Private Tales Meeting of Minds

[Smiling One]

”Dragon?” Willis laughed, taking one big swig of Rum and slamming it down on the wooden table. Business in the Golden Sturgeon was slow today only a few men showed up eating salted bread or playing dice. The Elven Bard who arrived at the was playing a song unfamiliar to Willis but it was pleasant to the ears.

The Elven maid strummed her fingers along her wooden Lute giving the crowd sultry smile as some men tossed her some silver. Willis focused on the bard’s tight corset, exposing her curves. The young man smiled, motioning the bartender to refill his cup and turned his attention back to the drunken who he was dicing with.

“Aye!” the man said, placing the two dice in the cup. “Saw a Dragon not too far from Elbion! Smelt like a pair of burning trousers!”

Willis rolled his eyes watching the Dice roll on to the table: Snak eyes. “Are sure you aren’t describing yourself?” Willis snorted. “You smell like you just fell out of a Dwarf’s asshole.”

The man's became red as a Beet he began playing with his tattered clothes flashing his dark yellow teeth at Willis while he took a bite of Garlic. "I knows what I saw!" he shouted. "It was near the Gilded Feather! Let me tell you them Mages are always up to somethin! I saw the shadow of the flaming beast! Always knew that one day them magic people will try to take over the world! Best be leaving them to a hangin!"

"I think your odor has affected your perception," Willis said placing the dice into the cup for his roll. "It's affecting your mind causing you to hallucinate. I mean there hasn't been a Dragon attack in this city for years." Willis released the dice and smiled seeing that he achieved a perfect. "I win!" he grinned taking the man's coin purse and the drink of Rum that the Bartender bought him.

"How the fuck?" Before the man could finish, Willis was already heading for the exit.

 

[Valencia]

"Stop that woman!"

"Move!"

"Oi! Stop her!"

Val had been pursued for about two city blocks now. The guards were doggedly determined, and so were a fair few of the good people of Elbion who had joined the chase. Spurred on by civic duty, she supposed. She sprinted down the street, sweat pouring freely from her body. Her eyes darted from bystander to bystander, watching if any would come forward to stop her. Despite her looks she still had plenty of stamina, but she knew she could not outrun them forever; more would soon join the chase, and it was only a matter of time until she was caught unless she could lose them.

She deftly sidestepped a lunging citizen, before nearly tripping over the outstretched foot of another. Thankfully she caught her balance, and willed herself not to shout obscenities at the person who had almost planted her face first into the stone pavement. It would do her no good to waste her breath. The sound of heavy footfalls were drawing nearer, and angry, disapproving voices rose in a cacophony around her as the citizens jeered and goaded each other to "catch her".


Shit, she thought, as she resumed her escape, running down the street. She hadn't gotten far when before her a hulking brute of a man blocked her path, wooden mace in hand. He wore decent quality mail armor, and by the look of things he seemed to be a guard for some merchant family, or perhaps a bouncer of a well-to-do inn, tavern or pleasure house.

"Give yaself up miss," the big dolt said solemnly. "I don' wan'ta hafta hit a laydy."

"Step aside, I don't have time for this!" she barked. She scanned her surroundings, looking for a way to avoid this conflict even as the patter of heavy boots upon stone closed behind her in the distance.

"'Fraid I can't do that miss, you's a crimninal." With the same solemnity, the hulking mass of flesh and metal advanced towards her.

 

[Smiling One]

Willis gave took in the breeze of fresh air the moment he exited the Golden Sturgeon. That drunk was single handily stinking up the tavern to the point where he could hardly breathe. Willis loves taverns but one thing who couldn’t stand was the smell. Part of Willis wanted a hygiene law to enacted, foul odor with citizens should be against the law. Being a Pirate, a Mercenary and a Monster Hunter Willis should know this. He remembered his time servicing under Captain Davis: the Pirate Lord who took Willis in when he was a child.

One thing that set Captain Davis apart from other Pirates was obsession with cleanliness. Willis remembered when he first boarded the Sea Dog, the first rule was to always wash yourself and keep the ship spotless. The crew spent hours scrubbing the decks and making sure that every room was rid of dirt and grime. Captain Davis would inspect the ship afterward and if he found even a morsel of dirt he would force them to clean the entire ship again. Captain Davis taught Willis how to boil his clothing and basic lessons on anti-biotics. The lesson stuck with Willis as soon he was obsessed with getting himself clean when he can it helps that being a Monster Hunter meant that you must wash regularly because some monsters grime could be infectious.

Allegedly Captain Davis’ fear according to his first mate: Larry was stemmed from when his first crew died of the plague which was caused by poor hygiene from the crewmen. Captain Davis himself was bedridden from the event as well. Whether it was true or not was a mystery to Willis but he recalled witnessing Captain Davis Keelhauling a man because he forgot to wash. Willis’ trip down memory lane was interrupted by some commotion. There was crowd gawking at something, Curious Willis pushed through the crowd to see a young woman holding one of the city guards by the tip of her Spear. There were sixteen guards the incapacitated one notwithstanding yelling at the woman that she was under arrest.

She had long black hair that reached past her shoulders, a dress that exposed her curvy figure and brilliant green eyes. Willis gave a smirk she looked beautiful and the scowl she wore made her even more lovely in Willis’ eyes. A possible scoundrel who kicks guards asses? His kind of woman. Just then one of the guards came from behind and grabbed the woman by her long hair forcing her to drop the spear and dragging her by the ground. “You stupid bitch!” The guards said spraying spit all over her while grabbing a fistful of her hair. “You're under arrest!”

“This won’t do,” Willis muttered stepping in front of the guards. “Gentlemen!” Willis said smiling. “That’s no way to treat a lady!”

“Step back!” The guard who is holding the woman by the hair said. “This has nothing to do with you!”

“The crowd must know!” Willis said. “Why is she being arrested? Last I checked being a beautiful woman isn’t a crime!”

“Besides beating one of us up!” The guard retorted. “She is wanted for more heinous crimes!”

“Such as?”

“It doesn’t involve you!”

Willis looked at the crowd. “Aye, I say it involves the good people of Elbion!” He announced. “We can't let the guards go and randomly brutalizing based on arbitrary laws! Were a city of intellectuals and progressives! Not the backward fossils like Vel Anir!”

“This man is correct!” A fisherman piqued. “I don’t want to be arrested for pissing in a place that we were not to supposed to piss.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Willis muttered noticing the crowd being riled up. “But whatever.”

“Aye!” A busty prostitute came forward. “Little Davey boy grabbing the young lass by the hair thinking he’s a big boy!”

Davey gripped on the woman’s hair harder backing away a bit. “Shut your mouth, Margret!” He shouted. The prostitute continued, however. “He thinks he has a big dick when he handles a girl like that but I know that deep down he has a little knife. Why don’t you let her go and move on.”

Willis smiled, it was working more than he imagined. The crowd began to close in on the crowd. “Stay back!” Davey cried forcing the woman up by grabbing her hair. His words didn’t sway the crowd as fists were exchanged by the crowd and the guards. Men and women were thrown on to the ground while the armored guards were pelted by stones and horseshit.

Davey backed away beginning to drag the woman by the hair as Willis approached him. “Let her go,” he said simply. “No!” Davey said. “I’m calling the watch Captain! I have a wanted criminal!”

Willis sighed. “We have to do this the hard way then eh?” He asked raising his fists.

 

[Valencia]

The brute dragged himself away in fear, battered and bruised, clutching frantically at his bleeding thigh. He wasn't an incompetent fighter, she simply overwhelmed him with her technique. She had no intention of grievously harming him, and it was fortunate that the man was not used to seeing the color of his own blood.

He had, however, delayed her enough that the guards had now caught up to her.

"Stop! Drop your weapon and surrender!"

She considered running again, but any hope of that was dashed by the ring of spectators that had formed around them. Gripping tightly on her glaive, she turned around to face the guard. Only one guardsman for now; the others would not be far behind.

"Nowhere left to run, criminal." He snarled, advancing at speed towards her. Gloryhound, she thought, as she raised her weapon to a middle guard. Their polearms clashed, and to the guard's credit he had managed to get a hit in on her, a shallow thrust against her shoulder but failing to draw blood due to her gambeson. She soon broke the lock, weaving to the left and knocking aside his pike aside before rapidly closing in. The guardsman let go of his pike, drawing his mace for close quarters, but he was too slow. The butt of her glaive connected hard against his skull from above, knocking him flat to the ground. Val now stood over him, the business end of her glaive against his neck as the rest of his comrades arrived on the scene.

"You're under arrest, drop your weapon! Do it now!" the lieutenant yelled, as the guards closed ranks and advanced. Before she could even make a threat, a sharp pain surged down from her scalp as she felt her hair being yanked forcefully, causing her to drop her weapon.

"You stupid bitch!" her assailant roared into her ear. "You're under arrest!"


“Gentlemen!” a voice cried out. ”That's no way to treat a lady!" She blinked through tears to see who had spoken up in her defence. A dark, broad-shouldered man had stepped out of the crowd, and was now addressing the guards.

“Step back!” Her captor yelled. “This has nothing to do with you!”

“The crowd must know!” the man said. “Why is she being arrested? Last I checked being a beautiful woman isn’t a crime!”

She rolled her eyes at that. Another airhead who just can't resist a damsel in distress, great, she thought to herself. Granted, she was in distress at the moment.

“Besides beating one of us up!” The guard retorted. “She is wanted for more heinous crimes!”

“Such as?”

She had to admit this was buying her time to formulate an escape. All eyes now were trained on the man, and so long as she made no big movements no one would realize what she was up to. She turned her head as best she could to size up the guard behind her. Like the one she had put down earlier, he had a mace strapped to his hip, but no edged weapon that she could see. Damn, she cursed. But she didn't need to think too hard for her next plan of action, as the dark man's charisma had already turned the crowd against the guards.

A brawl was now breaking out, as members of the crowd began exchanging fists and pelting the guardsmen with rocks and less pleasant projectiles. The guard holding her looked bewildered as the man stepped forward, fists raised.


Back home, she thought, these people would be put down without a second thought. She counted her blessings that the Anirian guard were the exception among peacekeeping forces, and not the rule. The guard dragged her by her hair towards a post, before unceremoniously tying her to it. So much for escape.

 

[Smiling One]

The guard hesitated, still gripping the woman’s hair beads of sweat forming on his brow. The weight of Davey’s half helm was too much now judging his head sagged. It was utter chaos behind Willis and Davey. Guards began to pull out their swords, gripping their hands on the blade and using the pommel to strike at the peasants. One poor soul got whacked in the skull by a guard knocking him out with blood trickling down from the middle of his forehead.

Some peasants took out Sickles, Knives, and Rocks fighting the armored guards tooth and nail stabbing at them at the arm, leg, groin, and eyes. One peasant hit a guard in the face with a potato while he was busy subduing a woman who was slicing a guard’s face with a knife. The guard staggered before the potato thrower threw himself on to the guard, sending them both tumbling onto the ground scuffling. Screeches of metal and shouts of rage filled the streets and blood of the peasants and guards spilled onto the concrete floor. Willis’s plan worked a little too well. The mob always enjoys a good spectacle, whether merry or bloody.

Davey pulled the girl by the hair and tied it against a lamppost. “You fucking shit!” he yelled, raising his plated iron hands. Willis smirked rushing towards Davey and ducking a right hook, Sidestepping, Willis did a sweeping leg kick to the back of Davey’s feet. Davey landed on his back while Willis stomped his nose with his boot knocking Davey out.

Willis knelt down, grabbing the guard’s coin purse. “I’ll take that.” he smiled as a peasant went flying past him and landed on the floor. The fishermen got up bloodied and bruised but otherwise returned to the fray. Willis went to the woman and untied her hair was on the lamppost what an unusual way to trap a person.

“Come with me if you want to hide,” Willis said, grabbing the woman’s hand. “I know of a place to lie low.”

 

[Valencia]

"Thanks," she uttered, pulling her hand away forcefully. Before he could say anything she replied, "I'm not going anywhere without my equipment."

She walked calmly into the mayhem, picking up her glaive before making her way back to the man.

"Lead the way," she replied coolly.

 

[Smiling One]

Willis grabbed the woman’s hand and was about to leave the chaotic rumble that he created until Willis saw some men and women fighting beginning to collapse. Frowning, Willis saw peasant and guard alike began to fall face first onto the ground sleeping. “This must be the work of magic,” he thought.

And sure enough, a tall woman strolled towards them. She had pale skin with shoulder length hair to match it, green eyes that were as bright as the woman beside Willis and wore a fancy dress. The woman also drew out a Cutlass and pointed at the two of them. She wasn’t an authority figure but she sure as hell acted like one judging she chastised Willis for starting a fight and claimed that the woman would come with her to answer for whatever crimes she has.

“That will not happen,” Willis said, drawing his Cutlass and moving in front of the woman. He was confident the young man had plenty of experience fighting magic users. They were tough but with the right weaponry and tactics, they can go down like anyone. Being a monster hunter had also had Willis face monsters who had magical abilities he knew what he was doing.

Then immediately a shout echoed throughout the streets, causing the surrounding people to stop fighting. Grinding his teeth, Willis whirled around and saw a man cladded in black armor try to establish order in the streets, which was the last thing Willis wanted right now. “A fucking knight,” he mumbled. “Who knew?”

Knights in Willis’ eyes are glorified mercenaries they shun mercs like Willis yet they kill and pillage just like them yet the only difference is that a Knight wipes a Lord’s royal ass. Self-Righteous cunts is who they truly are. “Well,” Willis replied to the knight, smiling. “I thought we could get away clean,” he shrugged feeling all eyes descend upon him and the woman. He slowly reached for his smoke bomb, which was in his little black bag and activated it. “Oh, well.”

Willis slammed the device onto the ground and black smoke began to pour out covering the streets. Willis punched a guard and yelled that a peasant tried to beat him and despite the smoke obscuring their vision, the fight continued with men and women blindly punching each other. Taking the woman's hand, Willis ran as far away from the scrap as possible. Along the way, Willis grabbed a white cloak with red arrows on it from a merchant's wagon and headed to the alleyway.

"Put this on," Willis handing the woman the cloak while keeping a close eye on who is chasing them. He had to admit the woman was well dressed in a green dress and brown boots. Her hair was messed up a bit due to it being pulled but it made the disheveled appearance made her look more lovely. The things he does for lust. "We're heading to the Monster Hunter Academy," he said. "I got some good people there."

Taking her hand again, Willis exited the alleyway and headed to the town square looping his arm over hers. "Keep your hood up," Willis muttered taking out his brown jacket and wrapping around him. "And pretend to not have a care in the world." Soon Willis and the woman were in the crowd going towards a horse escort. "I'm Willis Reede," he mumbled. "What's your name?"

 

[Valencia]

Monster Hunter Academy?

Before she could ask she was hurriedly ushered along with him, arms linked as they approached a horse carriage.

"I'm Willis Reede," he mumbled. "What's your name?"

"Valencia," she replied. "What is this Monster Hunter Academy that you're taking me to?"

 

[Smiling One]

"Not really an academy," Willis said leaning against the chair. "It's more like a base of operations located in the Seret Mountains. It's called Wyvern's Nest." It was named after the giant Wyvern: Rutog who set up a nest in the Mountains during the Age of Wonders. She was said to be as large as the mountain itself, the largest Wyvern in existence. She and her children terrorized the borders of Elbion until the Monster Hunters lead by the legendary Barbarian: Jaxon the Gruff marched into mountains and killed her.

"Valencia," Willis smirked at the hooded young woman. "It's lovely name for lovely woman like yourself. Where are you from Valencia? You seem to be a capable warrior which is why the Monster Hunters be for you. The fortress is not only a safe place to hide until things cool off but it's good place to crash or chow down on some food."

The young man leaned closer to Valencia. "Just to warn you sweetheart," he whispered. "The food can be pretty shitty created by the Felidae: Long time allies of the Monster Hunters."

 

[Valencia]

Or a good place to keep someone captive, she thought. So they were going out to the countryside? It would be safer than staying in the city, but she wasn't familiar with the lay of the land and she was still wary of her savior. He seemed nice enough, but the way his eyes fell on her made her feel uncomfortable.

"Some backwater province between Alliria and Vel Anir," she said dismissively, indifferent to his compliment. She wasn't being truthful; with what had happened earlier she wasn't sure she'd be safe revealing her origin just yet. She gazed out the window, careful to keep her face hidden, committing the road to memory in case she needed to make another escape.

"Food is food," she replied with a shrug. "I'm not picky." Indeed, she had been hunting down a place to eat and board before she was apprehended by the guard. She had had to abandon her cane during the chase, but it was no matter; she could always carve another from a suitable branch. While her exertion had left her feeling hungrier than before, thankfully her stomach wasn't growling just yet.

"So," she queried, "Willis was it? Why stick your neck out for me?"

 

[Smiling One]

Willis sighed looking at the streets of Elbion, there were only sounds of people talking and going about their day as always. He was certain if he lay low, the guard would forget everything about it. The Elbion were pretty much incompetent now and days. "Ah so just like me," Willis chuckled. "A stick wallowing the mud until they've decided to get the fuck out of there."

The young man then stared at Valencia. "Because you're beautiful," he winked. "Also because you've shown skills capable of a Monster Hunter. You accept this job, pass some tests and you're guaranteed a job, some safehouses at the minimal cost of the risk of death. What do you say sweetheart?" Willis asked smirking.

 

[Valencia]

She shot him a confused look, not sure what to make of his compliment. Well, at least he's direct ...? she mused. She turned to face him directly, considering his offer. She did need the income, and it would be nice to have free lodgings. It would certainly be an interesting job. The most she had dealt with in her time as an Anirian outrider were wolf packs and the occasional werebear. Simpler than hunting humanoids, and infinitely less likely to incur grudges, or so she thought. The prospect of death was nothing new to her anyway. She had questions.


"These ... monster hunters. They hunt monsters? As in actual beasts and not, well, the scum of society I take it?"

"And if so, what kind of monsters exactly? Were-creatures? Wolves? Dangerous animals? ...Dragons?" she chuckled. Right, as if. Dragons haven't been seen for years, if not generations.

 

[Smiling One]

Willis had to chuckle at Valencia's response why is it that people often try to complicate the term. It exactly what says!: Monster Hunter. "Yes we hunt Monsters such as Vampires, Ogres, Dragons and what not." the young man replied. "And to the side we sometimes lift curses though that's for more seasoned of Hunters."

He lifted a few curses during his time as a Monster Hunter though he wasn't too fond of it. It required a lot of theory and reading rather than just kill a monster and get paid. "Well if by you mean scum you mean villagers who won't pay due to the: "Me kids are starving" excuse. I suppose they are targets as well."

The young man raised eyebrow at Valencia's response about not seeing Dragons in generations. "I think this job is right for you," he said. "You'll be surprised how many monsters were long thought extinct only to be revealed alive and well."

 

[Valencia]

"...You're serious?" she asked, eyes widening in surprise. She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. Lifting curses? Sounded to her like they were dealing with powerful magic, something that would be invaluable to her. She leaned back in her seat, folding her arms across her chest.


"I guess it can't hurt to have a look. Count me in, for now."

 

[Smiling One]

The young man smirked "excellent," he said as he leaned back and placed his hands over his head. The Monster Hunters were lacking numbers lately. It got so bad that the Grandmasters started to offer a considerable amount of coin to whoever can bring in new recruits. The fact that Willis got a pretty woman, raised chaos for the guards and is going to get extra coin on top of it was all in a day's work.

A few hours had passed and Willis heard the ringing of bells signaling that the Horse Cab reached its destination. Holding Valencia's hand, he guided her out of the back and embraced the cold air that was softly blowing in the sky. "Welcome!" The young man said. "To Wyvern's Nest!"

 

[Valencia]

She stepped out of the carriage, careful not to bump her glaive against the top. She turned around to reach for her pack, before kicking herself mentally; she'd dropped and left it behind during the chase. She loudly cleared her throat, embarrassed. "Right, nothing left behind," she said aloud. She turned back, taking in the sight before her.

Wyvern's Nest was an impressive piece of architecture. The location was strategic, with mountains on three sides making the only vector of attack be from the front. Its ancient stone walls stood proud and tall, defying the peaks that surrounded it. The condition of the walls spoke of more than just age however; sections seemed to have been restored in recent years, and in some areas of the outer walls, matriculations seemed to be missing. Whether they were the scars of sieges long past or just disrepair, she wasn't sure. Towering over the walls and smoke from the castle town stood the keep, imposing and authoritative. From what she could see here, it looked to be better maintained than the defenses, but she couldn't say for sure. She was curious to look inside Wyvern's Nest.

"Let's go."

 

[Smiling One]

Willis smirked at Valencia placing his hand on her slender shoulder. "You like it?" he said his voice shivering a bit due to the cool gust of wind. He really wished that he had a coat similar to what he given her right about now. "Wyvern's Nest has been there since the Age of Expansion," Willis explained grabbing her hand and guiding her towards the entrance.

"Our old base was located in the Svannah Desert destroyed by King Grichen during his crusades when the leader of the Monster Hunter: Lilly Arkwight refused to submit to Mad King's religion. As a response, King Grichen took his army and smashed through the old Monster Hunter stronghold killing everyone in sight." Willis sighed as they passed by the statues of Monsters erected on the bridge from Cockatrices, Griffins, to Dragons. "The Monster Hunters fought valiantly but they were eventually overran and retreated to Elbion were merchant council the survivors and allowed them to build Wyvern's Nest."

It was a great place for a Monster Hunter to go to for rest, training and studying Monsters through books and autopsies. It had some decent food as well made by the Felidae a long time ally of the Monster Hunters. "I'm gonna take you to Ser Murag the Bold," Willis said. "He's the Monster Hunter trainer one look and he'll determine whether or not you're worthy but sweetheart, I'm sure you will be accepted."

 

[Valencia]

"That's quite the history," she replied as her new acquaintance spoke enthusiastically about his order's past as they made their way to the gate. The chill breeze was refreshing, and she much preferred this climate, though the same could not be said of her companion, it seemed. The path was well maintained, cutting through a small valley with fertile fields of produce on both sides of the road. They met little traffic on their way; aside from the odd ox wagon and farmer now and then it would seem that most of the valley folk were away in town. Harvest season was still a ways away, so they'd have to occupy themselves until then she supposed.

As they approached the gate a guardsman hailed her fellow. He hailed him back, exchanging light banter as they drew closer. She observed the guards, noting their equipment and enthusiasm. They wore standard fare, carrying halberds and short swords or clubs as a sidearm. They looked alert enough, though it would seem the sentries above the gatehouse were undermanned. Either they lacked the manpower or the castellan felt there was little need for extra sentries. As they passed under the portcullis she got a look into the guardhouse, counting four more guards within. They all greeted her companion with a cheery grin, some giving them a little nod of acknowledgement as they passed. She supposed it wasn't all that strange; this was the Monster Hunters' headquarters.

If she had any doubts as to the age of the fortress, they were lifted the instant they stepped foot across the portcullis into the town proper. Huts and hovels of varying designs littered the landscape, many modern but some that she'd only seen in the old hill forts of the Anirian Guard, or the old ruins of civilizations long past whilst she had been on campaign three years ago. There were even homes jutting out of the outer walls, a feature of ancient town planning that modern walled settlements had done away with. Towering above the town were the inner walls, and even from here she could see the traffic pouring out of its gatehouse, informing her that this town was either the outer extremities of the community inside the fort, or more likely just one of several cloistered settlements absorbed into the fortress proper.

They made their way across town, heading towards the inner gatehouse. The closer they got the more she could make out of the keep, and from the looks of it her latter idea seemed to be correct. There were high walls surrounding the castle, and another layer beyond that guarding the inner keep, but from her vantage point before she did not notice it. It would seem that Wyvern's Nest was once rather prosperous, though if it still were the case, she did not know.

"There's more people than I thought there'd be," she mused aloud.