Iron Kingdoms: Tides of War

[Bloody Good]

Ardal had no shame. "Hey, I'll have you know that there's a lot of happy trollkin ladies who'd love to see this backside again. The frontside too. The husbands and fathers, not so much." Once he had pants on, he dragged his single piece of luggage out of the pile. It was somewhere between rucksack, saddlebag, and shapeless sack, and appeared to have been hand-stitched with cord instead of thread. The leather was scuffed and gnarled, possibly from being flung out windows when making hasty getaways.

Seating his pale blue butt by the heap of salvaged gear, he removed a large spool of heavy wire, some slightly rusted pliers, and a pair of monstrously thick and oddly short shears. He set about cutting and wiring the mail together into something he could wear, thowing in the plates from his old armor that still looked pretty good.

"Hmm." Holding a metal disk about two inches across that had once been part of the shoulder joint on his plate, he looked at it thoughtfully. A piece of leather cord and he had a roguish eyepatch. "Avast." He grinned a grin full of big peg-like teeth. "Yo ho ho. Arr. Rum."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"nothing 'sweet' about that, Corey," Teghe snickered, looking at the mage. "... are you blushing?"

"Me? Blushing? Never!" of course his ears were beet red

[LadyTevar]

"nothing 'sweet' about that, Corey," Teghe snickered, looking at the mage. "... are you blushing?"

"Me? Blushing? Never!" of course his ears were beet red

"You're red to your ears, Corey," Teghe smirked, walking over and giving him a nudge. "Thoughts of trollkin ladies?"

[SirNitram]

"All creatures may be beautiful to Morrow's gaze, but I am sadly not as virtuous as that." Malkamar sighed. "Let's see if we can get the carriage going again. I fear that creature will return with greater force if we do not make haste."

[Cynical Cat]

The carriage was unfortunately a wreck. Two of the wheels had not faired well in the crash. However, the church was nearby.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Corey shivered at the thought "Trollkin ladies are not my type" he placed the emphasis on the sentence in such a way that an astute individual would get that he was using the word Trollkin as a cover to say that ladies in general were not his type.

[rhoenix]

"Hmm." Holding a metal disk about two inches across that had once been part of the shoulder joint on his plate, he looked at it thoughtfully. A piece of leather cord and he had a roguish eyepatch. "Avast." He grinned a grin full of big peg-like teeth. "Yo ho ho. Arr. Rum."

This got Zedrin's attention as he was lighting his pipe, the rich maple and mint smell of his tobacco beginning to waft into the air. He tossed a flask he kept hidden within his long jacket. "Rum, eh? Here you go, have a tot of that."

He took another puff of his pipe, and then seemed to realize what he had done. Looking sharply at the troll, he added, "Don't drink it all, mind you. I keep that around for revivification."

Also hearing the conversation between Corey and Teghe, he just chuckled quietly, saying nothing.

[LadyTevar]

Unfortunately for Corey, the implication seemed to pass right over Teghe's head. "Of course not, Corey," he said patronizingly, the smirk still on his face. "But let's get His Holiness and the case into the church, hmm?"

Although how and why the IronLich had chosen to attack from *that* particular alleyway, that close to the Church itself was worrying. Teghe yet again wondered just what was inside the case as he picked it up from the ground.

[Bloody Good]

"Thanks, Zed." A sip, and the flask was stoppered and returned. His etiquette may have been lacking, but he had respect for another man's booze. "Let's grab the gear and head out. I can finish this later," indicating the armor in work.

[rhoenix]

"Thanks, Zed." A sip, and the flask was stoppered and returned. His etiquette may have been lacking, but he had respect for another man's booze. "Let's grab the gear and head out. I can finish this later," indicating the armor in work.

Zedrin couldn't resist shaking the flask, and raising his eyebrows in respect for how much the troll left him, he replied. "You're welcome, Ardal. I do respect a man who has respect for another man's liquor."

With that, he replaced the flask in his jacket, and began gathering his other meager belongings from the ruined carriage. "I think the Church is an excellent idea right now. We can figure out other plans in the morning, after all the drama and fireworks are over."

[Hotfoot]

Rogan nodded. "Right then, everyone pick up your kit and let's head to the church. Keep a lookout, I don't trust for a tick that this is over so quick." He quickly dug out a handful of coins, a few gold's worth, and tossed them skillfully into the hole in a nearby building that had been created by the recent battle. That done, hopefully when everyone was gawking at the nude Trollkin, he went back to helping the aged Exarch towards the church. He looked at the Exarch carefully, trying to gauge if the old man had noticed the act, as well as if he was otherwise hurt from the recent excitement.

[rhoenix]

Feeling somewhat sheepish, Zedrin gathered together a few gold coins of his own, walking to the building a stray shot of his had blasted a hole into, likely scaring the daylights out of whomever was inside. "Thanks for the reminder, Rogan."

Walking over, he dropped the gold coins of his within the wall to join the ones Rogan had thrown in, and walked toward the Church. As he walked, he took a few puffs off of his pipe thoughtfully, the smoke curling around the brim of his hat, and the embers of his pipe casting a reddish glow to his eyes and face.

[LadyTevar]

Teghe was hauling Corey and the suitcase towards the church, and so didn't have a hand free to pay for the damages. Then again, all his shots hit, even if they did very little to the thralls each shot. "I'm gonna have to figure out some better spells, Corey."

[Cynical Cat]

The Church was only a few blocks away. It was an ancient structure, predating the Orgoth invasion, and in good repair. Stained glass windows on the upper stories let large shafts of light into the interior, providing good illumination. The building was devoid of perishners at the moment, although an armoured priest and a warrior kept watch on the outside and within.

In one of the back room, a priest slumped back in his chair exhausted after a strenuous bout of healing. He had succeeded though. The woman on the table in front of him stirred and regained consciousness.

[Charon]

Akina groanedas she slowly opened her eyes. "That is the last time I accuse a Trollkin of cheating..." Slowly moving each of her limbs in turn she made certain that everything was working as well as could be expected. Satisfied that everything was in working order she slowly sat up from the table and looked over at the priest.

"How long have I been out?" She half-mumbled as she glanced around the room for her stuff.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"It's alright Teghe, I could probably make a few scroll of more powerful spells for you to use in emergencies"

[Hotfoot]

Rogan's jaw clenched as Zedrin decided to speak up and drop off coins of his own. He paused for a moment and pondered if he wanted to ignore it, or make a scene. Either way, this was going to be difficult. For the moment, he decided to let it slide. The less attention called to it now, the better, and any lie he could come up with would work better without the Exarch or Jessica in earshot to dispute it.

Fortunately, the topic soon shifted. "Good idea, Corey. So long as you're in a charitable mood, maybe you could make a few for little old me."

[B4UTRUST]

Engas followed the group towards the church. Remaining silent during the walk, he was deep in thought. He had signed up for this gig because he wanted adventure. But when he started his wandering he had never given thought that he'd be working as a mercenary or getting attacked by undead creatures or mechanika that was immune to his magic. It was not something he had ever planned on happening, as foolish as that delusion may have been.
"Someone want to explain to me why those things wanted to kill us?"

[LadyTevar]

"Who said you deserved any, Rogan?" Teghe called back to the bodger, before looking at Engas as they entered the church. "Engas, even Rogan wouldn't lay odds on that one... it's this case they wanted. Even the Trollkin could figure that one out."

[B4UTRUST]

Engas looked over at Teghe, a lugubrious look about him.
"Fine then, the case. What's so important about that case that requires the undead trying to kill us? I'd like to know what I signed up to potentially die for, is all."

[SirNitram]

"I don't believe you were paid to ask questions, merely perform simple duties." Malkamar said simply, the consummate soldier. Whatever was in the box was important enough he wouldn't question the decision to keep it's contents secret.

[B4UTRUST]

Actually Engas didn't really know what he believed at that moment. He wasn't a professional soldier or mercenary any more then he was a cold blooded killer. This was an adventure that had gone on the wrong direction when he was looking for temporary work to make some money. What he was doing here and now and how he had gotten wrapped up like this was a real good question. And he didn't have the answers at the moment any more then he had the answer to his other question.

The same look still covered Engas' face.
"Oh," he replied softly, staring straight ahead at their destination.

[Cynical Cat]

"About half a day," the priest replied to Akina. A little further away, the guardians bowed to Merwyn as he entered the church. The mosaics had faded with age as had the tapestries and altar cloth, but the ancient splendor of the church was still quite visible. Wealth was not lavished on this place, but the faithful worked to maintain everything.

"Help me to the pew beside the altar," the exarch told Jessica. "And gather the brave young men and women around me."

[Charon]

Akina got up from the table and went over to what looked like it was her stuff in the corner, slipping some of her gear on again. Feeling the weight made her smile again and she looked back at the priest. Speaking in her heavy Umbrian accent, "Tank yous, iz der anyting I can do to repay dis?"

[Cynical Cat]

"Well," the priest hedged, "if you really mean it there is some aid you can give to us. But it is very dangerous. You don't have to do it."