Kios: Chapter One/Distress Call [Job/Solo]

Job Name:Kios - Distress Call
Job Rank: B - Tier
Job Location: Reim
Job Rewards: 200 xp, 15000 Huang
Job Overview:
You've just been informed that Chancy sent a messenger with an armed escort to Remano, asking for help. Chancy learned that the farmers attempted to kidnap his great nephews and intends to see them rot in prison. Stop the escort from arriving in Remano!

Spoiler:

---

After Ariella had left to organize the move, Azix spent time meeting the rest of the staff, most of them just coming back from the fields. Viri introduced him to the staff, explaining that Ariella and he were moving some families in. Azix met curious looks with a friendly smile, while Viri continued by praising his actions with the farmers, giving a brief description of how he had handled the situation. A look of surprise passed through the group, they thought his actions were fair, both parties had walked away for the most part unharmed.

The foreman, Jarl, rubbed his chin, "I worry about 'dem folk, though. Chancy ain't a man to forget a slight against him."

With a nod, Azix agreed, "I had hoped that wouldn't be the case. Just in case, I decided to stay here a couple days. If my actions started a war, I want to stop the farmer's blood from spilling."

Jarl smiled, "You seem like a caring man, Xenos. These families, who are they?'

Azix peaked his fingers as he rested his elbows on the table, "These families are people like your neighbors, dealing with their own Chancy. When I came to Reim, I traveled the slums and saw the conditions the poor were put in. Most of them are kept from moving out of the slums from an oppressive upper class. What really hit me as I walked through the streets, were how emaciated the children were. No child should ever be without food." An anger burned in Azix's eye, his body tense. With a deep breath he relaxed, offering a small smile.

"Anyway, I offered work to the children, as many as I could afford, to help with odd jobs. Through them, they were able to help their families. I wanted to do something more and that's where Ariella came in. I had hoped to find a place away from the slums where they could get away from the stigma and prejudice, where they could truly grow and learn to help themselves."

Jarl watched Azix carefully throughout the speech, looking for signs of dishonesty. He sensed that there was more to the man's story, but the passion of Azix's ideals was plain to see. He nodded slowly, "I think your words be true. I don't speak for everyone, but I would be happy to help these people. You say we can stay and continue earning our wage?"

"You can stay free of charge and you will still be paid for your work. This place is in excellent shape and I have no desire to kick anyone out. All I want is for these families to have a better home and a chance to earn their keep. If at all possible, I would like to expand the farm for another possible business opportunity. Something else to help the others in the slums. That is an idea for another time."

Jarl wore a smile on his face and looked to the rest of the staff. They all seemed to be in agreement that they liked Azix's idea and would have no problem helping. "You're a good man, Xenos. We'll help them, don't worry. You might have to worry about selling the crops, though. Thus might charge higher for selling through him."

Azix laughed, "I might care, but I'm not a very good man. You are right about Thus, he might be a problem. Looks like I will have to help Kios before I can help the rest of the slums."

A loud knock interrupted the conversation and Viri went to answer it. The sound of thunder echoed through the room as the door opened and a sopping wet figure stepped in the door. Azix and Jarl walked over to see what was going on.

A drenched teenage boy was gasping for air, "Me and a few of the boys were out watching Thus. He went up to Chancy's to tell his uncle what happened today. Some of Chancy's men left on the carriage and we overheard them talking about going to Remano to get the law."

Azix grimaced, he wished he had his Magic Carpet now. He turned to Jarl, "Do you have a fast horse?"

Jarl nodded as he threw on a thick wool cloak to protect from the rain and went outside. Azix snatched up his cloak and wrapped it around himself as he followed Jarl. He was led to the stables where Jarl saddled the horse and strapped on the bridle with a speed that reflected years of practice and a sense of urgency. Azix thanked the man and after checking to see if the saddle was secure, horses were prone to bloating their stomachs, hopped on.

Azix brought the horse into a fast canter when they got on the muddy road. He would have liked to push the horse into a gallop, but with how slick the mud was, Azix didn't want to risk it. The bay horse had a smooth gait, taut muscles writhed as they struggled to catch up.

After half an hour of riding, Azix heard the thundering of hooves before he saw the carriage. The dull lights of the lanterns were barely visible through the cold rain. Seeing the carriage he finally decided to risk it and urged the horse into a gallop to catch up. He quickly gained on the carriage and slid out his Staff of Refractions.

Leaning over the horse, Azix angled his body to the right side and stretched out his staff, keeping one hands on the reins. Azix conjured five Force Cubes and sent them at the rear wheel of the carriage when he was within five meters of it. They shot forward and struck different parts of the wheel causing it to explode into shards of sharp wood.

Azix balanced himself on the horse again and slowed down as the people in the carriage dealt with the shock of the carriage losing one of it's wheels. The lurching motions of the carriage caused the rear axle to break and they had to slow down.

[1014/1500]

[290/300]

Spoiler:

Two guards leaped out to check the damage, but when they noticed Azix they pulled out their spears and got in a defensive stance. Before they could shout for help, Azix leaped off the horse and sent a Bright Beam towards them. The ten meter wide beam of light flickered in the rain and refracted off the water droplets, rendering the spell useless. Azix blinked and cursed himself for not thinking of that sooner. The two guards were able to shout for backup and soon Azix was surrounded by five guards with spears pointed dangerously close to him.

"Identify yourself!" One of the guards shouted at him.

Azix sighed and hoped his horse would be alright before calling the Rukh to him. Conjuring his Clear spell, a thin film of magoi formed around his body. At his signal, the film expanded in a dome around him at twenty meters per second until it collided with the bodies of the guards. The force of the spell knocked them fifteen meters away from Azix and clipped the horse as well. Azix felt a pang of sorrow for the creature as it neighed in pain, but focused back on the task at hand.

The impact of the spell seemed to have knocked the guards out which Azix noted in amusement. The Clear spell retracted until it was a thin film of magoi around him again as he approached the carriage. The guards' bodies had blocked the spell from doing any damage to the carriage. Azix knew there had to be a messenger that the guards were protecting, so he looked inside. As soon as he opened the door a metal rod shot forward and would have hit him square in the chest if it wasn't for his Borg. The force of the attack had put several cracks in Azix's Borg, a fact that he kept at the front of his mind.

Azix jumped back and began pouring magoi from the Rukh into his staff. He steeled himself for the onslaught of the darker personality as he conjured Makihige. Two seven meter long shadow tendrils coiled around Azix waiting for his command. With a flick of his staff, the tendrils shot forward to hit the attacker, but they were Smacked away by the rod wielding man.

The man exited the carriage and with a grin, he slammed his rod into the ground to perform a Wiki Leap into the air over and above Azix. The man landed with a splat in the mud behind Azix and swung his rod at the magician. Azix spun around into the strike and his Borg shattered from the force of the blunt weapon.

[1459/1500]

[210/300 magoi]

Spoiler:

The man cackled, "They don't call me Ratwings for nothing!"

Azix took a deep breath, calming himself and the tickling in the back of his head. His darker persona was tugging, begging to come out and teach Ratwings a lesson. Azix couldn't afford to lose control now, instead he focused on the Rukh. Sustaining his Clear spell, Azix expanded the film of magoi around him again, forming another dome of force that knocked Ratwings back.

As the film retracted back around him, Azix continued sustaining Makihige as well, reforming the shadow tendrils. He utilized Sakeru to close in on Ratwings and sent the tendrils piercing into the man's shoulders. With that he drew Deviant in his free hand and stood over the messenger. Azix glared at the man as rain ran in rivulets down his face.

"What did Chancy send you to do?"

Ratwings coughed and winced in pain, "Screw you!"

Azix stabbed into the man's leg in response, twisting the blade to emphasize that he was serious. "I won't ask again."

Ratwings gave Azix a look that would make others shiver in fear. Seeing that it didn't affect Azix and that his situation wouldn't improve, he scowled at Azix. "Fine! He told me to go to Remano and get his friend. He's a judge and has connections. He wants to make the farmers pay for their actions."

Azix smiled, "That wasn't so hard. Maybe Chancy should think about his actions before judging others." He wanted to let the man go, but he couldn't risk Ratwings interfering in the future. Maybe with the death of one of Chancy's men, the greedy landowner would reconsider his actions in the future. As much as he hoped for that, he didn't believe that would be the case.

Azix leaned forward and cut Ratwing's throat in two slashes, leaving the man to die. With the amount of rain, it would prevent the wound from clotting quick enough to prevent his death. Azix looked for his horse and found it chewing on some grass, minding it's back leg on the left side. With a sigh, Azix grabbed the reins and put his hand on the horse's leg. The heat resonating from the inflamed muscle told him it was lame and he gave an apologetic look to the horse.

Azix guided the horse to the carriage to check through for any revealing clues, disposing of any documents, searching Ratwing's body in the same manner. Once that was done, he turned back towards the farm and began the long wet journey back. He hoped Viri wouldn't make him strip outside to prevent tracking in the mud, but he had a feeling she would be that cruel. The thought made him smile.

[1500+/1500]

[180/300 magoi]

Spoiler:

[exit]