The Angel's Pain (open)

[Oichi]

It had been some time since Mark’s Town was destroyed. Oichi had done some snooping, but still could not find any good information about this Orange Plague. Still however she was out of both house and coin. Information was not cheap. Lucky for Oichi however she had a talent that went far beyond the swinging of a blade, or the stabbing of a spear. She had a skill with her voice. She could sing like an angel, and for the past three nights her song had been about her village destruction. Even with the morbid tune she had received quite a bit of coin, but in truth most of it went to pay for her room in the local inn and buying feed for her new horse Oda.

Oda was a burly horse. He was much larger than his small ride and was breed to be strong. His red coat told of his mix heritage. He was the most expensive commodity that Oichi owned, but he was also her greatest ally. Still the young maiden had another song to do for the day. If she completed seven she would get a discount on her room. Eagerly she walked back into the inn after feeding Oda and prepared herself to sing another song. Maybe this time it will be a bit more upbeat. The mood in the inn was starting to get a little dark.

[Oichi]

The maiden returned to the stage to sing her last son of the day. The mood was a bit dull as the news in Bern was not so great. Their was sightings of dragons, raiding of villages, and pledges about. The people in the tavern needed a real pick me up. So the maiden song a tune called city of flowers. The song itself told the story of a young warrior and a thief who meet in a town. It’s up beat lyrics and Charming tune brought some life into the eerie place. Everyone in the crowd had a smile on their face unfortunately that included some questionable people.

In the middle of her song Oichi noticed a group of men entering the tavern. They were dressed in crimson and black and had a very dangerous look about them. The maiden usually did not stick around such people, but since she was in the middle of a song she had no choice in the matter. After she finished singing she attempted to keep an eye on the men, but a crowed of fans rushed up too her and blocked her view. Many of the patrons asked for an encore and some of them were making proposals. It was the usual offers really, but a sudden pinch brought it all to an end. Oichi suddenly felt tired and fell to her knees. Before she hit the ground she was caught by one of the men in dark clothing.

“Are you alright”, asked the man as everyone else stared with concern. Oichi tried to answer, but found that she did not have the strength to open her mouth. She had been poisoned, and from what she could guess the man probably had something to do with it. It was one of the pains of being descended from an angle once spoke Oichi mother. Others desire you and that alone makes life hard.

[The Madness]

Oleg slowly entered the tavern, letting off a grunt as he wiped water from his hair, as it was a rainy night outside. He walked to the banister, only to notice hubbub going on near the stage. He raised his eyebrow, pushing trough the crowd as he noticed someone asking a young girl if she was alright. A rather pretty lass.. Reminded him of Grace.. He shook his head, going next to the man as he spoke. "Mayhaps you all should move a bit back and give her some breathing room. If people swarm her, she could potentially just feel worse." He nodded, waving his hand as he motioned people to back away.

[Oichi]

Who is this thought Oichi as her eyes turned toward the new person? There was something different about him than all the others, but it could just be the fact that he was old. Still however Oichi had no control of her body. Someone had poisoned her, and the idea of whatever they planned for her did not sit well in her mind.

“I think she just might be tired”, spoke the man in black. His grip tightens a bit on the maiden. “You know what they say about gifts from the heaves. They usually end up being a double edged sword. If I remember correctly she has a room in the tavern am I right barkeep”, spoke the suspicious man.

[The Madness]

"Well. Let's go and take her there, then. After you." Oleg kept his eyes on the man. He was the type he had dealt with before... Someone who could not keep it in his pants and just happened to find a victim. He would accompany him to ensure the lady would be safe. "I'm coming with you. You might need carrying help... And just general company and a watchful eye." Oleg nodded, folding his arms.

[Oichi]

“She sure does”, spoke the barkeep as he looked with worry. Oichi had made him a good bit of coin with her performances and he did not want to see this cash cow go. He presence alone doubled his usual sales and rose his popularity.

“Of course, of course”, spoke the man as Oleg spoke. He gave a slight nod to his friends and carried Oichi off to her room. He set the maiden on the bed and began to walk out. “Oh”, he spoke suddenly as he turned back to Oleg. “I never got your name”, asked the man.

Oichi was a bit too far out of it to know what was going on. The two men were out of ear shock. Her eyes could only see the roof and a bit of Olegs back other than that she could not move.

[The Madness]

"Call me Richter." Oleg nodded a bit, looking to Oichi as he stroked his chin. "Any idea what could have happened? Looking at her, she seems healthy physically, so it could not be a sickness... And if she has been here for long, it could not be stage fright. Maybe someone slipped something into a drink she had, or hit her with a dart? Would YOU have any idea on that?" Oleg peered at the man searchingly, searching trough his facial structure to determine if he would lie or not.

[Oichi]

While the man spoke with Oleg his friends exited the tavern. One of them went and grabbed a cart with a horse and swung around the back of the tavern and the other rode along. They stopped just below the window of Oichi room and waited for the signal from their friends.

“Yes there does seem to be something wrong with her”, spoke the man as he looked at Oichi. The man wore his poker face as Oleg began to question him. “I have no idea what you are talking about and I take offense to that. I am but a humble mercenary I don’t drug little girls and I don’t dart people. However since you are throwing around accusations I am going to have to assume that this was your doing. You did rush up to her after she almost fell.” The man had turned the accusations around and placed them on Oleg.

[The Madness]

"And how could I do that when I just walked inside while you were all around her." Oleg kept his arms folded, his eyes still scanning the man. Something felt fishy about him... Oleg then shook his head, having formulated a plan to at the very least leave the girl alone for the night. "You are a mercenary, I'm a gods damn soldier of the army. Now, can we just get the hell out and leave the girl to be? Who knows what she has, and she should be left alone to rest."

[Oichi]

“Very well”, spoke the man as he closed the door to Oichi’s room. He then looked at Oleg and opened his mouth to speak again. “I think we got off on the wrong foot. We are both simply worried about the well being of the young lady. So how about I pay for your drink. Consider it an apology for my rudeness.”

The man walked back into the main hall of the tavern and ordered two drinks from the barkeep. After doing so another man got up from his seat paid his tab and walked outside. That man walked around back and gave the two men in waiting the signal. The second man began to climb up the back of the building and enter into the open window.

[The Madness]

Oleg shook his head at the offer. "I do not drink, but thank you." He watched the man go downstairs, grunting as he then opened the door to Oichi's room and simply sat down on a chair next to the bed, beginning to sharpen his sword silently. He was not letting anyone come in... She reminded him of Grace strongly. He had not seen the woman after that one night and the day after.. But he did leave her with his medallion, to have her sell it if she would encounter hard times.

[Oichi]

“Smart fellow”, spoke the man as he sipped on his drink. His comrades were already coming up the back and his portion of the scheme was already over. Instead of warning them or going back up to deal with Oleg he simply sat at the bar. No reason to risk his own neck when he already did his job.

The second man arrived at the wind in very little time. They had been pulling this scheme for quite a while and he had become quite skilled at climbing buildings. As he pulled himself up to the window he noticed that someone else was in the room. “Curse you Molder you lazy dog”, he murmured to himself. He needed to get rid of Oleg if their plan was to go off without a hitch. The man pulled out a knife from his back pocket and threw it at the mercenary. As the knife flew through the air he rolled over the window seal and entered into the room.

[The Madness]

Oleg had gotten himself ready for something like this, having expected trouble as he practically leaped off of the chair, the knife hitting where he was a few seconds ago. He then proceeded to kick the door open, yelling. "Oi! Someone is trying to take or kill the singer! I need help over here!" Oleg then turned to face the fellow, smirking. "What are you going to do, little fox? Face the wrath of a whole tavern, or escape?" Oleg prepared his sword.

[Oichi]

As the man sipped on his drink he heard Oleg voice ring through the tavern. In an instant the tavern went from a dull whisper to a great uproar. Mercenaries and Soldiers alike drew their blades and weapons and charged up the stairs. Having a pleasant voice was always a good way to make allies and this maiden had made them in spades. Not wanting to be labeled as an outcast the man rose from the bar and drew his own sword. Best to join in rather than be suspicious later.

The second man looked at Oleg with disgust. “Maggot”, spoke the man as he took a swing at Oleg. Rather than aim to actually fight the man he instead forced him to give some ground. He pulled all the way through with his attack turning around in a complete circle. He then sprinted back towards the window and jumped clean out. From the tavern window he hit the sack of hay that was in the back of his partner’s cart. “Ride”, he screamed as the man took off. For now they had been repelled. Oichi witnessed and heard it all in her poisoned state. Some of her muscle control was starting to come back, but slowly. She could now raise her body, but moving still came hard to her.

[The Madness]

Oleg parried the attack with his sword, falling back a little as he saw the man now sprinting to the window. He shook his head, proceeding to move back to Oichi, hearing people coming as he spoke. "Well. Atleast we got off that tight spot, eh, Grace?" Oleg then immediately bit his tongue, realizing that he had said Grace. "... Apologies for that. You just reminded me of someone. Anyways.. You are not harmed, I hope?" Oleg knelt down, peering over her as he then nodded, not seeing any wounds. He then walked to the door, meeting the people who had come upstairs. "The assassins left once I yelled for you.. But I suggest keeping guard.. And also keeping an eye on that robed fellow there. He came here with one of the assassins." Oleg nodded.