Realistic or Modern Bastard's Tale

[TheAdept]

Jesse paused for a second at Ethan's comment. While the Bastards knew the value of knowledge and read books, there was still a lot the they couldn't learn from that means alone. Jesse had heard the word "gator" before, but still had no idea what that was.

"Whats a gator...?" Jesse said to Ethan

 

[Obsidian]

"It's a dangerous animal." Ethan told him, "They are big, nasty, and can eat you whole."

 

[TheAdept]

"Sounds like a myth" Jesse said with a shrug "Anyway the Nobility is on the verge of civil war. Hell they might already be there judging by what just happened. We're safe, trust me."

 

[Lexico]

"Didn't i hear Nobility got bastards on a truce and then killed them when they were relaxed," said Aurora. "If they want peace, ask them to leave," She said. "If they don't leave, it means they have something else in mind. Don't fall for this. We can be killed here fighting rather than betrayed by them. What do you say," She expressed her displeasure at where this was all leading to.

 

[ScalpelsNSaws]

"Sorry Aurora, I'm going with Jesse on this one. I don't like the idea of going with them, but it's gotta be better than dying here." Shaun says, his eyes darting to the door and back. "Give me a minute to sketch the Telescope and I'll be ready to go Jesse."
With this, Shaun got out a book and pencil and began scribbling as fast as he could.

 

[Obsidian]

Honestly, Ethan expected the worst; either to die here or in some nobles trap. But then he thought of his village, and the nobles who attacked it. He has no idea who they were, or where they came from, but a Lord very well could know. Or some of his goons could know. Ethan didn't expect an opportunity like this to present itself, he instead settled on the idea to simply kill as many of the nobles as he could and hoping that eventually he would get those who were responsible for his village's destruction, but now perhaps this Lord could tell him who was behind that attack. Or perhaps the Lord would lie, perhaps the Lord himself was responsible, or perhaps the Lord simply wouldn't know. What then? Would potientially walking into a nobles trap be worth trying to find out?

Thinking on it, biting his bottom lip, Ethan didn't know what was best to do. He sighed. "Whatever you think is best, Jesse." Ethan said, before adding, "But if we go with them, and we're not killed, I'd like a word with this Lord myself."

 

[Lexico]

Aurora sat there listening to them. She had left everything to fate. And waited to know what fate will bring up this time. She closed her eyes and thought of Mos. Then she took a deep breath and stood up. "If you are going out, should we also come out. We will all be united." She smiled, "let's face it."

 

[TheAdept]

"Alright we're good." Jesse called to the Noble.

The commander looked Jesse and the group over briefly "Looks like you've had an eventful day." He said, but made no attempt to confiscate their weapons, even though he definitely saw the missiles. Truth be told, there weren't that many of these purple Nobles here, but they had Jesse and his friends surrounded in an ideal way that they could easily get headshots on them before Jesse and the rest could kill these Nobles.

"Come, we will take you to Cap Hill." The commander said. He spoke with a sort of accent.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And so they were taken through the streets of Denver just as Jesse remembered it. Well not quite exactly. Last time he was here there were the constant sounds of gunshots and corpses hanging from the buildings. There was still an uneasy feel to the city streets; many living here were clearly peasants, and some eyed him and his new friends for an opportunity to steal something off them. Their dwellings were in the ruins or crudely built shacks, and surely all but a handful of any one of these people was illiterate. The only gunshots he heard were few and far between, and far off. No corpses hung from the streets and makeshift scaffolding and fresh paint n hinted that there were actual efforts to...rebuild some of the crumbling ruins.

"So are you from Boulder?" The commander asked Jesse. Jesse answered carefully.
"No, I am from here. But it looks different from last I saw it."

 

[ScalpelsNSaws]

"Agreed." Shaun says, emulating a thick Boston accent, his mask was still on.

The last time Shaun was there, he was watching Nobility troops using gas on un-affiliated settlers with nerve agent he had located for them, he was honestly surprised they could wash the stains out of the street and buildings. Of course, he despised himself for not seeing what they would do with it, he just did what he was told, and he can only keep telling himself that he didn't have a choice.

 

[Obsidian]

The settlement did not quite live up to Ethan's expectations. He imagined this whole place to be lined with corpses, severed heads on pikes, nobles beating helpless civilians bloody while they cried and begged for mercy, perhaps even bound slaves with grevious scarring on their bare backs from the Nobles sadistic punishments. Strangely, however, he could not see any such things here. Sure, there were plenty of hungry-eyed peasants here, but that is hardly uncommon in the wastes. There were even signs that these nobles were rebuilding here, but rebuilding for what purpose remains to be seen. Though not nearly as bloody as Ethan expected, he still remained guarded and cynical, expecting to see atrocities around one of these corners eventually.

Ethan kept his mouth shut for now, just following along and carefully observing, keeping close to the others and not giving the nobles any excuse to start shooting.

 

[Lexico]

Aurora was not sure this expedition back to Denver would be advantageous. She was not even sure why Jesse made a truce with them. She walked along with him. "Hey this was where i lived," She showed a street. "It was sometime back. And nothing has changed." She turned to Shaun, "You see that hut there, that used to be my first boy friend's place." She then added addressing to them both, "I believe in you. But i have no idea what the hell you both are planning." Then she paused, "I am thinking what that witch will be doing in our palace back there."

 

[ScalpelsNSaws]

"That witch is our sister in arms Aurora. I'd want to keep on her good graces, ill will leads to a knife in the back after all." Shaun said in a conversational tone, still in a boston accent, before turning to her and whispering. "There is a good chance your Mos is being kept here in this Lord Williams, or his enemies hands. I inten to try and barter for his release..." Shaun says, his voice trailing off.

 

[Obsidian]

Ethan could not help but smirk at the mention of Shisa as 'that witch', but otherwise kept to his policy of remaining quiet.

 

[TheAdept]

The Nobles escorting them stopped and the commander turned to Aurora "Witch? Whats this about a witch?"

Jesse came to realize these Nobles, in spite of seeming a little less hostile and despicable than other Nobility, subscribed to some form of Old World superstition.

"It's and inside joke." Jesse said with a smile

"Not a funny one." The commander said with a dead serious expression.

They continued through the city streets, and Jesse noted a few more interesting details of how life was after his years in hiding. On a corner a man played some kind of instrument, one with strings and sang.

"Theres a woman who knows all that glitters is gold, and shes buying a stairway to heaven."

Nearby was an Old World building with boards over the windows but painted on one read "Brothel." Not far after that a woman was tied to a wooden board among a pile of wood and tinder. This was why discussion of witchcraft was a bad idea.

Until eventually they reached the estate. A white building with a golden dome roof and grass in front of it that was kept at an even length. The building had been maintained, the cracks had been filled in, the walls and pillar had been kept clean, and the contrast of it to the ruins all around was astounding.

"OK lets sit." He said, gesturing to a table under some kind of tent. Jesse nodded to everyone else.

 

[ScalpelsNSaws]

Shaun kept his hand ready to dart for his shotgun, disguising his readiness by fiddling with a button on his outer coat. He was clearly anxious despite his attempts to seem non-chalant, honestly? He was shitting bricks. He had heared the song the busker was singing somewhere before, but couldn't put his finger on where. "So pal, where's this Lord William feller at then?" Shaun asked, he was starting to get used to the accent, he wondered how long he'd have to use it for here.

 

[Lexico]

Aurora smiled sheepishly and kept silent while her overheard conversation stirred into discussion. She was watching the place as they walked. Nothing had changed. As she saw the woman on the wooden board and imagined them all in the same pose. He kept her gun quite tight with her, ready to use it. If going down she will not go down without a fight. She was looking at Shaun remembering his promise of finding Mos. But now all that matter was this idiot noble who need to be convinced.

 

[Obsidian]

The archer continued on, somewhat perturbed by the woman and the bonfire, whatever humor he thought up to report Shisa vanishing in his mind. Shisa may be a filthy cannibal, but burning her would be senseless. And a waste of perfectly good wood. When they came to the estate, Ethan marvelled at it; so clean and well maintained, it was impressive. Ethan had a good look around the place before Shaun brought up Lord William, and Ethan refocused to the task at hand. Time to see what one of these fabled Lords are truly like in the flesh.

 

[TheAdept]

"Lord William and his advisor, Evans, are out on business with our neighbors." The commander said, as people began setting down a platter of food...including meat. Jesse had rarely seen food that wasn't stale, dirty or moldy unless he hunted it himself. This was something he had never seen before; bread, meat, and plants again stack on each other which that called "sand witches." He hesitated as it might be poisoned, but the commander was eating some himself.

Hate rose in Jesse's body when he heard the name 'Evans.' It was exactly what he thought; the betrayers had used their skills and combat prowess as ex-Bastards to rise to high positions. When he got his hand on Evans...

"While guns are banned for anyone outside of the Nobility, as you can see things are sort of...falling apart." Jesse knew what he meant. Greedy powerful men didn't want to share with each other. At the same time he couldn't deny that while burning witches and hoarding wealth and resources was savagery, there were no gunfights, raiding, or rape happening out in the streets.

"We want to hire you as mercenaries for our Lord. It will be kind of like what just happened with the Inquisition but you will have us backing you. We won't question you on where you got your guns. Hopefully you picked it off dead soldiers of Marcelo."

Jesse paused. This was pretty abrupt. "We can do some jobs for you, but we need...we have things we need to do back at our home..." Jesse said, wondering how he could work this all to his advantage without anyone under him getting killed.

 

[ScalpelsNSaws]

"You want to have us patronized? Obviously we're doubtful you're going to keep ya word, we'd like an example of good Faith, if that's no bother with you?" Boston Shaun says, quickly glancing at Aurora

"We all got our own issues, an I aint gonna talk over the boss 'ere. But some of us want something more than a promise of not getting shot at by your diplomatically challenged neighbours."

 

[Lexico]

Aurora missed a beat of her heart. She saw Shaun giving a look at her. Maybe he was initiating a talk to release Mos. But she would not understand what he was talking. And his accent made it more tough to understand. She anxiously waited to hear more from Shaun.

 

[Obsidian]

Ethan frowned as the commander admitted that Lord William was not here. Anger bubbled up within, and Ethan struggled to keep it from showing on his face. Maybe this commander would know, but he had to wait for him and Jesse to finish talking first. Then the food came, and Ethan marvelled at it as much as Jesse did; he hasn't even see bread before. A part of his mind could not help but think that this, the food and men and estate, all of it was bought with the methods that Ethan saw that fateful day when the Nobility came to his village. A part him almost thought that... maybe it would be worth it. Being a noble. Becoming a Lord.

Shaun speaking up brought Ethan back from his thoughts, and Ethan added afterward at he looks at the commander, "You've got that right."

 

[ScalpelsNSaws]

"A friend of mine, so to speak, came through this state a few months back. He was looking to see how suitable our "services" would be here. Unfortunately we've heared he didn't learn who held all the cards and made a minorly inconsequential slip of the tounge, which could've been seen as 'Insurrectionist' propoganda..." Shaun tried to explain to the commander, "We would like to see him again alive, if that's possible, and I youd be so gracious, able to leave with us..."

 

[TheAdept]

The commander stared at Shaun for a moment "Thats an interesting accent..." He said looking at Shaun suspiciously "Anyway if someone was...speaking of witchcraft they would have been executed." The commander wasn't sure what Shaun meant by "Insurrectionist propaganda."

"As far as simply talking shit, that gets you beaten, or put in the pillory, or both. There was a time when we sent rebels and such to the Inquisition up North but our relations have soured..." The commander said, confirming what Jesse had told them before.

 

[Lexico]

Aurora was anxious. Even the good food did not interest her. She was looking down on the floor as if she was silent. Inside her, there was a wave of anxiety and excitement. She listened carefully.

 

[ScalpelsNSaws]

"My apologies, I forget I aint from round here, sometimes the accent scares folk. Boss you're more amicable with locals, how 'bout you explain?" Shaun says to the commander, then to Jesse, sweating bullets