Author Topic: a street rat's life (Read 3221 times)

cbnicholson · « **on:** November 06, 2006, 08:05:30 AM »

//pasting from submission

“Gods curse you , Benjamin, get out!” my brothers drunken tirade is almost a full fledged shout, “You have brought shame on me and the Poetr name for the last time, you.. you.. thief!” His anger obviously rising, Stephen, my eldest brother by almost a decade, stands from behind the old mahogany desk and jabs a finger in my direction. “You hear me, GET OUT and don't come back! Or by the Provider, I'll call for the watch and have them arrest you! You have taken from me for the last time.” I smirk at him and attempt to look at him closely in the only light of a dim homemade candle in the shabby study. His nose is largish and red and his eyes reveal his weakness for his favorite drink, Hammer Bock. From the reek of his breath, my 'dear' brother, Stephen must have polished off a bottle before my arrival some half and hour ago. The vapors of it make even me, a veteran of more than few taverns, feel queasy. I regard him cooly, waiting for his spirit induced rant to play itself out. His great bulk is all fat, and I know I can take him if he tries anything ..funny.

The object of questionable ownership being a simple golden statuette of a dragon that our father had hidden in a bookshelf. This 'precious' momento found by me some days ago fetched a paltry 40 trues from the creepy man who gave no name, but expressed an interest in it when I showed to him. In the bartering that followed his interest, the man showed me the order of the Knights of Wyrm official embossed seal on the bottom, but informed me that despite its gold appearance, the statuette was merely brass. Times being what they were and Stephan's drinking habit having depleted the Poetr family fortune, I sold that statue for the 40 trues willingly and returned home to face my brother's wrath. A low chuckle unwittingly escapes my throat as Stephan begins to choke and sputter in his fury. His entire face has began to turn a queer purplish color and I step back fearing the fat lout will fall on me in his distress. I note with a little interest that this time instead of calming himself with another drink, my brother has brought his hands to his throat and is no longer making the required raspings of respiration. “Oh ...!” I mutter as as I step behind him and place a solid whack to the middle of back. My quick intervention has the desired effect and Stephan's ragged inhalation confirms the windbag isn't empty just yet. He collapses into the tattered remains of a once fine oaken chair and glances back at me with a look of pure.. hatred. “Get out.” he gasps one more time reaching for one of the ever present bottle of bock. My anger starts to rise at this unfair treatment and I eye the soft tender spot on the back of his head – the perfect target for a knock out blow from my sap, tucked into my tunic. Before the thought finishes itself, I've acted on that impulse and my dear brothers breathing settles into a easy rhythm for the first time that evening. I check the life's pulse in his neck and a thready thump thump is felt in my fingers.

Quickly, I search his clothes and strike it lucky. Inside his tunic are some three dozen trues and key. Seizing both trues and key, I make my way to the back room of the study where the family safe is kept, some deft movements of the key in the lock and the safe swings open. I let out a harsh laugh as I see what treasures my brother has kept- some half dozen bottles of hammer bock ale. That figures. Sweeping them into my pack, I'm surprised to discover a lone letter parchment behind them. Returning to the dim light of the candle, I see its a letter to mother and father from of all people – Daniel. From its apparent age and the date it arrived some months ago before the sickness took mom and dad from us. Swallowing hard to relieve the lump in my throat, I tuck the letter inside my tunic noting its stamped from Hlint. If Stephan hated anyone more than me, it was Daniel. “The golden fool” he called him. Seems Stephen and Father agreed on one thing at least, Daniel was a fool but had somehow gained the good graces of a guild in Krandor. “hmm” I ponder the possibilities as Stephen naps peacefully next to me. I've worn out my welcome in Luck, best the move on to greener pastures. Patting my 'dear brother' on the back, I remove the last item of any value from his person, his lambswool cloak, one of the last made in our fathers shop, and walk out the door.

Benjamin sits in a cubby behind the forge writing down a few thoughts in a book he lifted from the general store's garbage bin. Its missing a few pages, but still has enough left to get a good start in. He has dug a small hole under a rock and lined with a bit of leather and cloth to keep it dry.

I suppose I should start a journal, I've spied several other new arrivals here in Hlint writing in such books here and there. Can't keep it on my person , too much evidence in it already. *scans the first few pages* Yep, enough to get me tried and hung for armed robbery. *chuckles low* oh well its my neck to gamble with. Ever since Dad got sick and Stephan blew all the family fortune on booze, I've given up on magic and focused instead on survival skills, of course, I wish life had turned out different, but If my luck holds maybe I can score it big here..somehow. *uneasily eyes Garent walking his beat and mutters * "swine, yeah keep walking tin can". Anyway, my first few days were anything but pleasant, folks here just don't trust someone like me. *smiles slyly* and for good reason. Guess I blew big time when I accosted that cutie Rofie priestess, Mylindra. I tried the old Poetr charm, but she wasn't buying it, in fact I think she tattled me out to that fool brother of mine, Daniel, about our exchange. *rubs a bruise on his left cheek as his tongue finds the hole where a tooth used to be* yeah, he may be an idiot, but he's a strong idiot and he beat me pretty bad for that bit of indiscretion. So I did what any survivor does I improvised and changed my tactics. Yeah, meet the new , better mannered Benjamim *snickers to himself*. At least that's what they will see, no sense alienating all that help out there. Speaking of help, I'd love to help that Melanna out of that tight armor. oops there I go again. Anyway that fiery redhead can really swing that iron she's packing. She did this one manuever in the sewers ahat was like ..wow. Made me forget all about her tight armor let me tell you. *chuckles in admiration* Well, she helped me so maybe the new me, is a bit better off than the guy who arrived here. *shrugs* time will tell I guess. The best part, other than the gorgeous warrioress redhead, was the payoff! That clerk gave me 200 trues, that more score than I've held -ever. Can't wait to sleep in a real bed, even if its only for a night. "Indeed", she sure likes that word. Guess maybe I'd better see about that room and maybe a bite to eat, I'm famished!

cbnicholson · « **Reply #1 on:** November 08, 2006, 07:24:45 AM »

I've been giving some thought to full time employment so I'd thought I might take up the job of a tailor. Turns out the system has a few surprises for us entrepeneurs. Can't use the tables in the public crafting house unless you have a certificate from Semli, that greedy bugger. I tried several ties to start sewing and each time, Johan would come up and ask to see my certificate. I think he's in on that scam too, I wonder what his cut is? Anyway, Semli wants 850 trues for the certificate - 850! Damn his eyes, that's more coin then I've ever seen and the bugger's more casual about asking for it then than a tavern wench asking to see the color of your trues before pouring a beer. So I did what I always do - I reassessed my position and went down to the bank to check it out some more. I think there might be able to scale the back wall and get roof access. Never pulled a second story job, but I'm not afraid of heights and I just know that place is loaded, despite what Jser says.

Oh yeah, met a couple of fellows by the Bank - Jser and Uilliam. Nice fellows too, just like me. *chuckles to himself*. Spoke the lingo anyway. I asked about jobs in the area, Jser told me through the cant that Hlint was a poor town, no good places to try. I think the bugger holding out on me, don't trust him. Then again, I wouldn't trust me either so all's good. Uilliam was decent enough, offered to knock off a few gobbies outside of town, split the spoils. I followed him out after growing bored with the ramblings of some red bearded dwarf. That Jser, he's a real sneaky sort, I didn't even see him till he popped up in that cave with the red lights. Kind of glad he did, because he took an arrow for me right before stabbing one of the gobbie guards right in the throat. That had to hurt. The gobbie anyway, Jser seemed fine with the prick he got - never even flinched. If he's a rival, I'll have to learn to spot him sooner, before the blade enters my back. No honor among us thieves, that's for sure. Anyway turnes out Uilliam just wanted someone to watch his back while he banged away at some rocks down there. Said he needed them to make traps. That's a new one to me, I usually just buy them or disarm and keep the one I found. Him being a halfling, maybe he likes making things. I don't really know, nor do I really care. Point is, he demonstrated one of those traps for me and Jser. Led an entire party of 8 gobbies right into it - Bam, a few well placed arrows later from Jser and myself, gobbies were toast. Nice, real nice. Learned a bit about skulking from both of them that day. We make a good team, them taking the hits and me picking up the coin. Uiliiam got the rocks he wanted and we made our way out. I got stupid though and tried to take out a gobbie patrol by myself. Had to run for it, let Jser and Uilliam take the heat off me. I looked like a gods be damned pin cushion by the time I got out of that cave. Used my last potion on Uilliam too, lil bugger provided good cover, plus I knew I wouldn't make it of thier alive without a front man. Anyway, I survived and that's the important part. Live to steal another day.

Speaking of living and dying, curiousity got the better of me and I made my way to Krandor to see if 'dear brother' dan was still kicking. The only sounds I heard were some muffled explosions from Jako's room, dead silence from Dan's. My guess is unless he gets some help soon, Dan's worm food. I say let him rot.

cbnicholson · « **Reply #2 on:** November 12, 2006, 06:06:16 AM »

I have to make this quick, Daniel is up and about and according to the the word on the the street, he's looking for me. Time for a trip to the city.. maybe Leilon. *stuffs his journal back into his hidey hole and carefully makes his way out of Hlint using the shadows*.

cbnicholson · « **Reply #3 on:** December 07, 2006, 09:57:13 AM »

I think I've worked out Dan's routine and can slip into Hlint from time to time without him catching me. I saw him heading down the road south of Llast so maybe now's a good time. I've been scoping out possible locations to 'set up shop' in Lielon and think I might have found a good one in a newly set up inn. It has a lot of good points about it. First, its near the city gate so if the law shows up I can make a hasty exit. Second, lots of different people coming and going all the time, so hopefully my skulking about won't attract as much attention. Third, I was able to scale a shadowed corner and jimmy the lock on an attic window, its a bit of tight fit, but I think I can wiggle into it. From what I could see of the interior, I'm betting there's some passages the inhabitants don't know about either. Usually in these big buildings there a lot of dead space a guy like me can..take advantage of. Finally, the cute Rofie priestess, Myl, she lives there!! Gods, I can wait to case this place further and find what room she sleeps in! Eyecandy galore that one. She's a bit too soft for my tastes though, what I really liked was that fiesty Red head, Melanna, Now theres a gal that can set your heart on fire, rip it outa of your chest and stomp it out but good!*daydreams for a moment then smiles* Right, back to business, Gotta be careful though, there's two tin can holier than thou types and another sneaker like me. I think the sneaker owns the place, she looks like one cool cat and tough too, better watch it for now, at least until I get the household patterns down. It was a few weeks since I last dug this diary up here in Hlint, a few new faces, a lot of old ones.
I managed to recruit a scary looking fighter, named Brut. Good muscle on that one, knocked those gobbies on thier arses again and again, Some do gooder priest came along too, a Lex'or something or another. I was freezing and starving so didn't pay much attention. Was glad just to get moving. Snow flying all over the place, I'm out of tinder, and nobody seems to notice its freezing! Stupid people anyway. Lex, he kept Brut on his feet and I volunteered to loot the corpses. Don't mind that really, get my fair share for sure that way. Halfway down, pansy boy I call him shows up, talking about a rescue. I think pansy boys name might be Karn. Looks to me like he needed to be rescued from that awful hat her wore. He, mr pansy, kept making this gods awful screeching sound that hurt my ears. The Gobbies just did the proper thing and died from it, so maybe screech has his place. As we finished, I noticed I could hide a bit better and keep my feet from flapping on the stone a little better. We went back to Hlint, when I spotted a real Looker! Blonde, moved like a dancer. As I expressed my admiration, she cooly walked over and slapped me right off of my feet. *rubs a woman's handprint on his cheek and grins* yep, still got it. Anyway, A bit later, I recruited mr muscles again and we hit seilwood. Seems the bard at the inn needed her necklace back. Lynx, this crazy human gal who must think she's an elf, came along and kept Brut on his feet again. I played collector again. *grins , the light of avarice in his eyes* a nice haul indeed. Over a thousand trues on my person. Not sure what to do with it, If I could get my nerve up, I might see if this gods for saken hamlet has some merchants in it somewhere.
One of the people I remember from last time I was here, was Ferrit. I saw her coming from the bank and an 'oh crap' slipped from my lips. I was trying to put the moves on this really cute , can you believe its a dwarf, gal, when it happened. She knows what I'm about, and I don't fancy her telling everybody. On top of that, the creepy elf in green showed up and starting calling me Daniel. Damn his eyes, why'd he have to do that? I bugged out real quick before too many questions could be raised. I slipped back in the east gate into the shadows behind the bank to write this. I can hear that creepy elf talking like some kind of idiot about how this funny looking human smells like eyebeast, what in the nine hells is an eyebeast?. Speaking of which, Dan just showed up. Time to make myself scarce. *hurriedly reburies his journal and slips out the gate*

cbnicholson · « **Reply #4 on:** December 21, 2006, 08:26:29 AM »

It’s been a while since I’ve written in this thing, mostly because I’ve settled into my new hideout in the attic of the independent. It’s great! I’ve unlimited access for leering at that cute Rofie priestess, Mylindra and I was right about those spaces between the walls. It’s taken a bit of doing, but I’ve managed carve some very small spy holes in most of the rooms. The conversations, affairs, and other assorted gossip one can hear are amazing. I’m working on removing a couple of stone from the big fireplace in the main room so I can access the inside of the building easily. It has been slow going since I must wait until everyone leaves before I start scraping at the mortar. I think it will take me at least another three months to work my way through, providing I’m not caught. I’d like to be able to use that portal by the door instead of making the long cold walk to Hlint on foot.

Speaking of a trip to Hlint, I did make it down to that mud hole recently; I scouted the bank area as I usually do, not seeing any sign of Dan or his cohorts from the guild, I sat for a time on the benches making fun of the locals. I got bored with it after a while and checked out the tavern’s board. There’s a witch in the swamp? Might be a good opportunity for some easy coin, I’ll have to check her out. Then I went to that bugger, Semli and asked about a certificate for crafting. Turns out I was a bit short after buying some supplies and couldn’t get one. Gods damn it! So, I thought a true collecting foray might be just the thing. I noticed a smallish group with two cute looking elves in it and a meat shield named Nathan leaving the gate together so I tagged along. Putting my best face forward, I actually asked nicely if I could come along. The leader, some woman named Jil, said sure if I didn’t mind a trip to Fort Himlad. As that idiot Postmaster had given me a letter for there I was actually glad to go. We walked the whole way to Velensk. Man, my feet were sore. Then a boat trip to Point Harbor and then more walking. There were some points of interest, one being a dark tower near Krandor, and I thought the Rangers of Wolfwood looked pretty tough. Before Fort Himlad, we had to cross these plains. Jil said it was home to a fierce gryphon and I believed her. I put my sneaking skills to good use and stayed in the tall grass until I reached the fort. Good thing I did. As it turns out, that fool Johan lost his cow, Elsie and we had to go look for her. We didn’t find her but her collar in the belly of a gryphon. Nathan and Jil took some wicked hits, but survived. I got in a few shots from the grass with my bow. I bet Elsie tasted yummy. Hehe. Johan was sad but grateful to us for finding out what happened to his cow. We continued on, deeper into Rilara to hunt bear for the other cutie in the party, Cim. Did I mention she called me Mr. Rude? ((chuckles to himself)) We found some bears all right, three of them next to some giants. I had a tense moment when I clumsily stumbled near a broken bridge and thought they had heard me. I managed to give it the slip, but not before he gave me a good scare. We shot those bears like fish in a barrel, skinned out right quick and left in a hurry.

We sailed from Point Harbor back to Port Hampshire. Sailing is the most boring bit of business - nothing but water, more water, and crappy food. Despite objections, we started the long walk back to Hlint. We never made it. At Llast, Jil asked if we would like to visit some place called Harmony Grove. Of course everyone said ok so we made our way north towards Leilon. At a place called Lake Palden, we took the right path and entered the forest. I noticed right away how creepy the place was and it got creepier as we approached a strand of Oak. “Oh crap” slipped out when I saw the Pandorns and that wack job druid, Drogo. It looked like they were having a nice little party right in the midst of those oak trees. I skirted to the right, hugging the cliff face and staying in the shadows. My little party got ahead of me in the next bunch of woods and I thought I’d have to break cover to catch up. Just as I did, a big brown bear broke from the cover of trees and charge me. I did what any self respecting sneak would do, I yelled for help and ran. I made it twenty steps before that bear had me. My last memory of it was the snap of my lower legs as that bear chomped down on them. ((Shudders))

I came to myself in Hlint, totally disgusted and more than a little angry at Jil and the rest for leaving me to die in those woods; I trudged north, feeling sick and tired. I cursed bears, I cursed cute Elvin women, I cursed the trees, but most of all I cursed my own stupidity for thinking it mattered whether or not I caught up to the group and getting spotted. Finally I entered the forest again.

Damn his eyes. Drogo and the Pandorns were just coming out and spotted me before I could hide. I sulked, I sneered, I told them to leave me alone. Cole, Kyle and Ferrit’s son, called me Uncle Daniel. I scowled at the brat and Kyle told me I’d better watch it. I was just about to open my mouth to tell him to stick where the sun don’t ever shine when Ferrit offered to help. ((Pauses, reflecting)) Nobody has offered me help for nothing before, I didn’t know what to say except where my stone was and that a bear had eaten me. That nature freak show, Drogo, said he’d go ahead and calm the bear. Ferrit smiled and said he should look for one with indigestion. Haha, real funny. Well he found the bear and I found my stone. I still don’t like Drogo, regardless of what he thought he did for me, but I did thank the Pandorns..sortof. I suppose I could buy some equipment from them once I get some more trues. Gods know I need some help. ((stops writing and looks over what’s he’s written so far)) sappy crap. I’m gonna go see if Myl’s home yet, maybe this time she’ll leave a light on and I can get a peek at her bodice. ((snickering he makes his way to a small opening in the floor of the attic))

cbnicholson · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2007, 12:34:49 PM »

A small bit of shadow detaches itself from the corner Leilon Arms and quietly makes its way to the waterfront. A broken smile and intense eyes stare at the golden plated figure as it lays down what appears to be large package wrapped in a second cloak. A freak cold wind draws the end of the cloak away for a split second and reddish hair spills forth and Benjamin lets in a hiss of breath through clenched teeth.

“Melanna,” He hoarsely whispers to himself, noting the name of the ship –“Destiny’s Ride”, one of the standard two masted schooners that usually run the coastal waters of Mistone. “Gods, No” he finishes, trying to reconcile the corpse laid at the feet of the captain and the vibrant, living woman whom helped in the sewers of Hlint. His eyes narrow dangerously as his quick mind adroitly figures the quickest route to board the ship.

Across the cold waters of the bay, a deep baritone of voice that he recognizes pleads with the Captain for haste and a new course. Trues are exchanged and the Captain barks orders to his crew and quickly the ship takes on the charge of a vessel readying for sale.

“Well, well, dear brother, it would seem you have finally shown your true idiotic colors and someone we both know has been killed as a result,” Benjamin finishes the thought as he slides into the freezing waters of the bay with a soft hiss. He knows he has at most minutes if not seconds before the freezing waters numb him to the point where he will not be able to move. Working his arms and feet swiftly he swims the 20 yards to the ships docking anchor as sailors work inside the hold to raise it to the stowed position. His hands nearly numb, he manages to grasp it as it clears the water and the crank mechanism easily lifts it and him clear of the frigid water. As the anchor comes to rest in it berth in the underside of the bow, Benjamin establishes his balance and begins to gently contract all his muscles starting with his forearms, fighting the urge to chatter his teeth and shiver uncontrollably. The skins of his trousers and cloak, treated to repel water, quickly dry in the cold breeze. As he wills himself warm, he assesses further possibilities to enter the ship. The easiest would be to reach up and pull himself aloft over the side rail, just mere two feet above him, but he knows that would draw the attention of the sailors and boatswain, making ready to steer the ships great wheel in the back.

Looking about, Benjamin spies a small portal some 3 feet to his left, obviously some sort of waste hole, judging my the pungent smells emanating from it, but possibly large enough to squeeze through and make the lower deck without arousing suspicion. Taking several deep breathes, Benjamin leans out, stretching his acrobatic body out to its fullest extent and grips the lip of the opening. Releasing his stance upon the anchor, he leans and plunges one arm and his head into the opening, quickly contracting his shoulder muscles, while bracing his outside hand against the hull. His inside arm reaches and grasps something wooden and fairly solid and he pulls with all his might to put more of his torso inside the hole. Limited success brings him into a position with his right shoulder and head inside the hole to his right nipple, the rest of his body hanging precariously outside the hole. Wriggling furiously, he clears his left shoulder through the portal and snakes out his left arm to start bracing himself for a fall to the floor of what appears to be the mid hold.

As his legs the clear the opening, sudden light from a lantern shines down on a spot on the floor some ten feet in front of him. Cursing to himself softly, he curls and accepts the soft thud of his shoulders and back as they make contact with the floor and he comes to a standing position using the momentum of his fall to propel himself forward then up. Hand inside his tunic, grasping the ever present sap, Benjamin scans the hold for a place to hide. A large block of ice sits in the middle of the ten by twenty foot hold, surrounded by fresh hay and grass and covered by tarps. He spies more tarps tucked into a far dark corner and darts across the space and ducks under them. They smell of stale fish and ocean salt, but the bulk of them cover his body. Carefully, he clears the tarps away from a small portion of his face so he can see and hear.

As the Sailor’s approach, the lead one with a curious air, turns to the other says, “Did you hear that Jasper?”

The other, apparently Jasper, and somewhat engaged with keeping Melanna’s torso from hitting the floor in front of a very much agitated gold plated Knight of the Wyrm, simply shrugs and replies, “Naw, must have been rats!” The two quickly finish their work by laying the corpse on the ice and turn to leave with a nod from the Knight.

“And so now we wait together, Dear sister, for our deliverance unto the docks of Velensk,” Daniel mutters and he pulls a stool over to sit next to her. Settling in, Daniel bows his head in prayer, moments pass, then minutes and finally a quarter hour and soft snores come from the side of the makeshift shroud. Benjamin gathers his nerve and carefully removes the now slightly warm sails from his person.

Turning his head slightly he sees by the failing lantern that Daniel has fallen asleep his head resting on a bit of the cloak that once shielded Melanna’s face. Gathering his feet under him as silent as the shadow he can be, Benjamin takes a few tentative steps in their direction, pausing frequently to see if the tempo of his Daniel’s soft snoring changes or ceases. As the soft snores grow stronger, so does Benjamin’s courage and he advances to the opposite side of his resting brother. Running his tongue nervously over his front teeth, he pauses and a look of brief anger flashes as his tongue settles into a gap. “Damn your eyes, brother, why did you have to do this?” Benjamin whispers into the hold to sleeping and dead ears.

A collide scope of emotions cross his face, anger, hatred, disgust, lust, and even love as he views the two of them. His brother’s face exhausted and worn, hers locked in the mask of death, beyond all concerns at last but still with a stubborn set to the jaw somehow. Drawing his skinning knife, Benjamin carefully pulls a small lock of her red hair from the back and expertly shears it away. Placing it into a bit of sailcloth, he tucks inside his on tunic and turns back to his pile of spare sails. Turning abruptly, Benjamin contemplates driving knife into his brother’s neck and leaving the two together, but decides against it. Ship board murders are always too easy to solve with limited suspects and it would guarantee a ship wide search for the murderer. Besides, judging from the look on his brother’s face, Daniel looked to be punishing himself plenty without opening new ventilation holes in his neck. With a soft low laugh, Benjamin makes his under the sails once more and settles in for a nap. He awakens to cries of “land ho” from up top and the sound of seabirds. Remaining calm, he waits until the ship is quiet at dock before slipping up and out under the cover of night into Velensk.

cbnicholson · « **Reply #6 on:** June 28, 2007, 12:40:48 PM »

The soft glow of flames from a small depression cast shadows across the slightly scarred face of Benjamin as he carefully feeds the flames his crude journal one page at a time. He glances nervously about him, listening for the shift of feet upon the platform where the law sits with her torch or the nearly incoherent mumblings of the town crier, bespeaking events and places that have long since past. When the journal is completely consumed by the flames, Ben adds the contents of an acid flash and quickly fills in the hole with loose soil. Taking the time to carefully patch the sod back over the hole he whispers to himself, “There, no evidence of my past crimes exists except in the minds of my victims, and they are all dead now”.

Pulling his pack off, he checks its contents. Nestled inside are various tools along with a growing number of acid and fire flasks, his latest hobby. “Ferrit was right,” he mutters to himself, “I have a liking for this alchemy. It lacks the power of true wizardry, but it will do for my purposes nicely. I don't think she would approve of the why however.”

Ben gingerly takes several poison sacks from various spiders and examines them in the moonlight, “Shame I lack the skill yet to turn these into something truly useful.” He laments, then chuckles and draws forth a vial of very potent poison, “But Ferrit doesn't. I had better save this one for something very important, I can't afford to get caught taking these, one she might not miss, but several and she will get suspicious. Still, she told me to leave the sacks for her to work on. Don't want to disappoint her, now do I.”, He puts the sacks back into his pack and carefully wraps the poison vial up in dark cloth.

Turning to the shadows, Ben sits down on a nearby bench and thinks about the half scripted lines he's had to utter, the carefully planned fawning, the Misters and the yes maams he has had to speak to get those close to his brother, Daniel to accept him. “I even confessed to a paladin my sins” he smirks, half whispering to himself in the darkness. “I wonder is she really believed my lies or just wanted to. Still all have their usefulness in the pursuit of coin. A paladin's good word may stay the executioners blade someday.”

Benjamin pulls out another item stolen from the guild hall in Hempstead, a book. To the common eye it appears a simple instruction manual on trap springing, but to those trained in the finer points of stealth it reveals secrets. Secrets on how to quickly slay a man by stabbing, or poison his wine, or by choking. Benjamin reads what he can by the dim light of moon and torches, his adroit mind working through the possibilities. After several hours of reading, he comes to the final page and piece of thin parchment, white as blanched bone falls to the ground and stares at him like a pupiless eye. He smirks and picks it up, noting it feels ice cold. Opening it, he sees runes that swim before his eyes before settling into the phrase, “Seek the Black Sun for your answers” “Yes” , he mutters to the night, successfully blocking out the disapproving frown of another in gold colored armor in his mind.

cbnicholson · « **Reply #7 on:** June 28, 2007, 12:43:13 PM »

I was approached by a man today while practicing Alchemy at the Hall of the weave in Hempstead. Approached may be too lax of a word, he appeared in front on me like some jack in the box toy by fool brother Dan used to play with. Bugger seriously disrupted my calm, but then told me he'd been following me since I left the sewers and that he thought I did a fair job evading the rats down there and could I do the same for Humans? I asked him outright if this was a job offer in the cant, he said maybe, but it was more of a permanent position.

He said others had been tried, but had failed and so wouldn't be asked again. He asked me what he should call me. After a few moments I replied with a smirk - surly I told him. He left suddenly after that leaving a note half stuffed into my ox pack.. it was a map to a spot close to the Thorn River. I destroyed the map with an acid flask and mentally noted the location. I've scouted it out.

The only real structure of note is the wizard's tower and maybe Farmer parts. I didn't see any other people there. I'll return another time and check again later.

cbnicholson · « **Reply #8 on:** June 28, 2007, 12:44:39 PM »

That sneaky bugger left a note in my pack this time! Said I was to make my way to the location I had scouted out earlier.

Upon my arrival a cloaked and hood figure approached me and offered a list and a warning. "If you do this, your reputation as a law abiding citizen is done."

I had to smirk at that and replied, "Like I care."

"Don't get caught, my operatives will be following your progress. Also, don't read the list until back at Hempstead."

"Right," I replied grinning crookedly, "whatever you say."

Upon returning to Hempstead I tore open the letter. Procure an iron dagger, short sword, and three malar skins it read. "Nothing in this life is easy ." I told myself, tucking the note away. "Time to earn someone's favor it seems."

cbnicholson · « **Reply #9 on:** June 28, 2007, 12:45:21 PM »

Curse him to the hells! Turn against my own family? I couldn't do it, no matter the reward. Was I suppose to be the inside man? To rob my own guild? *shakes his head, then stops and grins crookedly* Besides, I've got 20,000 jink in the bank now, more than double what he promised the thief we caught. Just have to be on my toes now, I'm a marked man.

cbnicholson · « **Reply #10 on:** June 28, 2007, 12:46:30 PM »

No sign of trouble lately, well not the murdering kind. Tar and I; however, *chuckles to himself thinking about chicken feed, feathers, and a kiss in the Scamps mug*. I've been going soft, gods curse it, but maybe..*thinks about the look in the Rofie Paladins eyes and sighs softly* I'll have to give up some of my ways, maybe, or *smirks* get better at covering my tracks. *seems to think seriously about something* Maybe Tar can give me some lesson on how to carry a shield and fight better. I'll ask her after I hear her answer to my first question. *rushes off to find Ferrit to see if a certain ring he's paid dear jink for is ready yet*.

cbnicholson · « **Reply #11 on:** June 28, 2007, 12:47:28 PM »

I'm either cursed or blessed, not sure yet. Tariana said yes! She'll marry me, but there's a catch, there's always a gods cursed catch. She drug it out of me, the whole story of my brother, Stephen's death and possible murder, but that stuffed shirt, Reus, he gave me an idea when we went to see him. I think now that it wasn't my knockout blow that killed Stephen, but someone else, so Tar and I are investigating and we start with my brother's body, which conveniently is suppose to be in the crypts at Vehl. *grumbles a bit* I hate deaders - its impossible to stick em properly.

cbnicholson · « **Reply #12 on:** June 28, 2007, 12:48:17 PM »

*leans back by the guild door, hidden in the shadows deep in thought* Some progress finally in regards to my brother and Tariana. I found his body, well what was left of it after the rats gnawed his bones..Interesting enough, there were even dead rats around the buggers corpse. Whatever poison got him, its was still potent enough to kill after it took him. I think I have an answer for his honor, Reus *snickers* It should be enough to clear my name with those Rofie snobs anyway.
Tar has been great, she keeps telling me to salute my opponent before combat and bunch of other honorable actions to a foe..yeah right . Just stick em where it hurts most I tell her, but she just smiles at me and ..well I don't feel like what she's suggesting is so bad..of course in actual combat..old habits die hard. She is helping me to fight better though..I might actually learn to handle myself decently in a toe to toe fight..if I'm ever crazy enough to try such a thing..Leave it to her to do the honorable thing..Me..I'll take the cheap shot anyway I can.

I'm running a date by Tar for our wedding..hope it works out for her. The soul mother just can't seem to leave Tar alone. If only there was some way to cheat death..I wonder..

cbnicholson · « **Reply #13 on:** June 28, 2007, 12:50:03 PM »

ts done, She is a beauty my new bride, but she seems unresistable to the soul mother too..As I lay dying in the mountains I heard the wail..and I just knew..my Tariana had another part of her taken away. *sighs* This is my punishment to watch all that I love fade or die..while I am left..alone.

cbnicholson · « **Reply #14 on:** June 28, 2007, 12:55:55 PM »

*chuckles to himself, looking around the once bare room at 148 Krandor, Ben notes the two chairs a plain double bed, some chests and a bathtub in the corner* Nice work decorating the place Tariana, it looks great, especially the bed. *he waggles his eyebrows* So why are ya still in yer armor? What do ya mean more temple duty? *he grumbles* Fine, I'm heading to Hempstead *he stops turns and gives her a kiss* Yeah, I'll behave myself..no worries.

cbnicholson · « **Reply #15 on:** July 12, 2007, 03:25:53 PM »

Gods! *Benjamin curses softly* What a thing to happen now. I'm jest getting going in the guild and now I gotta make some deals and get a house. She's got yer baby, wisearse, time to grow up and show her ya mean what ya said. *he mutters and grumbles to himself*. *Settling into a half crouch in the nearby shadow of a wall, Benjamin starts to think, after a bit he snaps his fingers loudly and springs to his feet* It's time to make a deal. *he mumbles as he sprints for the bank to withdraw his meager fortune*

cbnicholson · « **Reply #16 on:** January 30, 2008, 02:10:50 PM »

*Benjamin digs outs a ratty journal with loose pages tucked into it. Finding a relatively clean sheet, he pulls it out and starts writing with a charcoal pencil*

Dearest Tariana *crosses it out with a smirk* too sappy * and puts right below it*

Tar,

Jest wanted ya to know yer spendin way too much time in the Temple..Lil Daniel needs ya and so do I. For eight years we stayed at my relatives in Luck and you seemed happy. We returned to Hemp and the guild and yer spending all your time moping..yeah I said moping in Vehl. Ya think yer Dragon expects ya to forsake your family to pray or whatever it is ya do in that place? I jest need yer help with Daniel..the boy's too serious for cryin out loud. I try to show him some tricks or teach him some street lingo and he jest looks at me, his eyes - your eyes all somber like I'm crazy..and guilty of something. Maybe you can take him with ya to that temple? He'd like that. He asks me all the time about ya, and I don't know what to tell him, its like he's forgettin who you are, maybe you're forgettin who you are? I don't know. I jest want ya to come home, Tar..I'm gettin lost in the dark again.

Ben.

*he seals it with candle wax and imprints it with a bloody coin emblem and goes to find Reus in Vehl*

"Yer honor, would ya see that Tariana get's this? Thanks."

cbnicholson · « **Reply #17 on:** February 07, 2008, 02:28:40 PM »

*curls up in his double bed at 181 Haven with a ratty book and begins writing*

I think I've worked out a few things with Tariana. We seemed to be getting along better at least. Of course, I still think she needs to put that danged stick down and quit smacking me with it everytime she thinks I've said something bad. Its just disrepectful it is.

I took her advice and took lil Dan out to Glass Lake for a week, just me and him. I think he liked it, its kind of hard to tell. I'm not much for fishing so I snuck off leaving him with his line in the water and his nose in some book. My goal was to see if there was some fun to be had in harassin some giants, but I got spotted and had to kill one of em. The rest of them seemed to get angry about that and chased me back towards the Lake so I had to ambush the lead one. In the process of doing that I tripped on a root and cut my leg wide open. I wound up lying there, bleeding and clotting fer a few breaths when along comes Dan..Luckily I stuck that giant first, but his eyes sure got big when he saw that dead giant! They got even bigger when he saw my wound. "Can I help you, Dad?" is all he said.
"How in the hells ya gonna do that son?" I asked him, scrounging in my pack for a bandage. No luck there.
He just gave me this little smile of his and muttered a few words over my leg. I heard a couple of em, one was "please" and the other "dragon" It felt like when Tariana does it sort of..but different and pretty soon it stopped hurtin altogether. "That's it, yer goin with yer mother to Vehl ..next week!" I said trying to hide my curiosity and apprehension.

Testing my nearly healed leg I then told him "Now let's get outa here before the rest of those lugs show up and smash us ta dogmeat." We made our way back ta Mariners Hold that very day. Daniel just kept smiling at me. Gods, ya can't be serious, I kept thinking, no boy of mine's gonna be a rofie cleric..it just can't be. I hope a week with those stuffed shirts will show the boy what he's in fer.

cbnicholson · « **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2008, 11:05:22 AM »

Benjamin looks down the bar in Leringard noting the various regular then back at his cup of juice, "", he mutters into it and takes a drink, keeping half an ear on the conversations around him. Noting nothing past the ordinary complaints of merchants and farmers alike, he finishes his drink and heads for the room he's rented there. Curling up into his bed, he pulls a ratty journal from his pack and finds a fairly fresh page and starts writing.

Sunra, Febra 1, 1429

Still no word of Vamps other than the old stories the merchants tell bout the massacre the other week. I'll stick it out here fer another few days tryin to find out some real information, but it looks like the've moved on. Gods I need a drink, but I gotta keep my wits around me fer this job. I even *pauses with the pencil over the paper briefly* miss Tar's lectures. Wonder how's she's doin with Dan in Vehl too? *sighs* Yep, one more week, then I'm headin home. Now I remember why I hate this place so much..lousy food.

Bejamin closes the book with a smirk and sets a small trap on the door and window to keep out unwanted visitors. Setting his swords by his bedside, he drifts off.

cbnicholson · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2008, 09:40:51 AM »

She's gone! Of all the people ta tell me , it hasta be Dan to tell me too. I didn't believe it until I saw her laid out at the guild hall. They cleaned her up, but somehow it didn't seem like it was her. I'm not feelin much, jest numb, but I do remember she said she wanted to be burned up in her armor on a pyre, she called it. I'll let her friends see her fer a week, then take her home to Haven. I still haven't told the boy yet, I can't get up the nerve ta do it jest yet.