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| − | It is noon, not too long after the battle. With the sun high in the sky, it's quite obvious to see that the sea's taking care of the mess in the water--the water churns all about with the struggles of countless predatory fish. Thankfully, the meat from the behemoth is not only safe but plentiful, and the fishermen can stand a few days away from their trade.
| + | #REDIRECT DarkheartOne/IdeaDump |
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| − | However, the dock still needs cleaning and some repairs; while the firing lines generally held, there was some damage done, as well as crates scattered and sections of the dock either broken or moderately charred by Laranth's stunning burst of Exalted might. Thus, alongside numerous workers... Laranth is there, basically being directed to shift assorted small (albeit heavy) crates back to where the belonged. It's not hard work, and he's got help. Particularly a curious, stocky man with fuzzy red hair that he might remember from the mercenary company aboard his ship...
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| − | Laranth is picking up heavy things and moving them from one place to another. Judging by the relative ease of his motions, it's work he's well-suited to.
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| − | The other fellows are mostly doughy times who could do this work in their sleep as well. Still, the redhead seems to be sticking close to Laranth. Eventually... he manages a faint, "... hi."
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| − | <Laranth> -- oh, hello!
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| − | "Uh... um. Er..." He actually looks to be slightly in awe, enough so that he bumps into another guy, making his drop his crate just shy of the toe of his boot. Much cursing ensues... and Laranth gets a glimpse as seeing a fellow larger than him look intensely embarrased.
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| − | Laranth sets his current crate down before returning. "Er. Can I help you with something?" Whether he means the specific incident of the fallen crate or something more general is unclear.
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| − | A quick apology later, the fellow sets down his own crate and re-approaches Laranth. "It's... well... here." He pulls the Dawn to the side. "Y'know... I was there. I saw it all. And... you shone. I mean... really." Awestruck doesn't even begin to explain the tone of his voice. "Boss made us keep quiet about it, but... um..."
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| − | <Laranth> I thought I remembered you from the ship. And... yes, what is it?
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| − | "You see... well... oh!" He pulls away and shakes Laranth's hand quite eagerly, before he notices what he's doing and stops in his tracks. "I'm Brody... Brody Smithson. I kinda wanted to talk to you, so I asked around..."
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| − | <Laranth> It's a pleasure to meet you, Brody. Is there anything in particular you wanted to discuss?
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| − | Brody practically blurts out <nowiki>"IwannatagalongwithyourbecauseI'veneverbeenwitha---"</nowiki> before he stops himself, looking around. "... really. Sir... I would like to see if I could... well, work for you? I've been doing mercenary work since I was a kid, but I've always dreamed of being with an a---er, a special person..."
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| − | <Laranth> ... well. I'm flattered, but I'm not sure whether I'm in the market for mercenaries. What sort of things are your specialties?
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| − | Brody perks up, smiling. "Well, pop was a smith, so I know a little about the basics... and I'm pretty good with a blade anna wand, as you saw. Also. I've been around... I know about the River Provinces, 'specially Nexus. Got my first scar there... heh, those were the days." The babyfaced fellow grins wide, looking almost nostalgic.
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| − | <Laranth> And where do you see yourself going?
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| − | "Well, more than here. Damn Guild's squeezing all the good money out of this place... sure, prices have gone down, but that's because they've moved their damn people into the town. 've been here for three years, and it's gone from sleepy fishing town to a half-assed slaver market, and there's now way I'm working that business." Brody harrumphs a little, looking offended merely at the idea.
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| − | <Laranth> Hm. You've got a point; for better or worse, the Guild's got this place in its pocket, doesn't it?
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| − | <Brody> More or less. Boss was glad just to get decent work with that one shady fellow he keeps talking about.
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| − | <Laranth> Is your entire company looking for work, then?
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| − | Brody sits down on a crate. "Not all of them... only about another two or three. I dunno how they'd react to you, though. I think the lot of them were rattled something bad."
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| − | <Laranth> .. I suppose that's understandable, given the circumstances.
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| − | <Brody> Gaia's Bones, man. The closest any of us have been to an Exalt was a Blooded who hired us out to patch holes in his troops. Went faerie-hunting... that was kinda fun, 'cept when one tricked a few buddies into attacking us.
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| − | <Laranth> Raksha-hunting. Heh. And most of you came back?
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| − | <Brody> Mmm-hmm. Was a decent commander. Earthblooded, really settled guy. Bit of a poof, though, and not in the tolerable way, either.
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| − | Laranth shrugs. "Truth be told, I'd live a happy life without ever seeing a Fair One again, but... that's life."
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| − | <Brody> They're like roaches sometimes. But thankfully there's enough wands around here to discourage the smart ones. Just don't so South alone. Either them or bandits.
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| − | <Laranth> The South... I've heard it's exciting country, and not always pleasantly.
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| − | "Pfeh, excitement. I think I've had enough of that for a while. I can still smell fish, even when I'm away from here." Brody offers Laranth a lazy smile. "So... uh. Will you think about it?"
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| − | Laranth nods. "I'll talk to my friends about it. I will warn you, though: if you want a quiet life... we may not be the ones to travel with."
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| − | "I can handle it if the trip's worth the price of admission, sir." Brody nonetheless nods. "If you need me, just check with my troupe... ask for Red. They like to call me that."
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| − | <Laranth> Red? All right, I'll ask for you. More than likely within the next few days; I suspect we won't be in Solace much longer.
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| − | Brody chuckles. "Can't blame ya."
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| − | <Laranth> This place... well, we'll see how things go. In the meantime, back to work, I suppose? The sooner this gets done, the more time I'll have to think...
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| − | <Brody> Right right.... mebbe we can share a beer afterwards? Never had a drink with someone like you before.
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| − | Brody picks up another crate and gets right to lugging it along, looking just a bit more eager to finish.
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| − | "Certainly. I'll buy." Laranth nods, as if to seal the deal, and then gets back to lifting heavy things.
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| − | Brody replies with a big, goofy-grinning nod, and keeps on chugging along.
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| − | * back to [[/RisingForce|Rising Force]]
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