Hero: Ray (Formerly Roys)
Vi - Vania (Sister)
Papa K - Kelsier (Father)
Mom Z - Eliza (Mother)
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New characters:
Merci - The leader of highwaymen going to Mirebelle.
Dr. Heinz - One of Francia's doctors.
Jane - One of the nurses.
Jake - Adventurer. Fighter. Weapon: Sword and Shield. (secretly Alpha member)
David - Healer. Knowledgeable on plant life. (secretly Alpha member)
Royce - Flip practitioner. Basically a rogue. (secretly Alpha member)
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New Terms:
Folm - paralyzing mushroom.
Jinji - paralyzing frog.
Foyer - detoxifying plant.
Mellows - Sweet smelling yellow roses with paralyzing thorns.
Leirga - basically komodo dragons but thinner and faster.
Warg - Basically a wolf, but bigger.
Goblins - Well, goblins!
Ogres - Relatives of Shrek.
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Bad dudes:
Hooks - Leader of the simp, part of a Beta faction
Chiz - Hooks subordinate, with parents issues
Carl Cestis - member of a Beta faction (not a jedi)
Felix - subordinate of Carl
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Adventurer Guild boss: Ford
Judas: town guard
Albert - One of the alpha team leaders leading Caravan A, great horseman
Cicero - Alberts subordinate in Caravan A, an ex Claude soldier
Patrice - Cicero's friend in Caravan B, skills, unknown
James - Alpha member caravan B (good brother of john)
John - Alpha member caravan B (tried to sacrifice himself, failed and was saved)
Peter - Alpha member caravan C (always with Simon)
Simon -Alpha member caravan C (always with Peter)
New info:
Town name where MC lives: Francia
Mirebella - town near Francia
Julien - a town near Mirabella
Alma - a town near Mirabella
Frendo - the closest city to Mirabell
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Kelsier knelt beside the unconscious Merci, swiftly tying a thick rope around the changelings enormous wrists. With practiced efficiency, he bound Merci's hands tightly, ensuring the troll changeling couldn't free himself. He grunted as he heaved Merci's massive body onto his back, the changelings weight bearing down on him like a boulder. This guy is heavy, tall, lanky and pure muscle. Even with Merci paralyzed and restrained, Kelsier didn't dare underestimate him.
Nearby, Royce tied a wood to Jake's leg, making a splint. Royce knelt beside Jake, gently lifting him onto his back. Jake groaned in pain, his right leg still mangled hanging limp after the battle. Royce adjusted his grip, careful not to jostle Jake too much. "Don't worry," he said quietly. "We'll get you fixed up soon."
Together, the two warriors started their trek back to the road, where the carriages awaited them. The afternoon light is blistering hot, so they should leave immediately. Every step was slow and careful, burdened by the weight of their fallen comrades and prisoners. Despite the heaviness of their bodies, there was a quiet determination in the air—this battle was over, but the journey was far from finished.
When they reached the carriages parked along the dirt road, they wasted no time. Kelsier placed Merci into the first carriage, ensuring that the changeling was securely bound, while Royce carefully laid Jake inside. The bandit woman sat with her children, holding the kids close. The beggar looking woman wasn't bound, saying she only wants to protect her children. Her eyes were lowered because of shame. Mother, Vi and I were inside the carriage as well, curious on how this guy Merci was able to break Jake's leg.
Kelsier and Royce worked in tandem to tie the rest of the bandits to the second carriage. Each prisoner was securely bound to the sides of the carriage, unable to stand or move.
With a heavy sigh, Kelsier takes the reigns of the second carriage, keeping a watchful eye on the prisoners inside. If they make a move he warned them that he installed a paralyzing bomb inside the carriage that he can activate with a pull of a rope. Royce, meanwhile, took the reins of the first carriage, ready to guide them on the long journey to the town of Mirabelle.
Hours later, as the carriage rattled along the road, the silence was suddenly broken by a low groan. Merci stirred, his eyes slowly fluttering open. His gaze darted around the carriage, quickly taking in the sight of his bound hands. His eyes settled on his wife and children, who sat quietly across from him, their eyes filled with love and hope.
Merci blinked in surprise, then let out a dry chuckle. "Well, isn't this a twist," he said, his voice rough. His gaze slid over to Jake, who was lying nearby, his leg braced with makeshift splint. Merci's lips curled into a sly smile as he eyed Jake. "How's that leg of yours, boy? Still holding up?"
Jake grimaced but didn't flinch from Merci's leer. "My leg will be fine," Jake replied through gritted teeth. "We've got a good healer in the party. I'll be walking again before long."
Merci leaned back against the wooden walls of the carriage, his grin never fading. "Ah, good to hear. Tell me," he said, his voice dripping with mock concern, "are you sure your healer can fix that broken pride of yours too? It's got to sting, knowing you lost to me."
Jake narrowed his eyes, refusing to rise to the bait. Instead, he shifted the conversation. "Let's cut the crap, Merci. You made an oath back there. Are you going to honor it?"
Merci's smile faltered for a moment, but then he laughed—a deep, rumbling laugh that shook the carriage. "An oath, huh? Yeah, I made one. And I'll keep it." His expression grew more serious. "I might be a lot of things, but I've got some shred of honor left. After all, redemption doesn't come easy, especially for someone like me."
Jake studied Merci carefully, gauging the truth in his words. "Redemption?" he repeated. "You really think this is your path to redemption? After everything you've done?"
Merci shrugged, his eyes distant for a moment. "I've broken my oath once before," he said quietly. "Killed a fellow Flip member—hired assassins to take him out because he had my father murdered out of jealousy. Got my revenge, but that cost me everything. The Flip community kicked me out for breaking the code. No more jobs. No more respect. I would need to do something heroic in my life for the Flip community to get that respect back but since I couldn't get a job, I resorted to banditry.. I didn't have any money nor land. This is what life got me to. Don't worry, all the bandits there are all Flip members too. Flip members that are exiled that I defeated in battles. They won't make a move unless I ordered them too. They still have 2 years before they can challenge me again but I doubt they would attempt to knowing the trashing I've given them." Merci laughed.
Jake frowned. The Flips were a notorious mercenary group with a strict code of honor. Jake wonders if Merci lost on purpose, but he tempered his tongue. "So that's it?" Jake asked. "You're doing this to get back in their good graces?"
Merci gave him a half-smile. "Of course, what else does a Flip mercenary gotta do? Be a farmer? Fighting is all we know and all that we are good at."
Jake felt a surge of frustration wash over him. He smacked his own face with his good hand. "Damn it, Merci," he muttered. "Did you lose on purpose?"
"Who knows?" Merci said with a smile and a wink.
Merci's bellyful laugh echoed through the carriage once again, deep and booming. The sound carried through the forest outside, a reminder of the unpredictability of the man they had captured. As his laughter faded, Jake couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief.
They have been fooled and bamboozled but he guesses it's not a bad thing. They now have a changeling in their party and 8 exiled Flip members in their command. "This might be a game changer," Jake muttered to himself. Life is sure unpredictable.
(To be continued)