A Old Favor (WeaselDelerix)

[unknownsoldier]

"Well....this was probably the leader. Last one to be killed of the group, left himself open. From what I can tell, a few got killed by the traps outside, then almost all of them fall prey to the nooses here, and the leader knew he was going to die next so...I guess he accepted it." Jellal said with a somber tone as he finished his examination of the situation. "They probably could've avoided this if they went somewhere else to stay the night. They must've had something valuable or something if they risked coming in here." He says as he looks around slowly around the church.

[delerix]

Inktail frowns at that, "Not sure if I'd 'ave been able ta do that." He looks around again, "Aye, maybe so, maybe that's what the merchant wants ye ta look into eh?" He grimaces, as if something with a foul smell was under his nose, "I dunno matey, the more I hear, the less I like this. Sounds like yer gonna be asked ta walk into the biggest trap yet." Inktail tightens his grip on the sling and continues silently thinking over all this, as if willing some final piece of the puzzle to fit into place.

[unknownsoldier]

"Unfortunately, thats how he is. Hes a trapsmith, its a living for him." Jellal says as he walks over to a still standing, rotten wooden door. "Its how he treats others...even other guild members. My father, current father, didn't approve of how he behaved, so he sent him away from the guild, along with his two students. Surprisingly, he didn't even try to argue with his decision and went away willingly." He slowly opened the door, which made creaking sounds, and then fell inwards with a loud BOOM. Jellal looked over at Inktail apologetically and resumed, "It just so happened the day I left, was also the day Silvis was sent away as well. So along with the natural woodlander distrust of vermin, and his reputation...we were both avoided like the plague the whole way here." He said with a somber tone.

[delerix]

Inktail frowns, trapsmith, that was not a word he'd heard used often, and when it was used it was with an air of fearful respect. "Hmm, well I suppose it does take all sorts ta make the world work aye." He thinks that over without really seeming to do so. The loud slam of the door causes the weasel to visibly start, then chuckle lightly and wave a paw Jellal's way in a 'no worries' gesture. "Ah, lucky you," the weasel rolls his eyes "It's bad enough how some woodland 'goodbeasts' will treat ya 'fore they know ya, but travellin' with one like what ye describe 'im as." Inktail says nothing more, simply placing a friendly paw on the rat's shoulders, knowing that he didn't have words for what he wanted to say. "Well, let's get this done with as soon as we can then matey."

[unknownsoldier]

"Yeah...soon as we can." Jellal said smiling a bit from inktails friendly gesture. He set his pack down to the side, "Just in case, hes always makes things seem to easy." He then transferred something from his big pack to the smaller one he still had from behind the tombstone, "Might as well make some use of it." He slowly crept onto the fallen door and could see a clear empty hallway ahead, "Seems like-", before he could finish he felt the door seem to float for a second. Then realized he fell for one of the oldest tricks for traps, a pitfall. He seemed to almost vanish into darkness, then two chinks were heard as two ropes became visible and went taut. A bit farther down the hole, jellal was holding onto the two ropes for dear life, can't even believing his own reflexes. "I'm...I'm alive?"

[delerix]

Inktail yelped as he watched his friend fall. A deadfall, of course things couldn't have been that easy. Inktail realizes he somehow got from standing to being on his belly at the edge of the pit, he looks down. The weasel relaxes a bit as Jellal responds, "Nah mate, you fell an cracked your neck apart, and I took an arrow ta me forehead, can't ye see it?" The weasel assesses the situation presented to him, and realizes he'll need rope. "Jellal mate, I know ye dislike folks rifling through yer pack, but I'm jus' gonna grab some rope, I'm sure I had ye pack some." He'll disappear from view of the hole for just a moment, coming back quickly with a length of rope and lowering it down towards his friend. "Why, do you need so many damn pockets mate." Inktail will stop once a good amount is in reach. "All right, I shouldn't 'ave ta explain this plan to ya matey, just grab on tight, and climb yer way up if ye can, if not, I'll try pulling ye up."

[unknownsoldier]

Jellal was taking a few seconds to regain composure and quickly grabbed with one paw the rope Inktail lowered. "Thanks mate!" Maybe the Mistress is indeed with me. Those special ropes all of us were taught to use and trust in. The very ropes....my father saved me with....on that day. He quickly shook off the thought, "I can climb it!" He says before grabbing it with his other paw quickly and climbing up like a natural almost. He soon reached and climbed over the edge panting slightly, "Told you...he always make this seem to easy." He says before reaching out and grabbing the two ropes that saved his life from a broken neck. He pulled and cursed slightly, "Well...this may be troublesome."

[delerix]

Inktail grins as his friend scampers up. "Glad ye could make it back up mate" Inktail pulled up the rope after jellal. "I guess, the fishing was good for me arms after all." He chuckles and looks about, looking at the pews. "Say Jellal, I think I may 'ave found a way ta get over th' issues?" Inktail, frowns upon further inspection of the longer pews. "Hmm, well maybe, depends on if they'll be able ta 'old us. Hmm, nah, that's gonna be a no go on that'n." The weasel looks to his friend "Ye got anything that may work?"

[unknownsoldier]

Jellal was still testing the ropes stuck to the ceiling above by pulling them. "Depends...how strong are those fishing arms inktail?" He said nonchalantly. Just strong enough from what he can tell, just enough for one swing across, after that well, hope the Mistress is still with them after that. "If you agree with me mate, grab one of these two ropes, because your about to learn how to a swinging squirrel." He said a bit jokingly. He held out one of the ropes in one paw to Inktail with a smile.

[delerix]

Inktail had wandered back to Jellal, and was chuckling at the question "Just strong enough, hopefully, why d'ya-" Inktail's question is cut off as Jellal answers before asking. He sighs and shakes his head. "I always thought all those squirrels were a bit crazy ya know." He takes the offered rope, a deep breath, and then after a couple of steps forwards, he leaps forwards holding the rope for dear life. AS the wind rushes past him on his swing he feels himself hit the low point of the arc and then start rising. Forcing himself to keep his eyes open and not panic, at the end of the arc, inktail lets go, he sail up and outwards from the rope, as he lands he takes a couple of steps ahead due to momentum, then falling into a kneeling position with his eyes closed, praying that someone up by the gates of the dark forest is watching over him right then.

[unknownsoldier]

Jellal had watched him swing across without a hitch. He let a breath of relief at his friends landing on the other side, "We'll make you a squirrel yet!" he said before getting ready himself, he said a small prayer and did a running leap. He felt the wind rush past him as he felt the rope hit the low point of the arc and went up rising. He let go at the moment it was close to its highest point and before touching the ground he rolled to soften the impact. He landed next to his weasel friend and saw him praying, "Well, it wasn't too bad, I did bigger gaps then that before, but hey, we made it." He said before getting up and pulling out the ropes from the ceiling with a chink. He rolled them back up, making sure the spear like point there tied to didn't cut him. A slow clap was heard a bit further down, "Just like a Loresian thief, always having a spear rope on paw." The speaker was a older weasel clothed in a brown tunic with a small emblem of two snakes curling around a rose on the right corner of the tunic. "Master Lokes, this is a surprise." Jellal said and actually stood at attention in front of the older weasel.

[delerix]

Inktail shivers as he hears his friend landing beside him, he relaxes and opens his eyes "So no deathtraps set up fer us over here eh." He smiles and starts to get up, smiling, until he hears the slow applause. Inktail immediatly turns to the source of the sound, an older weasel, in an odd brown tunic, an emblem of two snakes evident on it. "Hmm, ye know this'n Jellal?" He looks from his friend, the thief to this, 'Master Lokes' He frowns and rubs at the top of his nose "I thought ye said we were lookin fer some trapsmith merchant type?" Puzzled by this new change of plans, he looks the odd, older weasel, and adopts a stance showing he does have respect for them.

[unknownsoldier]

"Most likely expected Silvis to be alone here? Sorry, your father was quite explicit in making sure he was watched over. He is a Senior member of course, and one of our most valuable." Lokes said and made a gesture, most likely to come out of attention stance. Jellal relaxed his stance, "We are, I take it your still Silvis's assistant sir?" The older weasel chuckled, "Yes, along with Ragburn as well. Best for your friend to stay here with me, Ragburn has a certain...mistrust for beasts not of the guild." Jellal sighed and looked to Inktail, "If Ragburn is here, its best you stay here you with Master Lokes. Trust me, I've seen how Ragburn works," he shivered slightly from a memory, "it won't take long, I promise." He said before heading off down the hallway by himself. "I see young jellal has great trust in you." Lokes said with a smile.

[delerix]

Inktail seems about to object, but something in the way they spoke the name of the one called Ragburn told him it is best he take their advice. Inktail takes a deep breath. "Just come back intact matey." Inktail then turns to look to this weasel. "Well we've saved each others 'ides a few times already, more 'im savin' mine ta be fair though." Looking over the guildbeast Inktail seems to be considering things, there is a pause before he askes "If it's not too much pryin', might I ask what ya think this...Silvis, is gonna be asking o' Jellal." Inktail seems more worried than anything "I value my friends, more'n most other thing I could think of as havin' value." He continues to study this odd old weasel.

[unknownsoldier]

The weasel sighed, "That, I'm afraid I don't know. He probably mentioned this to you once maybe, Silvis is indeed a bit eccentric, and maybe even a bit insane. Its how he is though, nobeast can change that, thats how he copes with the world. I've been his first student you could say, out of all the seasons I spent with him...even I don't know what he thinks half the time. I can tell you might think me odd being with him and all, understandable, considering all the rumors flying around about him and his work. Thats the trouble with rumors, they always tend to exaggerate the truth. For all he is...hes just a old rat who enjoys his work and has a avid interest in history. Nothing more, nothing less." He finishes with sigh. "Sorry if I bored you a bit young'in, I tend to rattle on once I start talking."

[delerix]

Inktail listens intently and waits for them to continue. As the explain the reasoning he starts to calm some, and even smiles. "No need ta be worried about it, Master Lokes." He inclines his head politely. "I'm not one ta bore easily, erm ye'll pardon my accent I 'ope, been told it's a bit thick." He smiles and scratches at his chin lightly "So you, an this Ragburn, both students o' Silvis, both trapsmiths?" He isn't trying to pry, he just can't help himself at times.

[unknownsoldier]

Lokes chuckled lightly, "You don't need to call me master, thats just a formality. No actually, the correct term for me and Ragburn aren't trapsmiths, that just Master Silvis. Me and Ragburm are actually Siege Engineers." He said with a lighthearted tone. "Most beast do assume we are, so your not the first to ask about it. It may sound complicated the title, but if you have a good head on your shoulders, its not that hard to do really. Silvis is a Siege Engineer as well, but not much interest in it, but me and Ragburn did though, so he showed us how. We both had very different perspectives on the matter, which led to a...rivalry you could say. I focused on the defense against a siege and how to hold out against one. Ragburn on the other paw.....went the opposite, he wanted to know how to break any kind of fortification possible. So you could say...I'm the shield of castles, and Ragburn is the sword that destroys them." He said, finally finishing his explanation.

[delerix]

Inktail nods at the explanation, smiling lightly. "Seige engineers eh? Interesting line o' work ta be sure." The weasel chuckles "I didn't even end up a raider, just a common, uncommon, fiserweasel." He smiles and shrugs, "Shield an' Sword both, hmm sounds like th' pair o' you are doin' yer master proud." He nods sharply, and remembers he had one other question "Now, I figured that I'd be a bit less than cordially welcome, but might I ask what th' issues are with non-guildbeasts are? I jus' wanna know 'ow fare over my head I've gotten. First thing I learned about swimmin' never go deeper'n you can get out of real fast."

[unknownsoldier]

Lokes sighed, "I figured you might ask that, as you know, most vermin as the woodlanders call us are untrustworthy, killers, stealers, and many other things as well. Their mostly right, some of us are, but some of us aren't, which is how our guild was formed. It was first formed to help protect beasts like us, which is what our emblem stands for, " he says while pointing to the emblem on the tunic, "we are the few out of all the snakes that are different. Which of course lead to some of our own thinking we were weak like how they viewed the woodlanders, but we weren't. Thats why we chose the rose, we may stand out, but aren't afraid to stand up for ourselves. On the outside, all vermin view us as a theives guild, but in reality, were a mix of many different skills that thrive under one banner. A short answer to help would be, we had to be one of the hardest beasts to earn our trust, because thats how we survived. Ragburn is one of the few who may take it...a bit too seriously." He finally finshed, stopping to catch his breath.

[delerix]

Inktail listens intently as Lokes goes on. A smile falls into place, growing slightly wider as they continue to speak. Looking to the emblem as it is explained. "Well Lokes, I know all about 'ow most woodlanders think o' us, an' even 'ow hard it can be to try not being like that." He nods sharply, "Sounds ta me like yer guild's got a great starting place, regardless o' the work ye do, I'm proud jus' ta hear ya exist." Now relaxed, Inktail seems rather pleased to have heard of the guild now. "Hmm, I've gotta say I'm impressed, an' not quite as surprised by 'ow good jellal is at what 'e does. It was a pleasure ta meet ya, Master Lokes." He then blinks and realizes he'd forgotten something, "Ah, an' sorry ta say it so late, I'm Inktail, Inktail Furtif o' the Holt of Camp Willow."