The Grey Tower

Nathaniel "Brawn" "Big Blue" "That Bloody Mayener" Carridus "Burn me to bloody ashes," the Asha'man muttered to himself in a low voice, trudging through the streets of Andor. "Stupid flaming Gaidin thinking with the hair on their chest instead of their brains...." How was he supposed to remain irate with Bells when he brought him loads of cool stuff, cool and useful items or armour that actually fit? Right then Nate wore his metal studded, thick leather gauntlets, and his awesome boots that actually fit his ridiculously large feet quite nicely and gave him unnecessary additional height. The dark blue trousers and coat suggested he was a man of reasonable income and standing, though his hair was long, his walk was a stomp and he wore a great big bloody hammer on his immense back, all a testament to his baser roots.

There hadn't been much time to actually talk to the bloody Arafellin. With the new Gaidin's trip home, and Nate's own work on the Blightborder, it had been probably the longest they had ever gone without seeing one another. Even their Andor trip was something that sort of just happened, and since their arrival they had done much different things. Nate had some leads on the people responsible for what transpired in Viadulo, and a personal interest in smashing their teeth in. Alrim was apparently more interested in surveying the landscape of the place and it's people, one woman in particular. Nate didn't think all that much to her but then, since being Raised he'd been far too busy to indulge. Sure there were some who might think him handsome enough, or tall enough to be a challenge or something, but Nate had too much to learn about being an Asha'man to spare the ladies much thought.

That morning he'd set out early, but it was just another false lead. It was most frustrating, and Nate was considering leaving things as they were. Nothing would change if he did catch them, apart from he would be ever so satisfied when he kicked their asses. I should get Bells out of bed, see what he wants to get up to, the man thought as he returned to the Inn they were staying at, a modest place where the coin for a room was enough that they got separate rooms. Thank the Light, Nate appreciated in hindsight.

He went to open the door to the Inn, a little surprised that it was closed even at this time, and grunted when it wouldn't budge. Weird. Locked doors, not so good for business. Nate pressed an ear to the door and listened inside, not hearing anything- wait. Was that a thud? A knock?

"Bells!" Nate thought nothing more of the consequences as he lifted a boot and slammed the door open, barging on through and nearly bowling over a perplexed man who was holding one of the serving girls in a very unfortunate position. Nate didn't give them a second glance, but he did nab the man by the scruff of his neck and slam him down into the floor on the way past. The serving girl screamed and ran for the door, then a couple of men appeared at the bottom of the stairs looking puzzled about said open door. They were even more surprised when Nate ran into them and body slammed them into the wall, barging on up the stairs and not thinking about the fact that there were some shady dealings going on in their humble inn.

The door to Bell's room was slammed open so hard it hit the wall with force, and Nate stomped on in to see he was on the bed having some rough and tumble with that woman of his, only it wasn't the sort one enjoyed. The Mayener's face went from determined to downright angry as he took two steps into the room and picked her up beneath her arms like one might pick up a small child to stop it falling over. "Now now, I don't think that's such a good idea, hurting my best buddy." He scowled, and without further ado he tossed the woman out of the open window. She fell screeching, and the crunch at the bottom of the fall would have made Nate wince if he was a squeamish man.

Maybe I should've questioned her first, Nate thought to himself as he looked at his friend, who had certainly seen better days. "Hey! We've got company Bells, and they ain't happy to see you. Who did you piss off this time?" He looked around for some clothes and threw them at the man, "get dressed, we're outta here." He moved to the door and stood in the doorway, filling it as he guarded Bells from any harm. Nobody was going to make it past him! Maybe they weren't here just for Bells, the Blue thought as he stood there, thick arms folded. I don't normally get out of bed so early... I'd be asleep right now too if I didn't have stuff to do. The Mayener made a face, though that face turned to a grin a he saw a darkfriend peek his head around the corner. "Hey kid, you can come try stab me. I promise I don't bite." Nate bared his teeth, "not unless you use some stupid experimental drug to turn me crazy! Let's relive that moment now shall we, me and you? See if that makes you think of anything I oughta know about your little experiment circuit?"

The man retreated and Nate would have followed, but it was more important that they covered Bell's shiny ass first.

Alric "Sarge" "Creases" "Another Bloody Mayener" Aurella

Nate just stood there like the Asha'man he was, though he did feel somewhat Warderly as he guarded the door and let Alrim dress. It didn't take him all that long to return to his regular clothed self, and the Blue looked down at the Arafellin with a grunt as he implored him to not kill any more Darkfriends. "Questioning?" he repeated, though he knew that he really ought to be a little more discerning with his treatment of these people. "I guess I can... as long as they ain't trying to bloody stab your eyes out again." He let out a small huff as Alrim made as if to leave, but he was all set to follow his friend. He moved behind him with a stomp, and was at the top of the stairs when Alric made his appearance. Well! Was this planned or not? Nate and Matty didn't remember but the Blue was always happy to see his friend. And he had one of their little Darkfriends too, even better!

"Sarge, welcome!" He shouted down the stairs, making his way down and punching the man on the arm. He then looked down at the brat, who turned his eyes up to the Asha'man with wide eyes, innocent apart from the face that Nate knew bloody well better than that. The Blue took him by the scruff of his neck and hauled him to a chair, pushing him into a seated position as Bells went to look outside. Guards. Well, this was going to be fun to discuss. Tact was not necessarily something Nate was known for, and as much as Bells had a smooth tongue, the man wasn't planning to take this lying down.

"It'll be fine," he said with his more typical cheerful nature back, as if he hadn't offed a Darkfriend outside and was considering another kill. "We'll explain the situation and they will be sure to let us go."

There was a commotion outside, and Nate figured they had come across the body. He moved to stand in front of the lad and clasped a hand on his shoulder, leaning down so they were looking into one another's eyes. "I'm gonna strike a deal with you," he said. "You tell these guards that you're a Darkfriend and I won't break every bone in your body." He gave a bright smile, "How does that sound? I don't need a window to do that when I have the Power, so..." he straightened up again with his hands behind his back as the door to the Inn opened, "your call."

The men came in with force, occupying the walls either side of the door. One, two, three, ten men, and more outside. Nate had no quarrel with these folk doing their jobs, and had no intention of hurting them either. They were good people and they were dealing with the facts. The man with the fanciest armour stepped in last and he walked like someone who knew what he was about, so it was him that Nate addressed in his usual loud manner. "Light shine on you, Guardsman!" He declared. "I am Asha'man Brawn of the Grey Tower, and we have a bit of a Darkfriend issue here." He made a gesture in the general direction of dear Sheila or Rita or Leila or whatever her name was, "they attempted to take the life of our Gaidin friend here, who can introduce himself. And we have a prime witness here in the form of one of their Darkfriends who would have evaded capture if not for the brave efforts of my fellow Asha'man here. Sarge you can introduce yourself as well." Nate folded his arms and was confident in his approach, though the guards had their weapons drawn still and were still not so impressed. Ah well, there was no pleasing everyone.

"Dire circumstances indeed Asha'man," said the Guardsman, "Murder on the fair streets of Andor. The Black Tower should know better than to cause such a disturbance."

"Oh, we're from the Grey Tower," Nate assured them.

"Got a brother who goes there," one of the men muttered. The Guardsman looked his way and he shrugged, "seem nice enough to me."

"We're happy to provide whatever statements you require," Nate said, "But this man here is a Darkfriend and we are looking into some troubling Darkfriend activity that will harm more than just Andor if we don't put a stop to it." The Asha'man pointed to the still seated man, "you! Tell them what a terrible Darkfriend you are."