Pieces

[Rickter]

Pieces

Searing 54th, 122nd Year, A.o.S.

Life in Kalzasi never seemed to slow down to the wolf, after having arrived at the High Hopes tavern a little earlier than noon. It felt so god awfully strange being back in town, especially after having been exiled prior to his last visit here. Whether this would be his final? Well, that was hard to say now, because Rickter realized the world of impossible choices he'd created. When Rickter walked in through the doorway of the tavern, he arrived in a simple white cotton shirt, the sleeves cut short to reveal the runes on his biceps in the lower lighting.

The tavern felt a touch warmer than the cool air felt outside, the lobby already filled with a good number of the local natives. It still felt weird to Rickter to be coming back here, but considering the terms, he was technically pardoned by Aoren as of now. No matter what the wolf would not waste his time spent here, he'd make damn well sure he prepared for the difficult journey ahead. The wolf didn't walk too far within the main lobby, seeing his fair of people to rather divert toward the wall instead. He took a chair at a table instead, and quietly sat at an angle to rest against the wall.

He questioned being here now. But Telion would be here soon anyway, as she was helping Hannah put down the twins for their nap time. The wolf intended to pay her a few hours of his time for a while, since they hadn't really had the chance to catch up on events that happened in Gel'Grandal. He had so much to do, and though he wanted to be there to at least help Aoren, Rickter knew he'd only get further in the Kathar's way if he did so. Besides the wolf had a much more urgent task at hand now, and for the first time, he wasn't going to keep his pack mates at a safe distance.

The thought terrified him. But he also had to be brave. If he recalled his time spent around that damn Hobgoblin in Zaichaer, then he had example enough of what to follow. It relied on the wolf's own faith in his pack from here on, he just had to resynchronize with them before he would be ready. "Well hi you!" A familiar dainty voice called to him as the barmaid Margo stepped up, her curly red hair highlighted by the sunrays that beamed from the windows. "Haven't seen you in a while!"

"It certainly has been a while. And how is Margo today?" The wolf addressed with a raise of a brow, and the waitress scoffed with a grin as she pointed out the obvious stains on her apron.

"What about you?" She asked with a fold of her arms, likely curious as to what shenanigans the wolf had gotten into. She no doubt knew he'd been exiled, and word had already spread about how Aoren had given him Absolution also. That probably explained a few of the stares the wolf noticed when he glanced past Margo, before he faintly grinned with a hefty sigh through the nostrils. "That bad, huh?"

"It's been a year." He remarked with a soft chuckle, his stare genuine when he actually looked into her green eyes. "But you know what might help?" The barmaid raised an eyebrow at him expectantly. "Some of that delicious chicken and pork I smell cooking back there."

Margo laughed a bit before she pulled out her tablet and pen. "What'll it be?"

"I'm actually waiting for my plus one, y'know the one." Immediately Margo grinned as she clearly knew who Rickter referred, the wolf could only surmise she hadn't seen the healer for just as long. "So, uh, we'll actually order when she gets here."

"So... a drink then?" She suggested with a wry smile, which led Rickter to look up in thought before he agreed to the idea.

"Too early for whiskey in the day for me, I think I'll have a proper ale." He requested from the barmaid, as she briefly curtsied before sauntering off back to the bar. Patrick would've certainly loved her, if he hadn't already, which was another point the wolf had to focus on now. Gods this just grew harder for him more than he realized, and for a moment the wolf looked out the window in thought of his actions.

"Common" "Synskrit" "Norvaegan"
"Rickter" "Telion"

"Every side attacks you when you don't pick sides."

[Barbatos]

People talk.

Such a simple truth held a world of meaning for the Sellsword. At face value, it seemed to be a mere fact of the world. After all, that was what the divines above provided men with tongues for, right? Yet, for the sable-skinned man, the expression was significant. It reminded him of what Zaichaer had been before that calamitous day. It filled his head with memories of things taken for granted. On that blasted day, all that the mercenary held dear was ripped away in an instant. The heavens saw fit to rob him blind, burning away what few people he had in his life. All that remained now were the memories they left behind. Memories, such as the lesson tied to the words "people talk."

When first Barbatos heard this expression, he was but a boy. Curious as ever about how his father went about filling their bellies, he peppered the man with inquiries. And the answer was given in that amused baritone: people talk. What did those two words truly mean? Simple. If a man listened to what those about said, there was always an opportunity. Always a means to shake a copper or gold out of a mix. What's more, if the person is loosened up by a tankard of ale, well that's when you've struck gold for certain. Barbatos' father was a simple man - and his trade befitted him.

He sold his sword and his fists for coin. Whoever needed guarding or beating, he was the man for the job. Now, that man was ashes within a blighted city. And that trade was an inheritance passed down to his son. That was what brought Barbatos to the High Hopes Tavern this day. Though he had been able to find steady employment inside the city, the missions came at a pace he did not appreciate. They were sporadic - but paid handsomely for a job well done. However, that did leave the Sellsword with quite a few days to fill. And idle time did not sit well with Barbatos in the slightest.

So, he'd head down to the local watering hole to have his daily bread. And whilst there, he would chat with the locals - but most of all, he would listen. He would swim through whatever gibberish a drunk man said for valuable direction on potential employment. He would smile and tip well, so that the barmaid might give him a rumor in return. He'd play the game until he won, so to speak. Yet today, he didn't so much find an opportunity to line his purse with gold. But he did discover something interesting. As he listened to the tipsy man at his side prattle on, a quiet suddenly befell him. His gaze became plastered upon the entrance, as a Demon had walked.

"Well I'll feckin be." he said, his tone just above a whisper. "'ere comes trouble."

Intrigued, Barbatos leaned closer to the man. "What? Where?" he asked, matching his tone. The drunk merely motioned his chin towards the figure who wandered in. And as Barbatos' gaze found him, he also began to hear the mutterings at the bar. Whoever this person was, they had quite the reputation it seemed. "He's the trouble?" Barbatos asked, hoping to confirm. The drunk simply nodded before downing what little remained of his beverage.

"He got himself a pardon, but that's still trouble." He said, shaking his head.

"Oh, stop it you." came a far more delightful voice. The returning form of Margo the barmaid graced Barbatos' sight, and he offered a polite smile. "Do you lads need a refill?" The drunk, of course, slid his tankard forward. Barbatos, however, paused. "What's he having?" he inquired. Margo set about refilling the drunk's tankard without meeting his eyes, answering casually. "Ale, same as the rest of ye."

"I'll cover his ale, tell him it came from me, would you?"

Margo smiled, filled up the tankard, and set off towards "trouble." Meanwhile, the drunk eyed Barbatos suspiciously. "You lookin' fer trouble, or what?" The Sellsword simply shrugged.

"People talk."

.

[Rickter]

Pieces

Searing 54th, 122nd Year, A.o.S.

The light of the doorway shadowed a signal of another entering the establishment, as the wolf's eyes shifted upon that of a beautiful blonde lady that arrived. She'd also picked out his favorite damn dress, the color of a robin's egg matching her eyes as she turned to notice his spot. Telion quickly grinned and, in return, Rickter doted a smile her way before she strode toward his table. "Kendrick did not go down easy." The mother remarked with a giggle, the wolf quietly chuckling along with her.

You would think little Kenny would get that from his dad but, honestly, Rickter's often been the first of their pair to pass out in bed early. Meanwhile she'd at least get a bit of light reading in, if the woman weren't tired from her constant multitasking. "He's just like his mother then." Telion raised an eyebrow at him as if that were a joke, and Rickter couldn't quite help himself when he grinned at the lady.

"Is that my Teli?!" Margo about squeaked as she came around the healer, Telion's eyes widening as before she realized who had snuck up on her.

"Margo! Hey!" Rickter watched the two ladies share a camaraderie of mirth, the barmaid gracefully holding the tankard away when she hugged the mother.

"Eikean's beard, when are you gonna play again, girl?" Margo prodded with a hand on her hip.

"I definitely should, when the twins don't keep me busy!" Telion replied with a minor shrug in her shoulders. Rickter definitely wondered if there might be a way to make more time for that. Because he loved it when Telion played and sang, and the last he could remember was on their birthday. Yes. Their. Rickter had learned much in the time they had been together, the fact that he and Telion shared a birthday on the same day being one of them.

He was starting to believe that there were no coincidences. "Oh, just bring the lil' guys! Rien loved having them around when you two visited!" Margo insisted as she handed Rickter his tankard of ale. "Courtesy of that gentleman over there." She offered with a brief nod toward the bar, the wolf's eyes quickly locked on the several men found over there. "Fairly new guy, not sure where he's from though." Coincidence. No?

The wolf's gaze finally fell upon a sable-skinned man within the group, before he glanced back to Margo with a soft smile once more. "Thanks Margo." The barmaid chuckled with a nod before turning about to Telion once more.

"What'll it be sweet pea?" Margo inquired as she yet again prepped her pen and pad. Telion looked at Rickter who looked back with an expectant grin. This was the best part, considering he'd been smelling the steamy dough being cooked as well. By now he would've been foaming at the mouth for just waiting, but thankfully, he had the pleasure of sipping that away with his ale during the wait.

"I'll take a plate of dumplings. Chicken on the menu?" Margo nodded as she already began to jot the order down, not even looking at Rickter when she wrote his upon a whim. She hadn't forgotten his appetite at all apparently, something that actually delighted the wolf a bit. "Oh, and a pitcher of water for me." The mother requested as Margo started to trot off once more, leaving the two alone for themselves once more as Telion took a chair next to him.

"We do need to get you to play again." He murmured as she leaned in close, enough for the wolf to wrap his arm over the arch of her chair. The lady's lips perked again as she gave him a playful look, her hands resting on the table as she settled into her seat.

"Maybe when we're not too busy trying to save the day, hm?" She teased in return, before leaning off her shoulders a little. "Besides you heard me singing the boys to sleep when you came back in last night." Yet that wasn't all he remembered from last night, a knowing grin plastered on his face when she perked an eyebrow at him.

"Yeah, well, can't blame a guy for wanting to see his Alpha happy." He murmured with a genuine look at her, the smile somewhat softened as he thought of what was ahead. "Even if he's been an asshole lately."

"Yeah, well, we'll figure something out. It's not over, not yet, not after everything we've been through." Telion encouraged with a hearty grip over Rickter's hand, the wolf yet again admiring this woman for her enthusiasm. He had forgotten how much he'd needed that to keep him going, especially when he'd been on his own in Zaichaer for a while.

"I know. Since we're waiting on lunch though... why not dally for a bit, hm? For old times' sake?" The wolf suggested as the healer gave him a look of rising suspicion. "Kind stranger, free drink." He implied with a brief tilt of the tankard, allowing Telion a moment to piece together the hints he'd given.

"Okay, so... what? Have lunch with them then?" She inquired as her eyes curiously searched the bar for the man in question.

"Mm-hm." He grunted softly to her. "Dark-toned. Notice anything peculiar about him?"

"Only that he looks like you when we first met," she remarked with a side grin shot toward the wolf, "and by that I mean he's geared up like a mercenary."

"Aye... and I can smell Zaichaer on him." He added without even crinkling his nose, his sniffer just barely able to pick the scent out from the abundance of... well, Kalzasi's one and only High Hopes. Telion looked a little surprised by that fact, quick to give Rickter a look of revelation after she heard him.

"Refugee, possibly?" That would have been Rickter's next guess, since the war was practically headed in a different turn now. After surviving that horror, the wolf hadn't slept the same since. "Well... How should we play this out? Same as before? Or did you wanna take the lead this time?" The lady inquired with a slight perk in her shoulders, the wolf already amused by how quickly she gave in to the idea.

"I have a feeling he'll come around." The wolf shared with a glance back to the bar, specifically the man who'd paid his drink before Telion arrived. "I'll take the lead, you can do you're... 'you' thing." The wolf teased with a quotation of his fingers, which caused the healer to playfully thwap him across the forearm.

"Common" "Synskrit" "Norvaegan"
"Rickter" "Telion"

"Every side attacks you when you don't pick sides."

[Barbatos]

Curiosity prevented the Sellsword from looking away.

Between the mutterings that erupted when "Trouble" entered the tavern and the adjacent drunk's words, Barbatos was sure he had found an opportunity. People talked, after all, and if one was able to get in deep enough trouble to elicit a Tavern-wide response...well, perhaps they would know a thing or two about keeping one's pockets heavy. Thus, after Barbatos offered to cover the man's drink, his gaze followed the barmaid as she moved. He then found it hard to concentrate on seeing the reaction of the "trouble" for a moment, as the sway of the barmaid's hips was a brief distraction.

Fortunately, his eyes were drawn to new faces in the Tavern. In strode a blonde woman woman who immediately made her way over to "Trouble's" table. What only added to the Sellsword's curiosity was the response of the barmaid. Though he could not overhear every word shared, he could hear the happiness in the woman's voice. There was familiarity between them. Friendship, perhaps? Were they related, or just friends? Barbatos' mind raced with questions as he watched, pausing his gaze only to sip from his own tankard.

Soon, the barmaid delivered his gift and nodded in his direction. Barbatos did a piss poor job of averting his gaze; a failure which caused the drunkard beside him to chuckle. "Oh, yer a moth alright." he said between a raspy laugh. Barbatos felt comfortable enough with the sod to gently nudge him with his dominant arm. "You see any wings, old man?" came his retort. It was hard not to smirk ever so slightly as the drunkard's laugh was just silly enough to be infectious. "I see yer wings buzzin' right now. Bzz. Bzz. All tha way into the fire."

Barbatos leaned closer to the counter and spoke barely above whisper. "Lemme guess, he's the fire yeah?" Another raspy laugh greeted the sable-skinned man. "Nothin' gets past you." The pair shared a chuckle for a moment before the Sellsword spoke again. His voice remained hushed - though the drunk's sure didn't. "What makes this man so bad? Seems like a regular fellow to me." The drunk shook his head. "Tha clouds like normal too, 'til they rain."

The point wasn't lost upon the Sellsword. Looks could be deceiving. But, Barbatos was sure of himself. Enough so that he placed his hands upon the counter and stood up. Before taking a stride, he left the applicable amount of coin for his own drinks, plus a little extra for the service. "It was good drinking with ya." he added, adopting the drunk's accent for but a moment. Barbatos earned a raspy chuckle and he turned to face the "trouble." Sending a drink over was enough to break the ice, right? Well, he'd soon find out.

Confident strides bore him closer and closer to the flame, until the moth raised his dominant hand in greeting. "Hello there." he said, before clearing his throat. "Name's Barbatos. Mind if I join you?"



.

[Rickter]

Pieces

Searing 54th, 122nd Year, A.o.S.

The mysterious stranger with sable-skin shifted, and for a moment Telion looked over to Rickter with a suspecting grin. Rickter had guessed that the allure of a pardoned exile would be too interesting to pass up, and so, the wolf humbly leaned back into his chair with a subtle grin shared with his beloved. The likely mercenary had a confident air about him that Rickter noticed, something he might've once shared once upon a time as well. As docile as he likely appeared to the guy now, it might've become obvious that exhaustion still plagued him on his shoulders.

The small grin he gave in welcome to the stranger loosely hinted at a steady firmness usually found in his features. Nevertheless, Rickter's rune of Semblance responded to the gauge of his senses, the obvious sign being a brightening within the irises of his eyes. From blue to gold they shone with focus on Barbatos, as the man approached to introduce himself to the pair. Rickter could trace the musk of hard work within the initial layer of soap detergent and sunbaked linens, and the undertones beneath all that reminded the wolf of the natural wilds just outside the city. A man of the earth it would seem.

The stranger introduced himself as Barbatos, with the inquiry to join them following after. A moment passed before the gold in eyes faded to blue, and the smile he gave seemed more genuine compared to the courteous grin prior to arrival. "By all means." He plainly stated with a polite tone, the blonde next to him offering a smile as well when the wolf gestured for Barbatos to take a seat. "Rickter Maze. This lovely lady here is Telion."

"Pleased to meet you." The mother greeted as she reached out to briefly shake Barbatos's hand. "You're just in time for lunch. Hope you came hungry friend."

"We were planning to have some dumplings from here. Have you had them already? Best in all of Kalzasi, apart from the noodle stand." Rickter remarked as his stomach already started to gurgle, the talk of food reminding him of the peckish feeling inside his tummy.

"Common" "Synskrit" "Norvaegan"
"Rickter" "Telion"

"Every side attacks you when you don't pick sides."

[Barbatos]

The one dubbed "Trouble" by the local drunk seemed anything but, at first. After the sable-skinned man introduced himself, the pardoned gentleman offered a small smile in greeting. As typical of the Sellsword trade, Barbatos' eyes briefly wandered. It was a quick and practiced maneuver - subtle, unless one was familiar with the trade of selling violence for coin. His eyes gave the "Troublemaker" a quick up and down, sizing him up. Now, Barbatos was no expert in all things combat, and he certainly wasn't the world's greatest mage.

But his initial inspection told a simple story. One, the man was strong. Two, the man was relaxed. If what the drunk had whispered was accurate, his state of ease spoke volumes. Ironically enough, Barbatos soon found that he was also being looked upon intently. His gaze found that of the stranger, and he saw the change of blue to gold. The Sellsword swallowed lightly, as he had not seen magick performed in the eyes. He suddenly felt as though the man could see right through him - which was not a reality that he particularly enjoyed.

But, almost as soon as the change in color occurred, it subsided. In its place, Barbatos found a welcoming voice and a gesture to join them at the table. He obliged, settling into place and leaning back in his seat ever so slightly. Rickter Maze was the name of the "troublemaker", and his lovely companion was called Telion. She reached out and shook his hand, causing the Sellsword to smile brightly. "It's good to meet you Rickter. Telion." he began.

"I haven't had the chance to try the dumplings. Admittedly, I'm still new to all of Kalzasi's good eats." A chuckle escaped him at this sight whilst his arms folded upon his chest. "I take it you're local? Been here long?"

His curiosity betrayed him ever so slightly as he spoke.

.

[Rickter]

Pieces

Searing 54th, 122nd Year, A.o.S.

A friendly smile went a long way, or so Rickter had learned, when it came to welcoming strangers within his midst. It felt strange for him to honestly recognize this, because of how solitary he had been long before meeting his pack mates. By now he felt like an entirely different person, completely somebody else he never would've imagined. It was funny how things like love and war brought out some of the best, and worst, things in a person driven by their own morals and emotions.

Even with their new acquaintance's returned friendly smile, the scent and accent of this man still reminded Rickter of Zaichaer. Not that it was such a bad thing, after all, the wolf had braved his share of events that transpired there recently as well. In fact, he wondered, if whether or not he should return there, if only to help Franky finish what they started when they all entered the rift together. Poor Dante... The Vampyre would have to hang in there just for a while, until the wolf and his pack were ready to move in as a unit once again. Next time there wouldn't be any mistakes on his behalf, at least not intentionally, because Rickter intended to fulfill the promises he'd made.

Barbatos admitted that he had yet to try the dumplings, a statement that venerated a look of awed offense from Rickter, which in turn caused the woman beside him to giggle in response. "Awe, mate, you've no idea the world of goodies you're about to indulge in." He remarked with another brief but genuine smirk, his eyebrows raised slightly in response to the inquiry of being locals. "Of a sort, yeah." It was one thing to blatantly share his life story with a stranger, thankfully, Rickter didn't have to delve too deeply when his beloved chimed in for him.

"Well, he's the local." She lightly teased with a hand on his forearm. "I actually met him here a couple of years ago, when he was a lone wolf finishing his evening dinner."

"You were busy playing that instrument that night." He remarked casually with a playful grin toward her, the blonde rewarded him with a look before Margo returned.

"Here you go!" The barmaid enthused as she set two plates of steaming hot dumplings down, with boiled carrots and leeks placed as sides. "Anything else I can get for you two? Something for the gentleman here?" Margo checked before Telion quickly shook her head.

"Nah, he's actually fine!" The mother insisted before she slid her plate closer to Barbatos, and gave the barmaid a hearty grin before Margo slightly shook her head to the woman.

"You two crack me up!" She insisted before turning to Barbatos. "Don't let the tough guy act fool you, man's as soft as a puppy inside."

"Heey," Margo quickly started to strut away with mischief in her gaze, "don't go blowin' my cover!" Rickter's arms raised into a lazy 'why' gesture toward her before they fell back down, his gaze back on Barbatos once more after the barmaid stuck her tongue out at him. The food in general looked far too hot to indulge in right away, though, the wolf's mouth already salivated when he smelled the pork and chicken inside the dumplings. Gods he couldn't wait to gorge himself, even though he'd have to make sure his beloved had her share now. Which was probably why Margo loaded his plate with the dumplings more than veggies, plus it wasn't like Telion to eat more than half her share anyway. Often she gave her leftovers to Rickter, only because he loathed the idea of wasting such Gods damn good food.

"So anyway, what about you, Barbatos?" The blonde inquired with a curious gaze as she rested her chin on her hands. "You mentioned being new to Kalzasi, how have you liked it so far?" Rickter had to admit she was good at beating him to the punchline, regardless, the wolf also eyed Barbatos curiously as he fingered a dumpling; trying to blow on it as he generated a minor Lift effect with his Kinetics. It wasn't that he liked to play with his food, because honestly that was far from what Rickter ever did, but he didn't want to outright freeze the damned thing just to be able to eat it either.

"Common" "Synskrit" "Norvaegan"
"Rickter" "Telion"

"Every side attacks you when you don't pick sides."

[Barbatos]

From a smile to a look of mock offense - Barbatos could tell he was in good company.

Such a simple remark, about his ignorance regarding dumplings, caused the one calledd Rickter to recoil. It was a jest in nature, enough so that the woman beside him began to giggle aloud. The antic itself, coupled with her unbridled amusement, caused the sable-skinned man to laugh himself. "If they're as good as you say, I'll owe you for opening my eyes!" As to his question, which betrayed Barbatos' own curiosity about the "troublesome" man, Rickter answered without missing a beat. Smirk and all, his answer was simple.

And it was the woman that Barbatos assumed was Rickter's lover that filled in some more details. In his opinion, this was a safe guess to make, given how comfortable she felt touching his forearm and the looks they shared. Now, while Barbatos had never had the pleasure of a relationship himself, he had watched two lovebirds - his parents - for the majority of his life. They reminded him of the recently departed in more ways than one. But, in an effort to not think about the smoldering crater that was his hometown, he listened to the answer she provided to his question. It was a far cry from a full-blown biography, but it answered the Sellsword's inquiry sufficiently enough.

"Ahhh, love at first sight eh?" he said. His tone was just as mirthful as before, though it was clear the man was still curious. Outside of the dumplings, Barbatos was hungry for any details he could learn about the "troublesome" Rickter - perhaps he'd learn why he was looked upon the way he was. Patience was required of course. In the meantime, the barmaid returned with two plates of the famed dumplings down. She asked if the table needed anything else and Barbatos quietly shook his head. Meanwhile, Telion said they were fine.

And a plate was slid closer to the Sellsword. The motion was enough to have the aroma of the dumplings invade the man's nostrils. His mouth immediately watered as if he were starving. "Oh, those smell amazing." He reached out, just as the barmaid turned to him. Rickter was as soft as a puppy inside? The Sellsword laughed aloud, both at her words and his response. His fingers soon found one of the dumplings and, despite its temperature, he took an eager bite. They were hot, but nothing he couldn't handle. The flavor made the sting of the heat worth it too.

"Ohhh, I owe you big. These are divine." he said, before Telion asked about him. Barbatos was about to take another bite, but paused, wiping some stray juice from his chin. "Kalzasi is...different from anything I've known. Good different. The people seem so much more..." He paused, as if thinking of the right word. But in truth, his awareness was piqued. He felt something, as if the Old Man who taught him Kinetics was flexing his magickal muscles. Barbatos dismissed it straightaway and continued. "Free. That's the word."

"Zaichaer was so much more, strict, y'know?"

The mention of the blighted city was intentional. A crumb of information, but also an offering. If he shared a nugget about himself, perhaps they would be inclined to do the same.

.

[Chronicle]

Name: Rickter

Points: 10
Magic: These points can be used for Semblance.
Knowledge: 8 Lore Points
Injuries: None
Loot: None


Name: Barbatos

Points: 10
Magic: These points can/not be used for magic.
Knowledge: 8 Lore Points
Injuries: None
Loot: None

Sorry this fell off my radar, buddy! If you decide to pop back in for more posting and plots, dm me on here (or Discord) and we'll get you something going proper.