Gone Huntin (open)

[Banir Ironwood]

Summer 5th Midday, 512 AV

Passing through the crowd he weaved through the people. His lumbering form easily seen and heard, as his armour gave light clinks. Sweat began to reach his brow as he felt like he had lost his way. However he managed to stop and ask for directions for the path to the city if the Spires. As he was pointed the way, he followed the directions closely. With the cleaves on his boots making the gentle clunking they always did he found himself on the path to the great wall of fog that hung over the forest. Already he could hear the sounds of some feral beasts or citizens fighting. Or at least what he hoped was fighting.

Silently he stood and waited for Apos, his mind drifting to the people he had come to know. Though he knew a less than a handful here in the Spires, it made him all the more grateful that he had them. Which reminded him that he'd have to check up on Falix. He hoped his small clay companion was alright. He knew full well she should handle herself, but he still had a little niggling doubt in the back of his mind. This wasn't helping him, he needed to focus for the coming task. With this in mind he took a plank position on the ground. He needed to stop wasting time and do something constructive. And so he began to bend his arms at ninety degrees. Pushing his two hundred and twenty something pounds back up slowly. Trying to work the muscles in his arms, sure it would tire him out a little. But it was better than standing around doing nothing, staring into space like an idiot.

As he lifted his bulk up and down, his thick muscles holding up against the slow workout he did on his arms. The effort keeping his thoughts on the here and now rather than running off wild. While pumping his arms he did feel his mind wander a little. Mostly to the types of tactics he and Apos could use to take down their prey. The best one he hand in his mind was still a simple distract and ambush. Perhaps when in the fog he might think of something better. Or more hopefully that his business partner would have something even.

As time passed he felt like his arms would get sore if he kept this up for too long. Stopping at the height of a push up he brought his legs under him and pushed gently onto his heels. Quickly he stood up, the metal on him giving off the distinct sound of clattering. Looking around he saw what he thought was Apos working his way from the Base Camp towards the meeting place. A smile crossed his hidden face as he balled his hands into fists then relaxed them. Letting his clawed hand flex a few times, once he arrived. They would be off and into the jungle, quite literally looking for a fight.

[Apos]

Starting down the road from the Centroc's location, he noticed that it was all but busy. There'd been very few times when he was out on a public road or path and had not encountered a myriad of other people looking to go about their business and duties. Any other day this would have been ideal see it as to how Apos likes the quietness of the scene, but today wasn't a good day to hold one's self in solitude. Apos needed direction to the path that lead into The Spires, and there was no one around to question.

15 minutes into his trek, he could see two men standing next to a wagon at the bottom of the hill he was doggedly climbing. Letting an excited glint cross his goggled eyes, he sped up his pace slightly and prepared to ask them for the whereabouts of his destination. 30 feet away he noticed something odd however, or moreso irritating. The two men kept looking at Apos, then at the wagon, with successive and quick repetitions. Frowning a bit he slung his hunter's pack over his shoulder, loosened his posture and rested his left hand on his belt next to an ulak. Apos was skeptical about most things, but it was almost second nature for the Myrian to detect imminent danger.

Approaching slowly and cautiously he noticed them describing Apos' features to the wagon. "Hmm?"

Still in earshot they continued to blatantly spew details and accusations about the man. Now, feeling disrespected, Apos mouthed his thoughts aloud.

"Talking about me? Never wise." His gruff baritone voice let out.

With a smirk the man on the left leaned off of the wagon and greeted Apos with a polite bow, to which Apos responded with an emotionless stare. His eyes darted around the area, looking for signs of an ambush then rested on him again once sure there wouldn't be any additional reinforcements. He was sure he could kill the two alone.

Once the man came back up to his original posture, he spoke saying;

"I apologize my friend. We were only describing you to Master. She is our protector as we are hers."

Apos continued to regard him with a blank stare then finally moved. They did nothing. He took a step forward, toward the wagon to see and hopefully speak with the individually inside but was stopped by a rough hand which was pressed firmly against his chest. Apos didn't like being touched.

"Touch me again and you'll lose your hand and your memory of ever having it."

Followed by the threat, a woman's voice, middle aged and fine, broke the tension.

"Traveler why do you stop at my wagon? We are but resting as we go to the Spires."

"To the spires?" She knows the way. "As am I." Apos said simply. "However, I don't know how to get there. Would you mind lending me the directions?"

She eased her slender body out of her wagon to look at Apos. She had hair so blond it seemed white, though it darkened at the tips. With a face that would have someone else thinking she was in her early twenties. But Apos could hear the age in her voice. She wouldn't last in a fight, nor would her guards be able to protect from a powerful enough aggressor. Apos shrugged at the thought. He had no reason to kill them, but he formulated a plan to kill everyone he met. People changed, and so did their motives and friendships. One might never know when such a devious plan would need to be remembered and used.

"Follow this road down and take the path furthest left. After a while you will be at the entrance."

Eager to leave and return to his trek, he nodded his exit and left them without introductions and details. What an odd group of people, he thought to himself. Apos was almost certain they wouldn't return from the madness of the city, but that wasn't his concern. His concerns were that of his and Banir's safety and getting out alive. He had no time to worry about 3rd parties. So he walked. And walked until his legs burned, taking the correct path once it came, and after an hour saw Banir in the distance.

[Banir Ironwood]

Banir had grown bored once again, he needed to keep his mind focused and his body at the ready. But he also needed to make sure he wouldn't get exhausted. So with that he'd just practice, nothing too hard just something to keep him moving. Slowly he began to see enemies around him, his imagination providing something to throw a few punches at. Punching at shadows he went through the fights he had been in. He had no real style or form, just what worked at the moment. Brawling was something he was actually quite good at, unlike most things. The shadow threw a jab at his right side, he lowered his arm to block and countered with an elbow strike to the throat. Looking around he saw Apos aproaching, he was still a ways off and still had a few chimes to himself. His imaginary foe shuffled close, punching his gut and kneeing him in the thigh. There was no pain but he knew how he'd react. Try and slash the man's throat with his armoured hand. The greatest advantage of brawling, survive no matter the cost, win.

Soon he heard Apos's footsteps begin to near his attention changed quickly. The shadow vanished as his focus on staying ready, taking a less threatening stance he righted himself. Standing back against the fog thickened jungle he tried to ignore the sounds coming from within it. The moment that Apos was within range of him he began to speak. Pointing towards the fog as he did so. "About time, you got here. Things in there, sound big, will need, teamwork to take, them down." He needed a few more breaths to continue, the thick air flowed a little easier into his damaged throat. "Just to make, sure you know, we get paid, if they have, fewer injuries. Deaths will get, us nothing, they need to, be alive and, well. Kill only when, needed, understood?" Banir didn't speak in a threatening tone, or even one meant to challenge. He just wanted to make sure Apos knew, though his gruff and graveled voice no doubt betrayed him once again.

Standing as the sun slowly moved above them, as the jungle sounds surrounded them. Given the fact his armour made too much noise it would be unlikely for him to do any surprise attacks. However he was probably stronger and more resistant to injury than Apos. And since he wasn't as encumbered, he'd be a likely candidate for stealth maneuvers. The only thing positive about his lack of stealth would be to draw in and bait any potential bounties in the area. His mind was set on this, it was a good strategy and unless Apos had a better one. Or was able to take hits like he could, then it would probably be for the best. But first he wanted to hear Apos's response.

OOCJust doing it short and simple, little busy on my end ^^"