Age of Aggression

[Haylie]

"I wouldn't be surprised," Malak replied with a sigh. "Astrid never lets me rest for long anymore. Especially not with the war brewing, and a lot of people getting desprate, there's been plenty of officers and soldiers lumped in with our regular contracts. It's a pain. ... Although it could be because she still hasn't have forgiven me for that time I stole her sweetroll. But it was a damn good sweetroll."

[Legendary Hawk]

"Hm... She should have gone to a city guard for help," suggested Rath, rubbing his chin. But then the guy shrugged and continued, "Yeah, that war has been keeping several of the Brothers busy. Keeping most of them busy, actually. I'm surprised I haven't been assigned to snuff any of those Legion fellows yet. Maybe if I advance in rank, I'll get to see more of that sort of action..." Personally, Rath hoped he would not be assigned to cut down a Stormcloak. He was native to the land and had deep sympathy for the Stormcloaks' cause... cutting down a fellow Nord certainly wouldn't sit well with him.


((Sorry for my long absence... I'll be posting regularly again. And next time I'll be gone this long, I'll let you know beforehand.))

[Haylie]

(Cool. At least you're back. )

"I wouldn't be surprised," Malak said simply. "You do what you have to for coin, right?"

He fell silent and picked up his pace a bit.

[Legendary Hawk]

Rath nodded in agreement, figuring Malak's statement was generally true. Even if he hadn't become a killer, the chances were that he would be pursuing some other shady career to earn his living. At least the Brotherhood had some prestige, in a horrid sort of way. So he followed Malak back to the Sanctuary, where he would likely receive his next morbid assignment.


// Want to skip to their arrival at the Sanctuary? //

[Haylie]

((Yes, please. ))

[Legendary Hawk]

After uncorking a previously untouched bottle of ale, Rath lifted the beverage to his nose and sniffed it slowly. The fluid had a familiar scent, and nothing seemed wrong with it. So he figured it was safe to drink. Rath walked into the living quarters with the bottle in his hand, and after sitting on the edge of his bed he began to drink from it. The ale tasted nice and fresh, and soon it would give him a buzz to relieve the stress of the day.

Meanwhile, another Brother who seemed to be writing in his journal looked up and noticed the ale. "Hm... newbie, can I have a sip of that?" he asked in a rough, tired voice. Rath glanced at the guy with a blank expression before grinning and shaking his head, and he answered, "Not a newbie anymore, friend. I'm an Eliminator now. I need to celebrate the occasion..." Rath grinned again, proud of his recent promotion.

[Haylie]

Malak, having finished his cheese, was now downing his third glass of wine. He'd started to blink quite a bit, but otherwise seemed sober so far. He poured another glass and slid it over to the Brother.

"Here," he said, leaning his chair back and propping his feet on the table. "Think I've had my fill." He tried to sound upbeat, but it's moments like this, when his voice rasps just a tiny bit and he runs his hand tiredly down his face that one wonders why he isn't showing any grey hairs.

"Congratulations on the promotion, lad. How long's it been since you joined? Seems like you only got your first assignment a week ago."

[Legendary Hawk]

"Mm... 'bout four months, I'd say." Rath took another swig from the bottle in his hands and felt the warmth of the liquid in his stomach. "Four months, nine kills." Most of Rath's assignments had been local. He hadn't traveled to any other provinces yet, and at least three of his previous targets were in the Reach. That explained the reason he had gotten so much work done in such a short span of time.


Meanwhile, another Brother entered the room grasping a rolled-up scroll in one of his hands. "Malak, Rath. I've been looking for you two..."

[Haylie]

"Pardon if you can't read the shock on my face," snarked Malak, "it's just there isn't any there." He set his chair down properly and swung his legs off the table.

"So who's the poor sod this time? Tax collector? Corrupt merchant? Evil orphanage caretaker?"

[Legendary Hawk]

"You're a no-nonsense kinda guy, aren't you," the Brother replied as he unrolled the scroll. He read over it for a few moments before looking up at Malak, and then at Rath. "Well, it seems this is your last assignment together... After you tenth kill, Rath, you'll be trusted with independen work." The Brother paused for a moment to read the scroll again. "Ah hah, you fellows are going to be traveling to Dawnstar. Your target is... hm, a Stormcloak commander, it looks like. Some Nord named Hygelac."


Rath's eyes widened for a moment when he heard the words Stormcloak Commander. He took a large swig from his drink, knowing he would need the alcohol if he wanted to sleep. The idea of killing a fellow Nord... a Stormcloak, no less... deeply troubled him. Sighing, he realized he'd need to toughen up if he really wanted to be part of the Brotherhood.

[Haylie]

"It's the wine," he said simply. "Dawnstar? Pretty far out of the way. I assume we'll have transportation arranged for us? Something comfortable?" His face had a hint of a grin on it, but he sounded fairly hopeful.

After the Brother mentioned Rath's tenth kill, Malak smiled in earnest. "Remind me to get you somethin' nice when we get there," he said genuinely. "I remember my first independent kill. Some abusive bastard with no name worth remembering. Not the most glorious start, I admit, but it was mine and mine alone."

Malak, by contrast, appeared unconcerned. "Hygelac? Never heard of 'im. He's either new, or not very good at his job. Either way, if we do it right, shouldn't be too difficult. Where's the client?"

(The way it works, is Assassins visit the one that sent the contract first to get payment and information, then take care of the target, but if that would take too long, we can go straight to the killing)

[Legendary Hawk]

"You'll find our client in the Windpeak Inn. He's a short Imperial, about five feet 'n four inches. Brown eyes, short grey hair. Thin mustache. He goes by Geoff, apparently." By now, the Brother had read almost everything off the scroll. He left it on the bedside table beside Rath before further explaining, "If you want transportation, I'd speak to Astrid. Maybe she can arrange it." With a shrug, the Brother bid both Malak and Rath good luck, before heading off to do whatever.


Rath, meanwhile, continued to drink his ale (at a much faster pace, now). He stared blankly at the contract sitting on his bed, trying to clear his head of any thoughts.


((Let's go ahead and do the meeting with the client Geoff.))

[Haylie]

"I'll walk," Malak replied bitterly. He picked up the scroll and read it for himself, then rolled it back up and slipped it into his satchel.

"Well, maybe we can steal a horse or something. Or try to tame a mammoth. Either'd be easier than tryin' speak to that woman." He glanced over at Rath before taking a swig from another bottle of wine for luck. "Somethin' bothering you, lad? Not havin' second thoughts, are you? Those're dangerous in our line of work."

[Legendary Hawk]

Fearing that his peers would suspect his sense of disdain for the next kill, Rath just shook his head nonchalantly. "Nah. Just trying to get a good buzz... This stuff isn't hitting me strong enough. Heh heh." The guy's tone sounded surprisingly convincing, given his state of mind. "And - while I'd like to train a mammoth someday - I think stealing a horse is a better bet."

[Haylie]

"Yeah. Might even find a cart. Then you can drive me there, heh."

Malak picks up his effects and straps them on. "No point wasting time. Let's go."