Private Heart of Darkness

[Mr.Self Destruct]

Alistar's words made some of the patron goers recoil, as they were quite unexpected and to some; outright foolish. Some glared with skeptical eyes, while others left the area. Still, some remained; "Newcomer, I would be glad to accompany you and anyone else to the mountains. I haven't seen any part even near High Rock in years and this would certainly be an excellent opportunity to explore territory. The name's Edwyn." Someone spoke, his words carrying hospitality. Alistar smiled, shaking hands with the man in response. "And I am Alistar, I know the way into the North, and I long to see the mountains as well." He said, standing from his seat.

"Sure you know how to find your way out there, boy? I don't plan on settin' out just to get lost in the wilderness." There was an uncomfortable silence, the old soldier's words were much colder and gruff than the last newcomer. Still, Alistar remained undeterred by the man's skepticism and was quick to fire back. "Aye, I know much of the country's lands. I can and will guide you to the North." As he said this he pulled back his hood, as his more rough and grizzled features came into the light skepticism among the crowd quickly left. "If we're too leave, we do so under Dawn."

Another approached, an Argonian, the only in the inn. He bore a solemn and anxious visage, he too resembled a rather experienced and gruff individual. The sight of him made Alistar's thoughts wander towards Black Marsh. Of all of Tamriel's wilderness and landscape, the marsh-jungles of Argonia were the most dangerous and impregnable. The ranger seldom ever trekked there, entire armies had been deterred in the past not by sword or arrow but by the vicious wilderness that lay within Black Marsh's borders.

 

[Blackwhite1223]

Bornir saw the man, who seemed to be coming to a sudden decision. He had the kind of look on his face that the guard captain had seen many times before. It usually came to a mans' face right before he decided to either fight or flee. In this case, the man simply said: "Who would accompany me to the mountains?"
Bornir frowned. It seemed to him like the traveler had just come up with the idea and ran with it. The man stood, and nodded at his fellow nord in a friendly manner. "If a venture to the mountains is what you are planning, I will gladly accompany you"

High Rock was out of his jurisdiction as a guard, but the man felt the wanderlust that he'd had when he'd been a younger man. A trip to the mountains, fighting along side companions was exactly what the man needed. Kind of like a vacation...a dangerous, possibly fatal vacation, but the guard hadn't become what he was to be safe. He gave the old man and the younger man, who'd introduced himself as 'Edwyn' a careful scrutiny. The older man seemed rather irritable, and the younger man was looking slightly nervous, but otherwise fit enough. The captain was rather keen to learn more about his companions. He'd never liked mysterious people...they usually ended up being something of less than sparkling character.

 

[Geel-Kajin]

"I would gladly accompany you and your group stranger...If my price is right for you."
Dan-Zaw planted his staff heavily into the ground, a loud thunk that echoed off the walls.

"A display, if it pleases the customer."
Channeling a fraction of his magicka into the staff, Dan-Zaw kept his eyes on the man as the energy focused itself upon the tip of his staff. A change in the air, a tensing of atmosphere; They were all that betrayed the presence of the magic at work. Other than that, the staff looked and felt as it always did- A dead piece of pretty wood. To the unexperienced, this would be the most unremarkable thing of all, but oh if they knew what this thing could do.

Dan-Zaw tilted his staff towards the bard in the corner, in indication of the target of this display. The bard was oblivious to the happenings, his lips still spewing the most disgusting a song, fingers still strumming the most horrendous of tunes. "Well then, shall we introduce this unlucky man to the art of illusion?"

 

[Revoke]

"Newcomer, I would be glad to accompany you and anyone else to the mountains. I haven't seen any part even near High Rock in years and this would certainly be an excellent opportunity to explore territory. The name's Edwyn." Of course, practically no time had passed before people started offering to join the reckless endeavor. In Fitzroy's experience, there were always volunteers for dangerous missions, if there was so much as a whiff of glory about it - although to be fair, said experience was all time serving in the legion, and so somewhat skewed. He eyed the first volunteer with typical harshness; no stranger to wilderness, by the looks of him, but a bit nervous, and unarmed. No matter; unlike a soldier, he would have the option of reconsidering his off-handed agreement come morning.

Of course, it didn't stop there, and Fitzroy's attention flicked over to the next speaker. "If a venture to the mountains is what you are planning, I will gladly accompany you." The nord looked a bit more seasoned than Edwyn, though he got mentally filed under 'over-eager young idiot' more out habit than any sort of fair reasoning. It seemed, at least, that this expedition wouldn't be short-handed.

"Aye, I know much of the country's lands. I can and will guide you to the North." He turned his scrutinizing gaze back to Allistar again. Although he'd be the first to admit he was no investigator, Fitzroy had seen his fair share of unwarranted confidence - the kind that young men have, before they realize they’re not invincible - and this didn't look like it. He nodded curtly, and grunted in acknowledgement. “Hrm - good enough f’r me. Fitzroy Arthe, legion battlemage, retired. With the Vigil now, f’r whatever that’s worth.” While his introduction lacked courtesy, it was at least functional, and seemed directed at the slowing growing group in general rather than anyone in specific.

It was about then he finally noticed the argonian in the room; he seemed intent on getting hired for the expedition. The old soldier didn't have much time for mercenaries; soldiers with loyalty only to coin tended be unreliable. Then again, it wouldn't be his coin paying wages; he barely had enough to travel on. As well as that, the value of loyalty had seemed rather dubious to him since the conclusion of the Great War. Where exactly had it gotten him? "Well then, shall we introduce this unlucky man to the art of illusion?" Fitzroy declined to comment on the argonian’s question, and merely watched with his normal degree of suspicion and caution.