Aug 13 20:34:20 108 PA - Post-Battle Advice from an Old Man

From Chronicles

Aug 13 20:34:20 108 PA.

OUTSIDE TRANDEWINDS COFFEE SHOP

Bartholemew is simply chillin outside the coffee shop sittin on the bumper of his truck watching traffic go by. Seems he has nothing to do today except enjoy a good cup of coffee and a good cigar.

Gabriel comes walking in from the north, dressed as if it were an everyday day, but carrying a bag in addition to his briefcase, and a rather battered looking pile of what is likely Crusader armor. Despite this, he's whistling, as he often does. An arm is lifted as he spots the other man. "Morning! Out for a drive and a drink, huh?"

Bartholemew gives a warm smile to the old man, "Just enjoying the morning, how's it been with you?" a general friendly attitude in his tone. "Hope you weren’t in that when that happened."

The man from the north gives Bart an odd look. "You were there when it happened, my friend. Half a dozen laser blasts from a bunch of gangers, an un-dodgable lightning bolt to the chest from a mage that I pissed off." Gabriel makes a show of inspecting Bartholemew as he approaches. "You take a blow to the head while I was unconscious?" Yeah, he's grinning. "Still, I wanted to just bring something up with all of you. Ominous as that sounds."

Bartholemew tilts his head slightly in curiosity, "Oh yeah? What's that?" losing interest in the armor as an unknown topic is mentioned. "And who is all of us?"

"'All of us' being you, and Erica and Sage. It's equal opportunity, and it's not bad. Just a comment regarding our strategy the other day," Gabriel says, hefting his load from one hip to the other. "I imagine that we'll all probably be running into each other with this kind of thing now and then."

Bartholemew gives a shrug, "Not too sure how much more we'll be working together, but I'm sure it'll happen despite what some people feel. What were ya thinkin?" trying to move the conversation on.

Gabriel quirks his head, turning to address Bart's statement, leaving his aside at least for now. "Not sure that we'll be working together, huh? Not real happy with the band? Not that I'm saying that it was a fantastic group, but for a last moment, unplanned get-together, it wasn't bad. Who's feeling?"

Bartholemew gives a wave of his hand like its really no big deal, "Eh, doesn't really matter, but if ya really wanna know, Erica. She doesn't want to work with me and my band no more, not a big deal, just sayin case ya didn't know. She is your friend an all. I ain't got no beef or anything, just don't think our two little groups are gonna be able to play together anymore."

The older man chuckles. "I think that you think more than there is. Yeah, Erica and I are friends, but we sure as hell aren't a group. She's ducked out of promised jobs more than jobs that we've done together as promised. She's not a bad warrior, but she does take 'know when to quit' to a bit of an extreme. My point is that her feelings and actions are not mine," Gabriel says rather decisively. "I'm my own man, and always have been. I'm certainly not beholden to who Erica likes and doesn't like to work with. I'm not looking for a merc team anyway. Have my own little business starting up that has little to nothing to do with merc work and full combat."

Bartholemew gives a subtle nod, "Good to hear, I'll keep that in mind. Got nothin against you, be happy to work with you again and I understand the whole team thing and not signing on. It's all good. So what's this business you're getting into? Anything that might be interesting to an up an coming Merc team?"

Gabriel allows a slight chuckle as he lowers his baggage to the ground and then stretches backward for a moment. "Possibly, but certainly not directly. You, Erica, Valeriya and others, you're very ah... how about 'in your face' about combat. As far as I've yet seen," he allows. "I'm more of the quiet, unseen type, and while I can fight anywhere I need to, I do all of my thing quite well in urban areas. So something along the lines of a private detective business, but militarily-oriented. Not entirely, but enough that I suppose I might find outside work for an up and coming Merc team. But it's my work that I was going to mention, if I may just slide back to that for a sentence or two."

Bartholemew gives a nod for him to go right ahead and continue, only drawing a puff of smoke from his cigar and taking a sip from his coffee.

"Like I just said, you guys are quite upfront about battles. I, on the other hand, stay out of them. But only to get to the objective and kill it quickly and accurately. The only reason that I'm bothering to mention this is that in the 'Dregs, we were faced with a choice. Assuming that intelligence was correct, the fast way through combat, or the slower way without combat. I voted for slow and silent - and was out-voted. We know what happened," Gabriel says with a shrug. "I think that we were lucky. Even Strala was useless. If this had been field combat, I would have deferred to you or Erica. but this wasn't, it was a special operation. Combat slowed us and weakened us, and gave away that we were there. If we'd gone the slow route, we'd have gotten there with surprise and in better condition. The lost time didn't matter. In fact, more time would only have meant more time for the mages to get tired. So in all things, listen to the person or persons who may have a better idea, or at the very least debate it for a short time." The short man smiles widely and shrugs elaborately. "That's it, nothing Earth-shattering. Only an old man's opinion."

Bartholemew gives a nod honestly contemplating what he says. "I get it, an you're right, got out voted by a buncha grunts. That’s why ya need a leader that will take charge and make a decision and not ask for a vote. Now I see why Strala got ousted by Marcel. Gotta give her credit though, she is one tough warrior." Bart is leaning up against the bumper of his truck outside the Coffee shop talking to Gabe while puffing on a cigar and sipping on coffee.

"That she is," Gabriel says as he stands over a few bags and a basket of pieces of armor. "I suppose we'll see what happens now that it's been done. I know it's not over. That war isn't going to be over for a long time. It seems odd that it hasn't made the news, though. You'd think that a war would be known."

Bartholemew shrugs with a slight chuckle, "I been livin in the Dregs for quite a bit now, seems nobody really cares what happens down there. Ifn I knew a bit more about settin up security, I'd set up a base of operations down there, heck nobody would ask questions bout what I did down there. Without security tho, I mean good security, shit won't be safe from the bigger gangs."

Morning finds Valeriya faring better this week than last with a clearly energetic gait and slight smirk. She's headed to the coffee shop in short order though two fellas talking outside gives her slight pause co consider delaying.

"I hear that the Family and the Clash are big down there," the older man says. "I'm not sure how to classify them, though. Not exactly the gangs of New York and Chicago that I know, running around with military weaponry like that. More like guerillas who're interested in money, not freedom." Gabriel coughs into a rolled up fist. "Have to wonder what the final body count was. I also have to wonder about Marcel, and what a great leader he is, if he sent that entire force off to die, without even giving them the benefit of telling them that they were just a huge diversion." He shakes his head slightly, saying, "Not entirely the kind of man that I would trust." Depending on which direction Valeriya's approaching from, she might be seen, and receive a slight wave.

Bartholemew nods to Gabe seeming to agree on most parts, though looks to interject on one point about Marcel, "I don't know any military that’s gonna tell its troops, a," that’s about the time he notices Val strolling by and taking her pause, "Aaa, hey Val." he greets before finishing his thought with Gabe. "Um, oh yeah, that’s gonna tell their troops, Hey, you're just a diversion and most of ya are gonna die while the main sneak attack happens."

"Did most of them die?" Valeriya asks as she seems interested enough to take pause and join the conversation. Even if she doesn’t look like she has any idea who is dying. "Hey Bart. You get my message on the dead end for the mercenaries?" She asks quickly, hoping for only a brief distraction.

Gabriel vehemently disagrees with Bartholemew, enough so to talk over any quick answer that Bart could offer Valeriya. "If you tell a force that it's a diversion, they'll fight better as a diversion, knowing that the actual force's success is entirely dependent on *their* success. So in the end, they know that their diversion is equally important compared to the actual striking force. Of course, you have to start off with dependable soldiers to begin with - and yes, where I'm from, we *did* tell people when they were the diversionary force. It only seems fair when asking a man to put his life on the line. I know that it sounds strange, but psychologically it works quite well." Pause. "How're you doin', Val?"

Bartholemew gives a nod and sigh of frustration in being reminded, he does go to say something but gives pause to Gabe letting him finish before replying to him. "Hey, all I know is most commanders are only gonna tell ya what ya need to know, and not sure what outfit you were in, but most I been in, the grunt don't get much say or answers to questions. Don't get me wrong, sounds like a good point. I'm just not familiar with it workin that way."

"I'm doing alright. Did some shopping, got a real fancy set of armor, and a meeting hall. Things are looking up." Valeriya replies to Gabriel before shrugging slightly to Bart. "So I guess that ties our hands on that subject. But on another I might be hiring you in the near future."

"Everyone learned new things for combat," Gabriel says with a small smile, then seems to step away from the subject of military philosophy. "Armor, huh? They make you pay more for a 'really fancy set?'" Then a grin, and narrowed eyes. "Meeting hall... you're going to start holding square dances for the elderly of Kingsdale? Free potluck and bingo?"

Valeriya shrugs. "Well it wasn’t exactly on sale at over 120k but it was worth it for significant protection with added stealth. And cheaper than the magic version. Tough I think I'll still get the magic version in the future." She notes before smirking a Gabriel. "No but you will probably find the truth even more unlikely. It's going to be a school."

"A school? For square dancing?" Gabriel is brief and continues his own personal humor.

"For arcane study." Valeriya states, flexing slightly in commendable restraint at not whacking Gabe upside the head.

The older fellow chuckles. "Ah yes. For those who prefer pulling energy out of the ether to good honest work." After a chuckle, Gabriel adds, "I'm only kidding. Everyone has their own way. Good for you with the school, I'm sure you'll pull in a lot of money and become the world's foremost more-than-a-weapon mage in no time!" He's standing near Bart's truck, where Bart is seated on its fender with a cigar in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. Valeriya is near.

Bartholemew listens a bit to the two talk, he wasn't really too keen on the other topic anyways right now. Though as the topic starts to elaborate into a school for the arcane he gets slightly more interested, or curious, "Sounds interestin. What part of town ya set up in?"

"The fringe of the north dregs." Valeriya says to Bart with a nod. "Still decent town in that area and the price was right, costing less than the armor." She explains before shaking her head at Gabriel. "No money making from the school. All the dues for membership will go into improvements. Rather my profits will come from selling magical creations to my students."

Gabriel chuckles as he gathers his bags and basket. "I knew that there was going to be some profit in there somewhere. You're quite the creature of unusual habit, Valeriya. But to both of you.. Bart, glad I could talk with you. Remember - I'm not a group. Valeriya?" He looks her up and down for a while. "Congratulations on the school, and the armor. I hope they both serve you well. Now, I'm off. Appointment along the River Walk before I hit the tech sector. Enjoy your day, both of you." Then with a simple nod, he's moving south, whistling.

Bartholemew nods seeming impressed with the idea, "Sounds like ya found a good gig. Congratulations. How much improvements do ya think your gonna need for a school?" With Gabe heading out, he gives the man a lazy salute, "See ya around, good luck on your gig too there." then turns back to Val with a smile, "So when all this come about?"

Valeriya shrugs slightly, waving as Gabriel heads off. "In the past few weeks. I hooked up with a fellow interested in trading some spells. Then I met another fellow. Then I ran into an old friend and he's interested to. And an old friend of another friend.. and well it just makes sense. The expense will be in the books. Leonard's going to supply the initial library, not cheap. From there we work on improving it." She notes in the morning rain, constant and moderate.

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