Companions' Journey (Fantasy RP) (Closed/Dead)

[Baldrek]

"Oh come on, Three-Fingers! I feel like you didn't even tried to properly mask that insult." Badelin remarked before turning his already annoying personality inside-out in a remarkable display of tactlessness, only the point about Lev hating him with a passion struck true, at the very least he had managed to understand that, yet still completely ignore it.

Lev's left eyebrow twitched slightly as he restrained himself from spoon-feeding Badelin the information about why he had come to dislike the man so intensely during their rather brief encounter, and instead settled upon a more civil reply that he still hoped would get the point across.

"No, I did not. It seemed like you were having some difficulties grasping the more subtle points of our conversation. Which is fairly evident by your current behaviour which I would be tempted to describe as mildly schizophrenic, on a good day that is."

He leaned forward a little closer to Badelin and continued in a slightly lowered voice, but with enough volume to let the other members hear it, even though that might not have been his exact intention. "And you are clearly mistaken if you believe that I don't think anything in your past changed you. That is usually how people as incoherent, narcissistic, and plain annoying as yourself are made."

He leaned back in his chair again and looked over at Zestia before asking her in a normal voice. "So, are you still interested in joining our little group? Or have you perhaps been dissuaded by these current events?"

 

[Lambi]

Zestia feared she had said too much. They might discover her occupation, which she had tried to hide, but he did ask her what her abilities were, and she had answered. She sighed in a relieved manner, making sure it wasn't seen, and looked at Lev and Badelin talk.

Why can't you just try and be nice, Badelin? It wouldn't be the end of the world. she thought. He was showing her more and more that having him in the group was a mistake.

She looked back at Lev when he asked her. "I am very interested. But I need to at least ask Sai and Avi before I do, see what they think of it. After I do, I'll give you my answer." She finished the last of her steak and ale, placing the fork and knife on the dish. Shade had simply lied under her chair, watching Lev and Badelin talk, and the other animals do whatever they were doing.

 

[RBMidknight]

Kadence had reached the halfway point of her soup when Lev returned to his conversation with Zestia. She looked down at the cooled liquid and decided that she was finished. She glanced over at Prudence and noticed that the girl hadn't ordered anything. But her friend was sitting too far away for Kadence to question the lack of food. 'I wonder how she's doing.'

Just as the messenger considered waving for Prudence to get closer the main table Garret stuck his head out from underneath the table and whuffed quietly. He had finished his meal but wanted more meat. He didn't beg but there was a submissive quality to the request Kadence sensed. She frowned and shook her head slowly. The wolf had a tendency to curl up and sleep if he ate too much. And Kadence wasn't certain about the group's next course of action. She wanted to be mobile, just in case. Garret read the head shake as a refusal and gave his equivalent of a sigh, a quick exhalation of air. The wolf ducked back underneath the table.

Kadence looked at Zestia and thought about the woman's description of her skills. Kadence considered having a scout in the group to be a good thing. She was most comfortable traveling between Laterose and Gemmel and the towns in between. The further they got from her comfortable route the less certain she was about the safety of the roads. 'The only thing about adding people... Kadence glanced at Badelin. 'Is that not all of them get along.'. She looked toward Pru again. Kadence tried not to let Prudence's nobility influence her, but she felt somewhat responsible for the girl. She wasn't certain Pru would be able to manage on her own if she wasn't in a group. And the girl obviously didn't want to return to her home city. Kadence recalled that Pru hadn't been very interested in the quest to begin with, just getting out of Gemmel. 'Maybe she can stay in one of these towns. Or maybe Zestia won't bother her as much as Lev seemed to.' Kadence reminded herself where Prudence had sat and shook her head slightly. Then Kadence turned as Zestia listed two unfamiliar names.

 

[Bmb]

"Oh, how typical! I try to be nice, to make peace and what does the grumpy git do? He insults me! How lovely!" Badelin raises his hood back up, shaking his head for a second in a disbelief manner and begins to walk back to his table. He then turns back towards Lev and opens both his hands, expressing wonder.

"So other then incoherent, narcissistic and plain annoying...what else bothers you?" He then adds in a tone signifying that it is not of much importance for him "Just curious before I can't be bothered any more with it"

He then sits down at his table, putting his legs up on it and crossing his arms, as he was before getting up and wasting his time.

 

[Baldrek]

"Oh, I'll hand you a list later once I find somewhere they sell ink and quills, if we stay together that long, that is." He shrugged slightly, "But seeing at it quite clearly doesn't bother you, I think we can just assume that it would be a waste of ink and parchment."

'If he can read at all, that is... But back to the slightly more important matter, Sai and Avi...'

They where probably the two women, well... The other woman and the girl, who had silently followed them together with Zestia and Badelin up until the gate. After that he hadn't seen much of either them or Viktoria, who he should probably speak with to find out if she was going to continue travelling with them, for all he knew she might have gotten tired of this already.

"Fair enough, I trust that you won't have any real problems finding us after you've talked to them both, so please be kind enough to inform us once you know more. It would be a shame to leave behind someone promising due to some unforeseen consequence or other." Lev told Zestia very matter-of-factly, if it was due to him still being annoyed at Badelin and trying his best to calm down, or just the way he asked semi-professional questions, was kind of hard to make out.

Tatiana was currently busying herself with gnawing on the thigh-bone that remained from the meat she had been served earlier, her teeth scraping off the tough muscle that was still partially attached to it. All in all, she didn't really look like she registered any of the other animals presences at the moment.

 

[Lambi]

"It would indeed be a shame. I promise to be back as soon as possible after talking to them." Zestia said, with a smile. She'd learned a long time ago that sometimes, being nice gives you more and gets you further than showing annoyance and bitterness. Something Badelin apparently didn't learn. She sat back in her chair and didn't bother putting her hood back on. She usually always wore it, even during hot days, but she enjoyed allowing others to see her face for once.

Shade lifted his head up to Zestia, who looked down at him. "Was the meal good, Shade?" Shade simply gnawed at her leg gently, careful not to bite. Zestia shivered a bit and giggled. "It would seem so."

 

[Bmb]

"Well I'm sure you don't need ink and parchment, it really would be a terrible shame to waste such items on such a trivial task. You know, you could always just speak your mind. I believe you have done so for the past couple of hours so I'm sure a few more minutes won't tire you out." said the young assassin on an ironic tone

He then shrugged and continued on the same tone as before

"But if you are unable to do so without a quill and a piece of parchment for what ever reason, then I do suggest you visit a local emporium as I feel that we will be gracing each other's sight for a very long time to come... Now won't that be a joy??"

 

[Baldrek]

Lev nodded to Zestia, "Good, I look forward to having you with us. And your companion as well."

He then turned his attention to Badelin yet again, who seemed incapable of letting the argument slide, even though he had tried to break it off twice already by continuing his conversation with Zestia. Frankly, by now he felt like it would be best to just ignore the guy, even though he would probably register that as a victory in his own book he supposed. People like him always seemed simple like that.

But then Badelin uttered something that he just couldn't slide. It was too big a mistake to blame on common reasons such as miscommunication, or wrong interpretation, and it needed to be cleared up now.

"... as I feel that we will be gracing each others sight for a very long time to come..."

"And wherever could you have gotten that idea?" Lev told Badelin with a look that suggested that he was not amused, but with this underlying hint of malicious smugness. "As far as I can tell, no one has invited you to accompany us. In fact, quite a few of us have displayed quite a bit of dislike at your presence and character. Would this in any normal situation indicate that we would want you to join us in an endeavour that requires us to spend weeks on the road with each other as company, or that we would like to enter dangerous situations with a person who we don't trust, or like? Surely if you have such great abilities of agility, guile, and intellect, finding another group which will appreciate you won't be difficult? Or have they perhaps encountered the same problem with you, leading you become desperate enough that just following any group, regardless of the fact that they find you an unwelcome annoyance, is good enough for you?"

 

[Bmb]

Badelin burst into a short laugh

"I am sorry but really? Do you honestly think that trusting and liking someone are essential in dangerous situations? I am sorry but no wonder you got yourself into a situation that left you crippled for life. You know nothing about combat. Someone won't always guard your back because they trust or like you. In dire situations, they will throw that away and save themselves. Necessity, that is what you need. If they need you to survive, then you bet they will be there every time. And that is why I am reliable. I do not like you and nor do I trust you but I will protect your back because you are the only one here who could save my life if I were wounded. Leaving your foolish stubbornness to negate all my abilities, I am the quickest, most agile and perhaps most experienced fighter here so not having me would be a mistake. Consider me arrogant if you so desire but I didn't survived this long by doubting my abilities." said the assassin on a serious tone.

 

[Lambi]

I'm certain I'm far more agile and quicker than you. thought Zestia as she watched the two argue. She hated arguments, having grown up by always obeying her father and never having much trouble with talking to people. Seeing arguments, she usually ignored them and avoided them at all cost. Now, though, she couldn't exactly run away. But she needed to go find Sai and Avi and talk to them to see if they would want to join them. She was wondering where they had gone since they weren't with them in the inn.

She stood up from the table and rubbed one of her temples. "If you're done arguing, I need to find Sai and Avi and talk to them. I need to know where to meet the rest of you once I'm done talking to them."

 

[Blasphemous Rex]

<spoiler=OOC>I know I haven't been on -- and I'm sorry -- but my computer finally broke. I might be getting a new one in about a week or so, but until then, I won't be around. Again, sorry.

 

[RBMidknight]

Kadence glanced at Lev automatically to see if he had an answer to Zestia's question. As she debated on speaking up herself the waitress from earlier suddenly appeared in her peripheral vision. Not seeming to notice the tension in the group the young waitress walked over and busied herself with gathering the empty plates and glasses. As she was cleaning the table the waitress quietly informed the group that they could pay for their meals at the front counter. What she didn't mention was that it was customary for the assistants to ask patrons if they would like a room for the night after they paid for their meal. With a polite smile the waitress left with her burden of plates. There were still a few items left on the table. And the waitress had yet to take the Companions' plates. 'I wonder if the waiter is supposed to get the floor plates.' Kadence thought as she slipped her hand into her pocket and wrapped her hand around a small bag of coins.

 

[Baldrek]

"I am sorry but really? Do you honestly think that trusting and liking someone are essential in dangerous situations?"

"Yes, I do think that a certain level of trust is required, believe it or not. If we hate each other's guts, and with your supposedly great fighting skills, what would be stopping you from stabbing us in the back after making the discovery, and thus get all the money and credit? And by that logic your own argument of 'necessity' again proves that you are more of a potential liability than a potential help. As such, your help is unwanted, and your offer of joining up with us is declined." Lev told Badelin as he bent down to pick up the empty bowl and platter in front of Tatiana and rose from his chair.

He looked over at Zestia as he walked closer to the counter to hand them the dishes and pay for his and Tatiana's meal, "The argument has reached a conclusion, if nothing else. So, yes, I believe we are done. And this inn seems as good as any other, so I think it's safe to assume that we will be staying here. I will give a message to the innkeeper for you if there is a change of plans."
Setting the plates down on the counter, Lev took the opportunity while he was counting out the payment to ask how many available rooms they had, and if it would accommodate a party their size.

 

[Lambi]

"Thank you for that. Then I will meet you here, presumably, once I'm done talking to Sai and Avi. But first..." Zestia walked to the counter and pulled out the necessary amount of money to pay for her and Shade's meals. "Now that I'm done paying, I will take my leave. I will see you all later and I look forward to continuing the quest with you all. Or rather, almost all of you." She gave Badelin a quick glare before heading back to the table they had been at, and picked up shade, putting him on her shoulders. She headed out of the inn, and saw a guard just outside it. She walked up to him. "Excuse me, but do you know where my two friends are?" She described them for him.

 

[RBMidknight]

A lone guard paced slowly back and forth in the street. His left arm was held away from his side, and partially covered by a thick leather arm guard. Every now and then the man's gaze flickered up to the sky and then back down. A sword was strapped securely to each of the side of the guard's belt. As he walked the swords shifted and clinked softly against the metal pieces of his armor. The guard stopped for a moment. His right hand curled into a fist and then relaxed. He was not used to standing still. He continued his slow pacing.

The patrolman had been instructed to watch a man named Badelin and been given a description to go with the command. But with the watched man still inside the inn, the guard had nothing to do. Except wait.

On the seventh step of his short route the door to the inn opened. The guard immediately straightened and turned on his heel. He focused his attention on the patron who stepped outside. But the woman whom he spotted was not the man he was sent to watch.

The guard turned to continue to his pacing and waiting. But to his surprise the woman approached.

"Excuse me, but do you know where my two friends are?"

The patrolmen listened silently as the woman described her friends. Before the description he was prepared to give a polite apology. But after being given the details the guard found that he did indeed know the answer to the woman's question. His superior had given detailed descriptions of this particular group of travelers. The lieutenant had also made an off-hand comment about being glad that he had family connections. And family connections for him generally referred to one specific place.

Raising his arm the guard pointed down the street and spoke in a clear voice. "Your friends can be found at the Red Shield Inn. It's a bit of a walk but you'll see the sign when you get close enough."

 

[Bmb]

"As such, your help is unwanted, and your offer of joining up with us is declined."

"Hang on a minute, Lev!" said Badelin while approaching the counter.

"Who put you in charge? Your word means nothing without the others confirming your decision. If you are so concerned about your precious reward, you can have my share of it as well. I have no need of meaningless coins whose value is only given by man's greed. And fame? I'd rather not. It would be difficult to do one's job when every man in the land knows who you are. Actually, I do not know why I am even wasting my breath. You are so cynical that you don't acknowledged the truth even when it's standing in front of you."

After that, the assassin, with quick steps, went outside. He leaned against a wall by the inn's door, crossed his arms and legs and just stood there in silence, enjoying some fresh air.

 

[Lambi]

"Thank you ever so kindly." Zestia said and gave a small bow before heading in the direction the guard had pointed towards. She took in the scenery of the town. It was magnificent, she thought. A little solitude from the group was good for the moment, though she was mostly glad to be away from Badelin. She wondered if he and Lev would tear each others heads off while she was away. She hoped they were mature enough not to. Lev had seemed like a level headed man, at least.

She had walked for a bit, like the guard had told her, when she spotted a sign saying Red Shield Inn, with a picture of a red shield on it. How original... she thought, then went inside. According to the guard, they should be here. Better start by asking the innkeeper... She walked up to the counter of the inn. A single woman was there. Zestia wondered if it was the innkeeper or just someone who worked there. Nevertheless, she asked her. "Excuse me, I'm looking for two women. Sai and Avi. I was told they were here. They're my friends." She described them for the woman like she had done for the guard.

 

[RBMidknight]

The young woman whom Lev was preparing to pay smiled politely and assured him there were plenty of rooms available. She briefly listed the services the inn provided and made him aware that the stable was off limits to those without mounts of their own. Her tone was cheerful but her smile wavered when she repeated that there were plenty of rooms. She told him the standard fee for a night and asked if he would like a room.

----

Kadence sighed quietly from her seat at the table. She pushed against the table and stood up. Reaching across the table she gathered the remaining plates into a stack. When she was finished Kadence glanced toward Prudence. Still lightly clutching her bag of coins she walked over to where the girl was sitting. Kadence spoke quietly to Pru for a minute, getting short answers to her quick questions. After suggesting that they restock their supplies while in town, Kadence stepped away.

A quick glance down at Garret had the wolf instantly on his feet and ready to leave. Kadence checked the table one last time. Then she began to make her way to the front counter. There was a few seconds delay, then Prudence also rose and began to follow. Sue sat perched on the girl's shoulder. The bird chirped quietly.

Garret padded alongside his human partner. He stopped briefly and turned his head to check on the noble and her Companion. Both human and bird were slowly following. The wolf faced forward again and stepped around an chair. Kadence sidestepped a young waiter carried a large bowl of stew.

As she approached the counter Kadence saw Badelin was speaking to Lev. 'I wonder what he is saying now...' With the general murmur of patrons and Companions she couldn't make out what he was saying. Kadence did notice that the woman at the front counter appeared nervous and gaze flickered between the two men. Kadence frowned and walked a bit faster to reach the counter. She was not faster than Badelin, who managed to reach the exit before she reached the counter.

----

The guard who had placed himself near the inn tensed slightly and felt a wave of anticipation run through him as Badelin exited the inn. 'Finally.' he thought to himself. A small dark colored kestrel glided overhead and he glanced up. A silent command was sent and received. Midway through its linear glide the bird changed directly. It flew low and disappeared from sight. The guard began walking slowly down the street. When he was in front of the blacksmith's workshop he stopped and turned around. He had a decent, if diagonal, viewpoint of the inn and his appointed quarry. The guard sighed quietly and leaned against one of the outer support columns. Patrons and residents of the other shops walked past the guard but he shifted his position each time. Just enough so that he still had an unobstructed view of Badelin. The falcon returned to view. It spread its wings and glided down toward the inn. It hovered slightly then landed on top of the roof. The bird shifted its feet until it found solid grip. And there it waited.



"Excuse me, I'm looking for two women. Sai and Avi. I was told they were here. They're my friends."

The innkeeper was a middle-aged woman of average build who had her hair tied back. Her dress was plain but in good condition and she smiled kindly at Zestia. She listened as the young woman described her friends. Toward the end of description the innkeeper began to nod her head.

"They came in a short bit ago and requested rooms." The woman paused to collect her thoughts and memory. "The young girl, Avi is it?, has walked by", she indicated the area in front of the desk, "a few times. Poor thing seems nervous." The woman frowned and her expression changed to one of soft concern. She shook her head slightly, "I'm sorry I don't know where she is now. The older one hasn't left the room." The innkeeper nodded to her left and indicated the short flight of steps that led up to the guest rooms. "Their room is upstairs if you'd like to take a look. You're also welcome to stay for the night if you need a place." The innkeeper smiled at Zestia then gave her the standard nightly rate.

 

[Lambi]

"Thank you for the offer, but I'm only here for my friends. Thank you for telling where to find them here." Zestia gave the woman a small bow and headed up the short flight of stairs, walking calmly and softly. She turned to look at the doors that were there and wondered which one was the one Sai was in now. She began checking every door, seeing if she'd find her. Some of the rooms were empty, and others had one or two occupants, who weren't able to tell her where Sai was. She kept checking until she opened one door and found Sai, sitting on a bed, looking out the window. Zestia smiled and walked into the room. "Hello, Sai. I came here to talk to you and Avi. Any idea where she might have gone?"

 

[Baldrek]

Lev looked over his shoulder briefly as Badelin walked up to him at the counter, his brow furrowing and his right eye twitching slightly in annoyance. His discussion with Badelin had come to a close, he had made that very clear, and Lev was far from the most patient and understanding man in the world. Luckily it seemed like all he had to do this time around was to ignore Badelin, who had said something about Lev not having the authority to dismiss him from the group, it seemed like he hadn't noticed that no-one had objected to the decision, and thus had silently agreed, even if they were polite enough not to say that to Badelin directly. After speaking his argument, and possibly seeing the glaring flaw that Lev had just mentally pointed out, he acknowledged that he was wasting his time talking to him and left. Seemed like he had been correct in assessing him as a person who needed to have the last word...

Turning his gaze back to the woman behind the counter, who looked more nervous now for obvious reasons, he procured his money pouch again and counted up enough cash for a room large enough to accommodate Tatiana and himself.

"I cannot decide for my travelling companions, but it seems likely that we will all be staying here. I will, at the very least." Putting the money neatly down on the counter and showing it towards her side of the counter, he added.

"And I believe that this amount should suffice for a room suitable for me and the irate, anti-social feline."

Almost on cue, Tatiana rose to her feet in the tavern, stretching slowly and suddenly taking up a lot more space than her little corner of the inn could handle, pushing several patrons into the side of the table they were sitting at.

"Hey! What's the big deal?!" One of the patrons, a younger man with a burly stature called out, likely a lumberjack or carpenter from the small amount of wood chips in his hair and a fine dust layering his clothing.

In response to the loud noise directed at her, and the sudden uncomfortable feeling of having the sharp edge of the man's chair pressed into her side as he shoved himself away from the table, Tatiana turned sharply, knocking over the chair Lev had previously occupied and making the table skid along the floor as she let out a half-roar. The other men at the table were quick to get out of their chairs, and had taken refuge at the far wall together with their companions, but the carpenter was faced with a slight problem. As no more than a foot away from him there was now one angry looking tiger baring it's teeth, and with two big paws on either side of him blocking his escape as he laid pinned against the table.

The room was silent and still, not even the carpenter's canine companion made a sound as it seemed to hold it's breath under the table. Then a series of quick footsteps echoed against the wooden boards, followed by the loud sound of someone rapping the Tiger over the head.

"Behave! Now, go outside before you cause more of a stir." Lev said to her as she turned to him and roared in earnest indignation, being met with another light rap.

"Out." He told her again, pointing at the exit of the inn, which was still wide agape after Badelin had left.

Tatiana looked at him with a look that could kill, full of fury at him having interrupted, and hit her, even if it had been a light rap, when the situation was clearly not her fault. Sulking, she padded out of the inn, growling in a way that made one imagine her cursing her companion.

Frowning, Lev set about setting the table and the knocked over chair back into place, and apologized to the carpenter, but also pointed out that it was hardly wise to annoy a creature over twice his own size, in a bit more diplomatic terms, of course.