the orc.
   "Perhaps our cavalry has arrived."

   Durandan winced and gasped on the ground after the assault from Black Skull. But he was still breathing. And that was all that mattered.
   He held up his hand in a pleading fashion when he saw the armblade, trying to buy a few seconds to catch his breath again. "Boss told me. Reese, that is. Came and woke me up a couple hours ago. Brought all the boys with him. Said somebody left a note with a warning about an attack stuck to our hideout door. That's all he told me. I swear."

   The remaining ambushers down in the neighborhood lost their morale upon seeing a rampaging orc and, worse, a gigantic spider against them.
   So they did what any bandit concerned with self-preservation would do. They dropped their weapons and broke from their hiding places. Each making a run for it in different directions heading out of town. Reese be damned. He could punish them if he caught them.

   An orc charged onto the shopping terrace and grabbed Keltic and flung him back toward Reese, and the man landed at his feet. Blood poured out of Keltic's nose and mouth. He was conscious only in that his eyes were open.
   "You still have your use, Keltic," Reese said as he bent over and grabbed the man, pulling him up to his feet and holding him like a human shield.
   "Back! Back!" said one of the men behind Reese.
   "Oh fuck, run!" said another.
   "Go!" said the third.
   All three of the men started to run away. Making a break for the bridge over the Mystral River. Cowards.
   Reese watched the orc charge at him. Stood his ground.
   "We are born."
   He waited.
   "We die."
   Waited.
   "We live again."
   Right as the orc was upon him, Reese detonated the fire rune on Keltic's chest. Keltic's entire body was obliterated, nothing more than a spray of blood tiny particles of flesh and muscles. Hellish fire and smoke erupted in a large explosion, the shockwave rattling the buildings of the shopping terrace.
   Reese, immune to his own magic, stood in the epicenter of the explosion—a small crater in the ground. Visible as the smoke began to part.

Typical. Of course he wouldn't know. Then again this Durandan fellow was definitely the kind to spill his guts when threatened, so it was also understandable that he wouldn't be trusted with any information that he didn't really need to know.

That had been just an extra question. The next question was the one that he went through all this trouble to have answered.

"Where is the hideout," Black Skull asked. "Where do I find Reese?"

"Just two gitz. " The goblin said as he bounded up to his fellow goblin. "Fink we'z suppoze ta find da 'umie trough da git on da floor?"

*BOOM*

A loud explosion echoed through the village as smoke began to fill the air.

Zaggit looked up into the air, before looking back at the goblin, pointing his scrawny little hands at the rising smoke and said. "Or maybez da git'z ova dere?"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The orc realized this a bit too late, or may end he didn't care. Regardless, the green mass was last seen charging himself into the sea of flames, before black smoke took the flames place.

Minutes past as there was no yelling, no stinky smells, no green, just black, accompanied by the smell of smoke.

Nothing....but what was that? Some sort of faint, red glowing in the center of the smoke, where the orc disappeared.

From the outside, that's all anyone could see, but on the inside, an iron claded foot came out seeking somthing to impact upon.

When the would-be ambushers began to flee, Concord wanted to give chase.  However, when the explosion happened, she stopped and hissed at the source of it.  Spiders - giant or otherwise - didn't really like fire, except maybe lava spiders.  However, Concord was no such creature, so she treated this warily, still perched upon the rubble she'd been on and ready to spring into action.  It was just that right now, she wasn't charging into that.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The one-armed fellow appeared to be doing nicely with his interrogations, so it seemed that listening to the git was worthwhile.  He could take them to the hideout, as planned.  However, there was still Reese to contend with, and as an explosion occurred, Zaggit seemed to think that the man at the center of it was the leader himself.

"You know, I do believe you're onto something there."

Oh dear.  Decisions, decisions...  Take the man to the hideout and begin the looting or deal with Reese?  Right through the smoke, Gary could see his magical aura.  Couldn't just leave him there.  He might live through the battle.  Alright, let's do this...  As stated, Gary could see him through the smokey haze of whatever detonated.  So, he pulled out that pistol he hadn't even fired yet, took aim, and shot at him.

Gabe watched as the orc rampaged and exploded with a grimace on his face.
Shit you think he survived that? He asked Jorge and Zhang.  His ears perked up again when a gunshot was heard from outside the Store.  Whatta wanna do Jorgie? he asked panicked.   
It looked like the rest of the aggressors had fled, being a betting man Gabe would wager whomever was making those explosions wouldn't flee so easily. Plus with sharon dancing on deaths door Gabe felt like bugging out, and coming up with another plan, but he knew they did not have time for that.
For now Gabe waited for smoke to clear.