Hamlet, First Day

Abdul AlHazred breathed deeping on his hookah, writing another note in his book. The Hamlet inn, unlike many other taverns and way stations in the land, was only fulled with silence, as the brave and desperate adventurers drank and gambled in quiet. No one spoke, no one laughed. It was as if no one wanted to ruin the mood. Abdul often came here to study, as the foreign master of the occult didn't draw much attention.

The most recent attempt explore the area surrounding the House of Ruin had been successful, but no attempt has yet been made to enter the house itself. Many of the higher ups in the community, including the Caretaker himself said that no expeditions into the House of Ruin would be made at this time.

That was not fast enough for Abdul, so the occultist pooled all of his money together for his own, unsanctioned expedition. He spent the last week recruiting a few willing explorers to follow him, and no he awaited there arrival in the tavern. The only one who has arrived to far was one Reginald von Balk, a Man at Arms, who sat nearby, drinking from a tankard with his mace resting at his feet. Once the others arrived, they would get underway.

Hamlet, Day 1

Oscar steps off the carriage and looks around the ruin of the once vibrant town. each building ragged through years of neglect and disrepair. 'What evil has befallen this place' thinks Oscar as he checks his meager supplies, it had cost him nearly his entire life savings to travel to this place, he knew that payment for his services would be in the near future. the payment would matter little, bringing down the demons of the darkness would be the reward.

Oscar lifts the visor on his helm and searches for the tavern, he was supposed to meet his employer there, he takes a few steps crunching down the dusty road in his plate mail. He places a hand on the hilt of his long sword and grips the steel shield tighter as he begins to truly feel the evil that runs deep in this place. instinctively Oscar begins to mutter a prayer to himself, but it feels hollow and token as it falls from his lips. a smile flashes beneath the helm, as a thought crosses his mind 'Finally, a true place of evil to be purged'. Finally he stomps off towards the tavern, plate mail clattering all the way, to meet his employer. Abdul, who knows what this man truly wants.

Cythlla had been found by Abdul during her attempt to rob the man. Before she even go the chance to lift her halberd however he had offered her a job. And it was one that she found interesting. A place to prove just how strong she really was. She believed that all who had attempted to go into these dungeons and failed were all weak willed people. She believed herself to have the strongest of wills. That and the strongest of arms as well. She was a savage among bandits and was often found starting a fight.

Cythlla passed Oscar shoving past his shoulder to get into the inn first. She could smell the mead and it felt divine to her. Once inside Cythlla ordered herself a drink before sitting down in front of Abdul. Many people inside the inn tried their best to stay out of her way. After all a Hellion was not someone you wanted to anger or mess with. "Good to see you again. I hope this adventure of yours is gonna be as trying as you say. If it's not someone's going to lose an arm." Cythlla said, acting in her normal savage manner.

Sitting up and stretching his arms toward the sky with a yawn, Grim greeted the new day. He awoke in a hollow formed by the roots of a towering dead tree just outside the graveyard. Remembering then that he had chosen the spot because he thought the dead tree over the place of dead men fitting, he smiled under his mask. The leather of that object had once been a stark white, but now droplets of blood spattered the face of it and grime discolored the edges. The rest of his garb was in a similar state, but still functioned for its intended purpose.

Pushing himself to his feet, Grim inspected his belongings to make sure they were all there. Satisfied, he dusted himself of and started toward the tavern and his newest gig. Someone wanted to pay him a lot of money for his skill, and he wasn't about to say no to that. After all, they must have sought him out specifically. No reason for that effort to go to waste. Strumming at random strings as he walked, he made his way toward the building making a soft but discordant tune. It appeared that he was a little late to the party, as several others were already in attendance.

"I have arrived! We can get started now." he declared, tone jolly despite the slight rasp in his voice. He punctuated the statement with a strum across his instrument before stilling the strings with his gloved palm.

"Sorry boys, looks like I win this pot as well." Said a young woman who's tone was overly pleased with her self as she pulled in a nice little pile of gold coins and bill notes to her corner of the table. "And I must extend my deepest apologize for bowing out now and not giving you any more shots to win back your money. But time waits for no man, and I'm already late to a meeting. "

A older man, wearing the garb common among the hound trainers slammed and angry fist on the table and pointed an accusing finger "I don't believe you are that lucky little girl. I'm betting a cheeky little brat like you is cheating us." He rose to his feet and began to reach for his blackjack "What do boys say we knock her out, check for any cards up her sleeve...or anything else she may be hiding." He said with a dark leer in his eyes. As the other men let out dark, low, chuckles of agreement and began to rise from their seats, the woman's hands blurred with motion.

With a quick flick of her wrist a dagger was produced from seemingly nowhere...and held against the Hound Masters groin. "Well, gentlemen, you can see the only thing up my sleeves are my sharp wit and sharper toys. Now I don't believe you fellows have the balls to do any of those unpleasant things ya'll just talked about...and if I did you wouldn't have them for long." There was a brief, tense silence and then the hound Master raised his hands in defeat, dropping his blunt weapon to the floor. With a wry smile, the Grave robber pulled back her and rose to her feet. "See, you can be a good looser after all. Don't worry, I'll be a regular here, you'll have plenty of chances to win back what you lost. Lets just hope your luck improves first. She scooped the odds and ends into her coin purse, lifted her pick-ax from the ground and slung it over one shoulder and tipped her hat to the fellow gamblers. "See ya'll around."

She made her way across the bar to where Abdul had told them where the meeting was going to be. She could already see the familiar visage of the cultist among several other strangers whom she was not yet acquainted with. "Sorry I'm late, had to finish up some business."

Cole sighed, wrapping his cloak about him tighter. He kicked at a pebble, watching it roll and bounce off other smaller pebbles. He sipped at his beer, cheap and watered down as it was. At least the barkeep served him. And let him sit on the back porch.
You can sit anywhere you want to, Cole. There's nothing that anyone can do about it. Let them whine and pant like the dogs they are. We can silence them for good if they bark to loudly.

Cole made a small noise. "No. I said no." His voice was raspy, reed-thin. "If you try anything-"

You'll what? Cry? Have another panic attack? Please do, I can come out and play then. Face it Cole, YOU are weak. I am strong. Together? Well, you wouldn't be alive if it weren't for me. Aren't you supposed to meet someone?

Cole took another drink. "I don't want to be too early. Similarly, I don't want to be to late. It's.. Either way attracts too much attention. We should show up at the right time. Stay quiet. Learn. Then earn our keep when the time is right."

He stood up, bringing the tankard with him. Knocking on the back door, it swung open. The barkeep was wiping off a mug. "Listen, kid. I like ya n' all but the customers don' really take too kindly t' ya."

"I know. And we're just meeting someone in there. We won't drive away too many people, I promise."
Slaughter him, Cole. Tear his heart out. I can feel his pulse quickening. He's scared of you. Scared of me. Of US.

Cole's head twitched, the barkeep slowly letting him inside, muttering something about these new adventurers. Cole drank the rest of his beer, leaving the tankard on the bar. He noticed the group of people sitting around a table, his new employer one them. Why he had chosen to pick him, he'd never know. Maybe he was just in the right place at the right time. He sidled up to the group.

"We're Cole. I'm sorry if we're a bit.. Late." He looked off to the side as he spoke, not meeting anyone's eyes directly. If anyone tried to look him face on, he'd stare just above and to the right of them.

Yes, that's it Cole. Be nice to them. Lull them into a sense of false security. Easier to maim when they trust you. Give them a winning smile, why don't you? And stop it with all this "We" garbage. If you want me to talk to them so badly, let me out.

It's been days since I've fed.

Oscar feels someone brush past him, a woman looking like a barbarian. he ignores her, the posturing and mightier than thou contest isnt something Oscar is interested in. he is here to simply destroy the demons in the dark, not prove himself. he shakes his head, amused at the brute. 'is this what this town does to people?' he ponders, 'or is it the dungeon, bah no reason to dwell on it. im here on a mission.'

Oscar steps through the threshold of the tavern where he is supposed to meet his employer and the rest of the party. several... colorful characters seem to be making themselves known to Abdul, apparently it is his turn. he walks up to the bar and twists the steel helm off his head and sets is carefully on the counter. "Mead" he says to the bar keeper. after a moment he gets a mug of something that could only be loosely be called mead. it tastes foul but there is a hint of alcohol in it, maybe just enough to take the edge off. Oscar picks up the helmet and tucks it up under one arm to make his way over to Abdul.

"Abdul Alhazred, the Mad Man. ive heard rumors about you, and the word is you need mercenaries."

Abdul nodded as the one mercenaries he hired stepped forward. He was about to rise and address them before a man walked into their circle that the occultist didn't recognize. Abdul was a bit put off at how the man knew his name, but Abdul didn't try to hide.

"We are, and we will be leaving soon. What sort of qualifications do you have? This will not be an easy trek." Abdul asked, not getting up from his seat. Before the occultist could press on, Reginald got up from his stool and strode over.

"I'd recognize the armor of a Crusader anywhere. I've fought along side them once, many years ago. If this young man has earned the right stand in their ranks, he is more than welcome." The old veteran gave the young knight a reassuring wink, while Abdul scoffed, who didn't have much patience for the ranks of the holy. Still, there was one more spot open, and if he wanted to throw his life away like this, then that was his prerogative.

"Very well." Abdul said as he turned to the others who came. The hellion, the grave robber, the jester and poor, poor Cole all arrived as they were instructed, and Abdul doled out their money. As they had agreed, they would receive half now, and the rest when they returned to Hamlet.

"There, we leave in the morning. I suggest you all rest well."

Cythlla looked around the bar at those who had entered. She noticed a grave robber having fun with a hound Master after winning a few gambling games. "I think I'm going to like you." Cythlla said with a smile as she approached the Grave Robber. "Woman like you are suprisingly hard to come by you know." Cythlla added with an almost lustful grin on her face.

There were many strange things about Cythlla, she cared not what others look at her like. If the jester was at all paying attention he would notice that he was almost entirely ignored.

Finally Cythlla turned to Abdul again. "Why don't me and the Grave Robber here go get the supplies." Cythlla suggested, she wanted to get this mission underway as soon as she could. She highly believed in only trusting herself when it came to getting things done. She had many flaws after all, but her will to get things done and ready properly wasn't one of those flaws. "I'm Cythlla by the way, the Hellion." Cythlla said introducing herself to the group.

Oscar nodded at the other knight, obviously his senior. he was pleased at the compliment even though it was a compliment towards the order rather than any comment on Oscar's personal skill. Abdul's reaction was less than encouraging however, it was difficult to tell the reason for his reaction. Oscar decided that putting Abdul's fears to rest would be the best course of action. before he spoke however the brute of a woman who jostled him to get by spoke up about getting supplies, Cythlla she announced herself as. and Oscar was more than happy to let her do something as tedious as retrieving supplies.

"Do not worry about my ability Abdul. I am Oscar, Sergeant of the Revered 2nd company, I was among the Legion that drove the demons out of the cursed town of Tristram..." even as he spoke his eyes lose focus and he becomes distant, recalling the bloody battle that was to take back the town. some hero had descended the depths of the crypt and beyond to slay the old demon that resided there, however the evil was not gone once its master was slain. for days soldiers marched down into the catacombs of Tristram only to be slain, and for days they carried out the maimed and wounded. Oscar drew his first blood in that crypt, and nearly his last breath. the demon only known as the Butcher had nearly slain him, the creature's massive cleaver hacking through shield and armor alike, leaving a wicked scar across Oscar's chest.

Oscar coughs and drowns the memory with a swig from the awful mead, the flavor clearing his mind faster than the alcohol. "it is a pleasure to meet you all" he says nodding to the other mercenaries around him. "so, what is this Mission? i unfortunately know little about this place."