Marquis of Santaruz (Merio's quest)

[Merio D. Calderon]

Stop one: Santaruz

Merio had been called to Santaruz by order of the marquis, for reasons unknown. After a bit of asking around, he learned that he wasn't the only one who received a summons like this, only the most recent. Lately Santaruz has been contacting the smaller territories of Lycia for some reason or another, he's never quite figured out why. Of course it would all become clear shortly, but at the moment all he knew is that the lord wished to see the Knight-Commander of Tania, and he would comply. Truthfully Tania had little in the means to refuse, Santaruz was the largest and wealthiest of the Lycian league and it could crush Tania with nary a thought if it so desired. Meanwhile if they were proposing an alliance of sorts, it could be of great benefit.

This summons is what spurned Merio's quest to explore about the country of Lycia. He was leaving Tania either way, but this way he could use the trip as an opportunity to learn about what is happening in Lycia as well as drum up support for Tania. Along on this quest was his lord, Audric, and he hired the mercenary Orcleous to come along as well. Then there was Chelsea, and perhaps her friend Claire as well. A motley crew to say the least, but five bested one, and it was better to have company upon a trip such as this. It could be long, and boring, or perhaps even dangerous. Who knows what is happening in the other territories? Perhaps too much for him alone to handle. Either way it's best to have men at his back, Merio was a leader and he worked better when he had people to lead.



What would otherwise be a normal day like any other was marred by a dark cloud and a storm of grey. It was otherwise a chilly day late fall, maybe early winter. Sometimes it was hard to tell the two apart, perhaps Merio should invest in a calender. A frigid rain fell from the sky, sending shivers down his spine as the icy air eased on into his bones. It was like a mist of cold coming from a thick sky of grey, the clanging of thunder was in the distance but it lacked the lightning that preceded it.

The streets were bare, no one wished to be out on such a foul day. Of course when you were preparing for a long journey you didn't have time to be picky about weather, and so Merio found himself wandering the streets of Santaruz nearly alone. It wasn't quite as abandoned as he said, people rushing through the rain from building to building and people bundled up in coats of fur and hide to stay warm. Merio felt a small chill through his spine as he walked about with his tunic and a coat, getting wet and hopefully not sick. He had left his armor this time because he hated having to clean it after rain, and it wasn't so important that he have it on today. To prevent rusting required a lot of time wiping down and waxing his armor and really he just didn't have the time for that right now.

He was near the guard station, waiting for a few minutes to see if anyone would show. He wasn't planning on it, but he didn't want to be gone if they did show. Just in case.

[Chelsea Dagger]

Chelsea strode out of the tavern that she had called home for over a year. It felt strange, knowing that she would soon be walking out of that door for the last time. For now, she planned to return at least one more time before she left to gather her belongings. She figured that it might not make the best impression on the Marquis if she showed up with a bow and arrow on her back. She wasn't sure if Merio was expecting her to show up for not, but she had decided the other night that she would indeed accompany him on his visit. She wasn't sure if Claire would be coming today or not, but she did know that she would be joining them when they left the town. It was good to know that there would be at least one friendly traveling with her. Merio might be a second, but Chelsea really hadn't had too many interactions with the man to know for sure.

She raised her head up to the sky and closed her eyes, letting the rain wash over her face. Her eye had healed enough that Claire's make up was no longer needed, so she needn't worry about it washing off. She had opted to wear some of her Sacaen clothing again. She decided that she would start wearing her traditional clothing again on this trip. It felt right. As she started off, she remembered Merio saying something about him staying at the knight's barracks. As she walked, a smile grew on her face as people rushed around her, trying to get out of the rain. She never understood why people hated the rain so much, she always found it enjoyable. Maybe it was a Sacaen thing. She pulled herself out of her thoughts just in time to notice Merio standing near a guard station. Well, that makes things easy. She walked up to him with a wave. "Morning. Ready for the big meeting?"

[Orcleous]

So here he was, on this adventure. They pay was good, by Orcleous standards, but the opportunity was far more important. Sir. Knight was someone important and importance meant influence. Sure Orcleous could try to use this time to put his name out there as a mercenary or he could use this as a opportunity to get involved with nobles and the ruling class. Maybe he would be able to pull a commission or maybe even be offered a good place in somebody's court. One would never know. It was a opportunity and Orcleous was not going to miss out on it.

Orcleous walked through the streets following behind sir Knight a few steps or so. He was wearing his new work gear. Not the crimson breast plate and thick boots of a mercenary, but his green robes and cowl of an assassin. Orcleous till wore his breast plate, don't be fooled, but he buried the thing under his cowl and daggers making it harder for people to see it. The thick cloth and leather kept the rain away from his armor and gave Orcleous a very sinister look. Orcleous walked through the street almost like a villain in a old tale of knights and thieves. The rain dripped from his hood and the cold wind howled all around him.

"Nothing personal Sir. Knight, but I think you should have wore your armor", spoke Orcleous to Merio. Sir. Knight just seems to roll off Orcleous tong. It was now Merio's unofficial nick name. Though Orcleous did have a feeling that he and Merio had talked about a similar thing before. A little bit of deja vu. "I know you are probably worried about it rusting in all, but walking around without armor is asking for trouble. I mean there may be a mugger around the corner or somebody you have wronged in the past. You never know who or what may come after you. Though if you are confident in your skill and your ability to make friends to toss such thoughts aside more power to you, but it just makes my job a lot harder", spoke Orcleous as he pushed through the rain to walk ahead of the man.

Orcleous never trusted nobles. That was the golden rule of being a mercenary. When you are about to get paid, expect betrayal. When walking in the rain expect ambush. Always wear your armor, and always sleep with your sword by your side. These small rules kept Orcleous alive on may occasions and saved his but from more than one ambush. The world was a honor less and cruel place. Always expect the unexpected.

[Orc Npced till Elias Returns]

[Audric Tania]

Santaruz. Entirely different from Tania. Larger, more bustling, full of sights and smells the young lordling had not experienced before. However he couldn't help but notice that with more people seemed to bring more hardship. Before he had left on this journey with Merio he had spent as much time trying to move among the people of Tania's villages and learn how life went through their eyes. The red haired lordling's coat was tucked further around him. Unfortunately he stuck out like a sore thumb in the browns and grays of town with a light blue ornately designed cloak coiled around him and draped over his shoulders. The hood was tucked down, hanging behind his neck open faced. Though he moved through streets he felt the weight of Buidhe strapped to his shoulder beneath his cloak with the tip pointing up behind his neck through the loose fitting segment designed purely for the neck. The weapon was a symbol to him, and a weapon of House Tania. Though he carried it, he had admittedly been unable to wield any of it's powers yet. To him, it felt no different from that of a standard lance; save for being slightly sturdier. For once he was glad the cloak was a bit larger, designed for him to wear over-top of his armor the cloak had been tailored too large even then. Indeed his ornately designed blue and gold plated armor had been firmly attached to his figure. The metallic sounds of each step were muffled though in the constant sound of falling rain.

He had a special fondness of the descending droplets. Training in the rain, laboring in the rain, or walking in the rain he found a serene touch to it. It reminded him of a less...complicated moment in his life. Lifting the armored hands Audric placed them atop a slightly wet wooden fence post near the center of town and gazed upwards. He eased his eyes closed while he simply allowed the relaxation sensation of it to wash away the anxiety eating away at him. Except for rare moments in his life that he could count on one hand he'd never met a noble before; especially not another Marquess. He tried to remember the "Training" sessions he'd had with his mother and father before departing. Practice of how nobility interacted with each-other. Audric parted his lips to open his mouth, only slightly but enough to ensnare a few droplets of water.

He'd have to meet Merio soon wouldn't he? He'd not actually interacted much with the companions he'd convinced to join them thus far. What with Audric attempting to sneak away to observe the people within Santaruz'es confines he only felt like it was a natural opportunity. This would be the first time he actually /met/ them. However his mind continued to turn on interactions with the standing lord over what was possibly the economically most stable territory in Lycia. He knew that a lord had to look the part of one; to which end he had opted to wear his armor because he felt it simply..defined him more. He was no great scholar, he had yet to try his hand at diplomacy and he was far too young to pretend otherwise. What was he good at? Work. Hard work, and combat. He would ensure that this if nothing else established his status. While he wandered the street he lifted his left hand up to be free of the cloak and bask in the rain. Again, an armored appendage; though he raised it to his chin in thought. Pondering over the meeting, Audric had almost bypassed Merio entirely. An embarrassing notion and given the hot-headed nature of the lordling it was most likely a first for Merio to see of him. Though he acknowledged the two people with but a glance of his amber hued eyes his gaze shifted directly to the Knight-Commander of his home. He inclined his head forward a bit nodding as he spoke cheerily.

"I see your out enjoying the weather all ready Ser Merio. It seems most of Santaruz would be against you in this thought.Almost ready I take it?"