Wed Dec 14, 2005 6:05 am
The room that the five individuals sat in was dark, even despite the day; the walls had no windows, though most of the windows in the house had been boarded over anyway, though this wasn't unusual during cold winter times to keep houses slightly warmer. A single, bright candle sat between the five around a round table.
The first was a tall, thickly built man with straight features, a heavy jaw, and a cap of close-cut black hair. He was formerly Sergeant Eli Barrows, but now he was just Eli Barrows. With a grudge.
The second was a shorter individual, a smaller man who had large arms, a crooked nose, and unkept facial hair from one ear to the next. His hair matched Eli's, save that it was a dark shade of brown. He was formerly a Corporal, but now just is Justin Timson.
The third was a woman, a fine framed one at that. She had soft features, a slightly upturned nose, and a small chin all framed in shoulder-length, strawberry colored - a dull strawberry - hair. Miss Gina Hiujiko was not born in Myrken Wood, nor was she formerly of Straka. She was, however, an engineer with a contract lost after the Council's shenanigans. Now she too, has a grudge.
The fourth was an elven man, though of human stature - he was no taller than Gina, though both were somewhat taller than Justin. His features were distinctly feminine, not all that different than Gina's; his cheekbones were slightly higher and more distinct. He used to be one of Straka's trackers, but now is simply unemployed and known as Findecáno Oronar - they usually just called him Fin.
The final individual was a curious one altogether, being substantially shorter than anyone else - his size might have been mistaken for a child's, excepting the matured and well-kept facial hair, as well as an angular face that disregarded any chance of baby fat. This one was a Gnome.
Justin thumbed at the smallest of their pentet. "Who's this lil' fellow?"
Eli nodded toward the Gnome unnecessarily. "That, lady and gents, is Nikolai. He's agreed to help us."
Nikolai nodded. "I'm not usually one for violence, but it seems your region is in need of a little revolution! And chaos, on the other hand, is my specialty." His voice was high and musical, fitting for the frame.
Gina rose a brow, turning toward the little fellow sitting next to her. "I see. What can you help us with, good sir?"
In an instant, the room disappeared. They were no longer in the dark, but out in a bright, grassy plain with the sun sitting high in the air. Of the four minus Nikolai, Eli was perhaps the least surprised looking - but still notable so. The Elf was alarmed, and Justin and Gina sat in awe. Eli explained: "You see, Nikolai here is a master illusionist. With his help, we'll be able to move completely undetected. Escape will be easy. In short, we'll be able to get what we need, move where we need, and nobody'll even see us."
Nikolai smiled, and then everybody abruptly disappeared. The room returned to normal, save that each of the five individuals was alone in the room. "Uh...where did you all go?" inquired Justin.
There was an immediate response from the others, saying they were all still there. Eli laughed, though nobody could see him - then everyone appeared, still leaving Eli laughing. "Y'see? This'll be a cakewalk."
"So. What is it that we're doing?" Fin asked.
Eli's expressions relaxed into seriousness before he laid out his basic ideas, although all of them had already heard it - it was why they were here. "Myrken Wood's a mess right now. The Council is a complete joke - I mean, they're abiding a criminal among them! I heard from el Capitan that Roschen's even at Guilluame's place. Anyway; people are unhappy. I talked with a couple rich folk the other day out on patrol, and they're all saying what's going on is just dismal. And just wait until they catch word of the Governor's little obstruction of justice and bar brawl! I heard that one from Janis last night." There was a chuckle from Justin at that.
"...so it's time we did something about it. It's time that they reap what they sow, so to speak; I think it would be a pretty clear message if taking away guards meant more to guard against, don't you think? We're not alone, either - there's a good number of payless guardsmen now, and if things continue, it'll get worse. Funding probably won't be an issue, either, though any sympathetic landowners won't be public with any such endorsement. So. We need to strike, and show Myrken Wood there are those who aren't taking this &^%$ anymore. Once we do that, there will doubtlessly be more." Eli paused for a question or two, which Gina took up.
"So, what did you have in mind?"
Eli smiled. "We still have a week of work, so we have ample oppotunity to stock up on Straka's tab. I hate to give el Capitan more grief, but I'm sure he'll figure out what we're doing sooner or later. Either way, it's time I think we went knocking on the Meetinghouse door...
...but first, we're going to get ourselves a catapult."