Completed Wanted: Unknown

[Graderson Elderstock]

45th of Summer, 514 AV "So… You're just gonna' hide out here?" "Yeah." "You're not worried about them coming for you?" "No." "They'll come. What'll you do when they do?" "Tell them why I left." "And why was that again?" "Independence." Graderson was laying out with a girl he had just met. She was awfully interested in his newest story, and it was Grad's first time telling this new piece of him: How he had run, and why he had run. He had fed his ego through the whole tale but Grad didn't really feel like he had done much. He just didn't like the buyout and one night he got up and went, taking all of his supplies with him. If Graderson had wanted to leave on good terms with the company he'd of had to sneak away naked and been shot with an arrow. No one ever brags about being a deserter. Grad felt like the coward his ex-brothers-in-arms were calling him, and partly because they were, but mostly because he had talked and walked like a sell-sword for so long. It was always about the money to them, but not to Grad. He had loved his brothers, but their quick submission to coin showed how ready they were to be lackeys. Grad had heard from a man in Syliras that money was only a means, and Grad always seemed to think of him at opportune times. "Why stay here? Why not just keep running?" "You can't run forever. I've done enough running." "But you know they'll find you here." "My problems are bound to catch up with me sooner or later. Even if I run now I'll be thinking about this years down the line wondering 'what if'. If I don't face my problems in the world how could I escape the ones in my mind?" "But why here? Do you have family here?" "No." “Then why here in this town? A handsome boy like you can make it big anywhere." "I'm not all I seem." "Clearly, but don't avoid my question." "Because, I know this place is a place I can be free. I have no obligations here, only my will. I’m sorry. But if you don’t know how I feel then you probably never will.” “I get what you’re saying.” “I just want to do what I want, and then I can get on track.” There was a pause. “Why do you live here?” “Because this is all I’ve ever known.” “And why do you do what you do? Why this?” “No reason really. I like men. I did it once or twice with a couple of friends who offered, and after that I guess I thought myself into it.” “It’s amazing how easily you can get used to something.”

[Graderson Elderstock]

The dinner downstairs was hot and filling. It was nice to eat and sleep well, Grad hadn't done that since he was a squire. It was always easy to eat and sleep when you were tired. Grad was tired when he worked with the mercenaries, but from walking. Grad would be so tired squiring he couldn't think but walking just made him tired enough to realize it. Grad still couldn't think straight when he was really exhausted, but he at least understood that about himself now. Grad was thinking of Syliras and how different he could be. That path wasn't his then, and it might never be, even though he admired the knights greatly. The keep was wiping down tables when he turned to Grad with a twinkle, "I got something for you!" Grad was a little surprised but looked at Max with no change. "Here." Max handed Grad a folded piece of paper, "Someone came here looking for someone. I don't put much stock in other people's doings but I figured if there's money in it I might as well pass it onto you." Grad had not known Max a long time but he seemed nice and Grad felt he could trust him. He felt like they might have a thing or two in common. On the inside of the paper was a description of a wanted person. There was no face to go with the letter but it described a taller male human with brown hair and eyes. They described him as a 'roguish type'. It hadn't taken them long to start looking. "Who brought this in?" "Nobody special. He looked like he wasn't the one really looking for the guy." "Did he say anything else?" "Only where to find him." "Where's that?" "I'll scribble it down for you. You really going to go looking for this guy?" "I've been looking for him for a while." "So how're you gonna get him now?" "I probably won't, and they'll get him, but they won't get what they want." "You're being awfully vague." "I know." "…" "I'm not a liar Max, but you ask unanswerable questions." "You just lied." "And you're really obvious." Grad took a sip of his tea, "Don't you already know?" "I got an idea." "That's good enough."

[Graderson Elderstock]

The air that night was thick with fog, and the sky was a deep blue with only a few stars standing out. Grad had spent the rest of the day preparing. There was a knock at the door and on the other side of the door was a young man in his late teens. "What did you find, Mikail?" "It's an apartment down in the sunset quarters, just like you thought. It's on the second floor of the building." Mikail looked to the side, then back up at Grad. "I gave a boy a silver Miza to knock on the door. No one answered." "Anything else?" "Nothing really, there was an open window and you can see the place real good from all of the nearby buildings. Didn't seem like there were any thugs around." "Sure enough." Grad handed Mikail five gold mizas. The boy was resourceful enough. Grad had met Mikhail just earlier that day walking the streets. He had shown Grad a very nice place to practice his shot. After some polite parle Grad gave him the task of casing out the address Max spoke of. Mikail gave Grad a nod and walked off. An hour later Grad was in the street. He worked the alleys to his destination so as to avoid plain sight, and from what he could tell he had not been seen. Out of the cover of the two buildings he lay between was the road dividing him and the address. Grad could see the right side of the building and the window Mikail spoke of was still open. Popping his head ever so slightly, Grad checked out both directions of the moonlit road. It was empty, but there were lit windows. Grad would have to be quick and silent. After a few quick looks left and right Grad ran crouching across the road as quiet as possible. The air was still safe and calm. Grad realized he could not simply climb up to the window. Behind the other building was a wooden ladder leaning against the wall, just tall enough to reach the roof. Grad braced himself and began to climb the ladder. As Grad reached the top, he kicked the ladder, and it clattered as it hit the ground. Grad scurried to the middle of the roof and slid on the ground. A man came out around back, yelling at the house, "Aye, Riggy! Learn to put this ladder upright!... Ya' good for nothin'." The man placed the ladder up against the building once more and Grad's heart began to race at the thought of him coming up; but then the door slammed and there was some yelling inside. Still, Grad waited a few moments before he moved at all. The open window had no lighting. The building was a short hop and Grad got across without causing much noise. The roof flexed with each step Grad took so he kept his feet light. Grad lowered himself slowly off the ledge, starting on his bottom, and then, with one hand at a time, speculatively twisted his body around, so that he was hanging off the side facing the building. He was close enough to kiss the walls, and Graderson was quivering, unsure of where to go next. With his feet dangling outside the window, Grad felt relief when he wasn't immediately dragged inside. Grad wedged his feet as far down the wooden carveout as he could, first his right, then his left, and his fingers trembled as he gripped ever tighter while he stretched downwards. Grad gulped, and left his right hand solo gripping the roof while his left fingered around trying to grip the top of the window. After a minute of frantic, unfruitful, and blind searching, Grad shifted his eyes' focus from his right at the roof to his left at the window, and, while he found the grip he had been looking for, his right hand began to lose its grip. Grad's nerves first directed his eyes to the ground and then his legs began to tremble violently. Grad took a breathe and tried to instill some faith in himself, and the shaking calmed but didn't end. Feeling he had to make a move now, Grad let go of what little grip his right hand had and reached for the side of the side of the window. When he let go, Grad's weight was displaced and he began to fall backwards slowly; feeling this, Graderson gripped the top of the window with his right hand next to his left, not by sight, but by feeling or knowing he had coming from his left hand. Settling now, Grad pulled himself slightly closer to the building and regained control of his body. Grad sighed in relief and unwedged his feet. He was gasping for breathe, but in reality Grad was not very exhausted. After collecting himself, Grad peeked inside, saw nothing, and ducked his head in the apartment. The room was black and empty, nothing to be gained. Grad looked in the darkness, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the blackness. He could make out the vague images of furniture, but nothing seemed to be alive. Grad could see a door frame with no door. In that room too there seemed to be nothing, although there was some light leaking through the door to the hallway. Grad squinted through the blackness and stepped towards the door. "You're awfully nervous for a killer, Grad."

[Graderson Elderstock]

"Who's there? Show yourself!" Grad already had his dagger drawn. His breathe was still. "An old friend." "Show yourself! Quit hiding like a coward!" "Oh, pardon me. I forgot about the light." Grad heard a clap and the room was lit. In the corner behind him sat an old man with a long white beard in a gray robe. The man sat very tall. His two hands were holding the top of the scepter. He had no garb to cover his face, and, while his face was wrinkled, his eyes were full of life. "I'm surprised, I thought you'd love the dark in here. I'm especially surprised you called me a coward." "Who are you? Are you with The Circle?" "I assure you I am not cooperating with The Circle." The Avaricious Circle of Flame was a large mercenary company that bought out his previous company, The Blue Bandits. "My name is Prydon Lightbringer, pleasure to finally meet you Mr. Grad." The old man extended his hand. He seemed harmless enough. He had the mage look going certainly, but he didnt seem malevolent in his use of Djed. Grad didn't let his dagger down. "How do you know who I am?" "I know many things." "How did you know where I was?" "I didn't. I knew you would come here though." "How's that? Why would you put out a hit out on me?" "A hit?" The old man chuckled, "Child, did you even look at the paper?" He pulled a paper from his pocket and opened it up, revealing the same ad Grad had seen. "It simply says 'Wanted: Unknown' and has a vague description of a man that resembles you. This could be a job advertisement." "What do you want with me?" Grad had not sheathed his dagger yet, but kept it as his hip. "Good. You have no reason to be tense, you are in friendly company. The ad was indeed a job advertisement. I have work for you." "Give me a reason I should do your dirty work." "I'll pay you." That was good enough. "And why should I trust you?" "Because you have no reason not to. You're a good soul Graderson, I can see that now. You think if I truly had any ill will towards you we would be talking like this? Think of the number of situations that I could have generated that would put you in a far worse position to defend yourself. I could have dropped you on your head from that window, even in my advanced age." "How do you know who I am? How did you know I was here?" "You came to me..." The old man looked up and paused, "You came to me in a dream. And I knew you were coming here the same way." "I have heard of prophecy in dreams." "Yes... Yes, you have. Can you shake my hand now?" Galvin shook his hand, which had, in fact, never been lowered. "Mikail will tell you what to do." "Mikail?..." "Yes, Mikail. That boy has helped me greatly these past couple of months. Now you must go. He has very little patience."

[Graderson Elderstock]

Mikail was downstairs and outside the door leaning against the wall. He had a young face and attitude, but his dark complexion and short black hair gave off a sense of maturity. It was perfectly black in the street now, and Grad's eyes needed to adjust to see all the grays in their different varieties. In the darkness Grad could only make out that Mikail was wearing black and had a peachy stubble. "Sorry. I had to mislead you, it paid, you know? The Pryor has known me for a little too, and I trusted him; that's why I told him when you asked me to case out his place. He told me to lead you there. It didn't seem as if he wanted you dead so I had no objections, no blood on my hands! You know?" "Well enough." "Good. Square?" Mikail extended his hand. Grad took it, "Sure thing. Now, what we doing, partner?" "Partner?" Mikail looked at Grad, "Hah! That's one way to put it!" His face became still. "I don't know why, but The Pryor wants you, and you alone, to steal this old knight's sword. I don't know much about him, the knight that is, but he seems rather old and decrepid. He's been living the hermit life for years, but the old guy's been taking walks lately right around this time." "And you know where he's staying." "Sure. It's in the slums. The Pryor tells me you're a little new so I'll walk you there, but only close enough. I must not be seen with you during the act." "Alright, shall we get going?" "I thought you'd never ask." The way there Grad walked in front mostly. A couple of times Grad stopped to ask if he was heading the right way, and each time he was. The two did not exchange words there, but the atmosphere wasnt tense. When they were finally in the alley where the man was living Mikail pointed out the residence to Grad. Mikail told Grad to come right back to The Pryor's once he was done. They then wished each other safety and seperated. The alley was encased in shanties and the run off streets had homeless throughout. Grad could hear moans from the alley, and it was unclear at times whether or not they were sounds of pain or pleasure. As he paced quickly through the alley Graderson brushed shoulders with an Akalak. His left eye was scarred over diagonally, and he had a chunk of his nostril gone too. The Akalak gave Grad a one-eyed death stare. Grad kept moving quick as he could. The shanty itself was just like the others. The sheet metal walls were crocked and the wood hung on an angle. It seemed as if the walls could collaspe any second. Grad poked his head in the break of the metal. There was a lit lamp on the inside and Grad could see no one. When he stepped in Grad saw how little the man lived with; aside from a waste bucket, a floor bed, the lamp, and a stack of books the old man's only possession was a chest. The chest was locked, but the lock fit right in with the rest of the shanty. Grad took his dagger out and wedged the tip between the shackle and the lock. With a good amount of pressure, the lock's faceplate broke off. Looking down at his left hand, Grad realized he had jabbed himself a little with the dagger. The blood ran for a minute and coagulated, and then Grad spat on it, rubbed it in, and wrapped his hand in a piece of torn bed sheet. The lock was still on decently well, and Grad wedged the dagger in again, this time pledging to be more careful. Using a little bit more force, Grad was able to break off the mechanism; the latch came off easy.

[Graderson Elderstock]

Grad was going to leave when he realized that he didn't have the sheath. He went back for it and reopened the trunk, which was unlocked. Grad rummaged through the junk before feeling the leather sheath. After lifting it out, Grad shut the trunk; the light was casting from behind him and a long shadow was now casting on the wall behind the chest. "Put the sword down." The accent was Syliran. Grad was kicked, and as he fell forward he twisted around. It was an older looking gentlemen in a hood with a clean shave. He held a dagger in his hand. Graderson stood up slowly with the sword over his head; using the side of the sword as a deterrent, he pushed the man on his chest towards the wall, and while the man staggered Grad rushed for the exit. "Stop him! He stole my sword!" The noises all seemed to stop on the outside as Grad ran. The sword was still in Graderson's hand as he fled, and he could feel eyes all around him. The tight packed shanties all held some new trove of escape, or danger, and they went on forever; the moon was shining down the way Grad ran. He ran a good long time before ditching into an alley. After making sure no one was there and catching a quick breath and wiping the sweat off his face, Grad holstered the sword. He walked to the other side of and Graderson peaked his head out into the next road. The coast was clear, and Grad began his pleasant stroll back to the Pryor's, he was excited to get paid. At that moment Graderson heard a heavy running. It was the Akalak coming from behind.

[Graderson Elderstock]

Grad started to run but it wasn't going to do him much for long. The Akalak was fast, and agility would be needed to evade him. Grad dipped down an alley, and the Akalak followed closely; Grad dipped up the street he the shanty was on and he went down past two alleys before scrambling into a third; he dipped up another long road and snuck into the next side street and hid behind some trash. Grad gasped and gasped until he slowed up in anxiety. The air was still and Grad was listening carefully, he often heard rumblings but it was unclear if it was his mind or an actual phenomenon. The Akalak suddenly walked past looking weary. He went on and after a few moments Grad walked out into the alley. He was slammed up against wall immediately, it was the old man again. This time he had a staff and held Graderson with a wooden stick high in the chest. "Why do you want my sword?" Grad did not reply. "Tell me!" The man pushed closer to Grad's neck. "I don't need your stupid sword!" "Then why are you taking it?" "Because I was asked to." The man lightened up. Grad grabbed the stick and swept the mans feet and the old man fell on top of Grad, and then they rolled over with Grad on top. They struggled and the old man tried to twist his weapon loose. Realizing they were in a dead lock, the old man shoved Graderson with the cane and twisted it to the side, so both lost their grip. The cane was tossed by the old man thereafter, but when Grad lost his grip the old knight snuck his legs between Grad's and flipped him on his back. The knight whipped out the same dagger from before. "Before I kill you tell me who sent you." Grad was holding the knife away at the man's wrist. "That gets rid of all my leverage." "Funny. I'll find out." The man drove with even greater force. Graderson twisted the man's knife hand outward with his opposite hand and shoved the guy off. As they stood Grad kept the man's hand and he was driving towards Grad's throat. The two stumbled into the nearby wall and panted. Grad tried elbowing the man, but the blows felt soft and the man pushed ever harder. Grad grabbed the man's armed-hand with both of his at the wrist and pulled it away towards his right side. The old man tried resituating for better positioning and Grad took the opportunity to shove himself away. Grad began running and didn't look back, it wasn't long before the man started panting and Graderson heard no footsteps but his own.

[Graderson Elderstock]

Grad knocked at The Pryor's door. It was questionable whether or not the old man would or could be up this late. Grad looked down at his feet and could see that he was covered in dirt, and it was even worse on his backside. There was a tear in his shirt on the right sleeve and Grad saw and felt a laceration for the first time. He touched it and it hurt to put pressure on the wound. It had been a few moments now and Grad was getting close to leaving. Nevertheless, The Pryor answered and was very welcoming. Prydon's face showed surprise, content, and understanding all at the same time. It was a minute before Grad had begun to realize that the apartment was now neatly furnished, and as soon as his eyes wandered The Pryor sat him down. He asked in great detail about the events. When Grad discussed how he was forced to break the man's arm Lightbringer said the geezer had it coming. "Will he come for me?" "I bet he will. But he needs to heal first, I bet he's pretty banged up after scrapping with a young fellow like you." The Pryor got up and headed towards a stove. The room was very nostalgic. He came back with a cup of tea for both him and Grad. "It's the Akalak you need to worry about, sounded like they were good friends." "He was big and fast too, not somebody I'd like to square up with." Grad sipped the tea, and it tasted sweet and funny. "What do you know of these men? What did you want with this sword?" "These men were not any acquaintances of mine, I simply know of them. As for.." "Know of them how?" "Nothing with any true backing, I just know of their existence. I know nothing of them other than where they dwell and that they mean you no good. The old man is a former knight and the Akalak is an outcast of his people, but I'm sure you already figured as much. I hardly know much else about them. I do know another thing Graderson: That sword is not that knight's." "Who's is it then?" "It's yours, certainly now!" Grad looked at the sword and it gleamed much like the other knights sword did. They all seemed to bring the good with them everywhere they went. "Your giving this to me? Prydon, I hardly feel like this is needed, not only is this unnecessary but I'd much rather prefer another form of payment. Such an object should be returned to the knights. I'm no knight, that's for certain." "No, keep it. You will be paid as well in due time, I need to generate the proper funds. As for now I can pay you in wisdom. There will be many trying times for you in the future, Graderson, and it is important for you to hone your skills. But believe me that there will be money coming your way." Graderson felt exhausted, and his mind was finally catching up with how worn his muscles were from the night. However, he felt comfortable; Grad looked at his tea cup and it was practically empty. "Is this rez?" "Haha, I figured you would know the taste. Yes, you could use some." Prydon took the cup from Grad and placed it on the nightstand. "And don't worry, I'm a herbalist so I knew just how much to give you." Grad wasn't even listening anymore. It had been a long time since he had took rez. He had been in Wind Reach and it was late Spring when the trees had finally begun to show again. He met a girl with a great smile. Her name was Lillian, or Grace, or something just as beautiful, and they had been watching birds fly over the blossoming trees while they sipped the tea in her courtyard. Before that they had met at a restaurant. They both sat alone and Grad pleaded her for company. She obliged and Graderson had thought if she did it out of pity or not, but if she was anything like him pity was never a thought in her mind, and Grad felt strangely like this girl. They had been eating fish sandwiches and Grad tried shellfish, and while they ate they drank wine and talked about how beautiful it was in Wind Reach right before the summer came. She had a very contagious smile and had been born four hundred eighty-nine years after the Valterrian. She asked Grad if he had ever thought that maybe none of the that ever happened; he said he hadn't thought of it but it was an interesting thing to consider. Grad said that he didn't feel the past in his day to day life, he had seen many people and done many things but they all seemed negligible to him. She asked Grad what the most important thing he had ever done was and he said it had been meeting her. There was a silence, and then Grad asked what she thought was the most important thing she had ever done, and she said it was becoming an Endal. The people of Wind Reach were very admirable from the way she spoke of them. Every part had it's place, and she said the parts all got their fair share. She was very proud to be an Eagle Rider. Grad asked what differentiated her from the rest of the population, and she said she was more fit. Grad figured that one mistake was not much to forgive and noted how beautiful and eccentric the Inarta were. She flipped her red hair and admired them with him.

[Avarice]

Graderson

Skill	Points
Storytelling	+1
Socialization	+4
Rhetoric	+2
Stealth	+2
Observation	+4
Running	+3
Climbing	+1
Acrobatics	+1
Brawling	+2

Lore

Sharing my story with a Stranger

Max: A man I may trust

Mikhail: A resourceful boy

The Circle: A mercenary company

The Pryor saw me in his dream?

Mikhail sold me out...sort of...

Beware the One-Eyed Akalak

Risking my life for a Sword

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Stuff?
Consequences, Injuries, Expenses, and More!

• Expense: -5 gm to Mikhail
  .
• The Old Man: Despite the hour, the altercation in the alleyway afforded the Old Man several clear glimpses of Graderson's face. He is a Sergeant of the Sun's Birth organization, and the Akalak is his direct subordinate. Having seen his face, the Sun's Birth will be on the lookout for Graderson and will attempt to kill him on sight.
  .
• The Sergeant's Sword: Graderson is now the proud owner of a Longsword and Scabbard, once owned by a Sergeant of the Sun's Birth. (Base quality/materials - Value: 19 gm)

Comments

Having made all the requested adjustments, here is your grade! It was a lengthy ride, but you've done well. All in all, this was a fun read! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to shoot me a PM. Also, please edit your post in the request thread to reflect your having received a grade. Thank you!