Wild ARMs: Group 1, Chapter 1, Good Samaritans or Mercenaries... - Page 2

gurusloth · 07-08-2006, 01:02 AM

The desperation in the mayor's voice made the bile rise up in the back of Jasper's throat. From the looks of things, the woman and the strange cloaked man hadn't even come here for the job, they just had bad timing.

Jasper cleared his throat and said, "Look, I'm here for the 1000 gella bounty offered for taking care of these hobs." He motioned towards the other Drifters. "I'll happily split the amount with any who help, and I'll purchase whatever I need from you before I leave town once I've earned my share." He could probably restock his supplies for free if he asked, but taking advantage of someone in these circumstances would only leave him with a bad taste in his mouth. Besides, the local merchants would probably give him a hefty discount if he came back with their missing relatives.

"If the hobs are coming today, our best bet would be to wait until they arrive and ambush them. Then we'll follow their backtrail to where they've taken the townspeople and finish off whatever force remains there." Jasper motioned towards the front office door. "Mr. Mayor, could you show us where the...uh, offerings...have been left?"

Krylo · 07-08-2006, 01:10 AM

The mayor rose to his feet quickly, a spark of hope appearing in his eyes as he did so for the first time since they had met. "Of course, thank you so very much," he said quickly, as he moved to the door, swinging it open and making his way toward the edge of town, making certain that at least one of the drifters had followed.

As the group got closer they could here a soft sobbing, the source of which only became apparent as they reached the edge of the town, near an abandoned barn.

There were five horseless carts each loaded with money, food, and various other objects of worth heaped into them sitting on the outskirts of the town, but the thing that had been making the noise was one half-starved village girl, appearing to be in her mid-teens, chained to the corner of one of the carts. The mayor did his best to avoid looking toward her as he addressed the drifters once more, "Thank you, once again... I will pray for your success."

Truce · 07-08-2006, 03:31 AM

"There is no need to worry," Truce said, as he walked around the carts, analyzing the offering, including the girl. It didn't appear that there was room to stowaway anywhere, at least not without making it too obvious. "So long as you have us you have can be assured of the rescue of your friends and family.

"However," he continued, glancing over to the other drifters and the mayor, "That is only if we all cooperate with each other."

Truce began with an explanation of what they needed to know. First, it was important to know how big the gang was and how they acted as well as who the leader was and how he acted and appeared. Then they needed to know when the hobs took their offering, how many would come, where they would enter and leave, and how much attention they paid to what they were given. Finally, he asked the other drifters what they were capable of-if they were going to be working together, they had better damn know if they could watch each other's back in a fight or not.

"If you couldn't tell, I'm a crossbowman," he said, making a quick gesture to the weapon on his back. "It will be no trouble at all for me to take out a hob before they see what's coming. Just don't expect me to pull a miracle out of my ass and take them down by myself if they all suddenly try to escape on horse."

Red Mage Black · 07-08-2006, 03:20 PM

Leon looked at the mayor, he was disappointed that the man would offer up a young girl to those wretched Hob's. Truce had also caught his attention.

"You're using a crossbow? Huh, can't fight them up close now can you? I'll charge up close while you stay back and.... cover me."

Leon crossed his arms and looked at Truce.

"Or would you like to be up close where they can kill you easier?"

Truce · 07-09-2006, 12:27 AM

"Honestly?" he asked, turning to face Leon, looking over the older man once. "I'm not sure you could kill me, even if we were up close. Worry about yourself before you worry about me.

"And before you worry about yourself, worry about the townsfolk first."

Truce took a few steps towards the shackled girl and motioned Leon and the others to look at her. "What do you think the hobs will do if you just charge in and try to fight them?"

gurusloth · 07-09-2006, 01:57 AM

"We should unlock her now," said Jasper, motioning to the emaciated girl chained to the cart. "She'll only get in the way once the fighting starts."

He gave an annoyed look towards the other two men and muttered to them under his breath, "Listen, I know none of us asked to be working together, but it'll go a lot easier if we can all try to be a little more civil. I, for one, would like to live long enough to spend this bounty, and I expect you both would as well."

Jasper looked over to where the young woman was standing quietly. "What about you? Got any questions before the hobs show up?"

Truce · 07-09-2006, 04:02 AM

Truce nodded as Jasper recommended freeing the girl. "I see you understand the situation we'd be put in. However, they're expecting a girl, and so we'll need someone to replace her."

Now he was beside the girl, gingerly tracing a chain link with his finger. With a small unseen smile, he glanced back at the group. "There's only one person suitable for that, though.

"Me."

Before the others could voice their concerns, Truce held up a hand to silence them. "Out of the four of us gathered only two of us could pass as this girl, and accidentally killing one of you with a stray shot wouldn't be in our best interests anyway.

"Besides," he continued, his eyes landing on Leon. "I want to show you just how easy it is to kill me."

If Truce were the type to laugh maniacly, there was no doubt that he would have been doing it now.

mammothtank · 07-09-2006, 09:55 AM

"Hmm..." Once again, Rebecca thought hard. "I think I might have an idea.

"I'll volunteer to replace the girl, but we'll need to set things up so that I can fight at a moment's notice. I'm thinking that if we leave the shackles loose enough that I can undo them immediately and somehow hide my axe in the cart, I can take them by surprise when they show up."

In the back of her mind, Rebecca wondered why hobs would be interested in human women in the first place, but didn't give voice to the question.

Truce · 07-09-2006, 03:00 PM

Truce shook his head. "You know, more thought went into this than just 'I feel like being pretty'. Even if you're able to hide your axe effectively in the cart, there will still be a delay that will leave you vulnerable. In your haste, you may also damage the cart and anything on it, which we want to avoid doing.

"I can easily defend myself without a weapon while you guys cut off their escape. I'm used to being surrounded on all sides, and I know a few tricks up these long sleeves of mine.

"More importantly, you would be more effective in cutting off their escape. With the barn on one side, and you all on the other three, we'd have little trouble catching them. It means that we won't have to kill all of the hobs, and we want to keep at least one alive to lead us back to their den anyway."

gurusloth · 07-09-2006, 11:29 PM

Jasper was mulling over Truce's suggestion when he noticed something...odd. He thought at first that it was only dust blowing in the wind, but it was too consistent and the wrong color as well.

"Truce...is that smoke coming out from under your cloak?"

07-08-2006, 01:02 AM	#11
gurusloth Master of muthafu�%in' invisibility Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,224	The desperation in the mayor's voice made the bile rise up in the back of Jasper's throat. From the looks of things, the woman and the strange cloaked man hadn't even come here for the job, they just had bad timing. Jasper cleared his throat and said, "Look, I'm here for the 1000 gella bounty offered for taking care of these hobs." He motioned towards the other Drifters. "I'll happily split the amount with any who help, and I'll purchase whatever I need from you before I leave town once I've earned my share." He could probably restock his supplies for free if he asked, but taking advantage of someone in these circumstances would only leave him with a bad taste in his mouth. Besides, the local merchants would probably give him a hefty discount if he came back with their missing relatives. "If the hobs are coming today, our best bet would be to wait until they arrive and ambush them. Then we'll follow their backtrail to where they've taken the townspeople and finish off whatever force remains there." Jasper motioned towards the front office door. "Mr. Mayor, could you show us where the...uh, offerings...have been left?" __________________ Mashirosen: I personally will not rest until I have turned NPF into ___________I"My Little Pony Collector's E-Snuggle Social Club - No Boys Allowed" Last edited by gurusloth; 07-08-2006 at 01:05 AM.

07-08-2006, 01:10 AM	#12
Krylo The Straightest Shota Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: It's a secret to everybody. Posts: 17,789	The mayor rose to his feet quickly, a spark of hope appearing in his eyes as he did so for the first time since they had met. "Of course, thank you so very much," he said quickly, as he moved to the door, swinging it open and making his way toward the edge of town, making certain that at least one of the drifters had followed. As the group got closer they could here a soft sobbing, the source of which only became apparent as they reached the edge of the town, near an abandoned barn. There were five horseless carts each loaded with money, food, and various other objects of worth heaped into them sitting on the outskirts of the town, but the thing that had been making the noise was one half-starved village girl, appearing to be in her mid-teens, chained to the corner of one of the carts. The mayor did his best to avoid looking toward her as he addressed the drifters once more, "Thank you, once again... I will pray for your success." __________________ I am very tired.

07-09-2006, 01:57 AM	#16
gurusloth Master of muthafu�%in' invisibility Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,224	"We should unlock her now," said Jasper, motioning to the emaciated girl chained to the cart. "She'll only get in the way once the fighting starts." He gave an annoyed look towards the other two men and muttered to them under his breath, "Listen, I know none of us asked to be working together, but it'll go a lot easier if we can all try to be a little more civil. I, for one, would like to live long enough to spend this bounty, and I expect you both would as well." Jasper looked over to where the young woman was standing quietly. "What about you? Got any questions before the hobs show up?" __________________ Mashirosen: I personally will not rest until I have turned NPF into ___________I"My Little Pony Collector's E-Snuggle Social Club - No Boys Allowed"

07-09-2006, 09:55 AM	#18
mammothtank We make good team! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: kicks Iowa Posts: 1,722	"Hmm..." Once again, Rebecca thought hard. "I think I might have an idea. "I'll volunteer to replace the girl, but we'll need to set things up so that I can fight at a moment's notice. I'm thinking that if we leave the shackles loose enough that I can undo them immediately and somehow hide my axe in the cart, I can take them by surprise when they show up." In the back of her mind, Rebecca wondered why hobs would be interested in human women in the first place, but didn't give voice to the question. __________________ Don't say goodbye 'Cause I don't want to hear those words tonight 'Cause maybe it's not the end for you and I And although we knew This time would come for me and you Don't say anything tonight if you're gonna say goodbye (Skillet - Say Goodbye)

07-09-2006, 11:29 PM	#20
gurusloth Master of muthafu�%in' invisibility Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,224	Jasper was mulling over Truce's suggestion when he noticed something...odd. He thought at first that it was only dust blowing in the wind, but it was too consistent and the wrong color as well. "Truce...is that smoke coming out from under your cloak?" __________________ Mashirosen: I personally will not rest until I have turned NPF into ___________I"My Little Pony Collector's E-Snuggle Social Club - No Boys Allowed"

07-08-2006, 03:31 AM	#13
Truce Lakitu Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,856	"There is no need to worry," Truce said, as he walked around the carts, analyzing the offering, including the girl. It didn't appear that there was room to stowaway anywhere, at least not without making it too obvious. "So long as you have us you have can be assured of the rescue of your friends and family. "However," he continued, glancing over to the other drifters and the mayor, "That is only if we all cooperate with each other." Truce began with an explanation of what they needed to know. First, it was important to know how big the gang was and how they acted as well as who the leader was and how he acted and appeared. Then they needed to know when the hobs took their offering, how many would come, where they would enter and leave, and how much attention they paid to what they were given. Finally, he asked the other drifters what they were capable of-if they were going to be working together, they had better damn know if they could watch each other's back in a fight or not. "If you couldn't tell, I'm a crossbowman," he said, making a quick gesture to the weapon on his back. "It will be no trouble at all for me to take out a hob before they see what's coming. Just don't expect me to pull a miracle out of my ass and take them down by myself if they all suddenly try to escape on horse."

07-08-2006, 03:20 PM	#14
Red Mage Black Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Where the Sun isn't so warm. Posts: 2,673	Leon looked at the mayor, he was disappointed that the man would offer up a young girl to those wretched Hob's. Truce had also caught his attention. "You're using a crossbow? Huh, can't fight them up close now can you? I'll charge up close while you stay back and.... cover me." Leon crossed his arms and looked at Truce. "Or would you like to be up close where they can kill you easier?"

07-09-2006, 12:27 AM	#15
Truce Lakitu Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,856	"Honestly?" he asked, turning to face Leon, looking over the older man once. "I'm not sure you could kill me, even if we were up close. Worry about yourself before you worry about me. "And before you worry about yourself, worry about the townsfolk first." Truce took a few steps towards the shackled girl and motioned Leon and the others to look at her. "What do you think the hobs will do if you just charge in and try to fight them?"

07-09-2006, 04:02 AM	#17
Truce Lakitu Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,856	Truce nodded as Jasper recommended freeing the girl. "I see you understand the situation we'd be put in. However, they're expecting a girl, and so we'll need someone to replace her." Now he was beside the girl, gingerly tracing a chain link with his finger. With a small unseen smile, he glanced back at the group. "There's only one person suitable for that, though. "Me." Before the others could voice their concerns, Truce held up a hand to silence them. "Out of the four of us gathered only two of us could pass as this girl, and accidentally killing one of you with a stray shot wouldn't be in our best interests anyway. "Besides," he continued, his eyes landing on Leon. "I want to show you just how easy it is to kill me." If Truce were the type to laugh maniacly, there was no doubt that he would have been doing it now.

07-09-2006, 03:00 PM	#19
Truce Lakitu Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,856	Truce shook his head. "You know, more thought went into this than just 'I feel like being pretty'. Even if you're able to hide your axe effectively in the cart, there will still be a delay that will leave you vulnerable. In your haste, you may also damage the cart and anything on it, which we want to avoid doing. "I can easily defend myself without a weapon while you guys cut off their escape. I'm used to being surrounded on all sides, and I know a few tricks up these long sleeves of mine. "More importantly, you would be more effective in cutting off their escape. With the barn on one side, and you all on the other three, we'd have little trouble catching them. It means that we won't have to kill all of the hobs, and we want to keep at least one alive to lead us back to their den anyway."

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