“My name is Kesh’gar. This is my brother Moss.”
“Moss? Like the plant?”
“Yeah like that. There was a lot of it where he was born and our parents like to keep names simple.”
“Simple like ‘Kesh’gar’?”
“Well, I’m adopted so Kesh’gar was my original name but we simplified it to Kesh.”
Kesh’gar and Moss stood at the counter of the admissions office at the Archmage’s University, the AU for short. It was here that any wizard who dreamed of working for the Archmage would attend one of their many colleges. The AU had a college dedicated to each of the schools of magic as well as one dedicated to druidry and wild magic. Wizards, sorcerers, druids, and warlocks all come to the AU seeking training and higher education. Kesh wasn’t sure what school he wanted to specialize in but he was sure that he was ready to leave his old forest behind him. The halfing clerk at the counter spoke again.
“So do you have a letter of recommendation?”
“No, but I have my own spell book,” Kesh smiled as he spoke. The half-orc turned back to his brother for reassurance but was met only with Moss’s signature distant stare.
“Unfortunately, you’ll need a letter of recommendation from an approved guild or adventurer in order for me to finalize your admission application. The AU is a pretty competitive school and we get applicants from across the continent. My best advice would be to try again next year. In the meantime I would seek out some work with one of the guilds here in town.” The halfing inspected Kesh carefully. “With that big ax of yours I’m sure you’ll have no issue getting apprenticed with some of the adventurers around here.”
Kesh frowned and started to scramble for an explanation before his brother spoke.
“My brother said he’s a wizard, didn't he? The ax is just a keepsake. You just assume every orc you see is some kind of fighter?” Moss practically growled the words as he spoke.
“Oh, uh, no I just meant that-”
“You meant what you said.” Moss snarled at the clerk so he could get a good look at each of his fangs.
“We should go,” Kesh murmured as he pulled his brother back.
The two men walked down the streets to exit the Colleges’ Quarters. As they exited the university grounds they stopped to observe the statue of the University’s patron and founder, Merlin the wise. At a glance the two individuals appeared worlds apart. Kesh stood well over 6 feet tall with a firm build, growing fully into his orcish frame; he carried a large greataxe on his back. His adopted parents always told him it was the only thing they found with him when they rescued him as a child. Moss, the eldest brother, was a shorter man between 5 and 6 feet. Moss resembled their parents much more since he shared blood. He was noticeably hairier and possessed wolfish canines and pointed ears, both of which could become more pronounced based on his mood.
The brothers made their way to the market commons in search of food and information. They spent the better part of the afternoon bothering merchants and pedestrians trying to deduce the best place to apprentice and the most capable adventurers in the most capable guild in town. As the heat of the day passed, replaced by the cool dusk sun the brothers settled at the bar of a tavern.
Kesh’gar sighed and tossed some copper pieces on the bar before picking up his mug.
“We’re never going to figure this out. We should just head back to the forest now.”
Moss looked at his brother as he lamented. “It’s been a singular day. You don’t think our parents will be upset to hear you gave up without even getting an inn for the night?”
“How am I supposed to sleep like this? Jobless. A failure. Real great wizard I turned out to be.”
As Kesh’gar spoke he was approached from behind by another man who placed his hand on Kesh’s shoulders and smiled into Moss’s eyes.
“I don’t see too many pairings like y’all around here. Did I hear you say you’re a wizard too? This is fortuitous for all of us then.”
Kesh’gar looked past the man and noticed the small gathering of individuals behind him.
“Fortuitous for whom? If this is a shakedown you’ll regret it.”
The man backed away, raising both his arms and laughing. “No no no, nothing like that. I really just needed the extra man power for a job that’s all. Ranger’s honor I swear. You see we’re on a bit of a manhunt. Tracking a young woman and we’ve got her cornered in the undercommons. We think she is gonna make her move soon and I would like to apprehend her at that moment.”
Kesh started to stand and chugged the last of his drink. “I don’t want to be rude but you don’t look quite like town guards to me.”
“We aren’t. We’re a guild. This is an easy job and you can make some money. You’re a wizard right? Isn’t this kind of your whole thing?
“He’s right Kesh. This is what you needed. Besides, if he does anything shady,” Moss stood as close to the man as he could when he spoke, “...I’ll eat his face.”
The group of men, Moss, and Kesh all made their way to the undercommons of Yellowfield. As the group traveled Kesh pulled close to Moss so he could whisper in his ear discreetly.
“I don’t trust these guys as far as I can throw them. All these men just to hunt down one person? Who are we hunting? And why wouldn’t they tell us the name of their guild? You think that would be the first thing out of their mouths right?”
“Wolves always hunt in a pack. Doesn’t mean we’re afraid of a stag. It’s just strategic,” Moss was carefully watching each of his steps and he spoke, moving as quietly as possible. “ But you don’t have to convince me not to trust these guys. I’m ready to ditch whenever you are.”
“No, I want to see what’s going on. If they’re up to something I want to be able to intervene. That’s how a real wizard operates.”
The group began to disperse as they reached the undercommons leaving only Kesh, Moss, and their mysterious leader. The man kept walking until they came across a wide alley. The smell of stagnant water flooded Moss’s nose and both brother’s observed the assortment of questionable merchants that lined either side of the street.
“There’s our target.” The man said as he pointed toward a group of people. Just in front of Kesh were three individuals surrounding another woman with weapons drawn.
“Are we saving that girl?” Kesh had already pulled his spellbook out as he posed the question.
“What? No. We’re here for the Suu’mahri woman. She’s nobility and once we have her we can ransom her off for an obscene amount of money.”
Moss looked sideways at the man. “That doesn’t sound like typical guild activity to me. Who did you say you were affiliated with again?”
The man turned around to face the two. “I thought you would have figured it out by now. It isn’t relevant now, we’re already here. Now when I give the signal my men are going to come out and surround the target. I want you to fire your strongest spell and take out the other three but leave her alone. Your canine brother here will go with me to subdue her. I doubt she comes peacefully.”
Kesh’gar felt his stomach drop and Moss immediately began to give a low growl. Kesh’gar turned a page in his spellbook.
“So I’m gonna guess you’re not bounty hunters,” the half-orc inquired sarcastically.
“You’re a wizard right? You think I don’t know why you’re here? You want to go to that little wizard school. Well you need a guild to back you up for that,” the man’s tone was beginning to grow short in a way that Moss didn’t like. “If you want to have any chance of getting into that school I suggest you stop asking questions and do what I’m telling you.”
“Not really a merchant guild either then.”
The man began to look irritated when he faced the two this time. “If you absolutely must know, you’re working with the Sleepers, from thieves guild.” The man reached behind his cloak revealing the sword on his waist and retrieved a dagger from behind him.
“Now please, just get in there and do your fucking job before I lose my temper.”
Comments (0)
See all