Tasha sits on a bench next to Godwine in a run down village, the land outside the village burnt and devoid of life. "Osmon really got hit the hardest after all this happened," Tasha talks to herself as she looks out at the land.
"Well if I remember correctly Osmon has always been like this desolate and devoid of resources as if this place in a punishment for those who have done wrong in another life," Godwine looks around seeing people of all ages wearing next to nothing with the occasional militia soldier wearing what can barely be considered armor.
After a while Celina exits a bar holding a piece of paper. She walks to the two standing in front of them. "Alright we need to head to a small castle town known as Cainfield," Celina waves the paper around some as the other two get up. "Apparently it's not even a days walk from here so let's get moving."
Hours pass as they walk the desolate land, not even animals have stayed around. "Back to what you were saying Godwine this place has always been like this?"
"As my memory and the records I've read have told me, yes this land has always been this barren. There are a few patches of liveable land but they have grown so few and far between from what I've read many were destroyed due to exploitation," Godiwne leans down picking a wilting flower from the ground. "This flower is in a nice shape. A rarity here it seems."
As they continue to walk eventually a group of rugged thugs approaches them outnumbering them three to one. "Alright you guys should know the drill, hand it all over," the leader of the thugs steps forward pointing a small dagger at the three of them. The rest of the thugs begin to circle around surrounding the group.
"We will not be giving anything to you lowly bastards," Celina grabs the handle of her sword standing ready to fight.
Godwine steps in front of Celina walking towards the thugs leader. "Stand down kid I'd rather not have to kill you," a comforting and protective aura begins to grow around Godwine as he stares down the thug.
The thug laughs as he takes a step back. "You're one funny old man," the thug runs towards him as he signals the others to follow him.
Calmly Godwine takes his fighting stance and with one strike sends the thug backwards. Celina quickly and gracefully dispatches three thugs on her own as Tasha surrounds herself with vines shooting some out piercing two of the thugs. Godwine looks over at the remaining three as the leader slowly stands up. As Godwine takes a step towards them the leader and the others quickly start to run away.
"Some first fight you got Tasha," Celina snickers as she walks over to Tasha who slowly returns the vines to the earth. "Well there will be better ones down the line."
A few more hours pass and they reach the castle town of Cainfield. Houses surround a castle of small size. As they walk through the town villagers stare at them wearing more than the ones at the village they were at before. "Why do these people look better off than the ones we saw before Godwine?" Tasha asks Godwine as she looks around, noticing a dry well.
"Castle towns are governed by a noble so the noble of this town must be giving the support he receives to his people," Godwine looks at the dry well, his face filled with sadness.
As they reach the castle gates they open and no guards stand on the other side. A conversation can be heard from the stairs as three people walk down towards a table. "Are you telling me that I should forsake my people?" one of them wears much cleaner and distinguished clothes. "I have no choice but to resort to minor raids. Ever since the brothers disappeared Osmon has been the ones getting a stick up their ass," he sits down the other two taking seats next to him. "All our trade routes have ended and the towns built on the minor oases have been unable to trade anything."
One of the others speaks up. "The king said that he will figure something out if we just wait," the woman that speaks wears clothes that show that she is directly under him. "The king is bound to figure something out."
"He has promised that he will find something ever since the brothers disappearance but we are running out of options. My people are living on dying fumes and hope. I don't want to do this as much as either of you but we are left with no choice," the man covers his eyes with his hands. "It's just a one time thing we will do until the king figures out what to do."
"My lord, if I may perhaps we can try to send a second trade caravan to one of their smaller villages and see if they'll let us buy some food," the man on the other side of the lord speaks with dignity and purpose.
"We don't have the troops to defend a trade caravan right now, and besides all of Fogla has decided that they will not trade with us," the lord slams his hand onto the table and stands up. "We must hire a small group of mercenaries then we will march what remaining troops we have and raid a small village to get food for a few weeks."
Godwine steps towards the table. "So sorry to intrude but I couldn't help but hear that you are in need of a mercenary corp. Me and my two compatriots stand as an elite group of three that could take a party of fifty on our own," Godwine smiles as he looks at the lord.
"When did you guys get in here?" the man quickly stands up getting in front of the lord drawing his sword,
"We entered around the time you were all walking down the stairs over there," Godwine answers honestly as he raises his hands.
The lord quickly signals the man to stand down as he looks at Godwine and the other two. "Are you three willing to raid a village?" Godwine nods as he looks at the lord. "Good then come with me and we will set up the deal," as the lord turns around he signals towards the table. "Your companions can sit down here and speak with my advisors as we talk."
After the two of them leave up the stairs Celina and Tasha slowly walk over to the table and sit down across from the advisors. There is a deafening silence as no one looks at each other. Eventually the female stands up and walks past Celina and Tasha staring out a window. "You know before the brothers disappearance we were one of the more successful Osmon towns. We are close enough to Folga that we were able to trade to most of their farming villages and we had extra minerals we'd mine that we'd give them," as she talked Tasha stood up walking over to her side. "But once that crater appeared and the brothers disappeared first it was Afrium that cut trading deals with Osmon. After that Afrium began to spread rumors about us and soon after Folga ended the trading deals which hurt our side of Osmon the most."
Tasha looks out the window standing next to the advisor. Kids play a game of soccer with a ball of leaves held together with the parents' magic and dreams. The goals being just two sticks stuck into the ground. "We overheard what you plan to have us do. Even if it's just us mercs doing it it must really be something you never wished to resort to."
"Osmon has never been a country of war. We've always looked to remain neutral in conflicts and simply trade with others and make the best of this desolate land. The king of Osmon has tried his hardest to keep us out of conflict and our lord has done the same," the advisor looks down at her feet as the male advisor stands up and walks over standing next to the female advisor. "I fear what the king may do if the situation continues to worsen."
Celina stands up last looking away from the other three as she speaks. "A king's actions speak louder than the actions of his vassals," she turns and slowly walks over. "I understand we are merely mercs so one day we may cross swords but I do truly hope things get better for you,"
The lord and Godwine descend from the staircase, a hearty laugh escaping his mouth as the lord continues to joke. "You have stories just as grand as my own," Godwine says as he reaches the table looking at the others.
"Pah, you think that is a grand story just wait till I tell you about the different kinds of thugs I've seen try to rob me," the king laughs happily as he walks over to his advisors. "Ah the kids are playing soccer again are they. Who do you think will win this time?"
The male advisor is the first to speak his tone serious. "My lord, now is not the time to get distracted. How do you plan on taking this raid?"
"How many times must I tell you Lambin that what laughing we can do we must to help make it through these trying times," the lord stands watching the kids play some more before turning to the table and setting a map down. "Now miss Roysa if you would so kindly mark the villages you believe to be prime targets for this."
"My lord I still feel that this is wrong to do and that we should try any other way," Roysa looks at the lord concerned.
"As much as I too wish I didn't have to do this once again I am left with no other option," the lord's voice turns serious and distraught. "The king has yet to come up with anything and what we have left in our food supplies simply won't do."
Lambin walks up to the table and points at several different villages. "With the condition our remaining garrison is in these are the ones that make the most sense."
Roysa looks where Lambin pointed, thinking for a bit before she makes her mind up. "Here the farming village of Azmar. As much as I am against this my lord may I make one request," Roysa looks at the lord who simply nods. "Please order the garrison to only take what is needed and avoid any unneeded damage to crops or their homes."
"Yes I will make sure they are aware. The same rule applies to you three," the three of them nod and the lord bows. "Thank you for your help. Once the job is finished I will pay the other half. I shall inform the garrison and they will meet you on the outskirts of town."