[h1][color=00a99d]Sylvia Salthand[/color][/h1] At the stall, the merchant, a pot bellied fellow with a hook nose and slanted eyes catches you lingering by his supposed enchanted chest. "You there, do you have the will to open a chest that contains such vast riches it is locked by some spell?!" Sylvia put a finger to the side of her lips, pouting it one direction. "Hmmm..." She didn't meet his eye for a few seconds, looking over the chest. "Is it 10 gold to try and open it, or ten gold to buy it for myself?" She didn't actually care, but if she could take it and run that'd help her chances. "Step right up and try your hand at opening it! I swear not ten of the strongest men could open this chest! Ten gold and it is yours!" "Ten gold it is then." She would be pretty much flat broke after this, but something drew her here. Besides, she had just gotten a job. She fished the coins from her bag and handed them gently over to the man. "If you're lying to me though, I WILL haunt you after I die." She said it with a smile, only a pinch of reality in the threat. The merchant smiles wide, taking the ten gold. "On my honor, lady. Fetched from the wastes of Amnon, within the ruin of the Faded Kings of Runestone! A king's treasure it is, I'm sure! Why else would it be enchanted so?!" Sylvia took hold of the weighty chest. She wouldn't be able to carry this thing around all day without it becoming a problem. She decided to take a small detour and place the chest in the safe keeping of the inn she had been staying in. "Some copper for your troubles." She payed the keeper some of her last coin to assure her new bounty wouldn't be spirited away while she was gone. Beside the stall, the caravan master thumps his spear down with a resonating thud. "Is this all?! Is this all among you who dare the road to Ravenhold?" Returning back to the docks, somewhat out of breath from jogging the whole way, she was happy to see the caravan master still there. "Another pair of hands here!" She waved at him, trodding to a stop when she neared him. "I've got a good sword arm, and enough wit for the lot of you." "Very well!" Barked the master. "I'm not one to put a woman in harm's way, but you have the look of fighter, and I need bodies between me and the cudgels of those brigands!" He climbed over his mountain of goods, thumping down at the head of his wagon and snapping the reins, the two horses moving at a quick trot. "To Ravenhold! To Ravenhold! Gold in your pockets for the safety of my goods!" Sylvia see's two others begin to jog alongside the wagon. One is a dwarf clad in chainmail and a greataxe slung across his back. The other wears a leather tunic and hood, daggers line his belt and a bows and arrows hang across his back. A second wagon lurches out of an alley way, following the lead wagon. Sylvia sidled up near to the other two recent hires, just hoping to get some feeling of who she'd be working with for the time. "Ello ello, how and who are you two?" She grinned at the pair, making sure to be on the right side of them, as to keep them out of her blindspot. The dwarf exhaled loudly, his beard forked in three braids. "Yotan Boarfist," he said with a nod, his short legs hammering into the cobblestone street as he jogged. "They expect us to run the whole way to Ravenhold?!" "Nice to meet you, names Sylvia. Sylvia Salt-Hand." She chuckled a little at his complaint. "I won't tell if you take a sit down on the cart for a while." She eyed the human next, squinting at them a little. "And yourself? Got a name?" "Yup." he said simply, looking straight ahead. Sylvia shrugged in response. Quiet types like these were best left alone. "An interesting name. Must be foreign." She chided, though she stopped there. "Well if either of you feel like chatting, I'll be watching the other side of the caravan for now." She changed her pace to fall behind the wagon, then circled to the opposite side. It didn't make much sense to have all three guards in one spot. She huffed though when she was alone. The dwarf made a pretty good point. This trip would be tiring if they kept on foot at this pace. The caravan went on for several hours, making a fast pace through the winding road that, thankfully, kept to the lowlands and winding around hills of dead brush and rock. The landscape was utterly black on this moonless light, with only the stars twinkling above to offer any respite from the blackness. Garot, the surly caravan master, had ordered all lights on the wagons to be snuffed out, and almost seemed to be blindly trusting his horses to stay on the road Outside of Haven, the road was lined with lantern posts, but that only went on for a mile or so past the crossroads before they went dark. The trod of horses, creak of wagon, and the panting of Boarfist was all that could be heard. Sylvia scans the shadows, squinting to pierce the opaque shroud that blankets their surroundings, however it is of little use. One can only hope that if something was to encroach upon the caravan, perhaps the horses will detect it. The group presses on. Boarfist begins complaining but is silenced by Garot, who whispers a threat of not paying the mouthbreather. It was soon after that a bird was heard in the distance - an owl hooting. with the grunt of the wagon driver, servants and slaves among the caravan are struck with panic, some dive under the wagons, others taking shelter by their sturdy wheels. "Ready yourselves!" Hollers Garot as he pulls something from his cloak. He holds it in the air, speaking some strange tongue. To everyone's wonder, the orb lights up, hovering high in the sky and illuminating bright as the sun. Amazingly, night shrinks away and it is as if it was day. Garot, upon tossing up his magical stone, takes his spear in hand, eyeing the closest bandit, a mere 25 feet from him, and throws his spear with a cry.... the spear strikes the bandit, but looks to only graze him. The bandit leader, shielding his eyes from the light of the orb, gives a warcry, descending the hill from which he's perched and rushing forward to attack the ranger... he slashes at the ranger, who manages to jump backward, but not before getting a nasty cut across his chest the bandit archer takes aim at Garot, the caravan leader and wielder of the magical orb is too good a target to pass up, and from his elevated position he should have an advantage... However the shot goes wide the other two bandits rush toward the caravan, following their captain, and strike out at the ranger... The ranger is flanked, accustomed to fighting at range, he is now nearly surrounded... there is little he can do, attempting to duck and dodge the blades coming at him, yet he is pierced, and suffers a grave wound. The ranger dives away from the fight, shrinking back behind the cover of the wagons, and firing an arrow at his attackers... However he is wounded, and fires too quick, missing his mark. Boarfist bravely charges the enemies, running between the wagons and bringing his axe down on the closest bandit... the dwarf sinks his greataxe into the skull of the bandit with a sickening crunch, killing him instantly. Sylvia charges the bandit leader with her rapier in hand, selecting him as her current dueling opponent. She attempts a stab to his chest. Her blade slices at the bandit's studded leather armor. It has turned away the worst of the blow, but she perceive a tear in the armor and blood. The captain growls. "Try it again, bitch!" The last bandit rushes ahead, seeing his captain being targeted he makes to aid him, targeting Sylvia... he swings, but his blow is slow and clumsy, and easily avoided Garot hops off the wagon, unsheathing a longsword, he makes his way around the back of the wagon, his sword gleaming in the light as he strikes at the bandit before him. the bandit flanked, Sylvia in front of him and Garot beside, his defense is feeble, and Garot cuts into him. The bandit leader roars, rage and spittle flying at Sylvia... his blade rushes forward, locked in a dance of duel with the pirate, but he gains the upper hand, and leaves a devastating gash in Sylvia's forearm... the bandit archer takes aim, but Garon, his prior mark is behind the wagon. He instead takes aim at Sylvia, who is now at the forefront of her comrades... either from poor aim, or a fear of striking his comrades, the bandit's shot goes wide, hitting the side of the wagon with a thud. The ranger, badly hurt but keeping his composure the best he can, takes aim with his bow and fires at the enemy archer... the shot hits, striking the archer in the shoulder. The enemy bandit, seeing his captain slowly being surrounded, advances to support his leader... he engages Boarfist, lashing at the stout dwarf with his scimitar... The blade cuts into the dwarf, finding a weak spot in his chainmail. The dwarf winces. "Just a scratch!" The dwarf counters the enemy's blow... the bandit is able to bring his blade up just in time, and deflect the blow into the ground beside him, "Gladly!" Sylvia retorts through clenched teeth. The pain of her arm burning through her side. She lunges forward at the bandit leader again with her blade. Though the captain, now focused on Sylvia, parry's her strikes, clearly well versed at sword play. The bandit strikes as Sylvia wrestles with the captain's blade, landing a lucky blow, but it grievous... Slipping in and out of consciousness, she see a blur that looks like Garot striking at the bandit that landed the incapacitating blow against her... his longsword runs through the brigands chest, killing him. The bandit leader turns his attention to Garot. "Had enough yet?!" he lands a severe blow against the caravan master, knocking him backward. the archer perched upon his vantage point, fires his bow... it catches Boarfist in the shoulder. He snaps the arrow in half with a growl. the other bandit strikes against the dwarf, hoping to catch him off guard from the arrow... but Boarfist brings his axe up in time, knocking the blow wide. from behind the wagon, the ranger fires his bow the arrow sinks into the brigands chest. He gasps, falling to his knees before slumping forward. boarfist swings his axe at the captain with a how, the bandit leader raising his sword to parry... but his blow is deflected. your vision blurry, you see the captain's sword flash above you... you think you hear the sound of Garon cursing, steel biting steel... "You cannot have it Valmer!" "It is mine!" The biting of steel could be heard in the distance, meanwhile firm hands seize Sylvia... "Stupid woman!" says a voice. Sylvia can feel a cool liquid brush against her lips, filling her mouth... it feels replenishing... Sylvia comes too, seeing the ranger propping her up, an empty vial in his hands. "You're lucky you're not dead!" Sylvia flutters her eye open dramatcially, looking up at the man. "So you can talk". She pushed herself up onto her own two feet. "Thank you love, luck is a friend of mine actually." Over at the fight between bandit and your comrades, she can see Boarfist sink his axe into the Valmer's shoulder. "Tag in!" Sylvia cheers, jumping back into combat without hesitation. Selecting the same man again as her dueling opponent. She takes a swipe with her rapier once more. Sylvia lands her blow across the brigands shoulder, cutting deep... The captain's attention is turned for a fraction of a second, giving Garot the opening he needs to land a critical hit, driving his longsword right through his gut... The captain steps back with a grimace. His comrades dead, bleeding and gravely wounded, his eyes begin darting around for escape... "Stop," the bandit pleaded. "I yield!" "Drop your sword, Valmer." Garot returned, gripping his longsword tight. "Just let me go... You'll never see me again, Garot. You have my word." "Your word means nothing to me." "Turning out your pockets might make a few of us a little more merciful." Syliva cut in. "Fuck what's in his pockets," chimed in the ranger, stepping forward, blood dripping from his arm. "How much you think the Haven Watch will pay for this brigand?" "We're headed for Ravenhold!" Garot reminded him. "If he's wanted dead then he wouldn't be as much trouble to take along." The pirate woman argued. "They pay more if they get a hanging," the ranger said, eyeing the bandit darkly.The bandit growled, raising his sword once more. "You'll have to take me dead, wretches!" "So be it." Garot said grimly. Valmer let out a pained holler, striking at the caravan master... his blow is reckless, and is easily deflected wide Another miss on Valmer. This bandit seems exceptionally hard to hit, but now Garot will take another blow. He comes at him with his eyes afire... Garot plunges his longsword into Valmer's chest. The bandit gives a final defeated gasp, before falling to the ground. Garot turned to his hirelings. "Looks like you boys earned yourself a bonus! Strap these bodies to the carriage, and you can turn them in for the bounty. And hop on, we'll ride from here." "Lovely. What are your feelings on their possessions?" Sylvia inquired, as she returned her sword to her side. He points his sword to Valmer. "He's mine. Loot the rest." With a nod of the head Sylvia looked to the other two. "Fair enough. 3 equal parts?" She gestured to the different bodies littering the ground. "Aye," said Boarfist. "We pool our findings, divide it fairly, like." "What's mine is mine," argued the ranger. "I ain't sharing." With the sour look only a mother or teacher could give, Sylvia replied. "Oh come off it. You'd probably get more if we split it. It's not like we'll let you take it all for yourself." The ranger laughs, then stops to wince, slightly holding his side. "Oh? Are you gonna come take it from me?" She looks him up and down, clutching his side in pain. "In the state you're in? I'd just have to wait for a stiff wind to do the job." She then looked to Boarfist. "Besides, our friend here who also wants to split it killed more then either of us, you really think you can take him and me at the same time?" The ranger bit his lip. "Fine." He knelt down, and began going through the pockets of the brigands. Syliva nods. "Good man." before going to check another of the bodies. Sylvia returns to the other two . "Here's what the one had on him." She made sure to show the full amount found. She didn't want to be a hypocrite and pocket anything after the last conversation. Boarfist grunts. "Nice little purse on this one, 20 gold pieces and fifty o' silver." The ranger scratches the back of his neck. "This one had some pearls on him." He shows a pouch of 9 pearls. "Decent haul so far. I can check the last one over." She handed the coins to Boarfist, freeing them to look at the last bandit. Sylvia can see Garot leaning over Valmer, slipping an amulet from his neck. "It did you little good, anyway." He whispered. She continues on to the body... Checking the final body, Sylvia finds a quiver of arrows. At first glance it doesn't seem like much, but upon closer look she can see the arrows are fashioned from living wood, crafted over a decade ago when there was a sun. Sylvia continues patting down the archer. she finds 9gp, 13 sp, 10 coppers. She also spots a gold ring as well, inset with a ruby. "Hey, not a bad find on this one!" She gathered up the items to show to the other two. "Some fancy arrows, a chunk more coin and a nice looking ring." She displayed them as best she could with the lack of light. Spending a fair bit of time counting things out and divvying it up, Sylvia stated: "So that would be 10 gold, 29 silver, 6 copper, 3 pearls and 4 arrows each. Then there's the ring." She looked to the others for signs of argue. "I'd be willing to trade in some cash for the ring, I like my jewelry." The ranger nods. "I wouldn't mind those arrows." "The peals have my eye, if we're bein' tellin' the truth," said Boarfist. "Alright, well if we each want one of them I wouldn't argue. Boar can take the pearls, Yup'll have the arrows and I can take the ring then?" Sylvia began reaching for her share before the ranger protested. "No. I want a couple of those pearls." said the ranger. "What?!" Scoffed Boarfist. "Then give a couple arrows!" "What are you going to do with a couple arrows?!" "Business o' yours what I do with 'em?!" "He could sell them." Sylvia sighed. "Let's just keep things civil please." "Those pearls are worth an easy 10 gold a piece! How much you think you get for an arrow?!" The ranger deftly reached forward, grasping at the pearls... Boarfist slammed his square guantlet down with a thud, trapping the rangers hand with a shudder. The ranger gritted his teeth against the pain. "You'll pay for that!" With a flash the ranger reached down for his dagger, bringing his freehand up with a glint of steel. He plunges the blade down in the forearm of the Dwarf, A leather bracer grinds against the blade, but tears as the blade pierces flesh The dwarf bears his teeth through his fiery beard. "I should kill you for that!" The call of Garot breaks the tension, though animosity lingers. "Let's go, we're moving out. Ravenhold is just ahead!" The caravan master was already atop his wagon, and snapping the reins, his wagon lurching forward. Sylvia snatches up the coin, ring and pearls. Leaving the rangers share and the arrows. "You're a greedy idiot, words you shouldn't take lightly from a pirate. I'm taking whats ours and you should count yourself lucky we're leaving anything for you at all, let alone leaving you breathing." The ranger glared after her. "I only want what's fair. I saved your life, after all!" Boarfist lifted his gauntlet from the rangers hand. The ranger slowly pulled it back to him, it was stiff and looked broken. They both jumped up on the wagon, the ranger on the back end. At the first chance she had, Sylvia gave the dwarf his share and the pearls. "This has been less than pleasant." She muttered, looking around her as the cart moved. "But at least you're off your feet now ay?" She kept an eye on the Ranger, not really trying to hide er glances. She didn't think he'd slit their throats or anything, but she wasn't going to risk it. He seemed selfish at best, and unstable at the worst The ranger merely looked sullenly out the back end. Boarfist laughed. "Oh aye. If every bone in my body didn't hurt like hades, maybe I'd be havin' a nap!" After about ten more minutes the caravan came to a dark castle, cut of blackened stone, and built high into sharp peaks and daunting battlements... [Hider=Large Image.][img]https://i.pinimg.com/736x/47/5b/43/475b438cc0a0caf4a4de3f39af07aba6--dark-gothic-art-dark-castle.jpg[/img][/Hider]