[M] Hour Of Devastation (Kach x Namingtoohard)

[Kach]

Morgan noticed the woman's crooked smile again, and it made him uneasy. As if she new something that he didn't. Maybe it had been a mistake to follow her inside. No, he could handle the situation if he needed to.

He watched as the bartender made his way back depositing their drinks. Morgan watched him closely. He didn't seem particularly interest in them. It was a good sign.

Morgans attention turned to Shara, watching her as she drank from the tankard closely. Seeing she had no adverse reaction immediately, he brought his own tankard to his lips and stealthily sniffed it before drinking, checking for any unusual scents. Finding none, Morgan took a short sip as Shara spoke.

He stewed on the information for a moment, still chewing the bit of straw hanging from the corner of his mouth. That odd look had once again appeared on his companion, what game was she playing?
Morgan's voice had returned to the confident salesperson as he spoke quietly.

"Morgan the Magnificent will do one time engagement for private audience, payment in advance. No refunds."

[Namingtoohard]

"I'm afraid that isn't...quite what I had in mind"

Shara's response was a little less than enthusiastic, and she punctuated the pause that followed with another sip from her tankard as she tried to buy herself a little bit of time to think. She could hardly blame Morgan for not realising the reality of what she was asking, when it was known to so few people. Still, how could she really explain what she knew without sounding like a total nut job? When the pause provided by her drink proved insufficient, her eyes roamed the walls and ceiling for a moment as her mind tried to find the words, as if she expected to find them etched into the wood somewhere. Finally, she let out a soft sigh. She had wanted to try and avoid this, if only to avoid being overheard, but it seemed that she had little choice but to come out with it.

"This is probably going to sound crazy, but I have reason to believe the world is going to end. Soon. I know how to stop it, but I need the help of a powerful mage. One whose coming was prophesied centuries ago. And given that you're the only person who has shown any sort of magical power since I arrived here, well...I think that might be you"

The explanation sounded weak, even to her ears. Still, Shara watched closely to see how the strange magician would react to this news, and the possibility that he was destined for something more than performing for kids on the streets. It was hardly confirmed yet, and a difficult idea to accept, but his reaction would doubtless be telling. Even so, while she waited, she chanced a glance around the rest of the tavern, searching out anyone who might be eavesdropping. Perhaps she was merely being paranoid, but the enemy could be anywhere, and it was better safe than sorry.

[Kach]

Morgan wasn't surprised by the warrior's slight disappointment at the offer. The men-at-arms that were sent to recruit him to preform for nobles were always trying to go above and beyond to please their lords. He found it amusing that she wrinkled her forehead when she was in deep thought. He took another small sip of his drink while he waited for Shara to speak again, figuring she was working out a counter offer.
When Shara began speaking, Morgan was leaning back in his chair. He was confident he had gained the upper hand in their negotiation.

Even the stock of straw between his teeth was still for a moment as the information washed over Morgan. At first, he thought Shara was reciting some line from a play. Maybe he was being recruited to an acting troupe? The intensity on Shara's face said otherwise, he could tell she was serious.
Something was coming. To destroy everyone.

Morgans teeth, which had been delicately compressing the straw, began chewing it harshly, eliciting crunching from it's dry stem.
But he could help Shara stop it; be a hero; and be treated like a king.

He leaned forward, speaking in a deathly whisper. "We could stop the end of the world? We could save everyone?"


Three armed soldiers, adorned in the blue and yellow colours of a lesser noble house Shara didn't recognize entered the tavern. They stopped at the doorway, surveying the room before marching toward the bar.
Morgan didn't seem to notice them enter as he thought of the reward he would receive for saving everyone.

[Namingtoohard]

\Feeling a little awkward and sheepish, Shara watched rather closely while her companion digested the information she had just dumped on him. Her insides were a mixture of nerves and anticipation. Excitement over what might come, yes, but overshadowed by the possibility that he wouldn't accept her words as the truth. Or, equally likely, that she had guessed wrong, and was wasting time speaking to someone who wasn't the chosen hero when they were so close. Even so, she blinked rapidly a few times when the man finally responded. She certainly hadn't guessed that he would take to the idea so easily, and her surprise was evident.

"You...you believe me?" she asked at first, sounding stupefied as the words slipped from her lips. Surprise and excitement quickly overtook what little worry she had been feeling, and she placed both of her arms across the table, leaning forward a little. When she spoke up this time, her voice was softer - so much so that it likely wouldn't have been heard over the hustle and bustle of the taproom if they weren't sitting quite so close.

"We could. It wouldn't be an easy thing, by any means. Probably the hardest thing either of us will ever have to do. But if you’re really who I think you are, then we have a chance” she offered, a genuinely excited grin spreading across her features.

Shara was so enamoured by the prospect that she failed to notice the newcomers as they entered the bar, despite her earlier vigilance. On any other occasion she likely would have clocked the newcomers immediately, but her excitement proved enough of a distraction.

“Probably best to make sure before we go jumping to any conclusions, though. And that’s better saved for a more private place than this. After we eat, maybe” she offered. A subtle glance back over her shoulder reassured her that the staff was still sitting where she had left it, leaning against the outside of the booth, and within easy reach. She wanted to simply thrust it into his arms now, but truth be told she had no idea what would happen - if anything - when it was finally touched by the chosen hero. Better to wait until they had a moment to themselves, just in case.

[Kach]

Morgan was eager to hear more from Shara, who had suddenly appeared and was now telling him of great deeds only he could do. He gave a curt nod. "Of course... know many things.... you are truthful." The rhythm of his words still didn't quite mesh, but they now tumbled out as if he couldn't speak fast enough.
Morgan pinched the straw between his fingers and spun it while he chewed, eagerly listening to Shara. The stranger's excitement was infectious. Hie heart began to pound as his blood rushed.

"Yesyesyesyes, you have some.... test?" Morgan was ready to go. he fidgeted eagerly. When their meal was mentioned, Morgan changed gears sharply. Relaxing and leaning back in his chair, noticing his lack of composure. He was a bit worried her had just over played his hand. He did notice Shara glance back at the staff. Her eyes seemed to linger on it a moment too long.
"The test?.." he questioned, looking past her at the staff.

The guards had flagged the bartender and spoken with him. The bartender had pointed in Morgan and Shara's direction, and the Guards made their way over, carefully splitting up moving to encircle the pair against the wall. They were all armed, but none had their weapons drawn, but they were ready for trouble.

[Namingtoohard]

Shara hesitated briefly at the next question to slip past the stranger's lips, not quite sure what the best way to answer really was. Would he lose interest in playing along with her story if it became so readily apparent that she didn't quite know what she was doing? Perhaps more concerning was the possibility that she might overlook the actual chosen hero if nothing did happen, despite her suspicions. Given the way the staff had acted earlier that day, she didn't think it likely that nothing would happen, but the fact remained that she had nothing more than an educated guess at best. Even so, she quickly decided that honesty was the best policy, since the two of them could very well end up travelling together.

"Of a sort. I don't really know for sure if it works that way, since this is the first time anyone has been able to try it. Nothing to lose by trying, though." she answered earnestly. She threw another brief glance back towards the staff when prompted, before giving him an honest nod.

"The staff. It supposedly belongs to the chosen one, and I imagine that something will happen whenever they take it to hand. Some sort of sign that tell me I've made the right decision. Something unmistakable" she answered rather simply, once she had turned to face him again.

"Still, I'd rather try it somewhere quiet. Just in case.

Once she was done speaking, the girl cast another glance about the room. In the process, her gaze passed directly over one of the guardsmen who was advancing on them. Though she didn't immediately realise what was going on, a small frown flickered across her features. Just where was the innkeeper with their food? Surely it couldn't possibly be taking this long on a busy evening like this. Shara's instincts were whispering that something was wrong, even though all seemed to be well, at a glance. So why did she feel so uneasy?

[Kach]

Morgan listened intently, his eyes darting between Shara and the staff as she spoke. He chewed the straw between his lips rapidly as he mulled over the woman's words. He nodded in understanding slowly when she mentioned the need for discretion but his head continued to bob a bit too long as if he had forgot to stop.

Then, everything happened in a flash.

Shara could see as a guard walked up behind Morgan and put a heavy gloved hand on his shoulder. Morgan reacted instantly, growling out some strange words as he stood up and turned around in one motion, clapping his hands together. The slap they would normally make was replaced with a crack of thunder as the whole building shook. The three guards and two of the tables nearest them, as well as their patrons, went flying backward 15 feet.

"GO!" Morgan shouted over the ringing in their ears and the cries of startled patrons. He bolted for the window beside their table, jumping through it's open frame and into the street.

[Namingtoohard]

Shara could have continued to talk for a small eternity about events past, the prophecy, and things foretold that were yet to occur. Her rambling was interrupted when one of the guards stepped out of the gloom and into their little discussion, however, whilst laying a hand on Morgan's shoulder. Shara fell silent, her gaze flickering up towards the man’s face. Any sort of exchange that would have followed, however, was quickly lost when Morgan cast his spell.

Shara flinched away from the shockwave as it rippled outwards. Once it had passed, she quickly jumped to her feet. Morgan’s yell drew her attention, and she watched as he leapt out the nearest window. Shara moved to follow, before catching herself up short. The traveller turned back towards her seat, and a spike of panic drove itself through her chest when she realised that the staff was missing.

Shara leaped over the nearest of the fallen civilians, her eyes scanning the floor. A bit of quick mental gymnastics was enough for her to guess where the staff had fallen, assuming it had been caught in the same shockwave that had thrown all the furniture and people about. Her eyes settled on its gleaming gold surface where it had come to rest, almost halfway across the bar, and she quickly lunged for it and scooped it up.

By the time Shara had recovered the weapon, a few of the patrons had already gotten to their feet, and general panic seemed to be setting in. The Innkeeper, at the very least, was yelling a few tasteless obscenities. Shara ignored him, and instead bolted back towards the window from which Morgan had made his mistake. One of the guardsmen had regained his footing by then, and moved to step into her path. Shara ducked under his first swipe, and then sent the man stumbling with a solid blow to the ribs. Whilst he was recovering, she closed the remaining distance and leapt out the window after Morgan.

She hurried to his side, staff in hand, before turning her attention back to the street. It wouldn’t be long until the men were after them again, if they were really determined to attack. She didn’t know why the men wanted Morgan – they could have been agents of the enemy, after the hero and his staff, or mere guardsmen, with another purpose entirely. It mattered little to her, however. If they were going to attack her charge, then she had no qualms about fighting back.

“Did you see how many there are? If its only three or four, then maybe we can stand and fight. Should be a piece of cake if you have any more magic like that up your sleeve” she answered, throwing a sidelong glance towards the mage. Indeed, the magic he had just displayed was much more impressive than the parlour tricks he had been performing for the children when she had first spotted him, and helped to allay some of her doubts.

[Kach]

They had been found... had Shara lead them? Or have they been on their trail? Or was he just unlucky? Either way he needed to get out of town. Hopefully Shara could keep up.

The thin alley between the buildings was a dusty trail no more than twenty feet long. Morgan was already at the end of the alley, waiting by the building's corner, clearly keeping a lookout.
He didn't pay Shara much mind as she skidded to a halt next to him, straw still hanging from his mouth as he looked back and forth down the small side street than ran off the main road along the tavern. His voice rapid and staccato despite being hushed.
"Three inside.. five more outside..... on horseback. Follow.. quickly."

The mage bolted down the side street away from the front of the tavern, staying close to the buildings, not waiting for a response from Shara. He moved deceptively quickly with a surprising amount of gracefulness to his movement as he moved over the uneven ground of the earthen street.

He paused at the next side street, carefully looking each way before casting a glance back at Shara and quickly continuing on, sprinting across the road. A this point there were shouts going out across town as riders fanned out from the tavern in search of their quarry.

The short chase ended at a humble stable on the south end of town. There didn't seem to be anyone around though the shouts from around the town were growing louder and more frequent. Morgan opened the large door enough to slip into the stable, and a moment later returned on the back of an unsaddled chestnut horse. It trotted out of the stable, stopping in front of Shara. Morgan offered an arm to help her up onto the horse.

[Namingtoohard]

The answer to Shara’s question caused her expression to deepen into a frown, the girl falling into a contemplative silence for a moment. Seven on two were hardly good odds at the best of times, especially when she had no clue what exactly Morgan’s capabilities really were. Worse still was the news that the larger part of the group was mounted – Shara was plenty confident in her own skills, but trying to stand and fight against mounted soldiers whilst on foot was akin to suicide. If they could find a way to split the men up and take them out in small groups, then perhaps they had a chance. Beyond that, however, their situation wasn’t looking particularly good.

Thankfully, it appeared that Morgan had some sort of plan. Shara was quick to follow when he slinked off towards one of the side streets, throwing a quick glance over her shoulder to see if they were being followed. Left with little choice but to play along with his plan for the time being, she did her best to stay close, quiet, and unseen as the two of them slunk towards the village outskirts.

Given the way he had been leading her on, Shara had assumed that her new companion had possessed some sort of plan. When the two of them arrived at the stable, things became relatively clear. She accepted his hand rather eagerly, and slung herself up onto the horse’s back without any further hesitation. Getting herself settled was a little more difficult, considering that she still had to hold on to the staff. She ended up laying the thing across her lap, held in place by one hand, whilst she held on with the other.

“Alright, I’m good. Get us out of here” she offered rather simply. Beyond that, there was little more than she could do but wait whilst Morgan kicked the horse into motion, and steered them away from their pursuers. Again, Shara found herself glancing back to check if they were being followed. The road seemed all clear for now, but it was perhaps a little early to judge.

“I can’t see anyone coming up behind us, but they could always follow the tracks later. Probably best to put as much distance between ourselves and this little town as we can tonight” she offered, though she sounded less than thrilled at the prospect. Next, she gave voice to the other question that seemed most pressing.

“Did you know any of those men? Can you think of any reason why they might be after you?” she questioned. The alternative was that they knew who she was, what the staff she was carrying really was, and what she had been doing with Morgan. That possibility seemed much more…troubling, considering. Still, there was no point in jumping to conclusions.