Dirty Jobs (Open)

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James sat upon a smooth boulder, long sicne expelled by the long dormant volcano. He ran the cloth up and down the shimmering silver blade, admiring the beauty of this instrument of death. He held his hair back in a ponytail, as to keep his sight from being obstructed. He would need perfect vision for his upcoming job. It would be his first contract as a hired blade, a mercenary. He had been paid to find a local bandit camp hidden in a cave in this mountain, and take out the leader. The man was an ex-paladin he had gone completely mad and had killed off most of his village. The price on his head was high, and if he did this correctly James could also earn a good reputation for himself. He stared at the setting sun, the golden rays reflecting red off of the clouds. It would be darkness soon, meaning he would have to begin searching for the cave entrance once more. He had gotten close, for near sunset smells of cooking food and the sounds of men had begun to drift towards him. He sheathed his sword once more, tying it firmly around his waist once again with the silver chain. He wrapped his cloak around him, just in case his black leather body armor was not enough to keep himself hidden. He stood and gazed down at the mountain once more. His heart fluttered as he realized that at any minute, he would be facing the man.

[SnwPtrl]

"Where is my payment?" demanded Carthe in a steady voice with a very angry undertone. This was one of the main reasons why Carthe didn't like to take jobs from shady characters like this ex-paladin, they were very unreliable and the jobs they asked often included actions that put Carthe on the bad side of the law.

"I can get you all the gold you could ever desire if you just do one more job for me!" Exclaimed the crazy ex-paladin.
Carthe scoffed audibly. Those were the words that every idiotic, desperate, unreliable buffoon would tell a hired merc.

Figures, Carthe thought He probably has some master plan that includes mass slaughter and impossible feats...

Pulling up his hood, Carthe twirled around and began to swiftly stride away from the man without another word.

"Come back!" Screamed the ex-paladin. "I demand you follow my orders! I will hunt you down and tear you limb from limb! You hear me boy!?"

The man continued to shout obscenities at Carthe as he quickened his pace, but Carthe paid no attention, he was too busy fuming in anger to think of anything but how much he wanted to slit the fools throat just to shut him up.

Carthe tried to calm himself as he walked away. He knew he wouldn't be able to take the man on himself so there was no use getting all worked up. Carthe Sighed heavily, I guess I'll find him arrested and tossed into a dungeon soon, the way he is going about his business, he cant possibly last for long before he is captured by the Imperial Legion...

The man had promised great pay for the murder of two village priests. The job was easy and the victims defenseless but when Carthe returned for payment, the ex-paladin had nothing to give. Carthe spit nonchalantly at the ground before his feet. Should have known better... these jobs never work out!

Carthe turned and was pleases to see the man had not pursued him. Hugging his robes more tightly around him, he lowered his black hood so it shrouded hiss face and began to head towards the nearest town.

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James set off, walking swiftly towards the sounds of a makeshift camp, seeing a light burning in the distance. His ears perked at the sounds of shouting and he hid behind a wall. He peeked around the edge to catch a glimpse of what was going on. He could not tell the exact circumstances of what was transpring, but he saw another cloaked man coming down the road. He seemed to be of no danger, so James came away from his hiding spot and walked towards the camp. As he passed the other man, their cloaks both fluttered in the wind, allowing James a glimpse at the man. He seemed the rough and ready type, yet intelligent, not jsut brute force. Another merc possibly, he thought to himself, as he continued down the path, his hand on the hilt of his blade.

[SnwPtrl]

Passing another traveler in these jagged mountains was not common, and Carthe had done just that, paying no mind to the man. He was still fuming in anger and his thoughts were hellbent on revenge, such is the way of the mercenary...

Sucker tried to play me, but he never paid me, never!

Carthe began to think of how enjoyable it would be to tear that fool to pieces, didn't he know how dangerous it was for Carthe to go around murdering village priests? and then for nothing!?

Payback is coming, you will be running forever...

Carthe stopped in his tracks. He had made up his mind, this disrespect could not be forgiven! Remembering the battle-hardened traveler he had seen earlier, Carthe wondered if he would have to do this alone, or perhaps with the assistance of that man. Of course, if the man rejected Carthe's plead, he would have to kill the guy (for he would then know of Carthe's relation to the criminal ex-paladin) but hey, you never know until you ask!

Im a mercenary, you aint got a prayer you owe meee!

Carthe sprinted up to the man, one of his blades hidden up his sleeve while he used his other hand to tap the traveler on the shoulder...

"Excuse me kind sir, but would you be willing to assist a fellow...traveler? I have a task before me that without the help of another, may prove impossible."

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James had conitnued to walk, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. On the edge and nervous, he quickly dre his sword and turned around, pressing his blade to the neck of the man cautiously. He loosened his grip whenever he heard the man speak and recognized him as the same man as before. He lowered his sword, but only to his waist, and frowned. "I'm sorry man, but I'm kind of busy with my own task at the moment. In fact you caught me on my way there." he stated as if it should be obvious. HE turned around to leave but then an idea struck him. He lsung his sword over his shoulder, and turned aorund to the man. "What kind of task did you have in mind?"

[SnwPtrl]

Brushing off his shoulders, a sly grin formed on Carthe's face.

"Well you see, you seem to be into the business of killing. And there is someone who I need killed, I wish...err need a certain man dead for the criminal acts he committed against my...family. His camp is not far from here and he wears the armor of a paladin, yet is not of that nature any longer. His camp is guarded by a few mediocre warriors but he himself is the only one with any real skill. If not for his helpers I could take him myself, but it appears as though I will be needing assistance. That is the task in which I need assistance."

Carthe studied the man carefully as he waited for a reply. Just by looking at the guy, Carthe assumed he was a "do good" sort of guy who used his blade for justice. Just the kind of guy Carthe really didn't like.

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James switched his balde to the other shoulder and, against his own will, bust out into racous laughter. He had to steady himself against the ground with his sword to keep from toppling over. What luck that this man needed him to compete a simple task he himself was already going to be paid for! James calmed himself and scrtcthed his head, sheathing his sword. "I apologize for that, it just is a funny coincidence. But of course I will assist you with such a 'noble' task my good friend. He extended a gloved hand and bowed. "James Tekkarro, at your service."

[SnwPtrl]

Carthe waited patiently while he waited for the man to cease his voracious laughter.
Oh great this guy thinks i'm a fool...AND he's laughing about my "family" being killed by this man...What a weirdo! Had I actually possessed a family I would certainly make to end this mans life!
Carthe moved his hand to his sides, tightly grasping the hilt of his dual blades when the man surprised him by muttering something about a coincidence and then agreeing to help him in his task.

Bowing graciously back Carthe said "Words cannot describe my gratuity towards your kindness, James. Although I assume that this man is someone who you are also interested in slaying, It is still a great service to me."

Carthe firmly shook the others hand. "Oh and by the way, I go by the name of Carthe. I know this man is quite dangerous and I would prefer to take him and his guards by stealth but I know not your skills."

Fetching a stick Carthe made a quick map of the camp in the earth. Pointing to a few areas on the map Carthe said "There should be two guards here by the entrance, but they are foolish and unwary of any coming attack. The other four guards can be found sleeping is tents in various locations. The Paladin's tent is located in the back of the camp, under the shade of a rocky overhang."

Staring intently into the man's, no, elf's eyes, Carthe asked "So, how would thee prefer to go about this? I am quite adept with my two long-swords but I prefer to keep a low-profile, the shadows will protect us tonight, and the wailing winds shall deafen our footsteps to our enemies..."

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James smirked and crossed his arms. "No gratitude necesarry my friend,a lways a pleasure to help a man in need." He watched as the other merc drew out a map of the encampment ont he ground, and he pondered the man's story in his head.He knew what the mans aid about a family must have been untrue, for no sane man would have been able to contain himself with vengeance on his mind, and being this close to the murderer as well. But the msot important observation would be the man had walked directly from the direction of the camp, without any look of nervousness or emotion at all. Either he was secretly one of the Paladin's guards, or some kind of ally, it mattered not. If he turned on him mid-assault, he would simply take him out as well. James kneeled on the ground, taking a finger and pointing out possible entries for attack. "well, the simplest way to take out these fools owuld be to strike down the four sleepers first. I can probably kill the first two with a silent cuffocation, and if you can take out the other two we should be set. The two entrance guards we shall take out together, swiftly, and silently my friend. We will then confront this ex-holy man." he smirked, looking upp to meet the man's eyes. He read the keen intelligence in them. He was as much like him as possible, but yet he coudlnt shake the feeling, he was really using who in this situation?

[SnwPtrl]

Carthe nodded an affirmative, his face expressing a sense of quiet determination.
This guy seems confident, hope he can live up to his word...

Standing, Carthe brushed off his robes and raised his hood so it once again shrouded his face.
"Lets us go, I know the path to the rocky outcropping that overlooks the camp, it is almost dark and we shall enter by descending that cliff."

Starting off, Carthe silently lead the way to the outcropping. Once there, he held a finger to his shaded face, signaling the need for stealth. He didn't want to alert anyone in the camp of their presence.

Looking up, Carthe observed the night sky. The light from the moon was non-existent as there was a heavy overcast that left the world shrouded in complete darkness. Carthe smiled under his hood, It would be a fine night for this indeed.

Pointing down into the camp, Carthe whispered to James "That tent there is where the two guard you shall dispatch sleep, I will go to the one adjacent and do away with the other two. Once finished, we shall creep around the edges of the camp and take the two night-guards from behind...Remember, silence is key."

Carthe waited for James to descend into the camp before he followed, it was a rule of his to never go in first, too many times he had seen the man in lead be the first to step on that never failing, well placed booby-trap...

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James nodded as he followed the man named Carthe, and listened intently to his instructions. He looked at the two tents he was designated to and set off stealthily, seeing a makeshift firebomb planted in the dirt, he lifted an arm in signal for an immediate halt, and pointed out the danger, before moving on and avoiding it. He crept silently up to the first tent, slicing his way in with a small dagger on his waist, letting himself in. He stared at the man fas asleep and he sighed. "Forgive me for this father..." he muttered, lifting his hand in the darkness. "Grant me darkness, suthi nokath..." he whispered, as a shadow silently crept over the man's mouth and nostrils, suffocating him quitel. James did the same to the other guard, and he waited patiently for Carthe to meet him at the gate where htye would elminate the last remaining guards.

[SnwPtrl]

Carthe carefully followed James. Taking care to take the same exact footholds as the elf. When the elf suddenly froze and signaled for a halt, Carthe feared that they had been exposed.
Here we go... we're dead...

To Carthe's surprise, the Elf had only happened upon a trap that the guards must have placed to protect this side of the camp. So perhaps they weren't that stupid...but not smart enough either. Carthe and James easily stepped around the trap.

Watching as James entered the first tent, Carthe stealthily moved on, the sounds of the eerie howling wind covering his footsteps. Reaching the second tent, Carthe cast a quick spell that silently lifted the tent flaps. The spell helped in many situations where moving a door by hand would cause it to creak or lifting a tent flap would disturb the rest of the tent.

Moving swiftly now, Carthe smoothly slid his hidden blade located in his left sleeve into the guards jugular, then ripped the knife through the rest of the neck, killing the guard instantly. Thanks to Carthe's frost magic, the blood dripping from the guards neck froze before it could make any noise hitting the ground. Carthe then moved to the second sleeping guard and prepared a quick frost spell. Swiftly reaching out, Carthe placed his open palm onto the guards chest and released his prepared frost energy.

The Guard awoke but was doomed to silence. Since the guards was sleeping, his heart rate was already low and a little bit of frost magic would easily stop it completely. The guard tried to scream as his lungs froze over while his blood began to solidify. The wild eyes of the guards stared terrified at the shrouded face his assassin as he died his freezing death.

Smiling wickedly beneath his hood, Carthe let off the flow of magic and quietly exited the tent. No apologies to any gods, no regrets, no cloudy conscience. Such was the mind of Carthe.

Finding James, Carthe hustled over and whispered. "All right, time to take out the two entrance guards, we can take them from behind but it is essential we stage our attacks simultaneously. I shall wait for you to kill yours, then I will finish mine before he has a chance to react."

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James watched Carthe kill viciously without remorse, and in a way admired the man, yet pitied him. HE waited as he finished off the last one and appraoched him, explaining the process quitely. James nodded and proceeded further. He sniffed the air as they neared the guards, and an metallic sharp scent struck his nose. HE turned towards Carthe and saw he had gotten blood on him. HE froze in his tracks and gritted his teeth, clamping his jaw and fists iron tight and fighting the deafening roar in his head. A voice was echoing for murder, for blood, for death, but he must ignore it, if he had learned anythign from his past it was to ignore the voice. HE cointued wlaking,t rying to act as if it were nothing, btu when they appraoched the guard he could practically taste the blood on his tongue. His eyes flickered red as a growl rose in his throat, and he couldnt take it anymore. HE drew out his sword with one fluid motion, slicing the first guard neatly in two, right at the waist. Before the second guard could even scream, he leaped forward and clutched the man by the neck, and knocked him out with the hilt of his sword. He dropped the man to the ground and turned to Carthe, trying to conceal the demonic presence hanging over him, and the way his eyes were changing to an eerie blood red. "You go ahead, I'll hide the bodies so nobody gets suspicious." he lied, trying to shoo him away.

[SnwPtrl]

Carthe moved silently behind his target and awaited for James to engage his before he made his move. Carthe smiled as the elf quickly dispatched his elf and rose to make the kill on his guard before the fool realized what was happening.

All of a sudden, Carthe saw James lunge at the remaining guard and had to roll out of the way to avoid being hammered by James unexpected assault.
Carthe got very angry, not just because the elf had just stolen his kill, but he doubted the paladin would still be asleep after all the noise. What the hell is he doing! thought Carthe.

Carthe picked up the scared and manic undertones of James wavering voice as he told him to go ahead. Good gods! this elf is losing it in the middle of the mission! Carthe had known even the calmest of people to get anxious and jump the gun on stealth missions and he figured that James had just lost it.

Getting back to the job, Carthe said a silent prayer, hoping the Paladin had slept through all the noise. Thats when he heard a deep and thunderous voice shout out from the middle of the camp. "Who Goes There! Be it you Brutus?"

Carthe saw the gigantic figure of the murdering and, quite dangerous ex-paladin emerge from his tent and approach Carthe and James' position. Ah damn! I was hoping to take this guy out while he was sleeping, no thanks to this fellow over here...

Carthe turned to face James. "Here we go, elf...hope you're ready for this" Carthe sighed as he smoothly drew out his blood-red long swords from their sheaths on either side of his hips.

Carthe stood calmly as he waited for the huge man to reach the pair of interlopers and realize they were not his guards.

Carthe was not a direct fighter and decided he would try to use the night to his advantage, he lowered his hood to keep it from blocking his field of vision and looked over to James to see whether he was getting this...

[Elf Prince Tekkarro]

James's hair flickered silver, his eyes glowing a firey red, as an unhuman growl rose in his throat,t rying to tear himself away formt he body. He was disconnected from reality, he heard the man coming, his kill, but he couldn't muster the strength to reach for his sword. THe last thing he saw was the red wind surround him, sweeping him away...


Gilashi awoke, cracking his neck and smiling at the dead human before him. "Ah, breakfast." he muttered, laughing at his own horrid joke. He knelt over the body, and instead of performing a funeral right, bent down and bit deeply into the man's neck, tearing away at the soft flesh and tissue, the warm blood gushing out.. He quickly drank his fill, before wiping off his mouth and laughing. He turned around and saw a strange man, inhaling his scent. A mercenary, a kind of hunter from his time. He needn't worry about him, but another scent caught him offguard. ONe of corrupt holiness. He turned to see what looked like a Paladin, but the scruffiness of his stature and the madness burning in his eyes told that those days were long gone. GIlashi grinned ear to ear, razor sharp teeth glittering int he moonlight. He reached for his sword, pulling out instead the jewel encrusted piece of trash the Elf once had. He laughed and strucvk the ground, the gold and glitter melting away, revealing his sword's true form, Dishiketh. He rose the pitch black blade, smiling, ignoring the merc. "Hey, old man. I'm over here ya good for nothing coot." he taunted, gesturing with the sword for him to come find him.