The Gentleman Scoundrel or My Life as a Grunt

[Standur]

Ashard sat on the bench with a small ink well and parchment drafting a letter while simultaneously flirting and making small talk with Shala, "Look at these boots will you. I just purchased them and now look at them. I doubt I will ever be able to get the smell of the bog out of them."

Shala either snickered or giggled and though Ashard was not sure which he continued on with both his writing and his flirting, “It’s dangerous out there you know even for a member of the Blackwood Company,” with emphasis, “like me. The things I saw in the hills and beyond today could turn a man’s hair white with fright.” A sudden look of concern crossed his face and he pulled his hat from his head, “It’s not white is it?”

Shala looked briefly at Ashard and shook her head before returning her attention to her herbs.

“No”, Ashard let out an exaggerated sigh, “well that is a relief at least!” He paused for a moment to blow on the still wet ink of the parchment before rising and tipping his hat to Shala with a slight bow, “Farewell lovely lady.” After a wink in Shala’s direction he started toward Sergeant Greyham, “You know Shala if you ever need company out here at this dark lonely outpost all you have to do is call.”

Ashard stopped in front of Sergeant Greyham and saluted, “Grunt Velmont with a report of unusual activities in Sharahan area Sergeant!” Ashard handed the Sergeant a freshly scribed parchment containing his recollections of the recently transpired events. “Best as I can recall it’s all written down.”

The following notations were made on the parchment:

• Upon entering the Sharahan Hills area numerous goblins both living and undead were encountered.
• In the Sharahan Woods an outpost of goblins and hobgoblins was discovered. Their numbers once again included living and undead.
• Deeper in the woods we followed a bog leading to a cave. Numerous undead were encountered both in the bog and inside the cave. The resistance encountered included foes that were numerous and some I have never seen before. I overheard the clerics I accompanied debating about shadows, wraiths and vampires and will trust their judgment in the matters of undead. Deep in the cave there was a human Baneite and what I thought to be a rather large orc throwing around magic. Due to the darkness and smoke from the fires it was hard to be certain.
• Finally, I once again encountered the being that had earlier named itself as the Revenant Lord Sariel roaming from the Sharahan Hills through the Exigo camp and then settling in front of the Second Wind Inn. I and two others followed the being at a distance. The being this time identified itself quite plainly as “Death”.
• We witnessed a human male pledge an oath to serve the being before it disappeared. The male was of average build, I believe had red hair and had no other identifiable markings. When questioned about the oath the man only revealed that the being made promises to help him in return for his oath of service.

This report is intended to alert both my superiors in the Blackwood Company and our client, Exigo, of the disturbing and possibly business interrupting troubles in the Sharahan area.

Grunt Ashard Velmont

[Standur]

Ashard smiled at Elissa and offered her a wink, “You are far to charming to do business with Elissa. I am afraid Exigo have put you here just to melt my resolution and take advantage of me. Speak of taking advantage, you can always …” his voice trailed off as he finally notices Elissa is no longer paying attention to him but looking over his shoulder. Ashard, feeling a bit insulted, abruptly turned to see what had pulled Elissa’s focus away from him and cringes slightly recognizing the dark armor of the man he had encountered in forest earlier in the day.

“Have you finished with your contracts?” the man inquired.

Ashard shrugged, “There is always the next one to be gained.”

The man looked irritated at Ashard’s response and launched into a preachy speech that he mostly tuned out. Through the bluster and rhetoric the man spewed Ashard got the drift that the man was more than insinuating he should attend some sermon the man was prepared to give. Ashard response of , “I am afraid religion is not in my future”, only seemed to infuriate the man even more.”

“The Lord of Bones will not be delayed!” the man proclaimed slamming one of his gauntlets down on the Exigo counter ruining one of his precious flyers.

Ashard chuckled, “That’s funny, delaying death is exactly what I get paid to do.”

The darkly clad man stepped closer and said something that flew past Ashard in an obvious attempt to intimidate him. Ashard did not flinch and stood eye to eye with the man letting his hands casually drift to his weapons.

“Of course I do make exceptions”, Ashard shot back.

They stood eye to eye for a few moments before the man picked up his gauntlet from the counter and casually backed away no more bothered by Ashard’s not so thinly veiled threat than Ashard had been by his. After a moment or two Ashard stepped around the man and headed for the door.

In a sarcastic tone and looking over his shoulder Ashard added, “I’d watch out for that one Elissa”, before walking out the door.