Fallout of Weirdbottle: LII
"Did you all really have to rob him?" Alekzandr inquired with a sigh. Markos smiled while they rode in the cart, he began getting a sneaking feeling that something was wrong.
"Of course we did!" He exclaimed, he shivered a little, that spell was so cold.. Markos hated it, that freezing sensation in which his body had been overcome with. He hated the cold, the feeling of helplessness while he laid on the ground unable to aid his allies. "Afterall if we didn't, who was going to take his things?!" Asher and Alekzandr sighed in tandem.
"I'm just glad that dumbass is dead.." Asher admitted, Markos noted how relieved Asher had seemed when the gnome finally died. It was such a narrow window.. The crack between Andraste and the door frame, it was all he could see throughout the whole fight, Asher had let loose throwing krono clones everywhere. His echo knights. Markos couldn't recall the last time he had seen Asher use his echo knights or the last time he actually needed them. "Honestly I was really worried for all you back there.. You looked pretty hurt.. Unlike me, who was in fact not hurt because I can dodge." Asher let out a hearty laugh at the other's expense.
The fact Asher had switched to his original swords however, was the most incredible part.
"Yeah yeah, well at least we didn't stay outside like.. Someone." Adleth shot back. Markos saw her glare at Alekzandr from the back of the cart. Alekz gave a shrug in defense.
"Comrade, I was watching our flank! We needed to ensure no allies would show up to Skeemo's rescue." Alekzandr rebutted. Adleth rolled her eyes like the answer didn't matter to her. Quite frankly Markos agreed with her, he had seen the fight Alekzandr should have shown up with all the noise they caused.
"So we got a cart now.. What's the plan?" Herod jogged parallel to the wagon, running along the side of the cart trying to keep up with the slowed horses. "Get some chicken? Kill some whores? Honestly I'm on top of the world!" Herod exclaimed a few people gave visible looks when he announced killing whores.
'Let's kill the whores! Sacrificing them to her!' Markos silently told the voice to shut up, that was something Herod would do. Not him. 'You should eat.. She's worried about you.' Markos slammed his right palm against his face. The burning sensation of smacked flesh woke him up a little, 'no. no. no. She doesn't care.' He cursed at himself. 'Does she care?' He asked next. Damnit!
"What is it with you and Chicken?" Riu asked, she looked surprisingly good for the end of that fight.. Her eyes.. They were brighter. Markos was deeply concerned for her, everything she had said.. How badly she wanted revenge, well now she had gotten it. However he was unsure how long that satisfying feeling would last. Revenge.. Was a temporary fickle thing, Markos knew all too well; revenge was something your heart growls for like a sick dog wishing for red meat, yet once you kill one person.. Once you take that first ounce of revenge..
'She's waiting for you Amanodel' Markos slammed a fist against the cart in anger. You would never be able to satisfy it. 'I hate you.' he told that stupid voice.
"I just like chicken! That and orange juice.. And stopping the unholy practice of premarital sex, or sex without the intentions of marriage."
"I.. dude.." Adleth chuckled, "Honestly.. You are such an easy going guy, how is it you're also a weird backwards zealot?" Markos saw offense in Herod's eyes but he just cracked a grin. Herod had grown up with a whore mother.. Something he was never proud of.. So to be a warlock of a anti sex god? Kinda made sense. Though Markos was unsure how much of Herod's story he believed, for all he knew the warlock lied a lot.
"We can worry about Zealotry later.. Look." Markos turned his gaze to Alekzandr's attention to see what the old drunk was talking about. Only a few meters away Markos could see a figure standing before Trollskull manor his eyes angry and seeded, his blonde hair in a small mess tucked under his crossed arms. The figure standing with a lute behind him was Davil Starsong.
"I'll take care of this." Asher clarified he hopped off the side of the waggon being careful to not bump into Andraste who had been walking alongside it. "You guys take the cart outback.. Unload it.." Markos took a deep breath and nodded. Alekzandr gripped the reins and directed the cart to the right down the large alleyway next to their home. The dark and damp road clattered under them while the horses kicked up water.
"Let me get on." Andraste piped, Alekzandr attempted to slow the horses but to no avail forcing Markos to reach over the side of the cart and grab Andraste by the hand helping her jump onto the cart without too much problem.
"So, a shit ton of gold! Sounds like I'm gonna have fun." Adleth chuckled from the back. She had opted to sit in the actual cart rather than on it sitting on a pile of junk and supplies Skeemo had packed. Sadly when they had all taken inventory of the caravan it seemed as if Skeemo was just getting the last of his things. "What do you do with gold Markos? Church tithe?" Markos gave a soft smile blushing a little, no he didn't pay a damn church tithe!
'Oh, we should make a church tithe!' He frowned at the voice squinting at it to be silent. Seriously? Should we make a church tithe? Because that was- a brilliant idea. Markos made a mental note to think about that later.
"I mostly save it up for... various things I may need.. Like books, brothels, or salmon." He remarked. There was a deadpan silence for a moment, Markos bit on one of his nails. He lowered his eyes to his lap studying the yellow cloak which sat there.
"You.. and.. Brothels? Markos, I thought you were a virgin.." Markos smiled a little at Adleth's confusion. "Don't tell Herod or you might get murdered ha!" She chuckled. Well yeah.. He was in fact a virgin but he never went to brothels for sex. He fidgeted for a second and then opened his mouth.
"I.. don't pay for sex, just pay people to sleep next to me, Cthulhu's nightmares arent nearly as bad when others are around." He responded, Markos shivered remembering all the times he had to pay his hard earned coin for random strangers to sleep next to him, a desperate attempt to avoid the dreams though.. They would still sometimes come regardless. Markos was glad Herod had walked to see Davil with Asher. The Cart turned the final corner in the alleyway opening to the TrollSkull Manor's backyard, a large plot of land separated by an iron fence in the alley way.
"This is gonna be a pain." Riu groaned. She stood on the side of the cart bracing it to be turned. Andraste rapidly unhooked the horses leaving the other four to physically haul the cart around the ninety degree angle. It took a lot of effort Markos had to push one side before they backed it up numerous times. Nearly fifteen minutes later the group had hauled the cart through the fence and set it down in the backyard. The horses were now strolling the field he wanted to reach out and pet one.
"Nope!" Markos backed up when one of the horses started to yelp at him.
"Come comrade.. We should go inside." Markos nodded rapidly and turned on his heel running into the open backdoor. He took a step into the doorframe. The fresh planks of wood didn't make a single sound. He adirmed the fresh bar they had purchased the installation, certainly meaning Lif would be satisfied. At least he didn't need to worry about some vengeful spectre. Right?
"You look cheerful." Adleth snapped. Markos pivoted to the exchange between Asher and Adleth. "Where's the coin man?" Asher looked off in the distance. Shit Markos thought, did they not get the money? Wait. How did Adleth gauge Asher's expression?
'What do we need money for?!' The voice made a good point. 'To buy peaches obviously!' Now hold on, that voice made a better point. Markos took a seat at the bar spinning in the chair to face his friends plus the newcomer of Andraste.
"We didn't get it all." Herod announced bitterly. He took a seat at one of the nearby tables letting out a hefty sigh. Clearly upset. Markos heard a few murmurs from the group, he met Herod's gaze, the look of apologies and cringe flashing on it.
"What the fuck do you mean?" Adleth demanded angrily.
"Davil.. He said we're too loud." Asher responded. "Made too much of a fuss, he wanted it handled quietly he said. Told us to take this." Asher held up a sack of gold pieces clearly smaller than what they were promised. "A hundred.. And never contact the Zhentarim less we wish to face.. An.. unfortunate fate." Asher threw the sack of coins on the table spilling a few across it. "Regardless we still have what the harpers promised us.. We tore up that guy's Tattoo.. So I say one of us goes down and tells Reaner what we did, and what he owes us." Asher took a deep breath, seeming more ticked off then angry the entire party felt slighted.
"Well, that's fine. We didn't care about those shits anyway." Herod deflected as if happy to be rid of the Zhentarim. "I don't really see the problem plus we got that Harper gold!"
"I do." Asher responded. "That was one of our only clients so far. But fair enough we did get offered a lot of gold from the Harpers."
Markos squinted, should he go talk to the harpers? It would be a nice change of pace, he thought.
"Ugh!" Adleth yelled. "Slimy bastard.. We killed the shit what does it matter! This. This is why you never do business with the Zhentarim cheeky fucks." Adleth leaned back in her own chair.
"I'm g..glad you got your closure.." Markos could faintly make out Alekzandr's whispers to Riu, the two of them sitting offstancely to the side on one of the tables closer to the tavern's back. Riu let off a small weak smile yet she said nothing. It was probably better that way. Markos knew all too well, this was only the beginning of her closure.. Of her revenge.
"So who's gonna help me unload the cart? We gotta get those damned potions!" Asher exclaimed, jumping up from his seat. Always the initiative taker.. Andraste raised her hand in an offer.. Was she staying? Markos felt awkward; he wasn't sure what would become of Andraste now that she had helped them. 'We kill her?' A voice asked.
"I'll go to see Renaer." Markos announced. Standing up he cleared his throat, he desperately wanted to get out of the place.. For once be left alone so he could deal with the voices. Or at least try to contain them. Itchings to perform a second ritual filled his head, while the first one had gotten him nearly killed!!
"I.." Alekzandr started. He saw Alekzandr look at himself worriedly, concern was spelled out across his face. "Friend, I'm not sure that is the best idea.. We already know this.. Innocent murderer is on the loose picking at us. Not to mention.." He paused, Markos could feel him doing a onceover across his own body. "You're.. Personality.. May get in the way, comrade." Markos felt a tinge of sadness pulse through him, he.. Wasn't that bad.. In fact. No he had a fix- wait.. That was painful as all living hell.. Was it even a good idea? To be locked in the back seat again?
"Oh just let him go." Markos turned, Adleth was lounging casually on a chair nearby drinking a glass of scotch. She looked so nonchalant for someone who was supposedly broken up about the lack of gold. "Honestly.. You people act as if he's the goddamn doom device and then act as if he can't survive without one of us.. Just let him go and see if he comes back." Markos gave Alekzandr a reassuring smile trying to sway the old man. The soldier rolled his eyes.
"You're crazy and truly not my problem." Alekzandr simply took out his flask and threw it back. Before anyone else could make any objections Markos decided to bolt out the door. He grabbed the door knob and passed through. The road to the yawning portal, probably the most consistently visited site in Waterdeep was rocky, the cobblestone roads made that satisfying clack under your feet when you walked. Though Markos couldn't explain why he was trying so hard to avoid some of the cracks in the street. One, one, two, two, three- shit. Markos tried making himself step over a crack with one foot and then another with the other foot. 'Wait shouldn't I be doing something?' He asked himself.
'The necklace?!' wait.. Did a voice actually help him this time? That was pretty nice. Markos reached into his pocket, carefully with shaking hands he saw his salvation.. Or.. more accurately his doom. Folded in a small silk napkin Markos slowly peeled back the layers until a silver shining coin glistened in his hand. The branch of lines showing the Elder sign stared back at him, almost like it was trying to mock him.
"Well.." Markos croaked, "Here goes nothing." Markos pulled the leather cord up, the symbol glazed his eyes before the necklace slipped over his head.
"Wow.." Markos let out a small squeak, the colors of Waterdeep felt so much more vibrant the noises in his ears stopped and halted, he walked along the path spotting the yawning portal off in the distance.
"Get ya cactuses here! Cactuses who don't like a prickly plant?!" A salesman harping from a nearby cart. The world felt.. Peaceful.. Sireen.. It was nice. He couldn't shake this almost throbbing sensation of pain however in the back of his brain like something was trying desperately to claw at him. He let out a sigh, a calming relieved breath of fresh air excited by the prospects he had before him.
"You young lady looks like you need a fresh bit of meat!" A bald headed man hollard from the side. Markos flashed him a quick glare, but smiled at the wonderful feeling.. The feeling of silence.
"Where's Renaer." Markos swung the door of the yawning portal open scanning the surrounding tables and nearby venues. Renaer had.. What was it.. Oh right, promised them extra gold. The Yawning portal was an utter mess of chaos, tons of individuals, adventurers and criminals alike sitting at various tables, the dim yet warm inviting light let Markos relax a little, despite the giant gaping Well in the center of the room; the portal. Above him spiraling floors of various tavern guests sat holding secrets and conversations far from ear shot. The tavern was as loud as it could be. Yet somehow.. It felt quiet. He spotted Durnan in the distance hanging out behind the bar cleaning a glass while customers ordered another. Durnan's eyes met Markos before a look of exhaustion overtook them. He approached the bar and leaned over its side giving Durnan a half hearted smile.
"Well you're back.." Durnan paused studying Markos's face. "What can I do for you Markos.." Durnan looked as if he wanted to ask a question yet couldn't, too frustrated with having to deal with him.
"Renaer." Markos whispered back. "I'm looking for Renaer." Durnan frowned and shrugged. The smell of soft whiskey and burnt cinnamon invaded his nose like a waft of goodness.
"Renaer is in the back, with some of the others.. Friends of his. Head that way." Durnan pointed to a nearby doorframe. The door Durnan had pointed to was a small iron wrought entrance with scratch marks across its entirety, no window instead just solid spruce planks. Markos found surprisingly enough that the door was not locked, though.. That would make sense since it was located directly behind the bar meaning no one could get in without passing Durnan. It felt like a small temple ground, the interior of the room had tile floors and white walls distinctly different from the dark wood of the tavern. Markos could swear he heard voices in the distance navigating the small initial hallway with decent ease.
"We have to think about this logically.. If someone were to be after the vault.. Who knows what they could be planning." Markos heard a familiar voice speak, though he knew it wasn't Renaer.
"If the Zhentarim want it.. Then we're dealing with an organized crime uprising. It would be a civil war!" This voice was deep, scruffy and not all that human. "This is going to be an utter shit show.. On the lines we've never seen before."
"The Xanathar guild? What about them, our spies have literally said nothing about them wanting the vault but come on! Five hundred thousand dragons? That much gold. Someone has to want it." The first voice replied.
"All of them.." Renaer said softly. "They all may be after the vault.. But if our sources are right there's.. Another.. Haven't you seen the activity? The recent resurrection of that falling house if you ask me.." Renaer paused, and Markos realized it would be better to step forward then be caught eavesdropping. He reached behind him and grabbed the door, turning the knob and reclosing the door.
"Renaer?! Durnan said you would be back here-" Markos jogged down the twisting hall before he met an open room where five people stood around a large map looking up at him. At the head stood Renaer who was posed over the map, there was an orcish fellow, two humans, a woman and a man. And finally Markos spotted a tiefling figure who was looking awfully sheepish. "Oh hey, yeah the problem.. Skeemo? He's down for the count." Markos stated happily. "We did what you asked, the others are waiting at the manor.. Care to join us?" He tried to ignore the looks from the other. Renaer gave a small nod like he was alright with this development yet cautious.
"Of.. of course, Markos. Everyone, please excuse me. This is one of the party members who saved my life a few weeks ago.. The uh.. New owners of TrollSkull manor?" Renaer looked like he was crying really hard signalling his compatriots.
"Oh The Keepers of Chaos!" The tiefling exclaimed, Markos just about witnessed Renaer slap his own face off. Who the hell gave them that name? Seriously??
"Yeah.. sure.. Anyway, I have to go to their Manor so I hope you can all take care of this.." Renaer gave him another look before reaching under the table and rummaging around. "Here it is." He pulled a large brown sack tied at the top like a proper money bag. "The coin. As promised." Renaer handed the bag to Markos, nearly causing him to drop it from the sheer weight.
"T-thanks-" Markos groaned, pulling it back up. "Jeez it's quiet in here.." Markos remarked though Renaer frowned since you could still hear the tavern in the background. He gave Renaer a little smile in response.
"Ok, let's head back to your manor, I have.. A proposal for everyone.."