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Dross on the streets [White Tower Group: Patrol]

Posted: April 7th, 2018, 7:48 pm
by Lugh
Introduction "I don't care how many of you have streamed into the city, I will not forget that there were very few answers as to the fall of the White Tower. How do I know you aren't here to finish the job," screamed a poppinjay who happened to be wearing the uniform of the White Tower Guard. The knots at his shoulder clearly bespoke a high rank, and Beron had to rub his eyes to keep from letting his frustration bring his hand to the hilt of his weapon.

Thank the light they sent a Gaidin. If it had been up to me, this captain would be chewing soft food in the tents Beron thought angrily as he looked around. All through their ride to the dock, he had seen distressing signs of a city gone fallow. Shuttered windows and empty voids where doors had been left in the haste to abandon the city had left the streets looking like something out of an ill plotted gleeman tale. The first sign of governance they had seen after leaving the Gateway was the poppinjay, his hands and clean clothing clearly pointing out that favourtism had earned him his position.

Still there are a few here who seem of good mettle, Beron thought as he watched a sergeant smoking a pipe contentedly. Moving over to the man, Beron pulled out a pouch of good tabac he had pocketed for just such an occasion. He didn't smoke it, but as he tossed the packet to the older man, he was rewarded with an honest smile.

"Now there's a good stroke of luck. Bless the light I thought we'd run out," said the sergeant softly as he emptied his pipe and packed fresh cut tabac into the bowl. A few contented puffs later, he nodded his head to the captain, "Don't be to hard on him, pushed to rank fast and now we sit here with different orders coming every messenger. Let him cool his head, and he'll see that you're here to help. Invaders don't usually pack tabac with them for the enemy."

As the two chatted amicably, they spoke in the natural way of soldiers. Barrack food, ill fitting boots, and the thought of sweethearts back home had the two men soon finding common ground. And as the conversation flowed, Beron learned that much of the countryside was wrestling with banditry, petty theft and the scouting advances of several nations. Tar Valon had sat at the center of a vast web of wealth, and the city would prove to be a juicy plum if left to sit on the vine outstretched by itself.

Re: Dross on the streets [White Tower Group: Patrol]

Posted: April 10th, 2018, 1:24 am
by Bella
Natlya wasn't really sure how she had ended up talking to this buffoon, but here she was. She bore the rank and fancloak of a Gaidin, and so--in theory--she was qualified to deal with such matters on behalf of the Grey Tower. In truth, it was just that she'd been the first one he'd seen of full rank.

Lucky her...

"Sir, if we had been here to do any damage, you and I would not be standing here talking," she said as levelly as she could, even as she inwardly decided she would never bond a Grey. She was also contemplating if he had anything on him she could refresh her pickpocket skill on, just because he was annoying her. "But I'm not helping much of anyone by being held up by you. If you'll excuse me."

She bowed her head in a forced show of respect, then turned and walked away before he had a chance to object, though she heard the spluttering that followed her.

'Not heading for a career in diplomacy, I see, Lysira Gaidin signed at Natlya as the two Gaidin fell in step together. The elder woman, who managed to not look very much older than Natlya, smiled slightly but her onyx-black eyes glittered with her humor. Natlya had learned many of her signs since meeting the diminutive Gaidin, although she wasn't as good as using them.

"No," Nat agreed with a smirk, "and I never was. If anyone thinks I'm suited for it, they need to have a Yellow Delve their head."

Lysira's shoulders shook with her silent laughter. After that moment, however, she got down to business. 'There is a collection of reports all suggesting there's a particularly bad problem with bandits on the south side of the city,' Lysira signed. 'I'd like you to take a group and head there first. Clean it up, if need be.'

Natlya nodded. "I'll get it done, Gaidin." She bowed slightly, then turned to assemble a group.
OOC: Who'd like to come flush out some bandits? :lol:

Re: Dross on the streets [White Tower Group: Patrol]

Posted: April 10th, 2018, 5:04 am
by Lugh
Beron Beron noticed the Gaidin finally lose her patience with the puffed up Captain, and as he watched in interest he noticed the two women were conversing; one with her hands! Idly he wondered if it was related to the Maiden’s handtalk he had heard mentioned in his classes.

As he listened to the woman who was speaking, he wondered what command or request had been mentioned, and so he waited for a lull in the conversation before interjecting, “Peace, Gaidin. I was speaking with some of the men over there, and it sounds like the guard has been hamstrung with conflicting orders, loss of competent command. If you were needing help, I was tasked with supporting keeping order. Beron Faim, it would be an honour to assist two Gaidin.”

Beron resisted the urge to squirm under the gaze of the two women as they turned to regard the new speaker. He had no idea how to speak with his hands, so he settled for a clasp if his hands and a bow. He had come prepared for a patrol or stationary duty and as such he was glad that he had both daggers and sword on his person. He had used his daggers mostly in practice to help hone a new skill, but he trusted himself to hold his own. He was a Saldaean after all, and would see his duty through.

OOC: Beron offers his help sweeping up some bandits.

Re: Dross on the streets [White Tower Group: Patrol]

Posted: April 10th, 2018, 7:24 am
by Matty
Nathaniel Carridus There may have been people who noted his absence from the Grey Tower, and there may have also been those who were aware of his involvement with the Black. However, for many it was business as usual with the Blue Asha'man, who had been keen to get outside again as soon as he'd put his few things back into his rooms.

This included helping out at the White Tower. Having been somewhat responsible for its physical demise (as opposed to a political one), Nate felt it was his duty to oversee relief efforts in Tar Valon. And when a Blue decided their duty was to something, it was generally easier to let them get on with it, as they were like a dog with a bone and Nate was no exception to this.

Of course being Nate, he forewent the formalities of "groupings" and "squads" and "teams", finding the pomp and circumstance with the M'Hael's arrival to be over the top, politically fuelled and most of all, boring. He had shit to do and standing around watching a bunch of trainees patrolling was not on that list. He'd Travelled on his own early that morning, and had spent the day in the city. It wasn't his first day there, nor would it be his last, so he was growing quite familiar with the streets now.

The Mayener followed his nose mostly, which on this particular day took him to the south of the city. Bandits were running amock by all accounts and Nate had little tolerance for those who preyed upon the innocent and defenceless.

"Asha'man?" One of the residents of a boarded up building poked his head out at the sight of Nate. Wearing his black uniform, the coat undone and the laces of his blue shirt untied, the long haired man wasn't particularly tidy, but his hulking figure and the warhammer on his back both lent themselves to an impression that he was not a man to be messed with. He was happy to roll with that assumption, whether he was channeling or not. When the little resident had Nate's attention he continued, "are you here to help with the bandits?"

"I am," Nate replied, his deep voice matter of fact. He paused to lean against the wall, thick arms folded loosely as his wary eyes scanned the street. "What can you tell me?"

"There's a band of them, calling themselves the White Lotus," the resident said quickly and quietly. "They wear a white ribbon on their arms and they're out trying to get everything they can get their hands on, in the name of the White Tower! But they aren't guards or anything, they just take advantage." The man made a sad face, "my brother's been dragged along by the hype. If you see a short guy who looks like me he doesn't know what he's doing. Please go easy on them!"

"I'm not bound by the oaths, but I'm not a liar either," Nate said. "I'm not gonna promise something I might not keep. Where are they based?"

"They're using an old warehouse- here, let me draw you a quick map, it's probably easier..." the man disappeared back into the house and Nate waited patiently. This was a good lead, and he would be sure to follow up on it. By himself. With nobody else to get in his way.
Spoiler: show
Feel free to run into Nate with your group on their travels <3

Re: Dross on the streets [White Tower Group: Patrol]

Posted: April 22nd, 2018, 4:42 am
by Lugh
Beron Beron was glad for the breeze that flowed over the Erinin river, he had found the city sweltering and oppressive with it's press of buildings. Tar Valon was a marvel, he had to resist the urge to turn and look at the Ogier masonry each time they had passed beneath a skybridge, even the bridge he currently rode over would have been worth an afternoon's appreciation if he was not on Grey Tower business.

And so he kept his eyes straight ahead, scanning the people as they made their way across the high arching bridge. There were signs of struggles beyond the city as well, the way women eyed his horse and the sword at his hip had him wondering if the rumored bandits had been at work. Soon enough they had crossed the bridge, the Shining Walls of Tar Valon now behind them as the village on the other side of the bridge lay before them.

Beron could not remember the name of the village, he was embarrased to admit to himself that he had forgotten to inquire as to the name. Not that it seemed to matter much, this village had clearly seen better days. Many of the homes looked emptied, their doors open and shutters swinging in the breeze. There were belongings; deemed unimportant or perhaps to heavy for those who had fled to carry, scattered across small stoops and courtyards. Even so the streets and buildings made his shoulders itch, he was used to hunting for signs of trouble in the hills and plains, and he wondered why the bandits would have chosen to settle in. They might be in the hills near here, or they might have even picked a den nearby with how toothless the guard has been thought Beron to himself, his hand checking the scabbard on his sword to ensure his weapon was clear.

Re: Dross on the streets [White Tower Group: Patrol]

Posted: April 28th, 2018, 12:06 am
by Bella
If Natlya or Lysira felt any nerves about entering this village, they of course did not show it.

Natlya had never liked bandits. It might be funny for one like her to say, considering the life she had lived, but she disapproved of their brutish and often violent methods. Nat had lied, cheated, and stolen...but never through violence. And her work had taken cunning and guile, skill. Not like these sorts of thugs.

"Stay close, Beron," she said quietly to the trainee that had joined them in this effort to restore order. "You never know what might be hiding." Thoughts of Vaidulo flashed through her mind, and she had to suppress a shudder of revulsion just at the memory.

Lysira got Natlya's attention and gestured. The direction was clear--she was going to go one way and she thought the other two should go the other. Nat nodded her acknowledgement and then gestured for Beron to walk with her as they took one of the village's side streets to see what they could find.

Re: Dross on the streets [White Tower Group: Patrol]

Posted: April 28th, 2018, 7:19 pm
by Lugh
Beron Beron took his cue from the two Gaidin riding with him, both woman alert and calm as they rode through quiet streets.

"Stay close, Beron," Natlya said quietly to Beron as they stopped at a small market square. The opening offered a small fork in the road, and Beron waited while Lysira and Natlya conversed; the hand signals unfamiliar to him so he kept alert to their surroundings.

Natlya finally finished signing, the signals unfamiliar to Beron; although their meaning became clear as Lysira rode off, and nodded her acknowledgement and then gestured for Beron to walk with her as they took one of the village's side streets to see what they could find.

Reluctant to leave the horses, but understanding the large animals would never fit in the side streets, he grabbed his sword and daggers hoping they would find little beyond abandoned buildings.

As the two of them walked, he noticed the coiled energy that Natlya possessed, and he realized that the Gaidin was walking with each step perfectly measured and balanced. His own footfalls seemed heavy in comparison, and he found himself wishing he had spent more time on learning the ko’di.

Breathing steady, he flexed his fingers around the handle of his dagger, feeling the wood grain and slightly ovaled shaped. Touching the weapon reassured him, and as they turned a corner he stopped dead in surprise.

Two bodies, their faces hidden by dresses that were torn and thrown over their heads were lying in a darkened corner of the alley. Despite his revulsion, some nagging sense kept Beron from dashing towards the bodies. He felt ill leaving anyone to such a pose, no ones final resting should be left to the rats and filth, but he had learned to trust his instincts.

Rather than dashing forward, he squeezed as close to the building as he could, keeping to the little shadows that lined that side of the walkway between buildings. Slowly moving, he crouched down and peered through a crack in the fence just before the bodies; and was rewarded by the telltale flash of sunlight against metal. Holding his hands up, he turned to Natlya and mimed notching and arrow, then pointed up to the window he was certain contained a lookout.

Re: Dross on the streets [White Tower Group: Patrol]

Posted: April 30th, 2018, 11:27 pm
by Bella
Good catch, Natlya thought with a grim, inward smile.

As they had walked down this alleyway, Nat's own instincts had gone on alert like a dog's hackles rising at an errant smell. In her past life, she had setup enough traps and diversions of her own--although never with a dead body...at least, not one she herself had killed--to recognize one when she came upon it.

This village had been rundown and looked in a bad state, but she had not seen bodies strewn everywhere like a forgotten battlefield. This stood out, and not in a good way.

Her eyes lifted toward the window he indicated, but she couldn't see much from this angle. Of course, she knew that the lookout wouldn't see much either since they had stopped short of a good viewpoint. (She knew this because if they hadn't, they'd be attacked by now. The simplest explanation was often the right one.)

Without moving from her position, she turned her head and eyes to take in everything that she could.

Just behind them was a door leading into the building where the lookout was likely on the second floor. She could get to it without crossing the line of sight from the window. She held a finger up to her lips and then motioned for him to remain where he was, but be watchful, and then she slunk back into the shadows against the wall until she reached the partially open door.

Slipping between the door and the stone, she found herself inside a dimly lit room--the only light coming from broken windows. She drew her sword almost silently, then moved to the staircase. She carefully peered around the corner, then made her way up. She kept to the balls of her feet, and kept those to the edge of the stairs where it was less likely to creak.

As she reached the top of the stairs, she crouched down and moved even more slowly until she peered over and saw just what they both thought she'd see:

A raggedy-looking, wretched man staring out the window with a bow in hand.

Nat had to resist the urge to hiss. She had neither the time nor the patience for bandits. Perhaps they all had motives in these sorts of lives, but she knew this wasn't the type who had the sort of motives she'd care to understand or sympathize with. No, she had other plans in mind for him as she slunk up behind him.

As a trained Gaidin up against a foolhardy bandit, he never heard her coming. All he knew, the last thing he knew, was seeing the tip of a sword coming from his chest and wondering where that came from...

...his body fell forward before she grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him back. Drops of blood fell from the window and hit the pavement below, but that was it. No other sight. No sound. She dragged the body back and left it in a dusty corner as she made her way back down to where she'd left Beron in the alley.

Re: Dross on the streets [White Tower Group: Patrol]

Posted: May 2nd, 2018, 4:28 am
by Lugh
Beron
Beron was glad when Natlya took his cue, the Gaidin coming forward to take a quick look at the vantage point he had spotted. He knew the bandit had not seen them for there had been no outcry or attack and he wordlessly nodded his agreement when Natlya Gaidin motioned for him to remain still.

As she silently ghosted through the door, Beron settled into a comfortable crouch, the Bowman’s revealing glint making him consider his own weapon. Crouching, he rubbed some of the mud and dirt against the metal to help dim the glint of steel, he knew this was liable to be ended with knife work, the bandits appeared bold and entrenched to his mind.

In much less time than he had imagined, and with no sound that Beron heard from near the bottom entrance to the building; Natlya appeared once again. Judging from her face Beron knew the lookout was no longer a threat, and Beron took her wordless signal as his cue to continue his advance.

On the lookout now, Beron moved carefully and alert for other signs of danger ahead. With the grace of a Grey Tower trainee, Beron walked carefully his weight even and soft footfalls betraying little sign of his passing. The wet alley was filled with debris, the broken pottery and other refuse often making him try his footing twice before stepping down in order to advance.

Still his patience was soon awarded when they approached a makeshift barrier, crates, barrels; and old furniture piled between two of the buildings, making a makeshift courtyard out of the alleyway. Beron paused for a moment and considered their options, knowing the debris would slow them if they tried to make it past.

Then he spied a shuttered window, the shutters old and worn with rust stains from the rain flowing down the old whitewash. The building would have probably presented too much of an obstacle for a guardsman or angry villager, but fortunately for Beron the press of the buildings made the gap similar to chimneys he had climbed in the rock faces of Saldaea.

Bracing his hands and legs against the building, he shimmied himself up easily. He had been an avid climber, and the discipline of a Drin’s lifestyle had given him far greater strength and endurance. Once he had reached the shutters, he stiffened his legs and listened for signs of people. A slow murmur could be heard, however he was certain that none were present in the room immediately through the window. Thinking quickly he used his knife to pry open the shutters and slid through the empty pane into a dusty room. Thick dust covered the little furniture that was present, and as he signalled all clear to the Gaidin below, he moved slowly over the rotting floorboards to a corner where he wouldn’t be spotted as easily.

Re: Dross on the streets [White Tower Group: Patrol]

Posted: May 6th, 2018, 12:23 am
by Bella
Natlya moved with silence and grace. Once she'd started her life on the streets, all traces of clumsiness had been worked out of her, but the Warder Yards and the ascension to the fancloak had done a great deal to make that all even more refined and keen. Much like the edge of a blade, she had been honed.

However, watching the trainee scaled the wall made one thought pop into her head... Well, this doesn't happen every day.

She watched him, curious and intent, but never let her senses move away from keeping eyes and ears open for anyone approaching from either side of the alley. As he climbed the wall, it was clear that he had experience. She had experience from long ago--a few narrow escapes that were usually down than up--but this would work up some of those old skills.

When he signaled the all clear, she silently sheathed her sword--which she had been carrying since taking care of the lookout--and began her ascent.

In reality, it wasn't quite as talented as his, but attitude could often be everything. She acted like it was nothing and conveyed that, even if it wasn't so.

Nat slipped through the window beside him and took in the dusty, empty room. She breathed shallowly, trying to avoid any of the dust flying into her face and making her have to focus on not sneezing. She heard the murmur of voices as well and took a careful step deeper into the room. Then she lowered herself to her knees and put her ear near the floor.

A moment later, she looked up at Beron. She pointed down, and then held up three fingers.

Three bandits on the first floor. Of course, she just assumed they were bandits. The laughter contributed to the assumption, however, since none of the villagers they'd seen were laughing, and those were the ones who'd gotten away from here.