Mercenary Matters/Gerik: Desert Tiger

Gerik: Desert Tiger - C

Gerik	So, Gerik's Mercenaries get to form up a world away from home. Sounds almost too good to be true.
Wouldn't have it any other way! This world will take some getting used to, but if we stick together, we'll be fine.		Ewan
Tethys	You've been in Askr longer than any of the rest of us, haven't you, Marisa?
I know my way around, yes.		Marisa
Gerik	Good to know. Information's what we need right now, so anything you can tell us would be useful.
Understood, Chief. Within this castle, you'll find many Heroes summoned to Askr from different worlds. Of those, many are mercenaries.		Marisa
Gerik	Competition, huh? Well, at least it's something we'll have in common.
We mercenaries have a certain air about us, don't we? Yes, I think I can actually smell it!		Tethys
Ewan	Pretty sure that's your perfume, sis.
Aromas aside, we should get to know our new colleagues. Physical ability, quality of character... We'll want to get a sense of them with our own eyes.		Gerik
Marisa	In that case, Commander Anna would be the one to speak to. You should ask her to show you around.
And I suppose she expects to be compensated for her time. Think this much'll be enough to entice her?		Gerik
Marisa	Probably. Hopefully.
Good enough. I'll start putting out feelers. The rest of you... Be ready to deploy.		Gerik
Tethys	Try not to get into any fights on your first day, OK, Chief?
Relax. I've got this.		Gerik

Gerik: Desert Tiger - B

Anna	Yup! The Order of Heroes does employ quite a few mercenaries. In fact, I think they're outnumbered only by the nobles. This here's a pretty popular spot for training, so we might even...yep! There's one now!
Hello, Commander Anna. Is there something you need?		Ogma
Anna	Just an introduction. Ogma, I'd like you to meet Gerik, the commander of Gerik's Mercenaries.
That's me. Seems we'll be working with Askr for the foreseeable future. Hope that's all right by you.		Gerik
Ogma	I'd heard that some new Heroes had recently arrived. Honor to meet you.
Likewise. You must be strong. Not many gladiators make it out of the fighting pits to become mercenaries.		Gerik
Ogma	Who told you I was a gladiator?
The scars did. They're not the kind you see on anyone who fights with even modest equipment. Scars like that only come from being forced to fight for your life, tooth and nail, like a caged animal. The wounds weren't even properly dressed. You have my sympathy.		Gerik
Ogma	Very perceptive, Gerik. I am beginning to see how you earned the name Desert Tiger. But you have your share of scars. The one on your face, for instance... How did you come by it?
This beauty? A reminder of my young and stupid days. I was arrogant enough to believe no one could best me. I was wrong. The knight who inflicted this lovely scar crushed me effortlessly. Then he spared my life.		Gerik
Ogma	...
Every time I look in the mirror, I'm reminded that I owe my success as a mercenary to that knight. Now I've got my own command, and I'll never fail them by letting my pride get the better of me.		Gerik
Ogma	The words of a trustworthy man. It seems Askr has found itself another valuable ally, Commander Anna.
Agreed! Anyone who thinks so much of those who follow him is bound to be a good leader. You should give battlefield command a try sometime, Gerik.		Anna
Gerik	Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Maybe we should just move along with the tour...

Gerik: Desert Tiger - A

Anna	So, who should we meet next? Oh, I know! The Greil Mercenaries! Their group is one of the strongest we have.
I've heard their leader's quite young. Ike, isn't it? He must be something else to be in command at his age.		Gerik
Titania	Ah, Commander Anna, did I hear you require our assistance? The Greil Mercenaries are at your disposal.
Perfect timing, Titania! We were just about to pay you and yours a visit.		Anna
Titania	Who is this you've brought with you, if I may?
The name's Gerik. I'm the leader of my own mercenary company. Heard there were lots of us here in Askr, so I thought I'd take some time to do a little networking.		Gerik
Titania	I see. As Commander Anna said, my name is Titania. I'm the Greil Mercenaries' deputy commander. Right this way.
That about sums it up. This world is foreign to us, so any common ground we can find is a plus right now.		Gerik
Ike	Good. ...
...		Gerik
Ike	...
Ah... Commander Ike is a man of few words. Please don't misunderstand.		Titania
Gerik	It's appreciated, actually. I like when people let their actions do the talking.
Gerik, was it? Let's be certain we understand each other. We may share common cause right now... But that's mostly coincidence. If our employers were to become enemies, then by necessity so would we.		Soren
Gerik	...
Should that occur, be aware that any information you give us will be used against you on the battlefield. I am sure you will not hesitate to do the same with whatever you happen to learn during your time here.		Soren
Titania	Come now, Soren. We're all professionals here.
It's fine. He's not wrong.		Gerik
Ike	Commander Gerik... Would you be willing to tell us about how you became a mercenary?
I can do that. Now, where do I start...		Gerik

Gerik: Desert Tiger - S

Gerik	My reason for becoming a mercenary is pretty stupid. I didn't particularly like fighting. Wasn't in it for the fame. When I was a kid, a friend from my village got it in his head to be the greatest warrior in all the land. It lit a fire under me. I just couldn't let my friend go off and get killed.
Your friend still a mercenary now?		Ike
Gerik	He went off and got killed. Considering I joined up purely to protect him... There was no reason for me to continue on after that.
Yet you clearly did.		Soren
Gerik	I failed to protect him, and he got killed. If you're in this business long enough, that's bound to happen. But I made other friends along the way, and the thing about me is I can't stand to let friends die. So here I am, after all these years, refusing to abandon them.
Loyalty's what drives you, then. I respect that.		Ike
Gerik	As a sword for hire, I know my clients could ask me to do anything. But I also know that the choice to accept or reject a contract is mine. If a job demands I prey on the weak, or sacrifice my friends, I walk away. That's how I run my crew.
...		Ike
Gerik	...
... Doesn't look like your concerns are founded, Soren. I don't think we'll ever have to face this guy in battle.		Ike
Titania	It seems unlikely, given we share the same values.
I began to suspect about halfway through this story that it would sway you. I am Commander Ike's subordinate, so I will defer to his judgment. Commander Gerik, please overlook my cynical view of the relationship between our companies.		Soren
Gerik	No harm done. The Greil Mercenaries likely owe their strength in part to shrewd insights like yours.
Glad that's settled! Two mercenary groups at each other's throats would have been a messy inconvenience.		Anna
Ike	Looking forward to working with you, Commander Gerik. Let's keep our employer safe and happy.
Same. Let's get the job done with minimal losses.		Gerik

Scenario
← Joshua		Tethys →
Mercenary Matters
Ewan	Tethys	Gerik	Ephraim

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