(INC) Twinborn

[Andrew Markham]

This is the thread for the Twinborn campaign. It starts at Level 10.

[Andrew Markham]

After their encounter with the Silver Dragon, Andrew led his newly recruited mercenaries west. They passed the lands of Arturiam, the great mage tower reaching higher into the sky than any other building. They traveled through the Druid lands, breadbasket of Estrith. There they chartered a ship to sail west until they reached the city-state of Sainsai, home of Andrew's mercenary troop, the Yellow Dragons.

As their ship approaches the pier, the mercenaries can see a huge golden pagoda in the distance. Soon after, buildings of redwood, brick, and stone become visible as well. About half share the same pagoda styling as the huge golden building. Finally the docks come into sight. Everyone is instructed to disembark and line up single file for processing. A port official explains, "By Sainsain law, all newcomers to the city must pronounce their profession upon entry. You will receive a magic sigil on the palm of your hand, which, along with your name and profession, will be recorded in city records. Completion of this process will allow you to be identified by officials and grant you access to government resources in pursuit of your profession. Failure to comply will result in denial of entry. One at a time please."

Finally Andrew leads his weary new mercenaries to the front of the line. A thick tome with a red diamond-shaped gem embedded in the cover is presented to the group. "Please place your hand on the tome please. If you are a returning citizen, your identity will be confirmed. If you are a newcomer, please state your name and intended profession to receive your sigil."

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Andrew, with wakka in tow, steps to the front, with his group. He places his hand on the book, his sigil already present.

"Andrew of the Yellow Dragons, Mercenary. I have returned from recruiting new mercenaries. "

He smiles with a sense of accomplishment.

[Wolfykins]

Behind Andrew was a slender, petite, human woman with curves that look generous on her slight frame, but would be modest on a larger woman. She had long, straight hair that was a black and white reverse ombre (https://www.styleinterest.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/1010418-reverse-ombre-.jpg). She had large, round, blue eyes, delicate ears, and a cute button nose. Her skin was pale ivory, unblemished, smooth and soft. She was beautiful and appealing by just about any standard.
She was dressed in a form-fitting, slinky silk dress in a shade of blue that matched her eyes. It was low-cut, with 3/4 length sleeves, and a knee-length skirt with a slit to halfway up her thigh.
Tucked under her bangs, across her forehead, she wore a beautiful, white silk headband. A plain, white suede belt was slung around her narrow waist, with a spell components pouch and a waterskin hanging from it.
A light gray cloak with some basic embroidery trim draped across her shoulders and tucked behind an impeccably made black leather backpack so it wouldn't make her look like a hunchback.
Blue and white leather bracers that matched her dress protected her wrists, and sported a more intricate version of the embroidery on her cloak. On her left hand she displayed a fine silver ring with a blue stone.
Everything about her was impeccably coordinated, and much of it looked new. The only clearly old item she carried was the iron rod set with silver rivets that hung between her pouch and waterskin.
She eyed the book and the man holding it distrustfully. She held back, keeping close to the red-headed man next to her.
She whispered to him in Sylvan, "I don't know about this, Hisoka. I don't like being marked." She subconsciously rubbed her wrists.

[EdgeGrinder]

Hisoka was behind Nari, grooming his nails with a dagger. He was a lanky human the same height as Nari. He had red hair, pale skin, and sharp looking brown eyes. He wore her earthen green poncho under a gray cloak. He wore a black pair of short pants and a pair of slippers

He scanned the area briefly.

Preception
[roll0]

He spun the dagger around and hid it on his person.

Sleight of Hand
[roll1]
"Don't worry, Nari. I've been here before though not... legally. It's not permanent. Besides... we have a legit job now. Unless we draw a focused attention... we should be fine." Hisoka said, trying to sooth his wife's worries and patted her behind.

"I'll go next." He volunteered. He walked up to the guard and pressed his palm down on the book. "Hisoka, mercenary."

[Andrew Markham]

Hisoka feels a slight tingling on his palm where it touches the gem. It passes after several seconds. He looks down at his hand and sees a small red mark the size of a pea in the center of his palm. The official briefly opens the book, verifying the new entry, then closes it again for the next person to use.

[Wolfykins]

Nari gave Hisoka a doubtful look.
"If it's temporary, why is it still there when people return?!" she demanded in Sylvan.
She sighed and flung her long, straight hair over her shoulder. With great hesitation, she edged over to the book and reluctantly placed her hand on the book.
"Nari... Mercenary, I guess," she said, shrugging.

[Andrew Markham]

Nari's palm tingles, and a small red dot appears on her palm. The entry is checked, and the port official nods. "Welcome to Sainsai. Next!" Only Nemesis remains.

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Nem steps onto the dock, her lithe feline frame wrapped in darkly stained form fitting leathers. A series of bags and pouches adorned her belt and a quiver and short-bow hung from her shoulders and draped across he back. Her muzzle was shorter and her facial fur longer than your average cat-folk and currently it was dirty and beginning to clump but not to the point of matting. Her hood was draped around her neck exposing her head for the time being. She approached the book and held her hand out hesitantly.

Nem she said matter of factly. Nemesis, mercenary a hiss accompanied her voice tinging her words in disdain.



Art borrowed from Tumbler. Artist signature unaltered for credit purposes

[Andrew Markham]

The port official nods as the small red mark appears on Nemesis's hand. The entry is verified, then the port official says, "Bearing this mark grants you access to government assistance with your chosen profession. Since you already have employment, obviously you don't need help with that. Should you wish to change professions or apply for a second one, you may do so after you enter the city. Your mercenary company will have more information for you. Next!"

Andrew leads the group into the city. The streets are full of people of many races, and they seem content. Guards are often seen standing at street corners, watching over the people diligently in stylized armor. Most of the suits of armor are brown, which seems to denote station in some way, but sometimes a blue suit can be seen.

After traveling for a while, Andrew leads everyone to a group of five one-story pagodas surrounding a rectangular grassy clearing. There are training devices and targets set up in this area, and a male Catfolk is rapidly punching and kicking one of the targets. He glances up at Andrew's approach and grins. He runs off quickly into the largest of the pagodas. A minute later, a stout halfling with curly black hair hustles out of the pagoda. She assesses the group, then nods. "Welcome back, cousin," she says politely. "And welcome, new recruits, to Awarraung Nagarr- the Yellow Dragons Mercenary Company. I'm Verna Burrfoot, Administrator and Second-in-Command. Which do you desire first- to have questions answered, or be shown a place to rest?"

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Andrew smiles as he leads the group in.

"Cousin! It is great to see you! hope the place has been keeping busy!"

He looks around... not seeing the amount of.... people he was expecting.

"Whats happened in my absence?"

[EdgeGrinder]

Hisoka glanced to his wife and then to Verna Burrfoot. "Questions, please." He said raising a finger. "Is there a guild shop? I feel I may need work on my daggers."

[Andrew Markham]

The halfling ignores Andrew initially to answer Hisoka's question, "You mean like our own smiths? No, we don't have any. We can buy supplies from merchants in town, of course."

"Unfortunately, cousin, we had several more departures while you were gone. With your new recruits, we have just enough to fill the main hall. The other buildings are empty, for now. You may choose a room to settle into."

Verna escorts the new mercenaries into the main pagoda. In one end of the building are four empty rooms that the new mercenaries may settle into. "If you're hungry, we'll eat soon. Otherwise, feel free to settle in. I'll have some new missions up in the next day or so. Just need to work out a few last minute details."

[Wolfykins]

Nari looked at the halfling, brow furrowing.
"Alright, I have a couple questions now. Firstly, are any of these rooms suites? Or have a double bed? And secondly, why are people abandoning your mercenary troop?" she asked, blue eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion. She flicked her long hair over her shoulder and smoothed the hips of her dress absentmindedly.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Andrew takes up the question that Nari pressed.

"Yes the Rooms can function as suites for you and your husband, as for the.... exodus.... there has been a change of hands of the ownership of the guild. The old Leader has stepped down to pursue his own interests. He passed the guild to an up and coming individual who shows a good bit of promise, and has shown skill in not only the feild, but in the office as well, dont you agree cousin?"

[Andrew Markham]

Verna snorts, but smiles slightly. "Cousin, if your skill in the office matched mine, I'd be out of the job! But that's how things are. A number of veterans left with the old Guildmaster, and many decided to leave after the fact. Change can be hard. And the suite is this room here." Verna directs Hisoka and Nari to a large two person room.

[Treebeard]

Yarrick walks out of his room fully decked out in his gear. His armor looking recently cleaned and polished and his shield strapped to one arm and his battle axe strapped to his back. His clean shaved head looks recently cleaned and a scar that runs from beside his left eye down to his mouth gives him a perpetual smirk. He looks up at the group of people who have just arrived "I didn't think there would be more arrivals for a while. My name is Yarrick "

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Andrew smiles to his loyal companion.

"Yarrick! Good to see you stayed, I was able to bring back some recruits, fought a dragon even. Met a boy wizard of sorts."

[Treebeard]

Yarrick scratches his scar "That is quite a time. And who are your friends here? "

[Wolfykins]

Nari flashed Verna a relieved and grateful look. Then her gaze narrowed on Andrew.
"What do you mean, 'fought' a dragon?" she asked. "That's over-stating what happened, don't you think? Those damn cave worm things were a bigger problem!"

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Andrew smiled to Nari.

"Diplomacy is a form of combat, but yes... those.... huge maggots were a real problem. Im glad we were able to handle them."

Andrew looked back to His Companion.

"Yarrick, this is Nari, Hisoka, and Nemisis. All have shown their value in combat, and in diplomacy"

[Treebeard]

Yarrick nods as he listens "It sounds like fun to me. Good to meet you all"

[Andrew Markham]

Verna nods to everyone. "Well, I need to go. New missions will be available soon, once I finalize the terms. Please, make yourselves comfortable."

Verna takes two steps away, then turns back around. "Oh, a detail! Since you're registered now, you're free to come and go from Sainsai as you wish, but you're basically on your own. For mercenaries, diplomats, merchants, that sort of thing, they offer a sort of...protected status. They'll give you a token that can be used to track you down if you get lost or waylaid or killed out of the country, and Sainsai's commitment that they'll come find you if you disappear. If you're interested in that, mercenaries earn the right by applying for it, then completing a mission for an official of a Sainsain city or village. Let me know and I can arrange such a mission."

[EdgeGrinder]

Hisoka glanced over to Nari knowing her thoughts and held her hand to ease her mind.

"How kind of them to care so much!" He said with a sly grin.

He looked to Yarrick. He spun his hands around to stow his dagger, secretly.

Sleight of Hand
[roll0]

He held out his hand. "Well met, good Yarrick!"

[Treebeard]

*shakes the hand* "Well met"

[roll0]

[Wolfykins]

Nari's smile thinned, but she held it as she inclined her head at Verna.
"Thank you for that information," she said cordially. She squeezed Hisoka's hand, her smile brightening again when she looked at him.
"Come on, 'Soka, let's... settle into our room."