The Great Robbery

[Wild Dog]

Well, I did it! The weapon is mine. I had to give an arm and a leg to steal it but I pulled through. Me and Brand decided to drink and celebrate at the local pub. Ironically called the Kings table, the pub had no relation to the name. Rats feasted all day on the scraps fallen from the table. The bartender paid no attention to us two, which was fine by us. The rest of the boys decided to spend the night on the ship. Probably afraid that the soldiers would find us and take us in. How can they find us? We were smart. We were quick. And nobody saw us.

The drink was acceptable. Food was terrible, but the night was fine. A cool evening breeze swept over the city. Perfect, I could spend a whole night here. Brand was entertaining a woman, telling her of our great accomplishment. Hmmm. Even here, in Surda, there was a restaurant that was loyal to the Empire. There was no worry of them snitching on us. Nobody minded a drunk. I settled down. Life was good. Now that I think of it, maybe there is more to do. Brand’s pirate second mate, Gauis, picked up a interesting tidbit. A convoy of wagons were leaving the city tomorrow, crammed with horses, jewels, gold, and fine weapons. Won’t be that be a beauty if we could rob that. Well, not today.

While I was drinking, a stranger came in. Dressed in outlandish clothes, he wore a smug grin on his face. He ordered the strongest drink on the house and sat down and listened to Brands story. Appearing smugger by the minute, I went over to him and sat down. “Stranger, you look like you have a bloody-fine story to tell. Tell you what, You tell me yours and I will tell you mine, though much more better than the old man” He looked appeased.

[phrostphyre]

"I am the best damned horse and cattle thief on this continent. I just stole a string of thirty beautiful destriers, perfect for selling to the Empire. And, to go with my lovely warhorses, I have liberated three hundred head of cattle from various paddocks and fields in this God-forsaken land. They never made a sound; they just followed me right along. Nary a low or moo. Nary a sound from any of them, horse or kine." Convel had ordered a bottle of the strongest whiskey in this place. He took it upon it's arrival and pulled the cork out with his teeth. Spitting that out, he began downing the golden drink. His kilt, plaid, and shirt were dusty from the road, and the whiskey soothed his throat. Dirk and sword were clearly visible on his belt, but the tiny sgian dubh had been hidden away in the boot heel, cleverly disguised as a piece of repairing.

"Now you, mo chara, now you. Tell me what you are the best damned thief of on this continent."

[Wild Dog]

What in the world is a mo chara? An animal or a person? Or is this guy as drunk as he looks. A small skirt wrapped around his waist and his heavy sword hung precariously off his belt. Well, whatever he was, he did steal all those horses. Horses? Hmmmmm. That might work. To buy time, I talked about our great victory.

"Well that was mighty fine. You see, stealing horses is sure thing to get money. But, you see, me and Brand, who is that guy over there trying to steal money from a chair, have a story for you" He really never could hold his drink. "You see, Brand is in charge of a bunch of cutthroat pirates. We crept into the city in the middle of the night. Disguised as peasants, we were admitted into the castle. Then we padded over to the strong room" Now Brand got into an argument with the wall. Who in the world was winning? Who knows. At the amused look from the man, I explained further. "Brand is a good man in a fight. He slaughtered ten men while we were messing with the lock. Don't let his age fool you, he is more dangerous then you think.

Now, with the lock gone, we walked in and their was a full warehouse full of fine weapons. the kings armory, no doubt. We each grabbed a weapon, replaced our old ones, and hightailed it out of there."

Here was my chance. this man seamed to have help when he stole those horses. Leaning forward, I said "On the way, Gauis, the second mate, discovered shipping plans for a convoy. A large supply of kingly gifts are being shipped to the elves. We could potentially, pirate it"

The mans eyes lit up. Score, now for the answer. Brand, collapsed on the floor, drunk.

[phrostphyre]

"I'll take the horses and fifty percent of the jewels. I have costs to meet. Overheads, profits, tribute to the King, and bribes. Bribes are damned expensive." Convel finished the whiskey, then ate his food quickly, scarfing it down.

"Meet me here tomorrow at dawn. Bring all your men." He turned and went to find lodging somewhere else.

[Wild Dog]

All the horses and half the jewels!!!? What!!!!? I really need to negotiate with this guy. Well, not now. The man ate his food with the fervor of a man starved of food for many days. He certainly looked the part. His his skirt, unshaven beard, and a wild look in his eyes. I didn't trust him. He looked like one who would take more then his due share. The fact that he worked for the empire didn't help matters. I sat at that table, surrounded by nothing, thinking. Brand never twitched from his resting place. A maid shot him a disproving look and swept the floor around him. A drunk laying unconscious of the floor was nothing new. How in the world am I going to pull this off. The man, the Beast, which I started calling him, didn't appear really comprehend the situation. We didn't know anything. Soldiers, time, places passing by, loyalty, and if they were expecting an attack. We knew nothing.

Shaking my head, I cleared my thoughts. A clear head and and sound mind is the best weapon i have at the moment. Unconsciously, I stroke my new spear. Well, not the best weapon. Standing up, I went up to Brand. leaning over him, I did the only cure I knew, slapping him in the face. Hard. Sure my metal gauntlets drew blood, but it didn't work. Groaning, I reached down and strained to pick him up. Humph. Why are all old men so heavy. Brand is by no means flabby, but muscle does add weight. Groaning with the strain, I couldn't lift him. I would drag him, but our inn was too far. Seeing my predicament, the inn keeper opened on of his rooms to us. Thank the light. After I dragged him to the bed, I sat down in the chair and pulled out my spear. Such beauty. A elven weapon it was. The spear head was quite uniquely shaped. Hopefully, it won't damper my skills too much. Even though the blade needed not sharping, I pulled out my stone.

Letting my thoughts wander, I reflected my life. An assassin, too minor for any big league stuff. Then brand came into my life, then Altair. Both of them gave good advice and a job opportunity. Brand showed me how to fight with knives. Altair showed the beauty of a hidden blade. Both men wanted me to join them. Ultimately, I chose Brand's pirates. To be free was always me obsession. As if to remind me of his presence, the old sea dog started to snore. Great. Glancing around the room, I drank in the sight. A wash bin lay at one corner, with the dirty mirror hanging above it. The floor was messy, but did not creak to much. It did as the man walked across it. A man?

Leaping up and cursing my inattentive, I grabbed my spear. Too late. The man spun around, grabbed my spear, and jumped back. Looking at his stance, I cursed my self again. This man knew how to use the weapon. Man? Bloody elf, he was. Must be the previous owner. Pressing the hidden buttons on my sleeve, two blades sprung out. This was going to get ugly.


"Brand, you drunken shade of a man, get up" I yelled. Like that did anything. He snorted and rolled over. Roaring, the elf rushed at me, spear head down pointed to my stomach. Clapping my hands together, I caught the spear between the blades. Now what? Spinning around, I swept the spear out of his hands and through it. Out the window. Not the smartest move. The elf was just as surprised as me. Acting quickly, he grabbed my throat and hoisted me up against the wall.

"Well well well, what have I here. You thought that you could come in here and steal my weapons. I made each and every one of those" Over his head, I saw Brand sit up. I hoped that he waited to kill him. He reached over to his knife, poised himself too throw, and slumped over, snoring. Great. The still babbled on. I wonder if a elf could get drunk.

"If I hadn't bumped into those fellows I would never found you" There, a grain of gold in this mudpot. "Guys, what guys?"

"Well, I only bumped into a man. He had one eye, and his eye patch had a eye painted on it. He had two swords tied to his back and he spoke with a heavy accent." Gauis!!!! That double-crosser. The was about to say more, but a pained look came over him. Sighing, he slumped to the ground. Knife in his back. Brand looked more alert then I thought. It was if he wasn't drunk.

"Araris, We must leave. Gauis was head of a gang, while ago. I thought he turned over a new leaf. Guess he didn't. Well, why are you standing around, lets ago." the fool totally forgot that he was hanging there, coat caught in the a board jutting out. Groaning, I fell down.

Rushing out of the inn, Brand ran to tell the pirates. I ran to alert the Beast. We weren't the only ones eying the caravan.

[phrostphyre]

Convel had found a place to bed down for the night; the stables beside the King's Table. He was wrapped in his plaid, on a pile of hay, having his hair nibbled on by his horse. There are worse things that could be nibbling on me, I suppose. Dragons, bears, lions. Bears are just too damned big; once you get under them, they use their weight to crush you. At least wolves you could wrestle with. Donas had been rubbed down by the stable boy acceptably, so Convel had tipped him again, then shooed him home.


The soft smell of hay, and the smell of the horses themselves were soothing to a nose that had to long smelled only people and the smell of cities. It reminding Convel of home, and at the least his small glade in the Spine, a place to call his own and to be away from the cities. If the man in the bar didn't show tomorrow morning, Convel would have his men watch all the exits along the city for a cravan matching the description. Two men to each exit; one to watch and one to pass the word along.

[Wild Dog]

I ran across the streets of Aberon. People round me looked confused at my predicament, but it was late. Past midnight, I was surprised to find. How long were we drinking for. Seemed to me that we drunk for a few hours. But, the night was dark. Must be midnight. The pale moon light poured out of the sky and onto the streets. Shadows danced as people moved to and fro, minding their own business. It was late. As I dashed around the city, Gauis's face flashed in my mind. The traitor. Brand must be in a rage over this. Mutiny was every captain's worst nightmare. I needed to get to The Beast. We needed to get out of this city before Gauis strikes again. Pausing at a inn, I ran in.

"I don't have enough time, have you seen a guy with a kilt run around here?" No reply. Then, "no" I repeated this with another inn. No. The beast is going to be harder to reach then I initially thought. Strolling out the door, I turned and almost ran off until I saw someone. Gauis. Silently, I tiptoes over to where he was. He was engaging in conversation with a elf. I dragged my hand over my eyes. It couldn't be. That looked like the same elf who tried to kill me. But it couldn't be, he was as dead as any man with a knife in four inches in his back. As my eyes adjusted, I dashed that thought. All elves must look the same. As they were talking, other people took notice. And gathered. Trying to get closer, I turned my coat inside out. The white and red designs made me look like a monk. Another gift of Altair. Gauis was now talking to the whole crowd.

"People, people here me. There is a criminal among us. Two men, one names Araris and another unnamed person who wears a kilt. They killed this man's brother and are trying to get away. Five thousand silver pieces dead. Alive, a hundred. Don't bring back the bodies." For the most part, Gauis was ambitious. Five thousand? He would be gone tonight and the people would never get their money. Surprisingly, a few men accepted the challenge. Gauis told them were to go and trotted off. I started to follow them, but they didn't seem to go anywhere. Towards the police house, acually. Startled, I stopped. I was tricked. Those men who I was following, they seemed to come after the speech was done. They had know idea who they were going after. Turing around, I sprinted back. Gauis was gone, and the crowd had dispersed. Except for two people. A man in a white coat with red designs on it.

"Araris, long time"
"Altair, it has, why are you here?"
"I heard about Gauis, Brand here told me. Since we seem both interested in your future, I helped him out. He knew that you were going looking for the man, so I found him. Lets go." He looked amused. I didn't blame him. My mouth was flapping like a fish out of water. Altair and Brand, together, helping me. Altair wanted me to join the Dark Brotherhood, a order of assassins that work to fight evil. Brand wanted me to become a pirate, free of rules. Because of Gauis's quitting, the role of first mate must be open and waiting for me. The issue was, that I wanted to do both. I liked to fight and I wanted to be free. This was all moot, a job was before me. Fingering my spear, we raced off. Ahead, dark shapes of men ran before us. Gauis's cutthroats, most likely. They must know where the Beast was, so we followed them. Reaching a inn, they dashed inside, but I paused. The Beast's horse was stabled, and the man didn't look like a man who would leave his horse. Also, a man stood guard, but sleeping with a bottle of whiskey at his side Signaling the men, I walked inside. Brand walked with me. Altair walked around the back and entered there.

In the stables, slept a bunch of men. Though, a few were awake now, and stared at me. Shouting as loud as I could, I warned the men. "Get up, you lazies, we are going to be under attack. Get up" The beast stood up and shouted for his men to get up. Then Chaos unsued. Men rushed into the stables, shouting. My last coherent thought was, "Man, a guy could get killed in this"

[phrostphyre]

Convel's men were startled by the appearance of another man, but ignored him. He wasn't paying them. Convel was; if he wanted them to fight, they would. But not at the behest of a fool. They rolled over and wrapped themselves in their blankets.

A red head popped out of a pile of hay. Looking around at the fight, he shrugged and let out a screech in Gaelic. The men trying to sleep jumped and seized swords, spears, and shields before leaping into the fray. Stepping out of the hay, Convel had his sword drawn and his targe upon his arm. He let out another Gaelic shriek., then entered the fight.

[Wild Dog]

"A guy could get killed in this" What an understatement. This was pure mayhem. I twirled my spear around and cracked a skull or two. I wanted to check if I was just smacking the side of the wall, but then a man burst into my view. A cutthroat, common in these parts. And a bloody good one at that. In his hand was a toadsticker. Wonderful. Trying to see an advantage is each other, we paced around in a circle. Each of us waited for the other to attack. Muttering to myself, I lunged forward. Bad move. The man skipped back and sliced at my ribs. Gasping, I stumbled back. Smirking, he leaped forward. Straight towards my heart. And, luckily, straight towards my spear. Triumphant turned to horror as he slid into my spear. Course, he stumbled into me and threw us both onto the ground. Well, the fight was already over. Altair sheathed his sword and surveyed the soldiers. The Beast stood also, and looked proud and disgusted with his men at the same time. Brand was walking out the door. Probably to gather his men.

Groaning, I stood up. This was going to be a long day. Judging that the men needed an explanation. "Listen, everybody. We have been betrayed. Gauis, a mate on Captain Brand's boat, has turned coat and is plotting against us. These were just cutthroats. He used to run a gang and he probably enlisted them. We may need to move" Realizing that this was a joint procedure, I left the rest to the Beast.

[phrostphyre]

"Let us get one wee thing straight. My men will only listen tae me. I ken that in a pitched battle, we might need to have one supreme leader, but I see no pitched battle. Ye lead the bastards tae us, ye get tae lead them away on a merry chase tomorrow. We'll capture your train, then we'll split it half and half once ye meet us at a safe place." The men standing behind Convel nodded their agreement; his men, his leadership. Who was this scrawny nobody, to come in here and tell them to fight? A barely tolerated interloper, lucky not to have been found several days later with a second mouth below his chin. Though they were loyal to Convel only because he paid them and helped them support their families, they were loyal to him, at least as far as favors and money went. If someone demanded them to fight, the only person they would listen to was Convel. Two men had died on the job, and every week, their families received three hundred gold crowns to support them. Thus, Convel took care of them, and when he needed a place to lay low while the heat from some smuggling or lone cattle raiding, it was given, no questions asked. Most of the time.