Subj: Re: [ffml] [MW] He's got a haircut, and he's got a REAL job!
Date: 99-11-29 14:57:15 EST
From: skyhall@hotmail.com (Sky Hall)
Reply-to: ffml@onelist.com
To: ffml@onelist.com
From: "Sky Hall"
>From: His Dark Lordship
>Reply-To: ffml@onelist.com
>To: ffml
>Subject: [ffml] [MW] He's got a haircut, and he's got a REAL job!
>Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1999 19:42:44 -0600
>
>Tim sat at the tavern.
>
>It had been a few days since his episode with the wolves. The tavern maids
>had done a good job of patching his wounds up, but they still hurt like
>hell.
>
>However, he had drowned those and his funds into several drinks and
>maidens.
>
>It was later in the night. He sat at the table, on his third drink, when a
>man strolled over.
>
>"Are you... Tim?"
>
>"Yes."
>
>The man sat down.
>
>"I believe I have a job for you."
>
>"Speak." said Tim.
>
>"Well, I hail from far to the north. My hometown has the unfortunete
>predicament of being in the shadow of the Dark Lord's keep."
>
>Tim stopped. He had heard of such a town. The Dark Lord built his keep
>around the city millenias ago, and they have been trapped by viscious
>mountains. Some had been there, he had seen them. The place, and people
>were only known as "The Accursed."
>
>"Continue."
>
>"Well, to appease the Dark Lord, once a year we hold a lottery, and the
>winner is sacrificed to him."
>
>Tim sighed. He had heard of this too. How a maiden would be chained to a
>post, screaming. How a great bat of shadows would come and pluck her
>squirming body and carry it back to the Keep, and how it would always go
>limp as it neared the keep.
>
>"And I take it someone important to you has been sacrificed?" Tim asked.
>
>"Well, yes... there's this girl.."
>
>Tim chuckled.
>
>"You want me to sneak into the Dark Lord's keep and get her out, correct?"
>
>The man nodded.
>
>Tim frowned.
>
>"Your asking me to ake a sucide mission, my friend. The cost would be
>rather
>hefty."
>
>At this the man lowered his head.
>
>"I only have the shirt on my back." he got up. "Well, thanks for your
>time."
>
>And he walked off.
>
>Tim stared into space for a moment. The boy had indeed come a long way.
>They
>did have a location for the accursed, it was far north of Narshe. He
>probably had been asking every mercenary he had found, and the fact he was
>this far south meant he had been turned down a lot. But what the man was
>asking was insane. Attempt to infiltrate the Dark Lord's keep, and then
>wisk out a maiden that could easily be dead without anyone noticing?
>Especially with the fairly well known fact the Dark Lord could be watching
>at any time.
>
>His thoughts shifted. He remembered his grandfather telling stories to him
>and others. Stories of Chivilrous Knights who valiantly slew horrid beasts
>and great enemies for their king alone. Stories of Lancelot, battling
>everything known to man, Stories of the Valiant Alan, who defeats hordes of
>Moogles. Of Bacca, and his perilous battles with Orks, Moogles, ZOmbies and
>whatever else the universe could muster. ANd here was this boy who had
>travelled over mountains and seas to find someone who could help him save
>his lover, only to be turned away by lack of funds.
>
>He started up. He would make an example.
>
>He walked to the boy, who was sulking over a drink.
>
>"Boy." he said.
>
>"Martin. My name's Martin."
>
>"Martin." he said, "I will help you. The fee can be settle later when your
>dearest is safe."
>
>Martin's eyes brighted up.
>
>"You will? REALLY!?!"
>
>Tim nodded, though he suddenly got the feeling he should've left this noble
>deed to the next one.
Inwardly, Tim swore. "Fuck me," thought Tim. "Why'd I have to accept this?
I'm gonna get my ass handed to me on a silver plate."
Tim took a deep breath.
"Okay, Martin. In order to do this, we're going to need to get some info.
So, tomorrow we'll set out and find us a sage who can give us some info on
the Dark Keep and maybe knows a bit more then rumors about the Dark Lord and
what he does. Also, we need to find out who his enemies are, who are his
allies, and even who he doesn't care about. Hopefully, we can use this
information to figure out a plan."
(Eric, take note)
"Like what?" asked Martin.
Tim had sat down next to Martin and was staring into the distance as he
spoke his mind. "Well, the Dark Lord is a magical guy, been around for
centuries or longer, and even I haven't seen his keep. But I've done jobs
similar to this. And the best way, usually, to infiltrate a keep and get
something you want out of it, is to get the owner of the keep's enemies
together.
"If we can get an army together and organize a battle plan, the army can
attack the keep, and maybe even break into it. You and I, can go in and find
your love, and hopefully escape with the rest of the forces.
"Distraction is the key. If your enemy is strong and has his eyes
everywhere, make him look somewhere else, while you hit him from behind."
"Wow, this sounds like a great under-taking," said Martin. "Is this even
possible?"
"Kid, look, you are the one who has traveled a couple hundred miles
looking for someone to help you. You are lucky you found me when I was down
on my luck." Tim took a swig of ale. "I am just in between jobs and can use
a reason to travel somewhere. I've told you the plan you need to get your
girl back. So, if along the way someone has a good job for me, I will likely
take it. You don't need me to go with you and convince whoever you need to
to fight the Dark Lord."
Martin sulked. "Hey, don't be sad," said Tim. "You've taken the first and
important step in rescuing your woman."
"And what's that?"
"You found me," said Tim with a wink. Martin brightened.
As Martin and Tim left the tavern later that night for a bit of fresh air,
they walked down the street of the small town they were in. Passing the town
square, they made their way between a warehouse and a shop. In the alleyway
between the buildings, a group of young men emerged, blocking Tim and
Martin's path.
"Well, well, lookie what we got here," said one of the young men. He and
several of the men all carried wooden clubs or knives in their hands. "It
looks like you guys are lost. Need help finding your way?"
Tim stopped and regarded the ruffians. "Help? From you youngings? Not
likely. We were just getting a bit of fresh air before we went to bed.
That's all."
"Oh, well, you see in this town, it's not allowed to go walking around
after dark. Cuz you see, their are dangers here. And you guys may need to
pay us to help you back to your home."
"I don't think we need your help," said Tim. Martin stood silently to
Tim's side.
Tim tossed back his cloak, showing the hilt to his sword. The thugs tensed
slightly. Tim tossed back the other side of the cloak, revealing his
sheathed dagger.
The muggers took a few steps forward, weapons at the ready.
"What?!" asked Tim loudly. His hand went to the hilt of his sword. "You
guys want to throw down? Don't make me pull my strap. I'll slit your asses
horizontal so you shit sideways. You understand me?"
The men didn't back down.
"I ain't playing with you fools," said Tim. He pulled his sword a few
inches out. "I'm handy with the steel and will easily run you threw if you
step in my way."
"There are five us and only two of you," said one thief.
"And he doesn't have any weapons," added another.
"He doesn't need weapons," said Tim. "I'm tough enough to take all of you
on."
Two of the men stepped forward again. Just out of distance from Tim's
sword.
Tim pulled his dagger and handed it to Martin. "Hold this and stay back."
Martin obeyed.
"I don't think you guys here so well," said Tim. He gripped his sword
underhand.
The two men, one armed with a club, the other with knife stood still and
watched Tim. After a few moments, they both stepped forward, the man with
the club to Tim's right raised to swing.
Tim drew his sword under-handed and swung it fast. The blade caught the
throat of the man on the left, causing him to gasp, clutch his throat and
back away. Tim's sword connected with the swing of the man, slicing the
man's nose.
As the two original attackers backed away, Tim took his sword over-handed
and slowly advanced forward.
The three remaining men were unsure of what to do. They advanced as well,
and attacked.
Working quickly, Tim stepped away from the club swing and retorted by
stabbing the man in the chest. The man with the knife took a quick swing.
Tim stepped to the outside of the man and with his free hand, grabbed the
thief's wrist and twisted it back. The man dropped the dagger and fell to
his knees. Tim kicked him in the stomach.
Tim straightened and backed away to Martin. The remaining man stood in
shock.
"I think you boys had better go home," said Tim. He picked up the dagger
from the ground and gave it to Martin. The thugs scattered. "Here you go,
Martin. You're first spoil of war.
"Tomorrow, we find us a sage."
(Eric?)
--Sky
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Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 11:56:34 PST
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Subject: Re: [ffml] [MW] He's got a haircut, and he's got a REAL job!
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