"The Imperial City of Avalad, the trading capital of the Western Men. It is one of the most wealthy cities in the world. You'll see things here that are hardly ever seen in other lands. A port that never sleeps, whole groups of buildings almost growing off the side of the wall, and a entire fourth of the city is for celebrations. Don't worry for your protection, not only do we have the 2nd highest walls in all the lands, but we also have the greatest mercenary guild in all the lands,the Black Band, right here on the city walls." The words of some merchant trying to sell BS to some foolish noble starts to ring underneath the guildhall for the Black Band. A few of the members inside the hall look out the windows and down at the merchant. Their eyes glazed in boredom with a longing for action in their hearts. A Lieutenant comes to the windows to see what the merchant is trying to sell. The merchant's words start to pick up again, the Lieutenant laughs then yells," My lord if you wish protection, you should cover yourself in BlackIron." He leans out the window and points his thumb at the building. A few of the other men begin to jeer insults at the merchant as the noble comes up the flight of stairs up to the building. It would be the first job in about a month for some of them, though no matter what their captain always payed them. Captain Dothren Roketh had been riding back from a meeting with his higher ups at Hoondon. The black band on the outside of his armor shined in the afternoon. Word is going around that some of the nations are getting tired of peace. This was good and bad news to the Captain. On the plus side they could finally start getting real money in, but that also meant that he had lost a bet against another captain. Two nights ago he had saved a lone traveler, and now he rides to catch up with the rest of his fellow western captains. Upon reaching them, the group split into two groups. one heading to Runba's Deep, and the other heading back to Avalad. When Dothren finally got to his guildhall, along with the guest captains, he gave out orders to have fliers put throughout the city. that night their was a small feast in 'honor' of the other captains. The fallowing morning they left for their own guildhalls, and Dothren through a real party that went throughout the entire city. The royal family ended up showing themselves. It was a wild party that lasted three days. It would of lasted longer, but a riot almost started when someone tried to kill the king. Dothren and his guild put it all to an end, and then went back to the guildhall to began getting ready for the new recruits. They began clearing a spot at the top of the wall that had been given to them. luckily it was right above the guildhall. Dothren gave out orders to his Lieutenants, and other veteran members. Soon the guildhall was alive again, as this celeibration had sent a ripple that sent a shock-wave of jobs down on them. It was almost like magic as groups of hopefuls marched to each guildhall. Hopes of gold and glory filled their hearts with every step closer. that is except for a choice few, who seem to be trying to have more personal goals in mind. They all came to join the guild, and that's all that mattered to Dothren at the moment. And thus the story of the western branch begins, but how will fate let it end...

Lentus was late in arriving she left her horse outside the city, she preferred to keep her options open when it comes to traveling, and moved towards the guild hall she did not feel welcome in this land of men. Walking through the streets men looked upon her and moved out of her way. Her aura was as such. Arriving at the guild hall she found the group, at first most of them looked like a rag tag bunch of adventures, but upon close inspection they were a bit more; An elf in expertly crafted armour, a demon of sorts and many others. In her opinion it was certainly going to be an interesting day. She joined up with the group; she stayed in the back ground for some time as what seemed to be the lieutenant asked everyone to follow him. She followed the man taking in as much information as she could “So when do we meet the head of the Guild” she said taking off her cowl and putting the hood down.

Redswift's greeting was met with pretty friendly reactions across the group, he knew none of them were nobles or royalty, but they seemed like good enough people. His attention was most caught on the human who spoke to him in elven, it definatley took him by suprise, the one called 42 had a grace about him that wasn't too different from a common elf and seemed to move differently from the other elves in the group. He gave the slightest nod in respect to the spellslinger. A loudmouthed dwarf who smelled very strongly of urine was bellowing something he could not make out over the even louder-mouthed human who was covered in crude but strong looking armour, Redswift would never have either of them speak at a royal council meeting but he knew they could both fight extremely well just by looking at them. He gave them a knights salute and turn about face to the rest of the group. Two smaller beings, one a human child with some dangerously strong electrical energy pulsing through his tiny body, and a scrappy demon, stinking of brimstone and mischief, Redswift didn't trust either of them, he snorted as he looked them up and down. Finally a quiet man, in armour sat in the corner, Redswift was fairly indifferent to him, nothing about his behaviour stood out, so he gave the man a knights salute and walk towards the guild hall. Come on out, or let us in Captain, former King or not, I should not be expected to wait this long for anyone. Im quite certain that most of the group feels the same way. Redswift tapped the floor with the bottom of his spear in impatience.

That morning Dothren had stepped out to deal with a couple of problems with a few nobles. He now walked into the small courtyard of his guildhall, fallowing him closely was two of lieutenants. As he reached the stairs a small group of royal guards followed a young, but important, looking lad. The boy seemed a little frustrated with something as he stormed after the captain yelling insults at him with every step. The two lieutenants tried not to laugh as Dothren pushed open the door. Come on out, or let us in Captain, former King or not, I should not be expected to wait this long for anyone. Im quite certain that most of the group feels the same way.. Redswift words rang out just as Dothren stepped through. With a sigh, sorry for the wait everyone. I has to deal with the Advisor's brat. A few of the guild members that were watching laughed as the the guards grabbed the young noble, and pulled him towards the palace. Dothren looked over the group that had formed on his doorstep. It had been a while since he'd seen any elven royalty. He gave Redswift a small elven greeting. The tall pile of metal could hopefully move He recognized the dwarf from the party. It seems that the portal mage that he hired was here. Aside from a few others the rest of the potential recruits seemed to be pretty normal looking. Listen up, his voice rang out loud and clear, the Black Band is the most successful mercenary guild in the land. If you are accepted then money and fame will be yours. That is if you are accepted. Hear me now, some of you fools will die during the trails. For we do not accept the weak. He let those words settle as a few left. Those who wish to join fallow me. Once inside you will sign a contact. After that you will be given a room, and will attend the welcoming feast later tonight. You will be free to explore the guildhall after filling out the contract. Dothren walked to the doors, and moved into the greathall. A hand full of lieutenants awaited the newcomers. He walked past them, and grabbed a one of the contracts. Each one had a list of personal information. As in were to send your corpse, or anything else that would be important to you. Looking over it for a moment he nodded, then whispered something into the closest lieutenants ear. The lieutenant nodded, then started barking orders to the newcomers. Dothren moved up to a balcony that over looked the greathall. Waiting for him was a figure in a dark robe. He gave the figure a friendly greeting then began to talk about the recruits. The robed figure seemed happy.

Brooch grabbed the contract from the man presenting it. This wasnt the first of its like that the titan had signed during his lifetime of battles and petty wars. Where to send my corpse? Like that matters at that point. Armor however should be melted and forged into a huge shield to inscribe my numerous exploits in. Barely reading the rest of it, the clumsy man scribbled hastily his barely readable signature on the bottom. Pushing it back to the mans chest he inquired about the whereabouts of aforementioned rooms. Exploring the guildhall, only one particular room was of interest to Brooch, Black bands hall of trophies. The titan glossed over many a artifact nodding approvingly time from time. Weapons and banners of vanquished foes. Rewards of grateful rulers. All things considered, this was the most accomplished collection of its kind that Brooch had seen in his life. What really impressed him was the sizable dragonskull on the wall labeled "Terygold the wrathful queen" You seem mighty lonely there my darling lady, just you wait, I will adorn the entire wall with your breathren! Another booming laughter echoed within the guild, it would seem that this was becoming an often recurring event.

Lentus knew where her body would be sent, it was her god in which had sent her here so her vessel once it's use is done must be sent back to resting place of her brothers and sisters, Ruhdle Vale. All equipment must be placed upon the shrine and body burned. She filled in the rest as per usual and made her way to the guild hall. She put her cowl back on and decided to explore, 'A banquet is for fools who wish to dine of others misfortune Real warriors eat what they can find.' she thought to herself. But she followed along she finished around the same time as the one pronounced as brooch carmine, although his laughter was possibly more annoying that the sound of a thousand hound whining she found him amusing, his comments about the trophy wall was amusing. She had been leaning against the wall for most of the time of him being in there, "Strong words, from a strong human it seems, A man of your stature I'm surprised you didn't rush off towards the feast."

He had barely noticed the captain emerge, or at least if he did, Syrah made no action to make it clear. Engrossed in his literature, it may have been slightly off-putting to some, yet did they expect much interaction from a magister? When the crowd began to trickle into the building, Syrah was amongst the last to enter, taking the bound bookmark to save his place. The benefit of entering late was quite simple really, it afforded him more time to read, and more so, allowed Syrah to the take the full view of the potential guild recruits. Evidently they expected a few of these set before him to die in merely attempting to join and sure enough the numbers did appear marginally smaller than earlier, not that he really was counting heads or anything but his eye in the logistics discerned it so. A strange menagerie of capable-looking individuals for certain, whatever these trials may be surely they did not expect people to sign a contract of the guild before the guild even accepts them? His eyes searched for the captain, who had disappeared from the ground floor and now seemed to speak with another figure in a rather grim-looking robe. One does not simply discuss business overlooking business, especially with a stranger in dark garb. Who was this individual who presided over them now? Having placed his or herself at a perfect vantage point to see the new possible recruits, and furthermore what business had they with the captain. Something was amiss perhaps, and there was something between them which Syrah's adoptive father would have done in the privacy of a room elsewhere. Or perhaps he was reading too much into it? His thoughts were returned to the present issue as a lieutenant handed him a contract to be signed and filled out. To which the puzzled mage raised a quaint and curious eyebrow to stare at the officer. A contract? Another one? To be so redundant and this contract of course would never supersede the previous agreement and arrangement made prior upon his own version. To amuse himself however, Syrah did glance over the contract, his eyes scanning the document's legalese before smiling back at the lieutenant. "It is unfortunate that I must politely refuse your request, kind sir. For I believe the Guild should have such a contract, although with much finer terms written and agreed upon, a copy of which should have been retained in guild records, triplicated into elven and dwarven as well, and filed with the appropriate governing bodies. Unless no such copy can be found within the records, at which I would request audience with your commanding officer who had requested for the guild to seek out my services to discuss the issue of a missing contract and if any appropriate changes in terms should be amended to the original I have retained for my own records?" With eloquence and verbosity, Syrah had made the lieutenant lose face. Although perhaps the man would be angered by his words, given his rank, should he attempt to make a scene for this petty incidence the guild would be the one shamed as the son of the Merchant King of Avalad would be able to stain the guild's reputation by merely testifying that the guild had a patchwork job of keeping records and any contracts would be taken without any real faith behind them. Furthermore, it would cause some attention to be drawn and underneath the eye of the captain, was it truly a good idea to do so? While the lieutenant struggled with the internal conflict, Syrah had already left the man flustered holding an empty contract. "Your Majesty, if I may inquire; what brings you here?" The magi had slipped into the throngs of bodies to find the elven king, although it was easy enough to spot the most regal-looking elf in the room in a crowd of mostly humans. Again, his elven was soft to offer the conversation privacy, as opposed to the loud-mouthed metal-jacket who was still being too obnoxious for Syrah's taste.

Brooch swiveled around at the sudden reply to his monologue. An hooded figure leaned against the wall near entrance, quite tall actually, maybe up to titans chin? "AH, I did not see you there before, you are one of my new comrades right? Your skills of covertness are certainly impressive, it is good indeed to have control of shadows so none of our number fall to cowardly ambushes or cumbersome traps. And as to the matter of feast..." Brooch gazed around him with exaltation before spreading his arms in wing like fashion. "THIS IS MY FEAST my new elf companion, I live as much of glory and honor as I do from ryebread and pork!" This announcement was broken by titans stomach rumbling, echoing and amplified within his armor. "Thou I wouldnt really mind for some ryebread and pork right now!" Brooch started lumbering towards the feast, past the shadowy elf, laughing heartily along the way.

Tudolf stumbled into the guild hall coming after many of the other recruits as he hadn't noticed everyone entering until most were inside. Tudolf felt a little out of place, everyone was mingling like they were at a market of which Tudolf never visited as many times the market would be boring beyond belief for him. As he stood there about to go chat up some of the lady recruits, probably to no success, a lieutenant gave him a contract to sign which immediately made the dwarf glare strongly. It was not at the lieutenant but at the contact and writing utensil, Tudolf knew how to write but he was utter rubbish at it when he was intoxicated and at the moment he was over his limit. Non the less the dwarf tried his best to sign the contract although many parts of his writing was gibberish and illegible.

Eleni had heard of the Black Band group of mercenaries before from her father on the rare occasions that he was about. Not exactly keen on making a living as a spear for hire. But until issues were resolved and she could return home to her natural duties such things would have to be tolerated. The biggest problem would be keeping her pride in line. Still wearing her symbols of authority, so it was clear who she was, the rank she held and the heritage that she came from. Lined in dark purple studded armor, each stud having a diety of people on it. Composite bow at her back and a spear in hand, wading from the bought to a hopefully small time in Avalad. Over hearing several stories of certain peoples wanting into the band. A man tall as a giant, a dwarf and an elven king. Well at least she wouldn't be the only one having to keep her pride in line. Because of previous responsibilities she kept watch, her eyes constantly moving. Taking notice to several muggings and a whore steal from a man while being penetrated. Vile as it was this damned city was her home like it or not. Find the guildhall with ease, though trying to fight in between everyone was agitating enough. The recruits if they could be called that lined the hall, yet another thing she'd have to tolerate in Avalad. Noticing the dwarf, elf king and the giant without a second notion, instinct or not she knew who they were. But the relieving thought of another woman there heated the heart some. Lightly she stabbed her spear into the ground only listening. Overhearing the Carmine's comment. "Men are that way. Food, drink. At least these place isn't totally filled with cocks." Eleni spoke harsh but coming from her perspective and upbringing, men were second class citizens for the most part.

Lentus was taken back out the ‘titan’s’ approach although she’d met much like him he was easily one to watch. Although she believed that the banquets are not for warriors, she knew there was an opportunity for some exquisite food, most likely some of the last she’d taste, before the trails began at least, then she could really see what this group was up to. She was going to leave then and there but the arrival of the woman changed that, her opinion of men obviously showed some bad background with them, “You could say that,” Lentus replied, she put out her arm to her new compatriot, “Lentus Aventum, pleased to be of your acquaintance, Please call me Lentus.” She didn’t know why but she felt that she was going to be a very powerful ally in the guild. “Anyway, shall we sit, I don’t know about you, but I think I would rather be with someone of my own sex when I eat, and I find it rather hard to ‘mingle’ with those in which most likely want to have intercourse with us.” She paused and examined the woman in front of her, “Obviously I am an Elf, I was born in the city of spires, but you look like the species of men, but you are obviously not, where do you come from?” whilst she waited for a reply she took off her cowl and hood showing her face, she could most likely be able to trust a woman.