Nilo, about to leave the house reconsiders things and goes back in to search it thoroughly. Walking the perimeter of the basement then walking the outside of the house he notices something odd so decides to sketch the dimensions of the house outside in the dirt. "Ah ha!" there is the culprit, there be a subbasement with an entrance from the outside. Alas, he hasn't the time to search out the basement now. He has errands to attend to.
Before going back to post, Nilo feels he should take care of the errand boy's package and personal effects. Tracking down the service proves to not be much of a feat considering his eye for detail and noticing the hidden sigil placed upon the outside of the package. Locating the depot for the Mistwalker delivery service proved to be fairly easy. Easier it seemed than getting to a supervisor. Walking into the place Nilo was jostled too and fro by speedy runners going in and out. At first trying to dodge the runners he simply ended up in front of another. Giving up on being polite Nilo simply grabbed one and asked to see a supervisor on City business. "umm this way sir" the young man replied showing Nilo a man as busy at his desk as Nilo had been at his dreaded bell sessions delivering messages for the guard. After a few minutes wait the supervisor managed to break away and find a quiet place for them to talk. Wondering what was wrong the supervisor seemed somewhat at odds having a guardsman in his midst but Nilo knew that nothing was amiss with the service, only that he had delicate news to breach.
Broaching the subject of missing carriers Nilo quickly ascertained the identity of the young courier from the yard. And finding that the package was not to be delivered to the ill fated house, the young guardsman turned it over to the delivery supervisor. The supervisor informed Nilo of the young man's older brother and Nilo agreed to meet them at the house the next day to help acquire the body of the young man. While the news had be grievous, Nilo felt as though he had scored points with the service on how he handled the situation.
Running out of daylight, Nilo rushed back to the guardhouse to try and catch the poor soul that was trapped with the bells. With some luck, he managed to catch the man coming out of the room and tried broaching the subject of making a psychic attack "game" between them to sharpen their wits against such rare intrusions. The man(Chimes) was to worn out from the bells to give an answer but decided to think on it as Nilo had offered up taking over a weekend of "Bell duty" if the man managed to "one up" Nilo during the month of attacks. They promised to speak the next morning.
With an uneventful night, Nilo came back to duty the next day meeting the gruff (nice description for a part gnoll imo) sgt far too soon for Nilo's liking. He started to outline the days duties to Nilo, that pollution spirits were rampant on the beach. HOW FUN! GARBAGE DUTY! YAY! Nilo tried to avert the duty saying that he had to finish the errand for the spirit, finding the young man(the son of the spirit from the kitchen). The SGT told him that other members of the guard would attend to this, and to hand him the knife. Refusing the order Nilo stood his ground stating that it was his CASE, no one elses. Failing to intimidate the small young man, the sgt begrudgingly allowed that some other guard members would track the boy down but Nilo would be allowed to carry forth on his duty.
Alas, this still left Nilo with the pollution spirits to deal with. Making his way down the beach he found the guard keeping people away from a huge swirling toxic wind along the beach devastating the giant crabs that made their home there. Worried about the crabs, Nilo asked if there was any way to avoid them. The guard looked at Nilo as anyone would look to someone asking a stupid "NEW" question. "Look little fellow, next time you need to go to the armory and ask pretty please and they will give you an amulet like this that smells so bad that the crabs will leave you alone", "really, don't they teach these newbies anything??"... Grimacing at the comments(that seemed well deserved), Nilo accepted the token and marched down to the beach. A couple of the guards sent comments to the "little fellow" wondering if he needed some adults to help. Ignoring the men, Nilo harnessed his concentration and began to fight though to the pollution spirit. As Nilo's mental powers began to filter the attacks of the large spirit, his eyes began to glass over as they were won't to do when his powers manifested. Bringing up a minor shield to prevent the debris from hurting him Nilo harnessed his will and made his way close to the spirit. Luckily the amulet was working and keeping the huge crabs that were provoked by the spirit at bay. The spirit released a torrent of attacks at the perceived threat approaching on the beach(While only 4'2" physically, this small humans mental stature was great indeed), which Nilo simply swatted away as he focused completely on the spirit. Had anyone been close they would have noticed that Nilo's eyes not only got glassy but rather looked crystalline as he harnessed his will to a razor's edge(CRIT!). Quickly decimating the spirit, Nilo's will found the fragments left along the beach as he walked along the beach eradicating any spiritual sign of the beast. Making his way back to the guards, he handed the guard back the amulet and walked back towards the city. There were no jeers from these guardsman that now saw Nilo in a different light.
Making his way to the house he met with the family and friends of the poor courier and helped them retrieve the body. Nilo said his farewells and sent his best wishes with the young men and made sure they knew they could come to him if anything was needed.
Reporting back to the guardhouse Nilo reported his sucess along the beach and found he was to be off for the day. With a quick inquiry he found that the young man he was to find had been found and decided to quickly make his way there. On the way, he managed to stop by and file a claim for the house that he was cleaning up.
Finding the house of the young man, Nilo spoke with his uncle and meet Adam. Delivering the blade to the young would be chef, he decided to take things a step further. Obtaining premission from the uncle, Nilo took the young man to meet Aireal, his friend at the Nookery. With a few words and the promise of a favor the young man was apprenticed to one of the busiest morning kitchens that Nilo knew. Surely, the wild kitchen spirit would be at ease now with her son's good fortune.
Leaving the young man and headed back to the abandoned house, Nilo stopped to get some digging tools. Tonight would be some dirty work indeed. Passing the young guard on duty(Lucky) he quickly made to where he thought he should dig. It was taking longer than it should however for Lucky seemed to keep thinking that he was allowed to go home and that Nilo was there to relieve him. How many times did he have to tell this nitwit NO. In any case Nilo began to uncover the cellar door, his muscles began to ache as he realized that he had been both covering and uncovering the door. Steeling himself against this strange enchantment Nilo managed to uncover the door. Whew. Was he tired. He began to open the door as he remembered he had to get back home. Throwing the shovel down Nilo began to quickly head home. He made it past the gate before he realized that this door had once again duped him. Angrily he steeled himself and marched back to the door, while Lucky asked if he was coming back to releive him..... NOOOOO, he had work to do. He marched right up to the door as he decided that this was fruitless and began to go back out the gate. Lucky asked him why he was leaving which shook him from the daze again. GRRRRR. Marshalling his reserves he marched back to the door and opened them(CRIT!).
The dark low damp cellar was quiet as he approached. Cold air wafted up to him as he made his way into the cellar despite this spirit's protests. He looked around the cellar and found some alchemical potions upon a body in here. Searching, he finds a door. As he begins to work at the door, he notices that the cold is not just cold but rather he is freezing to death without any pain. HOW could he have missed this?? He started his cells to repairing with a twitch of his mind fighting off the cold as he wrestled the door open. Seeing a tomb of sorts with alchemical supplies which begin to spill forming water spirits he turns tail and runs from the yard. As the spirit of the cellar whips his ego and body along the way.
Failing, Nilo reaches out with his mind to Chimes and explains the situation and asks for help. Waiting patiently he finally sees a young hobbit woman come trolloping down the lane and speak as though she were both wise and insane(Keeps referring to herself as WE). After speaking to Nilo, Ava wanders into the cellar and devestates this land spirit. Nilo is truly in awe, as well as being humbled and seeing the true limitations of his own feeble psychic prowess.
After this humbling experience, as Nilo makes his was back to the guardhouse he makes plans to contact Boaden the theif once again. He needs to make contacts on the underworld of the city to broaden his use. He may never be a great psychic but then again, he may never need to be. Entering the watch house, Nilo is quickly introduced to Ada Sal the guard mage, as he is a friend of Chimes and wants in on the "games". The quickly mentally and magically spar then call it a night.
Dropping his uniform off at the house, Nilo cloaks himself in normal clothing and uses his powers to make people not notice him as he walks from bar to bar searching for Boaden. Finding him rather quickly, Nilo retreats outside and reaches out to Boadens mind for a private conversation. Proposing a trading of resources and intel, Nilo hopes to talk Boaden into becoming his "CI". Time will tell.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
And so it begins...
Stirring from his morning meditation, Nilo grabs his carefully cleaned uniform and dresses in it. Taking exceptional care not to scuff any of the shine from his newly polished boots he quickly moves about his morning routine and secures his small apartment as he sets off to his first day in the guard.
Walking through the streets and greeting people along his way, he doesn't notice the few snickers or comments about the grand spectacle that his 4' polished image must present. Walking with a spring in his step, he wonders who he will be teamed with and what part of the city he will be presented with. What deeds and wrongs will he be righting today? He imagined how his day might go as he made his way to the station.
Entering into the station and presenting himself sharply, Nilo found himself being guided to a little dark room full of bells. He asked how long he need be here and they chuckled as they started bringing in messages. "You had better get to work, you are already behind," one of the guardsmen told Nilo. And so once again, things were not going quite as planned. The messages came in so fast he barely had time to realize what he was sending. Nilo tried to get word out that he wanted to speak to his superior, he was "sure" that this was not what he was meant to do. Alas, he started coming in every day and every day he sat before these bells. These every ringing, disgusting, noisy, cacophony made of bells. Just as he felt he might be stuck here forever he showed up to work to see a new guardsmen being guided to the bell room. The guardsmen pleaded with Nilo to switch shifts as Nilo just smiled and ran for his sanity. NO BELLS TODAY!!!! Ahahahahahah. He quickly stepped over to the Sgt Tenebrae's office. Nilo rapped upon the doorway and stood at ease to the side of the door as he hoped he was not getting assigned to another stations room of noise. The Sgt barked at Nilo to enter. Quite literally as it seems the Sgt has quite a bit of gnoll in him.
"What was your name again? Oh yes, Nilo, right. We have a situation over in one of the housing districts that should be RIGHT up your alley. I have sent several guardsmen and all have left or been thrown from the house. So, I decided to offer you a chance to leave the bells today. Fail at this and you will be back to the communication's room!" Back to the communication's room? Nilo would run from the city before he sat down before those bells once more. He listened as he received directions to the house and quickly turned and made his way out.
Following the directions as carefully as he could, Nilo soon found his way outside the city in the bazaar. Humm, maybe he wrote that down wrong.While he was going over the situation and how he found himself to be so far offtrack he observed a street urchin pick pocketing a gentleman at the bazaar. Deciding, discretion was the better part of valor, Nilo quickly placed a psychic "tag" on the runner, so that he could follow at his leisure. And follow he did, boy did that urchin know how to run. After longer than he might expect Nilo found the young man sitting on a rock. Gently admonishing the young man, Nilo talked the lad out of the ring he stole and proffered him a silver piece for being complaint and honest(in the end). Taking the piece and running the urchin probably didn't hear as Nilo offered the young man his name in case he needed assistance staying on track.
As Nilo made his way to the start of the bazaar, he quickly found the man missing the ring explaining his circumstance to the rent a cops of the bazaar. Nilo flicked the ring at the man and let him know that no thanks were needed, "Constable Nilo at your service!" He then hurried off back into the city to find the house before he became side tracked once again. This time, having no trouble, he found the run down abandoned house that was causing the issue.
Really, send the psychic for a haunted house? He mentally noted that the guard must not know the difference between a psychic and a medicine man. No sooner than he arrived, did Nilo notice the interest the spirits of the house took to Nilo's strong old soul. Thank goodness he had taken the time to learn the basics of spirit communication as a lad to deal with the interest these creatures took in him, for had he not he would have been back in that damn bell room tomorrow morning.
Methodically searching the outer door and making his way into the courtyard, Nilo began to search both physically and with gnosis(The ability to speak with spirits). After a short, time Nilo found the loci of one of the spirits. It seemed a dog had died on the back porch and it's spirit was frantic and scared. Taking careful time, Nilo used his minor knowledge on spirits to reach out to the spirit of the animal and let him know that it wasn't his fault. Showing the animal forgiveness and love, it started to get playful as it disapparated.
Making his way into the house, Nilo noticed the temperature drop further as he seen the kitchen was coated in ice from this new spirits malaise. Seeing, sharp instruments around the kitchen Nilo was going to put them someplace safe, where they might not land in his thorax. Alas, this spirit already had plans for the knives, as it began to pin Nilo to the side of the table with them. Noticing, however that the knives were not hitting him but only pinning him, Nilo reached out to communicate with this spirit. The spirit of the woman became visible and shook in throbs as she dropped several of the knives to the floor. He questioned her and found that she had been murdered here and with basic communication she showed Nilo that she had a surviving child. As Nilo agreed to take a special chef's blade to her son, she smiled and departed. He had the feeling he had better make quick work of getting the knife to the child, in order to fulfill this spiritual contract.
Nilo thought this might be complete with the house, but as he entered the living room, a spirit wailed down the stairs and left no doubt of it's intentions as it latched onto Nilo's life force. Feeling the overwhelming fear and dread of the spirit, Nilo sadly began channeling in self defense. Pulling the power from the spirit slowly at first and then a little more rapidly he was easily besting it. With a surge of power the spirit took back most of it's energy and turned the tide on Nilo. He felt such dread as he lost the energy back to the spirit that it drove him to strike so hard as to channel every ounce of the spirit away in but a moment. As quickly, as the cold and fear had come upon him, it had left, and Nilo knew the house was now clean. During the death throes of the spirit, Nilo had seen however, the murderer who had caused this situation. A dark hooded figure with a glowing dagger. Mysterious indeed.
On the way out of the house, Nilo found also the body of a courier murdered in the yard by the spirit. He quickly removed the valuables and the sealed courier sheaf and made plans to take these back to the courier service. But first, Nilo had to file a legal claim on this now spiritually clean, abandoned house! Seems this guard service may pay out after all. Nilo heard a child ringing a bell as he walked and visibly cringed.
Walking through the streets and greeting people along his way, he doesn't notice the few snickers or comments about the grand spectacle that his 4' polished image must present. Walking with a spring in his step, he wonders who he will be teamed with and what part of the city he will be presented with. What deeds and wrongs will he be righting today? He imagined how his day might go as he made his way to the station.
Entering into the station and presenting himself sharply, Nilo found himself being guided to a little dark room full of bells. He asked how long he need be here and they chuckled as they started bringing in messages. "You had better get to work, you are already behind," one of the guardsmen told Nilo. And so once again, things were not going quite as planned. The messages came in so fast he barely had time to realize what he was sending. Nilo tried to get word out that he wanted to speak to his superior, he was "sure" that this was not what he was meant to do. Alas, he started coming in every day and every day he sat before these bells. These every ringing, disgusting, noisy, cacophony made of bells. Just as he felt he might be stuck here forever he showed up to work to see a new guardsmen being guided to the bell room. The guardsmen pleaded with Nilo to switch shifts as Nilo just smiled and ran for his sanity. NO BELLS TODAY!!!! Ahahahahahah. He quickly stepped over to the Sgt Tenebrae's office. Nilo rapped upon the doorway and stood at ease to the side of the door as he hoped he was not getting assigned to another stations room of noise. The Sgt barked at Nilo to enter. Quite literally as it seems the Sgt has quite a bit of gnoll in him.
"What was your name again? Oh yes, Nilo, right. We have a situation over in one of the housing districts that should be RIGHT up your alley. I have sent several guardsmen and all have left or been thrown from the house. So, I decided to offer you a chance to leave the bells today. Fail at this and you will be back to the communication's room!" Back to the communication's room? Nilo would run from the city before he sat down before those bells once more. He listened as he received directions to the house and quickly turned and made his way out.
Following the directions as carefully as he could, Nilo soon found his way outside the city in the bazaar. Humm, maybe he wrote that down wrong.While he was going over the situation and how he found himself to be so far offtrack he observed a street urchin pick pocketing a gentleman at the bazaar. Deciding, discretion was the better part of valor, Nilo quickly placed a psychic "tag" on the runner, so that he could follow at his leisure. And follow he did, boy did that urchin know how to run. After longer than he might expect Nilo found the young man sitting on a rock. Gently admonishing the young man, Nilo talked the lad out of the ring he stole and proffered him a silver piece for being complaint and honest(in the end). Taking the piece and running the urchin probably didn't hear as Nilo offered the young man his name in case he needed assistance staying on track.
As Nilo made his way to the start of the bazaar, he quickly found the man missing the ring explaining his circumstance to the rent a cops of the bazaar. Nilo flicked the ring at the man and let him know that no thanks were needed, "Constable Nilo at your service!" He then hurried off back into the city to find the house before he became side tracked once again. This time, having no trouble, he found the run down abandoned house that was causing the issue.
Really, send the psychic for a haunted house? He mentally noted that the guard must not know the difference between a psychic and a medicine man. No sooner than he arrived, did Nilo notice the interest the spirits of the house took to Nilo's strong old soul. Thank goodness he had taken the time to learn the basics of spirit communication as a lad to deal with the interest these creatures took in him, for had he not he would have been back in that damn bell room tomorrow morning.
Methodically searching the outer door and making his way into the courtyard, Nilo began to search both physically and with gnosis(The ability to speak with spirits). After a short, time Nilo found the loci of one of the spirits. It seemed a dog had died on the back porch and it's spirit was frantic and scared. Taking careful time, Nilo used his minor knowledge on spirits to reach out to the spirit of the animal and let him know that it wasn't his fault. Showing the animal forgiveness and love, it started to get playful as it disapparated.
Making his way into the house, Nilo noticed the temperature drop further as he seen the kitchen was coated in ice from this new spirits malaise. Seeing, sharp instruments around the kitchen Nilo was going to put them someplace safe, where they might not land in his thorax. Alas, this spirit already had plans for the knives, as it began to pin Nilo to the side of the table with them. Noticing, however that the knives were not hitting him but only pinning him, Nilo reached out to communicate with this spirit. The spirit of the woman became visible and shook in throbs as she dropped several of the knives to the floor. He questioned her and found that she had been murdered here and with basic communication she showed Nilo that she had a surviving child. As Nilo agreed to take a special chef's blade to her son, she smiled and departed. He had the feeling he had better make quick work of getting the knife to the child, in order to fulfill this spiritual contract.
Nilo thought this might be complete with the house, but as he entered the living room, a spirit wailed down the stairs and left no doubt of it's intentions as it latched onto Nilo's life force. Feeling the overwhelming fear and dread of the spirit, Nilo sadly began channeling in self defense. Pulling the power from the spirit slowly at first and then a little more rapidly he was easily besting it. With a surge of power the spirit took back most of it's energy and turned the tide on Nilo. He felt such dread as he lost the energy back to the spirit that it drove him to strike so hard as to channel every ounce of the spirit away in but a moment. As quickly, as the cold and fear had come upon him, it had left, and Nilo knew the house was now clean. During the death throes of the spirit, Nilo had seen however, the murderer who had caused this situation. A dark hooded figure with a glowing dagger. Mysterious indeed.
On the way out of the house, Nilo found also the body of a courier murdered in the yard by the spirit. He quickly removed the valuables and the sealed courier sheaf and made plans to take these back to the courier service. But first, Nilo had to file a legal claim on this now spiritually clean, abandoned house! Seems this guard service may pay out after all. Nilo heard a child ringing a bell as he walked and visibly cringed.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Boot Camp? Really?
The morning he was to leave for training was drizzly and wet. Saying his farewells to Adak and making his was to the guard station, Nilo went over his plans once again in his mind. He walked absent-mindedly as he thought of joining the guard and making contacts in the city and using his psychic prowess to maneuver himself into a position of respect from both the city and the underworld. Things would go a bit different than he imagined, again.
Arriving at the meeting spot and announcing himself with a flourish, the guardsman motioned for him absently to wait to the side. Shoved to the side like something on the man's to-do list. Nilo thought this guard must not have been made aware of Nilo's importance to the city. And so he waited, and waited. Soon, with hunger gnawing upon his ample belly, he approached the guard to inquire as to where he might eat. The ferocity in which he was told to return to the wall was unexpected and uncalled for, and yet it was obeyed....quickly.
Thus began the shattering of Nilo's delusions of grandeur. After some time more recruits came and they were all loaded into the back of a huge wagon. Must have been 40 men shoved into a container meant to transport no more than 15. Nilo drew upon his meditative reserves to avoid jostling either the huge throon or the Amazon that looked at Nilo as though he were some insect from her far away homeland. He worried that maybe he had made another mistake.
Leaving town the wagon finally stopped at a group of buildings that looked as though they had seen their share of use. As the 40 men(and women) he was with were shuffled across the ground to the mess hall he noticed a smaller group of men going through a gambit of gruelling, intensive exercise. Even the Throon in front of him looked concerned. Mistake, indeed.
The food given them was barely edible, and as he pushed it around on the plate it was suddenly time to go. He hadn't finished yet, and yet it was gone. Nilo had reached his limit. He approached one of the sergeants to let him know he had made a mistake. The sergeant smiled a broken grin and stated "Well, yes lad you ARE making a mistake. Right NOW." With a quickness that belayed the man, Nilo was stuck unconscious. Later, Nilo was to find out that the sergeant had used him as an example and asked aloud if anyone else thought they had made a mistake. No one had.
Nilo woke the next morning from his bunk, startled at sound of the magically amplified shouts from the sergeant to wake. Nilo looked around for his clothes and was shocked to see everyone standing naked at attention at the foot of their bunks. He quickly copied their movements. Directed not to move, a group of men moved their way through the recruits and measured each and every one precisely. It seemed they were due for some new clothes.
Alas, this was not going to be the time for the clothes. The sergeant quickly moved the group from the barracks in military order, two by two. The drizzle had turned to a rain and the ground was solid mud, except for the painful rocks underfoot. Marched and exercised naked in the mud the group wore out quickly. Only the amazon seemed to keep pace with the terrible ferocity of the cadence.
At the end of what seemed to be forever, the group was marched to a building in the rear of camp. As each person entered, a curtain of air and water washed over them, leaving them clean and dry. (And unknown to them, also deloused). Each recruit waited patiently for a stack of clothes and linen. Upon placing the ill fitting clothes on, Nilo was certain that the measurements could not have been made for this. Brown ill fitting pants and shirts, too tight on the throon and too loose on Nilo, all would have to make due.
Shortly, the sergeant moved the group back to the barracks, only 18 hours into the day. First day down, two bunks empty. When did they leave? No time to contemplate as Nilo laid upon his bunk, too tired for ritual or meditation. Only to be startled into action what seemed like seconds later.
This continued for what seemed like forever. Although Nilo was startled to see how fast he and the other recruits started to depend on each other. More dropped along the wayside, but Nilo knew he would be able to depend on the ones that were left when they hit the streets.
At the end of the training the forty men and women had turned into a graduating class of fourteen. He clasped hands with his classmates as he wore his tailored Guard's uniform and they theirs. Nilo was to report back to the half-elf that allowed him into the guard. His first assignment was ready, and so was Constable Bertrand Nilo.
Arriving at the meeting spot and announcing himself with a flourish, the guardsman motioned for him absently to wait to the side. Shoved to the side like something on the man's to-do list. Nilo thought this guard must not have been made aware of Nilo's importance to the city. And so he waited, and waited. Soon, with hunger gnawing upon his ample belly, he approached the guard to inquire as to where he might eat. The ferocity in which he was told to return to the wall was unexpected and uncalled for, and yet it was obeyed....quickly.
Thus began the shattering of Nilo's delusions of grandeur. After some time more recruits came and they were all loaded into the back of a huge wagon. Must have been 40 men shoved into a container meant to transport no more than 15. Nilo drew upon his meditative reserves to avoid jostling either the huge throon or the Amazon that looked at Nilo as though he were some insect from her far away homeland. He worried that maybe he had made another mistake.
Leaving town the wagon finally stopped at a group of buildings that looked as though they had seen their share of use. As the 40 men(and women) he was with were shuffled across the ground to the mess hall he noticed a smaller group of men going through a gambit of gruelling, intensive exercise. Even the Throon in front of him looked concerned. Mistake, indeed.
The food given them was barely edible, and as he pushed it around on the plate it was suddenly time to go. He hadn't finished yet, and yet it was gone. Nilo had reached his limit. He approached one of the sergeants to let him know he had made a mistake. The sergeant smiled a broken grin and stated "Well, yes lad you ARE making a mistake. Right NOW." With a quickness that belayed the man, Nilo was stuck unconscious. Later, Nilo was to find out that the sergeant had used him as an example and asked aloud if anyone else thought they had made a mistake. No one had.
Nilo woke the next morning from his bunk, startled at sound of the magically amplified shouts from the sergeant to wake. Nilo looked around for his clothes and was shocked to see everyone standing naked at attention at the foot of their bunks. He quickly copied their movements. Directed not to move, a group of men moved their way through the recruits and measured each and every one precisely. It seemed they were due for some new clothes.
Alas, this was not going to be the time for the clothes. The sergeant quickly moved the group from the barracks in military order, two by two. The drizzle had turned to a rain and the ground was solid mud, except for the painful rocks underfoot. Marched and exercised naked in the mud the group wore out quickly. Only the amazon seemed to keep pace with the terrible ferocity of the cadence.
At the end of what seemed to be forever, the group was marched to a building in the rear of camp. As each person entered, a curtain of air and water washed over them, leaving them clean and dry. (And unknown to them, also deloused). Each recruit waited patiently for a stack of clothes and linen. Upon placing the ill fitting clothes on, Nilo was certain that the measurements could not have been made for this. Brown ill fitting pants and shirts, too tight on the throon and too loose on Nilo, all would have to make due.
Shortly, the sergeant moved the group back to the barracks, only 18 hours into the day. First day down, two bunks empty. When did they leave? No time to contemplate as Nilo laid upon his bunk, too tired for ritual or meditation. Only to be startled into action what seemed like seconds later.
This continued for what seemed like forever. Although Nilo was startled to see how fast he and the other recruits started to depend on each other. More dropped along the wayside, but Nilo knew he would be able to depend on the ones that were left when they hit the streets.
At the end of the training the forty men and women had turned into a graduating class of fourteen. He clasped hands with his classmates as he wore his tailored Guard's uniform and they theirs. Nilo was to report back to the half-elf that allowed him into the guard. His first assignment was ready, and so was Constable Bertrand Nilo.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Change in the wind
As Nilo sits on the bumpy carriage clutching the pillow Clyde had given him to use and thinking that it could have been a little thicker, plans begin to truly take shape in his mind. Even as a young man of seventeen, he realizes that if he is to become the information overlord he wants to be, that time will pass quickly and he needs to be immersed in an occupation where he will be able to contact many people and not just a few. Constable should meet these needs and give him a positive public image as well.
As the carriage pulls into the garage, Nilo admits to Clyde that such a position was ill conceived and not at all well thought out. While Nilo attempts to make sure Clyde knows he has a friend in Nilo if he needs one, Clyde goes about gathering the silver to pay Nilo for the single guard ride. Gathering up his crossbow from the carriage Nilo makes his way to find a suitable place to live.
The school is just as he remembers it with his master making his way down the ranks and the school banner flying boldly and proudly. He waits for Master Zhiril to make his way around to him and explains to him that he will be staying in the city after all and begs for the master to keep him on as a pupil while he makes his name with the constables. Nilo does not bother trying to haggle price with master Zhiril knowing him to be a man that speaks his mind and not one to bother with such a thing. Alas, being accepted back into the school also means....being the punching bag for the night. Nilo takes his beating with pride as he works with all the students. Furthermore, he is able to find a student by the name of Lilac, who works as a teamster on the docks, with a room to let.
He finds that the accommodations that Lilac has available are even less than he wished, but refuse to insult him and pays him a month up front and promptly cleans his back room out and attempts to use some of the loose lumber about the room that Lilac collects from the job site to repair a rather intimidating whole in the floor. Trying to block out the smells and the surrounding Nilo drops himself into a deep meditative stance to rest the night away. Snapping out of the stance 6 hours later Nilo's first image is of a rat deep within a bowl of gruel that Lilac presumably left for him, although Nilo reckoned that the rat needed and wanted it more so gathered his belongings and made his way to the closest watch station.
Entering the watch station he finds many sailors and would be thugs tied up along a wall. Curious he looks to see if the two that had assaulted him were in the line. As Nilo is inspecting the prisoners one of the guards, Oinau, asks him his business. "I'm here to become a detective with the guard!", Nilo replies. Smiling to himself Oinau tells Nilo that the guard doesn't hire small children and for him to scamper off. Nilo, in his most commanding voice makes sure that this Oinau knows that not only will he be a guardsman but Oinau will end up saluting him on his return. Oinau grabs his friend Enon and prepare to have a little jest with the fellow, after all they can always stop it before the kid gets killed. Enon tells Nilo that before he will send him to the recruiter that Nilo will have to prove himself in combat, grabbing a large worn out thug from the line of prisoners. As Nilo ponders the situation, and examines the prisoners condition, after all Nilo doesn't want to kill the poor schmuck, the guard tells the prisoner he is free to go as long as Nilo is laid out on the floor.
That was all it took, the prisoner smiles and immediately attacks Nilo in a series of streetwise attacks designed to blind and cripple the young man. Seeing that he means business Nilo, goes from being defensive to timing psychic assaults upon the brutes mind, quickly leaving him laying on the ground bleeding internally with the blood running out of his ears. Enon and Oinau are not quite sure what they saw, but they are sure that they need to get rid of the young man and they are equally sure that they don't want him reporting to the recruiter and their superiors about the sport they had with him. So they give a series of instructions designed to baffle even the most streetwise of the guards, which proved to be an overkill as Nilo was only half listening while trying to see to the wounded prisoner.
He attempt to follow the directions proves to be even worse than the guards probably intended. As Nilo winds up among the worst part of the town. Deciding prudence over valor he tries to make his way quickly out of the area, to ANY other part of the city. Alas, fate intervened. Nilo hearing cries for help....stops.
The cries for help coming from a gnomish merchant, whose pack and wares are scattered about, held by two ruffians and assaulted by a third. Nilo decides that these pack runners are more likely prone to cowardice than actually confrontation attempts to bluff and intimidate the merchant free. Taking his crossbow out and quickly tossing in a bolt Nilo shouts at the men. He informs the ruffians that he isn't sure which one will be shot first, but he knows that the one first shot will no longer need to worry about it. As he suspected, the boys were not ready for an armed encounter with a deadly mechanism such as a crossbow and scattered faster than he could even take aim.
Nilo quickly helped the merchant gather his wares and began to escort him out of the area, letting himself be guided to the gnomish quarter. Looking around the area, Nilo feels very comfortable here as everything is set more to his scale than in the human area. And as the merchant introduces him to his wife and his wife feeds him to reward him for rescuing her husband Nilo quickly inquires as to whether there were any rooms for let.
The merchant introduces Nilo to Adak the blacksmith who lives close by, and Adak seems to be quite the serious fellow. Alas, he is able to break the ice with the blacksmith by broaching the subject of metallurgy and the different merits of various alloys. Being shown the lockable apartment Nilo is excited with the prospect of staying her and a deal is quickly made, so long as Nilo remains in the guard the terms state.
That evening Nilo makes his way to the recruiter with help from his new Gnomish friends and quickly impresses the guardsmen there enough to enter training. It will be a hard two weeks of training, but this is nothing compared to the life that awaits!
As the carriage pulls into the garage, Nilo admits to Clyde that such a position was ill conceived and not at all well thought out. While Nilo attempts to make sure Clyde knows he has a friend in Nilo if he needs one, Clyde goes about gathering the silver to pay Nilo for the single guard ride. Gathering up his crossbow from the carriage Nilo makes his way to find a suitable place to live.
The school is just as he remembers it with his master making his way down the ranks and the school banner flying boldly and proudly. He waits for Master Zhiril to make his way around to him and explains to him that he will be staying in the city after all and begs for the master to keep him on as a pupil while he makes his name with the constables. Nilo does not bother trying to haggle price with master Zhiril knowing him to be a man that speaks his mind and not one to bother with such a thing. Alas, being accepted back into the school also means....being the punching bag for the night. Nilo takes his beating with pride as he works with all the students. Furthermore, he is able to find a student by the name of Lilac, who works as a teamster on the docks, with a room to let.
He finds that the accommodations that Lilac has available are even less than he wished, but refuse to insult him and pays him a month up front and promptly cleans his back room out and attempts to use some of the loose lumber about the room that Lilac collects from the job site to repair a rather intimidating whole in the floor. Trying to block out the smells and the surrounding Nilo drops himself into a deep meditative stance to rest the night away. Snapping out of the stance 6 hours later Nilo's first image is of a rat deep within a bowl of gruel that Lilac presumably left for him, although Nilo reckoned that the rat needed and wanted it more so gathered his belongings and made his way to the closest watch station.
Entering the watch station he finds many sailors and would be thugs tied up along a wall. Curious he looks to see if the two that had assaulted him were in the line. As Nilo is inspecting the prisoners one of the guards, Oinau, asks him his business. "I'm here to become a detective with the guard!", Nilo replies. Smiling to himself Oinau tells Nilo that the guard doesn't hire small children and for him to scamper off. Nilo, in his most commanding voice makes sure that this Oinau knows that not only will he be a guardsman but Oinau will end up saluting him on his return. Oinau grabs his friend Enon and prepare to have a little jest with the fellow, after all they can always stop it before the kid gets killed. Enon tells Nilo that before he will send him to the recruiter that Nilo will have to prove himself in combat, grabbing a large worn out thug from the line of prisoners. As Nilo ponders the situation, and examines the prisoners condition, after all Nilo doesn't want to kill the poor schmuck, the guard tells the prisoner he is free to go as long as Nilo is laid out on the floor.
That was all it took, the prisoner smiles and immediately attacks Nilo in a series of streetwise attacks designed to blind and cripple the young man. Seeing that he means business Nilo, goes from being defensive to timing psychic assaults upon the brutes mind, quickly leaving him laying on the ground bleeding internally with the blood running out of his ears. Enon and Oinau are not quite sure what they saw, but they are sure that they need to get rid of the young man and they are equally sure that they don't want him reporting to the recruiter and their superiors about the sport they had with him. So they give a series of instructions designed to baffle even the most streetwise of the guards, which proved to be an overkill as Nilo was only half listening while trying to see to the wounded prisoner.
He attempt to follow the directions proves to be even worse than the guards probably intended. As Nilo winds up among the worst part of the town. Deciding prudence over valor he tries to make his way quickly out of the area, to ANY other part of the city. Alas, fate intervened. Nilo hearing cries for help....stops.
The cries for help coming from a gnomish merchant, whose pack and wares are scattered about, held by two ruffians and assaulted by a third. Nilo decides that these pack runners are more likely prone to cowardice than actually confrontation attempts to bluff and intimidate the merchant free. Taking his crossbow out and quickly tossing in a bolt Nilo shouts at the men. He informs the ruffians that he isn't sure which one will be shot first, but he knows that the one first shot will no longer need to worry about it. As he suspected, the boys were not ready for an armed encounter with a deadly mechanism such as a crossbow and scattered faster than he could even take aim.
Nilo quickly helped the merchant gather his wares and began to escort him out of the area, letting himself be guided to the gnomish quarter. Looking around the area, Nilo feels very comfortable here as everything is set more to his scale than in the human area. And as the merchant introduces him to his wife and his wife feeds him to reward him for rescuing her husband Nilo quickly inquires as to whether there were any rooms for let.
The merchant introduces Nilo to Adak the blacksmith who lives close by, and Adak seems to be quite the serious fellow. Alas, he is able to break the ice with the blacksmith by broaching the subject of metallurgy and the different merits of various alloys. Being shown the lockable apartment Nilo is excited with the prospect of staying her and a deal is quickly made, so long as Nilo remains in the guard the terms state.
That evening Nilo makes his way to the recruiter with help from his new Gnomish friends and quickly impresses the guardsmen there enough to enter training. It will be a hard two weeks of training, but this is nothing compared to the life that awaits!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
The next day.
Stirring from a deep and restful sleep Nilo is awakened to the smell of . Coffee? Could these brute laborers truly have access to such a delight? Tossing on his travel clothes he hurries down the stair case.
The scene is as it should be for a transport garage. Already the engineers and mechanics are hard as work making modifications and repairs to the various vehicles used in the job. But sights are not what have awakened Nilo from his deep healing slumber, "Where was that coffee smell coming from?" he asked himself as he wound his way through the workers. Spying the huge kettle in the corner of the shop seemingly guarded by a huge brute of a man, covered in tattoos and looking rather ominous. But then again, what man didn't look huge to Nilo, being but 4'2" was a burden. As he approached he was delighted not to be bitten but rather greeted, albeit rather surly from the loafing giant. This must be one the the slavering idiots that run to and fro gathering materials for the shop workers, he thought. Friendly enough though, the giant, did he say his name was Clyde or Lie?, not important, motioned to where Nilo could find a cup.
Over the coffee Nilo learned that this brute was not a "gopher" for the mechanics but rather a driver, and not just any driver but HIS driver. Well, if he was going to have to work with this brute it would best serve his interests to befriend him. Clyde mumbled something resembling a need for breakfast. Answering the call Nilo guided them through the crowds to a breakfast nook on the street side that he often attending while attending Academy. The Nookery, as it was called, was home to some of the best fare for the lowest price in town. Aireal, a friend of Nilo's, worked there and quickly made room for the little man and his odd friend. As Clyde, which isn't his name but at this point it would be rude to ask what his real name was, began to remove cutlery from his pouch Nilo attempted to show the brute that to truly understand and enjoy a meal one must use their fingers. The tactile sensation along with the sight, smell and taste add for a more flavorful meal. Alas, it was a lost cause as the giant shoveled the meal into it's gullet by the spoon and forkful. Sometimes making friends can be daunting.
Once they returned to the garage, Clyde showed Nilo the carriage which would be theirs to operate. Sharing with Nilo the harrowing tale of how a creature had damaged the carriage on the last trip. Of course what was frightening to Nilo's ears came out as commonplace from Clyde. This would be the first sign that Nilo had made a mistake as to an opening career. In any case, he made sure that his repeating crossbow was properly stowed and made a mounting bracket on top of the carriage to place it upon should trouble happen when they departed.
With time to spare, Nilo thought about the thugs who had accosted him in the alleyway. Such men, already intimidated by his fighting prowess, might come to some use. Even though Nilo knew them to be dullards with no attention to plan, he realized that they might become tools to be used later for jobs unfitting for Nilo himself.
Nilo began to scour the city for a clue as to the ruffians' hideaway. All his normal social channels seemed to bring him naught, when after 9 hours of searching he thought to change tact. Of course, he though, he could not find them; He was looking in the wrong places, and immediately began spending more money on some of the seedier contacts which he had in place from acquiring wanted objects from other students. As his time for his search drew near, he ran into a savory figure named, Boaden.
Boaden seemed to be in touch with many of the local shady dealings and with but a little prodding Nilo quickly found the two he sought, or at least the information of their location. Toll, the thug, and Danner, the mage, were a couple of "Salt Arms", sailors of an disreputable sort. And they frequented a hole in the wall down on the docks that even Nilo's teamster father would have steered clear of. It was too late to visit such a place and still make it back for rest so Nilo talked to Boaden and made an attempt to befriend the man with some well placed silver as a tip. With hope in his heart, Nilo made his way back to the garage.
After a quick nap and a rude awakening, as there was no coffee this next morning, Nilo was about his business in the garage. The mechanics had made adjustments to his tripod, which he quickly checked over and found that all was in order.
As Nilo and Clyde rolled to the stop to pick up the nobles for the trip, Clyde laid out the rules for the trip. There would be no talking to the passengers, not even to look at them. Contact was forbidden. This was not what I planned, thought Nilo as he went over in his mind his delusion of making marketable contacts from this job. Alas, he signed up for it so he hauled the luggage and diligently stood watch for the quick uneventful trip, there and back.
So another day comes to close with Nilo frustrated about his initial onset of occupation. He was wrong to try and make contacts in the travel industry, at least for now. He would contact the civil authorities and avail himself to them as a detective. or at least a constable to work his way in. Dealing with both city officials and criminals would certainly open new doors for this young small man.
The scene is as it should be for a transport garage. Already the engineers and mechanics are hard as work making modifications and repairs to the various vehicles used in the job. But sights are not what have awakened Nilo from his deep healing slumber, "Where was that coffee smell coming from?" he asked himself as he wound his way through the workers. Spying the huge kettle in the corner of the shop seemingly guarded by a huge brute of a man, covered in tattoos and looking rather ominous. But then again, what man didn't look huge to Nilo, being but 4'2" was a burden. As he approached he was delighted not to be bitten but rather greeted, albeit rather surly from the loafing giant. This must be one the the slavering idiots that run to and fro gathering materials for the shop workers, he thought. Friendly enough though, the giant, did he say his name was Clyde or Lie?, not important, motioned to where Nilo could find a cup.
Over the coffee Nilo learned that this brute was not a "gopher" for the mechanics but rather a driver, and not just any driver but HIS driver. Well, if he was going to have to work with this brute it would best serve his interests to befriend him. Clyde mumbled something resembling a need for breakfast. Answering the call Nilo guided them through the crowds to a breakfast nook on the street side that he often attending while attending Academy. The Nookery, as it was called, was home to some of the best fare for the lowest price in town. Aireal, a friend of Nilo's, worked there and quickly made room for the little man and his odd friend. As Clyde, which isn't his name but at this point it would be rude to ask what his real name was, began to remove cutlery from his pouch Nilo attempted to show the brute that to truly understand and enjoy a meal one must use their fingers. The tactile sensation along with the sight, smell and taste add for a more flavorful meal. Alas, it was a lost cause as the giant shoveled the meal into it's gullet by the spoon and forkful. Sometimes making friends can be daunting.
Once they returned to the garage, Clyde showed Nilo the carriage which would be theirs to operate. Sharing with Nilo the harrowing tale of how a creature had damaged the carriage on the last trip. Of course what was frightening to Nilo's ears came out as commonplace from Clyde. This would be the first sign that Nilo had made a mistake as to an opening career. In any case, he made sure that his repeating crossbow was properly stowed and made a mounting bracket on top of the carriage to place it upon should trouble happen when they departed.
With time to spare, Nilo thought about the thugs who had accosted him in the alleyway. Such men, already intimidated by his fighting prowess, might come to some use. Even though Nilo knew them to be dullards with no attention to plan, he realized that they might become tools to be used later for jobs unfitting for Nilo himself.
Nilo began to scour the city for a clue as to the ruffians' hideaway. All his normal social channels seemed to bring him naught, when after 9 hours of searching he thought to change tact. Of course, he though, he could not find them; He was looking in the wrong places, and immediately began spending more money on some of the seedier contacts which he had in place from acquiring wanted objects from other students. As his time for his search drew near, he ran into a savory figure named, Boaden.
Boaden seemed to be in touch with many of the local shady dealings and with but a little prodding Nilo quickly found the two he sought, or at least the information of their location. Toll, the thug, and Danner, the mage, were a couple of "Salt Arms", sailors of an disreputable sort. And they frequented a hole in the wall down on the docks that even Nilo's teamster father would have steered clear of. It was too late to visit such a place and still make it back for rest so Nilo talked to Boaden and made an attempt to befriend the man with some well placed silver as a tip. With hope in his heart, Nilo made his way back to the garage.
After a quick nap and a rude awakening, as there was no coffee this next morning, Nilo was about his business in the garage. The mechanics had made adjustments to his tripod, which he quickly checked over and found that all was in order.
As Nilo and Clyde rolled to the stop to pick up the nobles for the trip, Clyde laid out the rules for the trip. There would be no talking to the passengers, not even to look at them. Contact was forbidden. This was not what I planned, thought Nilo as he went over in his mind his delusion of making marketable contacts from this job. Alas, he signed up for it so he hauled the luggage and diligently stood watch for the quick uneventful trip, there and back.
So another day comes to close with Nilo frustrated about his initial onset of occupation. He was wrong to try and make contacts in the travel industry, at least for now. He would contact the civil authorities and avail himself to them as a detective. or at least a constable to work his way in. Dealing with both city officials and criminals would certainly open new doors for this young small man.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Nilo's release from the Academy
Starting out from the Academy of the Mind, Bertrand Nilo had anything but small ideas. Of course standing just barely over 4' tall his plans were all that were big about him. Having had his education from the Academy of The Mind because of his natural latent talents towards the psychic side of life, Nilo had always wanted to become a trader. But as the son of a working family the choice made itself when opportunity created itself. He felt that being a Psychic would open far more doors than working his way on the docks like his old man, especially considering he was neither strong nor agile of anything but the mind. Alas, the Academy was complete and it was time to make his own path. And so he would.
Thinking as he walked around, Nilo knew he would have to find a product. Thus, as he asked directions from place to place it dawned on him that information could be his first commodity. So, he sat amid the travelers of the city and watched as the nobles walked past, talked around and all but ignored most commoners, if they looked as though they posed no threat. Therefore, with this information he focused his thought on servitude. To create and maintain a mass of servants that would gather information and bring it into a clearing house to be gathered, organized and analyzed. This would take money and starting information so he sought a transit company to take employment with.
Nilo found the transit company and though the lazy lady behind the desk tried to saddle him with menial tasks, he demanded to be placed in a position in which he would be in contact with the customers and many others. He would ride shotgun on the stages with his own multi shot crossbow.
And thus began Nilo's journey into an attempt to socialize and entangle himself within the network of transport professionals. He quickly found out where the better drivers would socialize themselves and made his way this direction.
It was at this point that Nilo found himself in a very unwanted position. A mage behind him and a thug in front of him, his wallet they wanted to remove. Nilo knew he would be able to levitate to the corner of the building and make his escape readily enough. But this was not the path he would take, he would show the city that his training in Rhinghoda made him an admirable fighter dispite his size and strength.
Nilo fought valiantly against his foes, holding his own against the thug while effortlessly shrugging off the feeble casts of the mage. It took less than a minute for these foes to realize they had bitten off more than they could chew. They departed rapidly and he watched them go with a bloody smile. He was bloodied, he was Arduiniun. He would bow to no man.
Making his way back to the transport business he found his way to a small apartment they kept for drivers to make short use of. Talking his way into use of the facility he tapped into his subconsious and began to speed his healing as the night and weariness took him.
Thinking as he walked around, Nilo knew he would have to find a product. Thus, as he asked directions from place to place it dawned on him that information could be his first commodity. So, he sat amid the travelers of the city and watched as the nobles walked past, talked around and all but ignored most commoners, if they looked as though they posed no threat. Therefore, with this information he focused his thought on servitude. To create and maintain a mass of servants that would gather information and bring it into a clearing house to be gathered, organized and analyzed. This would take money and starting information so he sought a transit company to take employment with.
Nilo found the transit company and though the lazy lady behind the desk tried to saddle him with menial tasks, he demanded to be placed in a position in which he would be in contact with the customers and many others. He would ride shotgun on the stages with his own multi shot crossbow.
And thus began Nilo's journey into an attempt to socialize and entangle himself within the network of transport professionals. He quickly found out where the better drivers would socialize themselves and made his way this direction.
It was at this point that Nilo found himself in a very unwanted position. A mage behind him and a thug in front of him, his wallet they wanted to remove. Nilo knew he would be able to levitate to the corner of the building and make his escape readily enough. But this was not the path he would take, he would show the city that his training in Rhinghoda made him an admirable fighter dispite his size and strength.
Nilo fought valiantly against his foes, holding his own against the thug while effortlessly shrugging off the feeble casts of the mage. It took less than a minute for these foes to realize they had bitten off more than they could chew. They departed rapidly and he watched them go with a bloody smile. He was bloodied, he was Arduiniun. He would bow to no man.
Making his way back to the transport business he found his way to a small apartment they kept for drivers to make short use of. Talking his way into use of the facility he tapped into his subconsious and began to speed his healing as the night and weariness took him.
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