Mercenaries and Acolytes

"Here they are, Mr. Dippelboager, and his client friend. I hoped the girls pleased you and entertained well enough." Ritta's voice carried over from the second hallway to the left. 

Dippelboager got up encouraging Gredaro to do the same. He looked eager to get out of this Bawdy House. Dippelboager did his best to put on a smile that did not turn out so well. It looked more crooked, and nervous. All Ritta did was ask the eight mercenaries to pay for their time at the Queen's Perfect Escape. Ten patrons left the Bawdy House. Eight came there for pleasure, and two only came to do business. As they exited fourteen more patrons entered. He did not get a good look at them. At a glance he could tell some were young stock brokers, Assistant Traders, Aristocrat, and a newly anointed Knight. Dippelboager rushed them outside toward the shipyard, and wharf. Passing an Old Watch tower, a gunsmith workshop, a cannon tower, parts of a wall they stopped at an old Keep for troops and archers. Gredaro spotted a former assassin's guild that was now a retail store. 

"What's this all about sir Dippelboager or are you lord now? Who is this spiffed up sap?" One of the mercenaries questioned him showing the most serious expression with their arms crossed. All eight of these mercenaries, four males, four females, Elemani, Half-Elf, Half-Orc, and Estati crossed their arms. Gredaro thought they were about to assault them. Dippelboager did just drag them out of a relaxing, and good time with the ladies of Queen's Perfect Escape. Gredaro the Arcane Wizard prepared a small fire ball in a fist. 

The atmosphere grew tense with the same sincere faces on the mercenaries. For a few moments some started to smirk and lose it. One of the largest ones, a half Orc spread his arms open for a hug. They wrapped them around Dippelboager who expected to get jumped. The whole lot of them burst into laughter. Instead of anger their faces transformed into happy teasers. 

"Good to see you again Jakob buddy!" the half Orc bellowed with joy. With big arms he gave Jakob a squeeze. 

"You too Terkag, you too." Dippelboager said in a voice that was getting the air squeezed out of his lungs. 

"Why have you come looking for us?" Terkag asked, dropping him to his feet. 

"Yeah there are no other wars going on. Other than the the big one up in Vestrisia and the larger continents." One of the Estati interjected. 

"To recruit you lot. As you are unaware Mr. Gredaro, a Wizard has come here seeking help. Gredaro, Gredaro why is your hand smoking?" Dippelboager pointed out to them. He turned to Gredaro and noticed the Wizard's hand emitting smoke through the finger crevices. 

Gredaro backed off creating a fire ball relaxing a bit. He did not splash water on his hand. Just because a fire was out did not mean the smoke was gone. Realizing he was caught he searched his pockets for a flask or vial of water he kept on him. Eight mercs, and Middle Man watched him bewildered. 

"Hold on is this a fire mage?" one of the half elves asked looking wary. Each one backed away like his hand was going to explode. 

"No no Gredaro is more of an arcane Wizard. Terkag, Gorne, Abboss, Erika Mikkan Brev Mikkan, Cryss, Jen, Tee. What weapons do you have between the eight of you?" Dippelboager replied to them. He left Gredaro alone about the smoke coming from his hand. Forced to shake his hand as if he was waving he got some of the wisps away. Each one of them wore a Malviethene military flag, and a mercenary arm band. To separate themselves from the actual military they wore khaki pants, plaid shirts of green, dirty boots, and a chain link necklace holding a fang.  

"Between the eight of us Jakob we got 15 weapons. Let's see a Forkeen Bolt Action Rifle, auto pistol, 8 round Victor 1 pistol, 2 katanas, falchion-cutlass mix, great pole ax, scimitar, short blade, exotic spear, and forked dagger. So yeah that's all." Jen replied a dark haired Elemani female with a long ponytail-braid. 

"Does five extra guns sound beneficial?" Dippelboager offered to the mercenaries. "Along with the ammunition to each gun." 

"Dippelboager, you got yourself and your friend eight mercenaries. Who are we fighting?" Terkag replied stretching out a hand to them. Both Wizard and Middle Man shook the mercenaries' hands. Gredaro could feel some softness. Yet he could tell they trained as best they could during peace times. 

"Meet us in a few days by the ancient watch tower on Abe's street. There should be a nice establishment to meet discretely. Some other groups are itching for a fight over some turf. So it would be great to get out of Avirin City for at least a year." Terkag informed him and the Wizard. Gredaro felt a sense of doubt grow inside his innards then realized these mercenaries would be tagging along. 

"We will see you in four days." You known the number to my office, or do you have a phone close to you?" Jakob noted to them. 

"Do we have a phone? Yes we do. Our home is that former Chapter House to a forgotten order. It is just off the campus of Weelah's University. Some old frat house, but now our home." Terkag finished and left the two of them for the north east. His mercenaries followed at his heels. 

"That makes eight. Who else did you have in mind? Besides Pirates." Gredaro criticized his choice of hired hands. 

"A crew of 43 pirates are at a Tavern by the Wharf We should not meet them yet, perhaps nightfall. Have you eaten lunch?" Dippelboager appeared pleased with this deal. He seemed to have forgotten Gredaro's issue with pirates or just ignored it. 

"No, not yet. Do you have five guns to hand them as payment? Remember, you are doing this for me." Gredaro reminded the connector Middle Man. 

"Let's head for a nice sit in on a street not far from my office." Dippelboager proposed to the Wizard who had to dig his hand into the sand. In early winter the ground grew cold. A new year began once spring started. In accordance to the calendars it is the year 1844 of the modernized era. Here in the southern islands the sands cooled along with the chill air. According to scientists, explorers, and geographers Calorn was indeed a sphere shaped planet. His hand hit something beneath the sands. Wrapping his fingers around it he pulled it up. Out of the sand the Wizard found a figurine made from jade in the form of a woman. Pocketing the Jade figurine he followed Dippelboager back to the Commerce Center. 

Returning to the street of the Commerce Center they passed it. Gredaro checked their surroundings acknowledging the old Conservatorium he spotted a ring on the ground. Not caring about where it had been he went for it. As he picked up this discorded or lost ring he saw a sapphire on it. Seeing it had value Gredaro pocketed this sapphire ring. Lunch was on Dippelboager who ordered for both of them. Gredaro the Wizard was a guest and a client. Two well roasted giant armodillae-carideae. Sitting at an outside restaurant called "Little Minni's" he brought out what he found. 

"I know children play this finders keepers, but do they store it away or lose it?" Gredaro presented his finds to Middle Man. Dippelboager sipped his beverage of Headless Soda. Gredaro was given wine to go along with his meal. Pushing his finished meal to the right side of the table Gredaro set the ring and figurine he found by chance. 

"I am no expert on either of these. However you could pay the mercenaries something." Dippelboager suggested to him. 

"Has anyone attacked you over the sverxing items? No, then let's see how much each is worth in Tante currency, Sea Turtles." Dippelboager pulled out a thin leather notebook. Setting it on the table he flipped through it. For the Jade they would get 32,000 in Sea Turtles. Gredaro's new Sapphire ring's worth came at 20,000 Sea Turtles. Dippelboager brought out a few of the coins to show him. Gredaro observed the coins that came in Silver, Nickel, Bronze, and Gold. One one side was a marine turtle while on the other rested the face of a founder. Around the figure's head read the words Tante Republic. 

"Other than the Commerce Center where cane we exchange or pawn these for coin? Yet I really should be asking where can we sell these." Gredaro asked not bothering to mention the currency's name. Dippelboager was about to speak when glasses, and plates shattered on the hard surface. Several women screamed and a lot of movement came after. 

"Please I beg you Lord Zantos this establishment means not a single offense to you. As for you Master Wizard Ofaris we will humbly grant you the best table next time." a very shaken voice addressed to some figures behind them. 

Gredaro looked over Dippelboager's head to see a pair of wizards causing trouble. A traditionally dressed wizard without that stupid hat, and a more modern day mob dressed one held the restaurant hostage. Ofaris the traditional one in dark green robes held out an enchanted and corrupted musket ramrod. Zantos wielded a steel raven's beak while using destructive magic that destroys objects. As an arcane wizard Gredaro had certain enemies that rivaled his Order. Knowing this people would face death he got up and shot several fireballs at Zantos and Ofaris. Neither of them saw the fire balls come at them. Gredaro threw seven fireballs at these Prophet's Acolytes of Jurnis, one rival arcane faction. Both Acolytes fried up in the barrage of flames he threw at them. He grabbed the glass of water on Dippelboager's side and splashed the water on his hands. As though no one was watching he went up to the bodies. He checked the carcasses to find the amulet of the Jurnes Prophet. Ripping both off the corpses he wrapped them up in a handkerchief that was in his breast pocket. 

"Thank you fire wizard. Your meal is on the house, as well as that Connector with you!" a manager on his right thanked him. 

"How long have these two been here?" Gredaro asked the manager. All they did was hold up two fingers mouthing the words 'two years'. Behind the manager he spotted the other waiters, staff, and customers. This manager wore a blue shirt and long pants very similar to the waiters. They wore a black ascot, while the rest wore bow ties. Although this was an outdoor restaurant this establishment had a small indoor seating area. Other customers and staff could be seen in the large glass wall sized window. 

Every customer and staff member approached his table as he sat down. One by one they gave their gratitude and rewarded him for taking care of the Acolytes. Sixteen of these customers rewarded him with bags of coins, and jewels. Gathering these up would require some extra hands if he did not know any levitation spells. Rather than go back to Dippelboager's right away they went straight for Perdi's place. At the Duches' villa he was greeted by his family. Assistant Mage Fytbak Magris, his pupil Amerius, the dark elf maid Icude Vozat, and Pasior hugged him like a father. Fytbak worked tirelessly on a few experiments while they resided at Perdi's. Amerius made a full recovery and was now practicing minor 3rd level spells using his hands. Icude-Vazot managed to keep their current residence clean and organized. Gredaro treated her more like a daughter ever since she was handed to him as a trophy. He was urged to adopt her by a former lover. Some old dark mage-necromancer named Gol Ameron from Fangrir dueled him and lost. In any sort of duel the winner takes all or the loser keeps half his possessions if they survived. Pasior spent most of the time learning the runes with help from a scholar among Perdi's troop of servants. Only Icude wore a more modern style clothing of the era. The rest of them wore different darker colored robes like dark red, dark blue, and maroon. 

As he put away the rewards for safe keeping he was surprised by his eight colleagues who found him. Tyen the Aqua Mage in his light blue cloak over a pretty set of turquoise clothing came with his Estati, and Elemani bodyguards, and 6 strange humanoid retainers from Gora Via. Odolin of Oracles, Runes in a more adventurer's attire came with 53 Blood Fighter Mercenaries he hired from Tante's third island. Ishann the Wiccan and Mystic arrived in her dark green long skirt, sleeveless black shirt. She did wear the more modernized boots one found on a pirate. From Tantos island she managed to hire 40 stealth warriors. Egorse the manipulating charmer arrived in his finest ware of light gray suit, black shoes, and silver chain. He managed to get 9 soldiers on leave, and 7 deadly sharpshooters as mercenaries. Gredaro could tell he did his best to inspire, and draw them in. As handsome and tall as he was the Charmer still had trouble with some crowds. Madox Azzin the Wizard of Storms pretty much came in looking like a pirate without the pistols and cutlass. He rallied 119 yellow-gray mist goblins, 202 blue troopers of Kilscar Orvain before getting executed. As for his favorite, Eforahim the flame-inferno wizard, a traditional red and orange robes covered him. Despite his appearance as a villain in some opera Eforahim had a good heart. He came with just 19 Auxiliaries from Evusia. Veleus the Vorpalist Enchanter came with just his four automaton creations, and his personal blue haired elf Zhenrai Blade Outcast. Apon Janori arrived in his Vestrisian style clothing with 3 Orcs, 3 Dwarfs, and 2 human hybrids seeking to avoid the draft. Accompanying them was another person in a more modern style clothing under a trench coat. Apannos the Sorcerer came to this island with 30 modernized gunslingers for hire. He had word about 127 other wizards, mages, witches, and sorcerers flocking to the neutral islands seeking refuge and to raise an army of their own. Even though the VUVR and their allies pushed against the invaders, these arcane users sought to wage their own war on the invaders. A rumor of another mage already began to fight the Gantronese with their own army.