Runner
Camp for the Order of the Golden Warriors
"Is he gone?" Selm asked Runner, who was sitting by the entryway. Runner nodded, asserting that Eldrig had indeed left them alone for the night. The knight had insisted that they just call him by his first name. That was fine by Runner, she didn't care for all this prissy bullshit of titles and names in the first place. The guy seemed friendly enough. And oblivious. She had pinched a couple of silver out of his pocket earlier on the walk here. She'd find a way to sneak them back into his possession later.
Eldrig had escorted them to one far edge of the Order's camp. He helped them set up yet another round tent, this one meant for them to sleep in. It was not cramped, but also offered little in the way of privacy and freedom of movement. Not ideal, but good enough for soldiers, thus it was good enough for them. Runner had been amused at how happy Selm had been when she was given an actual bedroll to sleep in. The chubby dwarf had actually squealed in delight at the small modicum of comfort. Just how long had she been roughing it with that shitty little blanket, Runner had to wonder.
They had a small and early dinner with Eldrig, who had procured them bowls of a communal stew from the camp supplies. Runner had not realized just how famished she was. She guessed sleeping that long had taken a toll on her stomach without her realizing it. Was it weird she was so used to starving these days? Afterward, under the excuse that they were exhausted, they convened inside the dimly lit tent to talk in private.
"So. This is bullshit right?" Runner started by saying. Unsurprisingly, she got a nod from everyone but Selm. Even timid little(big?) Ina had nodded, hesitantly.
"It is." Baz verbally agreed, grunting as he pulled his boots off while sitting on his bedroll. The half-orc stretched his leg out, a slight popping noise coming from his knee. Yule wrinkled his nose. He muttered something under his breath and waved his hand, a few sparks of magic appeared around the boots between the two men. Baz had just rolled his eyes, not commenting on the magic. Best Runner could guess was some sort of cleaning spell that erased whatever stink was inside the leathers. Convenient. She'd have to annoy him to do that to her boots too.
"I agree it is not the most… conventional practice I have heard of. But, the Order did save us from possibly withering away in a catatonic state." Selm argued. Leave it to the Keldani to defend her nation's honor. "A little bit of elbow-grease is only a fair ask for such a grand favor, no?"
Runner shook her head in exasperation, this woman really did not get what was frustrating them so much. Or, she did, but she was just so blinded by the glory of her country. "Eshah, it isn't about being put to work that is so fucked up. Well, it is. But like…" She trailed off, clicking her tongue in frustration when the right explanation did not arrive.
"It is about the lack of control on the situation and how we have been essentially subjugated into conscripted soldiers." Yule finished the thought, pulling out a notebook and writing something down with a small piece of wood, gilded with a few golden circlets. Some sort of magic quill? "Certainly we are free to go if we so desire, but not without the promise of a substantial debt on our shoulders. You can guarantee that they will watch you closely from the moment you leave these forested hills to the moment you pay the final copper." He pointed the magical device toward Selm. "Not all of us wish for the Keldani government to be breathing down our necks at any given moment."
Runner watched Selm struggle with the idea. "But… they would do no such…" She faltered on the statement. Even she could not convince herself that they wouldn't hound them for the gold they owed. Not after what was discussed today. The fact seemed to sit with Selm for a while, her face twisting in a mix of dismay and disbelief. Good. Perhaps that will help her realize just how fucked they were.
"So… how the hell do we fix this?" Runner questioned.
"First, we must agree that there is a we in this scenario," Yule stated. He finished writing down something in his notebook, turning the book around just so they could see it. It read 'and be careful in what you say; always assume someone is listening'. No need to tell Runner twice. She felt no need to incriminate herself more than she possibly had already. "Are we of agreement that we are allied in this? In our debt and also in our… unfortunate circumstances?" There was no mistaking what he had hinted at. Their revival. Or… pseudo-revival? Runner still was confused about that.
Everyone looked at everyone else before nodding. For better or worse, they were stuck together until this debt was cleared. And maybe beyond that. If they had all heard what Runner had during their comatose state… well, then they may be in deeper shit than they knew.
Yule looked satisfied with that. "Then, as it would be, I propose that we set some ground rules such that this arrangement works fluidly."
"All equal," Baz stated, staring at the half-elf. He seemed to already be onto what the mage was getting at. Yule simply nodded in agreement.
"Yes, of course. All loot is split evenly amongst us to pay off the debt evenly. That is for the best cooperation and solving disputes over who found what."
"T-that is only fair," Selm commented, Runner agreeing with her, for once. Runner would have to make sure she didn't allow her grabby hands near the communal debt pool. That would be unfortunate for all involved, even if these people forgave her.
"I know each of you knows how to perform in combat," Yule moved onto the next topic quickly, the question of loot quelled. He paused after saying that, turning to look at Ina with a strange look. Annoyance? "Most of you know how to perform in combat. It will be necessary for us to devise a proper strategy for when we are out in the field. That may change depending on what the Order provides for us in the way of equipment. Baz and I appear to be of greater experience than most of you."
"Bragging much?" Runner snorted.
Yule frowned, his brow furrowing. "No, simply stating the facts as I am aware of them. And as I am aware, the rest of you have no real combat training. Which, when we face hordes of creatures capable of tearing a man limb from limb, is a problem."
"...training."
Everyone looked at Ina, confusion on their faces. The girl had mumbled something under her breath. Unfortunately for her, the tight proximity of the tent worked against her, everyone inside hearing at least part of what she had said. Her eyes widened in surprise as all eyes turned her way. She quickly looked down and began to fiddle with her claws.
"I am sorry, Inathia, could you repeat that?" Selm asked.
"I…I have formal training." She mumbled again, this time a tad louder.
Runner raised an eyebrow. Really? All things considered, the girl was freakishly strong and had the body of a warrior… but… Runner really could not see the girl wading thigh-deep into battle. The girl seemed soft. Well, she has hard scales but that's not the point, Runner thought. Instead of wielding an axe or a maul, she would better wield a plow or man a sail. Ugh. Runner should know better than to judge people based on their appearances, but it wasn't just that. It was her whole vibe! Hells, even Selm seemed more battle-ready than the big dragonborn and Selm didn't even have a proper weapon! Well, she was a mage, so there was that. But still!
"Then why do ye not fight?" Baz asked the question that was on the tip of everyone's tongue.
Ina's eyes never left her hands, her fingers interlocking together as her thumbs twiddled idly. Her shoulders sagged as she came up with more words to say. "It's scary." She said simply, her tone fearful. Runner could see her flinch, a physical reaction to the admission.
Huh.
Well… she's right.
But… huh.
No one knew what to say to that. Baz stared at Ina with realization and Selm looked at the girl with worry in her eyes. Even Yule, as straightforward and as analytical as he was, was at a loss for words. There was obviously a story behind the girl's words. They each could feel it in the way she postured herself. A big girl, strong enough to lift a cart and crush stones with her bare hands, trying to make herself as small as possible. Eshah.
"Do you have any experience with shields?" Yule asked after a few more moments of awkward silence.
Ina nodded, her knees drawing up into her chest. She was still looking down, avoiding their faces. Gods, this was making Runner feel weird. Like, bad? Shit. Pity for someone was not something she was used to feeling.
Baz seemed to get what Yule was getting at. He spoke softer than before, a tone that Runner only heard back when she was nearly starved to death. "Ye ain't have to fight. Just protect. Ye think yer up to that? We will need all the help we can get."
Runner noticed the gentleness in his voice. His usual gruffness was still there, but its edges were smoothed over. That look of recognition he had earlier… this situation must be familiar to him. Strange. Or, maybe not strange. Unexpected was a better word.
Ina's hesitation was clear. Even if she was dutifully shielding others, she would still be up close in a fight. Hells, she would be the closest to the fray, all things considered. But, not having to worry about striking back against the enemy and only focusing on defending those who needed a boost in defense did seem to placate her worries. She nodded.
"I'll tr-try my best."
Baz smiled and gave her an encouraging nod. Selm still looked concerned for the girl, but Runner was satisfied with that. She would leave all the weird bullshit pseudo-maternal feelings to the dwarf. All that mattered to her was that there now was another person on the battlefield who could distract her foes so she could gut them.
Yule, too, looked satisfied. "We will request a shield fitting your statue, Inathia. It will take time for us all to get used to each other's skills and abilities, but I suggest that we try to share what we can. You never know what could save another's life on the battlefield." He looked to Runner, acknowledging that she had saved his skin before back at the cart. "As you have likely deduced, I am a magus of the school of evocation. I studied at the Tower of Decimation."
"Where's that?" Runner asked. Sounded like a scary place. A tower where decimation happened. Yeesh.
Yule, Selm, and even Baz gave her an incredulous look. "The Tower of Decimation is one of the schools of magic at the Institute of the Blue Tower," Yule explained slowly. She shrugged. "You are not aware of the Institute? The single largest school of magic on this side of the continent? It is the beating heart of Jeya."
At least Ina looked similarly confused. Runner puffed up, her cheeks reddening in embarrassed anger. "Hey! I don't cast weird magic stuff okay? Why would I know about some magic school for magic people?"
Selm gave her a look. "Because… they are one of the most influential bodies in the Land of Lords? Nearly any mage worth their name has studied in their halls."
"Did you? But you're a Keldani… I thought Keldanis hated Jeya?"
Runner's question brought an amused smirk to Selm's face. Ugh. Great, now Runner looked stupid again and Selm hadn't even explained why yet.
"I studied under a private tutor who belonged to the Institute. By all extension, I too have been under the guiding hand of the Blue Tower. Granted, my spellwork is unconventional… but that is more a matter of talent and preference. There is still merit in education. I may not agree with many of the ideas of Jeya, but education need not be so political."
"I have noticed your form, Selm. If you do not mind my asking, are you perhaps a practitioner of the school of utterance?" The school of what? Selm seemed to light up at her fellow mage and nodded. "A rare school indeed. Not many have the talent for it. Not many wish to face the risks of it either."
Risks? Ugh, all this stupid mage talk is going over her head. She looked at Baz for a distraction but found him still looking at Ina. His mind was elsewhere at the moment. The dragonborn girl still avoided his gaze, drawing small circles in the dirt with her claws.
Odd.
Runner was hit with the reminder that everyone around her has their own lives filled with ups and downs. Ina probably went through something shitty. Baz probably had some idea what that shitty thing was. Huh. Ew. Introspection was not on her list of goals for today. Or ever.
"Oi. Fuckers. Can we get back on topic?" She tried to steer the conversation back to what was important—getting their shit sorted so they could get out of here. A few mumbles here and there, but it set them all back on the topic.
"It seems to me that we agree on a course of action. Though they are strange, the money offered by those bounties is too good to pass up."
"Too good to be true." Baz snorted.
"Yes, much too good to be true. But it is better to pay off this debt soon before it comes to bite us in the rear. The gods only know what they may leverage us to do while it still hangs over our heads."
Yule had a point. These shiny knight types are typically too honorable to try and pull a stunt like leveraging them to do their dirty work. Typically. Like I believe they would be honorable to a bunch of random folks from across Western Rumeris, Runner thought sardonically.
"They would not! We are simply repaying them for their generous use of extremely potent and important resources," Selm insisted. Runner rolled her eyes. So that was how she wanted to justify it? Keldani pride sure was something else. So was their ignorance.
"Whether they do or don't, I would rather not give them the option in the first place. This matter is settled. As a group, we will follow along with their orders and then be on our way. With that, I would say that this meeting is adjourned."
Runner snorted. It was silly to say that, they were literally about to pass out where they sat anyway. It was decent to get the whole terms of their situation out of the way, sure, but no need to be so formal with it. Mages.
With that, the group went about doing their own things. Baz closed his eyes and had his hands around that symbol on his neck, doing some sort of prayer or ritual or something. Yule had pulled another notebook out of his bag and was writing stuff down in it. Ina was just twiddling her thumbs. Selm… Runner needed to talk with her.
Runner scooted over to the other side of the tent, plopping down next to the dwarven woman. Selm looked at her with an even gaze before pursing her lips and raising an expectant eyebrow.
"So… you know a bunch about Keldanis and stuff right?"
"What invasion of privacy and ethics are you going for this time, Runner?"
"Hey, he was asking for it. Being all mysterious and shit with an unknown cargo? Asking for trouble, in my opinion."
"Certainly." She didn't sound convinced.
"Not the point. Besides, this is for the good of us all."
"Right…" Definitely not convinced. Whatever.
"We lack some serious information about this whole fuckfest. We need to-"
"Must you be so crude?" Selm interrupted her. Runner's nostrils flared as she huffed out a breath. Don't strangle her don't strangle her don't strangle her.
"I wasn't raised on politeness sweetcheeks. Eshah, drop the pretentiousness already. We are all in the same damn coffin," Runner snapped at her.
Selm blinked. Her eyes shifted downwards, an unexpected motion from the usually so prideful woman. She mumbled an apology, something Runner was not expecting. Jeez. It wasn't that serious, damn.
Somewhat awkwardly, Runner moved on in the conversation. "That lieutenant guy said something about who gave the order for us to be brought back. I wanted to know more about who that could be."
"Lieutenant Isomeren? I do not recall him saying anything of the sort about his commanding officer…" At least Selm looked interested in this, rather than scornful. Perhaps there was hope for this stubborn lady after all.
"Well, while you were busy ogling the big lady-"
"I was not ogling!"
"Whatever-"
"I was admiring a holy warrior of Keldanis," She huffed, but this one seemed to be more out of embarrassment than indignation.
"I don't really care. The point is that I was paying attention to what she said. She said that this was ordered by someone called the Lord Commander. Who's that?"
Selm registered the question, going deep into thought. Her hands went to play with the ends of her long messy blonde locks. Some sort of habit, likely. Her lips curled inwards as she tried to parse an answer. "I… am not sure."
Runner groaned. Of all people who would have an answer, she expected the Keldani to know about Keldani affairs. Guess she was mistaken.
Seeing Runner's display frustration, Selm's brow furrowed. "I am not aware of every little matter in my home country. Keldanis' lands are expansive, and her people are numerous. I can give you certain guesses, but no definite answers." Well, better than nothing. Runner waved her hand for Selm to give her what she could.
"The title Lord Commander is typically reserved for specific nobles in charge of a large and important group of an army. Likely, this lord is of higher importance than Lieutenant Isomeren, whom I can only assume is of lower nobility."
"So some sort of bigshot noble?"
"Likely, yes. Many nobles serve some sort of time in the military at some point in their lives. It curries favor with the crown and lets them show off their strategic prowess. And their wealth… but that is on the side."
Runner hummed at that. Favor with the crown… not something she is used to. Miyet wasn't a monarchy, unlike Keldanis. Sure, they had lords of the city-states in the Miyetan collection, but no one really could claim to own all of Miyet, not when there was so much bickering between the cities over land-rights and skirmishes over resources. Gold, however, was something she understood perfectly. Miyet had no shortage of gold. Hells, Port Azurel was called "The City All Gold Flows Through" for a reason. Whoever ordered them to be brought back was rich. Rich enough to have this much influence on the elite army of the Order. Rich enough to make even that scary warrior lady follow their word.
Rich enough that it shouldn't make a dent in their pockets if they revived a group of nobodies or not.
Eshah… it was never about the gold, now was it?