Posts from Horizon of Darkness

- Typical low-budget guys, - Lin nodded understandingly, - all they can do is sit on their salaries, and you can never expect them to actually work for it. It's sad. Fortunately, there are also warriors of worthy skill in our creative team, so maybe we can help you with something besides music! After all, you can't travel through such dangerous lands without protection. So, I'd like to hear more about your problems.

- Well, personally, I'm doing fine 😁 But you should ask the mayor about the specific problems of the city. He's on the central square right now, giving a speech.

- Oh, well, it's good that it's good, but it would be bad to miss the mayor's speech, so let's hurry to the square, okay?

- Oh, well, it's good that it's good, but it would be bad to miss the mayor's speech, so let's hurry to the square, okay?

- Yes, yes, go ahead. Don't forget to invite me to the concert, I'd love to listen!
Maybe I'll post a continuation later, or tomorrow.

I'm for stealth. But if there are decent players, we'll have to emerge from the bushes in a non-threatening way later.

The man wasn't particularly frightened by the mercenaries' words, but he changed his tone when he realized they weren't who he thought they were.
- Oh, so you're not Lord's idlers? - he looked at their patches. - Something familiar. And the cyclops ran away. A big cyclops. He came down from the mountains, broke the bridge, and ran away. Fat bastard. So, who are you?

- Why did you destroy the bridge? - Zeykin hit Joe on the shoulder and burst out laughing at his own joke.
After inspecting the remains of the infrastructure and the surrounding area, he explained:
- We are mercenaries. We help those in need, protect the oppressed, and punish the wicked. For money, - he rubbed his fingers in front of the peasant's eyes as a symbolic gesture to emphasize the importance of his last remark. - So, the cyclops... Why did he suddenly take a liking to your bridge? Does he have nothing else to do?

Let's head to the town square to listen to the mayor.

I'm all for stealth. But if there are decent guys there, we'll have to emerge from the bushes in a non-threatening way later.

So, you're saying you go into the bushes and sneak up?

So, you hide in the bushes and sneak up?

Yes, let's do it that way.

But if there are decent guys there, you'll have to come out of the bushes in a non-threatening way later.

- Why did you destroy the bridge for the people? - Zeikin hit Joe on the shoulder and burst out laughing at his own joke.
After examining the remains of the infrastructure and the surrounding areas, he explained:
- We are mercenaries. We help those in need, protect the oppressed, and punish the wicked. For money, - he rubbed his fingers in front of the peasant's eyes in a symbolic gesture, to emphasize the importance of the last remark. - So, a Cyclops... But why did he suddenly become attached to your bridge? Does he have nothing else to do?

- That's the thing. Well, we don't have much money. You should go to Radovud, to the mayor. And there have never been Cyclops here. It seems like he crawled out of the darkness.

Added 28 minutes ago

We're going to the square to listen to the mayor.

A straight, wide road led to the center of the city, so the mercenaries didn't get lost and successfully reached it. There they saw a huge crowd of people. They were all noisy, mumbling, and very unhappy about something. In the center of the square, on a small stage, stood a large man who was trying to calm the crowd. 

 

- Calm down, calm down! I'm trying to solve our COMMON problems! As soon as this witch...
- Go to hell with your witch! - a voice came from the crowd.
- Yeah, no witch could steal so many goats! - said a man in a large straw hat.
- My grandmother was a witch! She cured the whole family's hemorrhoids and cured everything! She didn't steal people or goats! 
- Maybe we should hang the healer too, he's a sorcerer too...
- WE ARE ALL CURSED BY AN EVIL GOD!!!
- Yes, yes, it's all nonsense!
- It's not the witch's fault!
- WE ARE DOOMED!
- Don't cry, honey...
- It's just a common trouble from the Darkness, it will pass, - an old voice grumbled.
- WE WILL ALL BE KILLED BY DEMONS! 
- We need to do something about it!
- I'm moving to my brother's place behind the wall!
- I'm glad I saved money, now I can have some fun before I die! 
- WE ARE DOOMED! SAVE YOURSELVES IF YOU CAN! WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE IN... - the madman's speech was interrupted by a precise punch to the jaw.

The blessed man fell into a puddle and passed out. A couple of peasants picked him up and, sitting him on the ground, tried to bring the screamer back to his senses. Meanwhile, the townspeople silently watched the man who had hit the unfortunate man. A tall man in a wide black hat with feathers rubbed his fist and carefully examined his leather glove.

- Scratched it, - the man said, clicking his tongue, and gave the crowd a wide smile, after which he went up on the stage and stood next to the large man. - Ladies and gentlemen. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Rex von Süd. I arrived here with my team at the invitation of your highly respected mayor. The man pointed to the left side of him, but was surprised to find that there was no one there.
The people grumbled unhappily.

- Ah, for our taxes...
- What a clown! Go back to the circus before it leaves! 
- Some kind of scammer!
- Dressed like a faggot!
- Maybe he'll actually do something...
- He'll take all the gold and run away, you know!
- Shhh, be quiet, - said Rex, making a calming gesture with his hands. - Dear Radovudians and residents of the surrounding towns, I assure you, I have a huge amount of experience - Rex paused and winked at a pretty young girl who was standing next to the stage - in hunting witches, demons, possessed, creatures of darkness, and other supernatural evil. If the problems are not solved, then I will not take a single coin from you! Especially since your wonderful mayor has agreed to finance the maintenance of me and my team from his own funds. We will deal with it! I assure you! 

The people murmured and made noise, and the mayor took the floor again.

- See, I'm taking care of our problems, everything will be fine! Go home! Don't forget to lock your doors tightly and be vigilant. If we are united, then no troubles will be scary for us!

The people began to slowly disperse. The mayor sighed with relief and wiped the sweat that had appeared on his forehead with his sleeve, after which he spoke to Rex. Inone of the townspeople notices the turquoise patches on the clothes of the newcomers.

- Claws of the North! There are Claws of the North here!
- What?! Where?!
- Someone hired the Claws of the North!
- Glory to our ancestors, we are saved!

The townspeople instantly surrounded the mercenaries from all sides.

- You will help us, right?!
- My daughter is missing!
- The whole family has some kind of itching, no ointments help!
- Trolls were seen in the mountains! They can attack Uver!
- We have problems with a wild tree at the sawmill!
- The tavern has something wrong with the drink, they seem to be diluting it more than usual!
- All my potato crop was stolen!
- There are suspicious people in the abandoned monastery!
- The brothel has raised prices to the sky! It's not worth that much!

Lin felt that she had been pinched on the butt several times.
Araelle had all her feet trampled on.
Radiel was touched by a townsperson with itching. 
Despite the commotion, Lin noticed how negatively Rex reacted to the joy of the villagers. He was clearly very unhappy about the appearance of competitors.

The mayor runs up to the crowd to calm them down.
- Yes, yes, yes! I also hired guys from the Claws of the North! They will help our friend Rex in solving OUR problems! Now go home and don't interfere with the mercenary doing his job! All requests and complaints should be directed to my assistant, he will pass them on to the mercenary gentlemen!

People begin to disperse.   

- Our scouts are gone, guys, - Zeykin spread his hands in front of his squadmates. - We can either go back to our base or follow the river. I think we can handle it, but without a specific mission, they probably won't pay us a single coin.
He turned to the peasant again:
- And how big is the monster?

Yes, let's do it that way.

Hiding in the bushes, the brave mercenaries slowly advanced along the road. Soon, they saw four riders from the bushes, who were circling around a young girl and another rider standing next to her.





The rider held the girl's hand and pulled her towards him. He was saying something in an aggressive manner. The frightened girl was trying to pull her hand away, apparently begging to be let go. Nikta could hear part of the conversation.
- What are you messing around with her for!
- Yeah, throw her on a horse and let's go.
- The more you resist, girl, the sharper our swords will be, - said the mustached rider, and the others laughed loudly.
- Please, don't touch me! - the girl pleaded.
- And what will you do? Complain to your mommy? - the bearded man asked mockingly.
- We can take care of her mommy too, ha-ha! - said the mustached man, and the men laughed loudly again.

- Our scouts are gone, guys, - Zeykin spread his hands in front of his comrades. - We can either go up to our forces or follow the river. I think we'll manage, but without an assignment, they probably won't pay us a single penny.
He turned to the peasant again:
- And how big is that monster?

- Hmm, about three meters tall and quite fat.

"Alright, everyone, listen up!" Lin raised her hand, addressing the townspeople. After settling into a more comfortable and visible position, she began answering the people's questions. "We'll help! We'll find the daughter, if she's still alive! We'll cure the scabies! We'll deal with the trolls! We'll cut down the tree! We'll sort out the quality of the entertainment drinks! We'll punish the thieves! We'll identify the suspicious individuals! I give you my word as the commander of one of the 'Northern Claws' squads that we will listen to everyone and try to find a solution! I don't know this gentleman, by the way," she pointed at Rex, "the people are right, he's dressed like a degenerate and he has a clearly unpleasant smirk, you never know what he's plotting! So, people, be careful, lock your doors not only against all sorts of dangers, but also against unwanted guests! And remember, the most important thing is not to delay. If you have something to say, something to complain about, any information that seems even slightly important to you should be reported to us as soon as possible! Let me introduce you to my assistant, Arael," Lin took the elf's hand and placed her in front of herself, "report everything you think is necessary to her. She will definitely listen to you, and just look how cute she is, she will distract you from bad thoughts, even if only for a short time! By the way, now that you're all gathered here, let us heal your hearts with music!" We perform an impromptu concert with Radiel, and if it makes sense, we use charm and other abilities to win the people over.

- Why did you destroy the bridge for the people? - Zeykin hit Joe on the shoulder and hoarsely burst into laughter at his own joke.

—Ha, I knew one cyclops... —Joe reminisced, almost falling into the river from the friendly pat. —He was taller than the trees. So, one scoundrel, who was a captain, decided to bury treasure near his cave. I remember, many of our guys died there. —Taking off his hat, Joe held it to his chest as a sign of good memory for the team of adventurers.

- Our reconnaissance team is gone, guys, - Zeykin spread his hands in front of his comrades. - Either we go back to our people, or we go along the river. I think we'll make it, but without an assignment, they probably won't pay us a single coin.

—By the time I get to our people, they will have already returned ten times. And I don't want to end up in pieces for free. If we go to rescue the workers, we should somehow "officially" arrange everything so that they don't cheat us out of the gold later.

Nikta whispered to her companions what she had heard. - These five might be the soldiers we were warned about in the tavern; we should be careful. There are many of them, and we are alone, and we don't want to quarrel with the authorities. But what kind of "Hammers of Fate" would we be if we left the girl in trouble? I suggest this: you two, being strong and large, try to persuade them to leave peacefully (intimidate them). If that doesn't work, I'll cover you, - she demonstrated her throwing knives.