mercenary jobs #3 — open to all

[unweave]

Who: Anyone interested in taking some mercenary jobs via Aranea Highwind's offerings. This log is focused on Wyver and can be found on job boards across the city as well as personal handwaved texts.
What: Mercenary posting!
When: N/A
Where: N/A
Warning(s): Possible sex threads based off heat-event for this month. This was posted early for the holidays, btw. Happy Thanksgiving, etc!

Thank you for stopping by to check out this month's job postings for Highwind Hires — a freelance mercenary group!

Aranea Highwind will ICly be contacting characters and offering them jobs based off the assumption she will receive 30% of the cut.

---

JOB #1 — DOOR TO DOOR

With the abundance of new visitors, it seems there have been ample amounts of donations to the temple. Unfortunately, that is not enough. When you approach, you're stopped by a young woman named Igo who is requesting you help her: please pass out 100 pamphlets to refugees enlisting donations.

OUTCOMES:
- For all pamphlets passed out, the Shaman will pay you 100 Silver.

---

JOB #2 — DRAGON DERBY

In the West, you hear about this month's Wyver Derby, a small event where dragons are put to race on a track. It seems the fan favorite is Fangface but the newcomer Wingslash ranked high in their first few races. You're hired for body guard duty, keeping the peace and ensuring no riots occur. Enjoy drinks as you watch the show, try to bet for the right one.

OUTCOMES:
- Wingslash wins by a nose, so anyone who votes for that dragon will win double their bet.
- Those who bet on Fangface or any other participant will lose their bet.

---

JOB #3 — AFTERMATH

Tied to Job #2, the Derby went relatively smoothly... You're enjoying discounted drinks at the bar. It wasn't until you notice one of the ticketers cashing out a suspicious amount of extra money to a small group of people who very vocally complained about losing. As the small group leaves, you can either: report the ticketer or two, track them down.

OUTCOMES:
- If you simply report the ticketer, you'll be rewarded with an additional 125 Silver.
- If you track down the group, you'll find they're all in a small gambling ring, petty crooks that drank too much and most certainly had an inside connection. You must be ready for a fight — all 4 will attack you with fists and small pocket knives.

---

JOB #4 — VILE LITTLE THINGS

You were contracted directly from Aranea Highwind for a monster hunt. A Vileling that was once kept as a pet grew hostile in the past few weeks before finally escaping its owner in Old City and reeking havoc on pet-owners. Your job is to track it down before more pets are killed. Aranea instructed you to 'take care of it', but upon your journey, the Vileling owner (Bekins) has insisted you save it and bring it back to Murkhollow alive. Of course, they offer a good price.


OUTCOMES:
- Aranea is offering a flat 400 silver to wipe it out.
- You can lie or oppose Aranea's order, you which will gain negative CR from the mercenary leader. Bekins will reward you with 140 silver and you must find a way to return it to Murkhollow.

---

JOB #5 — RED NIGHT LIGHT

Bodyguard duty seems a bit more... mature tonight. With the week waning on and people acting on lust and emotions, there has been a bit more call for those looking to patrol the more savory areas of Wyver. You'll be paid a flat fee of 450 Silver for a night's worth of work.

There are three areas to watch over: a bordello, a herb shop, and a gang's rumored hide-out.


OUTCOMES:
- If you choose the bordello, you will find yourself playing body guard for one of the establishment's ... best worker and favorite client. You can peek in on the woman and her partner at the risk of being caught or you can escort them out afterwards. The woman offers a tip of 100 Silver and also the chance to have drinks with her...
- If you choose the herb shop, you will find yourself sensitive to the mix of aromas. A contact high ensures your inhibitions are loosened and with the lust in the air? Who knows what that means...
- If you choose the gang's rumored hideout, you will find illegal tusk and scale trading. You'll have to contend with 4 possible gang members all armed with weapons. Fight them or flee to report, you'll earn an additional 150 Silver.

---

Have fun! If you have any questions, feel free to PM me! These are all loosely based on your choices, so feel free to go wild with them. The outcomes only are indication of what the jobs would offer. If you're interested in having your character offer a job in the future, please let me know!

Comments

[puffing]

JOB #1 — DOOR TO DOOR.

[ the fact that Bigby has been somehow convinced by Aranea to sign up for these bullshit jobs is a miracle in itself. being asked to give out pamphlets of all things? yeah, you can safely guess that he is going to lowball the shit out of her and give much less than 30%. sorry, not sorry, Ms. Highwind. she can beat him up later.

after this Igo lady practically begs him — since when did he look like one of Aranea's mercenaries? — to help with giving out pamphlets and silently cursing the leader's name, he begrudgingly accepts the task. cue the ex-sheriff skulking about in Wyver, a thick stack of paper tucked in his hands. he tried starting things off with as nice of a disposition as he could manage, but twenty rejections later and you may imagine the permanent scowl on his face.

whether he knows you or not, or regardless of if you purposely avoid his eye contact or stare him down, he's going to eventually cut you off and stop you from going where you want to go. shoved into your chest suddenly is one of the pamphlets. ]

Hey. Will you give some money to the fucking shrine so I can stop giving this shit out to people? Thanks.

JOB #3 — AFTERMATH.

[ all he wanted to do was enjoy a few drinks. he's not a betting man, so any money earned from the pamphlet fiasco was spent on cheap alcohol. that only lasted so long before he sniffed out a particular thick scent of bullshit in an illegal form of gambling. against his better judgment, he couldn't just leave them to rake in the cash. it's a bad habit that'll never die. cue him finishing his last glass, tracking the group's scent to an alleyway leading to an abandoned building that no doubt housed their operation.

you may have been tracking them on your own, but there's a better chance you were simply walking by and heard some noises of great concern. it starts off simply enough, with curse words and brief arguing. then there's no doubt the sounds of grown men screaming and what is quite possibly the snap of an arm being broken. pair that with a series of blows and a very deep growl and you may begin to wonder why you even decided to approach the alley. when you turn the corner, you'll find Bigby standing over the bodies, all groaning and writhing about on the ground. even though his back is facing you, you may be able to see how the hands at his hips hold elongated nails, with one hand actually dripping with blood.

oh, and there's also the knife stuck deep in his thigh. that's a thing. when he notices there's a guest, he snarls and looks over his shoulder, pairing his glare with sharpened teeth. ]

If you're here for the party, you're late. Might want to reconsider.

JOB #4 — VILE LITTLE THINGS.

[ Aranea is going to hate Bigby even more, it seems. when he signed up to hunt monsters down, he didn't quite think about how much of a hypocrite that made him until finding himself face-to-face with the creature. there was a time where people were paid to try and kill him, the Big Bad Wolf, and to say he is uncomfortable with the change of pace is an... understatement. even if 400 silver is nothing to sneeze at, and the Vileling could be put out of its misery easily by his hand, he determines he is unable to do so. fucking fuck. it maybe didn't help that the owner seemed particularly attached to his oversized "pet", and the monster didn't seem like it wanted much trouble from Bigby, either. not yet, anyway.

the things he gets into. now he's stuck trying to figure out how to sneak a Vileing back to Murkhollow without any of the other hunters finding it first. he'd like to avoid Aranea's wrath on this one if he can, but he's ready and willing to accept the consequences. after all, cursing to himself as he pushes and shoves a a 12-15 long slug thing in the right direction doesn't make it easy to remain inconspicuous. feel free to catch him, fight him over whether or not it should be saved or help him smuggle it back to its owner. ]

JOB #5 — RED NIGHT LIGHT (POTENTIAL NSFW?).

[ THIS IS THE LAST JOB HE IS DOING FOR THIS STUPID GROUP EVER AGAIN. why? because Bigby has decided that he is somehow capable of playing bodyguard for a herb shop. a herb shop with intoxicants that do nothing to help his already sensitive nose and sexually frustrated temperament. one would think he has been able to wear himself out on that when considering the partners he's bedded already, but no. one would think he picked the right place to babysit when considering one of the other locations was a goddamned bordello, but noooope. he's stuck working guard duty until sunrise, leaving him with nothing but his cigarettes and idle hands that very much want something to do. ahem.

apologies for anyone that may have also signed up for guard duty, or perhaps just a customer looking for some... herbs in the middle of the night... because that's a thing people do a lot. ]

3

[originallutece]

[So. That happened.

It should be noted that she hadn't stopped by the alley's entrance with the intention of helping. She's had more than her fair share of muggings and stalkings in this wretched city; she's not going to play hero and end up having to teleport away in a frantic effort to keep her money and her life. But there'd been a few screams, which always attracts attention, and that growl, oh, she knows that noise . . .

She isn't surprised to see the blood-speckled man that awaits her, nor what state he's in. She is a bit surprised to see how he isn't paying that knife mind, but perhaps adrenaline is still at work. For a long moment she simply stares at him, her expression quiet and unreadable, and then continues forward.

He growls and snarls, but though there's an instinctive thrill of fear, she ignores it. He shan't hurt her. He might try something else, hopped up on adrenaline as he is, but if he puts his mouth on her, it won't be to bite.]

Put those fangs away and go sit.

[She says it briskly, ignoring the groaning from the men below them, and reaches him.]

You're lucky I've started carrying around medical supplies . . . and that I've seen you without your trousers. Don't pull out the knife just yet.

[Y'know, the knife in his thigh? That's . . . probably something that ought to be paid some mind. She probably ought to stop treating this like a social call, too, but whatever, this isn't the weirdest situation either of them have ever been in.]

[puffing]

[ it was probably the thrill of the hunt or the adrenaline of being in a fight that didn't allow Bigby to realize who his uninvited guest was. just about anyone who has decided to approach him during a time like this was in for some really bad news, but Rosalind... well. well. she's had the (mis)fortune of seeing this side of him already, so if anyone had to find him in such a state, maybe it should be her.

brows lower and shoulders grow somewhat more lax when he notices who it is. he uses the back of his hand to wipe some residual blood that is dripping from his nose. one of the unfortunate souls must have gotten a good punch in and he hadn't even realized it. when Rosalind steps forward, he instinctively takes a step back. call it a habit to create distance with the people he's grown partial to, especially when he is like this. ]

What the hell are you doing here for, Rosalind.

[ sorry he doesn't sound so happy with your presence at this current moment. the knife in his leg is faintly acknowledged only when she advises for him to not pull it out.

with a sigh, he reaches down and grabs the handle. Bigby doesn't listen too well, so that sure is him pulling it out with a sharp tug of his arm. it's enough discomfort to make him growl once more, but he handles it as well as one might expect when aware of what he is capable of. ]

Appreciate the concern, but this place isn't exactly safe right now. They probably have some friends coming any second now.

1

[latkje]

[ Nash, accosted this way, takes a calm step back, looks at Bigby, then at the pamphlet. He raises an eyebrow, and says very evenly. ]

It doesn't say it's a shrine for fucking.

[puffing]

[ oh, great. someone who takes his words literally. just who he needs to encounter when he's got seventy-eight more pamphlets to go. ]

No shit. Pretty sure they wouldn't need me asking people to donate if that's what it was designated for.

[ since. you know. they probably have those here. ]

3.

[beatupgrass]

[Honestly, Rocket just wanted to steal the money, because stealing from lowlifes doesn't even count as stealing, right? So this is... pretty fortuitous, actually.

He could do without the bloody claws and the teeth, but he has both of those things. (His, right now, are just not bloody.] Aw come on, man. There's always an after-party.

[He just saunters on up, not a care in the world. He's fairly confident that if it came to it, he could bolt out of here, but he has to play it casual. Do some light pick-pocketing maybe.] By the way, you got a knife in your leg. Might wanna get that looked at.

[puffing]

—I know you.

[ it takes a moment, but Bigby definitely knows you, Rocket. not personally, mind you, because try as he might in the past to find a talking raccoon, he never quite did. now he does, though, when he's ankle-deep in unconscious bodies and a knife wedged deep in his leg. that's how these kind of things work, apparently. ]

... Yeah, I fucking know you, alright. [ he's turning around fully now, facing Rocket but not moving an inch. Bigby isn't in the mood to begin a chase with a leg that needs a few minutes to heal. ] Unless there's a lot of you running around, you're Rocket. Real funny to find you at this shithole of all places.

#5

[motivation]

[ dutch is not looking for herbs in the middle of the night. she's not looking for anything, in fact, except perhaps a drink and/or an outlet for some of the adrenaline coursing underneath her skin. she's been earning her keep in wyver by hunting and by fighting for money and for show. she's just come from a fight and while her relationship to violence is still complicated, there's no denying that fighting is something she's good at, that has her blood singing, that leaves her wanting more — not necessarily more violence.

there's a shallow knife wound on her right upper arm, not deep enough for her to bother bandaging it. the reason why she slows her steps in front of the herb shop is a fleeting thought of putting something on the wound to help it heal faster. what makes her stop entirely is the man standing in front of the shop, looking nothing like someone who sells herbs.

dutch shifts paths, stepping closer to the shop instead of away. ]

Hi. [ her lips curve up. ] That place still open?

[puffing]

[ customers were sparse, but there are a few that come and go. most did well in avoiding any type of interaction with Bigby, let alone eye contact. they were probably hoping to find a specific touch for a certain special someone, and lord knows they didn't need his intimidating glare of all thing ruining that. not when he's got his own thoughts and wants in the back of his mind; thoughts he would be actively pushing away so that he could actually earn some money by the end of this damn job.

he won't be able to get through the entire night without some type of interaction, it seems. Bigby is stopped mid-step by the sudden greeting, turning to look at the woman with a somewhat surprised expression on his face. ]

Uh. Hey.

[ as if he is unsure on the answer to her question, he glances back at the store and then towards her once more. ]

Still open. Not too sure why I was needed to watch over the place, but... here I am.

Vex'ahlia - OPEN

[moneytwin]

#2 - DRAGON DERBY
Normally Vex doesn't care much for guard duty tasking. She's an adventurer by trade, a member of Vox Machina damn it! She's not here to do an escort quest. But there's tamed dragons, drinks and racing, and more than a few purses to be guarded. And after being sick so long, the collective wallet for her group is a little on the slim side. So when Highwind offers the chance at some work, Vex'ahlia isn't about to turn it down.

And so it is that Vex can be found occasionally patrolling near the reinforced stalls intended for the racing stock, keeping an eye on all comers, be they owners, jockeys or punters, before returning to the coin dearest to her heart and the bookies taking bets and marking off boards as locals hoping to place a pretty silver on a winner hand over their hard earned cash without batting an eyelash.

The dragons here seem to recognise draconic, or at least give her interested looks when she tries to engage - though perhaps they're just humouring her? Either way, with all that gossip about the favourite and its challenger...perhaps it wouldn't hurt to ask them about winners and losers.



#4 - VILE LITTLE THINGS
[ Is there really anything worse than an irresponsible pet owner? As a ranger dearly missing her bear, one who was trained to have excellent manners when in cities and only biting people when instructed to, Vex'ahlia is quite disgusted at how things have gotten out of hand. Needless to say, while there was a smile for Bekins when the man confronted her on her way out to hunt around the city, there is as a polite a Noble's smile as a de Rolo could muster, before shouldering him out the way.

Of course, having only recently recovered from the VIOLET2710 plague, her knowledge of the city is more than a little behind in matters.. Which is why she'll turn to a fellow refugee who's also on the nasty not-so-little worm's tail.]

So, how familiar are you with the city around here?

#4

[latkje]

[ Nash hasn't been sick, but he has been broke, which explains this little errand. He looks right, and then left. ]

I know where we are.

[ From his tone, it's obvious that he means in a general sense— he could tell you the direction of the nearest city gate, for instance. And he has an assuring tone. ] The sewers are that way. [ A pause. ] I think. [ Maybe his tone isn't so assuring. ]

[moneytwin]

[ Being broke is the worst. And Vex is pretty sure that 1) dragons around here don't have hoards worth killing them for, 2) people in Wyver wouldn't approve of that outside of wild rampaging dragons anyway, and perhaps not even then.

Still, the assuring tone does little when the pause causes doubt, but Vex is willing to work with that. For now. Though she does arch an eyebrow at him. ]

...All right. Lead the way. We can take a look for any tracks there, and see if it's in close proximity to any of the reported attacks.

Venom | Open!

[poolhall_killer]

Job #3

[Venom's never been much of a gambler, but he was curious about how the locals race dragons. He placed the bare minimum bet and lost it when Wingslash took first place. No big deal.

He's nursing a cup of spiked tea when he notices a couple of people moaning and complaining about how much they lost on their choice. But if they had lost, how are they still able to cash in so much? He should just report them and be done with it, but something about them doesn't sit well with him.

He leaves a couple of silver for his tea and decides to follow the supposed losers. If you're nearby, you can see him blend in with the crowds as he tracks them, never losing sight. He notes someone else doing the same, and he gestures.]

I think we're onto something. Shall we see where this goes?

Job #5: Herb Shop - m/m for smut

[Out of all of the options, this one felt like the best fit. All Venom has to do is stand guard at a small herb shop for the night and that's it. Easy silver.

As the evening progresses, the enticing scent gets to him, like the embrace of a long-lost lover. It brings an easy smile to his face as the lust within him starts awakening. All he can hope for is the end of his shift, because he wants to find company for the rest of the night. His smile will grow even wider if he sees a handsome gentleman come into his field of view.]

Good evening. Care to keep me a little company as I guard this shop?

cinco

[judicia]

( In all the months he's known him, Anders has never once seen Venom smile like that. It throws him off his game a bit, delaying his usual witty comeback for a moment or two, before he recovers and smirks, )

Been pretty boring, has it? ( That's a pity. Anders would loved to see the other man knock some thieving customer down on their ass. He moves in closer to stand next to Venom, his back facing the wall. )

I suppose I can spare a few minutes for my favorite former roommate. How much longer are you going to be here?

[poolhall_killer]

Yes. I don't think there's a black market demand for the herbs here. The owners are very sweet, as well.

[He steps aside so Anders can take a spot next to him. He's never noticed just how attractive his friend is, with those rugged features and gorgeous eyes.]

I'm your favorite? Not sure how to respond...

[cough]

My shift should be up within the hour, provided no one tries to pull anything.

job 3

[heraldsdawn]

[ Sen on the other hand managed to win a hefty sum. He bet 50 and got a hundred in return. Why not after all? He had made decent coin.

However, as he is counting his purse before he leaves he looks over to see Venom walk up to him and well, it doesn't take long for Sen to catch the people they were following. There's a small frown with a bit of a shrug. ]

I suppose so. If they're up to anything I'd like to know what.

[poolhall_killer]

If their behavior at the track is any indicator, chances are it's nothing legal.

[It wouldn't be surprising either considering any kind of racing venue tends to draw in people from the shadows. Venom's had to track targets in such areas. At least now he's under no obligation to end lives anymore.]

Did you hear them complain about the dragons' performances, too?

Dio | OPEN

[ownit]

DOOR TO DOOR

Are you gonna take a fucking pamphlet or do I have to shove it down your goddamn throat?

[Truly, a remarkable and persuasive way to go about handing out the pamphlets he was given. Actually, what's more remarkable is that Dio agreed to this job in the first place and did it with a smile. It's easy money. He just has to hand them out, and whatever happens to them happens to them. Who gives a shit if they end up in the trash? Hell, maybe if this takes too much time out of his day he'll just dump them himself and lie about it. Who's gonna know? In the end, it's not like he thinks that anyone's actually going to donate to the temple. People are scumbags that way--always shirking off good deeds because someone else with a bigger heart'll take care of it for them. Whatever. It's no skin off Dio's back.]

What're you waiting for? These are some easy fucking karma points right here!

WILDCARD

[ooc: if you want to play out another one of the prompts, hit me up at ddsapphire and we can work something out!]

door to door

[frombetrayal]

[looks at the pamphlet she has just had shoved in her face

looks at dio

looks at the pamphlet again

actually, this seems sort of familiar. Didn't she see something like this on a job board...? She eyes Dio for a moment or two, then tucks the pamphlet into her pocket.]

So, how much are they paying you for this, again?

[ownit]

Oh, I think that was...

[Wait for it, he's tapping his chin before pointing at her.]

None of your goddamn business, if I'm remembering correctly.

[It's rude to ask people how much money they're making????]

Allen - semi open!

[likethelight]

[ Doing closed starters for this. I'm all sorts of down for #3 and #5! #5 especially for lolaricious hideousness.

Just PM me here or hit me up at dichrous and I'll do a custom starter! #4 is just reserved for its own horrible long-time-coming thing. ]

Lux - #4

[likethelight]

[ It's not the first job they've taken together. Well, although most of the rest were simple fetch quests or involved dragon wrangling in various states of undress. In theory this one shouldn't be much different either, right? Someone's pet... something that had gone feral and needed to be tracked down. "Taken care of" in Aranea's words, even if, especially after the man had beseeched them otherwise, well...

...honestly that, if anything else, would make Allen lend more credence to Aranea's words that he is already admittedly pretty skeptical of (he hates people who skim off of others, okay). But here they are and he's not really committed to making up his mind one way or another until he sees what kind of creature it is he and Lux are tracking.

Which, by the way...

He's looking up from the corpse of a mutilated young man and glancing over his shoulder a bit nervously he looks back at her. ]

I don't think it could have been more than a few hours since it was here... [ He means it not that he's worried, but...

...isn't this a lot more dangerous than their previous jobs they've helped each other with. He's an Exorcist and that's fine, but... ]

[rememberher]

[ This isn't what she expected when they took the assignment. Mostly she assumed this would be more of the same as far as tasks were concerned. But of course nothing could ever be so simple.

The mangled corpse lying there on the ground said as much.

It's not that she isn't used to tracking something through the woods, not at all. She has more than her fair share of hunting experience; that isn't what makes her pause. It's the nature in which they find this thing's "prey" that gives her pause, makes her draw in a deep breath and swallow down hard before she finally crouches down to take a better look.

This was someone's pet that did this? This wasn't an act of self-defense—this looked deliberate. ]

Then it looks like we're on the right track.

[ If it sounds a bit hollow, it's only because she's doing her best to mask how unnerved she is by the whole thing. Who in their right mind would keep a creature capable of something like this as a pet?

Reaching out to touch what was once a youthful face with a gloved hand, one now eternally contorted by fear and horror, she sweeps her hand over his eyes. Closing them for good with a few quietly whispered words. A prayer, and an apology—

I'm sorry, this is all I can do for you.

Standing up slowly, she catches Allen's gaze, her jaw firmly set and lips drawn in a fine line. ]

We should keep moving. We can't let the train run cold.

[ She would not let someone else fall victim to this creature's fury. ]

Aftermath - next day

[likethelight]

[ It’s most of the way into the next day before he wakes up.

In the bright medical bay of Thesa station, smelling of nothing but metal and the faintly sterile. Which is the main thing he notices as he takes a breath a little suddenly at realizing he’s awake and it smells nothing of swamp. That it’s quiet and the air seems thin.

(The station. It’s impossible to mistake, it gives him a certain sense of discomfort.)

It’s enough that he sits up after a moment, slowly and with a mindful sort of caution. Like he isn’t sure what to expect or does and it’s something terrible, the thin mattress squeaking a little as he holds his breath for a moment. Nothing.

Actually nothing. Especially when he reaches up and touches his face lightly, feeling no pain or burns any longer, just gauze wrapped there.

Were they just letting him sleep it off in the dark then…? ]

[rememberher]

[ It's enough time for her to think, to turn the events that transpired over in her head countless times. The endless possibilities of what could have happened, what should have happened, and inevitably what did and what didn't. Yet they still brought her to the same stomach-turning conclusion that had dawned on her as she carefully guided the both of them back to civilization.

A Demacian is always prepared, and a lack of knowledge could mean certain death. It's true that she had no way of knowing what they would be up against, but that did not change anything. She should have known what that monster was.

And it was her own negligence and ignorance that got him hurt. It was her fault...

She should probably get some rest, but there was something that kept her here. A light waiting for when he would eventually wake up (he would, she was told, but...), because much like her he didn't have anyone else. No one from that place he called home, where they would celebrate and welcome each other back with bright smiles and warm words. Something that seemed so fond but at the same time oddly dim when he spoke of it, like recalling something precious but long lost.

There was no one from that place he called home to watch over him now, but would it be all right if she stayed by his side here, at least until he woke up?

(Was she allowed to, even after putting him through this?)

She doesn't have to dwell on that thought long however, because as he pushes himself up to sit, she throws off what negative thoughts she can, leaning forward to put a hand on his arm. ]

Be careful, they said it might still be a bit tender. It's all right.

[ There's a note of hesitant relief in her voice as Lux lets go of his arm, sitting back in her chair. A note that grows heavy as she speaks slowly.

("He will recover, but his sight—") ]

...You know where we are, don't you?

[ He can see where they are, can't he? ]