Mercs:
Wade | The Baron | Mags | Murder | Auntie | Mila
Character Sheets:
Wade
Name
Trent Wade
Nickname
Wade
Race/Nationality
Human/Durnish
Age
35
Daily Wage
7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level
3
Action Points
5
Hit Points
22
Core Stats
Might
8
Agility
10
Grit
11
Intellect
5
Skills
Thievery, Knives (proficient)
Equipment
Weapons
Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour
Padded
Other
Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Necklace of Agility (+2 agility)
The Baron
Name
Unknown
Nickname
The Baron
Race/Nationality
Human/Durnish
Age
31
Daily Wage
8 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level
3
Action Points
3
Hit Points
15
Core Stats
Might
6
Agility
12
Grit
6
Intellect
11
Skills
Thievery, Disguise, Knives (proficient), Swords (novice)
Equipment
Weapons
Short sword (damage 1-6), Dagger (damage 3-12)
Armour
Leather
Other
Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Coin of Deception, Amulet of Disguise
Mags
Name
Magnus Nold
Nickname
Mags
Race/Nationality
Human/Durnish
Age
28
Daily Wage
4 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level
2
Action Points
3
Hit Points
15
Core Stats
Might
6
Agility
5
Grit
7
Intellect
6
Skills
Thievery, Ambidextrous, Dagger (competent)
Equipment
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Weapons
Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour
None
Other
Lockpicking and other tools of the trade
Murder
Name
Unknown
Nickname
Murder
Race/Nationality
Human/Alinko
Age
34
Daily Wage
1 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level
1
Action Points
2
Hit Points
12
Core Stats
Might
9
Agility
4
Grit
2
Intellect
1
Skills
Staves (novice)
Equipment
Weapons
Stick (damage 1-3)
Armour
None
Other
Auntie
Name
Femke Gerd
Nickname
Auntie
Race/Nationality
Human/Hargon
Age
48
Daily Wage
7 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level
3
Action Points
4
Hit Points
21
Core Stats
Might
5
Agility
6
Grit
13
Intellect
11
Skills
Medic, Staves (novice), Bows (novice)
Equipment
Weapons
Cudgel (damage 1-4), short bow (1-6)
Armour
Padded
Other
Medical kit, Potion of Healing
Mila
Name
Liudmila Stradenko
Nickname
Mila
Race/Nationality
Human/Livanian
Age
20
Daily Wage
3 pence
Action Stats
EXP Level
2
Action Points
3
Hit Points
14
Core Stats
Might
4
Agility
10
Grit
8
Intellect
5
Skills
Thievery, Knives (competent)
Equipment
Weapons
Dagger (damage 2-8)
Armour
Padded
Other
Lockpicking and other tools of the trade, Medical kit
‘The usual?’ the barmaid at The Cracked Nuts asked him.
‘Please.’
‘And for your wife, too?’
‘Eh?’
‘Is your wife in?’
‘Oh, yeah. Same for her as well, please.’
Wade took the ales to his table, handing Femke her drink. ‘Cheers!’
‘Cheers,’ she said, clinking mugs and taking a healthy glug. ‘It’s not bad.’
‘Tastes even better knowing Stiff is paying for them.’
Stiff had given Wade expenses for their mission to Dorwich City. The mercenary leader probably hadn’t intended for his coin to get spent on beer. But there was a reason why Wade and Femke had been spending money here the last few nights.
It wasn’t long before the day shift came in.
Wade had spent the first couple of days in the city simply observing the comings and goings at what the locals called Blairs Palace. It was more of a mansion than a palace. But that was beside the point. Wade had soon picked up on the routines of the guards who controlled entry. The guards on day shift finished late in the evening, and invariably took their supper together at The Nuts.
Wade and Femke had made their acquaintance a few nights ago. They’d played it very carefully, not arousing any suspicion—getting a little more friendly each night. Tonight was the night to go for it.
‘Welcome, welcome!’ Wade cried as they entered. ‘Let me get you boys a drink.’
‘You were buying last night, Kent,’ one of them resisted weakly, using the name Wade had given them.
‘I know but it’s a special night tonight,’ Wade said. ‘My old dad’s birthday. He always liked a celebration. Tell me you’ll have a drink with me.’
Very few people resist a free drink. The guards at Blairs Palace were not amongst that special group.
Wade kept the chat and the beers flowing. Femke was just the right balance between friendly and flirty. The guards forgot about getting supper. They just kept drinking.
‘You know,’ one of them said to Wade, already slurring his words and speaking louder than he realised. ‘You are one lucky fella, Kent. That wife of yours is something else. Ever thought of sharing her with a close friend?’
‘I haven’t. But I’ve heard that girl over there is very generous when it comes to sharing.’
He pointed at Mila, drinking at the bar.
‘Is that right?’
‘Aye. Very pretty, don’t you think?’
‘She’s got generous assets, for sure.’
‘Don’t tell the wife I said so. But honestly, if my missus wasn’t here, I’d be straight over there asking the lass how much she charges.’
Soon after that conversation, Mags joined them. He bought yet another round of drinks. ‘Ask me why I’m feeling so generous tonight, folks,’ the one-handed thief said.
‘Go on,’ Wade asked him.
Mags gestured over to the far end of the lounge, where men played cards, dice, and coins. ‘The fellow playing shufflegroat. He has a couple of tells. Sticks his tongue into the corner of his lips when he has a good hand. Screws up his nose when he’s losing. It’s so easy, I promise ya. And he has money to play with.’ Mags produced a filthy looking purse, open for all to see. It was stuffed full of coins Stiff had given them.
The palace guards accepted their drinks, but none took Mags’ bait.
Wade went over to the shuffleboard, where The Baron had set up a game. Murder stood to one side. He had been typecast into the role of mute bodyguard.
‘Well?’ The Baron asked, as they pretended to play.
‘I think they’ll bite when I return.’
‘Got them drunk yet?’
‘Oh aye, they’re good and steamin’.’
The Baron handed over more coins, and Wade returned to his new friends to tell them how easy it was. It was when he showed them the money that the first guard cracked.
‘I need in on this.’
‘Come,’ Wade said. ‘I’ll go over with you.’
The Baron’s tendency to overact worked a treat with Wade’s new pal. His tongue wouldn’t quit slobbering, and when he screwed up his nose, his top lip rose with it. Wade gave his friend encouraging, knowing looks. The guardsman cleaned up at the shuffleboard, winning more than Wade had. When they returned to share the good news, the other guards almost came to blows over who should go next.
The Baron let the next guard win as well. He was the lusty one, and Wade was pleased to see him wander over towards Mila at the bar.
It was the third guard, named Daniel, who lost to The Baron. He returned disconsolate.
‘Did you watch carefully for his tells?’ Mags asked him.
‘Of course I did, damn you!’ the guard shouted.
Mags shrank away.
‘Come now,’ Wade said. ‘Let us all go and help you win back what you have lost. I’ll give you some of my winnings to play with.’
‘Mighty good of you, Kent.’
Wade, Femke, and the guards gathered around the table. The Baron’s Coin of Deception, a treasure the crew had gathered from a barrow, made the thief’s task effortless. However it was flipped, it would always land on the side he wanted. At first, Daniel kept winning small amounts. He risked more and more, until the coin went The Baron’s way three times in a row, and he lost everything.
‘Again,’ the guard demanded. He held a hand out to Wade for more money. ‘I can win that back.’
‘Come now, Daniel,’ Wade said. ‘Perhaps best to quit while we’re even.’
‘I’m not even though, am I?’ the guard snarled, his face turning red. ‘I’m down, and you’re still up!’
The Baron slowly pushed the pile of coins he had taken back onto the table. It sat there, a heap of gold, silver, and bronze—drawing the eye of everyone at the shuffleboard, singing its silent refrain of need and avarice. ‘If you’re struggling for funds, I would take that uniform of yours as part payment. The helmet ’n all.’
The palace guards were all equipped the same. Their armour was a mix of leather and ring mail, with pale blue and violet cloth. Quite dashing, to be fair. The helmet was regular looking, save for metal flaps that protected the ears and cheeks. The Baron needed a full set if he was going to get into the Blairs’ place.
‘Don’t do it, Daniel,’ one of the guards warned. ‘Rylan won’t be understanding if you lose your outfit. You remember why this place is called The Cracked Nuts, don’t you?’
‘I can win it back,’ Daniel insisted.
The Baron pointed at his mail vest, and Daniel began to strip.
‘Fetch my helmet, will ya?’
‘I ain't fetching it,’ said his friend darkly.
‘Here you go!’ Mags arrived with the helmet tucked under his arm.
Daniel put it on the table, along with his vest and trews. ‘Come on, then.’
‘I said part payment,’ The Baron reminded him.
Wade sighed, grabbing a handful of coins from his purse and placing them with the uniform. ‘That enough?’
The Baron nodded his agreement, and they played. His victory was brutally quick.
‘That ain’t fair!’ Daniel railed. He put a hand on his uniform, refusing to let The Baron take it.
‘Mada,’ said Murder, and Daniel withdrew his hand.
‘This is your fault!’ said the guard, turning on Wade. ‘You set me up!’
‘Set you up?’ Wade retorted. ‘It’s my money you’ve been losing at the board!’
There was some shoving and pushing, until the other guards pulled Daniel away, back to the bar.
The Baron shoved his winnings into a bag, and he and Murder left via the back entrance.
Wade, Femke, and Mags didn’t wait much longer before leaving. As the fresh air hit them, Mila appeared from around the corner. ‘Well?’ Wade asked.
She reached into a pocket and retrieved a set of keys, jangling them.
Wade grinned. They had what they needed. Best to move fast, in case any guards started to wonder about what had just happened.