[The Sunset Falls] Two sides to a coin [Morvik Sutinal/Open]

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon had the same feelings as Niah about the tree and his forehead. There seemed to be no way to straighten this issue out. The Akalak had a split personality; it would be wrong to kill him or arrest him but just as wrong to let him go free. The girl showed surprising emotion, considering the fact she had just been attacked. Then the penny dropped.

Jonathon considered the odds. [i]Let me see. I stumble, while on one of my walks though the forest, not only two people who have also stumbled together, but I also arrive at the exact right time of an attack occurring. Strange enough. And then it turns out that not one, but both people have the same disease of the mind, or at least similar symptoms.[/i Jonathon couldn't believe it, but it was so. The only way this could have happened was by the will of the gods. Or an extraordinary coincidence. Whichever... The point was, he was likely being tested by the gods, and if he wasn't it didn't matter. It changed little.

Jonathon put his hands on his hips, shaking his head. "By Caiyha..." He was impressed by Ara's little speech, but he wasn't exactly swayed. The threat, on the other hand, had worked somewhat better. "Well, that doesn't solve the original problem. He has a dark side to him, something must be done about that. But I think both he and others would be safer if he was in the city and tied down by a job. The Syliras Knights can keep an eye on him..."

Jonathon held out his hand for a shake; it seemed appropriate, despite the fact she was a woman. Jonathon wasn't prone to making such distinctions anyways; his mother taught him his trade, after all. "My name is Jonathon DuFraine... Niah. Looks like we're headed for Syliras... and we need him to tag along." Jonathon walked over to the Akalak, now. His were in his hands again, but he didn't raise the weapons.

"Erm... Mister Akalak. We're heading off for Syliras now. We, eh, we want to get you... employment. Of some sort. And anyways-" He said as inspiration struck- "you wouldn't leave a woman to walk with a lone hunter back to the city after she had been attacked, would you?"

[Morvik Sutinal]

Morvik nodded slowly, not entirely sure what was going on. They were talking about some kind of condition, but he still didn't understand what it was. He didn't care much either. All he wanted to do was do his best to help society in any way.

"I will protect you two on your way back to Syliras and then I shall honor your wish to get a job."

Morvik's mind raced. He had no non-fighting skills, and skills at fighting weren't valued in the city. There were just no quests for an adventurer to make a living. The Syliran knights were the only ones who...
"I could become a knight! It’s the perfect job to help the weak and innocent!”

Felavik was doubtful of this entire venture. It was obvious that these nosy idiots were attempting to make sure that he was as tied down as possible, something that Felavik couldn’t abide. However, their idea did have merit. If they could get Morvik a job, it could mean less trouble in the future. And if Morvik became a knight, he would have free access to the wealth and information that he needed, not to mention free food. Of course, Morvik could never become a knight on his own, idiot that he was. However, if Felavik helped him along, it could prove to be a worthwhile encounter. Possibly.

Morvik smiled broadly and bowed his head, hoping for approval from the other two.

[Niahara Erskine]

"Pleased to meet you Jonathon..." Niah added and thanked the gods that the man agreed to her plan. After all it would be very bothersome if he decided to actually challenge Morvik. Of course she quickly regretted that she had saved Morvik when he started saying he was going to protect them on the way back and even worse when he said he wanted to be a Syliran knight. Niah's eyes widened in disbelief as she thought of how many things could go wrong when his darker side, who was clearly the one in charge, took over. A dark Akalak in the ranks of the knight... she shuddered. "I don't think they are accepting any more knights..." she thought quickly and glanced desperately at Jonathon for backup. "There are too many already. On the other hand they need hunters... oh yes many hunters." Morvik Sutinal in the Syliran Knights was a horrifying thought... Niah shuddered again.

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon grimaced at Morvik's suggestion. "Yeah, no open spots for the Knights. Erm... You could join a mercenary troop? I don't know any, but maybe..." This oaf, a hunter? Not likely. He'd have to know how to wield a bow, how to track, how to get himself a party to fight with... but a mercenary troop would work. Sorta.

"Or, er, a heavy lifter at some docks. Somewhere." Jonathon as out of suggestions. Of course, he had plenty that were illegal; the Spinning Coin always wanted new pit fighters, as a bandit, or in one of the less reputable mercenary companies.

Jonathon shook the ideas from his head. "Let's just get down to the Employment Office. Niah, you take us down there. Akalak, you stay in the middle, I'll watch our backs." This way Jonathon had an eye on the Akalak, although Jonathon would rather be leading.

Jonathon waved the group ahead of him, waiting for them to get in formation. He had his bow and arrows out, this time on the pretext that the boar might return. And there were dangers in the woods, anyways.

[Morvik Sutinal]

Morviks eyes narrowed in anger. The anger was fed and increased by Felavik but some of it was his own as well.

"Not a mercenary! I wish to help people not steal their money. I will go to the knights and ask nicely. If they do not accept me, then I will listen to your suggestions. Not before and not mercenary. And my name is Morvik, good sir."

he didn't understand why they were both so defensive all of a sudden. Had the knights done them wrong in the past? Why had the knights stopped recruiting? The original reason that he had come from Riverfall to Syliras was to learn as much as he could about these noble knights. If they were in trouble, it was his duty to try to help.

Why had the man suggested that he become a mercenary. A simple mercenary? Hired fighters who changed alliances as easily as they changed their clothes? No. Whatever he became, he would become a profession with a good reputation, and in which he could help people.

[Niahara Erskine]

'Argh...' Niah mentally growled. How had she managed to encounter such a weird character. One side of his was violent, sharp and an able fighter. The other was weird, with a keen sense of justice though totally misplaced and not very smart. He wasn't even aware he had a dark side; he thought he was the only Akalak not to develop a dark side or so he had said. The damage he would make among the Syliran Knights was hard to comprehend. "Ok, Morvik... we'll let you try and ask to join the ranks of the knights. But you still have to go at the Employment Office for that..." she wasn't sure that was the method, but if it wasn't the better for her. "There are some nice people there who will ask you what are your skills and where you wish to work and they'll guide you in the right direction. However every knight starts as a squire so prepair for some hard work if you get in..." Hopefully not, Niah though ruefully. "Come on, let's head to Syliras..." She added and started moving towards the city.

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon gestured for the Akalak to follow Niah, then took the rear. They'd figure it out when they got to the Employment Office. They'd have to take the person staffing it aside and explain the situation though. What a mess... If they let this phsyco into the Knights, they'd imperil the city.

On the way there, Jonathon decided to chat a bit. "So is there any particular reason why the both of you were wandering through the woods in the first place?"

[ooc=ooc] Short sentence post, but there's nothing to post about, really. Anyways, I suggest we end this thread and go to the Employment Office thread after a few more posts. Otherwise someone will have to NPC the Employment Office rep. [/ooc[

[Morvik Sutinal]

Morvik nodded and started to follow Niah. He took care to take the smallest of steps, almost trudging along to make sure that he didn't lose the two of them in the dust of his enormous strides.

"I was walking in the forest, looking for adventure when I saw Niah. I asked her if she needed any help. I think I must have fallen asleep after that and, when I woke up, you had chased away the boar already. I am a heavy sleeper."

Morvik grinned sheepishly and turned his head forward, ready to get to Syliras with his new friends.

Felavik grimly waited, as the trio started to walk back to Syliras. He needed a plan as to what to do next. How to make sure that Morvik would get a decent chance at becoming a knight. A life of free food and socio-political power appealed to Felavik greatly and he was iching to get rid of the two idiots who, he knew, would try to stop him on his quest.

oocAgreed, we should get over to Employment office.

[Niahara Erskine]

OOCOk, last post. I'll submit this for grading and we can head to the Employment Office and see what we do there. Niah walked forward... there was a day's worth of walking till the Syliran gates so they had to hurry a bit in order to get as close to the city as they could. Unfortunately none of them had horses it would have sped up the process a lot. "I was just having a nice time by myself contemplating the Falls. They are very good for meditation you know." She added her own reason to be alone in the woods and nodded upon hearing what Morvik said. She had to do something in order to stop Morvik from entering the knights' squad. Did they even accept Akalaks? That was a mystery she had to solve once they got to Syliras. Till then she simply had to walk there and hope nothing really attacks them in the woods. THE END

[Ataraxia]

Niahara XP Dagger (Thrown) +2, Running +2, Deception +1, Negotiation +1 Lore Lore: Akalak (basic) Misc Lost four (4) daggers, one (1) double edged dagger. Please remove these from your ledger, as they were thrown and not retrieved. Morvik XP Unarmed Combat +1, Dagger (Throw) +1, Lakan +1, Tactics +1, Observation +1, Negotiation +1 Jonathon XP Bow +2, Negotiation +1, Observation +1 Comments Hey guys, sorry this took so long. I sort of appreciated Jonathon's ooc message about combat in the thread, as people really should expect to get attacked (for real) if they are caught doing something against someone else's moral code. This is especially true out in the wild, where it's up to the individual to administer justice as they see fit. Also Niahara, i'd like to note that since your throwing dagger skill was technically 0, you aren't apt enough with them to throw them from each hand in rapid succession. This would require the dual wield skill (Yes, this goes for ranged weapons as well). Also, you'll see that throwing daggers is a separate skill from your actual dagger skill. I'm not sure if you intended your character to be primarily a knife thrower, but if you did you may want to swap your dagger skill to dagger (throwing). Good work everyone, and if you have any questions feel free to PM me. Peace out!