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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

[1/2]

[rememberher]

[ There's a moment of genuine relief as the dust finally settles, the beast stops, and both Exorcist and light mage take a breath. That despite it likely still being alive (for a few moments? hours? she's not sure), there's a note of finality that hangs heavy in the air. It's over, they need not worry about anything else.

For a moment there is peace as the battle high starts to fade— ]

[2/2]

[rememberher]

[ But then he screams. Suddenly and without warning, like his heart is being ripped from his chest. Like it's the only thing that he can do in response, his gloved right hand gripping at his head and the other clawing at the ground like it's the only thing keeping him connected with anything besides blinding pain.

She's always prided herself on being the sensible one, the type of woman who might wear her heart on her sleeve, but in an almost guarded and sensible way. She has to be. But the moment she hears him, sees him drop and clutch at himself and the ground below him, that melts away almost immediately.

It doesn't make sense and she should probably be worried about that, but even before she lets herself think or process any kind of danger, she moves. Sweeping in by his side, she tries to grab for his right wrist in an attempt to pull it away.

Because she needs to see what happened, she needs to know why he's screaming. She needs to figure out a way to fix this.

And she needs to find a way to get him to stop. ]

[likethelight]

[ At the brush against his wrist he jolts suddenly, having choked himself into a trembling sort of silence as he tries to get ahold of himself — and does at the grounding touch.

Even if it's only to recoil with uncharacteristic violence and a sharp jerk towards her, like he would look back and snap in warning but keeps his hand thoroughly clamped over his eyes instead.

He's not even sure how much they're there anymore and his stomach is churning wildly at the thought. ]

Stay back! [ It's ripped from him in a warbly, anguished pitch. His left hand held up in warning because his right is staying clamped so firmly over his eyes.

If this is... if this blood is like the akuma blood virus and is affecting even him... he can't, if he lets her touch even a little of it.. ]

Stay... back...

[ He's shaking but could not be more adamant. ]

[latkje]

[ Not daggers— they're more like darts, or bolts, coming from some contraption up his sleeve.

Nash aims for the mouth, and his first shot bounces off the creature's bared teeth. But the impact causes the creature to open its mouth, emitting a strange, broken glass sort of sound. The next two bolts Nash sends into the open mouth itself, finding softer flesh, like he'd calculated.

But it doesn't go down. ]

Damn. [ He steps backward, needing a few seconds to refix his weapon. ]

[1/2]

[rememberher]

[ He snapped at her.

Pulling back out of reflex, Lux freezes for a moment, her hand not quite touching his wrist but still held there as if she was. Her eyes wide and shoulders held rigid, his outburst holds her suspended for a moment.

Even as his voice begins to fray and his words falter, telling her, pleading for her to stay back a second time... ]

[2/2]

[rememberher]

...

[ He doesn't know her that well, does he? If he thinks that she would let anyone sit in agony like that; even if it's clear that he's trying to protect her from something.

He truly doesn't know her if he thinks that something like this would ever stop her from doing what she feels she must. Which is why she finally lowers her ungloved hand, her countenance shifting drastically then. Lips drawn together in a thin line, she takes a breath before slowly, methodically removing her left glove. She wouldn't want to ruin them, especially when—

Riiiiip

They might be one of the only things left from home she might be able to still wear after this.

Tugging at her sleeve—first with her hand, then with a quick motion, cutting the cuff with a knife from her belt—she rips part of it away with one swift motion.

Then, the sound of rustling and something fluid dripping on fallen leaves before she moves closer again, and will continue to move even if he pulls back again. She grips his right wrist with her left this time, her tone even and level. ]

Move your hand.

[ That's not a request. ]

[likethelight]

[ Hearing the ripping sound is actually what surprises him the most, startling him back to some clarity as he turns in her direction. She was...?

She wasn't scared. Or even yelling back at him. He kind of expected the latter, honestly, if he has the capacity to expect much of anything right now. ]

... [ It's not even that it's a battle of the wills; he doesn't want to fight her. He's just at a loss, and both wanting to keep her from coming into contact with whatever burns so badly... and not wanting to let her see either.

So his hand does loosen a little, but he also doesn't move it, head still bowed. ]

You — can't touch it. [ It's still strained and a little roughened. He sounds dazed. ]

Whatever you do... don't touch it.

[ He takes a breath and it catches a little wetly. ]

To... a human... [ He grits his teeth. It's very much ground out, like it takes all his concentration to speak in an even tone. ] —don't know.. what it might do.

[ As a parasite-type, was he filtering it enough it didn't kill him, or did it not make any difference at all...? ]

[moneytwin]

[ Now that's interesting. Concealed as it is, Vex can't make out what he's using to fire those bolts, but she can certainly see the impact they have on the Vileling - or don't, as the case may be.

She moves immediately away from the wall, forwards and circling to the right as the creature turns towards them, hostile intent screeching like shards of glass across their eardrums. A second arrow follows the first, and misses, striking into the grating beneath the worm; it rolls aside, away from its exit and from harm, and Vex draws a third arrow from her quiver as she moves.

The creature twists, as though following where she goes in spite of blindness, tracking near-silent steps, which has her furrowing her brow. The slithering motion is fast, and there's something unpleasant about the way it raises the two razor-'fins' at her, each dripping something black and likely unpleasant.

Still. Hmm.. They can use this. ]

[1/2]

[rememberher]

[ Don't misunderstand, Allen; it not that she isn't scared. She's terrified, not that he can see that now clutching his face as he is. He can't see the way that light flits about under her skin, like she's at war with herself (she needs to stay calm, she must stay calm). The only indication he would have that she may not be as calm as she tries to appear is the way she grips his wrist like a tether.

She's just good at masking things like this. She has to be. Because letting her emotions run away with her, allowing any sort of doubt or fear or frustration (or even overwhelming happiness) bubble to the surface would cause her to lose control. And if anyone saw that...

For her own safety, she couldn't let that happen. It's the single small shred of self-preservation that she allows herself to have. She can't take the risk of showing any sign of what she is. Even here, even now.

Feeling the tension in his arm ease somewhat, Lux doesn't move to pull his hand away, but leans a little closer to try to see. She isn't a healer, at most she can try to ease his pain until they managed to get back to civilization. If it wasn't serious that is, but judging from his quiet and forced plea, her stomach turns. He was asking her not to touch his face— ]

...

[ He was asking her not to, because he wasn't sure what it might do. To a human. Allen, that's... ]

[2/2]

[rememberher]

[ She's already made her assumptions about him. She had the first time they met here, when she stumbled upon him wrapping his wound. The way that feathers (ones like on the cowl of his cloak that he still wears) almost seemed to stop it from bleeding. She's had that theory for a while now, but something like that isn't a question you really ask, or a subject you broach in casual conversation. That's not what makes her pause.

It's the painful irony of this situation. Of what he says. Of worrying that as a human she might be in danger. What that implied... he really doesn't know her, does he?

(Her light was different, but she was still the same as the rest of them. She had to hide it to be considered "normal," to be considered—)

He might not be able to see it, but perhaps if he's not so far gone he can hear the quiet smile in her voice. One that's just as poised as it is pained. Because it's ironic, that something like that would be what worries him the most. ]

It's all right.

[ Her voice quiet and certain, it almost contrasts the way that her fingers twitch gently against his wrist with a note of hesitance before she tries to pull his hand away. Not hesitance out of fear of getting hurt herself— ]

I'm not sure I ever was to begin with.

[ But out of speaking of something that she never wanted to find the words for. ]

I have no idea if I should slap a mild cw: gore on this but... /stares into distance

[likethelight]

...!

[ What could he say to that? Nothing. Quite certainly nothing, so stunned does that leave him. And if he could look at her it would be with some sort of horrified awe, something written instead in how slack his expression goes and his chin jerks up, briefly ignoring his own pain. ]

Lux.. [ He knew even before that she had some kind of ability, something that seemed kind of like what he understood of sorcery or magic. Maybe. Some extra power like that. But to say that...

She wasn't human?

She'll find his hand suddenly quite easy to pull aside then, too stunned to even protest more than he's actually acquiescing.

And if she pulls his hand back even a little, there's a small spatter across his cheekbone that's immediately obvious. Obvious in how the skin seems to have burned away as if by acid and revealed a glimmer of bone. As for what further he was trying to keep hidden, the spray of black blood that caught him straight across the eyes...




It's bad. ]

w h e l p

[rememberher]

[ And she does pull it aside, albeit slowly. Because even before she gets a glimpse of his injury, the smell of something raw and stomach-turning gives her a vague clue of what he is hiding behind his hand. It's why she swallows hard, steeling herself before moving his hand.

It's worse than she expected, the sight making her feel lightheaded for a moment. She isn't a healer, she can't do anything here and they're at least a few hours away from the nearest outpost. Her heart roaring in her ears, for a few seconds, her composure slips.

He might feel it for an instant, an almost chaotic prickle of something where her hand wraps around his wrist, warmer than just skin against skin. But just as quick as it comes on, it retreats again.

(A shadow fades before the light...)

It's tense, but after a moment she finally speaks, letting go of his wrist and placing that hand on his shoulder. Her tone apologetic, she speaks quietly in an attempt to be reassuring. There is something that she can do, but... ]

I'm sorry, this is going to hurt.

[ Then, without any other warning, she brings the damp rag to his face, wincing deeply before applying a small amount of pressure. Trying to wipe away what she can of the vileling's blood from his face. She needs to work quickly, she can already feel the fabric in her hand begin to thin and fray. ]

[likethelight]

[ If he could see he would grasp her wrist to stop so tight.

The moment she seems the hesitate so hard, and the moment he realizes she's going to try to touch that after all. But he can't even see his own hands to see if they're even safe to touch her with, he probably got blood on them as well, but they're protected by Innocence. Can't touch anything; he might spread it.

So he draws a quick and ragged breath in protest instead. To interrupt maybe and ask is there water nearby; it's a marsh, maybe there is, maybe she brought some, just don't touch it. Which is the moment of course she moves to dab at the more obvious splatters of blood still there. To very limited success because, of course... it's so caustic as to immediately begin to eat away at the rag she's using. And just pushes against, well...

Any protest he has is drowned out by such a reflexive scream again as that catches him so entirely offguard, even with her warning. But he will hold himself still. He will hold himself still.

Even if he's dug both hands quite deeply into the dirt in order to do so. ]

[rememberher]

[ His scream rips through her like a knife, and if that hadn't made her immediately pull her hand away, the heat of the vileling blood beginning to bite into her fingertips does. Tossing the stained and worn cloth aside in frustration and pain, she reflexively clutches his shoulder, her nails drag slightly. Biting down on her lip to keep from making any kind of noise, she lowers her head, taking a few very deep breaths.

This is only a fraction of what he's had to endure, and she isn't sure if she's helping or making this even worse. But she has to stay calm. She has to find a way to fix this.

It's shaky, as she tries to maintain the best that she can, but this is beyond her. So far beyond her that she doesn't know how to begin to approach this. Try to focus, Lux. ]

...We need to get you to a healer.

[ He won't be able to see like that. Think. What needs to happen to make this work? Focus. ]

I need you to trust me, all right. I'm going to move you, so be ready to lean your weight against me.

[latkje]

[ Seeing the way the blind creature tracks Vex's footsteps, he decides he's going to stay put as long as possible. While his eyes track the creature, he thinks, knowing he doesn't have many more darts left and he can't afford to waste them.

But the darts aren't the only thing he has up his sleeve. The next thing he shoots at the Vileling is a finely-spun wire, which loops around the creature's fins and tangles them up. Finally, Nash steps back to tighten the trap. It'll hold for at least a minute, he thinks. With a strained voice, he asks: ]

Did that guy try to bribe you to return his "pet", too?

[ Nash wasn't considering it, especially after seeing the beast up close. But he's curious all the same. ]

[motivation]

Just earning my keep. [ dutch's grin turns sharp for a moment. ] There's enough people here who like to watch me kick the arse of someone taller and broader than me to keep me fed and watered. [ or rather, supplied with alcohol.

he sizes her up; dutch looks right back, head tipped back and chin forward just so. not quite a challenge, but close enough. ] Wasn't actively looking.

[ the implication being that now that she's found company, she's not complaining. ]

[moneytwin]

[ The Vileling screeches again as the wire catches and tangles it up, and it writhes, rolling from side to side as it attempts to break free. Its talons try to wriggle high and hook into the wire, to try and put enough pressure--

SHUNK.

The creature goes rigid, then tips over as one, then a second arrow slams into it. The tail tip thrashes, but Vex does not approach, a third arrow waiting as she watches the death throws. Only once it finishes twitching does Vex slowly lower it, though it's clear as she circles back around to Nash that she's not dropping her guard. ]

He did. He didn't offer enough then, and having met it, most certainly didn't offer enough now.

[ That and she's a bigger fan of Aranea by far. She's not about to build bad cred with her over this. ]

[likethelight]

[ Nnnnnnnnnnn...

Teeth audibly ground, he's bitten back a sound as soon as he has enough sense of himself to. Although it's debatable if he actually heard anything she said, either. This is one of the worst. Crown Clown ripping straight through him, that was another level.. but this is almost worst, simply because having his face seared and ripped open —

Well, it's not the first time.

He feels like he's going to pass out. Or throw up, but they don't really have the luxury of that right now. He struck it a really hard blow and he hasn't heard it since it roared, but a hit like that... he doesn't really think it would have killed something like that. If only he'd been higher up, closer to the head.

Lux is asking him something though and while he tries to collect his thoughts he can only nod somewhat dizzily. Shit. He's probably terrified her now too, screaming like that when she was just trying to help..

He can barely hear it with his disjointed thoughts, but there's a rustling then. A chatting sort of buzz, even if it's faint and a little distant. It is enough though to get him to still, holding his breath to hear what might come next. Which there isn't, and it isn't like he can look to see, but... For Lux, if she looks, there's a pool of black blood where the vileling had been — and nothing else.

The creature's gone. ]

[ownit]

[Hunting and foraging...yeesh.]

I'm starting to feel a bit like a caveman over here...guess this is my cue to look for a real job instead of relying on these gigs that pop up.

[But...well, she's trying.]

I'll keep that in mind, anyway. Who should I be talking to?

[Better question: which unfortunate souls are Haru putting on Dio's radar?]

[rememberher]

[ And that's a whole other problem that she does not want to deal with right now. Cutting and running, was it? This is bad. This is really bad.

She can't leave Allen here on his own like this to go searching for the creature, and she can't hope that it's gone off to find somewhere to die. No, if a blow like that didn't kill it, and if the vileling managed to escape...

Thankfully he's still cognizant enough to nod in response, and judging from the way he's stilled, he must be aware enough to know that the danger hasn't passed. But this new development means that moving is out of the question right now because she can't afford to have her attention torn. Fleeing now would only mean certain death for the both of them. Letting her hand fall away from his shoulder, the other still burning in pain (it's fine, endure), leans in close again, whispering near his ear. ]

Be ready to move with me when I tell you.

[ It can't have gotten far judging from the black blood trail heading into the brush, and will likely be back to finish the two of them off. It's why her left hand drops to her side, a spell on her lips and her eyes burning with a fierce inner light.

Come back and finish the job. She will be waiting for you. ]

[puffing]

Among other things, yeah.

[ in reference to temple doors being always open. yeah. this is all real productive right now. ]

Not exactly. But I'm not one to shit on a world's religions. They have supporters for a reason, so I'm just... spreading the word, I guess.

[puffing]

Someone's a bit cocky.

[ he can't really give the guy too much shit for that. being a raccoon has its pros. a whoooole lotta cons, but. still. ]

I'll try and mend my bruised ego. Probably for the best I didn't find you, anyway. Who knows what might have happened.

[latkje]

[ Nash appreciates Vex's thoroughness— he's seen things get back up a bit too many times. With equal wariness, he approaches the unmoving Vileling. He has to retrieve his grappling hook. ]

I can't imagine why anyone would keep something like this as a pet.

[ He agrees, that guy was not offering near enough cash. But now parts of his wire is covered in the suspicious looking black goo. He winces. ]

What a mess.

[puffing]

Mm. 'Least there's a name for this guy you keep talking about.

[ he's not even going to Go There with Rosalind, because from the way she talks of him, it doesn't take much imagining to realize there is plenty of baggage. Bigby knows a thing or two about feeling connected to someone, for better or worse or even if it wasn't something they may have wanted. neither of those "halves", in a sense, were here for the time being. they were up in space, asleep and hopefully safe. it does him more good to think about it as little as possible, so he doesn't.

he instead listens to her story as it continues. ]

Have you looked to see if he's one of the people that made it? This Fink, I mean. In the pods.

[ his finger runs along the little ridges formed by the stitches in his wound, knowing his hands were already stained with blood as is. he could probably do with a shower and some fresh clothes, but Bigby wasn't prepared to make a stop at Rosalind's. too bad his outfit from the last time he was here wasn't available. slowly but surely, he nudges his pants back up his legs, tightening his belt along his waist with a few grunts. Big Bad Wolf or not, shit still hurts to move after a fight like the one he had gotten in. ]

I'd be worried if you haven't. Like you said, you're not a ghost anymore. You're just as touchable as me now.

[moneytwin]

Apparently it's a rare beast. Prestige I guess?

[ And now its an even rarer species. Not a creature she'd be sorry to see go extinct, that's for sure. Coming to a stop along side him, she makes a face at the mess, and not just from the body. ]

I don't think I'm going to be able to re-use these arrows again. I think whatever it's made of is toxic enough to eat through them even after it's dead. I suppose we should be grateful the corpse isn't melting in on itself.

[ Does beg the question of bringing it back safely for proof of a job well done. And she certainly notices the mess on those wires. That earns a new and equally disgusted face. ]

..I don't know if it'd help, but do you want to try scraping that stuff off with my dagger?