Ulai
Myrmidon
Nothing to be done.
Posts: 37
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Selibas
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Post by Ulai on Jul 20, 2015 20:54:38 GMT -6
Slumbering under a massive Blackthorn tree a stones throw away from the road that lead to the entrance to Santaruz, was Ulai a redheaded Nabatan swordsman. He was broad shouldered, but rather unassuming to look at. His unassuming look was what gave the impression that the sleeping man was such a good target. That, and the fact that he was sleeping. So when three highwaymen happened upon the man stretched out, back against the trunk, stomach facing out so that it caught a beam of sunlight, they took him to be a very easy target.
The slumbering Nabatan was woken up by a leather gag being shoved roughly into his mouth by a pair of hands covered in scars. A large man with a sword at his waist grabbed a fistful of his hair, and forced his head back so that the now wide eyed Ulai stared up at three men. Two of the men were massive, the one with a sword holding Ulai, the other with an axe standing with his arms crossed against a tree. A third thinner man, with a row of knives on either side of his ribs, was rooting through Ulai's bag.
The man holding Ulai by his hair spoke in a low tone, "Don't make any trouble and ya' might walk away." Ulai was glad he was gagged, if he hadn't been, he would have commented on how cliche that line was. Then he would have probably been dead. The man removed his hand and quickly tied Ulai's hands behind his back. Ulai closed his eyes, knowing what would be coming once the thin man found-
"Boris, come take a look at this chest." The man with the axe hurried over to his thinner companion, and ripped Ulai's puzzle box from the man's thinner fingers. He held it up in the light, and started to press the ring of buttons around the front. When nothing happened, he started to slide the several levers around on the top of the box. Still nothing happened. Through Ulai's gag he tried to speak, "Mngh hunja stmmmm." The large man with the sword looked at the man with the axe, "What do you want me to do boss? Untie him so he can open it."
The man, Boris presumably, looked for a second at the Nabatan's sword where it lay on the ground then said, "No, un-gag him, he'll explain how to open the box to Farin." The larger swordsman took the gag out of Ulai's mouth as Boris handed the thin man the box. The second the gag was out of Ulai's mouth he said, "You should really think of a better line for when you're trying to intimidate the people you're robbing." Ulai practically yelled, hoping that any passing bystander might manage to hear him, and come to his aid. Wouldn't that be a cliche.
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Audric Tania
Soldier
Posts: 57
Profession: Royal Hothead
Affiliation: Lycia
Affinity: Fire
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Post by Audric Tania on Sept 28, 2015 17:32:46 GMT -6
For once..it was nice to get out of the crammed walls and narrow streets within Santaruz. Tania's largest city was no where near as well established nor developed as Santaruz. Sure..their walls might've been as strong, or even sturdier. However that didn't make it larger...by any sense. First there was the people. Shouting. Yelling. Bustling about. Actually..bustling was likely the best word he could think of to describe Santaruz as a whole. Which was the complete opposite of Tania. It was growing, but no where near the constant traffic Santaruz saw. So, to get some quiet and peace outside of this? He was very grateful. He was...technically supposed to have a small group of soldiers protecting him. That was an unresolved issue. He'd ordered them to prepare for his departure of Santaruz and stockpile supplies. He also told them he'd be at his room within the Inn they were staying at. When he first set out with Merio, he was told to conceal his identity. It was all but begging for disaster to have him parading around openly. To be a lycian noble, was to be someone with enemies. He just didn't believe himself important enough compared to the other Lycian nobles to be worth targeting. Nor, he imagined, was his mother. Tania had not tread upon many toes in their newly found climbing power...yet.
So..his masterfully means of concealing his identity was to wear a brown traveling cloak snugly tied around the fairly ornate plate armor he sported. The Tanian coat of arms embedded upon both the center of his breastplate and on both shoulder plates. Buidhe however, the spear that had been passed through Tania for generations, was not hidden. It was one of their prized treasures. A spear with a temper to the blade that gave it a slightly darker hue in the metal, along with emerald stained polish to the wood; it stuck out quite well. An abnormally ornate weapon almost, especially with the regal rope fastened from the base of the spear to the butt of the shaft; a trait designed to allow improved use in both combat and transportation.
It was then that he heard the shout for help break his leisurely pace. Someone obviously in some form of discomfort. The red haired youth looked in the direction of the shout and quickly started running up the short hillside he walked along. The heavy jostling force of his armor bouncing from his sprint gave out a series of metallic clinking noises, though the armor was still mostly hidden beneath his brown cloak. Audric was grateful that his parents had the armor fashioned in sections, and not an entire suit of full platemail. It would've been a nightmare trying to run at all in such armor. Audric didn't really know what to expect...but when he saw the bound man struggling and the rather unfriendly looking gentlemen trying to stuff an unknown object back into his mouth, Audric made a rather astute in his mind assumption as to who needed help and shouted quickly.
There was of-course that slight irritation already building. He hated any form of wrongdoer..especially thieves, robbers, highwaymen, and brigands. Tania had been rampant with them, and his patience literally did not exist with them. His voice had a rather severe boom to it, and came out lower than even he expected as he shouted. "I'd step away from the man if you know what's good for you louts! Unless you'd like to taste the mix of my boot, your blood, the dirt beneath it!" Precisely the type of language one would expect of rising nobility. He'd work on that whole anger thing later...or eventually...if he could manage to put it on his to-do-list.
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Ulai
Myrmidon
Nothing to be done.
Posts: 37
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Selibas
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Post by Ulai on Oct 27, 2015 14:41:03 GMT -6
Ulai received a quick backhand for his volume. Bors growled looking down at Ulai, "Kill him." Ulai cleared his throat, "Well, if I might offer a counterpoint-" This time it was a square punch in the jaw. Ulai felt around his mouth with his tongue, taking care to check if he still had all his teeth. He did, perfect. If he was going to be some naked corpse found by the side of the road by a group of young boys who had just finished an existential coming of age journey, he'd prefer to keep his winning smile. However, today would apparently not be the day he died! Maybe.
"I'd step away from the man if you know what's good for you louts! Unless you'd like to taste the mix of my boot, your blood, the dirt beneath it!"
Ulai looked up at the broader swordsman, "Yeah! What he said!" The thinner man with the knives at his waist gave Ulai a kick to the ribs. Both swordsmen looked at their boss, who threw his head in the direction of the crimson haired man gripping his lance. Letting Ulai alone, the duo turned to this mysterious stranger and advanced on him. The broad swordsman pulling out his short blade, and his companion producing a knife as if to throw it. While everyone's attention was still focused on the new addition to the little group, Ulai wiggled himself slowly closer his sword laying on the ground. Trying his hardest to remain silent, he tried using his mouth to pry the sword from its sheath. His heart beat with triumph when he pulled exposed a few inches of iron. He turned over, and began another slow wiggle into position while the broad swordsman made his first swing at Ulai's savior.
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Audric Tania
Soldier
Posts: 57
Profession: Royal Hothead
Affiliation: Lycia
Affinity: Fire
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Post by Audric Tania on Oct 28, 2015 10:57:50 GMT -6
Audric grinned at the sight of the two men approaching him. Fire flowed through his blood just as bright as the crimson locks of hair messily rustling through the brief gust of wind. A sudden, almost deformed, bulge came into site along the left side of Audric's body under the brown cloak that covered his arms. An armored gauntlet moved to the thin rope around his neck, plate covered digits tugging at the strings to loosen them free. The cloak dropped, and the youths bold azure armor became entirely visible. Along his left arm, a solid crested shield was firmly tethered by two leather straps. His smirk widened into a full on grin as the man lifted the blade to strike. Audric lunged forward as his dominant arm clasped at Buidhe and flourished the blade. He extended his left arm and caught the blade on the shield, moving the armored slab forwards to shield bash the man before swinging Buidhe like a staff and crashing the butt of it into the mans jaw before twirling it once and holding it properly once more. Audric was, in that moment, like a bastion of metal plating. The crest of Tania upon both his shield and chest plate indicated that he was of Tanian royalty; though he hardly expected uncouth scatter brained thugs to recognize it. Especially thugs from Santaruz.
Audric kept his knees bent. His spear lifted to rest along the right side of his shield while his shield blocked most of his face, gaze leveled just barely over it. He began to rotate to the right steadily, circling the man who had shown up first for the chopping block as it was. Audric taunted him, speaking up as he circled the man. "I hope you aren't as bad to fighting as you probably are at attracting women; because your just a horrible wreck of a sight eh? Come on now. At-least one of your short-swords has to be decent, so why not the metal one eh?" Vulgar humor was perhaps, the greatest joy to taunt a foe with. Unsightly of a noble, no doubt, but that was what gave it so much fun. Then again, was it possible the man was too gormless to recognize it?
The soft ground beneath him made soft impressions as the lordling circled the man, much like a predator would a cornered prey. He suddenly rushed forwards, using his entire body weight to build force before trying to crash into the man and shoulder into him with his shield arm lined to crush his sword arm and trap the blade sideways before it could swing. As he did so, he thrusted Buidhe forwards to impale the man in the lower stomach. Though it was with great aggression, such was his desire to seer the innocent man safe. Within Audric's mind, he could hear a quiet voice lingering, whispering to him.
Fight to Protect
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Ulai
Myrmidon
Nothing to be done.
Posts: 37
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Selibas
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Post by Ulai on Nov 4, 2015 12:52:10 GMT -6
Ulai wiggled and wiggled in his spot in the dirt, keeping his eyes on the boss of the operation. He looked on with a smirk as both his lackeys attempted to best the man with the spear. Ulai allowed his eyes to drift to the man as he fought the swordsmen, and spied a crest. He couldn't make it out while the man moved, and he doubted he would recognize it without time to think, but it was plain that the man was a noble. Did that make him the damsel in distress? Saved by some shimmering knight or young lord? He supposed it did. He'd need to look out to make sure some dragon didn't come along and kidnap him, he doubted this man would save him a second time. Of course, these bandits were much more real and dangerous than any storybook monster.
Finally, his bonds were cut thin enough that he could snap the ropes. Rolling over, Ulai whipped the sword from its hide sheathe, and severed the ropes that bound his legs. He leaped to his feet, and his sudden movement startled the man with the axe. Ulai cried out, "Well then ye devil, you now see the death the gods have chosen for you. I always knew we'd end up like this, raised as brothers, only to end up with one of us dying by the other's hand. Do not fret sweet Willaim, I shall deliver onto you a quick death!" The man's face was nothing but confused as Ulai began to quickly sidestep him, raising his shoulder to point his sword directly at his opponent. Then Ulai quickly bound in, on light feet, preparing to dodge and spin out of the way of the man's clumsy swings.
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Audric Tania
Soldier
Posts: 57
Profession: Royal Hothead
Affiliation: Lycia
Affinity: Fire
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Post by Audric Tania on Nov 29, 2015 9:45:52 GMT -6
Blood dripped from the tip of the ornate Tanian spear that now protruded from the brigand's lower hip. Bone broken beneath its metallic kiss, flesh torn and muscle sundered. Sanguine hair rustled as Audric ducked his head and roughly thrust his entire body forwards towards the crippled and disarmed male, legs pressing off the soft ground while his armored figure crashed into the wounded fiend. The man shouted in fright and pain as the red-headed princling snarled and headbutt the man. A throbbing pain ebbed in the back of his mind and he felt himself slightly dizzy as the man fell down upon his rear before leaning onto his back and clutching at his wounded hip.
For good measure, the young Tanian noble stomped his foot onto the man's sword arm near the upper shoulder. With heavy armored boots bolstering the force, there was a crack and a shattering shout as the boy took a moment to step away. He looked to the other as the man began to dodge and spin around. Perhaps as more of an...assurance thing..Audric paused and watched the man. To see if he'd need help or not. Audric's spear butt rested against the downed males still good shoulder so as to pin his arm there. The man was helpless. Broken. Bleeding. However Audric would not risk him returning to the frey to hamstring them. The armored lordling hoisted his shield a bit over his left arm and took to observing. He'd seldom seen fighting outside of militaristic style. Disciplined spearmen and swordsmen and axmen. All trained to fight in either rank and file or formations.
This was a fair opportunity to observe their movements. He could watch, and learn. It was moments like these that it might help him. He'd taken leave of his assigned guard detail, and would not have that presence of numbers to help him. Sure, fighting with four Tanian Soldiers would've been easy enough to make light work of these brigands; if anything the numbers alone guaranteed victory. In this instance where that was absent, it fell squarely onto his own knowledge. His own power. His own aptitude. He was okay with that ultimately. It was a great test of his own mettle. Having a better edge though never hurt. Crouching upon the wounded man and pressing his knee into the center of the mans chest just under his throat, Audric called out to the one that the fellow redhead battled. "If I was you I'd be careful. Your man here doesn't seem to be doing so well. So much blood, so quickly, you see. Might want to rethink yourself."
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Ulai
Myrmidon
Nothing to be done.
Posts: 37
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Selibas
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Post by Ulai on Nov 30, 2015 15:11:54 GMT -6
Ulai was barely able to bounce away from a harsh downward strike from the bandit leader's axe. While still on the balls of his feet, he brought his right elbow above his head, and sent his arm spinning around his head counter clockwise, as Ulai himself spun on his feet. As the Nabatan swordsman danced past the larger man with his axe, he cut a deep gash along the other man's left shoulder. The man cried out, and turned about, swinging his ace with a ferocity that matched a lion's. Ulai attempted to move away from the man's strike, but only succeeded in dodging part of the axe's wicked blade. The pole of the weapon's edge took the trim swordsman in the side, and drew a thin line in blood across his shirt. The former captive cursed and leapt back to create more distance between the two of them. The highwayman came on, but Ulai slid to his left, then quickly dashed around the bandit. He raked his blade across the bandits back, but the man was wearing some type of protection under his jerkin. The man tried to follow Ulai as the swordsman did the dance of the sands, but he wasn't near as fast as Ulai. The thin Nabatan was like a cat being chased by a clumsy dog, and he was too slippery. The mn kept turning, trying to catch Ulai, and as the man had almost completed a full circle, the sword dancer stooped, and stuck his sword in the man's gut, the highwayman simply spinning himself onto it. Lifting his right leg and shoving the body away, he retrieved his sword. Wiping it on the cloth under-section of his greave, the redhead spun on the balls of his feet to look at the man who'd come to his aid. He forced a slight smile, they were hard to do after spilling a man's blood. "Well, your man there on the ground seems out of place." OoC: Reference for sword style
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Audric Tania
Soldier
Posts: 57
Profession: Royal Hothead
Affiliation: Lycia
Affinity: Fire
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Post by Audric Tania on Jan 11, 2016 11:52:18 GMT -6
Audric kept himself in place to prevent the other man from rising. His knee firmly wedged into the wounded man's throat with Audric's shield on the ground. He grinned to him, before his gaze lifted back to the fight which went ever further in the Nabatan's favor. He slowly adjusted Buidhe back to his back and lifted himself up as the red-head finished the battle so swiftly. To prevent the other man from getting the turn on him though, Audric roughly pressed his armored boot the man's chest and gazed at him; the young Tanian noble speaking to Ulai while he crossed his arms over his chest, armor plates clanking from the metal grating upon itself. "Your pretty fast on your toes. It was impressive to see. "
He gestured downwards with a slight tuck of his chin and nodded to the wounded man before him before speaking to crimson haired swordsman again. Audric wasn't one to pass judgment if it wasn't his place, and given that this man was the other red-headed man's captor, it only made sense that he passed his verdict. His tone was far more severe however, and his brow furrowed into a scowl as he gazed at the wounded filth beneath him. "Well. This one's fate is up to you. He could be turned into the guards in town. I imagine a hefty penalty would await him there. I wouldn't think twice however of letting you take his life, since he sought to take yours. So I will not execute him, but leave him for you to decide. "
Audric stepped away from the man, but the daunting shadow of his presence loomed over none the less. With his explosive outburst earlier with shield alone proving a means to better the wounded male prior to his wounded state, Audric's standing likely housed a higher intimidation. He knew the man wouldn't try to get far, if he could get anywhere at all given his wound, and with his shield upon his arm now seeming like a large crest before his upper body given his arms were still crossed he seemed like naught but a stalwart sentinel ready to come down upon the man for slightest infractions.
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Ulai
Myrmidon
Nothing to be done.
Posts: 37
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Selibas
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Post by Ulai on Jan 11, 2016 16:00:50 GMT -6
Ulai bounced on his feet a bit before hurriedly returning the contents of his bags to said carrying instruments. Buying his puzzle box was in truth one of the smartest purchases he'd ever made. In truth he hadn't bought it for him, but instead for someone else. Now however it was his, and it had only ever been opened once. Of the two people other than himself Ulai had allowed to handle it neither had been able to figure it out. The person he'd first given it to had understood it fairly quickly, and given it back to Ulai with a gift for him inside on the day he could open the box. When he felt up to it, Ulai would begin to work away at the many little games around it, but had never gotten so much as a wiggle out of the lid. More often than not however, it served well as a distraction whether for a guard or bandits such as these. The day someone decided to break it would likely be the day he was arrested or killed.
Spinning back around he said with a smile, "Why thank you! You seem quite solid on your own." He crossed his arms in front of his person and looked down at the man underfoot. Once more in a rush he grabbed the very same gag that had been shoved in his own mouth and bent down to the man's face. "Open up." The man gave him a look, and if looks could kill Ulai would have died years ago. This one was mean though. "I'm not making horse noises, open your mouth." The man did so, and Ulai shoved it in. Then he grabbed the ropes that had bound him, though shorter than they were for his arms due to his cut, and bound the man's hands behind his back. "That ought a do it. Easier delivery to the guards!"
As Ulai rose, his face became more serious. He locked eyes with this younger redhead, whose eyes rested perhaps an inch lower than his own, then looked to his shield. A noble house, it must have been. Without thinking, he dropped to his knee. In a deathly serious voice, Ulai began an impression of a Lycian Knight. When he was with Nabatans, the voice would have sounded like a joke but Lycians had never understood how silly they sounded. He spoke, "My lord, I am in your debt. From now until the day which you dismiss me, I fail you, or my death, I would serve you to give payment for saving my life. It is a humble sword this, one freely given in the hopes that someday it will be I that aid you. If you will have me, I should be your sword brother, sir-" Looking up, he grinned and said in his normal, jovial, slightly accented voice, "I'm sorry, I don't know your name or house." He grinned, the normal attitude of a fool swearing his life to a complete stranger. Silly it may have all seemed, but what a beginning for a book.
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Audric Tania
Soldier
Posts: 57
Profession: Royal Hothead
Affiliation: Lycia
Affinity: Fire
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Post by Audric Tania on Jan 25, 2016 17:24:44 GMT -6
"Thanks. I try. Good thing I ate my meats and made sure to get plenty of sleep; takes work to grow up this strong." He shrugged his shoulders as if simple gesture, the metal platelets of his armor clanking while he did so. He shifted his stance and moved a bit to take another step backwards, now leaning into his own heel.
Audric made no attempt to hide the sly grin on his lips as the other red-hair man began to gag the wounded mans mouth. He wasn't a mindless killer, so that was a plus. On-top of that, he had red hair. That was also a good thing. Good choice in er.. genetics parents? He'd figure out that compliment later. Shifting Buidhe so that the spear was securely looped to his back, Audric looked to Ulai as the man rose from verbally tormenting the bound individual. They weren't too terribly far from the main city. It wouldn't be hard for them to leave a tip for the guards when he inevitably returned. Goodness only knew how long the small escort of Tanian soldiers his mother had sent to replace Merio would possibly allow his presence to go absent.
His tone was somewhat absent as he looked towards the city, before responding in regards to the bound man. "I'm sure which ever patrol finds him will certainly have a change of pace from their usual routine..eh?That or he'll make a fine meal for a hungry stray dog. One only knows how often they find such fine meals ready to go." Adding his own jab in, as he grinned down towards the helpless man before averting his gaze while the man he'd helped fight off the captors of knelt down and began to take such a swift alteration in tones.
As he spoke, Audric began to think to himself though still looking at him. Huh..this is new. So these kind of things do actually happen..and aren't just some pomp and ceremony? I probably should've paid attention to my lessons a tad more in that case. Bah! What am I saying? I can do as I please in this regard. Ceremony be damned. His grin returned as Ulai inquired as to his name. Audric extended an armored hand towards the man to help him up before speaking, crimson eyebrow inclined. "Audric. Audric Tania, son of Marquess Tania. Er..what's your name? I accept your vow good ser..but I'd sooner know the name first of my sworn right hand man."
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Ulai
Myrmidon
Nothing to be done.
Posts: 37
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Selibas
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Post by Ulai on Mar 13, 2016 18:40:50 GMT -6
Tania, Tania Tania Tania. Tania. Ulai had never hear of it. Still, the man was a noble, and being the brother of a noble meant food, shelter, protection, and comfort. Of course, it could also mean that Ulai would be in close proximity with nobles, which could get a tad suffocating. In mercenary work, you never had to watch you tongue, you could simply say what was on your mind and if some noble took umbrage with you you could just drop your contract, and be glad to not be out dying for a stuffy b*****d. Of course, Ulai could also meet the ladies of court, which intrigued him. He'd never been a fan of romance novels, but perhaps the tale of a gallant swordsman entering the court and sweeping a young woman from her cruel graying husband would not be so bad a story to write or read. Or perhaps act.
He took the young man's hand and rose as he was pulled. "My name? Well, my friends call me Ulai you see. So let it be, Audric Tania, Audric and Ulai, brothers born of different wombs but of one fate. Underneath," he looked at the tree he'd slumbered beneath, "a Blackthorn tree, I swear my life as your shadow." The Blackthorn Oath How was that for a title? The Blackthorn Oath, a tale of drama, romance, sword fighting, intrigue, world travel and... murder? Ulai would read that.
"So brother, would you lake to take this man in? It'd be a shame if we let him off with a warning."
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Audric Tania
Soldier
Posts: 57
Profession: Royal Hothead
Affiliation: Lycia
Affinity: Fire
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Post by Audric Tania on Mar 24, 2016 22:36:22 GMT -6
Blackthorn trees. They weren't very common in Tania. He couldn't genuinely say how scarce they were or were not in Santaruz. What he could say though, was that he liked this Ulai fellow. He left a grand first impression at-least. Though Audric's gaze diverted towards the wounded bound individual. Audric clasped Buidhe firmly before taking a few idle steps to the right and pressing his spear into the ground. He had to ponder it briefly. There was a vicious satisfaction in leaving the assailant to chance by leaving him bound there. However...
Yeah. Sadly he couldn't indulge in such desires. It denied the justice system it's intended target. Surely that would make for a bit of a more successful day for the Santaruz officials. Even if they'd not done the work , bringing justice to the wicked and wrong was a duty of theirs they would most likely seize any opportunity to perform. With armor platelets clinking as he stepped forwards, Audric leaned down to grab at the bound and wounded man. In a fairly impressive feat of strength, he threw the man over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Though it would encumber him some to carry the man back while in heavy plated armor, Audric relished the work out to a degree. It would strengthen his legs to move under the added weight. If nothing else it would also serve to dissuade negative context to a story told by he, for they were far more likely to given a lordling a chance to explain himself when approaching with a heavily injured, bound and gagged man. Audric stared to walk towards Santaruz, before turning to gaze at Ulai curiously.
"I say we turn him in..but tell me Ulai. If you don't mind me asking, what first brought you to Santaruz? You don't seem like your from the place itself..so I find myself very curious. "
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