Aza Iriq Lynel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
steppechild) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
museboxofmuses2019-11-24 03:00 pm
steppechild) wrote in museboxofmuses2019-11-24 03:00 pm
Merc Stuff
An escort job.
If given a choice Aza would've passed on it. Unfortunately, however, Ul'dah was an expensive place to live, and as frugally as him and Bluebird lived, the expenses for food, rent, gear maintenance and stable costs for Rations, meant they were constantly scraping the bottom of their purse every month. It could be worse, though. Aza and Bluebird were successful mercs, always able to snap up jobs to pay for their livelihood because of one important detail: they didn't have standards.
They didn't have standards, and they always performed well. Reputation grew, and spread, and it meant they always had enough jobs to live off of, so long as they didn't squirm out of any unsavoury ones. So, escort job... with a Syndicate member.
Gross.
But he could admit, he was a little anxious too, since there'd be no Bluebird at his side either. She was also snagged up in an escort job, one related to his but going in a separate direction, so for the first time in a while, Aza would have to spend a few weeks without his sister at his side, acting as a shield and buffer to the confusing, harsh world that was Eorzea. It made his palms sweat to think about, but... fuck, he couldn't depend on her forever. He was a scary, intimidating merc! He could survive a few weeks without his sister, easy! He was a strong, independent Miqo'te!
(Though, deep down, he really wasn't sure...)
So, at the crack of dawn, when Ul'dah's streets were sluggishly stirring into life, Aza left his and Bluebird's tiny, one room apartment on Pearl Lane (a deceptive name, as the street was rundown, cramped, and had no less than three gangs at one time preying on unsuspecting wanderers. Aza already established himself as top dog amongst those gangs, though, and they tended to let him by unmolested with resentful wariness). He made his way to the meeting point, the Gate of Nald, mentally reviewing what he knew of the journey and its purpose.
The job: to escort two caravans of 'cargo' to a drop off point in South Shroud and ensure bandits, Amalj'aa, Ixal, poachers, monsters or whatever the fuck else, didn't attack and run off with either the traders or the cargo. What the cargo was, Aza didn't care. It wasn't his business to know.
The route: to travel across Central Thanalan using the Royal Allagan Starway, onto the Allagan Sunway, until they reached Eastern Thanalan. Once there, they were to stop off briefly at Camp Drybone to resupply, then continue along the Allagan Sunway, through Wellwick Wood, until they hit the South Shroud. After that, Aza had no idea of the route, and that was where the caravans' 'supervisor' was to take over navigation, so hopefully that guy wouldn't lead them into a wolf's den or something.
It was an easy route - mostly on established roads, at a slow pace of caravans... but it still had its dangers. Amalj'aa were plenty ornery recently, and wild dogs and other animals and monsters were driven to attack travellers due to an extended drought hitting the land. It still had its dangers, but Aza wasn't worried. Compared to fighting Imperials in the swamps of Othard, alongside ill-trained 'freedom fighters', this was going to be like a vacation!
Hopefully.
Aza reached the Gate of Nald a little earlier than the meet up time, but the caravans were there. After confirming his identity with the driver there, he loitered around, idly kicking up pebbles and sand coating the wide, stone road leading up to the gate. He dressed light for the journey - well, 'light'. Instead of his heavy plate, he switched it for lighter chain mail, a short sword hanging from his hip with a shield strapped to his back. Those weren't his only weapons, of course, but they were what was visible.
He blew his fringe out of his eyes, squinting at the sun rising above the horizon as the caravan waited for its 'superviser'. Not even properly dawn and it was hotter than Azim's balls. Ugh.
If given a choice Aza would've passed on it. Unfortunately, however, Ul'dah was an expensive place to live, and as frugally as him and Bluebird lived, the expenses for food, rent, gear maintenance and stable costs for Rations, meant they were constantly scraping the bottom of their purse every month. It could be worse, though. Aza and Bluebird were successful mercs, always able to snap up jobs to pay for their livelihood because of one important detail: they didn't have standards.
They didn't have standards, and they always performed well. Reputation grew, and spread, and it meant they always had enough jobs to live off of, so long as they didn't squirm out of any unsavoury ones. So, escort job... with a Syndicate member.
Gross.
But he could admit, he was a little anxious too, since there'd be no Bluebird at his side either. She was also snagged up in an escort job, one related to his but going in a separate direction, so for the first time in a while, Aza would have to spend a few weeks without his sister at his side, acting as a shield and buffer to the confusing, harsh world that was Eorzea. It made his palms sweat to think about, but... fuck, he couldn't depend on her forever. He was a scary, intimidating merc! He could survive a few weeks without his sister, easy! He was a strong, independent Miqo'te!
(Though, deep down, he really wasn't sure...)
So, at the crack of dawn, when Ul'dah's streets were sluggishly stirring into life, Aza left his and Bluebird's tiny, one room apartment on Pearl Lane (a deceptive name, as the street was rundown, cramped, and had no less than three gangs at one time preying on unsuspecting wanderers. Aza already established himself as top dog amongst those gangs, though, and they tended to let him by unmolested with resentful wariness). He made his way to the meeting point, the Gate of Nald, mentally reviewing what he knew of the journey and its purpose.
The job: to escort two caravans of 'cargo' to a drop off point in South Shroud and ensure bandits, Amalj'aa, Ixal, poachers, monsters or whatever the fuck else, didn't attack and run off with either the traders or the cargo. What the cargo was, Aza didn't care. It wasn't his business to know.
The route: to travel across Central Thanalan using the Royal Allagan Starway, onto the Allagan Sunway, until they reached Eastern Thanalan. Once there, they were to stop off briefly at Camp Drybone to resupply, then continue along the Allagan Sunway, through Wellwick Wood, until they hit the South Shroud. After that, Aza had no idea of the route, and that was where the caravans' 'supervisor' was to take over navigation, so hopefully that guy wouldn't lead them into a wolf's den or something.
It was an easy route - mostly on established roads, at a slow pace of caravans... but it still had its dangers. Amalj'aa were plenty ornery recently, and wild dogs and other animals and monsters were driven to attack travellers due to an extended drought hitting the land. It still had its dangers, but Aza wasn't worried. Compared to fighting Imperials in the swamps of Othard, alongside ill-trained 'freedom fighters', this was going to be like a vacation!
Hopefully.
Aza reached the Gate of Nald a little earlier than the meet up time, but the caravans were there. After confirming his identity with the driver there, he loitered around, idly kicking up pebbles and sand coating the wide, stone road leading up to the gate. He dressed light for the journey - well, 'light'. Instead of his heavy plate, he switched it for lighter chain mail, a short sword hanging from his hip with a shield strapped to his back. Those weren't his only weapons, of course, but they were what was visible.
He blew his fringe out of his eyes, squinting at the sun rising above the horizon as the caravan waited for its 'superviser'. Not even properly dawn and it was hotter than Azim's balls. Ugh.