Solo [Job Thread] Day to Day

[Kain Retsill]

Kain Retsill

13 of Winter, 513

The light of the rising sun drifted in through the window of his house. With it, the cold morning air washed over his face. Goosebumps rose across his skin as he slid off of the stiff object he called a bed. Winter in Sunberth. Soon, the hearth will have to be lit all night. He rose up, sliding on his pants in the process. The leather was cold on his skin. With the pants on, Kain knelt down on the ground toward the sunlit window. Kihala, Goddess of all that lives in this world, thank you for bestowing upon me your gift. Letting me to take breath in this day, to enjoy the winter air, and to let me experience your light for one more day.

As he rose to his feet, he grabbed his faded shirt, and threw it over his head. Scratching at the skin beneath his mangly beard, he picked up his leather belt and scabbard. The tulwar inside was the only thing that keeps him alive. Not for protecting him, but it allows the jobs he takes. Defending a merchant with one's fists generally does not work well. Looping the belt around his waiste, Kain tried to remember where he was supposed to be working today. A new merchant means a new possibility for issues.

With the cold air, Kain decided to grab his wool cloak, as with his leather armor, out of the chest sitting in his room. Sitting on the bed, he slipped his cold, leather boots over his feet. Sliding the armor over his head, he hopes that neither armor nor tulwar need be used on this day. What kind of man is this merchant? The listing asked for more than one guard. Walking toward the door, he threw the cloak over his shoulders and grabbed a hard piece of bread from his table.

The air was cold in the streets of Sunberth. Glowing above the horizon, the sun rised slowly to show the day had begun. These streets have been Kain's home since the day he was born. Making his way through the myriad of passages known as Sunberth, Kain stepped out in to the mass of shops he is supposed to be working in. The only description he had was that the man was short, round, and jovial. An obvious outsider.

Scanning the faces of everyone on the packed street, Kain made his way down the road. This road led towards the river, and wealthy outsiders liked to be near water. Old, young, shady, and shifty-eyed people crowded the street, but no 'jovial' person was within sight. Continuing his pace down the street, Kain heard a strange laughter. Something akin to a hog with a chest cold. Following the sound, Kain arrived at a shop with a multitude of cloths and jewels. What does one need with such frivilous things?

The person standing in the stall was not a short, round man, however. As Kain went to turn around, he noticed a man, dressed much as Kain was, talking to someone on the side of the shop. Positioning himself so he could see past the side of the stall, Kain could make out a man who could only be described, here in Sunberth, as a target. This must be him.

[Kain Retsill]

Kain Retsill

13 of Winter, 513

Kain approached the small man. With every chuckle, his whole body quaked. The clothes he wore breathed wealth. This man, without a doubt, did not belong in Sunberth. "Excuse me, are you Mr. Geinsbo?"

The short man looked Kain up and down. As his eyes squinted, the jolly expression faded. "I do not like it when people know me, when I do not know them."

"My name is Kain Retsill. I have come here for the job you posted."

"Hmph. You are a little too late 'Kain Retsill,' better luck next time." The jovial expression was all but gone from his person. Kain nodded and began to turn away from the man. "Bwahahahahaha! You should have seen your face!" Kain turns back to see the quakes returned. "Come! Let us talk business, Mr. Retsill!"

"Just call me Kain." This is going to be a long day.

"Bwahahaha! Call me Fren then!" Fren explained that the job Kain was responding to was a personal bodyguard. Unlike the jobs Kain normally took, which involved watching a shop, Fren wanted to explore Sunberth. "So, you just spend the day watching my back eh? Maybe I will watch yours! Bwahahahahaha! I assume you know your way around this hellhole?"

Why must he laugh constantly? Kain had always had a dislike for those who were wealthy. Especially so for those who enjoyed it as much as this man. "Yeah, I know my way around. Why come to Sunberth if you feel it is a 'hellhole'?"

"Ah, I barely make sales here. I only come here for the 'specialized' features of the town." Kain could only guess what he meant by that. Everything in Sunberth seemed to be unique, compared to other cities across Mizahar. "We shall leave at the 9th Bell, okay?"

"When ever you want." Kain looked out amongst the crowd of people in the streets. This man wants to wade through this? I know I will be busy today. Kain understood the dangers of walking through Sunberth. With such a target as Fren, those dangers would only multiply. Stroking his beard, Kain stood there patiently. His eyes wandered back at the shop.

Many people stopped to look, but nothing but window shoppers. The thin man behind the stall had a grim expression. Kain could only imagine how it must be, to stand here in Sunberth, as an outsider. Only an employee, not someone with money and power like his boss. If they linger here for long, this man will most likely die. Outsiders need to learn how not to look like outsiders. I am tired of all the bodies...

Kain stood there, waiting on the joyful man to be prepared to leave. As the fat man waddled back and forth, barking orders to his workers, Kain could not help but wish he had gone else where for work. Every step that Fren made seemed to recoil up his body from the impact. He waddled up to Kain and leaned towards him; putting his hand up as to cover what he was saying. "Can't find good help now adays, thinking about just getting me some slaves instead, bwahahahahaha!"

At least the man knows how to smile. That seemed to be the only redeeming feature of his that Kain could discern. Looking up to the sun, it was finally detached from the horizon, and making it's climb up the sky. Gnora, give me strength.

[Kain Retsill]

Kain Retsill

13 of Winter, 513

"Bwahahahaha! Oh, and I should tell you about the time I was in Lhavit!" The two men walked down the street together, Kain about a half step behind Fren. The talk and laughter had not yet ceased since they left the merchant's stall. Every so often, Kain would through out the acknowledgement that was needed, but he took no pleasure in the conversations. These two could not be much more different.

People stared at the pair as the passed; or more precisely, they stared at Fren. If it had not been for Kain constantly scanning the crowds for potential thieves or assailants, his charge would probably be dying in an alley somewhere. The first place Fren said he wished to visit were the Blood Pits. Tuning out the sounds of the man next to him, Kain thought to himself. Does this man really understand what kind of place this is? Kain knew all too well. The Blood Pits was a place he abhored. As such, he never thought he would see the day that he attended a fight.

"You should have seen their faces! Bwahahahahahaha!" Kain wondered if he even knew he was talking to himself. The man seemed to not care, as he laughed out his tales of his travels. The people in the streets just stared at the fat man. There was one person who seemed uninterested in Fren. He was walking in the opposite direction of the two, and headed torwards Fren.

Seriously? Could you be more obvious? Why would a rook thief want to go for a high target like this? Kain put a hand on Fren's shoulder and pulled a little as he spoke. "Fren, stand to my left."

"Ooooh! So serious Mr. Mercenary! Bwahahahahaha!" Fice face jiggled with every seize of his gut. His legs waddled himself to Kain's left side as the wouldbe theif approached. Despite the theif not looking at Fren, it was obvious he noticed Kain had positioned it so nothing could happen. The theif began to veer away from Fren's path. "We have been walking for a while now, how about we take a break and rest?"

It had hardly been a bell since they began their slow walk through the streets. "If that is what you want. I know a place where we can sit near here."

"Well that sounds lovely. Lead the way, my savior. Bwahahahahahaha!" It was as if the only thing this man could do was laugh. As Kain ushered the man to a tavern near by, he could only imagine that it was something akin to herding an animal. Kain knew now that he wanted nothing to do with farming. Showing Fren the way to the tavern, Kain kept an eye out for any other threats. Everything seemed to be clear.

Walking in to the small tavern, Kain glanced around the room at it's inhabitants. There were a few men at the bar, a varied amount of people sitting at tables, and only two people working. A young woman, red hair probably meant she was of Inarta descent, and a man behind the bar. The young Inarta was walking between the tables, serving out what little alcohol people were buying. It was only after the 10th Bell, so not many people were here to drink. Leaving the warmth of the building while drunk would not be wise for this time of the day. You never want to stand out in Sunberth.

Unfortunately, standing out is all that Kain can do with Fren by his side. Kain walked, Fren waddled, over to a table at the far side of the tavern. "Sit with your back to the wall."

"Always with the serious look. Try to lighten up a little, would ya? Want something to drink? No? I do!" The man waved around his fat stub he called a hand, getting the attention of the Inarta hostess. She smiled and came walking over.

"Well hello sir, how may I serve you today?" Clearly the woman knew her trade, as she flirted while asking him what he wanted to drink.

"Give me the most expensive thing you got! In fact, get me two! Bwahahaha!" The Inarta smiled and walked away. "Ever had an Inarta Kain? Some of the best. Maybe I should be asking to buy her instead, eh? Bwahahahaha!" At this point, everyone in the tavern had already stared at the chubby man, and gone about their business. All but two men at the bar. They continued to stare, until they noticed Kain looking back at them.

"Let's just not spend more time here than we need to, ok?" The young Inarta was walking back with two mugs of some liquid in them. I wonder how expensive alcohol is any better than the cheap stuff? The woman set the mugs down in front of the smiling merchant, then looked over to Kain. "Nothing, Miss." Fren watched every step as the woman walked away.

One of the men who were watching Fren, only a little while before, suddenly slammed the other man's head in to the bar. With the thud, the first man started to slide the other man across the bar. "Oh! Entertainment, how joyful!" Fren watched intently as the fight was brought towards the table he was sitting at. The man against the bar managed to grab the other. He punched the man in the gut, and tossed him away. Right in the Fren. Helping to lift the man up, the merchant gave some words of encouragement.

Kain quickly stood up, grabbing Fren's second mug of alcohol. As the man walked away from the table, Kain swung his arm and struck the man in the back of the head. Hard glass shattered through the air as the man hit the ground. Kain went to his knees as Fren asked him in a panic what he was doing. Pulling a sack of mizas out of the man's pocket, Kain tossed it to the merchat. "Wha- wha- Wait, this is my money!"

Kain looked around the room, quickly, to see the other man coming at their table. Standing up, Kain watched his movements as he stepped in to take a swing. His form was a mess; probably never been in a real fight. The thug swung with his right hand, aiming for Kain's face. With a simple side step, and a following recoil with his right arm, Kain put the man flat on his back.

At this point, the first man had stood back up. This man must be more experienced. The thug pulled a knife out from somewhere beneath his coat, and lunged at Kain. Barely dodging the thrust, Kain picked up the stool that was next to him. Swinging to his side, the thug thought he had Kain, but his arm was met mid swing with a stool. The dagger flew from the man's hand. Swinging once more, Kain broke the stool over the thug's back. The man fell to the floor, writhing in pain.

Fren had already stood up and began walking past the thugs on the floor. Grabbing a few coins out, he dropped them in front of the barkeep. "Come, Kain. I think it is time we take out leave."

He can take things seriously. The two walked out of the shop, and began their trek back down the road.