Iron Kingdoms: Tides of War

Post by **B4UTRUST** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:14 am

Engas raised an eyebrow in the direction of the wizard.
"I'm not sure how much trouble you're expecting us to see, but I don't think it'll be quite enough for us to blow throught he taverns in the manner you speak. Besides, some of us might be able to hold our liquor," Engas stated cheerfully.

"As for that wager, we'll discuss final terms later over drinks. Sounds like Teghe's buying."

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:42 am

Comrade Tortoise wrote:"A gunmage can be worse though" he said with a wink, "what with the misfires, and inability not only to raise the gun, but aim and use it properly" that was followed by a very slight knowing smirk.

"And what do you do when you run out of spells?" Teghe shot back with an answering smirk. "My pistol will still fire. And Rogan... I'm -not- buying... You got all my money, remember?"

Bloody Good · Post by **Bloody Good** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:38 am

Ardal looked suspiciously at Corey. "You never seen a trollkin barfight, 'ave you? Drunk means you don't notice the blood and bruises 'til yer done, so you keep swingin'. Gimme a kriel of angry boozers and I'll flatten a Khador legion in one go." He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "But yeah, the drunk n' disorderly bit is right on. We've lost more bars that way."

Comrade Tortoise · Post by **Comrade Tortoise** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:52 am

"And that brings up another possible wager. I say that a kriel of angry boozers will be crushed utterly by a well disciplined army, almost any well disciplined army. So if it comes to pass that we have occasion to test this, I wager my services as an alchemist for a month, free of charge, because at the very least they will require a LOT of curatives"

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:58 am

"You're pissin' your money away there..." Teghe snorted, still playing the game with a wicked gleam in his eye. "Trust somethin' Corey's brewed up? Psh... "

Post by **B4UTRUST** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:35 pm

Engas glanced over at Teghe.
"No more money? Oh dear, that's most unfortunate. And I was looking forward to a free drink. But my question to you; if you have no more money, how do you plan to buy more ammo and supplies when you run out? Were you, perhaps, planning to use your good looks and charm? Your skill at gambling? Or finding some rich businessman's daughter to court while she pays the bills? So how many rounds do you plan to buy us to keep us from letting you degrade yourself to that level," Engas inquired, a huge grin on his face.

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:01 pm

"Ahh, but that's different," Teghe replied to Engas with a matching grin. "Unlike some, I make sure to be well-stocked beforehand, and keep some for emergencies. Unlike some, I do not drink or gamble away what buys my food and ammo."

"So, whilst courting fair lady and living a life of ease sounds damn fine, until that point I'll be keeping separate accounts for work and play. And 'less you're wanting me to run out of bullets, Rogan, you'll not try to win the 'work' money away." Teghe said with a wink.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:55 pm

"Oh, that's okay, Teghe. After all, I can always buy your supplies for ye', I can put it on your tab, with a modest fee for me troubles, of course." He grins, grabbing what little kit he had and getting it ready to take off the train. "I assure you that my rates are quite reasonable, best you'll find for a man of your stature, and without any of that nasty leg-breaking you'll find with less reputable individuals."

He hefted his pack and wrapped his new device in a simple piece of cloth to keep it from prying eyes, and maybe to catch any loose bits that fell off. "But yes, I doubt we'll get so drunk as to lose our heads, Corey. Besides, what good and hearty Thurian can't hold a wee drink'r two?" He gave the mage a hearty slap on the back, laughing jovially. "C'mon, Engas here is a finger waggler himself, and you don't see him shying from a pint or two. Are you going to let a notorious Caspian braggart show up us fine, upstanding Thurians?"

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:47 pm

"You gents go to the bar," answered Teghe, who was Thurian as well. "I'll say and play bodyguard to his Holiness and the lady Jessica."

With that open a line, Teghe was sure that Rogan or Engas or both would start making jokes about his chances with Jessica.

Comrade Tortoise · Post by **Comrade Tortoise** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:07 pm

"Indeed. Work before play" the wizard said hoisting himself up off his chair, adjusting his greatcoat, and slinging his pack back over his shoulders and tightening the hip straps around his waste to take some of the mass from his shoulders

"And no mixing business with pleasure for that matter" he said winking at Teghe

Post by **B4UTRUST** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:30 pm

"Braggart indeed. We'll see who's under what table when the night's over with, Bodger," Engas commented as he hefted his packs, following the group.
"Though I think the drinking will have the wait until we're relieved from our duties. Wouldn't do for something to happen to His Holiness while we were off having a couple quarts. But, of course, I can see why our good Teghe here would want to hurry us off to a bar. I'm sure he simply wants to proposition our employeer. For future employment, I mean. Always good to have repeat customers. The ones who come again and again are the best. Why we had this one customer back where I use to work that had bought more steamjack from us... kept using them for dock labor or something. I remember this time he came in ranting and raving to us because one of the poor things walked off the end of a pier because he told it to go take a long walk off a short dock. Didn't realize it would actually do it..."

Engas stopped his story there, realizing he was rambling about his days as an apprentice and journeyman learning his trade. The days before the wanderlust kicked in and he left to seek adventure and to learn all he could. So far it had been well worth the journey. The sights alone were magnificent, to be sure. Cities and towns he had never heard of, all those different people. It was wonderful. And he had found that there generally enough people looking for an extra Mechanik that work was never too hard to come by when he needed it.

Though, he admited to himself, there were days when he missed the old shop and the routine. Most of the time he just fixed things since he had gotten on the road, or worked as an extra hand in a few shops, but had never really gotten to take the time to design and build something personal, something his own. He had a strong desire to do that, at times. To just sit and create something uniquely his. He figured that maybe after this job he'd take the time to do it. Take a few days, draw up the plans the right way, lay out the schematics, take the measurements, get the right parts. The way he had been taught, the way he knew was the best possible way to do it.

Brushing the thoughts aside, he waited with the others for their charge. He, probably like the rest, was eager to get on with their new orders. Or maybe it was just him, wanting to hurry up so he could go back to building something.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:05 pm

"Two mechaniks," Truly, the paladin drew no distinction between a Guild-sanctioned artificer and their Bodger cousins. They were all a bit odd. "A member of the Fraternal order, and a Trollkin caller all going drinking." With the long-suffering sigh of someone who knows what will happen, Malkamar nodded. "Looks like someone needs to keep an eye on you all. And none of your 'loans' to our compatriots on this." He added sharply. "I learned that lesson, no need others repeat it."

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:47 pm

"Two Mechaniks, a Wizard, and a Trollkin walk in to a bar..." Teghe mused, waiting for Jessica and His Holiness to emerge so he could play nursemaid to the old man. "Sounds like a setup for a joke to me." He holstered his pistol, picks up his own rucksack and grinned widely. "Of course, knowing those in question, it is one..."

rhoenix · Post by **rhoenix** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:43 pm

Finishing the last bite of his succulent dinner in an unhurried fashion, Zedrin wiped his mouth with a napkin as he sat back, letting a soft and rare sigh of enjoyment escape him. He had heard the train's whistle, letting the great mechanikal serpent's passengers know it was time to disembark, but given the long interval of time since he had enjoyed a good shepherd's pot pie, he was certainly in no rush.

However, as most of the passengers had been either asleep, tinkering, or reading through most of the trip here, he was curious about his fellow passengers, now that they would all, with some hope, be in a more social mood.

Smoothing back his somewhat unruly black hair, he grabbed his wide-brimmed hat made of black leather and perched it atop his head. After doing so, he adjusted the rifle slung at his back along with a small rucksack, hitched up the his gunbelt at his waist, and exited the dining car directly to the outside to meet with the others.

The smell of smoke and vapor met his nostrils more strongly as he landed outside, seeing the city they had stopped within. Curious about the city, but more immediately curious about the bar and potential good conversations, he walked with an unhurried fashion toward the others. Overhearing the others as they bantered outside, he could not resist adding to it.

"With you and I as additions, Teghe, this indeed does have the makings of joke material," he said in a mostly serious tone to the shorter and auburn-haired Gunmage, though his blue eyes twinkled. "I do hope good drinks do not cause your trigger finger to become anxious."

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:27 pm

Jessica offered her arm to Merwyn as the elderly exarch climbed down the steps and off the train. His other arm was tightly wrapped around the parcel. Jess shouted out to Malkamar. "Can you get us a coach for the exarch?"

Comrade Tortoise · Post by **Comrade Tortoise** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:05 am

"With you and I as additions, Teghe, this indeed does have the makings of joke material," he said in a mostly serious tone to the shorter and more fair-haired Gunmage, though his blue eyes twinkled. "I do hope good drinks do not cause your trigger finger to become anxious."

A little snake slithered out from a pouch in Corey's robe and muttered something to him

"No Totenzahn, I dont think you have anything to fear from his trigger finger, or any other finger for that matter" The snake muttered something again "I am shocked that you would suggest such a thing Totenzahn" the wizard remarked in mock astonishment.

rhoenix · Post by **rhoenix** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:15 am

Comrade Tortoise wrote:"No Totenzahn, I dont think you have anything to fear from his trigger finger, or any other finger for that matter" The snake muttered something again "I am shocked that you would suggest such a thing Totenzahn" the wizard remarked in mock astonishment.

Since the mage Corey had his back mostly turned, Zedrin didn't see the small snake appear until it was almost at his ear. At this, he slightly raised an eyebrow; he was used to true mages, though they still surprised him from time to time. Hearing the conversation caused that same eyebrow to climb noticeably higher, to be joined by a slight smile playing about the corners of his lips.

"Well Corey, as curious as I am to hear what your snake thought about my fingers," Zedrin said with a smile, "I've a feeling it would give me a longing for a strong drink. I'll buy you one if you give me your word that you'll give your snake some."

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 6:20 am

" 'Bout time you came back, Zed... what'd you do, eat the whole dining car?" Out in the sunlight the red highlights in the mostly brown hair shone brightly, and the crooked grin on the young gunmage's clean-shaven face made more than a few of the women passengers disembarking send him second and third glances.

rhoenix · Post by **rhoenix** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:47 pm

LadyTevar wrote:" 'Bout time you came back, Zed... what'd you do, eat the whole dining car?"

Giving a look of faux-wounded pride, Zedrin tilted his chin up. "If you must know, it has been many years since a good shepherd's pot pie has passed these lips. I was not about to rush eating it, even if warjacks started parading around me and wanting a bedtime story. Again."

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:55 pm

Malkamar focused on the task at hand.. Which had the problem of not making sure the two opposed mechaniks weren't about to explode one another.. And disembarked, summoning a carriage as best he could. "Come, Exarch Merwyn. Much to do."

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:00 pm

"Thank you Malkamar," said Merwyn as he took the paladin's arm. There were several carriages for hire waiting near the train yard for obvious reasons. Soon the eldery man was ensconced in a comfortable seat in a large carriage.

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 2:43 pm

Jessica took up a position riding shotgun on the carriage. While not literally armed with a scattergun, a pair of customized pistols and the magical might of a member of the Order of Illumination more than made up for the lack. She muttered a protective ward and kept her eyes open.

The rest of the adventurers piled into the carriage, which had more than enough room. The city of Rivermet was in northern Lael and was prone to fogs in the morning and late afternoon. The sun was beginning to sink down into the west, although being late spring the chill fogs were still mercifully absent. Men, women, and gobbers went about their business in the bustling trade city.

The carriage wound its way to the older parts of town. Wealth was far from equally distributed in Lael and the older part of the town was poor. The buildings were sturdy and well made, but decay had set in. Jessica kept her eyes open for predators of the two legged variety.

An invisible blow struck the side of the carriage, smashing the left side doors inward and sending the vehicle falling over on its right side. Wood splintered and broke from the impact, iron and brass warped and deformed from the force of the blow. Thunder boomed with the impact, rattling the bones of everyone inside. Jessica hit the cobblestones hard and lay still, blood running from her head.

Four figures loped from the alley from where the blast had came. Their skin was grey and lifeless, their eyes dead and rotting. They wore black mail over their rune scarred flesh and in their hands the undead thralls held two handed mauls. They moved with the speed of men towards the carriage.

rhoenix · Post by **rhoenix** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 2:57 pm

Zedrin had been sitting closest to the window when the carriage suddenly was hit, and skidded on its other side. As the carriage skidded to a halt, Zedrin adjusted his hat, and tried to open the carriage door, frowning as he discovered it was suddenly being stubborn. Unsheathing his rifle, he rammed the butt of it into the door several times until it sprang open, and cautiously looked around through what was now the top to take stock of his surroundings.

Quickly seeing the pale and lifeless things moving far faster than any undead he'd encountered before, he climbed to sit on what was now the top. With that done, he loaded an unimbued bullet into his already unsheathed rifle, aimed for the face of the closest undead running toward the carraige, and fired.

After he fired, he called down into the carriage without taking his eyes off the undead. "Four undead, one of them especially mad. Take cover everyone, and for the love of all that's holy, please make sure His Holiness is alright!"

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 3:11 pm

When the carriage flipped, Teghe was momentarily stunned. It might have been because Corey landing on top of him. "Get Off...." Teghe finally managed to say, giving the Mage a non-to-gentle shove upright. "Where's his Holiness?"

If the old man was hurt or worse, dead ....

Post by **B4UTRUST** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 11:16 pm

Engas' head hurt. He wasn't sure who or what he had banged it on when the carriage tipped, but it had been hard and unforgiving to his poor fact-filled noggin. He let out of low moan of pain and general discomfort as he manuvered himself into a better position.
"Anyone catch the handler of that 'jack," he asked mostly to himself.

His focus snapped back to the immediate situation with the sound of gunfire and Zedrin's yelling.

Undead? What the? He had heard of the undead, of course. Just about everyone had. Tales told by mothers to keep an unrulely child in line with stories of horrible undead that snatched one from one's bed. And the drunken bar stories that happened to the storyteller who, by that strange human reaction to alcohol, was no less then the 3rd person that same undead had happened upon. The original storyteller was a friend of a friend of an aquaintance, most likely, or even further down the line that became the drunken circle of bullshit storytelling.

Engas, however, had never seen an undead anything, much less an undead person. Stories were one thing, bedtime tales and bar ancedotes, but seeing one of those things up close, personal and unhappy with you and yours was a bit different. A VERY bit different. But, judging by Zedrin's reaction he had the feeling that they weren't here to convert to the Church of Morrow and ask for last rights and final rest.

When Teghe started asking questions about His Holiness, Engas looked around. He spotted the man admist the tangle of limbs and bodies.
"I see him, but can't get to him. Teghe, help Zedrin! Rogan, see if you can help His Holiness."

Engas tug back into the bodies to grab his smaller pack. Near the top was his Pepperbox gun that he pulled out. He then began the arduous task of finishing untangling himself from the others and getting ready to defend himself and The Holy One.

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Iron Kingdoms: Tides of War

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