Commissions and Complications

Thomas tells the group he needs a few days to find some prospects for them. As the group decide what to do. Ambryn decides to check on Minion again to see if he is doing better. Kainlan decides to go to Jack and see what he could find out about the arrowhead from the assassination on Ambryn. Thargrin decides he needs to go to the city, as he currently lacked the funds. Slick decides to stay on the ship to keep an eye on the captain.

After a few days, as the group is coming back to the ship from one of their many errands, they see a female dwarf standing near the ship. Ambryn recognizes the dwarf as the one she fought with in the bar. As she approaches the dwarf stands up and looks Ambryn up and down. 'You said you had work for me?' Ambryn nods, 'Yes you are a good fighter.' The others look on with distrust as is their nature, except Kainlan, who puts on his best charm as he introduces himself. 'Ingra.' says the dwarf with a slight nod then goes back to looking at Ambryn gauging the situation. Thomas appears on deck and beckons the adventurers to come with him. Seeing the dwarf, he raises an eyebrow and welcomes her along as well. Curiosity makes the dwarf follow the others on.

Without him, this group would be without a ship, Thomas thinks to himself. Well they are a good group for taking on dangerous assignments, and have been profitable for him, but they lack oversight and management. Thomas sighs as he sits down and pulls out a few pieces of paper, 'Rumors I found, as well as one commission  A dragon hunting an unknown island, talk of elven pirates hunting down merchant ships, black ship sailing around gateway, and a trading company asking for a mercenary group to help retrieve some goods from ruins nearby.' The group decide they would like to look in to the elven situation, Thomas gives the group all the papers with the information on them, and tells them he will take care of the ship while it is docked, and help find jobs for the crew.

The next day, the group heads out to find the location noted to find more information about the elves. As they approach, Slick sighs, for this is the same building he keeps finding himself coming to, at least this time he is with friends. As they reach to open the door, the old elf opens the door and is startled, he looks each of them quickly stopping for a sec and frowning at Thargrin, his frown getting deeper when he notices Slick. He composes himself and asks, 'What do you guys want?' his tone in obvious displeasure at the interuption. Kainlan mentions they are here about elven pirates, at which the old elfs demeanor changes. 'Go in the brothers will be wanting to talk to you.' As he wanders off he mumbles about no respect for elders and youth that are lost.

Back in the house, they can see lots of different symbols around the room. Ambryn notices there is power in each symbol, a different colored aura to each. Shortly an young elf walks in startled. 'Yes? My name is Jeche how may I help you today?' The group mentions the pirates, which puts a smile on Jeche's face as he beckons them to sit down. He proceeds to explain the situation, while glancing at Thargrin each time he mentions the pirates, as his inflection implies there is more than he is letting on. Thargrin sits forward, 'Speak plainly!' which cause Jeche to sit back in his char. 'No insult intended sir, but may I ask what is your buisness with the oakthorn?' Thargin replies that his business with them is done, gets up and walks out of the room. Jeches apologizes to the group, and hopes that no insult was intended, the others shrug it off as this was Thargrins way. The conversation turns more sober as Jeche concedes that the elven pirates are indeed renegade oakthorn, that pillage there ships and prevent supplies from getting back to the lands. Looking at Slick, Jeche smiles, 'We are trying to help the wildlings find there place in this world and would like to hire your group to take some weapons and food back to Heartland.' The group agrees, as they stand to leave, 'Never return if you plan to disappear and sell the cargo elsewhere.' Jeche tells them.

Back at the ship the group decide to prepare for departure, they find dock workers are quickly loading the cargo on to the ship. Kainlan decides to stay with the ship and rest for the rest of the day, Ambryn decides to go check on Minion, and Thargrin, angered at the morning encounter decides to walk the city. Ingra and Slick decide to follow him closely.

Thargin makes his way in to the worn down parts of the city, quickly turning down smaller alleyways, Slick and Ingra have to get closer to keep up. Down one of the alleys, they see a group of 4 ragged men, holding down a 5th man dressed in cleaner garb. Thargrin without hesitation launches himself at the four. Slick and Ingra leap quickly behind him to support him. Quickly dispatching the four ragged group, they hear a maniacal laughter coming from the fifth man, as lightning begins to spark around him and his Thargrin. Slick calmly walks forward and stabs the man and Ingra invokes one of her devices and hits him directly with a bolt of fire. As the fire hits the man, the cackling stops and is covered in fire that forces them to shield their eyes. Looking back they see a pile of black ash where he once stood. Ingra takes a little from the ground and puts in the bottle. Thargrin proceeds to sit down, mixes the ash with the blood, and begins his ritual. Once satisfied, Thargrin heads off a few more alleys scaring a few more beggars before he decides his hunt is done for tonight.

 

On their way back the group meet up with Ambryn as she is heading back from Minion, still in bad shape. The group proceed to explain what happen, as Ambryn notices the blood on Thargrin's face is glowing a haunting black aura. Ingra explains the ashes and hands the bottle over to her. The ashes glow more vibrantely with the black aura, which causes Ambryn to slowly trail off and begin dancing around, mumbling about zombies, skeletons, liches, and battlefields littered with bodies. As they approach the ship, Kainlan notices Ambryn is in a good mood, and walks over to dance with her, only to realize what she is mumbling and looks to other in confusion, to which they shrug. Slyvia notices the group, when she sees Ambryn dancing she drops the bucket she was holding and rushes over, placing her hand on Ambryn's head and closing her eyes, chanting underneath her breath. Ambryn slowly stops dancing and mumbling, as she sits down, Slyvia next to her crumples to the ground, still has her hand on Ambryn and chanting. As Ambryn comes to, she notices Slyvia and begins to get worried, for Slyvia has no aura about her anymore. Confused she grabs Sylvia and quickly takes her to her room, mumbling how the others can't see the problem.