Overpowered Espionage

Firesong · Post by **Firesong** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 12:53 am

Haegrath smiled malevolently, his dark blue-green eyes, almost teal save for a shadow of his darker nature about them which made them hideous to look upon, narrowed. A glint of sharp teeth, meant for consuming flesh, showed for a brief instant as he walked towards the town, his flail held loosely in his left hand. The cause of his instant of merriment was the rememberance of some tactics he had been taught by several more intelligent relatives and advisors. Why go to the tavern? There were plenty of people about... and although they weren't as distrustful of change as trolls were, even they were bound to notice something so different as a part-troll. Asking them would bring results.

The guardsmen? Not as common here as they were in the city, and he knew from experience that humans could not see in the dark. All he had to do was wait for someone to question, perhaps stun them and take them back to the house for questioning. The next part of his plan did not occur to him yet, although if he attracted too much attention in this town, he could outrun anyone shorter than himself, which was just about everyone, and return to Zaekonspiere and consult his subjects. He hid as best he could, given his bulk, by another derelict building; although, given the lengthening shadows and his general dark colouring (not perfect, but grey with blue and green patches was far better than the pale skin boasted by most humans; and the coloured moss growing on the stone building made his camouflage fairly effective) he went unnoticed by the few passers-by. Drawing the bear-skin cloak closer around him further decreased his visibility, hiding the green and blue mottling, although in the light and in the open it merely made him appear more formidable.

Once the sun was well hidden behind the horizon, he stepped out into the street, his eyes glowing faintly. The light had made things blurry, but now his image of the town was crisp, well-defined; the scents were strange, and the sounds not as great as during the day, allowing him to hear any approaching guardsmen; although he would see them and leave despite his other instincts before they would see him anyways. He stood there, waiting for one of the inhabitants to arrive, and allow him to assauge his hunger... his hunger for flesh as well as his hunger for more followers of his kind. The nation would rise, in time...

Shadowsong · Post by **Shadowsong** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 8:49 am

(NPC post)

Also in time, uneven footsteps echoed along the street, the sound continueing slowly. An old-looking man stepped uncertainly along. Fuzzy stubble covered his face, his skin crinkled like old parchment, and chestnut hair appeared plastered to his head. The expression on his face could best be described as an owlish smirk, so much so one would not be surprised if his head turned 360 degrees.

With trollish intervention that would not be unlikely.

So far his walk had his greyish cloak slung back, but in an instant his stance became more steady and he threw the cloak around his shoulders, pulling the hood over his head. With a hand reaching inside his cloak, he moved into a thick patch of shadow, sufficient to conceal him from most things, but not much of a hiding place against a troll.

Ducking within the darkness beneath a building, the stranger improved his hiding place. Unaware of the one nearby who could see him.

Firesong · Post by **Firesong** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 3:00 am

The blue-green eyes glinted balefully as the troll's ears picked up the sound of footsteps. It wasn't long before his hiding-place revealed another two-legger, substantially smaller than himself, stumbling along the pathways. He shifted slightly as the creature's odour reached his nostrils. Now let him try and run. Hiding, though...

Unwise as it was, it was exactly what the newcomer tried. It would have worked, too, if Haegrath hadn't been a troll. Well, assuming he hadn't noticed the arrival, anyways. As it was, the bearskin he wore gave no noise as he moved slightly towards the being hiding beneath the building he had chosen for his own subterfuges. His flail was returned to storage, and he reached out, the only sounds a gentle thudding as his bulk moved over the ground.

A few more steps... and then a foot crashed through a rotten plank with a rather louder noise. It was probably a former piece of the shelter both had chosen, although it had likely been at least two decades since it had been of any use. Haegrath surged forwards towards his startled prey in an attempt to grab him before he could react.

Shadowsong · Post by **Shadowsong** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 10:07 am

(NPC POST)

There was a good seven foot of distance between man and troll when the man attempted to jump clear. Unfortunately for him, seven foot was well within the reach of the enormous troll.

It would be fair to say the man was surprised, few people expect trolls to sieze them in the middle of the night. Yet, despite the well justified surprise, and even more justified fear, there was no disbelief at the sight of a troll.

The disheveled man was firmly clamped in the troll's mighty fist. He made no attempt to struggle. It would be very pointless. Instead he spread his arms wide to show he was harmless, as if the troll had not already figured that.

What the man understood was that the troll could kill him without the slightest of fuss. He could scream for help, but off the top of his head nothing nearby counted as sufficient help for this situation, and the troll could almost certainly tear off his head should it wish to.

The grim truth of the situation was that his life was in the troll's hands, as was he. Anything he did would not change that fact, only inconvenience the troll and give it a reason to kill him.

'I could be useful. I do what you say.' said the man, careful not to make any threatening gestures, not that he had any idea of gestures he could make that could threaten this thing.

Firesong · Post by **Firesong** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:56 pm

"Good," the troll said simply, his voice a deep almost-grunt, and yet his words well-defined. "Haegrath has questions. You will answer?" This man seemed smart. Haegrath removed his massive hands from the man and drew his flail once again, cradling it menacingly. "You die if you run."

He paused for a second, thinking. Well, maybe more than one; his normal, everyday intelligence was high only by the standards of a troll. He glanced about before speaking, a slight smile appearing on the mottled face as he observed his prey. He threw back the hood of the massive bearskin before he began his interrogation.

"Haegrath seeks for brothers and half-brothers."

Shadowsong · Post by **Shadowsong** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 1:38 pm

(NPC POST)

The flail was overkill. Really.

'I answer Haegrath.' agreed the ragged man, not like he was in any position to argue. 'I live if I help?' Securing a promise of mercy seemed the man's best chance of survival. He had no idea if honour was much of a concept among trolls, but he knew that if the troll wanted to stop him from leaving, there was not a damn thing he could do.

'Other trolls then?' guessed the crook, his face suddenly becoming shrewd. 'I know one, I could meet him later tonight. I have a job here to do first. It would make meeting him easier. You could meet him with me?' offered the fellow. His first thought was of the word "introduce," but he was able to reword it smoothly. From what he had seen, this Haegrath was reasonably intelligent, but he still would prefer to avoid misunderstandings with a troll.

Firesong · Post by **Firesong** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:28 pm

The troll paused for a second - and, this time, only a second - before nodding. "Haegrath looks for trolls, and part trolls. Haegrath makes a kingdom." He frowns, realizing he probably shouldn't have said this. "You live if you help and be quiet after. You talk to people about this, we find you and kill you."

"I will come," he agrees. "Meet your acquaintance." The last word isn't used often, and is slightly slower than the rest of his speech, but still quite recognizable. "No tricks, no tricks. Haegrath or you." Presumably an attempt to make an agreement of no trickery of some sort, but hard to understand nonetheless.

Shadowsong · Post by **Shadowsong** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:11 pm

(NPC POST)

Sounded fair. Of course, it chafed at the man that he was not getting anything more out of this than his life. But depending on how he spun the situation, there was always the possibility for profit.

'No tricks. No tricks.' agreed the man, well aware of his own position. Of course, anyone intending trickery would not logically be held to an agreement of no trickery, but that was quibbling.

'We wait for my job here. Then I take you to meet him. We stay hidden for then.'

Hopefully the great troll would agree, then things would be simple from here.

Firesong · Post by **Firesong** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:27 pm

Haegrath retreated back into his robe. He didn't really care about the man one way or another, as long as he got to the other troll. If he rushed the man, he was likely to do something stupid, and then the massive troll would have to kill him. Then he wouldn't meet the man's acquaintance, and then where would he be? He'd have to find someone else to talk to.

"Good," the troll says again, satisfied with his dealings. These man-things were so pathetic, really. Most trolls would have at least tried to hurt him if he'd threatened them. Not that it would have worked, but he would have had some difficulty.

Shadowsong · Post by **Shadowsong** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:43 pm

(NPC POST)

With that the man once again drew up his cowl and lurked within the shadows. The wait was near to a half hour.

A fellow in more garish colours approached, looking distinctly out of place, even to a troll unfamiliar with human civilisation. He was alone. And unarmed. And out at night.

Idiot.

The man waited nearby for a few mintues. The cloaked rogue waited in the shadows for a few minutes.

'Thank you! Now hand it over!' cried out the rogue.

'Where is she?' whined the brightly clad figure.

'Hand it over. We see it first if you want to see her again.'

Grudgingly, the man walked over with the package.

'Leave it there and back away.'

Again, the newcomer obeyed.

The man in the cloak investigated the package. Dragged it into the dark and examined it.

Firesong · Post by **Firesong** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 6:07 pm

"Ransom?" The troll's face contorted in what might have been a smile, only the skin partially obscured his face and made it difficult to tell. "Ransom brought Haegrath here once. What did he give?" Apparently, the troll has a sense of curiousity; wealth at this time is next to useless.

He then shows his face, grabbing the newcomer, who had started slightly at the voice, and leering at him. "You need this man?" He asks the more sensibly-clothed man, the subject of his previous (and probably successful) attempts to coerce. After all, every person might have information. Or food. Troll food.

Shadowsong · Post by **Shadowsong** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 6:20 pm

(NPC POST - and I haven't really detailed the ransom)

Strangely, he was beginning to like Haegrath.

'A badge of sorts. A Bishani crest. I'll tell you what it does once he's gone.'

Realising the troll's intent, the crook objected as much as he dared. 'He payed the ransom. My boss would be upset if he was killed. But I have what I came for. I can help you now.'

Firesong · Post by **Firesong** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 12:58 am

Haegrath shruged, dropping the man carelessly to the ground. "Then Haegrath will release," he said, amiable since he was getting his way. He would find something else to eat... the stomach of a troll is rather large, and, like many large animals, does not always require frequent feeding. It would be at least twelve hours before the urge to eat became irresistable.

"You talk of this, you die," he comments to the terrified man lying on the ground before adding to his companion, "We go, then."

Shadowsong · Post by **Shadowsong** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 9:04 pm

(NPC POST)

It would seem consistency was one of Haegrath's virtues. He had a definite way of operating. His habit of referring to himself in third person was going to cause problems though. Who for, however, had not been decided.

Walking around the outskirts of the town, the rogue neglected to mention about the Bishan-based crest. Eventually he led the humungous troll into a yard behind a large building, in the yard was a double-trap-door that amazingly was sufficient to accomodate Haegrath.

As the great rotten wood doors opened, light flowed out from inside the room. It was a dank, clammy cellar, though nicer beyond the stairs. Once at the bottom of the staircase, which would require Haegrath to duck should he descend it, a more clear view of the rrom was their. The room was still bare.

'In here.' The rogue had said to Haegrath.

---------------------- (If you go inside)

On a heavily reinforced stool sat a figure. The untrained eye would assume a troll, but this was far too short to be a troll. One would estimate it's height as somewhat over 7 feet were it standing upright. Green, rubbery skin coated it's form. Chain armour was draped over furs in a sort of robe, and long arms stretched out to at least half it's height. To trolls eyes, this creature was strange. It had a long nose reaching forward like a latex dagger jutting out from it's face.

One arm eagerly clutched hold of an immense axe, the other clutched an indiscernable hunk of bloodied meat.

Firesong · Post by **Firesong** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 5:07 am

The troll grunted and lowered himself ponderously into the cellar. The first thing catching his attention was the dank smell, the almost-moldy atmosphere. Then he was down, and he stooped over to avoid damaging the structure. That was when he caught sight of the other large figure.

It was nowhere near his own size, but even the trolls of his own clan could not claim to surpass that. Likely, too, its musculature was less. But it wasn't a full troll if it was troll at all, and so it would serve as brains of a sort. Haegrath nodded to it, patting the flail on his belt to show that he wasn't going to smite it at the moment.

"Haegrath want talk. Haegrath not hurt you," he rumbled, attempting to placate the creature.