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In the large, purple coated building, the marketplace within was busting with people. Dressed in white or beige cloths to shield them from the sun outside, the people moved in and out of crowds to crowd around shops or musicians. Light shown from the opening of a shop-in-the-making and the multiple entrances.

A few days ago, certain family members of nearby farmlands were given letters of invitation to secret meetings. This has happened quite a few times this month, and the more wealthy farmers have grown weary.

Just yesterday, an old man with only one son sat along the road to the city. He rubbed at his bald head, lifting his cap. Nearby, his pet bear lay asleep, and was given the best quilt the family's daughters created to sleep on. The bear had no collar, no restraints, and was the opal of the old man's eye.

But when he wasn't looking fondly at his bear, his friend, he was looking for a few younger looking men. Maybe they were strangers to this land, or maybe not, but he beckoned them over all the same, "Excuse me, excuse me. May I have a moment of your time?" The old man sat on a box, his farming clothes ordinary sackcloth. In his hand he held the rolled up invitation scroll.

The bear, remarkably strong yet curiously plump, had been a lifelong partner of the old man ever since the faithful day they met. The bear was named Bronto, but he wasn't an ordinary bear. He belonged to a race of surprisingly intelligent bears known by humans as Deepwood Bears because they always hid from humans. When they met, there was a large group of orcs between them. Bronto was standing in front of the corps of a smaller, younger bear and was taking an axe to his body: yet was still struggling to fight. The old man helped him kill the trolls, and Bronto, who was damaged and has just lost his dearest son, became the man's lifelong partner. Bronto still had the scar on his thick belly from where the orc chopped him, yet it didn't seem to effect him.

Suddenly, a man came up to the two, seeming to want something from the man. "Uhh... human?" Bronto said. "There is someone here." Bronto eyed the other man wearily. It didn't look like he was used to a talking bear.

Zhouken had been on the road for a few days. His travels never seemed to cease. Always traveling from one place to the next. At least it offered him new sights to see. Zhouken continued along the country roadside. The congested forest had opened up onto wide fertile farmland and it made travel a bit more enjoyable.

Zhouken whistled a small tune to himself as he walked along, until he noticed a lone man seated by the side of the roadways, with a rather large bear seated beside him. Well. That's peculiar. He thought to himself as he approached cautiously. He had no reason to suspect fowl play of any sort, but he wasn't one to let off his guard.

The old man held a shaky hand, waving the red haired man towards him, "Yes, young man. I'm thankful for your attention." He reached out and patted the large bear's side, "My friend and I have a question for you." Taking a deep breath, he lets it out, "Your dress suggests you know little of farming, but I won't assume this. This city-state's officials have sent me a letter for my son to visit them, but he's tending to the land in my stead. I'm afraid I can't leave him to watch the crops alone, but I still have this letter, you see..." He pulls out a letter from inside his jerkin and settles it on his lap.

Looking up from his seat, "Sir, if you would be so kind as to take my place, I will be in your debt. My friend can also assist you; he's familiar with the marketplace and is an excellent companion." He gestures towards the bear and returns the hand to the letter, holding it outward, "The question is, will you help an old stranger?"

Zhouken gave the old man a once over. He sensed no ill intent in his voice and saw nothing hidden beneath the man's peasant robes. Zhouken approached the man, letting his guard drop enough to not present himself as threatening, though he did continue to watch the bear. "Sir I am simply a humble wanderer, and know nothing of the life of a farmer other than what I purchase in market, but if you truly need help, then I see no reason for me to deny you the aid you need. All I ask in return is a hot meal, and a warm place to sleep for the evening. That would be enough for me as payment of your debt." Zhouken replied with a smile.

Bronto was playing with a small rabbit's skull. He seemed to be eyeing it sadly, as if it meant something to him. "Yes... hmmm, sounds like a fair deal," Bronto said, barely paying attention to the man. "The locals know me enough, so they don't get afraid when I walk by. I can take you to some of the important stalls if you need guidance." Bronto never took his eyes off the skull. He still seemed a bit saddened by something.

The old man's lips slowly crawl into a smile of pulled skin, his head dipping to bow to the red haired traveler, "My debt to you will be paid as such. My friend knows of my farm's location, just across the second bridge in the East." Pushing himself off of the crate, his knees shaking subtly. Taking a step forward, he pats the scroll into Taishin's hand, and looks up at him, "My son's name is Haishin, Haishin Razzid. I am forever grateful for your help young man." Reaching for his hand-carved cane, he steadies himself with it and turns to leave, "I wish you well, but I must leave. Take care." And he hobbled down the road, towards the grand gate that Taishin had traveled through.

Zhouken watched the old man leave, leaving only he and the bear along the side of the road. "Well...I suppose a talking bear is definitely one of the strangest traveling companions I've ever had. So what do I call you? Besides bear I assume?" Zhouken asked as looked towards the distance towards the direction the old man had pointed. "Well. Care to lead the way then my new friend. You must know more of this land that I do, other than the banter one would catch along the roadside."

"Bronto... call me Bronto," he said, still eyeing the skull. "Anyway, I suppose I can show you where to go." Bronto then picked up the skull with his teeth and lead Zhouken the way. Bronto lead Zhouken across the bridge to their farm where they saw a younger male in the field. Bronto dropped the skull to speak. "This is our farm, and that fellow over there is Haishin. He's quite nice to me. He was there when he and his father... ..." Bronto paused for a moment. his already sad face was starting to look even more sorrowful.

OOC: Hey, isn't there someone else RPing with us? Also, added new moves for Bronto, though I might have him learn them through level up.

(Yes there is. I'm typing up a post now.)
Edit: I'll post tomorrow. G'night.

Out in the pasture there was a young man with tanned skin and short-cropped, black hair. He lifted a hand to wipe away the sweat, hoe in hand. A medium-sized group of sheep bah'd nearby just past the fence that kept them from the vegetables. He turned his head a little, then faced the others. Placing the hoe on the fence, he walked towards the bear and Taishin. He wore a simple peasant's garb of tunic and pants, but his clothes were mostly clean, "Hello stranger and Bronto." To Taishin, "You must be my replacement! I'm very glad, yes, but.." He made a confused face, "Doesn't the meeting start soon, in the market, yes?"

Waving away the notion, he patted Taishin's shoulder and smiled, "We'll have lunch ready when you return. Filling meal for a traveler, yes." He motioned towards Bronto, "You will be big like Bronto, promise."

Out in the sands, underneath one of the few shady trees there lie a skull buried in the sand with just the crown visible. It was in these skulls that Merrick received his orders and helpful tips from an unknown source that goes by Whisper. The local royal members would never be caught talking to such a man directly, but they did have problems and paid when these problems were fixed.

Today's letters were:


The letter was stamped with the usual seal, a red wax with the imprint of a boar. The next letter was a smaller text, with the familiar cursive letters:

I'll post tomorrow everyone. works killin me atm

Merrick removes the small vanilla envelope from the skull cavity and shuffles some dirt over it to hide it from anyone who might pass by. He skims through the message once or twice before folding it over and tearing it, shoving the small shreds into the pouch resting on his belt. He removes a sheaf of paper with a crudely drawn map of the immediate area scribbled onto it. He finds the nearest farm written on the map, and to his relief, it is but a walking distance away. He promptly sets off at a quickened pace, reaching it within five minutes.

When he comes into the farm, he spots a farmhand conversing with a man and what seemed to be a large bear. He approaches the trio with one hand raised, waving slightly. "Ho there!", he shouts, to get their attention. They'd probably know how to get to this farmer's meeting.

(Sorry for my absence everyone. ill post right away)

Zhouken read the letter aloud for his new companion. "It seems that we'll need to gain access to this meeting, if we are to truly aid your friend. How about you lead the way, and I'll do my best to follow along and not seem completely out of place. Deal?" Zhouken asked politely, making a bit of small talk as the two of them traveled.

Zhouken's attention was quickly taken from the bear to the voice calling out to the both of them. Zhouken didn't call back, but waved in response to the sight of yet another traveler upon the road. As the stranger approached closer Zhouken called out. "Greetings sir. And where would you be heading to on this fine day?" He asked

OOC: I'm back, guys. Ban's over.

Bronto looked to the newcomer. He looked heavily armored. Bronto saw his armor and started to imagine himself in armor. He could never wear human clothes, and never wanted to, except for armor. "A mercenary? Look, I'm just the family pet, I'm not a nuisance, okay?" Bronto said right away. Bronto would always worry that passerbies would mistake him for a dangerous animal, and while the people in the market knew him, strangers didn't know him quite as well.