Shall we begin? [Now Closed/PM]

[Morgoth]

Morgoth sat in the inn, staring at the table. He was annoyed. No one seemed to want to join his 'mercenary' group, even though he was in a trade town. There was more than enough people around to take the bait, but none seemed interested. He hated the idea of using the pretense of a mercenary group but he had to start somewhere. Besides, he couldn't go around telling people what he truly desired. He would have to gain their trust and things to hold over their head before he slowly let them in on the secret. Plus it would be easier to get in the good graces of a mad noble if he came with a group to offer services.

With an exasperated sigh Morgoth brought his dark eyes from the table and looked for a barmaid. It wasn't quite dinner time but the place was beginning to fill up as travelers came in to room for the night. He caught one's eye and waved to her, and she promptly disappeared into the kitchen. He had made sure to find himself with lots of money before heading out to find people. Not everyone could be enraptured with thoughts of glory or the thrill of the kill. When he had first arrived they took one look at his coin pouch and gave him the best they could find. He was sure they assumed he was somebody important to be carrying around that much money.

It only goes to show how weak we can be, Morgoth thought. Some wish to serve, others to be served. People don't want trouble but they cause trouble. He slipped the barmaid some coins when she brought him his food. Some kind of meat with potato's and bread. He pushed his cape to the side as he brought his arms to the table. He might as well eat since nothing was going on. He'd try again tomorrow, or perhaps talk someone into it after they had a few in them.

[Ebinne]

"Have you heard about that strange man? Has quite a lot of gold on him. I wonder what he needs to form a mercenary crew for?"

For Ebinne it didn't matter if the man had horns or went about traveling from town to town by walking on his hands. If he had gold to pay for her services, then Ebinne would serve. It would not even be the first time that she had worked for a mercenary crew. She had worked for many since the time she had left the church. That seemed almost like ages ago. Still, her ears twitched when she heard about an odd man looking to start a new troop with a great deal of gold on him to offer to the takers. How much gold precisely was what she wanted to discover.

"Come Lyre, let's away to this stranger and see how deep his purse is." She mounted the flea-bitten gray mare and trotted off, the soft clacking of pearls and stones left in their wake. Her black hair bounced off her shoulder then off her back. It took some questioning and a spared copper here and there before she found the establishment where the man was said to be. Strange she had not made his acquaintance when he was searching for folk to join his band before. It was almost an affront as she thought on it now. "I should like to see if he's found a cleric better than I! I should like to see such a person. If he's found one, it would be a cheap halfbit cleric for certain."

The mare snorted and gave a shake of her head. She turned to look at Ebinne when she dismounted and tied her to the post. She gave the horse a pat and left her there. Ebinne strode into the place and stood just inside the doorway to look about the place for this strange person. He had been described as darkly dressed with red, murderous eyes. She found him easily enough and she stepped up to him and his table. Ebinne did not sit, only pulled her trail of black hair over her shoulder and looked down at him. The eyes didn't frighten her and she preferred darker colors to contrast with her fine, pale complexion. "You are not so scary looking, but I suppose your type lead mercenary bands as well. Do you have a cleric already? If you do, dispose of them I am better and worth every bit of gold you'll pay me to boot."

[Morgoth]

Morgoth had been about to take a bit when the 'lovely lady' walked up. He eyed her as he put the food back on his plate. She was dressed fairly nice for someone who wanted in on some mercenary work, but that wasn't his problem. Though there was a gleam in his eye when she said cleric. Perhaps his luck had turned, it would be much easier to con people into joining if there would be someone to patch them up. And cheaper to buy out those who would otherwise ask more due to the risk.

"No, of course not," Morgoth said. Her eyes unnerved him a little, they were hard to read. Fortunately the way she talked and her wardrobe told him some. "And I've no doubt, seeing what you wear you've obviously made quite a bit. That and an seeing as you're alive I'd only have to assume you have some skill."  He motioned for her to take a seat, if she would. He didn't want to be staring up at her the whole time they were conducting business. "If you will..."

Morgoth moved his food to the side with a sweep of his hand. "I suppose all that's left is how much you expect." He did his best to sound somewhat pleasant, but left an edge to it to show he was still a mercenary and not some high born looking to be swindled.

[Ebinne]

Ebinne smirked at his simple initial response. So he had not hired a cleric, had he? Excellent. She had no competition for such a spot in his mercenary band for whatever exploit, or exploits, that he had in mind. It was much less pleasing to her ear what he said next. At least in part what he said was almost insulting towards her good name and her skill. "A good cleric hardly puts themselves in harm's way unnecessarily." She explained to him with a frown. If she were not applying for a job, she would turn this man away immediately. How dare he say that her being alive meant that she had some skill! Ebinne had great skill! Being alive had nothing to do with it.

"Don't mind if I do, sir." Ebinne said courteously as she took a seat. She swept her skirt under her as she sat down and rearranged it nicely. Her stormy gray eyes looked back to the darkly clad man before her. A cunning little smile graced her features as she correct him, "Oh no, there is much to discuss before we come to the topic of my commission, I assure you."

She raised her hand and gave a flick of her wrist. It summoned forth a serving girl and she requested cider of her and sent her off. The girl would be paid when the cider arrived. Ebinne waited a moment before considering commencing their negotiations immediately only to decide it was best to wait on her cider. The serving girl returned and the cider was exchanged for payment in return for it. The cider was a touch warm, but that was not so terrible a thing. "First I should like to know what manner of mercenary troop you are gather and for what purpose. The more dangerous and perilous the job, the more important my part is and seeing as I am a mounted cleric all the more so. I will also need to know how long the appointment will be as it will need to be in the contract. A long expedition keeps me from the many shorter ones, you see, and that could mean a drop in my income and that simply will not do." She took another sip of cider and then folded her hands before her on the table. Her head tilted a bit and she smiled sweetly at him. Yes, that would do to feel out just how serious this man was about his mercenary expectations and anticipations. If not for nothing else, it may also teach her a little about his character, and it was very important to know one's employer.

"And one more thing, your name, of course." Ebinne added and then followed with her own introduction, "I am Ebinne Nevarene, a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

[Morgoth]

Morgoth held back a grimace. It appeared he had gotten ahead of himself. "Morgoth Animus, a pleasure to meet you too." And on top of that she did want to know conditions, something he hadn't had time to figure out yet. He paused a moment to collect his thoughts. He couldn't wait too long or he'd lose his chance, something he wouldn't let happen.

"I've actually yet to chose a specific job, "Morgoth said, sounding slightly apologetic. He had decided to go with a half truth, much better than a full on lie that could easily back fire. "I've got a few to choose from, but without having a team assembled I haven't said yes to any yet." He searched her face to get a glimpse of her reaction. "It's best to see what you've got to work with first, lest you accidentally hang yourself." He looked around and then lowered his voice. While this part he didn't care too much about someone over hearing, he didn't want every random person looking for fortune to suddenly be interested. 

"Though the ultimate goal is to find a noble with a cause or the like for a more permanent job," Morgoth spoke almost under his breath so that only Ebinne could hear. " More gold, more jobs, perhaps get to see some more of the world." He smiled a little this time, but he immediately went back to a normal conversational voice and added, "Well, most of the jobs range from basic merchant guarding to bandits or even monsters." He didn't want any busy bodies thinking he had secrets. "Sound interesting?"

[Ebinne]

Morgoth, did he say? That was not a preeminent name in the mercenary ring. This fellow must be new then and in being new, he did not know all too much about how things worked, did he? Ebinne filed that thought away for further use later. It might prove important someday in the future whether she chose to join him or not.

"Oh?" Ebinne asked, feigning surprise. That was a little uncommon, but not rare. In truth, most mercenaries had some specialty. Some were known for skills with magic, for their swordwork, for their brutality or efficiency. Some were renowned for quickly getting the job done or cleaning up whatever mess they left behind. They had established themselves much like the guilds. It made making a start difficult if you were starting on your own and not even having a job made making a group sometimes impossible. Ebinne smiled all the same as the thoughts went through her mind. Instead she purred back to him, "How wise of you to choose that course of action."

She sipped her cider quietly, listening to Morgoth as he confessed his secret plan. Ah, now that might explain a little more and yet it was not the idea of being employed by a noble with a cause or the prospect of a more permanent employment that interested her. It was the idea of more gold that he spoke of. There was a new sparkle in her eye as she thought of fattening her purses with noble and royal gold. They did tend to pay well from what she knew of the type. "It has my interest, yes, but are you speaking truth when you say you have good job prospects and once your team is assembled we will go straight to work? I do hate to be idle. It is a waste of good money!" Ebinne would keep his little plan a secret as he liked. It caused her no harm and the less who know of it, the more gold for her anyways. She propped her chin in her hand and looked back at Morgoth carefully. Dare she accept this job beneath a man whose name she did not recognize and skills were likely unproven?

"How much do you propose to pay me?" Ebinne asked, no flattery in a voice that wanted only a straight answer. She ran the tip of a finger lazily about the rim of her tankard as she awaited his offer.

[Morgoth]

Morgoth eyed the girl. She had seemed to by it, but then proceeded to question him. It was obvious that she didn't trust him, which he had expected; only a fool would blindly trust a random man promising fame and fortune. But he going tired of the games and wanted it over with. He knew this situation required delicacy; but fate had given him what he wanted and he would have it.

"I suppose you'll have to trust me," Morgoth said as he reached for a sack of coins at his belt. He placed it on the table in front of her. "Fifty now and a hundred if you show up. You'll also get my pay for the first job." His gaze didn't waver as he looked her in the eyes. It was apparent by her appearance that she liked money. That or she was a thief, but he found that highly unlikely.

Morgoth broke off to call for a barmaid. He had her bring a pitcher of water and cider, along with some bread and cheese. He poured himself some water while he waited. "Feel free to have some," he said, motioning to the pitcher of cider. He could careless if she actually drank it, it was just for show, a way to show his claims weren't empty promises. To show he truly had the money. It was a bit obvious and risky, but he didn't care, it got his point across.



OoC: I went ahead and used pretty 'big' amounts money wise, I'm not real sure how exactly how the worth of gold works in-universe. I can always change it later if I need too.

[Ebinne]

"Trust, heh, what a funny word that is." Ebinne replied, but when the gold was put on the table, she reached across the table. Her hand wrapped about the little bag and drew it to her slowly, cautiously, as if fearful that something other than coins might be inside. A light pull on the drawstring and she could see the dull yellow shine of gold. She reached in and drew one out, rubbing it between her thumb and forefinger, then she lifted it to her mouth and gave it a bite. Satisfied it was what it claimed to be, she began to count the coins and arrange them before her in stacks of five. "And your pay from our first job? That is quite the offer."

Ebinne finished counting them out of the bag, then again on the table, and once more into the bag. There was indeed fifty in there and she drank of her own cider more heartily with new refreshments offered to her. "Morgoth, sir, I do believe we have come to an understanding. It is my pleasure to be of service to you and your company." Ebinne gave him a bright smile. The gold she tucked safely away and patted it down just to make sure it was there and quite real. She extended her hand towards him in gesture of sealing this deal with a handshake. It was only fitting to do so at this moment.

"No doubt I will partake of some. We are working together, we had best grow accustomed to each other's company." Ebinne gave a small bob of her head as a nod. He was a generous man for the time being. A lot of money on his hands and not afraid to give it away. This Morgoth must have a good source already and high plans, both often meant her fair share of booty. Booty she liked, especially of the shiny and valuable variety.