mnemenoi
Wednesday 11-11-2009, 09:37 PM
Dairen slinked through the halls of dwarves like a pariah. Few had any desire to be associated with a mule skinner. By and large most were outcasts and vagrants no other guild or clan would accept. He wore dirty leathers pieced from cuts and scraps that could not be sold or traded. His skin was darkened under the sun, only warriors had the same. He walked amongst his kin as if he were a ghost.
He sought out a guildhall, solvers by trade though darker avenues also lined their pockets. They were respected in the stead and he owed one of their guildmasters heavily. When his sister had been widowed, her husband's clan had stolen her son, his nephew. It was this man whom found him and had taken him back. Afterwords, he had taken the blame and was cast out, but not before he had seen their clan disparaged and shamed. His sister had raised him perfectly and he still watched him from afar.
He entered the guildhall and found an underling of the master he sought. A duergar with only one eye and a nasty scar running across his cheek. He had never known his name, but his presence told the gray one why he was here. He nodded to follow and soon they were descending deep into the guild house. He never felt at ease here, he had heard whispered talk of dark things from his fellow skinners and had no desire to test their truth. Few suspected the Fraternal order of anything that they did beyond their stated purpose.
The gray one stopped and opened a door, nodding to enter. He slunk into the doorway like a rat, a dwarf sat in a chair a drink in his hands. "Dairen, almost thought you'd forgotten our deal..." intoned the dwarf in a rough and sinister manner. "Of course not Master Maim, I jis ain't been hearin nuthin o' note's all really. Least that is till this mornin," leaving his meaning vague.
Maim's ears perked up, he knew things were afoot in the stead and he hated being blind. If he wee to take advantage he needed to know what was happening and how best to exploit it. "So what did you hear, it better not be prattle as I'm in no mood for dribble," as if to warn him. "No, No, its about the chanter's daughter. A group has left with a team of mules from the caverns unnoticed, well at least unnoticed by almost everyone that is," his toothy grin showing. "Heard a few o' them folk thats flockin 'round Balabault that theys lookin fer em. Figured you might be needin that er at least it'd work off sum o' me debt," hoping he was indeed interested.
Maim sat thinking for a few minutes before he replied. "Get me a mule and supplies for a week. Have it ready by this evening and I'll need to have you guide it the way they went. It will be a lone rider and you'll forget it as soon as he leaves," stressing the point with a brush against his side. Many knew Maim supposedly had a blade of darkness, it could steal souls and worse if tales were true. Maim was an odd dwarf indeed, his brother Vulph was the commander Vulph and it was said they had adventured together for years before they stopped speaking. Whatever familial ties stopped at their clan though, many said that they did not speak and Maim had isolated himself even though he still bore his clan's name. None knew and none asked.
"Your debt is paid Dairen and if anything else passes your way never forget your way to my door, I pay well," as he dismissed the filthy clan less dwarf. He had sent folk scouring the stead for her and to have some skinner deliver her location was pure luck. He knew the entire situation stunk of polotics, but the Thanes held the wealth and he needed to know what this was about and quickly if he was to profit. She would not tell him easily, especially with some group around her. The mules certainly piqued his interest though, they had to be travelling and if his guess were right he needed someone in that group badly.
"Kurn," to the gray dwarf at the door. "Fetch me that young apprentice, I have need for his skills. We'll see just how good he is and how much he wants to advance in our little shadow guild," as he immediately started thinking about how to explain what he needed from this young dwarf...
He sought out a guildhall, solvers by trade though darker avenues also lined their pockets. They were respected in the stead and he owed one of their guildmasters heavily. When his sister had been widowed, her husband's clan had stolen her son, his nephew. It was this man whom found him and had taken him back. Afterwords, he had taken the blame and was cast out, but not before he had seen their clan disparaged and shamed. His sister had raised him perfectly and he still watched him from afar.
He entered the guildhall and found an underling of the master he sought. A duergar with only one eye and a nasty scar running across his cheek. He had never known his name, but his presence told the gray one why he was here. He nodded to follow and soon they were descending deep into the guild house. He never felt at ease here, he had heard whispered talk of dark things from his fellow skinners and had no desire to test their truth. Few suspected the Fraternal order of anything that they did beyond their stated purpose.
The gray one stopped and opened a door, nodding to enter. He slunk into the doorway like a rat, a dwarf sat in a chair a drink in his hands. "Dairen, almost thought you'd forgotten our deal..." intoned the dwarf in a rough and sinister manner. "Of course not Master Maim, I jis ain't been hearin nuthin o' note's all really. Least that is till this mornin," leaving his meaning vague.
Maim's ears perked up, he knew things were afoot in the stead and he hated being blind. If he wee to take advantage he needed to know what was happening and how best to exploit it. "So what did you hear, it better not be prattle as I'm in no mood for dribble," as if to warn him. "No, No, its about the chanter's daughter. A group has left with a team of mules from the caverns unnoticed, well at least unnoticed by almost everyone that is," his toothy grin showing. "Heard a few o' them folk thats flockin 'round Balabault that theys lookin fer em. Figured you might be needin that er at least it'd work off sum o' me debt," hoping he was indeed interested.
Maim sat thinking for a few minutes before he replied. "Get me a mule and supplies for a week. Have it ready by this evening and I'll need to have you guide it the way they went. It will be a lone rider and you'll forget it as soon as he leaves," stressing the point with a brush against his side. Many knew Maim supposedly had a blade of darkness, it could steal souls and worse if tales were true. Maim was an odd dwarf indeed, his brother Vulph was the commander Vulph and it was said they had adventured together for years before they stopped speaking. Whatever familial ties stopped at their clan though, many said that they did not speak and Maim had isolated himself even though he still bore his clan's name. None knew and none asked.
"Your debt is paid Dairen and if anything else passes your way never forget your way to my door, I pay well," as he dismissed the filthy clan less dwarf. He had sent folk scouring the stead for her and to have some skinner deliver her location was pure luck. He knew the entire situation stunk of polotics, but the Thanes held the wealth and he needed to know what this was about and quickly if he was to profit. She would not tell him easily, especially with some group around her. The mules certainly piqued his interest though, they had to be travelling and if his guess were right he needed someone in that group badly.
"Kurn," to the gray dwarf at the door. "Fetch me that young apprentice, I have need for his skills. We'll see just how good he is and how much he wants to advance in our little shadow guild," as he immediately started thinking about how to explain what he needed from this young dwarf...