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Posted
May 28, 2012 15:55:39 GMT -5
Post by Artemis on May 28, 2012 15:55:39 GMT -5
The market was full of more people than she cared to interact with today. Tala furrowed her brow at the crowd gathered around the wanted posters that day. There must be an expensive bounty or there would be only two or three people paying attention to the board. It had attracted the amateurs, something as dangerous to her as it was to themselves should she take that particular challenge. In most cases, Tala would not take up such a bounty unless it was truly worth all the pains of interaction. Too many people thought that they could make a quick buck from the wanted posters. None of them realized until it was too late that it took power as well as skill to track down the people on these posters. After all, most of these criminals were not stupid. It amazed her that people did not understand that.
Instead of forcing her way through the crowd, Tala decided to take a break for the week. After that, the crowds would die down and she could get to the other criminals of lesser money. It was not as though she was poor. One of the many reasons she liked her job was that she did not have to pay for very much and she had the resources to buy whatever she fancied. And right now, she fancied a drink.
The pub she liked was just around the corner of the market. It was not a very known place, not very crowded and little to no incidents that could cause the place to be infiltrated by the law. It was still a lively enough place, for sure, with plenty of chances to get into a brawl should one wish for it, but it was still nice. Besides, they had the best potatoes Tala had ever tasted.
Tala walked through the doors, headed straight for a tall barstool. Ordering an ale, she looked at the wall nearest her, a face staring at her with cruel eyes. Serin Loryn, murderer, kidnapper. 60,000. That must be who everyone is looking at. Idiots. They won't catch him unless he makes a mistake. Doesn't look like the type to do that often.
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Amanda
(1) Character
Posts: 11
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Posted
May 28, 2012 17:00:39 GMT -5
Post by Amanda on May 28, 2012 17:00:39 GMT -5
Anyanka Aleid did not mind in the slightest the hoards of people that were crowding the center of the marketplace today -- there was some new bounty being posted, she discerned, and a very sizable one at that, judging by the look of the crowd gathered around the poster board -- and in fact, she had taken full advantage of the people's distractions. She slipped from the marketplace as quietly as she had entered it, her coin purse laden with gold they wouldn't miss until long after she was gone.
Deciding that she should stop for a well-deserved drink, Anya kept to the shadows on her way to a little-known pub -- a gem of a place, really, nice and quiet-like, perfect for having a good drink and a nice meal without being spotted by the law, or anyone else she might have displeased in her line of work. She dropped the hood of her cloak upon entering and walked straight up to the bar, nodding politely at a patron already seated to her right.
She ordered her usual whiskey and, out of curiosity, followed the young elf's line of sight -- and her eyes landed right upon a wanted poster identical to those in the market of one Serin Loryn, the very creature whose head had a price on it so high even she considered hunting him down. "Thinking about going after him, are you?" Anyanka muttered to the elf next to her, flashing a cheeky grin.
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Posted
May 28, 2012 17:38:30 GMT -5
Post by Artemis on May 28, 2012 17:38:30 GMT -5
Tala's thoughts were interrupted by a young elf only a little taller than herself. Immediately, she recognized the woman beside her as a thief from a wanted poster a few weeks back. However, Tala was less inclined to take her in at this time. In fact, no one who ever went after this thief ever kept hold of her. Besides, Tala preferred to go after more intimidating criminals than a thief.
Shrugging at the woman's question, Tala took a sip of her ale. "I'm not beyond taking the challenge," she answered in a serious tone. "I'm not likely to take it this time though. I have no desire to engage the greedy fools after him."
Tala took one last glance at the picture and turned to the thief. "Most that go after him will probably be dead within an hour of meeting him."
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Amanda
(1) Character
Posts: 11
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Posted
May 28, 2012 18:00:43 GMT -5
Post by Amanda on May 28, 2012 18:00:43 GMT -5
Whatever response Anyanka had been expecting, what came out of the elf's mouth certainly hadn't been it. She had been looking to goad a little, perhaps -- clearly this tiny elf woman was a bounty hunter, or else she wouldn't have responded so easily to Anya's quip, and Anya might have carried a slight grudge against bounty hunters on sheer principle.
She told herself to remain cautious around this one; she didn't know, after all, what kind of bounty her own head might be up for this week. It couldn't be anything to worry about -- good thieves didn't get bounties because they didn't let themselves get caught -- but she made a mental note to check the noticeboard on her way back through the town.
"True enough," she conceded the point, her voice echoing slightly inside her glass of whiskey as she brought it to her lips and sipped. Anya decided, rather gracefully she thought, to ignore the elf's remark about "greedy fools." Was there anything wrong with a little ambition? she thought bitterly.
"He's far too clever for any one bounty hunter," she added slyly from over the top of her glass. Slowly, at the back of her mind and safely tucked beneath a warm and fuzzy blanket of alcohol, a plan was beginning to take form. "Their lot just doesn't work the right way, he'd outsmart them in a second. It'll take a creature of power and stealth to take him down, that's for certain."
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Posted
May 28, 2012 18:22:57 GMT -5
Post by Artemis on May 28, 2012 18:22:57 GMT -5
Tala raised an eyebrow. She wondered if this woman was one of the ones by the posters, possibly seeking help in finding Serin Loryn. Looking her up and down, Tala became more confused. Why should a thief want to get mixed up in bounties? What was her name again? Annie? No, wait...Anyanka Aleid. The woman did not have a reputation for anything other than thievery, a thought at which Tala became cautious. Her coins were not stashed where a thief would care to check, but she did have other valuables on her person.
At the woman's statement, Tala did feel the need to warn her of underestimating a bounty hunter. "If the people setting the bounty were clever, it would be a 'Dead or Alive' poster. There are many types of bounty hunters, some more clever than others. I'll grant you, the ones after this one will at first be the new ones, too confident or desperate to satisfy their creditors. They'll feed his ego enough for the experienced hunters to gain the upperhand later on. It's the patient predator that gets the prey."
Tala sighed. "Power and stealth are good things to have, but they should not be relied on so heavily when searching for someone like Serin Loryn. And even patience can be harmful to both the hunter and innocent bystanders. What really will catch Serin Loryn is strategy. But I doubt he'll be brought in any time soon. He'll disappear for a while until the hype calms down slightly and then slink away like most murderers do." She spoke with the voice of experience. She was still haunted by the Ragoda.
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Amanda
(1) Character
Posts: 11
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Posted
May 30, 2012 17:26:30 GMT -5
Post by Amanda on May 30, 2012 17:26:30 GMT -5
The familiarity with which the elf spoke of bounty hunters did not escape Anyanka's notice. She spoke from experience, that much was certain -- Anya recognized her now, a drake by the name of Tala, though she knew nothing of her past -- which was quickly putting Anya's walls up even further. Though she was proud of the work she'd done to establish herself in the community, that same work might make her a target, if Tala knew of her and felt like she was worth turning in.
"You think he deserves just to die, then?" she asked lightly, looking sideways at Tala, a slender hand wrapped around the base of her glass. "A creature of such evil deserves to suffer for its wrongdoing, don't you agree? And 'Dead or Alive,' that makes it much less challenging for the bounty hunter, but I'll admit, your reputation precedes you, and I would never think someone like you lazy."
Anyanka let the silence settle between them for a moment before responding to Tala's next statement. She took a sip of her whiskey, wondering what sort of bounty hunter she was and if she'd consider working with a thief if it meant bringing down a notorious mass murderer. And Anyanka herself? She was only in it for the money, and she didn't have to trust Tala to know she'd share the bounty -- either she was honorable, or she was not, and if it turned out to be the latter, well... Anya's reputation preceded her, too.
But her dreams, as usual, were getting ahead of reality. "You speak from experience," she observed. "And you are correct -- there is more to it than power and strength. There is stealth, intelligence, patience... I do not think one person alone could track him down and bring him in." Anyanka leaned with her elbows on the wooden bar, studying Tala and hoping she would take the bait.
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Posted
Jun 3, 2012 11:07:01 GMT -5
Post by Artemis on Jun 3, 2012 11:07:01 GMT -5
The porter's words sank in, but Tala no longer felt the need to explain herself; the woman already knew her reputation. Normally, she would be less enthused, but Tala was still intrigued by what the thief was trying to accomplish. The hint was clear. Anyanka Aleid, a thief, wanted to do some legitimate work with a bounty hunter. It did not make sense to Tala, but stranger things have happened, she supposed.
Tala kept an uncaring demeanor. "And why, pray tell, would a notorious thief feel the desire to help a bounty hunter deliver justice when she herself is outside the law? Don't talk so indirectly. If you want something, say so. I have no use for frivolous speech." Tala whispered in a tone only Anyanka could hear. Still, Tala believed that this thief, though good at her job, may be in over her head. Tala was used to being underestimated, but she knew green when she saw it, or so she believed. The thought of this person, any person, falling for a high bounty churned her stomach, causing irrational anger to well up inside of her for no reason.
Turning to the thief slightly towards the porter, Tala continued, "I have no wish to turn you in, thief, nor would your dead body strewn over a cliff side bring me pleasure; I have many more prospective targets that are worth my while than those of your profession. Yes, I speak from experience. High rewards tend to go poorly for the ones without the right skills or abilities. To bring someone in alive does not mean that they cannot be injured, but many new players forget that, often ending up in their own injuries or death. More importantly, that just adds to an already overpriced bounty and in the end is usually not worth it. A 'Dead or Alive' poster is simply for bounty hunters to know that they do not have to take extra risks to their own safety to bring the monster to justice. "
Sighing, Tala returned to her drink, calmer. She let the prospect of working with someone mull over in her mind. She preferred to work alone in general, but she had never worked with a thief before. Perhaps things would be different. "The dead do not get the bounty," Tala said carefully, "but if you're willing to take the risks and do exactly as I say, you will survive and get your half should we be the ones to turn him in. Considering the competition for this one, we shouldn't have too much of an issue with that."
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