Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-5583506-20160117031504/@comment-29559990-20160117165245

Mongo and Ja’Keil had their seats firmly planted at the bar, each enjoying a bottle of mid-morning mead with the money that Athorian had given them yesterday.

“What in oblivion is taking him so long?” Ja’Keil growled, glaring intently at his half-empty tankard.

“Have patience, Ja’Keil,” Mongo warned. “Athorian’s meetings take time.”

“They take too much time,” Ja’Keil hissed. “I’m growing tired of waiting around for him to haggle with these tight-fisted merchants.”

“Athorian gains gold and food for the things he brings to the merchants. That food and gold feeds Mongo and Ja’Keil,” Mongo replied. “So do not complain. Unless you’d prefer to leave now and starve.”

Ja’Keil glared up at the massive orc before sighing and looking back down at his tankard. “I’d still like to know what’s holding him up. We didn’t bring a lot of stuff into town this time.”

“One of two things has happened,” Mongo shrugged. “Either the merchant is rather stubborn and negotiating for every coin, whilst Athorian is trying to persuade him to raise his unreasonable prices…

Or, The merchant has an unsatisfied wife or a beautiful daughter that Athorian has decided to bed, and is currently being chased down the streets by an angry merchant while the wife or daughter tries to talk the merchant out of gutting him.”

Ja’Keil furrowed his brow at how oddly specific that alternative was. “So… he’s in danger?”

“Not likely,” Mongo shook his head. “He’s grown far to accustomed to the situation to be in danger. You’ll learn that Athorian has a way of slipping out of tight situations.”

Just as he said that, the door to the inn swung open and loudly hit the wall. The Altmer in question waltzed in with a spring in his step and each strut being exaggerated and loud as the 4 bags of coin and food in his hands was weighing him down.

“Gentlemen!” Athorian laughed, setting his bags down on the bar. “We’ve made us a healthy profit!”

“Without theft or intimidation?” Ja’Keil asked, worried that the Altmer had put them in danger.

“Oh, of course, Jackal,” Athorian replied, purposely saying his name wrong. “Do you really think I’d stoop to those levels?”

Before Ja’Keil could answer and correct his name, Athorian cupped his hands over his mouth. “Of course you don’t. Now, let’s get out of here before-“

“There he is!” A voice rang out across the inn, grabbing everyone’s attention. The voice came from a middle-aged Breton with a receding hairline and eyes filled with anger. At his side were a small squadron of Kilkreath Guards at his side. “There’s the rapist and thief!” He cried, pointing a shaky finger at Athorian.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Rapist and Thief?” Athorian arched an eyebrow. “I have done nothing of the sort!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Liar! You defiled my wife! Raided my vault! And I’ll have your goddamn head, Athorian!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Hey now! You got the story wrong! I satisfied your wife and took a load out of your overflowing inventory. Honestly, you should be thanking me,” The Altmer shrugged.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Thank You!?” The merchant cried, stamping his foot in rage.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You’re welcome,” Athorian smiled innocently.

<p class="MsoNormal">With a vein pulsing on his forehead and foam forming at the mouth, the merchant turned to the guards, jamming a finger into his armor and shrieking “Guards! Arrest that man!”

<p class="MsoNormal">The Captain of the guard moved forward, flanked by 5 other guards with steel swords pointed directly at Athorian. “Surrender now!” He growled.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Aw, now c’mon…” Athorian said, backing up and putting his hands up in the air until his back met the bar top. “It doesn’t have to go like this!” He pleaded half-heartedly, but the guards kept coming.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Can I at least buy you a drink?” The Altmer asked, quickly reaching behind him and grabbing Mongo’s tankard. He swung forward and hit the captain directly in the temple. The Captain fell back in pain, and Athorian leapt up to the top of the par just as the rest of the soldiers lunged forward.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Mongo!” Athorian yelled, and the Orc leapt into action as he bulldozed through three of the guards, stomping them into the floorboards and letting nothing stop him. Athorian, meanwhile, was hopping around and avoiding the incoming lunges and swipes of the swords. As he ran across the top, he knocked over many of glass bottles and mugs.

<p class="MsoNormal">While that was happening, Ja’Keil was making a break for the inn exit. He wanted no part in this lunacy, but unfortunately for him, the merchant had other ideas.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Where do you think you’re going?” the merchant spat, grabbing the Khajiit by his collar and holding him tightly. Ja’Keil got out of the hold by swinging his leg back and he caught the merchant where the sun don’t shine

<p class="MsoNormal">The Merchant backed off, doubling over in pain and shedding a single tear. Before he could react, he received a shoulder tackled by Mongo, who was now carrying the 4 bags. Athorian was still having trouble on the bar, but he fixed that when the two swung down and missed. He stepped on their blades and pulled out his own. He pretended to swing down in attempt to cut off their hands, but he didn’t go all the way down. Still, the two let go of their swords and cowered. Athorian leapt onto their skulls and propelled himself forward.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Run!” Athorian ordered to his crew. The three bolted out of the door and down the pavement, heading for the gate.

<p class="MsoNormal">Mongo bullied his way through the town market, knocking down anyone in his path while Ja’Keil simply followed behind the hulking orc. Athorian was hopping from stall to stall, managing to swipe a few coin bags as he went. Eventually, they got to the gate and burst out into the open space, where a cart filled with bags and coin awaited, being pulled by two mules.

<p class="MsoNormal">Mongo tossed the bags casually into the back and hopped up to the jockey position. Athorian and Ja’Keil got in the back and waited for the mules to get the cart out of there.

<p class="MsoNormal">The only one who trailed them was the merchant, as the rest of the guards had been taken down. He reached the outside of the gate, only to find that Athorian and company were already off down the road. The Altmer waved casually and enjoyed an apple he had retrieved from one of the bags. “Thanks for the hospitality!” He grinned, with apple juice flowing over his bottom lip and apple skin wedging itself into his teeth.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Damn you, Athorian!” The Merchant rasped, out of air and trying to scream while he took in more. “Damn you to Oblivion! Curse you, you damned-“

<p class="MsoNormal">“Oh, shut up!” Athorian hollered back, causing the merchant to howl at the sky in anger and Athorian to grin.