Musketeering Without Muskets

Job:

This would be the first time that Rezze would go overseas for a job but she was thankful nonetheless for a new experience. Right now, she was onboard a ship that would take her to the town with haste. She could fly there but she’d get tired halfway during the trip so riding on the ship was a way of conserving her energy. The trip would be short for her presence was needed immediately for the job she had accepted. The ship itself was fast, equipped and maintained by it’s crew and dedicated mages, the waters were no match for the boat’s speed. Rezze herself was leaning against the mast, mentally reviewing the detail of the job as she was en route to LeBuque Town, Minstrel.

She pulled out a copy of the job posting that had been unceremoniously rolled up and stuffed into her back pocket and began to reread what was written. Dark Mages from Fiore have somehow made their way to Minstrel and broken into the home of a Mintrel Noble, Sir Townsend. Rezze’s face broke into a childish smile as a small giggle escaped her lips, she found the noble’s name funny and couldn’t help it. Shaking her head and discarding her childish thoughts for now, she read on. The Dark Mages have taken the noble and his family hostage, demanding 1 Million Jewels or else they would kill them.

These Dark Mages we’re certainly brave for doing this, but Rezze couldn’t exactly compliment their methods. Not because it was immoral to hold someone hostage and demand ransom for their lives but because a force of Dark Mages could’ve probably just stormed the noble’s house, looted his belongings and cash, and left immediately. The fact that they remained to try and get a ransom for the noble and his family’s lives meant that they were either arrogant, stupid, or both. Rezze was sure that it was because they were both but she would never mention it out loud unless she was sure.

The boat slowing down snapped her out of her thoughts. Beyond the ship’s railings she could see land. “This must be LuBuque Town, looks really pretty. Maybe i’ll go sightseeing after the job.” The moment the ship docked, she kicked off against the deck and shot upwards into the sky.

Rezze always enjoyed flying and the benefits it often gave her, One of them was the ability to get a good idea of where everything was by going up high enough. The view from above that her ability provided for her had quickly gone from breathtaking to ordinary over a few uses but using it in new places was always enjoyable. Rezze didn’t have enough time to enjoy the view as she quickly spotted the largest house in town and began to make her way towards it.

“If that noble doesn’t live in that big house I’ll find buy a hat and eat it.” Rezze told no one in particular. “Well, maybe I won’t, but I really hope that that big fancy house is where I’m supposed to go.”

Rezze wasn’t a wind magic enhanced ship like the one she had arrived in but she went as fast as her flight could let her be. She arrived at the mansion in a few minutes. She didn’t waste time as she met up with the three Musketeers that she was going to be assisting throughout the mission. She could see them as she descended to the street below, the meeting place that had been agreed upon.

Rezze wracked her brain as she tried to recall what she could about the Musketeers. They are to this place what legal guild mages were to Fiore. They enforce and maintain the law for Minstrel and don’t have a governing organisation for oversight. She didn’t know if the Musketeers had any politics and intrigue within their ranks. What she did know was that these Musketeers were effective. Her feet touched down and she felt the tips of three blades poke her back. “Who are you and why are you here?” The voice was feminine, but having a feminine voice was no indication of gender, for all Rezze knew the speaker could be a convincingly dressed feminine male, also known as traps.

“Ah! Rezze Dayhair! I’m a mage from Fiore here for the job!” She hurriedly reached into her pocket for the rolled up job posting and held it up. The paper was taken from her and seconds later the blades were removed. Rezze let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding in as she began to relax without the immediate threat of steel penetrating her body. “Right, sorry, Rezze right? Glad to have you here.” Rezze turned around to get a good look at her allies for the job and looked on in stunned silence as she beheld the three beautiful women in front of her.

Each one of the three before here were beautiful in their own right. Together they rendered Rezze speechless. “Hello? Are you alright.” The one on the left waved her hand in front of Rezze, snapping her out of her stupor. “Ah! Sorry! I’m here to help with the situation.” She hurriedly said, moving on from the fact that she had been dazed by the beauty of the three before her.

“Glad to have your help, hope the trip wasn’t so bad. I’m Atha.” The blonde on the left introduced herself.

“Atma,” The redhead in the middle kept her introduction short. “And this is-”

“Aw look! She’s so cute!” The last musketeer, a woman with brown hair, started to hug and pet her. “I’m Portha! But you can call me big sister!”

“Porta, no, later.” Atma grabbed Portha by the collar of her uniform and dragged her back. “Save it for after this.”

Rezze kept staring at how casual the three were interacting with each other. ‘I guess...I guess eccentricity doesn’t discriminate where your from.’ She thought. “Thank you, it was as fast as it needed to be. Have there been any changes in the situation and what’s the plan?”

“Right.” An air of seriousness saturated the air as all present drew closer to discuss the plan. “There haven’t been any changes, they still have Sir Townsend,” Rezze, to her credit, held in her giggle. “And his family. Now.” Atma pulled out a map with a layout of the mansion. “They should be holding all the family members hostage in the ballroom. A good amount of dark mages acting as guards here and here.” She pointed at a few places in the map. “The rest are patrolling or roaming around. That’s the main problem. It’s such a big mass of dark mages they would delay us enough that word would get back to the rest inside the house.”

“That’s where you come in.” Atha interjected. “While we draw in the bulk of their forces out, you will go into the house and deal with the ones inside.”

“By deal with,” Rezze interrupted. “Do you mean knock them out or…” She left the last part of the question unsaid.

“Kill only as a last resort.” Came Atha’s answer as she rolled up the map.

“Don’t worry I’m sure you can handle it!” Portha reassured Rezze.

“Thanks, feeling a lot more confident about this already. Alright! Let’s do this!”

The plan was put into motion. The three musketeers went ahead and Rezze found herself staring at them as they left for seconds too long. “What is wrong with me?” She questioned herself as she heard the sounds of gunfire, yelling, and violent magic use. “Well that’s my signal.” She moved to enter the mansion.

She pushed through the mansion’s doors and saw that the foyer was empty. “Must’ve been drawn out by the fighting outside, good, less work for me.” She made her way up the fancy steps of the house and cautiously peeked down the corridors. “Empty.” She walked down the left corridor, following the mental map she had made from looking at the map.

She suddenly paused as she heard voices coming from around the corner and they were slowly getting louder. She listened to the footsteps. “Two mages.” She waited until the two mages reached the corner before she ambushed them. “You are now mine.” She ordered as she worked her magic. The magic of her spell, Corrupted Conscience, gripped the minds of the mages she had encountered.

“We are yours.” The two monotonously droned.

“Tell me what magic do you two have.” Commanded Rezze.

“Wind Make.”

“Useful, accompany me to the ballroom.”

Now flanked by two meatshields. She continued to make her way to the ballroom. Her abilities weren’t suited for controlling her thralls for a long time, so when she felt the power of her spell starting to fade she ordered her thralls to knock each other out.

“Sound the-” The fate of the next pair of mages she encountered was the same. They fell under her spell and acted as her bodyguards until the spell neared its end. Then she had them knock each other out like the first pair. The next pair of mages managed to see her coming and defy her attempts at controlling them. This only hurt Rezze’s pride as she made quick work by chaining together her spells. She left them alive for the Musketeers to pick up later.

“I was wondering why the mansion was feeling to quiet.” The lone mage guarding the ballroom’s hostages said as Rezze entered the ballroom. “You’ve been dealing with my men haven’t you?”

“What of it? You’re next to go. Surrender and you won’t be harmed.” Rezze took out Blackblade and pointed it at the mage. “I can’t promise that you’ll be intact if you resist,”

“Ha!” The mage took a stance, signifying his intent to fight. “I think you’ll find that I’m nothing like the mages you’ve dealt with getting here. I’m-”

“Look.” Rezze interrupted. “I get it, blah blah blah, you’re the boss and it’s going to take a lot more than a few measly spells to deal with you. The thing is,” She used her thumb to point over her shoulder. “Not only do I alone outclass anyone else you have here, but the three hot ladies out there probably outclass you combined. Not giving up is not only stupid but...yeah actually it’s just stupid. So if you don’t get on your knees right now and surrender I’ll not only shoot you down with my arsenal or spells. I’m going to shoot you down with my spells so hard that you’re going to be praying to whatever we mages pray to...do we pray to deities? Magic? I’ve never really actually considered religion…”

The distracted change in subject was an opportunity for the mage to teleport behind her and punch her. Rezze cast Bolt on him but he teleported away before the spell could even touch him.

“See, with my Teleportation Magic I am untouchable!”

“We’ll see about that.” She considered to firing her Lava Axe but decided against it with so many hostages around. “Corrupted Conscience it is.”

The teleporting mage didn’t stand a chance against the continuous psychic assault of many Corrupted Consciences aimed for him. “Alright now that’s done…” She took out her knife and began to free the hostages.

At the end of the day, all the dark mages have either surrendered or knocked out. All that was left was for other Musketeers to transport them to a prison. She had regrouped with the three after leading the hostages out to help with their part. Afterwards she had accepted their offer to take in the sights of Lubuque. The day ended with her being invited to drink to accompany her officially becoming a Musketeer as part of the reward for coming to the aid of Sir Townsend.

Though while she was confused as to what happened after the fourth bottle of wine and why she was feeling very tired, she returned to Earthland satisfied with a job well done.

TWC:2009