Asiona turned to Saldrin and studied him intensely. Why was he so nervous? He even snapped at the regal woman, Pagusel. He must be unsettled; she had never known him to be rude like that at past meetings.
The girl looked back at Myx and scrutinized him. He seemed friendly enough, even though his demeanor was a little odd (and the fact that he had been so obsessed as to search for the meeting what was probably every night). And he certainly wasn't lying about possessing magical powers, for he lit Pagusel's pipe quite easily and Asiona thought it was such a good trick that she clapped briefly and smiled.
A sudden thought struck her and her grin faded: the mages aligned with the law. She had met a few in the streets and they were often mean-looking. Her mother forced her to walk on the other side of the street when they spotted one. If he was one they could be in big trouble. Was that what Saldrin suspected? It froze her insides to think of it.
Asiona studied Saldrin again looking for a sign of what he thought, then scanned the others in the room for their reactions.
To be a Mage
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Anonymous
((OOC: I know I'm posting a lot, but I'm not going about it recklessly--hope everyone is Ok with it :]))
To Myx's surprise he was delighted by Asiona's reaction. Perhaps it was because the trick was something he had thought of himself--or perhaps that even if he was ordered to, this was the first real social contact with others that he was allowed in many years; but he let through a small bit of genuine smile towards the girl and gave her a playful bow.
Upon rising he spoke, "Always a pleasure to amuse a lovely young lady; and with whom am I making my acquaintance?" his voice was maybe a bit less calculated, though it might have just been a trick of the empty warehouse around them.
To Myx's surprise he was delighted by Asiona's reaction. Perhaps it was because the trick was something he had thought of himself--or perhaps that even if he was ordered to, this was the first real social contact with others that he was allowed in many years; but he let through a small bit of genuine smile towards the girl and gave her a playful bow.
Upon rising he spoke, "Always a pleasure to amuse a lovely young lady; and with whom am I making my acquaintance?" his voice was maybe a bit less calculated, though it might have just been a trick of the empty warehouse around them.
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Saldrin Brinlli
- Outsider
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 3:02 am
Saldrin listened to Myx with obvious skepticism. It was possible, but unlikely, that the man had actually had the random good fortune of hearing about and then finding the meeting. An entire city of places to be, and he expected Saldrin to believe that he had found this one?
No, he didn't like the story at all. Myrriah was one thing, but another uninvited guest? This private gathering was turning out to be a very public affair.
Pagusel spoke and saldrin looked around the inside of the factory more carefully than he had before. The light produced by his magical orb cast dark shadows all around, making it far too easy for a spy to hide in. There could be an entire army in the place and he would never know. Perhaps he had made a bad choice of venues this time around...
The old man's instincts told him things were going sour. There were too many people absent from the meeting and too many uninvited guests. He had gotten careless, had taken the recent peace Marn had been blessed with as a sign that things were different, that they were changing. But confronted now with the prospect of the law actually suspecting him of magic chilled him to the bones. What if they had more evidence? What if they found his books? What if they had captured Tadin or Illianre? What if Asiona's summoned being was truly dangerous? And what would they do with Asiona if they found out? Or with Myrriah for just being here?
Pagusel's pipe got a light, and he looked at Asiona. The expression on his face said he was thinking exactly the same thing she was.
He didn't know what to do.
No, he didn't like the story at all. Myrriah was one thing, but another uninvited guest? This private gathering was turning out to be a very public affair.
Pagusel spoke and saldrin looked around the inside of the factory more carefully than he had before. The light produced by his magical orb cast dark shadows all around, making it far too easy for a spy to hide in. There could be an entire army in the place and he would never know. Perhaps he had made a bad choice of venues this time around...
The old man's instincts told him things were going sour. There were too many people absent from the meeting and too many uninvited guests. He had gotten careless, had taken the recent peace Marn had been blessed with as a sign that things were different, that they were changing. But confronted now with the prospect of the law actually suspecting him of magic chilled him to the bones. What if they had more evidence? What if they found his books? What if they had captured Tadin or Illianre? What if Asiona's summoned being was truly dangerous? And what would they do with Asiona if they found out? Or with Myrriah for just being here?
Pagusel's pipe got a light, and he looked at Asiona. The expression on his face said he was thinking exactly the same thing she was.
He didn't know what to do.
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Camulous Smithson
- Guardsman
- Posts: 209
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:59 am
- Name: Camulous Smithson
- Race: Human
Camulous watched the women take up their positions. Stealth was not his specialty, nor did he want it to be. His guard were known for brutal efficiency, tactics and strength. Stealth was the judges' business and he hated to use it, but it was better than magic. Anything was better than magic.
Dureena, the last of the women, stepped out of his view and he realized he now had no way to give them orders or any easy signal. He would have to trust that they knew what they were doing, and that they wouldn't start killing people without a reason. Civilian casualties were something that weighed heavy on his shoulders and he didn't want to see any more. His eyes turned to the dragoness-thing. At least he had her in sight.
He approached the building, leaving his men behind, and walked to the front door of the textile factory. The artillery piece pointed directly at his back, and the barrels on that thing looked big enough to tear the whole facade off the building. The men behind it tinkered with knobs and wheels, still looking uncertain about the gnomish mechanics. All the exits were covered by his men now. There was nowhere anyone could go but to jail or straight to hell.
Camulous looked at the door and debated kicking it open. The prisoner who had spoken and revealed the location of the meeting had ensured Camulous that the Mages would not be expecting a raid and that there would be no traps, but then there was always the looming possibility that this whole thing was a trap, and he was walking right into it.
He shrugged to himself and kicked the door wide open, using the extra weight of his armour to snap the wood right off its hinges. There was no point in worrying, he had a job to do.
The door's breaking resonated throughout the factory followed by the voice of the captain of the guard.
"Give yourselves up by order of the guard! Everyone in this building is hearby under arrest!"
Dureena, the last of the women, stepped out of his view and he realized he now had no way to give them orders or any easy signal. He would have to trust that they knew what they were doing, and that they wouldn't start killing people without a reason. Civilian casualties were something that weighed heavy on his shoulders and he didn't want to see any more. His eyes turned to the dragoness-thing. At least he had her in sight.
He approached the building, leaving his men behind, and walked to the front door of the textile factory. The artillery piece pointed directly at his back, and the barrels on that thing looked big enough to tear the whole facade off the building. The men behind it tinkered with knobs and wheels, still looking uncertain about the gnomish mechanics. All the exits were covered by his men now. There was nowhere anyone could go but to jail or straight to hell.
Camulous looked at the door and debated kicking it open. The prisoner who had spoken and revealed the location of the meeting had ensured Camulous that the Mages would not be expecting a raid and that there would be no traps, but then there was always the looming possibility that this whole thing was a trap, and he was walking right into it.
He shrugged to himself and kicked the door wide open, using the extra weight of his armour to snap the wood right off its hinges. There was no point in worrying, he had a job to do.
The door's breaking resonated throughout the factory followed by the voice of the captain of the guard.
"Give yourselves up by order of the guard! Everyone in this building is hearby under arrest!"
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Anonymous
Myx's eyes widened a slight bit, and his expression was neutral as along with the loud announcement of Camulous, came the first show of uncertainty in his face. This was unexpected--he hadn't even been to the meeting for very long; it was less fear than confusion to him. Fear of death was far from him, but Myx wasn't sure how to react. He could pretend to die--but somehow he knew that he should keep it a secret from the mages he was to befriend; it would be too hard to explain away so simply.
His thoughts went a different direction; was this part of the unseen master's plan? He wasn't so sure--just instinctively he felt that it wasn't. It was too early, too soon. Too unexpectedly, purposelessly inconvenient. His master had an agenda, he knew or at least guessed. He made His will clear to Myx, at least to a point. Perhaps... no. This was too soon to judge. Too soon to hope. But the human left in Myx felt a stirring of hope, and before he could stop himself (or perhaps he didn't care about the inappropriateness of the expression), he let a smile, a real smile that carried with it almost an animalistic intensity, slip into his face, as if the thought that caused the smile had replaced everything else in the moment.
And indeed, it had.
His thoughts went a different direction; was this part of the unseen master's plan? He wasn't so sure--just instinctively he felt that it wasn't. It was too early, too soon. Too unexpectedly, purposelessly inconvenient. His master had an agenda, he knew or at least guessed. He made His will clear to Myx, at least to a point. Perhaps... no. This was too soon to judge. Too soon to hope. But the human left in Myx felt a stirring of hope, and before he could stop himself (or perhaps he didn't care about the inappropriateness of the expression), he let a smile, a real smile that carried with it almost an animalistic intensity, slip into his face, as if the thought that caused the smile had replaced everything else in the moment.
And indeed, it had.
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Blood Ravenous
- Battlemage
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:23 pm
- Name: Ryxa
- Race: Human
Asiona looked into Saldrin's eyes, which were full of worry matching her own. Just then, a loud bang made her jump and look around wildly. A man's voice reverbrated throughout the building. "Give yourselves up by order of the guard! Everyone in this building is hearby under arrest!" She shrieked, surprised at the sudden attack. Thoughts ran through her mind, of her family who might be accused because of her, of Lateus and what would happen to him, what would happen to her! Asiona had never been so scared in her life.
"What do we do?!" she squeaked after her shriek faded away. Her mind was totally blank and she couldn't even think of a basic spell she could use to defend herself. Digging around in a small pocket on her dress she pulled out her "pepper stick" and held it close.
"What do we do?!" she squeaked after her shriek faded away. Her mind was totally blank and she couldn't even think of a basic spell she could use to defend herself. Digging around in a small pocket on her dress she pulled out her "pepper stick" and held it close.
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Myrriah Thornsinger
Myrriah, her embarrassment slowly fading away, listened to the folk talk with growing curiousity and excitement. It was all very fascinating, especially the girl called Asiona having summoned something. The story reminded Myrriah of her mother and the strange stories and artifacts she would bring back from her dreamrunning. Myrriah was fascinated enough that she didn't even feel the need to start pacing or playing her flute. Now, if only she had some magical ability of her own...
After the man who called himself Myx came in, though, Myrriah could feel a palpable change in the mood of the meeting, and she started to get nervous and antsy. Magic was all well and good, but there could be serious consequences if this little gathering were discovered, consequences that Myrriah simply had not considered when she found herself in the midst of this little adventure. Only now did Myrriah begin to worry, and she accompanied her worrying by very quietly tapping out fingering on the reed flute still clutched in her hand.
She had only tapped out the first fifteen notes of her favorite song when the door was flung open with violent force and a man's voice shouted its sinister message. Myrriah only had time to see a very strange smile spread across Myx's face before diving for cover in the shadowed boxes, barrels, machinery and debris strewn about the factory.
Now she really was in trouble!
After the man who called himself Myx came in, though, Myrriah could feel a palpable change in the mood of the meeting, and she started to get nervous and antsy. Magic was all well and good, but there could be serious consequences if this little gathering were discovered, consequences that Myrriah simply had not considered when she found herself in the midst of this little adventure. Only now did Myrriah begin to worry, and she accompanied her worrying by very quietly tapping out fingering on the reed flute still clutched in her hand.
She had only tapped out the first fifteen notes of her favorite song when the door was flung open with violent force and a man's voice shouted its sinister message. Myrriah only had time to see a very strange smile spread across Myx's face before diving for cover in the shadowed boxes, barrels, machinery and debris strewn about the factory.
Now she really was in trouble!
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Anonymous
"Give yourselves up by order of the guard! Everyone in this building is hearby under arrest!"
Now the game had begun! Ryosha crouched low, eyes darting from one exit to the next. The other women were already inside but she was to catch runners.
Catch and kill. Catch and kill. Will have full belly tonight. Her eyes dilated with anticipation as she began to rock from foot to foot. The guards nearest to her were wary, shuffling away a cautious step at a time. She didn’t care. Soon she could kill mages. Soon blood would run like water down the cobbled streets.
Now the game had begun! Ryosha crouched low, eyes darting from one exit to the next. The other women were already inside but she was to catch runners.
Catch and kill. Catch and kill. Will have full belly tonight. Her eyes dilated with anticipation as she began to rock from foot to foot. The guards nearest to her were wary, shuffling away a cautious step at a time. She didn’t care. Soon she could kill mages. Soon blood would run like water down the cobbled streets.
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Saldrin Brinlli
- Outsider
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 3:02 am
The old man's glassy eyes widened at the sound of the front door being busted open, followed by a call to surrender in a familiar voice. He looked over in the direction of the sound, but there were pipes and machinery in the way, blocking his view of the captain. His heart sank. What an old fool he'd been, falling into a trap so willingly, made soft by a few years of peace.
What do we do? Cried Asiona. Saldrin's face set into a determined frown. He knew exactly what they had to do. They had to do the unthinkable and fight their way out with magic.
"We need to get out of here." He whispered to her and the others in a hoarse voice. "I'll stall him. The rest of you go out back. Do what you have to do but don't let them see you."
He held out an old, wrinkly hand before him, fingers tensed and clutching the air gruesomely, casting a spider-like shadow across the floor. Gradually darkness began to gather above his palm, beginning as a spot of black and then growing to the same size as the ball of light that still hovered over his head.
Light a light source of any other kind, the ball of black shone dark into the room. Impossible and yet happening none the less, it cast shadows where it shone and left light where it didn't. Where the light and darkness of the two balls met, the wrestled with eachother, each one cancelling the other out and creating a small area of neutrality between them. The shadows of his curled fingers on the floor doubled, now a dazzlingly complex pattern of white and black.
"I haven't got all day old man! The place is surrounded. You have 30 seconds to come out or we're coming in! I don't want to kill you but I will if I have to!" The captain called out again.
This time Saldrin replied, calling back out toward the front of the factory as loud as his wavering voice could get.
"I don't suppose you wanted to torture a confession out of Tadin to find us here either, did you Camulous?"
"Take this." Saldrin said to Asiona, and floated her the new ball. It was impossible to look straight at the thing, having a way of sucking the light right out of ones eyes, but it otherwise behaved like any other light. She could block it with her hands to shield herself and others from the black rays and thus point it in a direction to thorougly erase the area from view.
He glanced quickly at the others, looking first at Pagusel. Of everyone around, she had the least to worry about. She could skitter away and hide without any trouble at all, and there was no way for the guard to catch her. He was more worried about Myx, who he still didn't trust. He prepared himself mentally to deal with the man, more than willing to kill him if it meant protecting the girls.
"10 seconds old man!"
"Go!" He croaked at Myrriah, waving her hurredly toward Asiona. "Get out of here and don't look back!"
From the corner of his eye he watched Myx. If the man truly was a spy or was working for the guard, he knew this would all end in tragedy.
What do we do? Cried Asiona. Saldrin's face set into a determined frown. He knew exactly what they had to do. They had to do the unthinkable and fight their way out with magic.
"We need to get out of here." He whispered to her and the others in a hoarse voice. "I'll stall him. The rest of you go out back. Do what you have to do but don't let them see you."
He held out an old, wrinkly hand before him, fingers tensed and clutching the air gruesomely, casting a spider-like shadow across the floor. Gradually darkness began to gather above his palm, beginning as a spot of black and then growing to the same size as the ball of light that still hovered over his head.
Light a light source of any other kind, the ball of black shone dark into the room. Impossible and yet happening none the less, it cast shadows where it shone and left light where it didn't. Where the light and darkness of the two balls met, the wrestled with eachother, each one cancelling the other out and creating a small area of neutrality between them. The shadows of his curled fingers on the floor doubled, now a dazzlingly complex pattern of white and black.
"I haven't got all day old man! The place is surrounded. You have 30 seconds to come out or we're coming in! I don't want to kill you but I will if I have to!" The captain called out again.
This time Saldrin replied, calling back out toward the front of the factory as loud as his wavering voice could get.
"I don't suppose you wanted to torture a confession out of Tadin to find us here either, did you Camulous?"
"Take this." Saldrin said to Asiona, and floated her the new ball. It was impossible to look straight at the thing, having a way of sucking the light right out of ones eyes, but it otherwise behaved like any other light. She could block it with her hands to shield herself and others from the black rays and thus point it in a direction to thorougly erase the area from view.
He glanced quickly at the others, looking first at Pagusel. Of everyone around, she had the least to worry about. She could skitter away and hide without any trouble at all, and there was no way for the guard to catch her. He was more worried about Myx, who he still didn't trust. He prepared himself mentally to deal with the man, more than willing to kill him if it meant protecting the girls.
"10 seconds old man!"
"Go!" He croaked at Myrriah, waving her hurredly toward Asiona. "Get out of here and don't look back!"
From the corner of his eye he watched Myx. If the man truly was a spy or was working for the guard, he knew this would all end in tragedy.
(( Everyone in this thread must read this announcement:
http://tharshaddin.com/rp/viewtopic.php?t=160 ))
http://tharshaddin.com/rp/viewtopic.php?t=160 ))
The world is an arena, not a stage. RP is a stage, not an arena.
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Dureena Lavella
- Outsider
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:28 pm
- Race: Half-Elf
Dust Moats and Distant Voices
Once inside, Dureena shut the door, preventing any drafts or outdoor noises from drifting into the door and breaking the stifling silence. Once the door was shut her eyes adjusted quickly to the absence of light. She seemed to be in a hallway of some sort, filled with abandoned wooden chairs and tables and a few boxes spilling out their contents upon the floor. Dust moats drifted upon the still air like wisps of fog on a chill morning air. Kneeling down, careful not to disturb the dust she spotted worn trails in the dust. Some were those belonging to the normal pests and otherwise occupants of such a run down place. Some took the shape of human footprints and seemed to be fairly recent. Slowly standing up she followed the path with her eyes. Decidedly, she followed one, stopping every so often to discern a clash between separate paths.
Momentarily annoyed, however, and sensing it to be a waste of time, she stood fully upright, stretching luxuriously. Then, crouching again she held her hand up to her face, closed her eyes, and blew gently across her palm. The dust upon the ground stirred but wasn’t displaced. Instead, the footprints of the path she followed took on a faint silvery glow up to a few feet in front of her. Opening her eyes to observe her handy-work she smiled slyly to herself. She stood once more, brushing her hands together as if to dust them off. Silently she crept along, taking in her surroundings, the silvery footprints fading away behind her.
Soon, the path led her to the end of the hall and to a door. It was cracked open enough for a slim person to fit through without disturbing it. Waving her hand carelessly the trail light vanished to darkness once more and she crept up to the crack in the doorway, peering through. As far as she could see, all there seemed to be were metal pipes and machinery with the same piles of old rubbish here and there, not to mention the ever-present dust moats floating lazily onward on their mysterious journey. They, faintly at first her ears picked up the distant echoes of speech. Deciding that the coast was clear, Dureena slipped easily through the doorway and into the shadows beyond. The factory’s main floor was enormous and it created a sense of long since diminished power. But for certain, this place was once a place of enormous wealth and power. She felt bits of the old gnomish power still residing in most of equipment present.
Drawing near enough to hear rather well, she slipped into an abandoned side room to listen. The initial talk was disinteresting to Dureena, enough so where her thoughts wandered to what she was sharing the room with. Interestedly, her eyes spotted another door farther on, propped open a crack like most of all the other doors in the place with a strip of light drifting through the crack. Doesn’t anyone know how to shut a door around here she mused to herself, a smile creeping upon her face as she approached the crack. Her eyes turned thoughtful as she maneuvered herself to remain hidden in the shadow while still affording a good view. There, in a circle gathered a haggard group of people, each with their own interesting story displayed somewhat for her to see, though some were more open than others. It was rather easy to spot the secretive ones, whereas, those who appeared open were also those less easy to read.
She had arrived shortly after the last member of the group arrived. It seemed fortunate that she nor the army had run into him. As she watched them she began to feel oddly drawn to the one who called himself Myx. He was an enigma of mystery, open on the outside but a maze on the inside with a sense of some foreign power lingering about him. She tiled her head curiously at the interplay between him and the old man. In fact, the old man was another of the group who drew her interest. But just as she began to puzzle over him as well, there came the all-to-eager entrance of the captain.
A look of annoyance crossed her face as she gazed through the crack of the door, her eyes crackling with her anger. He’s never patient, that one, she thought with irritation. Rolling her eyes, she focused on the task at hand. In this, she kept watch on all, most importantly the old man. She could sense that he was by far the most wisest and powerful of them all. He would be the one to trigger the escape when it came to it. And it did. As she watched she saw him gather a ball of darkness, a contrast to his ball of light. As the two wrestled she slipped out of the door and into the shadows of the factory.
She caught sight of the man waiving the others away to escape but she was one step ahead of him. She had already calculated which direction they would be forced to go and had placed herself between the group and their exit. There she stood, arms crossed and standing at ease, a sly but playful smile on her face as her green-gray eyes glittered with amusement. She lazily waved her left hand, a movement that sent all the open doors banging shut and sealed with shuddering force, the echoes rebounding down the length of the building. She had no intention of letting them escape so easily. Not when she had a contract to fulfill.
(( OOC: Sorry about my lateness! I wont even bother with an excuse because I know no one wants to hear it. To make up for it I put extra effort into my post, trying to make it a very awesome and good read. As I do not have tolerance for late people myself, feel free to mentally spite me all you like. I assure all that it will not happen again unless for some drastic reason like death or something, which I hope doesn’t come up. ))
Momentarily annoyed, however, and sensing it to be a waste of time, she stood fully upright, stretching luxuriously. Then, crouching again she held her hand up to her face, closed her eyes, and blew gently across her palm. The dust upon the ground stirred but wasn’t displaced. Instead, the footprints of the path she followed took on a faint silvery glow up to a few feet in front of her. Opening her eyes to observe her handy-work she smiled slyly to herself. She stood once more, brushing her hands together as if to dust them off. Silently she crept along, taking in her surroundings, the silvery footprints fading away behind her.
Soon, the path led her to the end of the hall and to a door. It was cracked open enough for a slim person to fit through without disturbing it. Waving her hand carelessly the trail light vanished to darkness once more and she crept up to the crack in the doorway, peering through. As far as she could see, all there seemed to be were metal pipes and machinery with the same piles of old rubbish here and there, not to mention the ever-present dust moats floating lazily onward on their mysterious journey. They, faintly at first her ears picked up the distant echoes of speech. Deciding that the coast was clear, Dureena slipped easily through the doorway and into the shadows beyond. The factory’s main floor was enormous and it created a sense of long since diminished power. But for certain, this place was once a place of enormous wealth and power. She felt bits of the old gnomish power still residing in most of equipment present.
Drawing near enough to hear rather well, she slipped into an abandoned side room to listen. The initial talk was disinteresting to Dureena, enough so where her thoughts wandered to what she was sharing the room with. Interestedly, her eyes spotted another door farther on, propped open a crack like most of all the other doors in the place with a strip of light drifting through the crack. Doesn’t anyone know how to shut a door around here she mused to herself, a smile creeping upon her face as she approached the crack. Her eyes turned thoughtful as she maneuvered herself to remain hidden in the shadow while still affording a good view. There, in a circle gathered a haggard group of people, each with their own interesting story displayed somewhat for her to see, though some were more open than others. It was rather easy to spot the secretive ones, whereas, those who appeared open were also those less easy to read.
She had arrived shortly after the last member of the group arrived. It seemed fortunate that she nor the army had run into him. As she watched them she began to feel oddly drawn to the one who called himself Myx. He was an enigma of mystery, open on the outside but a maze on the inside with a sense of some foreign power lingering about him. She tiled her head curiously at the interplay between him and the old man. In fact, the old man was another of the group who drew her interest. But just as she began to puzzle over him as well, there came the all-to-eager entrance of the captain.
A look of annoyance crossed her face as she gazed through the crack of the door, her eyes crackling with her anger. He’s never patient, that one, she thought with irritation. Rolling her eyes, she focused on the task at hand. In this, she kept watch on all, most importantly the old man. She could sense that he was by far the most wisest and powerful of them all. He would be the one to trigger the escape when it came to it. And it did. As she watched she saw him gather a ball of darkness, a contrast to his ball of light. As the two wrestled she slipped out of the door and into the shadows of the factory.
She caught sight of the man waiving the others away to escape but she was one step ahead of him. She had already calculated which direction they would be forced to go and had placed herself between the group and their exit. There she stood, arms crossed and standing at ease, a sly but playful smile on her face as her green-gray eyes glittered with amusement. She lazily waved her left hand, a movement that sent all the open doors banging shut and sealed with shuddering force, the echoes rebounding down the length of the building. She had no intention of letting them escape so easily. Not when she had a contract to fulfill.
(( OOC: Sorry about my lateness! I wont even bother with an excuse because I know no one wants to hear it. To make up for it I put extra effort into my post, trying to make it a very awesome and good read. As I do not have tolerance for late people myself, feel free to mentally spite me all you like. I assure all that it will not happen again unless for some drastic reason like death or something, which I hope doesn’t come up. ))
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Alalia Morrigan
- Citizen
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:14 am
- Race: Cat Shifter
Alalia had climbed up onto the roof, where she could easily see if anyone tried to escape. Prowling about on all fours, she found a hole where part of the roof had given away. Slipping down into the hole, she landed on a rafter, which creaked softly as she settled her weight on the old wood. Her green eyes glittered softly in the darkness as her hand found the hilt of her rapier.
It seemed that the captain had absolutely no use for stealth or tact, but then again, if he had he would have no use for assassins. her fangs glittered as she smirked at the commotion the captain's entrance had caused. From her vantage point in appeared much like what happened when an anthill was overturned.
When Dureena blocked off the escaping group's exit, the cat girl leaped down, landing behind them. Her tail lashed about excitedly as she fingered her sword hilt. She wanted to kill, longed for the sweet coppery scent of blood to fill the air. However, she suppressed the urge, remembering what she had been hired to do.
It seemed that the captain had absolutely no use for stealth or tact, but then again, if he had he would have no use for assassins. her fangs glittered as she smirked at the commotion the captain's entrance had caused. From her vantage point in appeared much like what happened when an anthill was overturned.
When Dureena blocked off the escaping group's exit, the cat girl leaped down, landing behind them. Her tail lashed about excitedly as she fingered her sword hilt. She wanted to kill, longed for the sweet coppery scent of blood to fill the air. However, she suppressed the urge, remembering what she had been hired to do.
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Anonymous
Pagusel had hardly had time to begin puffing on her pipe so graciously lit by the unusual Myx when the scenario suddenly took a shift.
She squinted watery eyes at the shout of the captain of the guard, gave Saldrin an emotionless stare, and then gazed about the group. She blinked her long lashes slowly--even slower still, her action seemed, with the sweeping length of her lashes and the delicate dent they produced in the faint curl of smoke she'd exhaled.
"Hmmm . . ." said the lanky woman, and her voice trailed off not through loss of momentum, but through disappearance entirely: she slipped down out of sight. A moment later, the clatter of a wooden pipe on the floor was the only indication of her erstwhile human presence.
A flat, shiny cockroach crawled steadily away from the now-chaotic gathered circle, in the direction of the exit at which Dureena waited. The insect paused at regular intervals to fuss with its antennae, wiping them methodically and efficiently with a front pair of legs.
Twelve yards or so from the doorway, the insect stopped again. With the faintest of audible puffs of air, a recognizable human form rose from the floor, sitting in a cross-legged position, and gazing intently upon the doorway where Dureena stood smiling insincerely. Pagusel then sunk down into her tiny form once more and continued towards the door.
This was a cockroach, no more capable of seeing or hearing as a human does than any other cockroach, but it was indeed Pagusel, and it was a clever cockroach. If a standard cockroach is adept at avoiding the stomps of bigger creatures, then a long-lived, human minded cockroach, supplemented with a human-visioned reconnaissance of a scene moments before, could perhaps be unprecedented in its agility. With this theory held dear, Pagusel the cockroach made a steady-paced path towards the spot right between Dureena's feet.
Dureena's feet were conveniently placed at ease, a fact which may have given pause to Pagusel, were her current brain able to process such abstractions at the same time as strategy. From such a stance, she did know, even in her smaller version of a human mind, it was not quite so easy to aim a boot stomp.
The crack beneath the door behind Dureena shone with the same promise a wide-open doorway would to a full-sized human. The traffic over the years through that doorway had worn down the floor to the point that the flat insect could slip beneath the door with no trouble.
She squinted watery eyes at the shout of the captain of the guard, gave Saldrin an emotionless stare, and then gazed about the group. She blinked her long lashes slowly--even slower still, her action seemed, with the sweeping length of her lashes and the delicate dent they produced in the faint curl of smoke she'd exhaled.
"Hmmm . . ." said the lanky woman, and her voice trailed off not through loss of momentum, but through disappearance entirely: she slipped down out of sight. A moment later, the clatter of a wooden pipe on the floor was the only indication of her erstwhile human presence.
A flat, shiny cockroach crawled steadily away from the now-chaotic gathered circle, in the direction of the exit at which Dureena waited. The insect paused at regular intervals to fuss with its antennae, wiping them methodically and efficiently with a front pair of legs.
Twelve yards or so from the doorway, the insect stopped again. With the faintest of audible puffs of air, a recognizable human form rose from the floor, sitting in a cross-legged position, and gazing intently upon the doorway where Dureena stood smiling insincerely. Pagusel then sunk down into her tiny form once more and continued towards the door.
This was a cockroach, no more capable of seeing or hearing as a human does than any other cockroach, but it was indeed Pagusel, and it was a clever cockroach. If a standard cockroach is adept at avoiding the stomps of bigger creatures, then a long-lived, human minded cockroach, supplemented with a human-visioned reconnaissance of a scene moments before, could perhaps be unprecedented in its agility. With this theory held dear, Pagusel the cockroach made a steady-paced path towards the spot right between Dureena's feet.
Dureena's feet were conveniently placed at ease, a fact which may have given pause to Pagusel, were her current brain able to process such abstractions at the same time as strategy. From such a stance, she did know, even in her smaller version of a human mind, it was not quite so easy to aim a boot stomp.
The crack beneath the door behind Dureena shone with the same promise a wide-open doorway would to a full-sized human. The traffic over the years through that doorway had worn down the floor to the point that the flat insect could slip beneath the door with no trouble.
-
Anonymous
Having recovered from a brief period of frenzied elation, Myx began to size up the situation. He had not earned their complete trust; but he knew he didn't give them enough of a reason for action against him. Myx then took the situation in. The formidable city guards with all their training and equipment surrounded the front. The two women, though he felt that they were more girl than woman, surrounded the group of rogue mages with which he was a part of. In his head Myx formed a plan, or at least a semblence of one; to earn the others' trust and keep his cover.
Myx watched one of the group, the one he had lit the pipe for, shrink into a cockroach and start to crawl away. He slowly but with levity inappropariate for the situation, picked up the pipe and blew the still lit ember from within it. As he did this Myx watched the two females surrounding the rogue mages, observing them with a hint of a smile playing about his face; studying them, and measuring them to the best of his abilities. Myx casually pocketted the pipe, thinking to return it to its owner later. If she survived.
He first glanced at the younger of the two blocking their way. She was a most curious creature--a young girl, much younger than he was, at least physically; still in the thick of puberty but old enough to be a woman... depending on her circumstances, he mused. But the most intriguing part were her overtly feline features; her eyes almost glowed green, with her slitted pupils drawing a fissure, adding a more dangerous edge to the strikingly large eyes. Her nose seemed to have a feline edge, and he spied a tail swinging this way and that; and under her hooded cloak, for just a brief moment--was that the hint of cat ears he saw? He marvelled at the strangeness of what he was seeing; he wondered how she came to be--after years of mundane solitude, such interesting things were happening all at once that he almost completely forgot about his obession with his bondage and slipped more completely into his mask. Even for a brief time, his life had begun to break its tiring routine. Myx briefly concentrated and felt for his own cat, a slim creature with the same coat of fur as the color of his hair. The platinum blonde cat meow'd from a distance in the warehouse to his silent call.
Other than her features, Myx saw in Alalia (though he had no way of knowing her name at this time) a deadly grace and controlled movements, as well as a rapier with which he guessed she would carry out her attacks. All this Myx saw and thought in no more than a minute; next he turned to the other.
She was older than the hooded girl with the feline features; and where Alalia was fascinating in a very unconventional way, this one was for lack of a better term, captivating in a very human manner; sticking from her shawl were strands of fine black hair, mixed in with some red, like a stray line of fire. Under her coat were fine silken clothing and the shape of a woman almost at the full bloom of her beauty; though the way she held herself belied someone who was of greater maturity, her physical features themselves told of shorter years since her birth (though again, he knew appearances could be decieving). The way she held herself spoke of a great deal of confidence, an air of confidence that a cat would have when playing with its meal moments before the final strike. Both the girls had a feline air to them; he smiled at the personal irony.
His studying gaze turned to the group of rogue mages themselves, and began to decide which of the two girls that stood in their way he would have to confront first. Though he knew little about them, the man in the hood seemed like the only one capable of any real combat aside from Saldrin. Myx glanced back at Alalia; it would be a pity, but if she survived the night perhaps they would meet again. Having decided, Myx turned towards Asiona, who had the ball of anti-light in her hands (an interesting trick he noted).
"I'll take care of the one in front of us," he said to Asiona with a reassuring smile, gesturing towards Dureena, "keep your eye out for the one behind us and make a break for the door with the others."
Myx turned toward Dureena, his cheerful green cloak swept over his left shoulder and his hand on the hilt of his short sword, resting on top of the handle but not gripping it and watched her with his narrow eyes, waiting.
Myx watched one of the group, the one he had lit the pipe for, shrink into a cockroach and start to crawl away. He slowly but with levity inappropariate for the situation, picked up the pipe and blew the still lit ember from within it. As he did this Myx watched the two females surrounding the rogue mages, observing them with a hint of a smile playing about his face; studying them, and measuring them to the best of his abilities. Myx casually pocketted the pipe, thinking to return it to its owner later. If she survived.
He first glanced at the younger of the two blocking their way. She was a most curious creature--a young girl, much younger than he was, at least physically; still in the thick of puberty but old enough to be a woman... depending on her circumstances, he mused. But the most intriguing part were her overtly feline features; her eyes almost glowed green, with her slitted pupils drawing a fissure, adding a more dangerous edge to the strikingly large eyes. Her nose seemed to have a feline edge, and he spied a tail swinging this way and that; and under her hooded cloak, for just a brief moment--was that the hint of cat ears he saw? He marvelled at the strangeness of what he was seeing; he wondered how she came to be--after years of mundane solitude, such interesting things were happening all at once that he almost completely forgot about his obession with his bondage and slipped more completely into his mask. Even for a brief time, his life had begun to break its tiring routine. Myx briefly concentrated and felt for his own cat, a slim creature with the same coat of fur as the color of his hair. The platinum blonde cat meow'd from a distance in the warehouse to his silent call.
Other than her features, Myx saw in Alalia (though he had no way of knowing her name at this time) a deadly grace and controlled movements, as well as a rapier with which he guessed she would carry out her attacks. All this Myx saw and thought in no more than a minute; next he turned to the other.
She was older than the hooded girl with the feline features; and where Alalia was fascinating in a very unconventional way, this one was for lack of a better term, captivating in a very human manner; sticking from her shawl were strands of fine black hair, mixed in with some red, like a stray line of fire. Under her coat were fine silken clothing and the shape of a woman almost at the full bloom of her beauty; though the way she held herself belied someone who was of greater maturity, her physical features themselves told of shorter years since her birth (though again, he knew appearances could be decieving). The way she held herself spoke of a great deal of confidence, an air of confidence that a cat would have when playing with its meal moments before the final strike. Both the girls had a feline air to them; he smiled at the personal irony.
His studying gaze turned to the group of rogue mages themselves, and began to decide which of the two girls that stood in their way he would have to confront first. Though he knew little about them, the man in the hood seemed like the only one capable of any real combat aside from Saldrin. Myx glanced back at Alalia; it would be a pity, but if she survived the night perhaps they would meet again. Having decided, Myx turned towards Asiona, who had the ball of anti-light in her hands (an interesting trick he noted).
"I'll take care of the one in front of us," he said to Asiona with a reassuring smile, gesturing towards Dureena, "keep your eye out for the one behind us and make a break for the door with the others."
Myx turned toward Dureena, his cheerful green cloak swept over his left shoulder and his hand on the hilt of his short sword, resting on top of the handle but not gripping it and watched her with his narrow eyes, waiting.
-
Myrriah Thornsinger
Cowering in the shadow of some forgotten piece of junk in a corner, Myrriah numbly watched and listened as events unfolded in what seemed to be agonizingly long seconds. Every beat of her heart lasted an eon. If she had been frightened before, she was utterly terrified now. She was certain that things had become very very bad. She also had the sense that they could get infinitely worse. And that made her insides feel very nasty, like they had all been struck by lightning and now lay in a burning, blackened heap at the bottom of her stomach.
Saldrin's waved urging for Myrriah to go with Asiona was quickly followed by the startling bang of the slammed door, courtesy of Dureena, who Myrriah couldn't actually see at the moment. And then Myrriah watched as a bizarre creature dropped from the ceiling right behind the dispersing group of rogue mages. Well, she wasn't that bizarre. But Myrriah could see that she was clearly a little less human than most.
Myrriah was torn between staying right where she was and going to Asiona. In what little time she had known him, Saldrin had earned her trust with his gentle kindness, and she wanted to do what he said. But she felt much safer in her dark little corner. She shivered with fear and confusion. The truth was, she was a coward. She almost always ran at the first sign of trouble. But now...well, something stopped her from just fleeing. And while Myx spoke with Asiona, Myrriah closed her eyes momentarily to think. And a sepia-edged memory of her mother swam into her inner vision.
...A seven year old Myrriah sniffled miserably, her pride still hurt by her own cowardice, and her knees still scuffed from hiding. Silonwye gently stroked her daughter's face, gazing into Myrriah's odd green eye. "My sweet thornsinger," Silonwye's voice was silvery and liquid. She wiped away Myrriah's tears. "One day you will not have to hide. You are destined for great things. Be brave my little one." And she leaned forward and kissed her daughter on the forehead...
Even now, 8 years later, Myrriah could feel the lingering tingle of that kiss. And whether or not she really was destined for great things, she felt like now was the time to actually do something, no matter how frightened she might be. Time to be brave. So she tucked her flute in her little travel bag, and pulled out her small knife. Then she stood up and ran over to Asiona and Myx.
"Tell me what you need me to do to help you..." Myrriah said. Her voice quivered, but her jaw was set. She was looking directly at Asiona, and the ball of shadow caused her one green eye to glitter eerily.
Saldrin's waved urging for Myrriah to go with Asiona was quickly followed by the startling bang of the slammed door, courtesy of Dureena, who Myrriah couldn't actually see at the moment. And then Myrriah watched as a bizarre creature dropped from the ceiling right behind the dispersing group of rogue mages. Well, she wasn't that bizarre. But Myrriah could see that she was clearly a little less human than most.
Myrriah was torn between staying right where she was and going to Asiona. In what little time she had known him, Saldrin had earned her trust with his gentle kindness, and she wanted to do what he said. But she felt much safer in her dark little corner. She shivered with fear and confusion. The truth was, she was a coward. She almost always ran at the first sign of trouble. But now...well, something stopped her from just fleeing. And while Myx spoke with Asiona, Myrriah closed her eyes momentarily to think. And a sepia-edged memory of her mother swam into her inner vision.
...A seven year old Myrriah sniffled miserably, her pride still hurt by her own cowardice, and her knees still scuffed from hiding. Silonwye gently stroked her daughter's face, gazing into Myrriah's odd green eye. "My sweet thornsinger," Silonwye's voice was silvery and liquid. She wiped away Myrriah's tears. "One day you will not have to hide. You are destined for great things. Be brave my little one." And she leaned forward and kissed her daughter on the forehead...
Even now, 8 years later, Myrriah could feel the lingering tingle of that kiss. And whether or not she really was destined for great things, she felt like now was the time to actually do something, no matter how frightened she might be. Time to be brave. So she tucked her flute in her little travel bag, and pulled out her small knife. Then she stood up and ran over to Asiona and Myx.
"Tell me what you need me to do to help you..." Myrriah said. Her voice quivered, but her jaw was set. She was looking directly at Asiona, and the ball of shadow caused her one green eye to glitter eerily.