Created: 2003-08-19 09:01:38
Game: unity
Faith: Barnabas
He scanned his lands once more, he looked at the devastation once more and sighed.
Gone, all that bloody hard work destroyed yet again, sometimes he was sure these wars were designed by the bloody building unions when they had a slack period. No sooner had gone off to fight at his borders to vanquish one foe, then another enters via the back door and trashes his towns and villages.
It was a never ending cycle; build, war, sigh heavily at the devastation and get drunk to dull the pain, build, war , sigh heavily at the devastation get drunk to dull the pain of the next bill for the new buildings from one building contractor or another and for what?
For the sake of Leto!
Bah!, what had this earned Ricardo, naught, zero, zip a big fat nothing; in fact less than that, he had spent more on replacing his pants due to the wear and tear from fetching his wallet out to pay the bloody builders than from all these years of warring ………….if he didn’t no better he would think the gods were created by the building industry to keep them in a lifetime supply of work, where they get richer and everybody else got headaches.
This time though, Ricardo had, had enough, no more would he build beautiful towns and cities, or even crappy towns or cities which had occurred a few times due to him not vetting the builders properly. Cowboys wasn’t the word for these guys, more like a bunch of pissed up simians having a laugh. Nope that was it for old Ricardo, he would hang up his hat and take his sword to the tavern, there was nothing else for it, he would spend his monies on getting drunk. It would make him forget any responsibility he had and bring him greater joy, he thought if he could stay permanently drunk he would never feel down again, the magic of ale would imbibe his body.
He set off in search of a place that would serve his purpose, he walked through devastated areas and there it was like a welcoming wench, the tavern, untouched by the ravages of war. Yup, no matter win or lose it seemed the taverns of the lands never got invaded, raised to the ground or burnt to cinders; this was probably because soldiers of whatever persuasion were always thirsty, they didn’t care where they drank they just cared for the amounts. Yup for sure inn keeping was a safe occupation, in fact now he thought about it the coffers of the landlords were always swelled by thirsty warriors, quenching their thirst from the heat of war. Indeed it was another bloody conspiracy, the builders and the Innkeepers seemed to be the main profiteers in these wars, goddamn it, I bet they are in collusion the two unions. The builders organised for relevant parties to go get drunk in the taverns and the drunken fools then full of false courage decide to start wars, lo and behold sales of ale soar and new building contracts signed.
Ricardo really needed to get drunk he was getting carried away with his conspiracy theories now. He walked into the Frolicking Lamb and before he said a word, the beer was thrust into his hand be the innkeeper with a beaming smile and warm words of welcome. Oh well he was here no Ricardo thought he might as well carry out his plan, he downed his ale and then another was immediately placed into his hand by a comely wench. Her smile radiated towards him and her eyes sparkled a smile, she then winked and glided back to the bar. Mesmerized Ricardo watched her, he then quaffed his second ale and placed the mug back onto the bar, and asked for another. The Innkeeper asked for some coinage for the already drunk ales, Ricardo put his hand in his pocket, pulled out his money bag and found it empty.
Reddening knowing he had spent his last money on a new temple, which was now a pile of ashes, Sorry Barkeep but it seems I am without riches currently, maybe you can put it on my slate?
The Innkeeper whistled and two rather large Ogres appeared from a side door wielding rather large clubs, slapping them vigorously into their gnarled hands. Well my friend said the Landlord, firstly we don’t keep slates here, secondly I now need payment for those two beers you have consumed, now Crotcchh and Retcchh here will help you find something of value that you can use to repay me.
Ricardo thought, well he could fight these Ogres but he was tired and didn’t fancy the idea of gathering a few more aches and pains. Maybe he could lose them along the way after all they weren’t the fastest of creatures in a number of ways. However before he know it a pair of gnarled hands had lifted him by his shoulders, damn a third Ogre had appeared. The landlord smirked, oh yeah let me introduce the third brother, Thruutch, now off you go.
Out of the air a voice hollered from the corner of the bar, Landlord put that man down, I will pay for his drinks, get him another and one for me also. Everybody looked around and a tall figure walked forward, my goodness it was an old face he knew so, so well, it was Yarrick.
Ricardo embraced his old friend and they took their drinks back to his table.
They had so much to catch up on, they had not seen each other for a long time. Yarrick looked at Ricardo with a quizzical look, So old friend why do I find you in such a state of pauperism? Why do I have to buy you beers, this is not like you, have those skills of a thief been dulled that much or does warring not pay as greatly as it used to?
Ricardo looked at Yarrick, damn what a question now, he went on to tell Yarrick about how things were, and his current state of mind. He didn’t want to carry on this endless cycle, he wanted to leave it all and look after himself. Yarrick laughed at his building union idea but agreed.
Well my friend , I do believe I agree with you and from now on we should look after ourselves only, we should be in this for fulfillment of our wants, we need money only to eat drink and make merry. We should form our own Union my friend, lets buck the trend and be swords for hire.
Ricardo smiled at him, yes you have it old friend, we shall have our own Union, we shall be the Mercenaries Union, hey we shall be MU. Yarrick shook his head, no no, we sound like a herd of cows, in order to fulfill our wants we shall be the Merry Union of Mercenaries, we shall be MuM.
The two friends shook hands and drank their ale, that was the beginning of MuM, forged out of frustration and ale, they were hired hands, going wherever the money was and then spending it on merriment.
The door suddenly blew open and a chill wind raced through the tavern, a cloaked figure entered the room and the wind died down and the door slammed shut. The cloaked figure walked up to the bar and spoke in a strange tongue, I want strong beer landlord to wash this taste from my throat, with that he threw off his hood.
Ricardo laughed, he thought he knew the strange accent, and there as large as life was iolo the sorceror......a tad unhappy it seemed.
Ricardo shouted to their old comrade and gestured for him to get the round in and pull up a chair, iolo grabbed three more mugs of ale and sat with the two friends. He told his tale of woe, his purpose in this world was fading, he could only see black clouds and not the glorious times he once relied upon to give him cheer.......no his only solace was in the bottom of a beer keg, but this was only temporary and the futility of his life came back to haunt him once more.
Yarrick placed his arm around his sorcerous friend and told him of MuM and how this Union would be for pure self-indulgence and satisfaction, no more being puppets for the so called gods. Iolo smiled, he looked at the two other, so we get paid to fight so we can buy beer and good times........Yarrick winked , Yup pretty much my friend........iolo hollered out, Yahooooo, count me in, now I can drink even more and work when and if I fancy it. He hiccupped and threw his arms around his friends, Sheesh I love you guys, he slurred.