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[anguish]

Chimney was a beast of a city. It seemed to rip through the clouds and stab at the earth. Ravens could be seen flying everywhere, almost making the city look like it was constantly moving. Rats also helped to make this illusion real.
The Armendia slowed to a crawl as it entered the port, inching towards the dock that had been saved for her. Men could already be seen scurrying around preparing for the disembarkment. Crew man aboard Armendia also hurried about their business.
"Chimney." Croaker said to the Lieutenant. "They aren't going to be happy..."
The Lieutenant, facing the dock, shrugged his shoulders. "The Captain has given out his orders but as far as I know we will be returning what was given to us."
Croaker knew what that meant, trouble for the Black Company.
"Go gather the new recruits. The Captain wants the last half of the initiation completed immediately." Nodding his head Croaker went off in search of the new few.
Crow, Serpent and Vixen had all been told they were to be ready to disembark immediately upon arriving to Chimney.
Serpent was the easiest to find, Croaker just had to look up over at the bow. Shifty was with Serpent, weapon training drills as usual, sweat glistened from them both.
Crow, as usual was in his cabin reading through a book one of the magicians had lent him. There wasn't a moment where Crow wasn't trying to digest some sort of knowledge or information!
Vixen was a little trickier, but usually you just had to look out for Rock, once you found him, you found Vixen. It was odd to find Rock attached to anyone but something had made him very protective of her. Croaker found her with Cook who was handing her a bunch of herbs, all bound up. "Remember, only take some before noon."
Although he had done a fantastic job at putting Vixen back together, her scar gave her terrible sharp pains occasionally. There wasn't much Croaker could do as the pains were random. Cook was very handy with remedies and the herbs would help dull the pain during the days. Ingestion of the herb at night would keep you up as the herb helped generate blood which caused the heart to beat faster than normal.
It only took moments for Armendia to be tightly secured and the Black Company to be gathered on the deck. People had started to gather near the ship to see who had just landed. The company flag had been taken down as the Captain didn't want others to know they had arrived.
"Welcome to Chimney lads, firstly, keep your heads up! You know we have enemies here." The Captain said as he looked over his men. The last time they had been in Chimney, they escaped two ships that had chased them out to sea. "The Rusty Pan Inn is the meeting place."
"Secondly, Lieutenant, see to the rookies." The Lieutenant was already standing by the rookies with Shifty, Rock and Croaker. Croaker had his medical kit in his hands.
"You all have your orders, Black Company dismissed!" The Captain turned and returned to his quarters. Most of the men either had orders or leave. Cook stayed behind, he would be preparing to go stock up supplies while Longshot sat up in the crows nest. His expert vision allowing his to see anyone approaching the ship.
Goblin and One-Eye were already running down the pier, their cackles and giggles heard over the noise of the docks, Tom-Tom following slowly behind. Tally Ho and Pockets stood by a group of sailors chatting. Tubby and Worm had already found a prostitute and were haggling over prices.
The Lieutenant turned to the few around him. "Okay rookies, follow me!" The group made their way up the gangplank and down the busy pier, people were running around everywhere.
Other ships were brought in or departing, loads where sent out, prisoners loaded onto ships, repairs to the docks and piers were being done.
The group finally made it through the docks and set foot in the city of Chimney.
Chimney was just as busy as the docks. Carts, horses and children filled the streets. Even though it was still light beggars and whores occupied door fronts. Stalls were on every corner, performers juggled, tumbled and threw fire!
Finally the group made it to a tree filled clearing where Rock started making a fire and Croaker set about opening his medical kit and started pulling out odds and ends out.
The Lieutenant stood in front of Crow, Serpent and Vixen.
"You three have performed the first half of the initiation on the ship, the spoken word where you pledged yourself to the Black Company until death, treason and desertion treated with a painful death. The Black Company is your brother, your sister, your mother and father, your family. In this final task you are branded with the Black Company mark, so all shall know you are apart of us. Any misdoings to yourselves is the same as doing it to any of us!"
Rock had the fire burning and crackling by this point, Shifty held a thin rod with a think end in the fire, the end starting to slowly grow orange and brighter.
"Kneel." Crow, Serpent and Vixen all knelt in front of him.
"Choose where you wish to be marked." Shifty handed the rod to the Lieutenant while Rock made his way behind the rookies.
One by one the Lieutenant branded them, their skin blistering, burnt and bloody, still on their knees. Not one cried out in pain, the symbol of a jaw less skull bursting out from within the skin under the wound. It wouldn't be clear for at least a week, while the skin healed itself.
"Rise, children of the Black Company!" The Lieutenant embraced them all.
Shifty congratulated them all while Rock just nodded his head, his eyes crossed Vixens new wound, worry in his eye. Croaker, noticing Rocks glance started cleaning each of their wounds and placing a bandage over them. Vixen was first.
"Tonight, we celebrate our union, tomorrow, the real work begins!" The Lieutenant said.

That evening the Black Company met up at the Rusty Pan Inn.

Shifty and Tally Ho are sitting together at a small table, drinks are on the table as well as some food.
The Lieutenant, Croaker and Elmo are sitting at a larger table deep in discussion, a serious look on their faces. Also on the table is Tubby who's eating, a few empty plates surround him, with more food on it's way.
Worm and Pockets are drunk, singing and chatting up the serving ladies. They are getting many angry looks from customers.
Goblin, One-Eye and Tom-Tom are sitting by the fire. Goblin and One-Eye are arguing as usual with Tom-Tom trying to intervene and quell the argument.



OOC - Firstly, dive on in!
Secondly, please choose where you wish your brand to be placed and add to your character sheet.
Arrowfodder - Add medical herbs to your character sheet as well.

[Oloth the Mad]

Crow heads over to the other magicians and waits to be invited to sit down and join them, meanwhile, looking around the place, since it's really his first time in a place like this.

[anguish]

One-Eye and Goblin were standing toe to toe as Crow walked up to the group. Tom-Tom had given up and sat down.
All three of them turn to Crow, "Crow!" They called out altogether. One-Eye, "Tell me Crow who's the better magician?", Goblin, "Better answer truthfully Crow!" , Tom-Tom, "I'd stay out of it if I were you..."

[Oloth the Mad]

Crow just looks at the two, studies each one for several minutes, repeats it a few times and then sits down and says, 'It's hard to say, you each have your specialties and talents."

[anguish]

"Oh!Do we now?" One-Eye replied to Crow, "And what may they be oh fair judge?" , "Shut up One-Eye!" Golbin screeched back! Suddenly Goblins hands were in the air, weaving a spell! Tom-Tom look at his brother and Goblin, jumped up from his chair and ran towards the inn door, his drum thumping along on his thigh. Suddenly a Crow appeared on Crow's shoulder, squarked and flew at One-Eye, "I'll take your other eye as well!"
One-Eye saw the crow fly at him, ducked and it crashed into the table behind him, scattering drinks all over the 3 men sitting at the tabel. Goblin and One-Eye burst into laughter at the site of the dripping men.
"What the faaarr..." One of the men started as he turned and saw the two mages. He looked at his two mates and all ran for the door. Tom-Tom held it open for him, a look of relief on his face.
Goblin and One-Eye were laughing hysterically!

Edited by anguish, 18 March 2011 - 01:58 AM.

[arrowfodder]

Vixen stayed near Rock, preferring his company to some of the others. He would introduce her to the others he felt were trustworthy, and she would get to know everyone in kind from there. She returned from the bar with two large mugs of beer; one for herself, the other for Rock. She had some coin, and didn't mind using it to help grease the wheels of her friendship with the large man.

[anguish]

The chair creakes as Rock rose and graciously accepted the drink from Vixen, they were sitting at the same table as the Lieutenant, Crocker and Elmo but their voices were muffled by the crowd inside off the inn. Rock finished his drink in one go and glanced at Vixen. A waitress came by and placed three more plates on the table. Tubby grabed two filled with meat and vegetables and passed the one with soup to Vixen, "It'll make the mark hurt less!" Rock glared at him. "Okay fine!" Tubby said as passed one of the other plates over to Vixen.
Suddenly the Leutenant got up and walked out of the inn, Croaker wiped his face with his hands and Elmo just sipped at his drink in silence.

The crowd in the inn were becoming a bit more boistrous, cheering, singing and dancing. There was talk about the new shipment of prisoners that had left, a noble had been robbed and murdered out on the highway and the local gangs seemed to be preparing for something.

[Oloth the Mad]

"Gentleman, do you always cause this much ruckus whereever you go?" Crow asks.

[arrowfodder]

Vixen took a mixture of vegetables and meat from the plates and put it together with her soup. "I think a good hearty meal will do me well Tubby, thank you." She listened to what was being said about the local gang problem. Perhaps there was money to be made in this. Certainly the city nolbes would hire them on to help quell the gang problems.

[anguish]

Goblin and One-Eye look at Crow, their laughter dies down. "What's wrong with having a good time Crow?" Goblin asks.
"Anyway, look." One-Eye starts, "We're glad you've joined us. It's only been us three magicians for a very long time, without your help we could have all died at sea the other day. We have something something for you, a sort of welcome gift! Tom-Tom?"
Tom-Tom dug in his pack and pulled out a very dirty and grimy book, it's spin bent, cover torn with shredded pages slipping out. He handed it to Crow.
"It's old, very old. We found it a while ago during a mission, a mage we killed had it. Remember his cries when we let the carrion crawlers eat him from the inside?" All three mages burst into hysterical laughter again!

Tubby grinned at Vixen, "Not a problem Vixxy! As you can tell a good hearty meal has done wonders for me!" he said as he slapped his belly a few times. "So ya finally a fully fledged member now! This may even be your last night with no worries! Glad you joined us?"

Worm and Pockets were both up on a tables singing and dancing, ale spilling everywhere. "Someone get them down!" Croaker called out. Rock rose and made his way over to Worm and Pockets, lifted them both up and dropped them into seats. Rock looked them both in the eye. Worm and Pockets singing had died down but they were still grinning ear to ear, ready to start up again at any moment!

OOC

Arrow, i still need you to add the medical herbs and tatoo placement onto your character sheet please.
Oloth, add the book, and give it a name. For now you can use it as a diary, journal, some place you can make notes and even make new spells. Many pages are blank.

[arrowfodder]

[OOC: Sure thing Anguish.]

Vixen nodded in agreement around a mouthful of soup. Swallowing, she said "I think I made the best decision I could. Besides, I think someone has to watch out for Rock." She hiked a thumb over her shoulder at the big man as he settled the two drunkards down.

[Oloth the Mad]

(ooc: sorry, but chrome is acting up w/ this site for some reason.)

"Thanks guys, this wouldn't be a prank by perchance would it? and it was the least i could do to help you save the ship, after all, i sure as hell didn't want to drown and die at sea either." Crow says too all of them.

[anguish]

Tubby turned to watch Rock hoist the two drunkards down off the table. "Oh don't you worry, he can take care of himself pretty easily," Tubby took a chunk out of a piece of meat, "but I'm sure he appreciates someone looking out for him. Ever since... no never mind, he'll tell you when he's ready..."
Croaker and Elmo made their way along the long table and settled down by Tubby and Vixen. "That all you eaten Tubby?" Elmo said motioning towards the empty plates. "I'm only getting started buddy!"
"Vixen, I'm glad you've joined us. How's the scar feeling today, not giving you too much worries? The brand must feel like a paper cut next to it!" Croaker said to Vixen, starting up conversation.

One-Eye and Goblin were taken back. "A prank? By us? Never!" One-Eye said. "We'd never do such a thing Crow!", Goblin said. Tom-Tom laughed, "One-Eyes my brother and I don't even trust him, but no I wouldn't worry, they let me hold onto it so it shouldn't be dangerous."
"Actually, Goblin, isn't it 'time'?" One-Eye asked. "Actually, it is!" Goblin jumped up followed by the other two. "Want to come along Crow, we have some mage business to take care off, could be good for your studies?" Tom-Tom asked, lightly thumping his drum with his left hand. The three magicians waited for Crow's response.

[Oloth the Mad]

"Of course i'll come, after all, experience is the best teacher, next to 3 mages of course." Crow says smiling as he stuffs the book into his pack.

[arrowfodder]

Vixen nodded, touching the brand on her left forearm absentmindedly. "I'll get used to it, there are far worse brands to be labeled with." Like traitor, or slave, she thought to herself. She didn't feel nervous anymore about her past. Now that she was with a mercenary company she supposed her future was more important now.