A Meeting with a Mercenary [LCO]

[Donovan]

It was a sunny afternoon in Tania, the hooves of their horses kicked up small puffs of dirt as they rode. They being the Silver Tongue and 3 of his closest subordinates. Doogan, the dishonored Halberdier from Santa Cruz, rode on a huge red horse that he claimed to have won in a bet; Malk rode a small, grey palomino, with about as much dexterity of a no legged cat - his staff gripped tightly in his hand; and Brandon, the earnest young Cavalier, rode close at Donovan’s side, ready to supply his commander with water, wine, or snacks at a moment’s notice. Don thought the kid’s awe of him was absurd and entirely unnecessary… but who was he to say no to good service?

He wasn’t sure what to expect when they met the Tanian. Don’s access to the nobility was limited to when Wein invited him to sit quietly in the war room. And that was further limited by them trying to keep the mercenary’s involvement with Laus secret. It doesn’t matter to the nobles how many lives you’ve saved, how much battle you’ve seen, or how clever your strategy is; if you don’t have noble blood pissed into your veins you’re only good to be bled on the battlefield.

And the Tanian was still young. Probably arrogant, pampered, and foolish. Don had no idea why Wein wanted to have this Audric kid help with rooting out the Lich King in Lycia. Don needed a scouting party and a strike team. They’d eliminate the threat without having to involve the bureaucracy. And Laus's military aid should have been enough.

They approached the castle and Don, ever the performer, put on his most beguiling, humble commoner smile. “Ho, there, Guard! I am Donovan, commander of the Nameless. His lordship, Audric of Tania should be expecting me for an audience.” Hopefully it wouldn’t take a lifetime to get into the castle. Your man was starved.

[Audric Tania]

Seriously. How many more books was the old man going to try to make him memorize? Why. Why. Why did he care about some minor lord's familial connections to a lesser baron in Ilia? That was legitimately the point when he'd excused himself and claimed his stomach was failing him and he required rest. And what, boys and girls was great for an ailing stomach? Ale. A huge mug of Ale, while admiring beautiful women and possibly a brawl. That was what made life far better. So that was what he'd gone out to focus on. The guards mentioned him requiring an escort, to which he'd promptly laughed at. They were in Tania. He could see his looming home with it's big walls pretty much from any street corner. So why would he need to know fear?

No. He'd gone, and gotten himself some Ale. Ale, and a large well roasted serving mutton. Now there was however, a difference between obtaining such, and the beauty of actually indulging in it. So there he was, at one of his favorite Tavern's in all of Tania. Partially because of the food there, and partially because he was sweet on one of the bar maid's. Sadly, she hadn't been working that day. His eyes could find something else to enjoy for the day no doubt. A fine white tunic covered his upper torso and he wore plain brown hempen pants. He'd not planned to see any combat given he wasn't precisely marching off to war or anything, so he'd seen no need to adorn himself in his armor. So it was that the youth had sat Buidhe down at his side, and was lifting his mug to toast the beauties of a carnivorous diet. Before that large cup of heaven could reach his lips, he heard a woman shrieking. Her word's weren't hard to make out. He lowered his mug almost instantly.

"Thief! THIEF!"

Just outside of the Tavern door, a figure had run past with a brief second before the feminine figure went chasing after and the lingering shout came through into the tavern once more. Most lifted their heads. A few rose up. Audric instantly launched from his table, the lengthy bar seat grinding along the wooden floor as he grabbed for his spear and went running along the wall of the Tavern's other face. He knew the streets well, and he knew that the one the thief was heading for had only one possible branch to turn. So with all the grace of a drunken bull the crimson haired lordling threw his spear by it's strap over his shoulder and crashed against the heavy tavern door shoulder first, hand instantly pulling on the latch as he shoved the wooden slab open with the groan of it's large metal hinges. A man with his face partially obscured by a shawl of sorts was running his way, and right behind was the woman attempting to catch what looked like her coin purse.

Scowling, as his blood began to boil, the Tanian youth rushed forwards even while the man tried to skid to a halt. Roaring with all the grace of years of political training, Audirc threw himself with all his weight into the man. Snarling even as he crashed into him with an outstretched arm hooking around him to pin him beneath his body.

"RAAAAAARRGH!"

Yes. That was the sound of Tanian nobility alright, and had likely reached the guardhouse right around the corner, as well as the streets near-bye. A flailing of struggling limbs transpired while Audric tried to pin the man. He was taller than the average man and well built for his age which gave him the advantage. Usually.


--

"Ho, there, Guard! I am Donovan, commander of the Nameless. His lordship, Audric of Tania should be expecting me for an audience."

The guardsmen looked at the young mercenary through the slitted visor in his helm. Though other soldiers were stationed near and around the gate it wasn't uncommon for such requests and didn't warrant them surrounding or any such. The man moved to the faint sounds of clinking armor plates as he faced Donovan briefly to catch the sum of him, so he knew what better to announce within the castle. Until a flash of crimson caught his attention from across the street. The man's body instantly went rigid as he spoke abruptly.

"M-My lord! Your timing is fortuitous! This man claims-..my lord..who is that man? What's going on?"

The other guards were starting to move from their post to the lordling, while the one Don had addressed remained where he was. Approaching from the rear, was Audric with his tunic slightly torn. A black and blueish bruise forming nicely around the side of his temple and left eye, and a faint trickle of blood trailing from his nose. The lordling was also toting a man over his shoulder(But not the same one with Buidhe. Sharp spears were dangerous for sneaky thieves to be near.) who was tied up around his arms, his hands bound behind his back with more rope, and his ankles tied together. There was a bit of rope around his mouth as well, but not as tightly while the man partially attempted to bite at it and squirmed in the lordlings firm grip. Audric was smiling proudly, as if he'd just caught a fish "this big dad" and was ready to show it off.

"THIS, my fair gents, was a man looking to relieve a fine lady of her hard earned gold. I...convinced him that was a bad idea. He's crafty though! I figured a trip to the castle dungeon for a night or two might scare him out of his ways! Oh and um...he didn't hit me."

Audric turned to flash a grin towards the man who he now placed down for the guards to seize. Even if the man's face had slightly gone pale with fear moments later at Audric's words.

"Every lycian knows the severity of striking a Marquess or their children is usually life imprisonment or death so were lucky our man here wasn't fool enough to do such! No, I admit that I stumbled quite handily while out at the tavern! Wouldn't you know it, there was this fine bar-maid that I had my eye on and I didn't quite see the first step there!"

Though no one there likely believed his story, neither was anyone in the authoritative position to question his story. Sometimes having ruling power could be nice, who'd have thought? Audric turned to gaze at Don, not waiting for the other guard to continue before placing a hand on his hip while leaning to the side to stretch out his now increasingly sore left side. After all, that door hadn't looked as heavy as it felt to slam open. Gaze settling square on Don himself, Audric tilted his head and began to take in the man before him.


"The guard said you needed to speak to me? What can I help you with good sir?"

[Donovan]

Sweet lords above this noble was taking his time. But with a great clamoring behind him, Donovan turned around to see a red haired young man with a torn tunic and a black eye, with a prisoner restrained and draped over his shoulder. Thus Donovan, The Silver Tongue, met the noble, honorable Audric Tania - Son to the Marquess Tania. And thus, Donovan was incline to believe that Lord Audric of Tania was an idiot.

At least he seemed… some sort of kind idiot. The People’s Noble so he seemed to be playing. But truly he was nothing more than a teenage boy. He was, maybe, 18. And he was who Wein had sent him to parlay with to aid in defeating the Lich King. He was not sure if this boy was going to be a liability, let alone capable of leading an army. Hell, Don barely felt capable of leading an army.

“We have a mutual friend, my Lord. A certain Ostian who managed to not get himself blown asunder.” Whatever. He’d work with what he was given. He always did. Though he hoped that the Tanian Noble had enough sense to have him and his crew searched and questioned before they were brought into the castle. “You sure know how to make an entrance, my Lord.” That wasn’t untrue of course. Audric did make quite and entrance here. And while the mercenary felt like Audric was the type to not hold people to proper courtly etiquette. He knew he would need to keep to protocol.

[Audric Tania]

We have a mutual friend, my Lord. A certain Ostian who managed to not get himself blown asunder.

Well. Audric only knew one surviving Ostian of note. Wein. The survivor of house Lowell. They'd met in Santaruz while Audric was securing a small modicum of military support and negotiating trade deal, as well as the appropriate exchange and prices. Tania's branching roots of influence were finally beginning to spread. Wein had spoken of an organization. An allied effort of free forces and Lycian forces against Etruria. The Lycian Counter Offensive, he'd called it. A notion he himself greatly liked, and his mother had supported it. He'd imagined that if he'd been Marquess, he'd have favored it with out need to consult his council. Marchioness Luisella Tania however felt that she had to weigh out the options. Hear the perspectives of those for and against. Perhaps she had been in the right there as well. Audric was often too brash, and heated compared to the unwavering composition of his mother.

Audric nodded with acceptance towards Donovan's words. Inclining not to audibly affirm what wasn't public knowledge yet. As he stepped aside, the struggling thief was apprehended by two of the guards, who began to drag him forwards as the large gates doors of Castle Tania opened up fully. His demeanor changing some-what, aside from the faint grin as Donovan complimented him. At-least, he took it as a compliment.

You sure know how to make an entrance, my Lord.

Ahh. It wasn't like he'd come screaming in on a monstrous wyvern with spear ablaze and pinning some fiend from the Stygian abyss beneath Buidhe's tip. Now that would've been a grand entrance. However he could neither set Buidhe alight, nor ride a wyvern. Assuming they could even procure one from Bern. How wonderful would that be?! Some great black wyvern with spikes along its neck, the ridge of its spine and even maybe horns atop its head? That'd be fantastic. Alas, he cold barely ride a horse without falling off. Let alone ride a flying mount like a wyvern.

Audric quietly gestured for Donovan to follow him, adjusting his tunic despite it's torn state so that he could wipe the blood from his nose. Soon stains of crimson as bright as his fiery red hair swept across strokes of his pale shirt. Audric spoke only once he'd wiped the blood from his face, leading Donovan through the great hall and to the throne room where his mother likely sat. Guards stationed along the door-ways and idly patrolling the space turning to watch both their lord and the man who followed him.

The chambers were well lit, flames dancing upon masterfully masoned stone-work. Large heavy carpets running the length of the hall and to the steps they had to ascend before Audric quietly nodded to the guards stationed at the door to the room which they could safely converse. The lordling speaking quietly to Donovan while leading him to the room, where quietly upon the throne sat Luisella Tania. Her pale complexion and frail looking features entirely belittled by a gaze harder than granite. Luisella's look sweeping first from her injured son, before settling upon Donovan. Though he grinned confidently, and spoke with a bold tone, Audric always felt a chill traverse his spine when ever he saw the look he'd deemed His mothers "Ruling" face. An expression of near merciless resolve, and proof that she was the woman who had turned Tania from small farmers territory like Caelin into a land near prowess of Araphen and Pherae.

"Mother, I return. This is an associate of mine. "


Audric turned to gesture towards don while speaking towards him directly now.

"You come on behalf of Sir Lowell, do you not?"

[Donovan]

Donovan turned toward his companions as the fiery haired lordling gestured for him to follow, “Why don’t you all go ahead and explore the town,” He leaned to Doogan and whispered, “Try to get me some information on who this kid is, what do his people think of him and the like.” The Halberdier nodded and turned about to head toward the center of town and away from the castle. Brandon and Malk followed close behind.

Donovan followed Audric into his castle home. He’d never been inside castle Tania, even at the peak of his family’s fame and the nobility asking them to play at their feasts. It was more lavish than he’d expected. The Tania he knew growing up had been rather down and impoverished, but it seemed the rumors of their sudden prosperity was true. The small territory seemed to have become a much more affluent and powerful force in a rather short amount of time.

When they entered the throne room, Donovan saw just why the territory had grown into the powerhouse that it had. Luisella Tania sat upon her throne with a look so ferociously stern that Don had little to wonder about who was in charge of this chunk of Lycia. “My Lady, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Donovan and I am a confidant of Sir Wein Lowell.” The mercenary hoped that this woman was not the type of noble that looked down on those without royal blood. He hated asking the rich for any sort of aid, but he hated being rejected for it even more. “Sir Wein asked me to inform you of the threat that is currently facing Lycia, in the hopes that you might join us in defeating a very dangerous foe before they grow too great in power.”

[Audric Tania]

The Marchioness nodded quietly in response to Don's greeting. Her gaze leveling upon a soldier immediately to her right, before speaking in a tone of normal volume, but yet carried a sternness that seemed to fill the entire great hall with her word. Her head inclining though so the man could adequately and clearly discern every punctuated point. As if forcing him to hear her even had he been idle within his mind.

"Retrieve my husband. Tell him to bring his ledgers and logs with him."

Luisella Tania leaned back into her throne quietly while the man nodded with a salute before hurrying off. The armor plates of his uniform clinking together while he expedited. Audric's own gaze followed slowly before turning back to quietly tend his injuries with him using part of his shirt still. Definitively out of place compared to his mother's regal standing and poise, but also visibly focused on tending the bleeding first. The crimson haired youth turning to look at his mother once more when she began to speak to Donovan further. Even he still got the chills at times from his mothers "political" face. He'd seen worse when disciplined as a boy sure, but this was the side of her everyone saw.

"I understand. Tell me more of this terrible that threatens Lycia. I would know what precisely I am involving my forces, my son, and my people in before I haphazardly accept all terms. Though we will assist as we can, I would know what you do. "

Audric now looked to Donovan. Indeed curious as well, but having simply assumed it was the business with Etruria prospectively, this had his full attention from the possibility of being of the contrary.

[Donovan]

Luisella Tania leaned back with such control and undeniable power that Donovan couldn’t help but scramble to commit it to memory. He’d have to use that technique sometime, it was marvelous. “My Lady, Tania, I implore you to hear me fully on this particular threat, for it is something that most would never believe. You, of course, are aware of the monster threat that has been plaguing Lycia?” The Lady nodded. “And you are, I presume aware of how their behavior began to change lately? Becoming less mindless and more… strategic?” For a quick instant there was a flash of… something in her eyes. Don was too far from her throne to see exactly how she’d reacted, but he knew she’d been caught off guard, if only for a fraction of a second, with that information. And just as quickly as it had appeared it had disappeared. Her face once agin a mask of indifference.

“Go on.”

“My Lady, I convinced Wein to give me the funds and a writ of passage to gather a company and try to slay as much of the monster threat as possible. And what I found was harrowing. Within this past year, there have been more monsters and they’ve been acting strategically. I’ve lost members of my own squadron to their trickery because up until recently, they hadn’t been capable of it. So I started to do some digging. And what I found was harrowing. They’ve been ransacking small towns with military efficiency. Taking or killing everyone. They’re kidnaping people. And at first we couldn’t figure out why. But I found out why. And this is where things might get, well, less than easy to swallow.”

Donovan knew that he was getting into dangerous territory. But the Liar needed to tell the truth. “I assume you’ve heard the legends of the Lich King?” There was a silence in the room so think and palpable it could have been screaming. You sound like an idiot.