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| Calarian and the City of a Thousand Planets |
| Imperial Sworn Sword - Yamada Suzu |
| Rain Province, Northern Akinian Empire |
Part 01
Dispatched to investigate rumored ruins that have caught the interest of the Empress herself, Suzu begrudgingly sets off to look at old rocks.
| Imperial Sworn Sword - Yamada Suzu |
| Rain Province, Northern Akinian Empire |
Part 01
Dispatched to investigate rumored ruins that have caught the interest of the Empress herself, Suzu begrudgingly sets off to look at old rocks.
"I've heard you're in need of protection… Something about a little outing into the Northlands?" Suzu said as she pulled a stool from nearby and inserted herself into the table of men she was addressing. Placing a drink down as she took a seat amidst astonished faces at the table.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" one of the men asked her, "Who told you we're doing anything that needs protection?" he continued pointing a finger at the silver haired woman.
Suzu shrugged and swished her drink for a moment before taking a drink, "Word gets around quick, especially when you've been asking every sword for hire in the countryside. Or so I've heard." she said with a shrug. The men exchanged looks with one another as if deciding something without any words before the first man spoke up once more.
"Look lady, we're pretty sure you don't want any part of this. We've asked a dozen veteran soldiers for their help and they all refused, a woman like you…? I mean no offense but if they didn't want to help us then you won't either."
Suzu raised an eyebrow and let out a small laugh as they insisted she wasn't up for the job, "That's all very nice of you to say, but I wouldn't be approaching you if I wasn't up for your job." she placed her drink on the table and clasped her hands together before her, "I guarantee that if the other dozen you asked refused, then whatever it is you're up to? No one other than me will be crazy enough to accept it, let alone actually fulfill the job."
Taking her drink up once more she finished it as the men looked on, two of them exchanging whispered words as she drank the glass empty. "But if you don't need protection, then I guess I'll go find work elsewhere." she pushed her stool back loudly drawing looks from some of the other inn patrons as she stood to leave. Before she could step away one of the men reached a hand out and took her by the forearm.
"Stay, let's talk a bit more yeah?" the man said as he eased his hold on her and ushered her to sit back down.
Grinning, Suzu took a seat once more and motioned for one of the serving girls to bring another glass. "Go on then." she said as she tipped the empty glass over on the table before her.
The men exchanged some more weary glances before one of them sighed and shook his head, "We're looking to… ehm… Make an expedition of sorts. North, near the border with the Earth, few days riding from here. There's been talk of ruins in the area, we're hoping to find and catalogue them, perhaps hand the location back to the rightful owners if we do find them."
Suzu's eyebrow raised at the talk of giving them back to someone if they were found, "What do you mean by that? Rightful owners? They're ruins no?" she probed as the man spoke.
He laughed and shook his head, "Of course they're ruins, but a lot of ruins up here are just old temples, sites of worship for Taishaku, or the Way of Fire, seeing as those are the two real historically predominant faiths here." he shrugged and moved to pick up his own glass, "It's pretty simple honestly, not much to it, look for something that may not be there. Maybe find it," he took a drink, "maybe not."
Suzu leaned forward a little in her stool as he spoke.
"So what is it that makes the other veterans not want to take this up? Seems clean cut to me, an easy job." she leaned back and shrugged, "Just bring a bunch of academics to look at some rocks and make sure they don't hurt themselves." she watched the men exchange uneasy looks once more before the first man to speak spoke again.
"There be… rumors…."
"Rumors?"
"Rumors, myths, it's stuff to scare the kids out of the forests, keep them inside at night. You know the sort?"
"I'm not sure I do."
The man shifted in his seat, "Rumors of things protecting the ruins. Guardians, so to speak."
Another of the men cursed under his breath and moved uncomfortably, "Not Guardians Isa, Daemons." he spoke to Suzu directly, "There are legends of Daemons in the mountains, protecting something."
"But that's just it, they're legends. Myths, nothing more" the first man interjected quickly as he put up an arm to silence his companion, "Daemons aren't real, we know that much." the man shuffled uncomfortably for a moment, "Only thing is it scares the other sellswords off, spooks them. So we haven't left. Now there probably is something there, everything has a root in science. Maybe a pack of wolves, a particularly territorial bear perhaps. Something, but nothing such as daemons." he nodded before taking another drink.
"We'll pay half now, half after. So, you up for the job, or do we have to keep searching?" he asked as he motioned to Suzu.
She spun the drink in the new glass brought by the serving girl for a little before taking another drink and turning her attention back to the first man, Isa, "Looks like you've got your protection." she smirked.
There was a sound of coins clinking as Isa took a pouch from his pocket and slid it across the table to her, "Half now."
"Half later." Suzu finished with a wink as she picked up the pouch.
The carriage came to a halt alongside a small patch of farmland as rain pattered against the canvas covering the wagon. Pulling her hood tighter around her head Suzu shot a look at Myne, the young woman at the reins that was some sort of archeologist specializing in artefacts of the more novel nature, "Any reason we're stopped?" she ventured to the woman.
Myne turned and gave her a confused look before pointing a thumb behind her toward the covered wagon, "Did they not tell you? We're picking up two more right about here, going to take them with us, they should be helpful."
Suzu narrowed her eyes, "Two more?" she sighed, there were already five scholars and now it would be seven, "With the rumors you really think it's a good idea to increase your numbers with only one hired sword huh?"
"Wasn't my idea, talk to Isa if you have complaints." Myne scoffed as she adjusted her hood and shifted on the bench, obviously not wanting to talk to Suzu any longer.
Suzu shook her head and turned to look back around the wagon past her shoulder. She watched as Isa jumped from the wagon and motioned for two hooded figures standing along the edge of the road to come to him. She watched, unable to hear anything passed over the sound of the rain and unable to read the words from their lips in the dark. She watched curiously as the larger of the two newcomers handed a beaded necklace to Isa just before climbing into the carriage.
"Who are they Myne?"
"A Priest and his wife. They should be able to easily identify if the ruins belong to the Fire or Taishaku." Myne shrugged to Suzu. There was a knock at the wood of the carriage and Myne took the reins up once more, the horse resuming its journey.
They had travelled for close to four days. Their journey taking them across a nearby mountain range and down into a perpetually draped in fog marshlands. The few people that called this place home made their livings off of trapping in the marshlands, and, if the motley crew of academics in the back could be trusted, rarely strayed farther than a few kilometers into the marsh for fear of what lurked in the fog.
They had set up their camp on the first night on a hill that sat outside of the perpetual fog. It was there that the two newcomers, a priest from the Way of Fire and his wife had made their voices heard amongst all members of the group. They had droned on for nearly an hour about how the ruins here were surely of the Way of Fire, ancient and lost in the fog for nearly a century. They based their claim off of a collection of scrolls, letters, and a few hand drawn maps dating back further than Suzu cared to really think about, all of which pointed to the unmistakable truth that a temple lay in the fog of the marsh, though to whom the temple was dedicated remained rather vague in the documents provided.
On the second day they had ventured into the fog and had become quickly bogged down with the surveying equipment that the two academics that seemed to be in love with maps and rock formations had insisted on bringing.
On the third day they set back out into the fog, this time leaving all equipment behind as they searched for a village that was clearly marked on their map but not so clear through the fog. They found it as nightfall neared and, with the help of a golden coin, convinced one of the local trappers to provide himself as a ferryman for their equipment and a guide into the marsh.
Now on the fifth day, Suzu stood with her hand outstretched placatingly toward the ferryman, Keito, as he threatened the scholars with a short blade.
"Get off my damn boat or I'll get you off myself!" he yelled as an unreasonable amount of fear laced his words.
"Now I'm sure we can figure this out Keito, just put down the blade and we can talk this over." Suzu tried as she stood between the deranged man and her charges.
"Ain't no talkin! I ain't goin no more into the marsh! You don't come back when you do!" he screamed as he took a tentative step toward Suzu and apparently weighed his chances against her.
"Sure they do, I'll make sure of it too, and my friends here," she nodded her head back toward the stunned scholars, "wil definitely cough up another coin if you can take us further."
One of the scholars began to dissent at the idea before Isa punched him square in his side, "Of course! We have generous benefactors! We can provide another coin, maybe even two if we find what we seek!" he pleaded, his attempt at sounding calm falling flat as Keito waved his dagger in Isa's direction while he spoke.
Keito wavered a moment, "You lie! You can't protect me!" he screamed as he took another step forward and then another before he leapt at Suzu. In a blur the two fell to the deck of the ferry boat and a short bout broke out as they rested for control over the other. There was a grunt and a cry of pain from Keito as Suzu rolled from off of the ferryman with blood on her shirt. She gave the ferryman a pitiful look as heclasped his bizarrely bent forearm with his good hand.
"Guess the coin is mine if we find the place then." she said as she hefted the whimpering Keito over the side of the boat.
There were no dissenting voices from the scholars as she turned to the rudder and began to coax the boat forward into the fog once more, the sound of Keito sloshing through the muck back the way they'd come and his occasional whimper the only sounds breaking the silence.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" one of the men asked her, "Who told you we're doing anything that needs protection?" he continued pointing a finger at the silver haired woman.
Suzu shrugged and swished her drink for a moment before taking a drink, "Word gets around quick, especially when you've been asking every sword for hire in the countryside. Or so I've heard." she said with a shrug. The men exchanged looks with one another as if deciding something without any words before the first man spoke up once more.
"Look lady, we're pretty sure you don't want any part of this. We've asked a dozen veteran soldiers for their help and they all refused, a woman like you…? I mean no offense but if they didn't want to help us then you won't either."
Suzu raised an eyebrow and let out a small laugh as they insisted she wasn't up for the job, "That's all very nice of you to say, but I wouldn't be approaching you if I wasn't up for your job." she placed her drink on the table and clasped her hands together before her, "I guarantee that if the other dozen you asked refused, then whatever it is you're up to? No one other than me will be crazy enough to accept it, let alone actually fulfill the job."
Taking her drink up once more she finished it as the men looked on, two of them exchanging whispered words as she drank the glass empty. "But if you don't need protection, then I guess I'll go find work elsewhere." she pushed her stool back loudly drawing looks from some of the other inn patrons as she stood to leave. Before she could step away one of the men reached a hand out and took her by the forearm.
"Stay, let's talk a bit more yeah?" the man said as he eased his hold on her and ushered her to sit back down.
Grinning, Suzu took a seat once more and motioned for one of the serving girls to bring another glass. "Go on then." she said as she tipped the empty glass over on the table before her.
The men exchanged some more weary glances before one of them sighed and shook his head, "We're looking to… ehm… Make an expedition of sorts. North, near the border with the Earth, few days riding from here. There's been talk of ruins in the area, we're hoping to find and catalogue them, perhaps hand the location back to the rightful owners if we do find them."
Suzu's eyebrow raised at the talk of giving them back to someone if they were found, "What do you mean by that? Rightful owners? They're ruins no?" she probed as the man spoke.
He laughed and shook his head, "Of course they're ruins, but a lot of ruins up here are just old temples, sites of worship for Taishaku, or the Way of Fire, seeing as those are the two real historically predominant faiths here." he shrugged and moved to pick up his own glass, "It's pretty simple honestly, not much to it, look for something that may not be there. Maybe find it," he took a drink, "maybe not."
Suzu leaned forward a little in her stool as he spoke.
"So what is it that makes the other veterans not want to take this up? Seems clean cut to me, an easy job." she leaned back and shrugged, "Just bring a bunch of academics to look at some rocks and make sure they don't hurt themselves." she watched the men exchange uneasy looks once more before the first man to speak spoke again.
"There be… rumors…."
"Rumors?"
"Rumors, myths, it's stuff to scare the kids out of the forests, keep them inside at night. You know the sort?"
"I'm not sure I do."
The man shifted in his seat, "Rumors of things protecting the ruins. Guardians, so to speak."
Another of the men cursed under his breath and moved uncomfortably, "Not Guardians Isa, Daemons." he spoke to Suzu directly, "There are legends of Daemons in the mountains, protecting something."
"But that's just it, they're legends. Myths, nothing more" the first man interjected quickly as he put up an arm to silence his companion, "Daemons aren't real, we know that much." the man shuffled uncomfortably for a moment, "Only thing is it scares the other sellswords off, spooks them. So we haven't left. Now there probably is something there, everything has a root in science. Maybe a pack of wolves, a particularly territorial bear perhaps. Something, but nothing such as daemons." he nodded before taking another drink.
"We'll pay half now, half after. So, you up for the job, or do we have to keep searching?" he asked as he motioned to Suzu.
She spun the drink in the new glass brought by the serving girl for a little before taking another drink and turning her attention back to the first man, Isa, "Looks like you've got your protection." she smirked.
There was a sound of coins clinking as Isa took a pouch from his pocket and slid it across the table to her, "Half now."
"Half later." Suzu finished with a wink as she picked up the pouch.
The carriage came to a halt alongside a small patch of farmland as rain pattered against the canvas covering the wagon. Pulling her hood tighter around her head Suzu shot a look at Myne, the young woman at the reins that was some sort of archeologist specializing in artefacts of the more novel nature, "Any reason we're stopped?" she ventured to the woman.
Myne turned and gave her a confused look before pointing a thumb behind her toward the covered wagon, "Did they not tell you? We're picking up two more right about here, going to take them with us, they should be helpful."
Suzu narrowed her eyes, "Two more?" she sighed, there were already five scholars and now it would be seven, "With the rumors you really think it's a good idea to increase your numbers with only one hired sword huh?"
"Wasn't my idea, talk to Isa if you have complaints." Myne scoffed as she adjusted her hood and shifted on the bench, obviously not wanting to talk to Suzu any longer.
Suzu shook her head and turned to look back around the wagon past her shoulder. She watched as Isa jumped from the wagon and motioned for two hooded figures standing along the edge of the road to come to him. She watched, unable to hear anything passed over the sound of the rain and unable to read the words from their lips in the dark. She watched curiously as the larger of the two newcomers handed a beaded necklace to Isa just before climbing into the carriage.
"Who are they Myne?"
"A Priest and his wife. They should be able to easily identify if the ruins belong to the Fire or Taishaku." Myne shrugged to Suzu. There was a knock at the wood of the carriage and Myne took the reins up once more, the horse resuming its journey.
They had travelled for close to four days. Their journey taking them across a nearby mountain range and down into a perpetually draped in fog marshlands. The few people that called this place home made their livings off of trapping in the marshlands, and, if the motley crew of academics in the back could be trusted, rarely strayed farther than a few kilometers into the marsh for fear of what lurked in the fog.
They had set up their camp on the first night on a hill that sat outside of the perpetual fog. It was there that the two newcomers, a priest from the Way of Fire and his wife had made their voices heard amongst all members of the group. They had droned on for nearly an hour about how the ruins here were surely of the Way of Fire, ancient and lost in the fog for nearly a century. They based their claim off of a collection of scrolls, letters, and a few hand drawn maps dating back further than Suzu cared to really think about, all of which pointed to the unmistakable truth that a temple lay in the fog of the marsh, though to whom the temple was dedicated remained rather vague in the documents provided.
On the second day they had ventured into the fog and had become quickly bogged down with the surveying equipment that the two academics that seemed to be in love with maps and rock formations had insisted on bringing.
On the third day they set back out into the fog, this time leaving all equipment behind as they searched for a village that was clearly marked on their map but not so clear through the fog. They found it as nightfall neared and, with the help of a golden coin, convinced one of the local trappers to provide himself as a ferryman for their equipment and a guide into the marsh.
Now on the fifth day, Suzu stood with her hand outstretched placatingly toward the ferryman, Keito, as he threatened the scholars with a short blade.
"Get off my damn boat or I'll get you off myself!" he yelled as an unreasonable amount of fear laced his words.
"Now I'm sure we can figure this out Keito, just put down the blade and we can talk this over." Suzu tried as she stood between the deranged man and her charges.
"Ain't no talkin! I ain't goin no more into the marsh! You don't come back when you do!" he screamed as he took a tentative step toward Suzu and apparently weighed his chances against her.
"Sure they do, I'll make sure of it too, and my friends here," she nodded her head back toward the stunned scholars, "wil definitely cough up another coin if you can take us further."
One of the scholars began to dissent at the idea before Isa punched him square in his side, "Of course! We have generous benefactors! We can provide another coin, maybe even two if we find what we seek!" he pleaded, his attempt at sounding calm falling flat as Keito waved his dagger in Isa's direction while he spoke.
Keito wavered a moment, "You lie! You can't protect me!" he screamed as he took another step forward and then another before he leapt at Suzu. In a blur the two fell to the deck of the ferry boat and a short bout broke out as they rested for control over the other. There was a grunt and a cry of pain from Keito as Suzu rolled from off of the ferryman with blood on her shirt. She gave the ferryman a pitiful look as heclasped his bizarrely bent forearm with his good hand.
"Guess the coin is mine if we find the place then." she said as she hefted the whimpering Keito over the side of the boat.
There were no dissenting voices from the scholars as she turned to the rudder and began to coax the boat forward into the fog once more, the sound of Keito sloshing through the muck back the way they'd come and his occasional whimper the only sounds breaking the silence.
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