Welcome to The Bloodhounds RP

[Chrono Blackwyng]

The fox took a small card out of a pouch on his jacket, and placed it on the table. A flame about five times the size of the candle, flared out of the card and held itself aloft above the card.
"I am Marcus, the one who was selected because of your limited vocabulary in the arcane and mystical. Any attempts to prove me otherwise will be met with haughty chuckles and a dismissive wave of my hand. I will also be the one tending to your wounds on the off-chance any of you decide to be fool-hardy. Now that my introduction is out of the way, who here knows anything more potent beyond the slight breeze that Jesse has conjured?"

[Otebon Albrecht]

(*** This is Jovi's & My post. Next poster should be DarylDemented)


Creature had sat silently the entire ride over, and remained quiet until it was time for them to introduce themselves. He was standing near Marcus, so when the giant flame came out his face was also light up. Creature decided he could provide his own light when Marcus' card ran out of energy. One thing that Creature could do was make his marks glow by inner concentration, and they would automatically glow with any adrenalin running through his veins. He closed his eyes and suddenly the teal marks started glowing a brilliant terquoise blue, and he opened his eyes that were now glowing as red as his mane and wings. "Aye, I've got more strength than everyone 'ere combined. I'm yer muscle, and I know magic. Name is Kaihautu Datu, but call me Creature." The breeze blew through his mane and wings, and his glow was very bright. Bright enough to light up the entire room they were in.


--- --- ---

Varen had to hide a smile behind his hands as the cloaked fox displayed his grandiose vocabulary and "haughty" attitude. At least I won't be the only one that will be binding wounds and staunching veins, he thought to himself.


"I'm Varen" he said as he stepped forward and offered a hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. Now, down to business, shall we?"


He took a seat and crossed his ankles underneath his chair. His back was straight, more a habit than an effort to be superior, though others may see it that way. "One of the heads, I believe it was Lucasta, mentioned that bandits tied to Saker had been seen outside the city and were causing some trouble. As Kuasta is a coastal trade city, I would imagine that caravans leave from this city almost daily. If those thugs are troubling the convoys, that may be our way to start the trace. Does anyone have any ideas on how they wish to procede?"

[darryldemented]

marcus struck jesse as overconfident. jesse was more than capable of casting master level spells, but he was weakened by seasickness. varen began to brief them on their mission and jesse took to drawing a rune on his chest. it was rather large and intricate. the more of it he drew the brighter it glowed. with the final stroke jesse transformed before their eyes into a small argonian with a wide brimmed hat and flowing robes. the room was amazed at the spell work and several of the others gasped. it was a high level tranformation spell that would last until the rune was wiped from his chest.

"i say we pose as merchants and wait until the mercenaries attack and then we could subdue them and bring them here to interrogate them. once they tell us what they want we can dispose of them as we see fit"

[Kaya]

Cassandra raises her eyebrows, surprised at Marcus's transformation. She keeps it to her self that she can willingly create the illusion of herself to vanish. She listened carefully to what Varen had to say, along with Marcus's idea.
"I Do have to say i agree with some of Marcus's plan, but couldn't we also set up more of an ambush point?"

[Chrono Blackwyng]

Marcus looked at Cassandra with confusion, putting his card away and turning his chair to her.

"I have no plan in mind, as I am not used to coordinating my magic with other individuals. I will follow Creature, boosting him while also providing supporting fire. While I do not intend to diminish the significance of your magical skills, I doubt any of you have put as much effort or time into magic as I have."

[Otebon Albrecht]

Although he had to squint ever so slightly to shield his eyes from the fire coming from Marcus' pre-made spell card, Creature's glowing... marks, and Jesse's candle (all, especially with Jesse's transformation into a walking lizard, showed his compatriots magical abilities), his smile did not diminish one iota as he listened to his new compatriots discuss the subject of a plan. It was good to be working towards something, especially as the past few days have been little but waiting on a ship.


"So," Varen said leaning forward and placing his elbows on the table. "If I may? It seems we agree that we need to go out and search for our enemies that plague the merchant caravans. I propose, and take it as you will, that we tack ourselves onto a caravan as guards. If we are lucky, then once they believe themselves safe, the bandits will attack and we will be ready for them. If you wish, I could go out and start getting us a job within a few minutes."


It would take him a bit to search for the merchant quarter in a city the size of Kuasta, but Varen knew he could do it fairly quickly. He had always been able to navigate the cities and castles of the world. Call it a talent if you would. With some effort, he could find a caravan leaving in a few days and get them positions as guards or even as laborers. They would be present if and when the caravan came under attack and (barring the unforseen) could act appropriately.


All in all, simple.

[Cifero Windtail]

(Guys... give me a chance to catch up here!)
 
"You know, if it turns out that he's in a castle, then there's probably a secret way in," Zavier said, playing with his knife. "If it turns out that this is true, and if it would help, I could sneak in, take the place of one of Saker's bodyguards, and make sure that he doesn't escape." He looked up towards Jesse. "So who are you, exactly? I didn't hear you; I was busy thinking."
 
(Is this better? It definitely doesn't specify any location.
 
 

[darryldemented]

"i think we should Otebon" jesse voiced as he sat playing with his tail. "and in the meantime maybe we should ask around and see what we can find out about Saker"

(cifero we arent sure where Saker really is yet so that doesnt work?)

[Cifero Windtail]

(My character knows things that others don't)

[Otebon Albrecht]

Varen nodded. They were all good ideas, they just needed to be implemented.


"Information is power. After we find a caravan to take us further inland, we can canvas the area and see if there is anyone willing to talk about Saker. My only real issue with that is that this may just be a small part of the operation Saker is running. I doubt anyone could identify where he lives, so we may have to climb the leadership ladder in our search."


That being said, Varen was already budgeting how much money he could spare to buy people drinks and meals in the local tavern. Information was a specialty of his and people loved to talk over food, especially if it was free.


"Zavier, I like your idea about sneaking into the castle, but I don't know if the risk is worth the reward. People generally get hung, or at least imprisoned, for scaling the walls or being found out." Varen hummed to himself as he thought of something new. "But then again... If bandits under Saker are so successfully attacking the caravans out of this city, someone may be dealing in that kind of information. The castle here may have records of when caravans enter and leave the city and list their destinations. Imagine if one of Saker's thugs were using that to set up strikes? It's up to you though if you want to go in and take a peak."

[darryldemented]

"i agree that maybe if we found the right person we could bribe them to speak, or" he cracked his knuckles "make them Talk" he smiles showing his canine teeth menicingly.

[Kaya]

Cassandra nods and smiles as well. " The only problem with that is, if they get away, they may tip off their contacts."

[Cifero Windtail]

Zavier stopped spinning his dagger and slipped it back in his boot.
"Well, we can't kill them," he said. "I don't approve of killing, especially if it's wrong and needless. That's kind of how I got into the Bloodhounds." The winged feline glanced out the window. "I was left on the doorstep of a fighting school when I was a newborn. I lived there for most of my life until last year. You see, there was this jerk at the school who had a really short temper and was quick to fight. One day, one of the newer students accidently tripped him... and he lost it and drew his sword. The new kid ran, but eventually, the jerk caught up with him and went to slice off his head. I had followed them... I didn't want anything to happen to the kid. So when I saw the raised sword... I jumped in the way." He rolled up his left sleeve to reveal a terrible scar on his shoulder. "One of the Bloodhound recruiters had seen the event that caused the jerk to chase the student, and had secretly been following us. I passed out from the immense pain, but the Bloodhound stopped the wayward jerk before he killed the student." Zavier pulled his sleeve back over the scar. "After I recovered, he offered me a place among the Bloodhounds, and I accepted it... but I still never did approve of unesscessary death, and I never will." He looked at the others. "We'll just have to risk it."   

[Chrono Blackwyng]

Marcus licked his teeth as he got out of his chair, taking the card off the table and shuffling his "deck" as he looked at the group with mild disgust.

"You should be prepared to make unnecessary kills if you cannot come to a better conclusion in the time you're given. Bandits will rarely think of you better if you spare one of their men, in fact the only reason most bandits would want their own back, is so that the advantage you had over them is now gone." He turned to Zavier, his gaze changing from disgust to one more somber.

"I'd rather avoid killing if information can be gleaned, but one's own survival is paramount when it is by one's own blade that the job will be completed. If we can survive carving a bloody path to their leader, then I'm all for it... less healing for me to put up with." He then turned back to the rest of the group with the earlier visage.

"Just as a precaution, if one of you gets the idea that healing is something you can take for granted, I'll start charging you for the damage you've idiotically inflicted on yourself."

[Otebon Albrecht]

Varen laughed. Marcus may be arrogant, but at least he's got a sense of humor, he thought to himself.


"I appreciate that Marcus. I've never taken health for granted myself, so I will always try to remember to say thank you if you need to patch a hole in my hide." Varen stood and stretched slightly. "So we are agreed on booking a caravan -"


Varen turned as the door opened to admit the Matron of the Tavern, a large-bodied Equine. She made a slight bow as she entered.


"Sorry to interrupt," she said as she folded her hands in front of herself. "I just wanted to come up and introduce myself and offer what I could. My name is Sarah Rosaline, but you may call me Sarah if you wish. I run this tavern and give what help I can to the Bloodhounds when they need it for reasons that are my own. I couldn't help but overhear that you are planning to jump passage on a caravan and hope it gets attacked en route. I can help you there. My brother, Roland, is leaving for Aetheria tomorrow before the sun's up. Recently he's been moaning about how he wished he had more guards, so I'm sure he'd be more than happy to have you folk tag along."