• Graded • The Expert On This Shindig

[Patrick]

Zi'da 5 717, 16th Break

Location: Foster's Landing

He'd arrived by trip down the river not too long ago and found himself within Foster's Landing, and lo and behold he'd already found a few potential 'recruits' that had talked of a gathering. They were being guided by one of the bodyguards that seemed to know where this would occur, and it had occurred to Patrick that these men were nothing more than privateers. Mercenaries likely hired to be guard dogs for whoever was running this operation.

Patrick had made sure he dressed for the occasion this time around, his leather armor outfitted securely so that the cold didn't bite so hard. It wouldn't be long before he could pose as a new recruit, pretend he could sign on and learn who exactly was in charge. "New recruits this way, the commanding officer's giving a speech here in the town's square." How bold for them to so brazenly discuss their job out in the open, then again it was probably a private affair that only recruits were allowed to witness. A lot remained to be seen in this case, but Patrick already had planned to do more than just plan the role of an impostor today.

He followed along and eventually stuck closer to the group, hoping he'd blend in well as they reached the town square. "Right then, there's the last of the new recruits." One of the higher ranking officers called out as they formed a perimeter around the square, some of the others remained within the square as one of the better suited men stood atop a couple of crates.

"Listen up lads, we've got ourselves a contract that entitles us to hire some extra hands. It's a private business so we're gonna be doin' a few background checks, but first off we just need to cover a bit of an orientation here so you know what it is we're doin." He called out while the others seemed to finish the perimeter. "Our contractor is paying top gold in making sure we're keeping his private, so the best way we're privileged to decribe it is this; either you're gonna do a lot of guardin, laborin, or maybe even diggin. Where at is kinda in the question at the moment, but with Cylus comin' up the experts on this confirm we'll know soon."

"Cylus? Then that confirms it." Patrick's eyebrows furrowed as he crossed his arms, confident that the place they were talking about had to be Orimar.

"We've got a few officers who can determine where you stand-"

"Excuse me," Patrick then proceeded to call out as he walked toward the commanding officer, "I actually have information related to this place, and I'm pretty sure that your 'experts' would like to hear about this."

"Who the hell is this guy?" The commander inquired as a couple of his goons closed in on Patrick.

"Patrick Barnell. I'd like to meet your expert on this, where can I find him exactly?" He asked with a jerk of his arm away from one of the guards.

"Hold! We don't know if he's telling the truth."

"And if I am? Your 'top paying' contractor would want to know what sort of information I'm talkin' about." Patrick threatened with a serious tone,
already the commanding officer looked red with aggravation.

"Fine! Take him in boys, see what the higher ups want to do with this one." He barked as the two men forcefully grabbed and pulled him in, Patrick slightly resisted due to the aggression but went along with where they took him at least.

"Good. Now let's see who we're dealing with."

[Patrick]

They pulled him along to an establishment that looked to be a fancy sort of tavern, probably being rented out entirely for privacy matters. Whoever was running the show here seemed pretty damn rich, so why they were trying to mount an expedition this private seemed rather beyond Patrick. The only way he could confirm his suspicion was to find out for himself, and if they were in fact after Orimar then that meant the treasure for it was worth more than he initially thought. "What was it that rested there again? The 'Jewel of the Emea' or something like that?" A treasure like that had to be worth something alright, especially of some rich tit seemed particularly interested in finding it without too much attention drawn.

The guards brought him inside the tavern where the main hall was, suffice it to say they had plenty of their personnel stuffed there as well. The two guards that brought him here forced him to sit down, while one of them left to brief his betters of the situation entirely. Patrick chuckled and leaned into the bar where he sat, his free elbow placed on the surface while he felt the lone guard's grip tighten around the other one. "Hey easy pal! How about buying me a drink first."

"So this man is the one?" Another officer with a helmet on stepped forward, while the peon that brought Patrick here confirmed it. "Funny. Doesn't look like much to me."

"Looks are deceiving these days. What's with the hostility anyways? I asked to be brought here didn't I?" Patrick prodded with a lean off from the bar, the guy who questioned him chuckled with a grin.

"Sorry. We get a lot of know-it-all assholes like you, tends to try our patience sometimes." He assured Patrick as he made a gesture to the guard that held him, not a moment later Patrick felt his arm released and with that he sighed with another relax.

"Great, now how about you take me to-" Just as he was about to pitch his next idea the helmed guard grabbed Patrick by the scruff of his hair, and slammed the bartender's head into the bar beneath him without hesitation. Patrick tried to recoil back as he felt the force of the hit astoundingly knock his senses wild, his dropped guard now raised as he became aware of the hostility these men possessed. "Ow! The hell's wrong with you?" For whatever reason he couldn't move, he was pinned down by the guard that assaulted him just now.

"Just a precaution; now tell me what you know of the expedition." He demanded coldly with a jerk of his hand, Patrick groaned and waved his hands up in surrender.

"Alright, alright, alright! Orimar! I know this expedition is to find the lost city of Orimar!" There came a pause which was good as far as Patrick knew, he couldn't see their faces but they had to be guessing at how he knew. "You're looking for a different type of treasure than just gold and gems, you're looking for the city that contains the fabled Jewel of the Emea... aren't you?"

"That's enough commander!" A feminine voice called out as the weight on Patrick lightened some, enough to where he could stand and see who had entered the room. A woman with black hair and a silky black dress had came from upstairs, her face showed some wrinkles but she still looked quite young. Middle aged as well as dressed finely, this had to be the contractor these mercenaries were working for. "If he know's anything about Orimar, then he needs to come upstairs; with me."

"Would love to." Patrick quipped as he tried to move, until the guard once more pushed him back down onto the bar.

"Sorry ma'am but I don't trust this guy."

"Trusting people is for me to decide, that's why you and the officers here are kept close. He knows something about Orimar, and we need him cooperative if he's going to talk."

"Wise choice." Patrick mused as he once again pushed himself off the bar. "But I need to see your 'expert' at hand here, he owes me a couple of explanations after all."

"And you'll meet him. Now. So long as you promise to cooperate." The woman bargained as Patrick approached her slowly, with a couple of nods given to show his compliance. The lady unraveled a band from her wrist and brought it up to Patrick's forehead, the cloth bundled up and pressed into the spot where his head felt sore. Patrick didn't realize that his head had been hit that hard, until her band actually pressed into the wound to stop the minor bleeding. "Good. Our experts are upstairs, I'll take you to them." Just as she brought Patrick to walk before her, she looked at the other guard dogs within the room. "As for all of you, this keeps quiet. Nobody else needs to know that a there's another expert here." As she walked up after Patrick they all seemed to nod in compliance, apt to return to their post as they actively kept watch over the premises. "I'm sorry for their rash behavior, we're a bit on a time clock here since Cylus is around the corner."

"The only time during the Arc when the gate is revealed." Patrick murmured as they walked closer to one of the larger suites down the hall.

"Exactly." She confirmed as she took a step in front of him, to cut him off as they stopped midway down the hall. "So you do know about Orimar."

"I know a bit yeah." He confirmed with a shrug as he looked at the cloth real quick. "That enough for you to trust me?"

"Let's hope." She answered indirectly as she turned to lead him the rest of the way, once the door opened and she walked inside Patrick followed after her. Just as soon as he'd entered she'd closed the door and moved into the room to a man who watched out the window. The room itself looked to be an adjoining one, where two suites were combined into one larger than normal. On the side Patrick was in had been furniture for lounging really, with a desk in the corner near the window. One thing Patrick's eyes scanned for was the familiar object he'd expected them to have, but ultimately he found himself disappointed as the chalice didn't seem to reside there.

"My confidant here tells me you do know of Orimar, Mr. Barnell. As does my experts within the other room there." The man spoke confidently with his hands together at his back, still watching the outside beyond the window he stood close to. Patrick walked a little closer and when his eyes panned into the other room, he witnessed a small library had been poorly organized with a table in the middle. On that table was parchments, books, an arrangement of lit candles, and the so called experts which had taken to see who had entered the room. When Patrick got a good look at both their faces, his eyes widened as his jaw would've hit the floor when he gasped. The short scholarly man he'd escorted once known as Tresah, and of course the older more refined man with grayed hair; "Lord" Garland Crowley.

"Patrick?" Tresah asked suspiciously as though he were a ghost.

"Seven asses it's great to see you again kiddo!" Crowley cheered as he grabbed Patrick's hand to shake it firmly, however it seemed that something had been pressed into Patrick's palm. Patrick held onto it as though they'd naturally shook hands, a forced smile on his face as though he greeted an old friend.

"Yeah," He murmured aloud, "you too old timer."

[Patrick]

By now the four had gathered into the same room and asked Patrick a noble's worth in questions; what he knew, how long ago did he have this information, and most importantly what brought him to Foster's Landing. He'd been at least a little upfront of the explanation, told them that he'd only recently came to Etzos because of the Immortals. And that he wasn't aware of the hunt for Orimar going on soon, though the timing of locating this private movement seemed impeccable. "Geez, you really fought against others in a labyrinth of some kind?" Crowley inquired with his arms crossed as he sat against the table, Tresah seemed heavily occupied with finding some sort of article referencing what Patrick told.

"Yeah. The Game Keeper had us all fight one another for this weird halo thing, didn't really end well those I was teamed up with though." He added with a reveal of the leafy like scar just under his right collar bone.

"There's no references of that in any of these texts, I don't think the Orimar knew whether or not this 'Game Keeper' actually existed." Tresah muttered as he looked from the book up to Patrick.

"I think only the Immortals knew honestly. But enough about that; Orimar is the popular discussion around here."

"That it is," The richly mustached individual interjected with a roll of his cuffs, "And since you know these two I believe introductions are still in order." With a hand held out he greeted Patrick with an elevated nose. "Raimeus Madeus, and over there is my partner; Kleo Rimat." He nodded to the woman in the silk dress, as Patrick shook the hand and gave his own name to cement this 'proper' greeting between them.

"Patrick Barnell."

"You said that you know where the keys are Mr. Barnell. That you essentially have everything else we need to open the door." Raimeus inquired as he moved to sit at his desk.

"Everythin but the chalice... yeah." The comment brought a smile to the rich man.

"Which would be the reason why Tresah and Garland here haven't had much luck in locating Orimar." He presumed with fingers tapping rhythmically against one another. "We've tried to figure out how the chalice works but... haven't had any luck since last Cylus. So it became prevalent that-"

"In order to locate Orimar, you have to possess the chalice during Cylus. Only then can the gate be found." Patrick reiterated with his arms crossed. "I managed to find some of Garland's notes before I left Ne'haer last Zi'da, so I did a little bit of research myself in my spare time."

"So you have." Raimeus remarked in almost a mocking tone. "Where are the notes and key now?"

"Back at home. Where's the chalice?" Patrick quickly asked with arms crossed, the piece of parchment Crowley secretly slipped to him tucked within the cuff of his leather shoulder pad. Raimeus softly chuckled as he looked down at the desk and then back up to Patrick, while his partner Kleo looked a little concerned by the question.

"The chalice is safe. I keep close at all times, as you probably should have with the key." The snooty rich man retorted, Patrick mocked him with a chuckle of course.

"Trust me, nobody's gonna find the key except me."

"Well then." Raimeus motioned a lofty shrug. "Looks to me like we're both very cautious men."

"We are," Patrick agreed on that at least, "but I can promise if you show me the chalice later; then I'll retrieve the keys and bring them back to you."

"A bold if not kind gesture I presume, but at what cost may I ask?"

"Just a fair cut." Patrick answered the nobleman with a soft grin. "Pretty sure you'll be making a fortune when I help you get that gem anyways."

"Perhaps." Raimeus muttered as he looked to contemplate the offer. "Why don't you rest a bit and have a drink or two, give me a bit to think on it before we agree on these terms."

"Sounds like a plan." Patrick agreed as he turned to glance at Crowley on his way out, the man appeared a little stiff as his look seemed suggestive about something. "Don't worry Crowley, I haven't forgotten 'bout your little slip." He noted as he headed on to the door and left quietly down the hall, once he'd stopped midway he then paused in his steps to pull the parchment out from his shoulder. It was a small note with one word hastily scrawled across the surface, "help" written to imply that Crowley actually needed Patrick to get him out of here. Why? Were these guys dangerous? Raimeus's men seemed pretty dangerous, if Patrick recalled earlier. He crumpled the note and tucked it within his pocket then, and proceeded downstairs where he would get a drink or two. Thankfully the guard dogs on the main floor were a little nicer to him this time, as he'd been given a couple shots of whiskey with no charge at all. Complimentary on behalf of Madeus no doubt.

Patrick wouldn't deny the free drink at least, but now he had to figure out how he was gonna get both him and Crowley out alive.

[Patrick]

After he shot the first glass down and exhaled a sigh Patrick looked from the bar to the men situated throughout the tavern, there were far too many for him to try and take on alone. That and the combat experience they probably had far exceeded his own, which meant he was heavily outmatched here as well. Still he had to think of a way out, now that he'd found a way inside the wolves den.

Patrick took his time with holding the second shot as he looked outside, while a farmer seemed to park his horse drawn wagon to a halt near the bar. Wait. Did that wagon have hay inside? That's it! Depending on what that wagon was hauling, Patrick might've found an exit for him and Crowley! With a smirk he took in the next shot, while the farmer seemed to remain outside with a fuss made to the privateers at the door. He must've wanted one of Raimeus's free drinks as well, too bad that the tavern was off limits to those who didn't know about the treasure. That is... save for the fact Patrick didn't really want to be here anymore, now that he felt pretty sure he was in danger now. "Time to go Mr. Barnell." The commander ordered as he rested the empty glass down on the bar.

"Sure." He agreed as he thought heavily about the glass and its usefulness as a weapon. He stayed his hand however and merely stood up, played the part of the cooperating expert that moved along with the guard. Like some cowardly sheep he seemed to be herded back upstairs and brought back into the room, where Raimeus and everyone seemed to wait for him. "Thanks for the drinks." Pat mused with a grin as he moved along to the window.

"Welcome back Patrick." Raemus greeted as he and Kleo watched him closely. "We've made a decision."

"Have you? Do I get to see the chalice?" He tested as he looked down from the window and spotted the wagon, thankfully his theory was right and the farmer had a cart full of hay down below.

"We will eventually yes, but first I need your word that you're going to bring back the other items." Raimeus stated as he rose from his chair and stood close to his desk, Kleo seemed to approach Patrick as he took to look sharply at Crowley. The man had no clue what Patrick had planned but given his note, he clearly needed a way out of this mess before he too became a liability they could dispose of.

"Patrick?" Crowley murmured as he walked a few feet closer to him, while Patrick looked from Crowley to the window before he turned around to face Kleo.

"Sorry love." Kleo's eyebrows lowered as her eyes seemed to glare at Patrick, that is until his next move brought shock and awe within the whole room. In one hasty act Patrick grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her into his grasp, and taken her hostage as he held a hand just over her throat. "But I'm not bringing anything for you people!" He threatened as Raimeus raised a hand to show compliance with Patrick, while the commander entered the room with his hand at the hilt of his sword.

"Raimeus! Raimeus help me!!"

"Patrick listen to me! You don't know what you're doin!" Raimeus warned as Crowley and Tresah stood in awe.

"Where's the chalice?!" Patrick demanded as he held her just a little tighter, the woman began to writhe as he looked seriously to the nobleman. "Where is it Raimeus?!"

"Even if you kill her... I still wouldn't tell you." He warned as his eyes shifted from the two to his guard, Patrick looked and noticed the nod their commander seemed to give. With one last look Patrick measured the size of the window, just to be sure that their only escape route seemed possible to maneuver. After a quick glance to that and to Crowley he loosened his grip and gave the woman a shove in between Raimeus and the guard, both which seemed intent on catching her as she fell to the floor.

"Crowley, now!" He called out as he grabbed the man by one of the arm's, with a quick tug he pulled the man close enough to shove him as well. Crowley staggered and hit the window hard, the force just enough to give way for his form to plummet through and fall down below. He heard Crowley scream his name loudly as he plummeted below, and had been thankful that he heard the man crash into the cart below instead of the ground. Next Patrick took a couple steps back as the guards lunged for him, and pushed his feet hard on the floor into a sprint. One that only lasted a trill at least, since there didn't seem to be much room between him and his exit. With a jump made to tuck his legs in some, Patrick made a cannonball through the window and landed hard into the hay of the cart.

The force of impact hit hard enough to shake the cart, and with the extra jolt in weight both wheels seemed to break off. Crowley and Patrick both rolled out of the hay with groans, as they pushed themselves off the ground to find that they both made it out alive. "Seven asses kid, I'm gonna kill you for that later!"

"After them! Don't let either of them escape!" Raimeus demanded from the broken windows as his personal guard shuffled out the door.

"We can worry about that later, for now we gotta clear out before he catches us!" Patrick pointed out as he tugged Crowley along by the shoulder, their getaway started with a sprint that halted after several feet. Already a line had formed at the end of their street, which left the alleyway to their right as their only option. "C'mon c'mon, through this way here!"

"You couldn't have warned me about the window thing at least?!" Crowley egged on still as they continued to run down the alley.

"Now's not the time Crowley!" Patrick reciprocated as he took another turn away from the tavern.

"Faldrun's balls, they're onto us Patrick!"

"Less talking more running!" He instructed as he allowed Crowley to pass so the man could lead onward, while he followed after Crowley in their escape Patrick proceeded to throw obstacles they passed into the middle of the alley. Sure enough the boxes and barrels created a bit of a gap between them and their pursuers, but Pat wanted to make sure they were clear of them entirely before they slowed.

"Shit!! Kid there's more up ahead!" Crowley warned as he slowed down some, Patrick looked to find their exit from the alley blocked by more henchman.

"Ah damn! This way!" Patrick nudged Crowley to the left as they headed deeper into the recesses of the alley, determined to find an exit out in the town elsewhere as they made their escape. "Find a way to the port, we can lose them there." Crowley mumbled something he couldn't hear as he went along, creating more of an obstacle course for their getaway through the alley. People found through here were surprised when the two men ran past them, and with the mob of privateers falling behind them Patrick felt certain that escape was guaranteed.

"More up ahead kid!!" Crowley called out as they both slid to a stop on the stone. Patrick looked back to see their pursuers from that end were still gaining, which meant they were now cornered unless they could find an alternative out. Already Patrick looked at possible options that could count as exits, and when a door opened with an older woman walking out Patrick didn't waste a trill in taking the option. "Breaking an entering now? Oh that's gonna go well with the guard."

"Just come on!" Patrick urged as he moved past the woman who jumped and froze in the doorway. "Excuse us, coming through!" The warning had been given with a gentle shove, as he pushed passed through to lead Crowley into the building's back entrance. It looked to be another local pub from the looks of it, and they'd entered the kitchens as far as Patrick could tell. "This way Crowley!" He barked as he led the man into a separate hall that took them into the main lobby. He moved chairs aside and tried to leave behind an obstacle as people seemed to scream and shout at the commotion, while the envoy of privateers followed in from the back as they still chased the two men down.

"Quick, quick, quick!" He encouraged as he opened the door and held it for Crowley to exit through, once the older man made it out Patrick slammed the door shut and proceeded to run with him down the street.

"I'm gettin' too old for this!"

"Just keep running, they'll have to quit eventually!" Patrick tried to enthuse but that logic seemed to be poorly thought out, as Raimeus's men still looked to be on their tail even up til now. "Ilaren's tits they don't know when to quit!"

"We've got another problem kid!" Crowley warned as Patrick caught up to him and looked ahead for the first time, which looked to be more guards except this time... they were Etzori guard.

"Shit!" Pat swore as they started to reach the bridge they stood across, so it was either be caught by the Black Guard or by Raimeus's men... Or...

Patrick looked down below to see that the canal down below seemed to flow deeper into the city, likely the port where they needed to go in order to get away. "Nice knowin' ya kid!"

"How cold do you think that water is?" Patrick asked as he pulled Crowley close.

"You're not actually serious?!"

"Now or never Crowley, you decide on that!" He assured the man as he climbed the railing, Crowley muttered under his breath but joined him just as fast. With one foot from each man on the railing, both Patrick and Crowley vaulted over the side and down below into the water. The freezing river engulfed the both of them as Patrick felt his limbs ache from the cold, the tightness in his chest pulled even tighter now that his tired out lungs needed access to air. They floated on down as they both resurfaced, and attempted to make a break for it elsewhere as they left their pursuers back on the bridge.

[Quio]

Overview

Comments: Haha I love Patrick, he's just so damn cheeky. He seems like the sort to never let anything get him down for long.

He's also sort of mad in that like, cool, think-on-your-feet, action-hero sort of way. Jumping out of windows into hay (ouch!) and off of bridges into freezing water in Zi'da! Yikes. I like his lack of hesitation and his knack for improvisation. He knows they need to get away and he just wings it. That takes balls, and not the least amount of luck and skill.

Your NPC's really are so interesting (and their names are so cool!). I want to know everyone's story-- Raimeus, Kleo, Crowley. I particularly liked Crowley. I was expecting him to be a hardass for some reason, but he seems really sweet, actually; he seems like a good guy. I also want to know what Kleo and Raimeus really want the gem for-- just to sell? Or for some other purpose?

Speaking of wanting to know things, what the hell was Patrick going to do with that shot glass? Smash it and use it to cut people? Throw it at someone's head? Smash someone's face down upon it?

And how are they gonna find the chalice?

PATRICK

CS: I didn't notice this thread on your CS either. If you would, please edit your thread list to include it.

Skill Knowledge:
Endurance: Taking Blows To The Head
Strength: Taking Hostage of A Person
Acrobatics: Jumping Through Windows
Acrobatics: Vaulting
Endurance: Swimming In Cold Waters
Philosophy: Good Drinks and Bad Plans Go Well

Other Knowledge:
Personal: The Expedition to Orimar
Crowley: Is Alive But A Hostage?
Raimeus Madeus: The Man In Charge
Raimeus Madeus: Willling To Sacrifice For The Expedition
Raimeus Madeus: Has The Crystal Chalice Hidden
Kleo Rimat: Raimeus's Partner
Kleo Rimat: Knows About Orimar Also
Kleo Rimat: Is Expendable to Raimeus
Orimar: A Lost Bastion
Orimar: Located Somewhere Between Etzos and Ne'haer
Orimar: Can Only Be Found In Cylus
Quest: The Excavation - Completed
Quest: The Race For Orimar

Loot: None. But Patrick did get free whiskey!
Injuries: Perhaps some soreness from jumping from a window and off a bridge. Or the sniffles from swimming in freezing water! Nothing too serious, though, so I'll leave it up to the player's discretion.

Patrick also got his face smashed on the bar and was bleeding slightly, so he likely has a cut on his forehead that will heal up fine within a week or so.

Fame: +5 for Patrick's shenanigans and for saving dear Crowley. Do be careful of the guards, though, I'm not certain they'd understand.

Points: 10/10
Magic: You CANNOT use the XP awarded for magic.

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