Nauline Silvashore - The street was filled with people going about their business. Hand carts and wagons interwove with people winding their way through the afternoon streets. I sipped at the hot brew in my hands as I anxiously awaited the return of the other mercenaries. Folki, the most unpolished of the company, sat next to me. A musk,
days in the making, was offensive even to the insects that harried other patrons on the street-side cafe. He ignored his cup, leaning over the table willing himself across the street to the boarded up warehouse. His companions had crossed the street moments ago to have a better look around. It was hard for me to tell who was more wild, the man or his wolf companion. Next to him in stark contrast was the gunfighter-dandy Bromm. Polished and presentable. The two of them were alike in their intensity, but study in contrast.
I turned the cup in my hand and tried to imagine what had drawn these two men together. Bromm sat quietly sipping occasionally from his cup. These men were part of a pack; Hunters, hard and cold.
The warmth of the cup in my hand could not chase away the chill of understanding that swept over me. I was a member of this community of hunters and killers. I had told myself that I was more of an academic. Applying logic and intuition as a means to complete my contracts. Striving to increase my reputation and my grade through flawless execution in pursuit of my quarry. In truth I was only separated from these men by time and experience. Would I look as hard to others as these men did to me?
“Whats taking them so long?” Folki said to no one in particular.
Bromm just shifted in his chair, pulling his armored coat to cover his hip-iron.
This morning I had dropped in on the mercenary company to solicit the aid of my friend Kai. When I arrived, a huge entourage occupied the courtyard and adjacent street. Men and Dwarves milled about as a protective detail for their boss; a beaded-beard Dwarf sporting the latest in leather fashion. They were departing in waves. The boss, a Mr. Mudgaard of Steelprow Trading Company, was well known in these parts as a fearless freight captain and a powerful member of the merchant guild. His protection detail gave me passing notice before withdrawing. I studied their movements for a time, admiring the choreography. Businessmen of his influence surely had enemies. He seemed not to notice the bubble of protection that surrounded him as they penetrated the Mugen Market.
I searched the courtyard and scanned the inn for a time. I had told Kai that I wanted to return to the basement apartment where we had tracked the Kokorese woman who purchased exotic flowers from the market. She was my best lead on the bounty. I had come up empty handed last night and was anxious to get started.
Kai signaled me from a side doorway of the Inn. He cupped his hand signaling me to come closer.
“Did you still have time to join me this morning?” I asked, looking over is shoulder to the entire company of mercenaries gathered in the hall behind him.
“Yes.” He said, matter-of-factly. “Do you mind if I bring Danan with me?”
“No.” I said. “Happy for the company.”
Danan was the only Dwarf in the mercenary company. A healer and follower of Derum Ebbar. Around here Derum Ebbar was known as Derumebbaru the Money-God. The Dwarf had impressed me with his calming effect on the others in the group and was a welcome addition to our present business. I couldn’t hurt my contract to have a Money-God cleric in my midst.
We arrived at the apartment in time to see the female occupant depart for errands. Wasting no time and electing to discard caution, we broke into the flat to discover a workshop for constructing and repairing Karakuri (Kokorese masterwork puppets). One of them was poised frozen in time over the workbench. He was covered from head to toe in clothing of local origin. On his hip he wore a beautiful short sword. A curiosity that made the puppet all the more intriguing, perhaps dangerous. We quickly surmised that the puppet-man before us matched the description of the bounty I was hunting. I had more question than answers and the puppet-man wasn’t talking. An elaborate key was partially disassembled on the workbench. It looked as if the Karakuri was attempting repairs when he ceased functioning.
“It looks like he came in through the cellar window.” kai said, pointing to a torn curtain and an open pane of glass.
“You don’t think it belongs to her do you?” I said, letting the gears of truth grind at the evidence before me.
“Likely he arrived just before we did.” Kai’s words sounding more fact than fiction.
“Ya.” I mumbled. “I don’t know how long she will be gone to the market. We need information from her and if she discovers us she is a flight risk.”
“Not to mention the smashed door lock.” Kai added. “We should leave and wait for her to return, boxing her in before she discovers the state of the lock.” he continued.
We waited in ambush. He and Danan on the street, me in the back alley. The reward for our trap was the information we needed. She was an employee of Steelprow and running some kind of a shady repair shop for contraband automatons. After she called down and realized that we too were working for The Boss she was happy to repair the man-doll. As he shuttered to life the missing moments stated to fill in for him. His last moments of awareness did not include any of us.
It said it’s name was Akio. He was a spy in service of some Daimyo in Edarrow. He had served out his mission and become a liability to his lord. He had managed to escape with his master key and fled south. According to him he was captured by bandits while looking for other enlightened Karakuri. In time we deduced that the bandits who stole him were likely members of the Steelprow Trading Company.
Taking our leave of the woman Etsuko “The Mechanic”, we acted on information from Akio to investigate a warehouse to confirm that Steelprow was indeed smuggling Karakuri into Ki’Ger in defiance of the Three Kingdoms and most certainly breaking his exclusive contract with the cloistered realm.
We entered the warehouse, Floki, Bromm and Myself after the others concluded that there was no easy entrance to the place. Having left the cafe behind, it was now our turn to peel back a layer of the mystery.
Hidden beneath an empty crate was an entrance to a secret storage area. Folk and Bromm said that they discovered a damaged doll in a coffin-like container. Evidence enough to confirm our suspicions.
The bounty on Akio was substantial and represented life-changing money for anyone able to claim it. It wasn’t a hard choice to let him go. To my surprise the company of mercenaries felt a similar pang one conscience. Even more they provided him the means to escape and a place to land that was beyond the reach of those who would reclaim him.
Floki was the first to suggest it, but the other warmed to the idea. They would confront the merchant Dwarf in his office. Force him to respond to their, our findings. To my surprise he was unabashed in accepting the revealed truth. Going so far as to extend to us our complicity in the project. These men, the mercenaries stood to earn a share in this growing business and that suited everyone just fine. For my part I am fortunate to have received a portion of the bounty thanks to the maneuverings of my associates. Now I find myself with a full purse and another stain on my conscience. The money would spend well enough if I was allowed to do so.
I bid farewell to Kai. I told him that our paths would cross again, them I took my leave.
It felt good to share in the fortunes of the bold.