Open Time to Fight Back

[Graderson Elderstock]

16th of Fall, 514 AV Most of man's actions boil down to baseless split-second decisions with motives that are common only to him. That was how Grad had gotten to The Pig's Foot this night, except that practically everyone was there for the same reason: They had nothing better to do. Indeed, it seemed that very few drunkards had any real reason for being as they did; sure, it all started for a reason, they had some friends that drank, they were sad or lonely, etc., but that wasn't their purpose to drink anymore; it had, instead, boiled down to a trivial occupation of time while a body waited to be moved. And so Graderson sat their sipping his ale, knowing all of this, and feeling like he was just another sorry soul. Luckily for Grad, and unlike most of these poor fellows, he actually had friends, but if you were there you couldn't of told the difference because he was there by himself. Grad sat upstairs and had taken to a table with a window seat, so that from his seat he could watch the sunset. That had passed about a half hour ago, and as Grad finished his sixth mug of the night, he was getting prepared to leave; but the eyes are prone to wonder, and, right when Grad put down his mug and was pushing out of his seat, a disturbance caught his own sight. Outside a group of gang members was shoving a crowd of people around, forcing them up against the wall. It had the appearance of a robbery initially, but as it unfolded it had more the appearance of a conversation. The gangsters had their arms out still, so it didn't look to be a polite one. Graderson had seen something like this before, and he thought they might of been gathering tips or rumors on an enemy, but something remained off. The gang continued to shout at the small crowd they got and so Grad went downstairs to gather some more clues. When Grad went to the door the gang members were still shouting and waiving around their weapons. In total they were seven in number, and most of them just had daggers, but if you were unarmed that could be seen as a serious threat. The crowd was of four or five men, it was hard to tell because they were huddled up and dark. "Please! We don't want any trouble!" "And you won't get any, just so long as you go wit' what we say!" "But please, please, I don't wanna be a part of no gang! I ain't got the will in me to hurt nobody" "Give him here!" Another gang member brought up the man to what seemed to be the ring leader, who slapped the poor sap with the hilt of his sword. "You think I'm stupid? Why would we want you to be fighting for us? No, you're going to be doing something different for us." "What do you want?" The man was dribbling all over his face and clothes, and he had now soiled himself with this moment recent outburst. "Shut up!" The man hit again with the hilt, and this time he drew blood. The man, crying now, tried to scamper away with his legs still on the floor, and the lead gangster dragged him back and kicked him in the side. "Stay there! We're gonna' talk to your friends first." One of the others dragged the bloodied man off to the side and sat him down, giving him a kick for assurance. "Now which of you will be the first to join The Daggerhands?" Grad could hardly stand to see the sight of it any longer. Things like this happened, but wasn't one to play vigilante, especially considering he made a living thieving. This particular instance he did have a hand in, however, but he simply couldn't do it alone, Grad would need at least another ally in arms. Then perhaps, after a few of the gangsters were down, the people could gain the will to fight back.

[Mirian Jade]

Another sunset. Another day gone. Another night begun. It had been a number of days since Mirian had last visited the Pig’s Foot; she was not a fool, and with less than savory actions in her future and her past she was smart enough to stagger her nights here. There was no real pattern to when she found herself in the Pig’s Foot or when she found herself somewhere else, but it had been long enough since her last foray into the night life and was high time she returned. After all, what else was a respectable Sunberthian woman to do but make a living? There was a tense atmosphere around the building when Mirian stepped inside, one that made her stomach turn with uneasiness. The source was rather obvious in its actions, and so it took little time to spot: men just outside, in view of the windows, postures large and commanding. Tattoos on display for all to see. Mirian swallowed back a sudden lump in her throat, wondering why in the gods’ names so many Daggerhand would be outside the tavern. So much for a fruitful evening. Mirian made her way towards the bar, unwilling to find herself a table. She had to be careful now, keep low and hope the accursed gang finished its business quickly and went away. The last thing she needed was to get wrapped up with the Daggerhand. The gangmen’s words only grew louder as the minutes dragged on, growing more forceful towards those they were speaking at. They were recruiting, it seemed, and they didn’t seem to think ‘no’ was an acceptable answer. Mirian frowned to herself. The Daggerhand, desperate enough to stoop to pressganging new members? The conflict reached a head at the telltale smack of metal on bone, one that even Mirian could not resist turning to look at. The man who led them was angry, and growing more so by the second; what patrons were left in the tavern turned as she had done, although none seemed willing to step in. None, it seemed, save perhaps for the man that already had one foot out the door. His face was hard, yet still unsure; he wanted to help, at least, but didn’t seem quite willing to toss his hat into the ring just yet. Not even with that shortbow on his back. Not alone. Mirian was staring before she realized it, but even when she noticed the action she was hesitant to halt it. She was leery, truth be told; leery of the entire situation, leery of even the man who looked inclined to stop it. Unsure of even her own actions, Mirian turned and waved for the man's attention. "Hey," she said. Opened her mouth to continue, then closed it when she realized she couldn't think of anything to say. What words could possibly fit the situation? Hey, are you planning on shooting those Daggerhands out there?

[Graderson Elderstock]

"Hey" Grad peered over and saw a young woman waving towards him. She was pretty and had an interesting look, but he didn't allot the idea that she was much of a fighter. As he looked around he could see the situation had either scared everyone else away or caught their attention; nothing else made sense other than she wanted to fight with him, and, after some study, her eyes glowed with some fire. Grad was hesitant to ask still, however, fearing she worked for The Daggerhand, but he felt his suggestion would allow him to make proper judgment of how to react to her. "Hey. Tell you what, I can't stand for this myself, and I'm judging by the look in your eye you feel the same way. and that look ain't something you can fake. You got a big knife there. Wanna' mop these fellows up? If we get the jump on the group two of them we'll be down right off the bat, after that numbers will favor us. I know you can see the bow on my back, so you know I'm ready. I'll shoot the ring leader, and that'll favor us greatly because it gives one of those plebs a chance to grab his sword. What do you say?" Grad realized he was overly verbose, which was the mark of a liar or someone who had nerves. Still, he knew that if this girl was as charged as she looked she wouldn't hesitate much. He also knew that if she wanted to betray him him looking at her until the approach wasn't unwarranted. In the corner of his mind, a voice whispered to Grad that if she didn't immediately stab one of the goons he would shoot her down instead. Indeed, he would be hot but Grad could run, and then he would of exacted his revenge. Still, Grad tried not to remain so cynical. He knew that look; he had felt that look on his own face; and the fire piercing her eyes was evident. Grad trusted her as much as he could trust anybody in Sunberth. After a brief moment between them, Grad gave her a nod and raised his eyebrows to insist on the inquiry.

[Mirian Jade]

“Hey,” he said right back to her. “Tell you what, I can't stand for this myself, and I'm judging by the look in your eye you feel the same way. And that look ain't something you can fake.” Mirian blinked. Her? A look in her eye? Something flared up inside her at his words––anxiousness mostly, but there was something else there. Something small, not really more than a spark, but it was there. “You got a big knife there,” the man continued. “Wanna' mop these fellows up? If we get the jump on the group two of them we'll be down right off the bat, after that numbers will favor us. I know you can see the bow on my back, so you know I'm ready. I'll shoot the ring leader, and that'll favor us greatly because it gives one of those plebs a chance to grab his sword. What do you say?" Mirian’s mouth dropped open. He was planning on attacking them. Not only that, but inviting her to join him. “I, uh…” Mirian said intelligently. She looked out the window again, at the scene that was still taking place outside. He was right. If they played their card right, it could be possible to drive the off. Almost before she’d though the thought her logical side kicked in, pulling at her in warning; these were Daggerhand. Maybe not in their home territory, but Daggerhand nonetheless. But then again, these were Daggerhand, said her other side, the one that held the strange spark close like a precious treasure. How many people could say they’d driven off a Daggerhand? What would it feel like? Already her strong hand was itching for her knife against her will. But how many people could say they’d survived a tangle with a Daggerhand? What would they do tomorrow, when they’d recovered? Would they come after her? But she could hide, her illogical side reasoned, spark held high. She had her shawl. She could wrap it around her face and they’d never see. Mirian looked back to the man who had offered, shifting her weight from foot to foot in indecision. “They’re Daggerhand,” she said, as if that was an explanation in and of itself. “I don’t… maybe… if you go first. Go first and I will follow.”

[Graderson Elderstock]

“I, uh…” she said. Grad didn't know what to think of her now, and he was considering the idea she wasn't as serious about this as she initially seemed. “They’re Daggerhand.” It was a stiff consideration, one perhaps Grad had overlooked; ethics had triumphed over common sense yet again. Grad knew in the back of his mind that if anything were to go wrong here there would be hell to pay, especially considering he was already on The Sun's Birth's hit list. This was just another thing he would have to deal with, but Grad had already thought about that. “I don’t… maybe… if you go first. Go first and I will follow.” So she wasn't kidding, but did she even know what to do? Grad wondered if she had ever been in a scrap like this. People were going to die here, and now wasn't the time for any doubts. "Listen, sweetheart, we gotta' do something here. These people are damned if we don't." Grad grabbed her softly at the arm, "You can do this, but you don't have to; no one expects anyone to do nothing here, but do you see them?" Grad pointed towards the crowd, "They need your help right now, and you're the one who's going to make the most difference right here," Grad said, looking into Mirian's brown eyes, which still glimmered with that same intensity. "If you can use that knife, now's the time. You can do this," Grad said, gripping her shoulder and nodding. "I can make the first move, but it's for everyone's best interest if you do. If I fire an arrow right now and down that fellow our cover's already blown, and he'd be dead, but we'd only have one. If you run up quiet first we can synchronize and kill two birds with one stone." The man who had been bashed with the hilt was writhing now, Grad could see he was covering his eye; he needed a doctor. The gangsters showed no interest in the battered man now, and the rest of the group was being shoved around and abused. There was a man who had obliged to be part of the gang already, and he was isolated now and was standing right by the Daggerhand. Chances would be that if someone acted out now he would have a good opportunity to strike, perhaps even grab his guard's weapon, but he needed the confidence. The ring leader stood on and watched while the rest of the gang was still encircling and shoving the other three men around, who looked more fearful by the moment. Grad could see, however, that the gang was now prime for a strike; one of the gangsters had taken to onlooking with his boss, with still a good distance between them, so that if Grad did miss Mirian wouldn't be in immediate danger. The rest of the gang was still wrapped up in the recruitment and would need a second before they even realized what was going on. "Another thing, we have to kill all these guys if we want any chance of staying off The Daggerhands' hit list, I hope you hadn't considered any other option. That man over there, the one on the left, he's your best bet, you should have a moment before anyone can react, and I'll already have an arrow in the head one's back. Chances are I can fire another before I get attacked too, and I got this trusty longsword for that too." Grad grabbed his bow off his back and kept it at his side. "I'll draw and fire when you make your effort. Are you ready?" And he really hoped she was. Grad hoped he had inspired her well enough.

[Marone]

If there was a tavern Marone would go to it would be the Gold Lodge mainly because as a member of the Sun's Birth he gets his food and drink for free. The Pig's Foot was its opposite and Marone wouldn't be here unless he really needed too. Other members of the Sun's Birth has told him that there were enough Daggerhands all around the area it might as well be Daggerhand territory.

And Marone hated those Daggerhands. Hated them.

But as much as he hated those Daggerhands Marone wouldn't be going against them for any reason unless he really needed to. If he was one of those men being press into joining their gang he would be fighting back before they tried to kill him for being a member of a rival gang but he wasn't one of those men. Marone was at the bar when it all started while he was waiting for the person he was supposed to meet and the bar was where he still is long after someone shouted about the commotion outside.

He looked out and saw the men and they people they captured. Being unarmed it was probably their own fault if they couldn't defend against the daggers of the daggerhands. Marone being a smith knew what those weapons could do especially since he employed one for his own protection. The leader's sword on the other hand would be the thing to look out for especially if he was any good at wielding it. Marone saw no good reason for anyone to get into this.

Which is why he just couldn't believe the exchange he was hearing going on between the man and the woman.

Marone had a better way to deal with situations like this and that is to lay low and not draw any attention to himself as a target. This is especially true since the commotion was outside. As long as Marone remained in the building until the Daggerhand's dispersed he wouldn't have a problem going home back to Sun's Birth territory safely. Maybe give a warning to some of his fellows if they choose to walk around the streets alone but that was about it.

For now Marone was sitting perfectly still with a glass in hand at the bar. Perhaps if anyone noticed him from the start for some reason he would've slouched from when he noticed the Daggerhands so the people relatively bigger than him would get their attention instead. Besides quick glances to the window to see how the situation was progressing Marone was doing his best to hide from the Daggerhands.

Except for that one time he straightened himself and gave a nod in agreement with the woman's explanation the group was Daggerhands before going back into a slouch.

If someone actually wanted to live a long life in Sunberth jumping in to help anyone that got into trouble definitely isn't the way to go about it. Marone included that just wasn't the way of the people that live in the city.

[Sasha Bedlam]

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[Mirian Jade]

“Listen, sweetheart,” said the man. “We gotta' do something here. These people are damned if we don't.” That was what this was about? The man was prepared to charge headlong into a Daggerhand roundup because of… what, chivalry? He grabbed her arm as he spoke, and Mirian regarded the appendage uncertainly; his motivations were shaky grounds for what he intended to do. So why wasn’t she just turning, going away and refusing to get involved? "You can do this, but you don't have to; no one expects anyone to do nothing here, but do you see them?” He pointed. “They need your help right now, and you're the one who's going to make the most difference right here.” Mirian blinked again. “Me?” "If you can use that knife, now's the time. You can do this.” You can do this. Mirian’s hand went to her knife automatically. You can do this. Did this man realize what he was asking of her? "I can make the first move, but it's for everyone's best interest if you do. If I fire an arrow right now and down that fellow our cover's already blown, and he'd be dead, but we'd only have one. If you run up quiet first we can synchronize and kill two birds with one stone. Another thing, we have to kill all these guys if we want any chance of staying off The Daggerhands' hit list, I hope you hadn't considered any other option. That man over there, the one on the left, he's your best bet, you should have a moment before anyone can react, and I'll already have an arrow in the head one's back. Chances are I can fire another before I get attacked too, and I got this trusty longsword for that too." Mirian’s grip on her weapon tightened. He made it sound so easy, so easy that accomplishing it seemed possible. She looked back outside at the scene that had caused the entire thing, watching the gangmen and their quarry from within the warm, safe walls of the Pig’s Foot. When she looked back at the bowman, she knew full well that she was looking at a fool. But even more so, she knew she was looking at a dead fool if she didn’t help him. Mirian let out an irritated huff. “I will do as you say. But only if you go out first. Circle to the other side and draw their attention. Talk to them. Curse their mothers. Do a handstand. I don’t care. Just make them look at you. I will kill that one there, and then they will be looking at me. That is when you…” She trailed off, suddenly becoming aware of exactly how risky it was to say their plan out loud. Shifting uncomfortably, she said, “This is a stupid place to talk. No more planning. If we’re really going to do this, we need to do it now.”

[Graderson Elderstock]

“I will do as you say. But only if you go out first. Circle to the other side and draw their attention. Talk to them. Curse their mothers. Do a handstand. I don’t care. Just make them look at you. I will kill that one there, and then they will be looking at me. That is when you…” Grad had appreciated the girl's passion, but now he was starting to resent her whimsicalness. Her overly cautious behavior showed that she had never been in any true scrap before. The distraction that she wanted was meant to draw attention away from her; she didn't want to make a stand, she wanted to protect herself and fight behind shadows, that's if she even wanted to fight. This battle wasn't one of the shadows, it was a blood bath waiting to happen, murder in the streets. With all the attention on Grad he very well knew he couldn't make use of his strongest asset, his bow, and would have to rely on a weapon he hadn't even used, which truly meant that he would be hoping for luck and the aid of others. No, Grad wasn't going to follow through with this new plan, it made no sense. The gang members would draw in on him, if only a little, and eliminate space, which was the only thing Grad had working for him. “This is a stupid place to talk. No more planning. If we’re really going to do this, we need to do it now.” What was she thinking? If she had understood the situation, Mirian would have known that it no longer mattered what talking would be done, because it already had been done; there were onlookers to the discussion since it had begun, a man with a bow and a girl with a knife is not an uncurious sight here. Also Grad had been preaching action for some time while she hesitated, and so he knew that Mirian was a little overwhelmed by the thought. Grad knew his plan was a bold one, but it was the best shot that they had. Eliminating the most amount of targets in a single coordinated strike would be their best bet. The bandits would be in a state of shock for a moment, and would be without the coordinating body that was their leader. Hopefully this state of dismay would rally the common folk and tempt them into fighting back. Perhaps even the bloodied man would join in. "Listen, I know you're trying to do you best, but it really won't work like that. A distraction just draws further attention to us. I trained in military intelligence and have coordinated situations like this on an even larger scale. Rest assured, being unnoticed and striking fast is our best bet. Now, I'm going to fire this arrow in five seconds," Grad said grabbing it from his quiver. "If you wanna help out I suggest you get going. If not, nice talking to you, name's Grad."

[Marone]

'Gods. Why couldn't these people have their discussion at one of the tables or something?' Marone found himself asking silently.

He just couldn't believe it. Believe that the Daggerhands had the gall to openly recruit people from the streets especially when there are other gangs which would like nothing more than to use it as an excuse for conflict or believe that there were people actually thinking of fighting with a gang when it didn't even involve them. Even worse was Marone couldn't believe those people were crazy enough to make their plans where anyone can hear them.

Worse of all? They were making their plans near him at the bar. What would happen if Marone was dragged into whatever happens next? There was no reason for that to happen to him. Not when he didn't sign on for it. Not like the two too busy making their plans out in the open. If he had just made one look at their direction or even recognized one of their voices Marone might have his reason. If not to help them then to go against them.

But he didn't and instead he was too busy keeping to himself in his spot at the bar. Perhaps if he didn't make any movements or sounds he will be ignored by the Daggerhands the same way he was doing everything he possibly could to ignore the events happening near him. That was the right actions for those still thinking straight. Unfortunately he did not meet much success with that.

Even as he tried to ignore the discussion near him Marone couldn't ignore the pleas of the victims being pressganged, the taunts of the Daggerhands and the blows which accompanied them. How could any man do it? The best he could do was keep reminding himself the recruitment didn't involve him. However Marone's hand unconsciously started to feel for the dagger by his side. Just in case he needed it. The fact he made weapons didn't mean he didn't know how to use them.

Although Marone hopes he wouldn't have to use his. The man? He was right. Whatever they had planned out loud was already done in the minds of those that overheard them Marone included and if they didn't follow through the Daggerhands weren't going to care. They would only care that the pair dared to think of opposing them in public. As far as Marone was concerned the man's plan was horrible since it will be executed near him but not the woman's plan.

Any plan was a good plan if Marone could go home without being accosted into joining the Daggerhands which worked with both. Either the pair kills the Daggerhands or they get killed by the Daggerhands but not before doing enough damage that the group would have to leave and Marone himself soon after.

Which was why his face whitened when he heard Grad declare he was going to execute his plan. His plan which was completely horrible as far as Marone was concerned. In five seconds.

'Damn you Grad, you lunatic.' Marone thought to himself before bracing the bar for the inevitable. He stooped close as near as it would allow him hoping that Grad's grand attack will keep all eyes on the military man and not the weaponsmith which was trying to hide.