The Fourth Pick, a Rogue - 2C (Mirrored)

Chapter 2 – Putting the Team Together (continued)

Kaylen turned back to Tyrell, as the guild master asked, “So what’s next on your list? You’ve got a good spread of skills, and it looks like you’ve got the scouting and ranging you mentioned covered.”

He had his answer ready, “Some sort of skirmisher or infiltrator, perhaps with experience in sabotage.” He replied.

Tyrell nodded, “So a roguish type.”

Kaylen shrugged, “Essentially, but I wasn’t going to use that term.”

Kaylen’s response drew a chuckle from Master Norrison, “Adventurers come from all sorts of backgrounds.” He explained, “And if an ‘unsavory’ background is the best place to find certain skillsets, then we don’t judge, so long as they put the use of said skills toward the right causes.”

“I can’t argue with that logic.” Kaylen admitted.

It took the guild master a moment to consider some of the potential candidates before motioning a few to come forward, “Go ahead and introduce yourself to Adept Gallowglass here, explain any skills you think would benefit a mage’s adventuring party. I’ll corroborate your claims as needed from your records.”

The first rogue candidate was a shorter woman wearing muted clothing, most of her crimson hair concealed under a head scarf, with the tail ends wrapped across her chin where they could be easily pulled up to cover more of her face. A few scarlet strands framed her face from underneath the scarf, but even that did little to distract from her striking eyes, one a reddish brown, and the other a nearly white icy blue. The rest of her clothes were similarly nondescript topped off with fingerless gloves which revealed black-painted nails sharpened into points.

As she came forward she smiled at him and introduced herself as, “Janel Tanaka.”

“A foreign surname?” He asked.

“Well, my mother was from a distant kingdom. A mage there mistook her for a demon and tried to banish her and she ended up here, already pregnant with me.” She explained.

“Mistaken for a demon?” Kaylen wondered aloud.

“Yeah. Here, let me show you.” She began to unwrap her scarf, only to reveal a pair of vulpine ears that exactly matched the color of her hair.

Immediately there was a murmur of discontent among some of the gathered adventurers. Kaylen instinctively interposed himself between the bulk of them and his current candidate, showing his displeasure at their prejudice as he swept the crowd.

“It’s fine. I’m used to that sort of thing.” Janel assured him.

“You shouldn’t have to.” Kaylen protested, turning back to her.

She offered a grateful smile, but shrugged.

“So… you’re a spirit folk?” Kaylen guessed. “I still can’t imagine a mage would mistake you for a demon.”

“Thank you.” She smiled again, “Kitsune, is the word my mother uses.” She added.

He nodded. “You sure you’d be comfortable working for a mage like me?” He had to ask.

“I’m not fond of mages.” She admitted, “But then I’m not fond of people in general. I think I can work for you. Hopefully neither of us will give the other reason to regret the decision. So far, you’ve put me at ease.”

It was Kaylen’s turn to smile at that admission. “So, what about your stealth and infiltration skills. Do you bring anything unique to the team?”

“Well, I’m good with disguises, at moving unseen and unheard, at climbing and opening locks, and I even have some natural illusion.”

Master Norrison confirmed that what she’d said was consistent with her record, and Kaylen turned back to Janel, “Could you use illusion to hide some of those features?” He indicated her eyes and ears.

“I can hide the ears, but not my eyes.” She explained.

“Those are your tell?”

She nodded.

“Why not conceal the ears at least with illusion?”

“The ears are easy enough to cover, and I can use my illusions for more important things.”

“What sorts of things? Are you using any illusions right now?” Kaylen asked.

Janel nodded once again.

“So then, let me try something.” He waited for her nod then took a deep breath, whispering a few words of magic while tracing an invisible rune in the air between them. There was a wavering around her for a moment like a heat distortion, but then nothing seemed to change. It was another moment before a bit of movement caught his eye, and he looked down to see what looked like the tip of a tail sway in and out of view behind her.

“Turn around?” He asked, and she hesitated only briefly before turning to the side and looking down over her shoulder at what had caught Kaylen’s attention. A pair of tails with fur the same color as her hair and ears emerged from her lower back, with white tufts at the tip of each.

Janell glanced at him, then back down at her tails, “You can see them?” She asked, surprised. He nodded, “I’ve not seen that trick before.”

“It’s a simple spell, but requires a lot of focus.” Kaylen explained, “And it only works if the subject is less focused. This magic is innate to you, you may not have learned to hone your focus with it the way you would have if you’d been trained as a mage.”

“Yeah, I’ve not heard of that before. Maybe you could teach me?” She raised one eyebrow over a blue-white eye.

“If you make the team.” He agreed. “Your chances are looking good, though I’ll still need to conduct more interviews.”

“Of course. I’m looking forward to seeing who you choose.” She gave a little bow, and moved away. Kaylen dismissed his spell and immediately Janell’s tails vanished from his sight.

Once she’d stepped away, Kaylen turned to greet the next candidate, a curly haired brunet woman. “The name’s Melody.” She began.

“Good to meet you. So, what sort of skills are you bringing to the table?”

“I grew up in the circus as an acrobat.” She explained, “But they also taught me to swindle, cheat, and pickpocket the crowds that came to watch. Was only a matter of time before I was caught, and the circus threw me under the wagon. They gave me a choice, prison, or serve in the military. Wasn’t really a choice. So I’ve now paid my debt as a soldier, and thought I might turn my skills to adventuring. Figure that’s more profitable.”

Kaylen found himself returning her smile having taken an immediate liking to her. But he schooled himself to remain detached for the purposes of selecting his team. She seemed brash, if energetic, and the fact that she’d been caught at least once was at least a small mark against her.

Then as Melody moved away, Kaylen glanced at Norrison who motioned forward what at first seemed to be a teenage girl, perhaps a little too young for this sort of role, but then on closer inspection it was evident that her slight frame and boyish figure were indicators of her elven heritage not her youth. Her pale grey complexion with hints of blue marked her as a dark elf, while her black hair and comparatively short subtly tapered ears revealed that one of her parents had been human. Her large eyes were a pretty shade of violet, and she wore her hair loose held back with a simple headband under her hood.

“This is Vesili Tenorei.” Tyrell introduced the girl while Kaylen was inspecting her.

“You said you’re looking for a rogue.” The half-elf began, “Well, growing up the way I look, I had to learn to be really tough, or really fast and sneaky. Kids are mean to an outsider. Adventuring parties can be too, to be honest. But I was hoping someone like you might be willing to look past who my father was, and judge me for my abilities alone. I’ve never even seen a dark elf other than me. I wasn’t raised by them, and know nothing of their ways, though I have learned a few tricks from my blood. Would you like to see?”

“Well, you’ve peaked my curiosity. So go ahead, what did you have in mind?”

“Well, when it comes to stealth, this one’s always useful.” She began, bringing one hand up and making a motion in front of her face.

Immediately, Kaylen found his gaze turning away. An attention warding spell? For all intents and purposes, she was invisible, probably to everyone assembled, judging by the confused expressions of the rest of the crowd. He resisted the itch in the back of his mind that wanted him to counter her magic to reveal her, instead letting her finish whatever demonstration she had in mind.

There was a tugging sensation, though he couldn’t say where it was coming from until suddenly, Vesili reappeared in front of him to broad gasps from the crowd, holding the dagger she’d lifted from his belt sheath. Kaylen instinctively took a step backward out of easy reach, as Tyrell and his black-clad associate stepped up next to him with weapons drawn.

“I’m sorry, it’s just a demonstration.” She assured them, immediately dropping his dagger and stepping away, her hands up to show her peaceful intentions.

“Be very careful using magic here in the adventuring guild.” Tyrell admonished. “While you did technically ask for permission, your spell could have easily been perceived as hostile.”

Kaylen took a step forward and retrieved the weapon from the ground and resheathed it, “Perhaps take the purse next time. It’s a little less alarming as a demonstration.” He suggested, and the two guildsmen sheathed their own weapons as well.

“Yeah, that’s sound advice.” Vesili agreed, looking a little sheepish.

“No harm no foul, though. What else do you want to demonstrate for me?” He glanced briefly at Tyrell who nodded for them to proceed; the potential danger of the moment passed.

“I have a few other tricks.” She offered, seeming to think better of another demonstration. “I can create heatless fire, or with a little effort balls of flame hot enough to singe. Not really combat magic level power, but it has its uses, unless I’m really mad or ****.”

“That sounds useful. Anything else?” Kaylen asked.

She nodded, “I can also conjure shadows to quench light and hide my movements, and I can hypnotize or charm animals and certain people, if their will isn’t strong.”

“I can envision uses for those as well.” Kaylen acknowledged.

“I have a few other minor tricks, but those are the standouts.” She finished.

“All of that sounds useful. I’d say you have a decent chance to make the team.” Kaylen told her, and then turned to consult with the guild master briefly regarding Vesili’s credentials before getting started with the final candidate for Kaylen’s rogue position.

“This man is known only as ‘Fox’.” Tyrell began, “He keeps to himself, but he’s trustworthy. He’s been working in the interests of the kingdom for many years, and is a prodigious infiltrator.”

The man in question was pretty nondescript, though on close inspection he had a thin limber frame mostly hidden by his baggy clothes. “I used to be a burglar, now I work for the military.” Fox explained. “I’ve trained as a contortionist, and I can get in and out of almost any place you can imagine, and climb surfaces many might consider unclimbable.”

“Sounds impressive.” Kaylen acknowledged. Though it was quickly apparent that the man’s skills outside of his narrow specialization were not quite as well honed.

So that left him to narrow down his final choice. If he wanted someone with a well rounded skillset, it basically meant he had to choose between the kitsune infiltrator Janel Tanaka, and the half-elf rogue Vesili Tenorei. So he motioned the two of them to step forward as he contemplated his choice between them.

Author's Note

Please let me know which of these choices you prefer, either in a comment, or in the forum here: https://forum.chyoa.com/threads/lonely-is-the-mage-without-love.5879/

Please let me know if the edited poll works for you, especially if you've already voted once. Thanks!

Janel Tanaka, Kitsune Infiltrator

or

Vesili Tenorei, Half-Elven (Dark Elf) Rogue