>He regarded himself as a man slow to anger. He'd kept an even temper for most of his time at the Wolves, barring a few outstanding incidents. It had been his level headedness, and ability to examine a situation that had helped him achieve his S Class Rank.
>And here he was, sword in hand, glaring at the scorch marks in a tree that had resulted from him throwing a tantrum after two things had gone wrong.
>Really, he felt ashamed of himself. That was unbecoming of an adult, much less someone who was attempting to be a leader of this cobbled together band. Logan had pressed a button, that was his own fault for not telling him, but...Leo was right. He shouldn't have hid her own family from her...And he had the gall to burst out at her?
>His reverie is broken by the sound of a voice, a voice he very much recognised. The mournful expression gives way immediately to an alert glare as he whirls around, sword aimed squarely at Boulder's face.
You. You were with the others, why the hell are you here talking to me.
>>41227257 Well, either I killed 'em when I woke up, or they let me go, but I don't have any blood on me so I guess it's the latter, huh?
>The guy clearly had a bit of a dark sense of humour, but at the same time he knew that trust wasn't a luxury he could afford. Better to tell people what they're already thinking and get them to come to the rational conclusion themselves.
They can fill you in. I don't particularly feel like repeatin' myself.
Give your Dad a 'hi' from Jack, would ya?
>With a toothy grin, the man began to return to his path, apparently completely unfazed by the blade having been pointed at him the entire time.
>It was irritating...But the man was probably right. Logan wasn't the type to unnecessarily murder and Leo...Well, she held back from killing him in her beast state. She could probably do the same in her normal form.
>The mention of his dad, however, caused his eyes to widen and the arm holding his sword to falter as he stared at the man walking ever so casually away from him...Who was 'Jack?' Some military contact his dad used to know? The fact that this guy knew him at all...
>Elias shook his head. It'd be selfish to focus on that. He had a mission to complete, and a party to get back to...No matter how badly he reacted to them.
>Elias walks back from where he came, striding back into the clearing with Logan and Leo in it quietly, not quite willing to draw too much attention to himself just yet.
Leopon-dji 21 Jan 2016 3:38:42 PM No.41229003>>41231697>>41233832
>>41227211 >Leo stayed silent. He wasn't worth good-byes. Though her gaze flicked towards Logan in time to see the red flicker of his strange eyes, she paid him no mind, instead watching Boulder's back as he left them standing there.
...
>She remained quiet for a long while. Once she could no longer hear his footsteps or the murmur of distant conversation, she sheathed her blade, and hugged the journal close to her chest.
Thank you for your restraint. >She spoke without looking at him. His blood was not worth our blades.
>>41227296 >Her ears twitched at the approach. The footfalls were definitely the mage's; they were too soft to belong to Boulder.
I apologize for pressing you, Elias.
>The beastkin spoke softly despite their distance. She was sure his half-elf ears could hear her.
>>41229003 >There was something visible there for a second, but it passed through his mind as soon as it came. The only thing that remained from the view of Boulder leaving was a sense that they were better off the more distance they put between themselves and that bulky figure.
Truth be told, as much as I wanted to chop his head off... I just get this feeling it wouldn't have worked out that way.
>It was an odd feeling to have, but he had it nonetheless. His anger swayed instead to curiosity and a light confusion, but at the end of the day they'd somehow succeeded in getting what they needed to know, and not a single other life was lost in the process - assuming Tai was still alright, anyway. Elias would've been proud.
>And speaking of him- >>41227296
Hey.
>Logan's greeting was merely a simple wave instead of the apology Leo seemed to deem necessary. He and Elias had known each other long enough that regardless of what they argued about, they knew it wasn't that big of a deal in the end, particularly when Logan had a tendency to make light of things anyway.
The guy who just left sung a pretty interesting tale. You ever heard of a guy called Rufus Kingston?
>Elias had travelled a lot more than he had, maybe the name had come up here or there?
It's fine. You shouldn't be apologising. I should have told you in the first place.
>He walks back over to the two of them, his expression sombre and posture somewhat stiff
I shouldn't assume to know what's best for you.
>>41231697
>And back to business as usual...Well, he liked it that way. Routine was comforting. Elias ran a hand through his hair as a frown crosses his face.
That was the contact that Gaius mentioned in the diary. I've not heard the name outside of that. Gaius mentioned that they used to know each other, but they'd fallen out of touch...Or something along those lines.
>His memory of the diary was a little fuzzy. At least of the parts that didn't pertain to the horrible cloud of grey morality currently hanging over the whole picture.
Presumably he got involved with this 'Python' business in the time between breaking contact with Gaius and contacting him for the new job.
>And speaking of the guy that left...Elias shoots a look over his shoulder of irritation. He had a way of getting under people's skin, and that comment about his dad still rung in his ears.
...He must have sang pretty well for you to let him go. So, what's the story with him? He seemed very detached for being part of a criminal organisation.
Leopon-dji 25 Jan 2016 7:02:06 PM No.41235689>>41235749>>41235789
>>41231697 >The beastkin crossed her arms and nodded. It would've just led to more bloodshed--something she would avoid if she could.
>>41233832 >Of course she shouldn't be apologizing. She was right, and therefore had nothing to apologize for. But, alas, social customs dictated it so.
>Wait, Kingston worked with Gaius? Her claws unconsciously dug into the leather of the journal.
Boulder is no longer any concern to us. He informed us of the structure of the group called the Casino. Kingston is one of four at the top, the Aces. He is the Ace of Hearts. Their cause is unknown, but it does not matter. We will find that honorless man and punish him for betraying an old friend.
Logan Faust!pR.BaFF/uk 25 Jan 2016 7:50:57 PM No.41235749>>41235789>>41235838
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>>41233832 >That seemed to clear up the missing link - why Gaius had been contacted in the first place. It could've been some random mercenary group, but to reach out to an old friend... it was too easy to drag them into a trap. This Kingston guy was a devious bastard.
>>41235689 Short version; that Python group is a ruse, and this 'Casino' is behind the whole thing, but no. We've got more important things to worry about that that. Or I do, anyway.
>Taking the time to properly sheath his blade into his back rigging, Logan knew exactly where he wanted to head next. As tough as Tai's situation was, he might be able to simply leave and head back to the meeting point. The one's he was thinking of didn't have that kind of option, nor that kind of time.
I'm going to head up to Empyrean and prevent some executions.
>Of course, what he was talking about was suicide. Wandering up there to steal away some prisoners was a surefire way to get yourself either stuck with them or killed, and desperate moves like that were not in the typical M.O. of a man who liked to sit back and enjoy mediocrity. Beginning to pace forward from his position, he moved past Leo at a slow but steady pace.
'Course, I don't wanna stop you getting vengeance, Leo, and-
>Walking toward Elias, he stopped beside him, the two facing opposite ends as Logan clapped a hand to his shoulder, refusing to look him in the eye and staring straight ahead, as though determined to see this one through.
-I don't want you to end your career too quick, either, pal. Don't wanna disappoint your Dad after all, right? 'Cause to be honest... I don't see myself coming back from this one.
...Wow. That is quite possibly the stupidest idea I've ever heard.
>Elias liked to think he was gifted with tact. But while some locks require a key, sometimes you need a hammer to knock the door down. The mage stares at Logan incredulously, almost amazed by the plan and it's mind numbing incompetency.
What good does rescuing people do if you die there anyway? The prisoners will be treated worse, and you'll be dead. That solves precisely nothing. You're walking into the Rathian's mouth with no goal except to be eaten.
>...Maybe that was too harsh. Maybe the comment about his dad coupled with Boulder's earlier comment had him a little on edge...He could understand where Logan came from, but it wasn't right. Elias' expression softens.
I know you're upset about what happened...But throwing yourself into a suicide mission won't fix it.
>And then his eyebrows sharpen, his face turns determined as he grabs the arm currently on his shoulder.
But WE will get them out of there, and it will be 'we' if you want any chance of seeing them free. This...'Casino' can wait, Leo's family can't. So I'm sorry, but if you're planning on going to Empyrean alone, you'll have to knock me out first, and I don't go down so easy. You should know that.
>He jerks his head in Leo's direction
I don't think she'd let you go on your own either, and she's going to be a hell of a lot harder to stop than I am.
>He releases his grip from Logan's arm and pushes it away, standing proud in the forest, a confident smile on his face
We go as a team, and that's an order from your team leader, if you don't like it, file an official complaint.
Leopon-dji 25 Jan 2016 8:54:30 PM No.41235838>>41236260>>41237797
>>41235749 >This confused the cat. At first, she raised an eyebrow and stared at the mercenary, wondering where he was going. As he explained, she frowned, and mulled over her thoughts in an attempt to find the right words.
>>41235789 Elias is right.
>He took the words right out of her mouth. She nodded her thanks to their 'leader' for having more of a way with words than she did.
I traveled with them, fought by their side, and at times, fought with them. They have risked their lives and livelihoods for me, and I for them. They are my family because of that.
>The beastkin pawed forward, and set a firm hand on Logan's unarmored shoulder to grab his attention, standing right in front of him. Her emerald eyes burned with some sort of feral passion.
If you are willing to die for them, then you are my family, as well, and I am not willing to let you fight for a noble cause alone.
>She let the statement hang in the air for a few moments, before removing her paw and turning to face Elias.
We should leave at dawn. The faster we travel to Everforge, the better.
>>41235789 ... see, this is why I should just do stuff without telling people. It's a lot easier to get my way.
>Of course, as lightly sarcastic as his response was, Logan appreciated the sentiments. From a purely logical standpoint having more people meant more chance to succeed, but he knew Terminian law enforcement fairly well and had a funny feeling they wouldn't be taking kindly to anyone messing with their system, particularly the greedy mine foremen and their heaps of certani. It was going to be dangerous either way.
Besides, who said it'd be a suicide mission? Maybe I'd come back in a shower of glory and storm my way to SS rank or even SSS.
>Well, first, he totally said it'd be a suicide mission not 30 seconds earlier, and secondly those ranks didn't exist. But a man could dream.
Still. Thanks. Good to know you've got my back.
>>41235838 >This response, however, was a little more surprising, particularly when he considered the context of what she was saying.
Well, I mean... it's not like I'm all that great, I'm doing this for me, after all. Got an itch I just can't scratch, you know, and I'm betting a Mine Guard's blade is just the right length.
>The family thing was a bit much, but he could live with it if it meant those claws would stay sheathed around him. Even though she said it, however, it didn't feel right. Maybe once he'd managed to right some of that wrong, it wouldn't feel like as much of a burden.
But you're right, if we're going to leave, it's gotta be soon. We'll head back, get some rest, wait to see if Tai shows up and fill him in. Maybe he'll have news for us, too, given that he's talking with the Jack of Diamonds.
If not, well... I guess we'll wait til after breakfast and if he still isn't back, we can leave a message for him with the barkeep. It'd be good to have him in Empyrean, he'd probably know the streets better than anyone else right now, but if we start searching for him it might put him in danger.
Guess it's up to Mr. Team Leader when it's best to move without him. 'Course, we're also on limited time as it is...
We'll stay the night here, and start making a plan tomorrow.
>Elias decided quickly, looking thoughtfully between the two.
Tai's in a precarious position, it's dubious whether or not he can vanish for even a half hour without looking suspicious...But I don't want to just abandon him. We can wake up early tomorrow, do a quick sweep of the town to see what's what, and if he's not around, well, we'll go from there.
>He flourishes his cloak as he looks back over to the town, thinking about actually having somewhere comfortable to sit down for a bit
But we'll need to think of a plan of action. Charging in blindly WILL get us killed, Termina has no love lost for people trying to take their 'property.'
>Elias spat, the disgust evident in his voice.
We can start on that when we get back to our room...But for now, I think I could do with a meal.
>He sets off back towards Rayfield, before turning back to the other two
Leopon-dji 27 Jan 2016 6:42:37 PM No.41237935>>41238484
>>41236260 I do not think being scratched by a sword would be very pleasant.
>What a strange man. Whatever, she said her piece and he seemed to agree, so what's done is done. All that was left was to hear their "leader's" opinion on the matter.
>>41237797 >She nodded. The venom he spoke with was a little startling. Wasn't she supposed to be the one harboring that kind of hatred?
>It took her a few moments to figure out exactly what he meant by being game, but eventually, the beastkin nodded.
A meal... would be nice, yes.
>She flicked the hood of her cloak up, and followed after the half-elf.
Logan Faust (Baff no trip) 28 Jan 2016 9:23:02 AM No.41238484
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>>41237797 >>41237935 It's a metap-... you know what, never mind.
>Bloody native astrolians and their lack of literary knowledge. Still, what they lacked in that they gained in just being a scary giant ball of hurt and then some, so when you considered the whole package they probably didn't really need to understand metaphor.
Still, plan sounds good, especially the food bit. We've got all night to plan and sleep, I guess, and even after that there's the long-ass train ride it'll take to get to Empyrean.
>*Never thought I'd be going back to that station, again.*
Here's hoping that devious, stubborn git makes it back.
>It'd been a long, hard day for everyone, it seemed, and for some it was still ongoing, but it hadn't been a difficult time without results. They knew what had really been going on behind the scenes of the incident, who was pulling the strings, but in doing so they had uncovered an even greater mystery; Why?
>Though the looming threat of Casino and Rufus Kingston hung over their heads, the group had a different, more urgent goal to take care of. With the unknown state of the remaining members of Gaius's troupe, the clock was ticking on their lives and they needed to act soon if they were going to have any chance of seeing the bright future their leader once hoped for them. The man's own bloodline also hung in the balance.
>But that was for tomorrow. Now was the time to rest, recuperate, and plan, and so the group ventured forth in search of good food, wine, and a comfortable bed.
[Mission Close - Investigate the Crystal Transport!]
[Mission Start - Risky Rescue! For the Sake of Family]