[The Crown] The Underground Beckons (Jaedaxia Underground signups here!)

[Pirate]

True to his word, the legendary adventurer Bertrand Howell was awaiting the prospective employees of the Jaedaxia Underground Exploration Company in the common room of the Crown Inn and Tavern. Ordinarily, it might have been difficult to find any single man in such a cavernous room, but for Bertrand Howell it was different.

For who else could possibly be the large man, middle-aged and weather-beaten yet still ruggedly handsome and filled with love -- nay, lust -- for life, sitting near the fire and commanding the attention of all around him? Who else would be caught with a young woman on his arm yet ignoring her completely while he spun a tale of his adventures? What other man could have even the barmaids stop hopefully, if only to hear more of his tale?

Just now, he seemed to be in the middle of quite a ripping yarn, filled with danger and adventure. "And then," he said, his voice carrying all the tension of the situation he was describing. "Then, I realized that the noises we'd heard off to the side were not merely the wind at all! Not only were we cut off from our allies, but we were completely surrounded!"

"Well, it was pretty ugly, my friends. Bloodthirsty orcs behind us, so close we could almost feel their breath on our necks, another band to our side, and a torrential downpour above us, turning the nearby river, which was normally quite placid, into a raging rapid-filled mess. Well, friends, what would you have done in my place?"

"'Raoul, we have to run!' I yelled, trying to reach him over the noise of the storm and the baying of the orcs' hounds. It sounded like an entire pack, no wonder they had tracked us so easily. Given the danger, I threw secrecy to the wind, trying only to be heard. 'Raoul! Did you hear me? They're here!' "

"But Raoul didn't hear my calls. The enemy was upon us, and I felt we were out of options. I did the obvious thing, under the circumstances. I ran at Raoul at full speed and tackled him into the rampaging river. We were swept in different directions at different speeds, and it was the last I saw my friend for literally patterns. I found him again, of course, but that is a story for some other time. At the moment, it seems I have company."

He turned to the newcomer at the table. "Good brightening to you, my friend. I am Bertrand Howell. Have you come to join me?"

[Duncan Sythe]

Click, click... The clicking of cins stopped, the man now awaited, listened to the introduction and said nothing.

Flashy. Doesn't always mean lack of ability but usually does... Confidence is a two way street my friend, Duncan considered from beneath his illusion, studying the 'legendary' Bertrand Howell from beneath the rugged features of Marco Lars.

And he ran too, interesting.

Marco Lars, the Illusion, considered further. Meanwhile Duncan Sythe receding to the background as the brusque Malician flexed leather covered fingeres atop his sword belt. There resided two blades, an arcane looking longsword with a skull pommel and a strange, straight hilt that looked like it belonged to some kind of Elven blade.

The former was once the possession of the man known as Avanthar, the latter a disguised Aetherium Fallax.

Marcus, or Marco Lars if someone wanted the long version, was a figure of average height, just like Duncan Sythe. Where Duncan was graced with a somewhat unattractive and bland set of facial features however Marco’s were positively cliché, a scar ran from left temple down to left jaw past dark green eyes that lacked much in the way of emotion and a lot in the way of cunning; this was a bright man, not a brutish one, his form of movement akin to Duncan’s own since the Mystic was only an actor by dint of experience; fluid, aware, dangerous.

It was Marcus then, not the former Imperial Mage, who addressed Bertrand – having read his herald article that morning, a heavy war cloak floating about his form alongside the breastplate, greaves and bracers that protected his person. He was ever inch precisely what he was meant to appear – a veteran blade for hire.

“You talk a good talk friend.” He said after studying Bertrand for a long moment, a few seconds too long indeed. “But your still asking people to protect your back and stand in your way... going to jump into another river if things turn ugly and leave the others to the Orcs?”

He challenged. It wasn't necessarily as nasty and brutal an attack as it first appeared on hearing, but that would await the reply to be judged, or so was Duncan's attitude to the situation. He just didn't like the man's attitude and thought a little prodding might do him good; let him be challenged by someone his own size for once instead of awing children with oratory.

[Pirate]

Whatever reaction a less-confident leader who ruled through strength and cunning alone might have made, it wasn't the reaction Duncan received from Bertrand. Instead, the man laughed, ruefully but with genuine amusiment. "Run? Of course I ran," the adventurer said. "I fear you may have gotten the wrong impression, only hearing the end of the story as you did. The lands Raoul and I were travelling were supposed to be free of orcs and other dangers. It was only when we decided -- foolishly, I will admit -- to explore the cave we'd found that we ran into trouble."

"I know, the obvious question is what makes this expedition any less foolish, no? But what you did not hear is that the misadventure I related just now was the first I had ever taken. Neither Raoul nor I knew anything about the unexpected dangers that can be found everywhere, and to make matters worse we did things with the confidence of two young men who believe themselves to be invincible."

"From the looks of you, friend, you have done some of the same yourself, so I am sure you understand. But I realize I've not answered your question yet. And to be honest, I cannot. Every situation has its own rules, its own dangers and solutions. If you are asking me if, finding myself with only one companion facing a thousand orcs, I would again run for my life, I will be honest and tell you I certainly would. But I will also add I would be sure to save my companion as well. I do not want to see anyone die because of my mistakes."

"But again, Raoul and I were very young. If you are asking whether I will ever again be so foolish as to accept what is supposed to be true as actual truth and act upon it, doing no research or scouting of my own and exposing myself to more foolish risks than are necessary, the answer is that I absolutely will not. I learned many valuable lessons that day, and not the least of them was that it is unspeakably foolish to wear leather armor while swimming. But the most important lesson by far is that no action should be taken without consideration for the consequences. Or, in a much more applicable sense, I will answer the question I think you are really asking. No, I will not lead us heedlessly into needless danger in the caverns underneath Jaedaxia. There is enough exploration and adventure to be had without risking our lives any more than we have to. I can assure you, friend, I will do everything in my power to avoid such foolish risks and ensure that we will not meet with any dangers that we cannot easily handle."

[Duncan Sythe]

A grunt issued from Marco Lars as he re-evaluated based on new information. Abandoned, out of their league, oh he'd have done the same but then that wasn't the point...it was more a clarification that the man before him hadn't started the expedition, gone 'oops, too hard' then run away when he'd fallen out of his depth.

“Then perhaps you do have a head on your shoulders and you have my apology, for now.”

Marco offered with a sharp nod.

“Allow me to buy you a drink and let us talk of this expedition you plan, how long it will take and when, all those little details. For if I am to give in to my curiosity I must know when to meet you and where.”

He suggested evenly.

“Not to mention everything you do know.”

[Pirate]

Bertrand smiled, his head bobbing once with a silent chuckle. "No need for your apologies, friend. If I've a head on my shoulders now, it's only because I was lucky enough to stay alive long enough to grow one. I will happily accept your drink, though, since you mention it," added the adventurer.

"When and where are simple enough. My old partner, the Compte Richard Raoul, runs a shop in Jaedaxia where he does his best to sell some of the various trinkets we've collected in our travels over the years. I shall spend the second cycle of the month there, recruiting any Jaedaxians that wish to join this expedition. From there, probably just shy of the middle of Melora, we'll pick up our archaeologists and whoever else wants to tag along and head into the Underneath to see what there is to see. There is no way of telling exactly how long it will take, of course, but since it is but an initial foray, after all, I would be most surprised indeed if it were to take more than four or five days all told. There will be other explorations, I am sure, but this expedition will be but the first step."

[Duncan Sythe]

Marco Lars just nodded, his eyes continuing to watch Bertrand. Regardless of what he said it was clear Lars wasn't one hundred percent convinced, just around seventy five. Still, he wasn't about to kick up another big fuss and, it seemed, was ready to part on fair terms.

“I'll see you then, then.”

He offered with a nod of his head, turning to depart and offering no explanation as to how he'd get himself to Jaedaxia on time or exactly when he'd be turning up. He'd be there though, this was the kind of thing that needed someone around to keep an eye on it.

[Pirate]

OOC: I'm cutting off enrollment here, since it's all Summer and stuff now. If for some reason anyone else wants to join who hasn't signed up yet, send me a PM and I'll consider adding you in

Duncan -- I'll see you in Jaedaxia...