Kiga walked in with purpose, his shoulders swayed as he did so, feet carefully placing one before the other. His eye scanned the interior and when satisfied, he turned to face the way he'd come.
He folded his arms over his bare chest and studied Alec again, still without expression.
I have to admit, I thought as a sage you would be older. Interesting.
Kiga tuned again, looked to Alec's collection of books.
Tell me sage, what do you charge for your services? Do you promise discretion?
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"Sage?" Alec asks, mirthfully. He stifles a chuckle. "Hardly. You know the old saying, "you either know a little about a lot or a lot about a little"? I know a lot about a lot." His eyes trail the man over to a shelf. "But, I can give you advice, if you'd like, and I can be discrete about it. Though, it'd be nice to know who you are, to start with."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Kiga's one eye narrowed and he glanced at Alec across his shoulder. He then turned, placing both hands upon the table. That lack of expression was wihtout indication of his thoughts, but his voice spoke his purpose.
I do not need your talents. I am curious though and would see what you know. I have little gold but am willing to offer services in return.
If this is to your liking, then we can begin.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
Raising a hand, Alec scratches a temple. "Ah....well. Yes, then, I suppose. Let's begin." Dropping the hand to the side of his face, and rubbing it. "Begin what, exactly?"
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Kiga nodded and produced a scroll. He unwound it, gave little time for Alec to look at the scribble upon it but it clearly held Grayell's signature. He rolled it up once more and concealed it.
I have been hired in two capacities, neither of which concerns you. But I have been asked to test certain people. No harm shall come to them - but I do believe that some of their ability is potentially more than I can handle in a fair fight.
I don't fight fair unless contracted to do so of course. I have studied them a while and am not entirely impressed - but am not convinced I do not have enough information. I ask what you know about Kerag, Venom and Tallia.
Still without expression.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"Ah," Alec breathes. "I see. Well. Kerag is an orc, and that should really be enough. Fights like a beast. Mainly with an axe, but..." He pauses, then shudders. "He's got another blade, that he carries at his waist. It's....evil. Pure and unadulterated. Watch out for that." Leaning against the wall, he shrugs. "Tallia and Venom, though, I know next to nothing of. Tallia's a Cathian, which you can of course tell just looking at her, and she's also extremely timid in conversation. I've not seen her in combat, but I've always believed one should beware the quiet ones. Take that for what you will. Venom, though.....I know less than next to nothing about him, I know nothing, except for his name. And he carries a curved blade, a katana. Should narrow down your idea of how he fights quite a bit."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Very well. The sword that the Orc carries, that was an unkwon variable. The rest I have deduced myself of course.
Kiga walks around the table to Alec's side and then leans his rear against it, folding his arms.
Tell me then sage, how shall I pay you? Such little information, perhaps I have adequate gold after all.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"Perhaps. But you mentioned services." Alec hasn't stopped looking at him since he came in. "What would those be?"
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Kiga's eyebrow lowered, he looked down his bare chest and then up with a hint of a grin. Slightly telling.
Oh, I am trained in many arts in order to complete my work. I don't feel your information is adequate compensation for most of them however.
Kiga shifted to sit atop the table now and relaxed, hands at his sides as he leaned forward.
In fact, I'm not sure I can afford you anything but perhaps an errand. Otherwise, you would owe me.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"I've got a not inconsiderable bit of gold tucked away," Alec says, hitching a thumb towards one of the small rooms off the main one. "So. What are these other services?"
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Kiga's face finally betrayed expression, however controlled or intentional it was. He was in need of funds and better equipment only increased his chance of success. He licked his lips to moisten them before he spoke, ran a hand through his hair as he loosed up. His head dropped to one side and he smiled then, looking at Alec in a lazy manner.
Oh, this and that. I am trained to kill, to evade, to steal, to gather intelligence and of course to coerce - through many means whether mental or physical. I have very few qualms, I am trained to only complete my contract.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
"Physical coercion?" Alec says, lopsided smile on his face. "Very subtle, that." Pushing off the wall, he walks in front of Kiga, and looks him up and down closely. "I don't think I would mind some of your physical coercion, honestly."
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Kiga studied him, tilted his head as his eye wandered over what Alec presented. He then smiled, leaned back on the table and rested on his elbows.
You're quite forward. And I work for gold. The degree to which any of my talents are applied depends entirely on how heavy my purse is. Mind you..
Kiga flicked the lower hem of Alec's shirt with his foot.
It is in my best interest to know more about my target. Know what I have to work with.
Alec [M:118:6:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=412&page=1#1242]"I see," said the blind man to the deaf lady.[0:Wandering the stacks.][1:Present and accounted for.]
Alec reaches up, quickly but not hurriedly, pulls his shirt over his head, and flings it across the room with a practiced flick of the wrist. He looks down his own now-bare chest. "Well?" he says, raising his head and meeting Kiga's eye.
Come in under the shadow of this red rock, and I will show you something different from either your shadow at morning, striding behind you, or your shadow at evening, rising to meet you. I shall show you fear in a handful of dust.
Kiga whistled then, a soft warble and his eye glowed with delight. He pressed away from the table and weaved, snake like in front of Alec, bringing himself very close to his host. He looked at Alec and then his mouth, then his chest, his stomach... and to where his hand was headed.
Fingers dragged down skin, a smug smile on his lips. He pressed, clawed and writhed over Alec's rather defined form and then dragged temptingly down his stomach. A single finger slipped into Alec's waistband and pulled it out. Kiga had a look, a rather long look and then he released it with a snap and a devilish smile.
He nodded, laid back on his elbows once more.
It would be a shame to kill you. You're quite pretty. I think I'll have to work you a deal.
Gold first. Then the goods. You understand the caution of course.
Kiga's right leg rested across his left's knee, his foot bouncing. He whistled again, looking at Alec sideways.