Nothing But Business (Private)

[Soldier]

“You will wait here,” said one of the Warriors as he turned and walked inside the gate. His partner stood planted in front of the gate with his spear held over his chest. After a few minutes, the first Warrior returned with a large male, dressed in the same kilt and chain. He was wiping soot from his face with one dirty, tattered sleeve, as he looked the newcomer over. His blue eyes narrowed as he studied the soldiers and the aristocrat so thoroughly, they felt as if they had been stripped and probed in very uncomfortable places.

“The Sapphire Guard, says you?” he asked in the same musical voice as the guards. “You appear to be quite the soldiers. We are but humble Warriors. What would ye be wantin’ with th’ likes o’ us, then?” Despite the bluntness of his speech, it was apparent he wasn’t being rude, merely speaking as he had been brought up to do. Barbarians were never ones known for their finesse.

[Riconus Xind'ell]

Ander returned the Warrior's size-up, but perhaps not quite as aggresively as his counterpart. He turned to look back to his men once, almost offering a glare of confidence at the barbarian's note of their professionalism. However, he waved his hand to reject the Warrior's claim to their inferiority, and quickly retorted.

"You talk far too low of yourself, warrior. The Fianna Clan is one of the most feared military units in the Hinterlands... as a matter of fact, our contacts in the Imperial Intelligence Agency comfirmed that for us.

It is for that very reason that the Sapphire Guard seeks your friendship, as well as your business. I, on behalf of the men behind me and General Xind'ell, would be honored if you may speak with me on these points. Firstly, we would like to know if we can be of any service to you and the City of Archaddon during this time of emergency. And secondly, bringing up possible contracts and alliance for the future would be much appreciated.

I do stress, however, that General Xind'ell would like to cement any of our dealings in person, and if you tell us that our assistance in Archadoon would be welcomed, he shall travel here from Portshire with another 200 soldiers. For better of for worse, he always prefers being the one to shake hands on a deal, instead of arbiters like myself.

So, can we find somewhere to talk about matters?"

[Soldier]

“I spoke with sarcasm,” Colin said bluntly, not bothering with details like anyone else’s feelings. “While your troops may have the better discipline and equipment, it takes a true heart to be a proper Warrior!” He stood proudly before moving on to their other business. “You will follow me. Your own soldiers will wait out here.” He turned and walked into the compound, not looking behind but expecting the aristocrat to follow him. A Warrior in the silver and blue kilt of the clan held Riconus’ horse while the man was brought to Colin’s own private tent.

Once inside, Colin got straight to business. “My Warriors number less than 200 at this time. Many were killed in the fire and explosion, and the Crimson Lions are all but destroyed. I will have to send a letter to the Imperial forces explaining why we can not garrison the Northern Cross anymore, and why their keep is in ruins. While my Warriors can handle guarding the city, we are not comfortable in large, populated areas… And as well, our patrols are neglected. To top it off, some of our construction crews in the charred areas turned up dead, along with my Warriors sent to guard them. We found evidence of the Undead in our city, but lack the manpower to send troops into the fray. In short, Magistrate, we are stretched too thin for business that we are unable to handle.” There was a brief pause as the Barbarian Chieftain took a swallow from a waterskin strapped to his belt. Riconus had to admit, Colin didn’t beat around the bush. After strapping the skin back to his belt, he crossed his burly arms across his chest. “And what will you require in return for your aid?”

[Riconus Xind'ell]

OOC: Just an FYI bud, Colin's actually talking to Ander Clayson, an NPC in the Sapphire Guard, not Riconus. Ric is only set to come a couple brightenings later if everything gets settled
---

Ander took the comments in equal stride, knowing full well that while the Sapphire Guard had the numbers, the Fianna Clan would be able to outmatch 2 or even 3 ordinary men in battle. It was for that very reason that he had made his way to meeting with them. With a few short hand signals, the orders were given to stand down, and the Sapphire Guardsmen took their rest outside the stockade perimeter until Ander's meeting had concluded.

Ander admired Colin's straight-forward approach to the situation, and wished all clients could be the same; surely, it was the best thing about dealing with barbarians, in that they had no interest for idle chat. The Clan's situation was dire, but certainly not beyond help. The Sapphire Guard had skills that barbarian warriors simply did not, and it was imperative that Colin was aware of this.

"The Sapphire Guard is specifically trained in urban security, and close-quarters combat. We will be able to monitor city streets, and have the men available to look into the deaths of these construction crews. The Sapphire Guard has contacts in the Ministry of War as well, and will certainly add weight to your explaination of Archadoon's shattered defenses.

The article in the Herald wrote that there would be a bounty for the killing of these creatures, so we're willing to devote 150 men to their extermination, at no cost whatsoever aside from the aforementioned bounty. We can bring another 300 to 400 men to act as a defacto city guard, and will station our troops here for as little as... 45 crowns per soldier as the weekly fee the Herald had mentioned. When you consider that a regular Archadoon Constable would be paid anything from 80-100 crowns per week, we're literally providing a local watch for half of the normal price. There is something else though, that we hope you might consider..." said Ander, as he leaned in to whisper. "I'm not totally aware of what the Fianna Clan's political alignment is, but I can assure you that the Sapphire Guard is a fiercely loyal unit to the Empire. We stand to assure the Aelyrian people are protected from any danger, to the point where General Xind'ell has recently become enobled for it as the Earl of Portshire. Therefore, if you share the same allegience, we may have lucrative contracts for you in the future... killing orc raiders, slaughtering vysticchi seperatists, and clearing every other threat to this Empire from the face of Telath. Perhaps, you might share this resolve for your Empire? Perhaps, you might want the untold wealth and glory that comes with defending it in these ways?"

[Soldier]

Now this soldier was talking! “Then it is agreed. Your men will take over the standard duties of the watch. My men will return to watching the surrounding wilderness. Your men will be paid the same as my own men. As for contracts…” The Barbarian’s eyes hardened. “The Empire is first. The Fiannas are loyal to a fault. Such as this.” He tossed a bundle wrapped in rawhide onto the table, and after Colin’s guest unwrapped it, he saw a small bundle of dried, pointy ears colored black. “I was already approached by Vysticchi to betray the city of Archadoon some time back. As you can see, I gave them my answer. My Warriors will be happy to assist your men, and the rewards you mention are enough to seal the deal. But we are not interested in money as much as we are in glory, weapons, and armor… and, in times of need, information and contacts.”

He settled back on his fur pile, getting to the other point of their business discussions. “Your men are to take over the guarding of the city. However, due to the fact my Warriors are a proud lot, there are some that will wish to remain inside the city to avenge fallen comrades. We know what killed our crews and Warriors… the question is where they are entrenched and can we dig them out. The creatures we are after are the Undead, and some of my Barbarians have found witnesses stating there is everything from standard Skeletons and Zombies to a large creature made of fused tombstones and a similar one made of the dirt of graves. Do you still wish to join our cause?”

OOC: While he said they weren’t as interested in money AS MUCH, this in no way means that they don’t want money. They can use the money as much as their other items.

[Riconus Xind'ell]

OOC: No, no, I understand fully Besides, there's no such thing as a mercenary disinterested with money, right?
---

Ander nodded his head to confirm Colin's acceptance, quickly trying to calculate the math of it all. "Very good then. With 400 soldiers paid a salary for 45 crowns, that would come to... 18,000 crowns per cycle. I'll have an account created in Archadoon where the funds can be transfered too, and from there, the Guardsmen will take their wage from us upon the completion of the campaign." With money being such an impolite topic to discuss for too long, the presentation of the Fianna Clan's loyalty certainly sparked interest.

Slowly, Ander opened the pelt to see the dark elven ears placed inside... and a wide grin peered from between his lips. Staring with eyes lusting for vysticchi blood, he made sure to explain this was exactly what the Sapphire Guard hoped to accomplish in the future.

"Hehe... Colin, I believe the Fianna Clan and Sapphire Guard will be very compatible with eachother. We have contacts in the highest of realms of the Imperial Armed Forces and Imperial Forum, so we can provide you with any intelligence you need. Armor, weapons, and finances can be provided in a variety of ways, and as for glory... well, there's nothing like planting a few vysticchi heads on spikes to acquire that.

We will aid your clan and your city, regardless of the threat. If the enemy is the undead, then it would be wise to arm your men with as many weapons made of silver as possible. It might be possible that the undead are entrenched in the rubble of Gunther's Gadgets, where the disaster originally spawned form, but I'm not sure if your men have already surveyed that area. In any case, I must take a small leave a send word to General Xind'ell regarding our successful agreements."

Ander rose from his seat, before giving a casual salute and nod to Colin before leaving the commander's tent. In but a brightening or two, he would return, with far more men...

*******Two Brightenings Later*******

Men dressed in the exact fashion of the Sapphire Guard, hoisting the same banners, where spotted approaching the Clan's encampment just as the tenth candlemark hit. However, instead of a single 100-man square, tens rows wide and ten colums deep, there were four. Fifty horsemen also trotted forward ahead of the infantry, their browns horses enveloping a single, black holstiener. Atop the dark warhorse, was an unusually tall Syl'rosyan dressed in black plate and chain, with plumes of blue & white sprouting from his galae and shoulder guards. Their advance came to a standstill as the plumed man, who obviously held rank as commander of the unit, was stopped by Ander before dismounting. The Guardsmen quickly made for rest after a long march during the darkening, while Ander made toward the front of the stockade once more, this time with the commander by his side.

"Serale again." said Ander to the Fianna Guards. "Please inform Commander Colin that the reinforcements the Sapphire Guard has promised have arrived, as well as their commander, who stands beside me. His name is--" The commander's guantlet fell onto Ander's shoulder before he could finish his sentence, brushing himself forward to address the guards in his deep and Syl-accented voice.

"Thank you for your consideration, Ander. But I have never been one to let others introduce me, so I see no reason to change that now.

Serale, Clansmen. I pray you may inform your commander that I have arrived to your stockade.

I am Sir Riconus Xind'ell, Earl of Portshire, General of the Sapphire Guard."

[Soldier]

It wasn’t funny in the civilized sense, but to a Barbarian, it was hilarious. The guards burst into laughter at Ander’s name for Colin. “No offense, m’lad,” said the one on the right, an older Warrior covered in battle scars, “but ye might an’ fer sure not say that t’ Colin’s face! He is a Chieftain, and worked hard t’ be called such!” The pair laughed until they saw the General approach, and even then, they were guffawing behind their hands. After all, they had a proud heritage… it was always amusing to see others mix it up.

The General and his aide were led into the compound and into the only permanent building while the soldiers were shown to the mess tent nd sleeping areas. The pair was shown into a surprisingly comfortable office and bade to sit while Colin was fetched from the city. “I do apologize for th’ wait, Lord,” said the other guard as he offered a goblet of wine to each, along with a platter of meat, bread, fruit and cheese. “But Colin’s been in th’ city most o’ th’ time, sure an’ he has. It’s a few miles to th’ east, though I’m fer thinkin’ he’ll be along directly.”

The pair was left in privacy for roughly half an hour, until the door opened and a filthy Colin came into the office, followed by a second Fianna just as filthy. They was covered in soot and blood, and smelled of burned meat. Colin wiped a tired arm across his face and sighed, upending an entire waterskin into his mouth. When he was finished, he tucked the empty skin to his belt and sat at the table across from the pair, his second sitting next to him. “M’lord,” he said to Riconus. “Forgive the wait… We had just finished digging bodies from the ruins. I admit, we were expecting you much later, but I thank you for your timely arrival. Allow me to introduce Subchieftain Kevin Gehennis, a more creative Warrior I’ve yet to meet. I understand you brought fighters trained in city tactics to relieve my people and for this, Fianna is in your debt. But, allow me to explain what happened in my city.”

Colin rubbed his eyes tiredly, before speaking. “One of our citizens, a runty little Gnome by the name of Gunther, designed a concoction that will burn for long hours. This would be a good weapon, but it worked too well. The concoction caught fire, which spread through the shop. By the time the Crimson Lions and the Imperial soldiers could respond, the fire had spread through the shopping area. It was chaos. The water we poured on the flames didn’t put them out… it made the flames spread. This, of course, made the damage greater. Before long, the fire was out of control.”

“After the fires were put out, we sent a few crews to survey the damage. They almost immediately vanished. We sent guards to look for them. They, too, disappeared. We sent a crew in heavily guarded, and out of them, one returned to say they were attacked by the living dead. We thought he was delirious, until we saw this.” He tossed an object onto the table, and it took the two Sapphire Guards a moment to see it was a dead, dried hand, either Human or Elf. “We pried it off of the Warrior’s arm after he had died. A sharp object severed it clean off. His sword, I believe, or maybe his comrade sliced it off. Either way, I am convinced my Warriors, the crews and the missing guards had been ambushed by these Undead.” He took a swig from a flagon of ale that was brought in by one of his people. “What can we do against such creatures? My people aren’t prepared to fight Undead. My Shamans are overworked trying to heal the wounded. Half the city is destroyed, and all of that area can hold countless Undead. To be frank, I’m waiting for the Undead to leave the ruins and approach the main city area.”

[Riconus Xind'ell]

Riconus could not help but surrender to the slightest of grins, as his subordinate was mocked for his lack of understanding about clans. He applauded Ander for being as formal as possible, but perhaps he would remember that Clansmen did not often use such official-sounding titles in the future. He advanced forward regardless, understanding that Colin was likely a busy man during these trials, and waited in the building until he arrived. Riconus stood to greet the large and dirty man, extending his hand for a shake as they approached eachother. "Serale, Chieftain and Subchieftan." he would be sure not to make the same mistake his officer did.

He listened attentively to Colin's words, and immediately began to calculate what it woud take to cure them of this disaster. He was confused, on how a fire could stir rise to the undead, and took in the idea of an accident-prone alchemist with suspicion. After surveying the hand that had been recovered off of the dead clansmen, he voiced an urge to speak with the instigator of the fire. "This Gunther fellow, I believe I would like to talk to him for a small while. I have questions as to why undead are spawning due to the pointless fire he started. In the meanwhile, I'll put my men to work immediately. I don't plan on suffering many casualties, Chieftain, so I plan on patrols having at least twenty guards at a time- it may limit our reach slightly, but it will increase our chances of surviving undead attacks.

I would suggest you recover as much silver as possible so that it can be forged into weapons- it may cost the city to acquire the necessary amounts, but the Sapphire Guard is preparing to invest into the acquisition- plus, people will likely be more free to give up their silvers if it means not being eaten alive by living carrion.

Is there any way to cordon off the ruins, so that the undead are unable to pass into the main city without meeting our troops?"

[Soldier]

“Gunther… The little Pygmy is being held in a cell right now. I can arrange for him to be brought in.” He nodded to one of the Warriors standing beside the door, who turned and walked off. As the Warrior went to collect the Gnome, Colin sighed and leaned back, rubbing tired eyes. “We already collected the silver of the city. Unfortunately, our blacksmith is missing, and we can’t find him. As such, the silver is under guard in a warehouse we commandeered until we could find someone to melt it for us. We were thinking of melting it to tip our weapons and arrows, but none of us are willing to try it without knowing what we’re doing.”

He pulled out a map of the city, the charred areas marked in red. The red area was depressingly large, and as he rolled out the parchment, the General spotted several green marks. “This is the charred area. The marks are sightings of Undead that were seen by witnesses that got back safely. As you can see, they are depressingly close to the livable areas. We constructed outposts here, here and here. These are the only areas the Undead can get through into the city. The residential area is surrounded by a stockade. Hastily built, of course, but quite sturdy. We patrol it regularly. The outposts are the only areas that will permit access to the ruins and vice versa.”

There was a brief pause as the Barbarian studied his new allies. They looked quite competant, and it was well known that in a time of trouble, the Guard could be counted on. So he pushed ahead. “I have ten men at each outpost, stout Warriors all. But these men aren’t nearly enough to stem the flow of a good push. Unfortunately, my Warriors and the remnants of the Lions and Northern Cross are stretched too thin.” He jabbed a finger into the center of the charred out area. “This general area here… Our scouts tell us that a lot of the Undead are concentrated here. While they don’t mass for an obvious assault, they seem to be guarding something. The Undead range from your basic Skeletons and Zombies to more powerful creatures, such as Ghouls and Ghosts. This is the area holding the remains of the Crimson Keep. I, for one, would like to know what’s in there.”

[Riconus Xind'ell]

Ricounus nodded his head to comfirm that we would much like to meet with Gunthar... whether or not Gunthar felt the same, it mattered not. "I would very much like to meet with this Gunthar fellow, thank you. I'm sure I will be able to... extract the infomation I require from him.

I'll look into finding a smithy from another city, possibly Portshire, that can aid in your efforts. I can't imagine the weapons would require a great deal of silver, so if spread thinly enough, I'm sure whatever you have will be enough."

He took a long look at the map, rubbing his forehead softly as he saw the unfortunate expansion of the undead around the city. More guards would have to be posted at the outposts than just the 10 men, no matter how brave the Clansmen were. "I will see to it that another 50 soldiers are put at each outpost from the Constable Unit, and equip them with bells loud enough to summon help from other outposts should they endure an undead offensive. It would certainly be interesting to know what exactly they're protecting in there, but whatever it is, we can turn this into their key weakness.

If the undead have massed themselves, we could use one concentrated attack to wipe them out. Do you have any artillery capable of targeting the Keep? ... I know it's hard to consider baraging the Crimson Keep, but if we could get archers with fire arrows and artillery able to fling flamming oil barrels, there's a chance we could burn a few of the undead out, until further Imperial reinforcement arrives." Before Colin could answer, Riconus turned quickly to Ander, and issued quick directives. "Clayson, order the Sapphire Guard to assemble." Ander give a quick salute, before leaving the tent. Riconus' attention turned back again to Colin, and his thoughts on the undead threat.

[Soldier]

“The Keep is sturdy, and we have nothing in our ranks to use against it,” said Colin regretfully. “Unfortunately, the only artillery we have is inside the Crimson Keep itself. However, we do have plenty of fire arrows and the Fianna do boast three Giants among our ranks that can act as mobile artillery in a pinch. I–” He was interrupted at the arrival of his guard, leading the hapless Gnome Gunther. “Ah. Our protagonist has arrived. This is Gunther. Gunther, this is General Xind’ell. You will answer his questions truthfully and quickly, is this understood?”

The Gnome gave a small nod and sat in a chair, not even bothering to look at the General. He was too busy examining Riconus’ uniform, fascinated with the straps. “I can get that so you can get it off in one swipe,” he stated out of the blue, his high pitched voice sounding like a child’s.