PM to join Mistaken identity (Crylon Stonecraft)

[Vasin]

Timestamp: 74th of Winter, 518 A.V.

Vasin leaned up against the side of a building, arms crossed as he looked out into the street. Various types of people walked by him from shoppers, merchants, and those of ill intent. All came to the Seaside Market for a number of reasons. But why was here exactly? Last time he was here it was to catch a debtor, and this time was much like last time. Someone had once more decided to skip out on paying Goldfinger back. That person who had decided to risk skipping out was an Isur by the name of Donkorkos. Vasin had used the information given to him by the office to find his place of business. A small dingy shop in the Seaside Market that specialized in the sale and repair of used gear. But all was quiet at the front of this store, no one came to check on it, and upon looking through the window no one appeared to be home. They had not opened up shop yet. No wonder they weren't paying Goldfinger, they probably were not open long enough to attract customers. Vasin figured he would lean on them, and shake some sense into them. If they decided to run or get violent, well there would be a new example in Sunberth of why one pays their debts.

Vasin had peered into the shop, through a dusty window the place inside appeared messy. One looking inside you could see the back room with an anvil. Obviously used for the repairs. More then likely they also kept the used gear back there if they had any. Vasin had tried to open the door of course and checked around back. No dice however as both entrances were well locked. He wasn't going to attract attention to himself by breaking down a door in public. Now one might wonder if Donkorkos had run, many might be inclined to believe so. But Vasin had other ideas, ideas that came to mind upon seeing the store. See, no one who tries to exit and flee without paying is going to bother locking up their shop. They are also not going to leave behind expensive and valuable tools for their trade. They would snatch and grab all they could, sell only what they needed to, and then hitch a boat by the docks to another city. With so little time between events as well, Vasin doubted they had even had time to arrange any of that. So he had decided, he would wait, watch, and then confront.

Looking at the passer-byes his eyes eventually came to look down the street, his arms crossed. 'There he was.' Vasin thought to himself upon seeing an Isur that matched the description. They were coming this way as well, must be them Vasin figured. As they approached Vasin would push off from the small shop, and step fully onto the street. Taking one step and then another as he put himself in their direct path."Well, finally came by your shop eh? I've been waiting awhile. But you know who else you have kept waiting? Goldfinger, and he does not like to be kept waiting. I suggest you get your act together and start paying him." Vasin said as he observed this Isur he believed to be Donkorkos. He spoke in a warning tone and a little pushy of a tone. But, not extremely aggressive, not yet. He waited for them to respond as Vasin looked them over.

[Crylon Stonecraft]

74 Winter 518 It had been a few days since Crylon had last been to the market last, then searching for specific items and tools to begin the work of tearing down the structure on Kelski's land. However while he had at the time found what he was looking for, he also had come to understand how little of the market he knew. It was after all a huge, sprawling, chaotic place, mostly filled with impromptu or impermanent structures. Due to the flooding those which stayed in place where rigged to keep above the flood, Though not all done properly, Crylon noted to himself as he walked about. It seemed most were lucky to still be standing, held up by little more than rotten lumber. Others had long poles at each corner holding them up, but had one or two missing which had been temporarily and then permanently replaced by random bits of wood or other debris or detritus. Something that to any sane Isur would be a temporary stop gap, if even that, was allowed to be a sustained part of the structures. Having spent time in Ravok, Crylon had spent a good deal of that time inspecting buildings which interacted with water. Such as floating structures on the lake, albeit of a different sort seeing as their was no tide coming and going and it was a placid flat lake. Not so with the ocean rushing in, or so Crylon supposed. Here though, the ground had to be accounted for, something not an issue above the deep of the lake, prepared and reinforced to hold up the building above which was in some manner propped above the flow of water. Perhaps, Crylon thought, the market would be a good place to start once he began his own design and building business. But then, looking about some more, he was less sure. Who here had the means or interest in a proper structure? The ungainly and lucky to be standing structures he saw seemed to imply not many did. Crylon walked about the market, watching and looking as he moved. Looking at the wares, the structures, the buildings, and the rot. Watching for those passing close to him, and farther off, for signs of ill intent. Violence. Theft. He was wearing only his common pants, boots, no shirt which left him bare armed and chested, and the pack he had acquired the last time he was there which had some... Odd qualities. His left arm glinted with a shine, polished flesh unmarred by the dirt or dust or rot of the city. Unmarred by anything, a mark of his gifting from Izurdin. Beyond this he wore or held little, not wanting to bring too much with him and risk drawing attention. Particularly from thieves or pickpockets. He had a few gold mizas in his pants pocket, a few more in his pack adding up to perhaps ten in all, but as he had no particular intent to buy anything he did not feel it wise to carry more funds. Crylon was heading down one of the ground level paths between structures when just such a miscreant accosted him. If he had been fluent in common perhaps it his words would have made more sense, but with his passing usage of the tongue the rush of words were in part lost on him. He got the gist, or thought he did, but felt as if he was missing something. Or perhaps the man simply was crazy. Or was actually not completing his words, implying or saying things without saying them, which might explain more of Crylons lack of understanding. The human, apparently trying to bar Crylon's path, stood there jabbering away, bleating like a goat at him. Crylon paused, turning to keep his left arm between himself and the threat, but also peering about to make sure a second person was not coming. He had spent enough time in Sunberth to have a healthy dose of suspicion, and it seemed a simple enough tactic to stop and confuse someone while another thief made an attempt at robbing him in passing. The direct threat was not always the most obvious one. Keeping a flat expression which highlighted his lack of comprehension, Crylon gazed into the humans eyes once he stopped talking and Crylon had made sure no one was attempting to sneak up on him. “My shop? Who... What my shop? I not shop, is shopping. Not have shop. Who think I be, who own place?” Looking at the building in question which the man had popped out from under, or against, Crylon could not help letting out a snort of disgust and derision. “Find offense, you say I own. I not own trash. This place, lucky stand. I make good structure, not this... Heap. Is rude, say not truth and say I own heap.” Puzzling over part of his words, Crylon held up both of his hands, showing his empty fingers. One hand black, like it had been carved out of obsidian. The other hand, like the rest of his flesh, was a pale bluish hue. His skin was also marked by raised silver veins, which seemed to be all the more noticeable on the black background of his left arm. “Fingers not gold. You bad eyes, not see? Not even know colors my hands?” It was clear from the mans tone and mannerism he was trying to be intimidating, but Crylon in response seemed to ignore this. Rather like an adult looking down at a child making a fuss, and continuing in a flat and calm tone rather than responding in kind. For now Crylon kept civil, kept his hands to himself, but if he thought the man was coming at him, trying to attack him or take from him... Then he would defend himself how he needed to.

[Vasin]

Vasin looked past his hands with a rather unamused expression as they showed them the color of his hands. Yep, to him, it seemed like this Donkorkos was trying to play dumb and confuse him. Vasin would sigh and shake his head as he looked at Crylon. It was difficult to understand what they were saying at the time."Listen, I don't care what color your fingers are. I work for Goldfinger, and you owe him money." Vasin said reaffirming his position in a straight forward fashion."Listen, Goldfinger can be a fair enough person if you just work with them you hear? But you can't just skip out on payments." he said before gesturing to the shop."Also, call it to trash all you like. But you made it that way Donkorkos." Vasin said with a pause."Or are you going to tell me you are not Donkorkos? That you just happened to walk over by this store?" Vasin asked him.

However, as he was asking him that Crylon might notice someone approaching Vasin from behind. A rather burly man wearing padded armor and a mean look in his eye. He was approaching the two of them rather quickly. Meanwhile, someone else was approaching from the alleyway next to the shop."You are two Finger sent?" Donkorkos said with a laugh."How weak. My new friend helps me send a message to finger man. Two new dead bodies for the street." Donkorkos added as he cracked his knuckles. Vasin looked over to Donkorkos and then to Crylon. Then the thought occurred to him that they mentioned a new friend. That is when he looked over his shoulder and noticed the rather nasty looking fellow quick approaching. They were at this moment drawing a short sword."Seems I got the wrong person..." Vasin said in a rather apologetic tone.

[Crylon Stonecraft]

As the human continued to speak, he realized Goldfinger was a person and not a description of his own fingers. Which made more of what the man had said earlier make sense besides the part about thinking he owed this Goldfinger money. “Don't. Not owe money, fingers of gold or others.” The human apparently thought he was someone, someone named Donkorkos. Someone who owed money to this Goldfinger fellow. And that he had made the trash heap next to them. He was not at the moment sure which he was more affronted by. Apparently his crime, if it could be called that, was walking in the vicinity of a business owned by the person this other person was seeking out. As if it was not just that, a business, and therefore would not have others walking by it. Let alone that it was in a market, which always had people about. Or was this man he was looking for an Isur, and he just assumed the first Isur he saw near the place was that man? Regardless, there seemed to be more faults in the mans logic than there were in a bad vein of stone after a quake. “You not very good, you job.” Before he could respond to the mans latest comment, and say that yes he was saying he was not whoever this man was looking for, Crylon saw someone creeping about and closer upon them. Was this man part of a trap for Crylon, to distract him while another of his compatriots came up? Or was this other man the target? A rugged human wearing armor at speed, drawing a short bladed weapon. His interest however quickly switched to another close by, another who was an Isur. According to the Isur he seemed to think Crylon was with the other human, and both were in search of Donkorkos the Isur. A bit humorous considering the conversation they had just been having. From his words in thickly accented common, perhaps a bit worse than Crylon's, he planned to kill the two as a message to this Goldfinger fellow. Crylon wanted nothing to do with such a thing, but he also did not think he should just walk off to leave the man to be killed. The Isur had a green arm, which meant he was of the Coglias clan. Which made sense, they were best known as fighters. Not builders, he thought to himself as he eyed the place he had apparently built. He easily had a good fifty pounds on Crylon, of the same height but with greatly added bulk. Crylon was heavy compared to a human due to an Isur's density, but this Isur was far beyond that. Crylon was of the Pitrius, which tended towards the opposite end of the Isur spectrum in terms of physical prowess and build from the Coglias. Taking a step forward Crylon held up his empty hands before the men, incidentally putting himself closer to the human than the Isur, and putting the human closer to the bare handed Isur. “Is not wanting fight. Is not here fight, just passing. Not with other. No need kill anyone though. What good do, kill? Is other way, solve things. And not think kill, maybe make finger of gold more angry, send someone better, rather than as think send message leave lone?” Talking, logic, reasoning, seemed a far better method of dealing with the situation. And was it not true, that killing the loan mans collector would only make him send someone better or more someones? He had not lived in Sunberth too long, but he did not think things worked quite that way that killing the messenger would have the sender leave things alone. If the Isur considered his fellow Isur's words though, he gave no sign. Instead he made a sound to draw the armed humans attention, and made a sliding motion with his hand. The human nodded, and abruptly swung into motion, coming directly at the pair with Crylon taking his initial assault. The Isur likewise began to move, though with their current positioning this put him directly in the path of the human who had accosted Crylon before. Crylon however had his own things to worry about, throwing up his left arm as a shield as the short sword from the human fellow came clanging down to strike his arm. It bounced off like it had hit another sword or similar weapon, but the human kept coming at him. Once. Twice. Three times, the blade clanging off his arm repeatedly as the man made swipes. Again, a fourth strike, bouncing off but pushing Crylon back from their force. As he drew back and made to swing again Crylon stepped forward within his arc, and grabbed the blade with his left hand. With a pull he yanked the weapon out of the mans hand, tossing it flying with all his might. Turning back to face the now unarmed man Crylon met his eyes in time to see and feel the mans mass come crashing into him in a tackle. With a sweep he was down on the ground, with the human atop him like a mounted horse.

[Vasin]

Maybe you right. No kill, just beat until ground meat!" Donkorkos exclaimed as he charged at Vasin while his apparent associate tangled with Crylon. Vasin looked as the hired thug struck at Crylon however quickly looked back at seeing the first swing clanged off of their arm."Listen, this is not a good--" Vasin said trying to reason with Donkorkos only to be interrupted as he threw a punch at Vasin. The sudden blow landed square in his chest, the effect being the akin to perhaps a solid wood club or more like a moon head mace. The blow knocks the wind out of him, and his studded leather armor didn't do much to stop the kinetic strike."All right, you as!" Vasin started to say only to be interrupted again just as he had regained his breathing. This time he just barely managed to duck down below the next punch. Quickly he launched himself forward and barreled into Donkorkos wrapping his arms around his trunk. Pushing forward Vasin was trying to send him into the wall. He started to punch at Donkorkos's side as Donkorkos himself began to elbow into Vasin's back.

Blow after blow he eventually drove Donkorkos's back into the wall practically feeling like he was being given instant bruises despite his armor. Having forces him into the outer wall of the building Vasin barely knocked the wind out of him before he grabbed Vasin's arms and pried them off. Then, he brought Vasin up and headbutted him before pushing him back. Vasin stumbled back but managed to catch his stance. This guy was outclassing him! "You weak!" Donkorkos laughed in a mocking tone. Vasin stepped forward to try and punch him square in the jaw! But suddenly it felt like he punched a metal plate as Donkorkos had caught his punch. Then with his other hand, Donkorkos punched Vasin in the gut! Vasin almost vomited right then and there but held it down as he then proceeded to think not with his fists! But instead legs. Hand still being grasped Vasin proceeded to kick Donkorkos right in the crotch! Donkorkos let out a massive yell and let go of Vasin who stumbled back once more.

Wiping his mouth Vasin drew his sword as Donkorkos rather surprisingly recovered quickly. Vasin took up an offensive stand, sword up high like he had read in the journal and waited."Enough games Donkorkos. Just give Goldfinger his money. I don't want to have to hurt you." Vasin said almost desperately as a rather angry Donkorkos shook his head before resuming his fighting stance."Your stance is a joke." Donkorkos said once more mockingly before in rapid succession he approached Vasin to deliver a punch. Vasin brought his sword down not aiming for his arms, but rather his shoulder. Donkorkos's move, however, was nothing more than a feint to bait out this response. Vasin's sword suddenly found itself in a vice-like a grip completely stopped."Nice sword." Donkorkos said inspecting it before looking to a surprised Vasin. Suddenly his other hand came up and instead of a punch grabbed his wrist and began to squeeze.

They then ripped the sword from Vasin's hand tossing it behind himself. Then in a fluid motion punched Vasin with some semblance of restraint."I get ready for this? Finger not even send someone competent." Donkorkos said as if disappointed by the fight before whistling to the thug."Leave, not worth minutes." Donkorkos said before shoving Vasin to the ground."You tell finger man that he gets paid. His men are sad but annoying. You not survive long like that." Donkorkos said his anger turned to annoyance. Vasin didn't say anything catching his breath and nursing his now bruised jaw. Donkorkos had bested him completely and had walked through him like paper. Well, at least it sounded like his job wasn't a complete and utter failure.

[Crylon Stonecraft]

Where before when he had fought unarmed he had been able to use his arm to his advantage, it quickly became clear to the Isur that when dealing with someone who knew what they were doing such an advantage only did so much. Firstly the man did not just outright tackle him, something that would be difficult to do with a solid Isur. Instead he sort of banged into his body, tackling and at the same time sweeping one of his legs to get him off balance. Then a push, and they both fell in a heap on the ground. Crylon however ended up on the bottom, with the human landing atop him. He may have managed to disarm the man, but clearly he was just as skilled if not more skilled without it. Crylon could hear talking and fighting from nearby all the while, he assumed related to the other Isur and the human who had accosted him, but he was to focused on keeping the man off him with little success to look at anything else. After that it was a confusing mix of motions and fighting and pins and more fighting. He tried to get up, but the human moved to pin him, learning his weight onto Crylon's left arm. Crylon in turn tried to use his right arm, punching the man at close range in his side. But due to how close they were the punches did little. He could not, he realized, gain any proper leverage in his position, or any speed or force with but an inch or so to move his hand. Any further and he would leave himself to open or hit the ground. The man had leverage, and knew how to use it. Managing to move around he tried to get Crylon in a hold, but his right arm was too much of a threat and so the human could not surrender his hold on it without opening himself to hits from the strengthened iron like limb. In turn Crylon tried to grapple, to wrestle the man to the ground from atop him and invert the hold, but this failed. In fact it somehow, he could not recall what the man did, ended with Crylon on his chest lying on the ground, his legs stuck out uselessly and both of his arms pinned by one of the mans. He then returned the blows, using his free hand to rain blows down on Crylon and his side. Luckily for him the human had the same problem as Crylon had been dealing with. No room to maneuver, no proper leverage for a good blow. That tied with Crylon's dense Isur bones and skin meant the man could not do too much damage. Or at least not quite as much as it would have to a human with their weak bones and thin skin. But the blows still stung, and would likely bruise afterwards. This only ended when the other Isur called out something, apparently saying the pair were leaving as the human hopped up off of Crylon and left him where he lay in a heap. Blood dripped from the humans skinned knuckles, but he grinned down viciously at Crylon all the same. After a chime Crylon let out a groan, rolled over, sat up, and slowly got back to his feet. His sides ached, bruises beginning to form already. He only then recalled that along with his bare chest he was still wearing his pack, not having taken it off at any point. Luckily it felt more or less weightless, and so nothing inside had slowed him down or jabbed into him. Also, perhaps due to this, nothing had been taken out. Looking over at the human who apparently had also been beaten up somewhat, Crylon coughed once to get his attention. “Think need ale. You know place close, get? Think you owe ale, or two, after accuse wrong. And after say make trash pile. Is like said, rude say someone make that.” Crylon would say this in such a fashion that it implied the Isur felt it had been more rude to say he had built the shabby building than to accuse him of anything else he had. Under his breath Crylon turned to the pile of trash in the shape of a building, and in Isurian coughed the word “Coglias.” It did explain a bit more why an Isur would build something so poorly. Cogilias might be Isur, knew how to smith like any Isur, but they were not builders. They were fighters. And clearly this one felt no need to break from this mold. “So, place drink close? Is needing ale.”

[Vasin]

"Aye." Vasin would say before coughing shortly afterward."I think I do." Vasin added as he would proceed to wipe his mouth. A rather nasty looking bruise starting to form on his cheek as well as several other places on his torso and back. He sat there for a moment longer before forcing himself up. The fight had been quick, brutal, and yet somehow restrained? Vasin was just glad that they had decided not to turn him into yet another corpse for people to find. That was one of the dangers of his job. Any job could turn into a potential beat down, or a potential stabbing especially here in Sunberth."No Man's Land..." Vasin mentioned as he looked to Crylon walking over to him."Perfect place to get some ale." close by as well, so that was a bonus.

"Sorry for getting ya mixed up in that scuffle." Vasin said feeling sorry for getting someone involved that had literally nothing to do with the situation."Wrong place, wrong time. Doesn't help that they didn't tell me what their arm color was..." Vasin would state rubbing the back of his head."Come on, isn't too much of a walk from here." he would say feeling a tad awkward about the situation but gestured him to follow. They would be heading to No Man's Land Tavern, a place where one could eat and drink. Those bruises Vasin had received hurt, but it was perhaps incentive to improve himself... or at least his gear. All things to think about, that was for certain.

"What's the name of the man that I am buying a drink for?" Vasin asked Crylon having never gotten a name, nor did he think he introduced himself. It had all happened rather quickly, and brutally near the end there.

[Crylon Stonecraft]

On his feet, Crylon nodded as the human agreed with his idea of getting an ale. Or two. Or more. He assumed that a local, or someone who seemed to have lived in Sunberth longer than he, would know of a place nearby to get a drink. It was rather dual purposed, as it served to get him a drink while also letting him learn of a new place nearby to get a drink. Like using the same fire to heat metal for a forge and heat a building in winter. Crylon wondered if his being an Isur had anything to do with the other Isur calling off the attack at just a beating, or if his words had gotten through to him. Or perhaps some combination of both? Hard to say. Isur as a Kingdom as at once unified and diverse. Whole and separate. They were both Isur, but vastly different for it. Apparently the human knew of a place nearby called No Man's Land, where a drink could be had. He had not heard of it before, but then there were quite a few places in the city he did not know of. The human, had he given his name or had Crylon forgotten?, seemed to be apologizing for getting Crylon involved. Or more, for him getting involved, not for said humans hand in it... As if it had been Crylon's fault for being there, to therefore get mixed up in things. An odd half apology if he had ever heard one. Or perhaps, Crylon thought, he was missing some of the meaning of his words. All the same Crylon followed along after the human at his gesture, letting him lead as he seemed to know where he was going. “Crylon. And you?” “Is place, No Man's Land, what of it? Not been before.”

[Vasin]

"Vasin, names Vasin." he would respond upon hearing Crylon's name and then question."Forgot my manners there." he said a little jokingly."Well, you see..." Vasin started as they kept walking as he leads the way to the place in question."It is a tavern. Nice place. Very relaxed depending on the time of day." Vasin said looking over to Crylon."Good drink, and it's in an unclaimed area. hence the name." Vasin said though paused forgetting something."Basically, no gang has a claim to the area it is in you see?" Vasin further explained having trouble thinking after taking his beating."Anyways, it also has a job board. Great place to go looking if you need extra coin." Vasin said before he would go ahead and look forward.

"It's just up ahead." Vasin said gesturing forward as they approached the tavern itself."Lets head take a seat at the bar." Vasin recommended as he came to a stop in front of the building. The tavern was cool and dim inside, and the sound of patrons could be heard from outside."It's going to be a little busy right now." he said gesturing back to the door."But a fine place as any. Good drink, and good food."

[Crylon Stonecraft]

One thing Crylon still had trouble with in dealing with humans was names. An Isur had a name, and a full name, and a complete name. Depending on which was given, it could be a slight or not. A sign of respect. Of disrespect. Names were complicated with Isur. With humans however, Crylon could not tell if the human he was having named was slighting him, or not. Let alone issues of giving false names, he had not run into so many with a single name until he had come to live among the humans in this land so far from the Isur. It was a wonder anyone kept track of anyone, with half of those he met having a single name or going by as such. Then again, perhaps they did not keep track, at least in places such as Sunberth... The alternative was that all of the humans he had met had systematically been looking down on him and only giving him a single of their numerous names, but that seemed a far less likely reasoning. He was an Isur after all. Blessed child of Izurdin. Of the Kingdom of Isur. But still, it did seem odd to Crylon that so many humans had only the one name. This thought was cut off as the human apologized once more, though only sort of. His apologies seemed so far to be as much not an apology, as one, yet also almost... A joke. Crylon listened as the human spoke of the place they were to visit while leading Crylon there. His qualification of it being a "nice place" seemed even more odd. He had barely seen a few instances of decent building and design and construction. A few more above average, and a few more than that passable average buildings. Crylon had the eye of an architect, and if this man in Sunberth thought the tavern nice, it was likely by his own estimates barely passable. But then, he had come to realize long ago since arriving, perhaps within a few days, that Sunberthians had a very different definition of quality levels in buildings. What they called passable he would likely call a hovel that should be torn down for the safety of everyone involved. His word unclaimed seemed to refer to the gangs he vaguely knew of, but had not seen much of directly since arriving. But then, he supposed perhaps he had seen such signs and simply not known it. His mention of earning coin there on a board for posting jobs seemed half interesting, though perhaps in the opposite fashion than the human meant. “Have job. But maybe hire, if good place find worker of... Specific talent.” Crylon's mind in this instance was referring to particular trades, though he did not consider how this might be taken by another. He though of working with stone, wood, metal, leather, other such specific skills he did not yet know but could use. Or learn of, and then do himself. He had yet to find something of building he did not have an interest in, or the capacity to learn given enough time and access to information or training. Once they reached the bar Crylon inspected the building, managing to fight the compulsion to snort in derision at what the human had called nice. But he still gave the human an expression that made it clear he doubted some of what he had said. Nice indeed... “Well, no holes walls not supposed be. Has roof. Is this as mean being... Nice place?” Perhaps Vasin would recall not that long ago when Crylon had called the other Isur's place a pile of garbage or some other such name, Crylon forget what he had said having named so many piles of garbage in Sunberth others thought to be buildings so many different things, but if nothing else this would perhaps reinforce for Vasin Crylon's scale in terms of quality. Walking inside he was half expecting the bar to be just that, an actual bar laid across two other things, but found it had an actual flat surface with some seats before it. Along with tables, though all like the building of questionable quality. Clearly they had either been poorly made, overly used, or manhandled by one two man drunkards. Heading inside Crylon carefully headed towards the bar, taking a seat gingerly. The seat however was not made for an Isur or their dense weight, and gave an angry groan as he sat down. But it held, if only just, and did not collapse beneath him. The building was dim, but light enough for Crylon to see by. When he saw a worker draw near he motioned for them to approach, and simply motioning at himself and the human stated “Ales.” He hoped that would be enough to if nothing else get them something to drink. Once the worker headed off Crylon would turn to the human and do his best to meet his gaze before speaking over the sound of those closest to them. “So what is you do, besides get in fights over people not owing money, with people owing money? Seems odd job.”