Andruin Recap - 1 - Introductions and Job Offers

    It began in a city-state named Andruin. We follow the cavalry soldier, a human named Terrian Veil. Sun-bleached blonde with a steely-eyed stare. A talented but reserved archer who was formerly a member of a mercenary unit that was wiped out in a skirmish. He was the only located survivor. Ever since he was rescued and resuscitated by a band of elven scouts from Andruin, he had been recruited into it's ever expanding military force. Given his talents and the unfortunate circumstances, it was the natural step. And it was a better one then returning in absolute failure to his hometown where he had no one waiting for him. He was doing today what he did every other week. Meeting with other cavalrymen to go through early morning military drills and training to keep the company fresh. And of course he excelled in range attacks. It was why they suggested he stay and enlist here. But he was also completely competent in axe and knife throwing as well as axe wielding. Though that wasn't terribly necessary on horseback. Only as a last resort,which were also drilled into them.
    When things were winding down and the men gathered to rest off the morning, Terrian sat with them, eating his lunch. Feeling somewhat at ease. He hadn't been getting a good rest lately and it showed. And what's more, many men in the company could figure exactly why. It was a chuckled and hushed subject of vexation Terrain never broached.  But one of the men in the company did strike up a conversation with him. The dwarf Tormick. The conversation mostly lingered over talk of form and such, but Tormick brought it around. He had heard that Terrian was looking for some work. Caravan escort work or some such work a cavalryman could do and Tormick had a man he knew was looking for men such as  him. There was a stirring in the outskirts by the orcan villages. Raiding. Something funny going on. Tormick wasn't entirely informed as to the exact details. But he gave Terrian the contact all the same. And Terrian thanked his dwarf comrade and bantered on with him into the late morning.

    Meanwhile the headache that woke up Terrian's brand new “roommate” was starting to ebb with a drag of his very last rolled cigarette. He was Efron Hennessy. A handsome young half-elf. Dark haired with a silvered streak that ran from his left temple. Cavalryman. Playboy. And a miserable wreck today, like he had been every morning for the past few weeks since things really started falling apart for him. His marriage was already a complicated mess. He had yet to find his wife, Layla, since their stormy argument 2 or 3 months ago when she threw him out of their home. Her friends were of no help as they refused to lend him her whereabouts. Meddlesome young gossip-hens that they were. And now his own father-in-law had sent a mercenary after him for horse theft. Theft of the horse he gifted Efron on his wedding day! So Efron couldn't even show up for cavalry drills without fear of being arrested for a hanging offense! He had exhausted the couches of all the friends he thought he had. Even Azreth, whom he thought was one of his better friends, dared ask him for permission to pursue his wife since his “marriage was over anyway”! After that violent scuffle was over, he was out of friends, out of free beds, and out of places to hide his horse, Tahiri.
    Efron would probably mark the moment he showed up at Terrian's doorstep, asking for a night on his couch and use of the apartments' stables, as a fairly low point in his life. And the day Terrian realized that Efron wasn't going to stay for only one night was probably a low point in his. But Terrian, despite all reason, kept his word to the pitiable lot and told no one that he was, in essence, harboring a fugitive.
    Well today Efron decided he was not going to spend one more night feeling sorry for himself. Not spend one more morning cleaning up after his pity parties. Besides, he had run out of his own money. And out of any money he borrowed from Terrian—that the man didn't hide from him. Today he was going to find work! Make up for the trouble he was causing his new best friend. So he did what he could to keep the smoke floating out an open window since Terrian hated the smell of it. Dragging the last bit of light from the cigarette before tossing it out the window into the ally a few floors below.
    After some weeks, Efron had managed to turn Terrian's once organized and bland smelling sitting room into a musk smelling pile of assorted pillows and furs on the floor where he slept. The bottles of booze he found a way to purchase were standing neatly against the wall by order of which one tasted the best. Standing, always standing. Because if one laid their side, the look on Terrian's face wasn't going to be pleasant. Yeah, today was definitely the day he was going to make up for all this trouble. So Efron folded and tidied up the room before he went in search of clothes. He had to go out looking as much unlike himself as he could. Terrian probably wouldn't even mind him borrowing his boots since it was for a noble cause. Efron figured he'd get them shined before he got back and Terrian wouldn't be the wiser! After he was satisfied with the outfit he pieced together from Terrian's closet, Efron fetched his beloved horse Tahiri from the stables and made his way to Hanna n' Anna's tavern and inn called the Wayward's Hearth.

    When he arrived at the tavern, it was without the usual grandiose nature that would mark his entrance. Using the last of his coin to stable Tahiri without incident. One of the two lovely ladies he knew here was bound to have have some leftover work for him. A familiar face worked the bar. Efron could never remember the names of men. Women were no problem but men's names not so much. But he managed to find out where Hanna was staying in the inn. As well as buy a pack of cigarettes with pity. On tab of course. He was good for it, he swore. Though he had to find his own light.
    When he found Hanna she was leaving the honeymoon suite of a newly married couple. Evidently she had convinced them she was some manner of priestess who could bless their marital bed. All night. Hanna was like that. She was a lively half-elf. The one who always started the parties here. Also the trouble. But it was half her place so she could do what she wanted with at least half of it. Alas though, she had no light for his cigarette. She exchanged some suggestive wordplay with Efron before she sat with him to tell him about the job she heard of. One that involved escorting a beautiful red-haired elven noble woman across the Syntari River to safety. No doubt a fun job and Efron looked like he could unwind with a little fun. Thanking her, he asked if Anna had any jobs as well. To which she pouted and said yes. She told him where he would find her killjoy human companion and he set off in search of Anna.
    Efron found Anna taking inventory of the wine cellars in preparation for some manner of big event Hanna might or might not be throwing. It was a gamble every night so it was wise to be well stacked. And yes, she too had a job offer. Also a light for his cigarette, thank goodness. A wealthy merchant by the name of Master Vanyard was in need of an armed escort to protect him and his shipment of wine on its way to Kings End. “Probably not as exciting as what Hanna offered you. But I have a feeling, given your... circumstances... that staying out of trouble would be vastly better.” And Efron agreed with her. All the same, he would run it by his roomie.
    During their conversation, Hanna interrupted them both. A rather large orcan mercenary absolutely covered in weapons was looking for a certain young, dark haired, half-elven man who stole a horse and she thought they should know. With business concluded, Hanna went to inform the orc merc, named Rase, that she had not seen the man in weeks. Anna, on the other hand, attempted to slip Efron out through the kitchens. It would have worked too if Rase didn't also insist on doing the place a once over. And when Efron saw the guy he froze at the doorway in amazement. The orc was... a sight. A nightmare. Then the orc saw him. Efron barely escaped the place with clean shorts. Especially since the escape route had to change to use the aqueduct that the Wayward's Hearth had a connection to. Well at least the boots weren't his. But the cigarettes he had purchased with promises were sogged. He fetched Tahiri and went back to the apartment.

    When Terrian returned home he found Efron using the last of the coals, that he thought would last at least a week or two, to dry his clothes... and boots. All the while Efron sat at a table in Efron's pants, and only his pants, trying to salvage a pack of cigarettes pin by pin. Every time he thought Efron couldn't—wouldn't—stun him... there he stood stunned. He looked at his wet clothes hanging, his wet boots dripping, and couldn't even imagine how in the wide world Efron could have possibly managed that. Terrian loudly closed the door behind him and saw Efron instantly perk up. Happy to see him. A vein pulsed on Terrian's brow but Efron spoke up eagerly before he could get a thought out edgewise. He watched as Efron paced the room in excitement telling him how he found leads on two jobs. How he ran into a giant orc named Rape—he couldn't remember the name—and how he made a harrowing escape. Terrian took a breath through his nose and exhaustively replied, “Nice to hear you're being proactive at last.” and sat down on the couch. He told Efron about the job he heard about from Tormick. After some discussion they agreed to look into the wine job. Getting involved in raids was a little too much trouble and as for beautiful damsels in distress.. well... “Women have a way of getting me into worse trouble then even that.” Efron sighed. But he was excited that Terrian had put in for some leave and was going with him on the job! Sure he said that “it was the only way he knew for sure” would keep Efron out of his apartment. But Efron figured he knew better. He knew Terrian liked him. He was just being gruff to make him think he was some kinda loner hard-ass. Terrian shook his head and when they both prepped their belongings for travel—Efron carried light so Terrian had to lend him a shirt or two he knew he'd never see again—and answered the call to escort Master Vanyard and his casks of wine to Kings End.

    When they both arrived at the estate they were greeted by a fat orc by the name of Vess—the wagon driver. Terrian did the talking while Efron wisely opted to go mute on this one, offering only his name. Terrian laid out their experience with the military and equestrian talents and Vess appeared satisfied. He escorted them to a servants quarters where they would stay the night with the other men, who also answered the call for the job, before they would part in the morning. The men who awaited them was a giant of a half-elf who went by the name of Vareth and his more talkative human companion named Thorren. Efron, who was ever the excited guest, made friendly conversation with the new faces. Well, more with Thorren then Vareth. The big guy, like Terrian, didn't talk much. They also met a servant boy named Kenner whom Vess, almost violently, bossed around. Much to Thorren's quiet annoyance.
    The next morning they met and were briefed by Master Vanyard and his head guard—their escort captain—Cillian. Vanyard seemed pleased with the selection of men and told them that they would be making 8 silver a day and that the job promised to last a good three full months of travel. Winter season was approaching but the old man insisted upon the importance of this delivery. His benefactors really wanted his wine this winter. And with the money they offered, how could he say no? With that, they were off! When the group left the Andruin gates, Efron looked back with a sigh. He had a lot of debts to pay off and had convinced himself he was doing this for the money. Buy the horse from his father-in-law. Get back his uniform and wedding ring he pawned for much needed cash. Run his own house without that man's help. Make things right. He was a man, his own man. He could fix this mess himself. But first he needed to get the money.