Iron Kingdoms: Tides of War

[Charon]

Akina looked to Malkamar. "Malkamar, dat is goot name ja?" she seemed to say to herself as she stepped towards him.

"A Nekromancer, hah. Dis does sound lik challenge hnow. For pay, I vill do dis vun for free. I be howin' de church for helpin' me out of problem I vas having. But I vill be kneeding mah stuffs if ve is to do battle ja?" Akina took another step, getting uncomfortably close to Malkamar. "Do hyu tink hyu could be helpink meh get mah tings togeder?"

[SirNitram]

"We will gather your things immediately, of course." Malkamar wordlessly backed up when the woman got too close, glancing to the Exarch for some help on the equipment issue. And hoping he wouldn't get backed into a wall.

[Cynical Cat]

"I'm sure the local priests will be of some help," said Merwyn. "Malkamar has enough to do at the moment."

[LadyTevar]

Teghe had one hand up to his mouth, both to hide the smirk at Malk's discomfort and to help keep his next comment sotto voice to Rogan only. "Must be a helluva woman, to make a Paladin and Midlunder retreat...."

[Charon]

Akina glanced towards the Exarch as he spoke and then nodded. "Ov corse. I shall return en bot a moment." She smiled towards Malkamar again before turning on her heel and walking towards the door, waiting long enough for a few of the priests to be herded together to assist her before heading out.

[Cynical Cat]

Two priests scurried to get the tall woman's gear to her, which included a formidable number of weapons and a massive amount of armour. The younger one staggered under the weight.

[Comrade Tortoise]

As soon as she got out of earshot and out of bludgeoning range, Corey failed to suppress his snickers

"I think she likes you Malkamar" he sniggered some more "I hope you have vows that will protect you against her amorousness..."

[LadyTevar]

Now that someone ELSE had spoken Teghe also lost the battle against laughter. "Never seen a Midlunder and Paladin retreat that quick..."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"No no. He was not retreating. he was charging in the other direction! You know Malk... I have an Enlarge spell ready if you need it..."

[rhoenix]

"Now, now you two," said Zedrin with an almost straight face. "She just probably has a number of things she'd like to confess to him when they have some time to be alone."

[Hotfoot]

Rogan could only smirk when he saw the exchanges between Akina and Malkamar. He nodded knowingly to Teghe and chuckled. "Yeah, this is a first. I think she's a keeper. Morrow knows Malkamar could use a little loosening up too. This way he might even keep a few vows intact, but I'm sure we can find some ways around that," His voice was soft, he knew how to talk quietly enough to be heard without being overheard, it was part of the business.

When the conversation spilled out into the public conversation, he just grinned. "Malkamar, you scoundrel. I always heard about meeting women at church, but that is impressive. I'm going to have to come to church more often to see you operate. Who knew the pious could be so predatory?"

[SirNitram]

Malkamar's eyes just closed as everyone leapt at once onto him, metaphorically. "Are there any more droll comments?" He asked the room in general, glancing around. "Or have you gotten it out of your system so I might resume preparing for this battle?" A pause. "With the lich, you filthy minded bunch."

[LadyTevar]

Teghe lost it, turning away and laughing so hard he had to grab his side. The look on Malk's face, the blush, and the sudden addition to clarify WHICH battle he was talking about... "twins... it hurts to laugh... ooowwww...."

[rhoenix]

Again, Zedrin managed to keep a straight face. Barely. "You pick your battles wisely, Malkamar - I commend you, sir."

After a moment, he couldn't resist chuckling. "Alright, picking on Malkamar aside, are we merely awaiting our newest traveling and hunting companion, or is there another consideration that must be accounted for before we depart?"

[Charon]

Akina came back carrying the great Umbrian Waraxe over one shoulder while under her other arm she carried her helm. Over her shoulder was a bag filled with various trinkets and war materials, while the two priests behind her struggled to carry her armor.

"Vell, if you vait a bit I vill be back wit mah armor on." Akina winked to Malkamar. "Unt no peekin'." With that Akina strolled into one of the unoccupied rooms and after instructing the priests to leave her gear on the floor she shut and bolted the door and began to put her gear on.

It was relatively quick to do, she'd grown so used to the ritual that it was second nature to her now. Lovingly she placed a callused hand on the thick breastplate of her armor and smiled. Leaving her normal clothes in a pile on the floor Akina slipped into her rougher looking clothing. After that was done she slipped on her gambeson and then set to work on placing her plate armor on. After six or seven minutes had passed the door openned slightly and Akina's head peaked out of the crack.

"Malkamar. I iz havink problem vit a few of des bukles, vould hyu be a dear unt help meh?"

Akina smiled sweetly at him, showing no intent that she wished to have her way with him as soon as he stepped into the room.

[rhoenix]

Upon hearing Akina attempting to ask innocently for help, Zedrin rolled his eyes and sighed. "You know," he said quietly, "somehow it seems fitting for this sort of thing to happen to a Paladin in a church."

Gathering his traveling pack and placing his hat on his head, he looked at the others. "Well, it would appear we're going to have some time before all of us are ready to go. I'm going to be outside, making my special bullets. My thanks to you Exarch, and priests."

With that, he nodded respectfully while tipping his had to those assembled, and walked out of the church to sit on the front step. After doing so, be brought out his pipe, and lit it with a couple puffs, smiling contentedly. With that, he brought out his bullet-smithing kit, and began to create rune bullets.

[SirNitram]

"....Jessica! This one's your area of expertise!" Malkamar quickly headed for the door to prepare his own ammunition.

[Charon]

Akina pursed her lips at this and glanced at the others in the group as Malkamar ran off. "Vat vas dat all about? I vas jus' asking for sum help." Akina turned to Jessica. "Vould hyu help me den?"

[Cynical Cat]

Jessica rolled her eyes. "I'll help if you promise not to try and rape Malkamar."

[Charon]

Akina looked insulted at that. "I vould never force myself on somevun. Let alone vun of ze cloth."

[Cynical Cat]

"Uh huh," said Jessica. "Then how about you just restrain your enthusiasm?"

[Charon]

Akina grinned in wicked jest. "So hyu vant him for yourself den? I can see vhy." Akina grinned for only a few more seconds before speaking again "I keed I keed. I promise by faith in Morrow I vill restrain enthusiasm. Now come help meh."

[Cynical Cat]

"Alright," said Jessica walking over to the Umbrean. The strap fastening took about a minute. "There. Done."

[B4UTRUST]

Engas had sat back quietly listening to the verbal exchange as it happened. He thought about adding a quip or two himself, but felt it would be inapproriate. It seemed that the Paladin was already a bit upset with him over his earlier questions. Malkamar took his job seriously and obviously didn't take kindly to questions that shouldn't be, in his knowledgeable opinion, asked.

Engas casually brought out his gun and began to reload it, feeling that it was best, given the thing they were apparently going to hunt(Hunting? Are they crazy!? What in the name of Morrow were they thinking?!) down and destroy. He absently worked on trying to decipher whatever strange language it was that the new girl used, and decided that given the reactions of the others, that it might be better that he not know. Still, he was curious as to what she had said.

He leaned over to Teghe and whispered his question to her:
"Should I start casting a translation spell, or can someone please explain to me what dialect that woman is using?"

[LadyTevar]

"She's Umbrian, I think," Teghe answered Engas, finally able to catch his breath and stop laughing. "And she thinks everyone but Malkamar is not enough of a man for her."