Kamar padded up the stairs, careful not to make a sound. He came to the landing where the stairs turned and doubled back on themselves, again peeking around the corner. His sharp eyesight, helped by his ability to see better in darkness than an average human, was able to pick up the thick, muscular arm of a guard at the top of the stairs as he shifted positions. Kamar nodded once to himself, slipping a hand to a poniard at his waist.
The poniard Kamar used was a custom design, an extremely thin, circular knife with a sharp point, much like a large tack. It was useless when used to slash at someone, and would often break if used to deflect or parry, but it was best used for finesse work, puncturing deep into the body to stab organs while allowing for very little blood loss. Kamar liked to use it when he didn't want to make a mess. He didn't have time to clean the guard's blood from the floor, and leaving a guard lying in the middle of the hall was out of the question at such a critical time.
Kamar slowed his pace up the last set of stairs, placing each step carefully. He held the poniard in his left hand, his hand crossbow in his right in case a guard stepped into the entrance way and saw him. As he reached the top of the stairs, Kamar slipped to the same side as the guard was on to slide along the wall, not actually touching it to keep from making any noise. As he got closer, he kept his eye on the other side, to be sure a second guard wasn't posted. Luckily, one wasn't.
Kamar could see a door on the opposite side of the hall from the stair entrance, a dozen feet down the hall. The perfect place to drag a body and hide it, should no one be inside. He slowly allowed the hand crossbow to again dangle at the end of it's string, switching the poniard to his right hand.
Kamar paused, taking a long, slow, quiet breath, relaxing before committing himself to the course of action. With the quickness and silence assassin's are known for, enhanced by his partially elven heritage, Kamar stepped from the stairway, his back to the guard. He spun, bringing the poniard around in a tight arc. The guard had time to take a step back, into the wall, and suck in a breath to shout a warning before the poniard dove into his chest.
The guard blinked, a puzzled expression on his face as he looked death in the face. Kamar stared back, a cocky half grin tilting the edge of his mouth. The breath the guard had just taken slowly slipped between his slack lips as his knees began to buckle. Kamar's aim had again been impeccable, the poniard slipping between two ribs and driving through the guard's heart.
Kamar grabbed the poniard as the guard began to drop, eyes rolling back in his head. Using his foot to direct the guard's fall, Kamar pushed him onto his back, where the small trickle of blood from the wound wouldn't smear on the floor. Bending, Kamar wiped the bloody poniard on the guards clothing.
Taking a quick look down the hall to be sure no one was nearby, Kamar jogged over to the door he had seen. Replacing the poniard in it's sheath, he reached down and again pulled forth his hand crossbow. Finesse would take too long, and bursting into a room was best accomplished with surprise. The door flew open, Kamar's left hand darting out to catch it the only thing keeping it from slamming full force into the wall. Kamar's sharp eyes scanned the room. It was a single room, with no other doors leading in or out. Several shelves held books and other objects, and a desk was against the far wall, facing the entrance, a chair on the opposite side of it. Other than the few items, the room was empty.
Running back to the guard, Kamar grabbed the corpse by the wrists and, with surprising strength, dragged him quickly into the room and tucked him into the opening on the other side of the desk.
Kamar moved quickly now, closing the door and hurrying down the hallway he had been carried down. After a couple of twists and turns, he found the doorway he suspected was Moryldar's. Crouching low, he slowly turned the knob until the door would open. Slowly, his breath held as the heady excitement threatened to overwhelm him, Kamar pushed the door open just enough to peek in. His one eye took in the surroundings quickly, noting every shadow and the layout of the room in less than a second before he moved backwards and closed the door again, quietly and carefully.
There was someone in there, behind the desk. He was sure this was the door he had heard the person who had introduced them to the Justice Hall speaking to the Captain behind. Kamar hadn't been able to see Moryldar at the time, but he was reasonably sure that the person in the room was the one he was searching for.
Kamar stepped across the hallway, into the shadows thrown from the corner of a wall. The torch on the other side of the corner caused the shadow to ripple and move, as if it were alive. Kamar reached his slender hands up to the hood attached to his cape and, with a flick of the wrists, pulled the hood over his head to help mask his face. He could feel the magic ebbing inside him, and he knew he had the strength to shadow walk just once before he needed to rest. It was time.
Hostage, Leverage, and Escape
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Kamar Deythal
- Citizen
- Posts: 333
- Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:52 pm
- Name: Kamar Deythal
- Race: Half-elf
Hostage, Leverage, and Escape
You’re gonna find out you’re already dead, and I was the world coming down on your head.
Moryldar sat at his desk, quill in hand, writing away on a single sheet of paper. Splayed out before him were all kinds of scraps. Notebooks filled with contacts and addresses, scraps of paper with reminders and other details to help the judge keep track of his business.
He was writing his contact with the far east. Logs of everyone passing through had to be forwarded now and then so the officials knew who was coming and going. The border was quite porous but those who kept a low profile nearly always chose to pass through Thar Shaddin and thus through Marn. Why or how a place like this could have such a well established network of spies was a mystery only those at the top knew about, but one thing was for sure: information was worth ten times its weight in bishani.
Some of the people who passed through got special mention in his letter. Anyone wealthy or particularly suspicious. Anyone like Kamar. 'Dennison' he was calling himself, though the name was surely fake. Whoever sent him into Thar was making a mistake by not announcing his arrival to the judges, and Moryldar wanted to know who it was. More importantly, he wanted to know who Dennison was.
He kept the information in the letter purposefully cryptic. The man on the receiving end would understand it, but to anyone else it would read like a twelve page dissertation on the origins and uses of dirt.
His ebony black desk sat in the center of the far end of his office, with a trio of chairs opposite and not much else. Behind him a shelf of books contained volumes that were more valuable, and more illegal, than any one man should have. It was his personal collection, and only a fraction of what they kept locked away.
The walls, like everything in justice hall, were plain and completely barren save for a simple, modern looking decorative shield emblazoned with the symbol of the Marn Justice Hall.
The old, gray man looked up from his writing to see the door ever so slightly ajar and immediately knew something was wrong. The porter was keeping quiet, but that could mean anything. He straightened up in his chair, as much as his aging back would allow, and stopped writing.
He was writing his contact with the far east. Logs of everyone passing through had to be forwarded now and then so the officials knew who was coming and going. The border was quite porous but those who kept a low profile nearly always chose to pass through Thar Shaddin and thus through Marn. Why or how a place like this could have such a well established network of spies was a mystery only those at the top knew about, but one thing was for sure: information was worth ten times its weight in bishani.
Some of the people who passed through got special mention in his letter. Anyone wealthy or particularly suspicious. Anyone like Kamar. 'Dennison' he was calling himself, though the name was surely fake. Whoever sent him into Thar was making a mistake by not announcing his arrival to the judges, and Moryldar wanted to know who it was. More importantly, he wanted to know who Dennison was.
He kept the information in the letter purposefully cryptic. The man on the receiving end would understand it, but to anyone else it would read like a twelve page dissertation on the origins and uses of dirt.
His ebony black desk sat in the center of the far end of his office, with a trio of chairs opposite and not much else. Behind him a shelf of books contained volumes that were more valuable, and more illegal, than any one man should have. It was his personal collection, and only a fraction of what they kept locked away.
The walls, like everything in justice hall, were plain and completely barren save for a simple, modern looking decorative shield emblazoned with the symbol of the Marn Justice Hall.
The old, gray man looked up from his writing to see the door ever so slightly ajar and immediately knew something was wrong. The porter was keeping quiet, but that could mean anything. He straightened up in his chair, as much as his aging back would allow, and stopped writing.
Let the tomes be your guide.
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Kamar Deythal
- Citizen
- Posts: 333
- Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:52 pm
- Name: Kamar Deythal
- Race: Half-elf
Kamar breathed in, feeling the energy inside him, allowing the magic to absorb him. He drew back into the shadows, allowing them to wrap around him, letting them cradle him in their arms like a lover. With the sudden convulsion of a snake swallowing it's prey, the shadows jumped, engulfing Kamar and drawing him into themselves.
He was never sure what exactly happened when he walked the shadows. As far as he could tell, it was nearly instantaneous transportation between shadows, but during the transition, time seemed to slow for him. Kamar trod a place between worlds, part of him still tied to the earth as everyone knew it, and part of him moving through the astral world. He knew he was never fully in the astral, and never fully out of the real, but he wasn't quite sure how it worked.
Of course, it didn't really matter to him either. It got him away when he needed a quick exit; it brought him closer to his prey when he was hunting. That was all that mattered.
Kamar looked up from the shadows to the side of the shelf behind Moryldar. The shadows had silent deposited him in the room, and again he was close to his prey. The hood masked his face, though his clothes were the same when last Moryldar had seen him. The man would know who he was if he turned to look at him, but Kamar was planning on preventing that.
Moryldar straightened and looked towards the door, noticing that it was open. Kamar recognized the dawning of comprehension in his prey, the sudden feeling that something wasn't right. His eyes flickered to the door, and saw what Moryldar had seen.
In his excitement and his rush to be out of Justice Hall, Kamar had made a minor mistake. The door hadn't shut all the way, and had slipped open once he had stepped away from it. The prey was alert. A half smirk slipped across his lips. It was only more exciting when the prey began to understand what was happening.
With a silent step forward, Kamar touched the tip of a knife to the back of Moryldar's neck. He silently allowed himself a lament for the missing Shadow Knife, reminding himself that he could return to the shadowy alleyway to retrieve it once he was out of Justice Hall. He had no real worries about someone finding it since it would be all but invisible to anyone who didn't know how to look for it in the shadows.
Allowing his voice to drop into a deeper, gruffer tone, and throwing a western accent into it, Kamar slowly drawled. "I wouldn't turn around if I were you. Hostages don't work particularly well when they're dead..."
Kamar would move to keep himself out of direct line of sight of Moryldar should he attempt to turn anyways, the knife ready at a moment's notice to plunge forward and rip the jugular vein. His sharp eyes darted around for mirrors, and seeing none, resettled on the gray, balding head of the man in front of him.
Keeping the same deep, accented voice, Kamar spoke a single word.
"Stand."
He was never sure what exactly happened when he walked the shadows. As far as he could tell, it was nearly instantaneous transportation between shadows, but during the transition, time seemed to slow for him. Kamar trod a place between worlds, part of him still tied to the earth as everyone knew it, and part of him moving through the astral world. He knew he was never fully in the astral, and never fully out of the real, but he wasn't quite sure how it worked.
Of course, it didn't really matter to him either. It got him away when he needed a quick exit; it brought him closer to his prey when he was hunting. That was all that mattered.
Kamar looked up from the shadows to the side of the shelf behind Moryldar. The shadows had silent deposited him in the room, and again he was close to his prey. The hood masked his face, though his clothes were the same when last Moryldar had seen him. The man would know who he was if he turned to look at him, but Kamar was planning on preventing that.
Moryldar straightened and looked towards the door, noticing that it was open. Kamar recognized the dawning of comprehension in his prey, the sudden feeling that something wasn't right. His eyes flickered to the door, and saw what Moryldar had seen.
In his excitement and his rush to be out of Justice Hall, Kamar had made a minor mistake. The door hadn't shut all the way, and had slipped open once he had stepped away from it. The prey was alert. A half smirk slipped across his lips. It was only more exciting when the prey began to understand what was happening.
With a silent step forward, Kamar touched the tip of a knife to the back of Moryldar's neck. He silently allowed himself a lament for the missing Shadow Knife, reminding himself that he could return to the shadowy alleyway to retrieve it once he was out of Justice Hall. He had no real worries about someone finding it since it would be all but invisible to anyone who didn't know how to look for it in the shadows.
Allowing his voice to drop into a deeper, gruffer tone, and throwing a western accent into it, Kamar slowly drawled. "I wouldn't turn around if I were you. Hostages don't work particularly well when they're dead..."
Kamar would move to keep himself out of direct line of sight of Moryldar should he attempt to turn anyways, the knife ready at a moment's notice to plunge forward and rip the jugular vein. His sharp eyes darted around for mirrors, and seeing none, resettled on the gray, balding head of the man in front of him.
Keeping the same deep, accented voice, Kamar spoke a single word.
"Stand."
You’re gonna find out you’re already dead, and I was the world coming down on your head.
Something was wrong and Moryldar knew it even if his old hearing and eyesight failed him. He couldn't see or hear a silent enemy, but his powers were of a different sort entirely.
Something is wrong. He told the porter with his mind.
Might you be a little more specific? Came the snooty, arrogant and all too polite reply. It upset him, and surely the porter knew that as his emotions carried along with his thoughts.
Moryldar was preparing a response when everything became clear. The tip of a knife on his neck and the voice of the man who undoubtedly left his door ajar.
Moryldar was anything but new to his job. With the porter's keen eye on the magical seal protecting the justice hall, there was no way anyone could enter. His attacker had to be from inside, and it was not the uncouth wolfman.
He stood as he was told and as he did so his aged back cracked like fireworks.
"You won't make it out of here. They'll kill me before they open the door for you. If you think what happened to Chrishton is anything, wait until they get their hands on you for killing a judge."
Something is wrong. He told the porter with his mind.
Might you be a little more specific? Came the snooty, arrogant and all too polite reply. It upset him, and surely the porter knew that as his emotions carried along with his thoughts.
Moryldar was preparing a response when everything became clear. The tip of a knife on his neck and the voice of the man who undoubtedly left his door ajar.
But the old judge didn't need to turn around. He knew who it was, for it was not Chrishton and there were only two other possibilities for which the choice was obvious.I wouldn't turn around if I were you. Hostages don't work particularly well when they're dead...
"Afraid of an old man, Dennison?"Stand.
Moryldar was anything but new to his job. With the porter's keen eye on the magical seal protecting the justice hall, there was no way anyone could enter. His attacker had to be from inside, and it was not the uncouth wolfman.
He stood as he was told and as he did so his aged back cracked like fireworks.
"You won't make it out of here. They'll kill me before they open the door for you. If you think what happened to Chrishton is anything, wait until they get their hands on you for killing a judge."
Let the tomes be your guide.
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Kamar Deythal
- Citizen
- Posts: 333
- Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:52 pm
- Name: Kamar Deythal
- Race: Half-elf
Kamar smirked within the confines of his hood. The old man thought to fluster him by acting confident in his knowledge of who was behind him. He thought it humorous when prey pretended nonchalance.
As Moryldar stood, Kamar brought his mouth close to Moryldar's ear. He whispered quietly into that ear, speaking in an easy, familiar manner. He dropped the accent, because it no longer served his purpose.
"Like I said, Judge Moryldar, I don't want you dead. You will be helpful to me... and in return, I may be helpful to you. We both want things, and we can be useful to each other. In order for me to be useful to you, we must continue this charade, so that you can pretend that you have no knowledge of me, and what I do. I know you use the battlemages to fight your battles against magic, and they nearly all use brute force. You may have need of someone who can use magic a little more ... subtly? Someone who can eliminate those that threaten the way the systems work here in Marn. We can work together, Judge Moryldar. I will be your little secret."
He leaned back again, awaiting a response. He didn't know if the judge would bite at this, and he didn't particularly care. Though it would be nice to have a regular pay cheque, so to speak, it didn't matter to him where the money came from. As an assassin, his loyalties almost always lay with the person who would pay him the most money. And he had no problem with switching sides should a higher sum of money become available.
Kamar was trying something a little different, something that might allow him to stay in a city longer than he normally did. Perhaps this would be where he 'settled' down.
As Moryldar stood, Kamar brought his mouth close to Moryldar's ear. He whispered quietly into that ear, speaking in an easy, familiar manner. He dropped the accent, because it no longer served his purpose.
"Like I said, Judge Moryldar, I don't want you dead. You will be helpful to me... and in return, I may be helpful to you. We both want things, and we can be useful to each other. In order for me to be useful to you, we must continue this charade, so that you can pretend that you have no knowledge of me, and what I do. I know you use the battlemages to fight your battles against magic, and they nearly all use brute force. You may have need of someone who can use magic a little more ... subtly? Someone who can eliminate those that threaten the way the systems work here in Marn. We can work together, Judge Moryldar. I will be your little secret."
He leaned back again, awaiting a response. He didn't know if the judge would bite at this, and he didn't particularly care. Though it would be nice to have a regular pay cheque, so to speak, it didn't matter to him where the money came from. As an assassin, his loyalties almost always lay with the person who would pay him the most money. And he had no problem with switching sides should a higher sum of money become available.
Kamar was trying something a little different, something that might allow him to stay in a city longer than he normally did. Perhaps this would be where he 'settled' down.
You’re gonna find out you’re already dead, and I was the world coming down on your head.
Moryldar listened to Dennison speak, somewhat relieved at being right about who it was that had a knife to his neck. If it had been anyone but Dennison things would be far worse. Moryldar wasn't afraid of death. This was not the first, nor would it be the last time someone had him in such a position. What he was afraid of was the prospect that things in Marn could collapse politically and strip him of his authority... Or, worse, incur the wrath of one particular vampire.
Such was not the case, so he was not worried.
Indeed, as he listened to Dennison talk, the deeply etched frown on his face began to break, folding his skin in twisted ways it was not accustomed to. A smile - greedy and malicious, but a smile. His work was being cut in half, and his suspicions were turning out to be more accurate than he expected.
Moryldar held himself as though he was certain Kamar was not serious about driving the knife into his neck. He was not tense, and was definitely not threatening.
"Ah, now you are talking like an intelligent man, Assassin." He peered back with his eyes, though he could not see Kamar properly. "We can pay you with more bishani than outsiders could ever suspect. And bishani are only one of the hydra's heads. It loses its value when you see what else there is..."
"I have the captain himself and a battlemage out looking for your little target as we speak. Believe me when I say they'll find her. And I will give her to you, if you take that silly knife away. This is not how I like to negotiate."
Such was not the case, so he was not worried.
Indeed, as he listened to Dennison talk, the deeply etched frown on his face began to break, folding his skin in twisted ways it was not accustomed to. A smile - greedy and malicious, but a smile. His work was being cut in half, and his suspicions were turning out to be more accurate than he expected.
Moryldar held himself as though he was certain Kamar was not serious about driving the knife into his neck. He was not tense, and was definitely not threatening.
"Ah, now you are talking like an intelligent man, Assassin." He peered back with his eyes, though he could not see Kamar properly. "We can pay you with more bishani than outsiders could ever suspect. And bishani are only one of the hydra's heads. It loses its value when you see what else there is..."
"I have the captain himself and a battlemage out looking for your little target as we speak. Believe me when I say they'll find her. And I will give her to you, if you take that silly knife away. This is not how I like to negotiate."
Let the tomes be your guide.
-
Kamar Deythal
- Citizen
- Posts: 333
- Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:52 pm
- Name: Kamar Deythal
- Race: Half-elf
It was amazing how much the old fellow actually knew. He already knew that Kamar was after Lanya, though how much he knew about how or why was a different story.
Kamar could tell that Moryldar was intrigued by the offer, and, in fact, even enthusiastic. Money was nice, but power was better, and the implications Moryldar was making hinted at things greater than just money. His last taste of power had been at the assassins guild on Arantin, the large continent controlled by and off the west coast of Caelteth Eyrop. That, of course, had ended badly, since people so often coveted the power others had over them.
Thar Shaddin seemed different, however. It seemed that those in power strove to keep themselves in power, doing whatever was necessary to keep it that way. This greedy judge, Moryldar, proved it by even considering adding Kamar to the payroll.
Kamar smirked as this ran through his mind, still amused that Moryldar continued to try to control the situation. Kamar knew exactly who was in control, and kept the knife at the base of Moryldar's neck for a few moments longer than necessary to prove a point. It didn't matter if he put the knife away, since he knew he could have it or another in hand faster than Moryldar could finish a cry for help. And now that the judge was considering the offer Kamar had placed before him, the likelihood of that cry diminished.
With a short chuckle, Kamar pulled the knife away from Moryldar and stepped to the side and around the judge. He walked around the desk, flipping the knife casually in his hand, working it across the backs of his knuckles and spinning it several times in his hand before turning to face Moryldar again. The knife simply seemed to vanish from his hand, slipped into a sheath at his waist during the flaring of his cloak in his turn. He stood before Moryldar, holding his slender hands up to show no weapons, then reaching up to flick the hood back from his head.
He casually sat back in a chair opposite Moryldar, indicating with one hand that Moryldar should do the same. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees as he clasped his hands before himself.
With a small half-smirk, Kamar looked Moryldar in the eyes.
"I suppose the businessmen should get down to business then?" he asked smoothly, offering a knowing wink to the judge. "What was it you had in mind for me, Judge Moryldar?"
Kamar could tell that Moryldar was intrigued by the offer, and, in fact, even enthusiastic. Money was nice, but power was better, and the implications Moryldar was making hinted at things greater than just money. His last taste of power had been at the assassins guild on Arantin, the large continent controlled by and off the west coast of Caelteth Eyrop. That, of course, had ended badly, since people so often coveted the power others had over them.
Thar Shaddin seemed different, however. It seemed that those in power strove to keep themselves in power, doing whatever was necessary to keep it that way. This greedy judge, Moryldar, proved it by even considering adding Kamar to the payroll.
Kamar smirked as this ran through his mind, still amused that Moryldar continued to try to control the situation. Kamar knew exactly who was in control, and kept the knife at the base of Moryldar's neck for a few moments longer than necessary to prove a point. It didn't matter if he put the knife away, since he knew he could have it or another in hand faster than Moryldar could finish a cry for help. And now that the judge was considering the offer Kamar had placed before him, the likelihood of that cry diminished.
With a short chuckle, Kamar pulled the knife away from Moryldar and stepped to the side and around the judge. He walked around the desk, flipping the knife casually in his hand, working it across the backs of his knuckles and spinning it several times in his hand before turning to face Moryldar again. The knife simply seemed to vanish from his hand, slipped into a sheath at his waist during the flaring of his cloak in his turn. He stood before Moryldar, holding his slender hands up to show no weapons, then reaching up to flick the hood back from his head.
He casually sat back in a chair opposite Moryldar, indicating with one hand that Moryldar should do the same. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees as he clasped his hands before himself.
With a small half-smirk, Kamar looked Moryldar in the eyes.
"I suppose the businessmen should get down to business then?" he asked smoothly, offering a knowing wink to the judge. "What was it you had in mind for me, Judge Moryldar?"
You’re gonna find out you’re already dead, and I was the world coming down on your head.
Moryldar rubbed his neck where the knife had been while the assassin played with it and moved to take a seat across from him. He was showing off, spinning the knife and making it disappear - all with a superior smirk on his face. Such actions would make some people nervous or maybe even upset. Moryldar, on the other hand, was simply reassured that his hunches were correct. Ruthlessness was a quality.
He pulled his robes neatly together and sat back in his chair with a more dignified posture. Glassy light blue eyes studied Kamar while he listened.
"I like you, Dennison. When I heard that someone had come to our city apparently chasing a witch, and that the good captain suspected you knew magic, I became interested. I wondered what you were capable of." He said, and motioned behind himself in the direction Dennison had appeared. "Clearly it is more than just parlor tricks."
"The jails never hold the good ones, you see. The truly dangerous criminals, the ones we fear truly threaten our fair city, we kill. Those skillful magicians who have an eye for good business and good sense... We employ."
The implication was obvious, though he did not say it directly.
"We run low on good men in this business."
He pulled his robes neatly together and sat back in his chair with a more dignified posture. Glassy light blue eyes studied Kamar while he listened.
"I like you, Dennison. When I heard that someone had come to our city apparently chasing a witch, and that the good captain suspected you knew magic, I became interested. I wondered what you were capable of." He said, and motioned behind himself in the direction Dennison had appeared. "Clearly it is more than just parlor tricks."
"The jails never hold the good ones, you see. The truly dangerous criminals, the ones we fear truly threaten our fair city, we kill. Those skillful magicians who have an eye for good business and good sense... We employ."
The implication was obvious, though he did not say it directly.
"We run low on good men in this business."
Let the tomes be your guide.
-
Kamar Deythal
- Citizen
- Posts: 333
- Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:52 pm
- Name: Kamar Deythal
- Race: Half-elf
Kamar listened intently, nodding as appropriate. He knew enough about the city to know that the magical abilities of the lawmakers was much less than the illusion they created. Especially with the magical creatures and humans who knew how to use magic seeming to flood into the city. Into a city that banned magic.
Kamar never would have come here had he a choice in the matter. He accepted the job because it was paying a lot of money, and with more money often came a higher risk.
Not that it often mattered. Risk was much of the reason he did this job; that and the fact that it paid relatively well.
His eyes focused intently on Moryldar's face and eyes as the judge talked. He smirked at the 'parlor tricks' comment, but waited until it was clear the judge was finished.
Kamar leaned back, his eyes traveling up the wall behind Moryldar and resting on the ceiling, though Moryldar was still in his peripheral vision. A half smirk crawled across his face as he muttered, "I was never very good at parlor tricks." His eyes flickered down to catch Moryldar's, giving him a comradely wink, before again focusing on the ceiling.
"I notice you beat around the bush a little, Judge Moryldar, and I understand that it's a lot of political double talk. I know that as a politician, you need to say things without saying them, and make it seem like you mean one thing when you mean another." His eyes again drifted down the wall to stare deeply into Moryldar's. "I'm not particularly fond of double talk, or beating around the bush. Perhaps we can get to the point."
Kamar flicked his wrist, a knife appear in his hand with the simple movement. With another flick, the knife twirled end over end to stick into the tiny seam of mortar between bricks. Kamar's eyes never left Moryldar's.
"You have a lack of good men. You'll find I'm the best of any of the good men you have, or will ever find. Anything you need, I can get. Anything that needs doing, I can do. I can be your best asset, or your worst nightmare."
Kamar smiled apologetically. "Habits, I suppose. It is not meant as a threat, simply a fact. I am the best."
He stood and began to make his way to the knife sticking out of the wall. "It's your call, Judge. Like I said, I'll be out of this place one way or another."
Kamar never would have come here had he a choice in the matter. He accepted the job because it was paying a lot of money, and with more money often came a higher risk.
Not that it often mattered. Risk was much of the reason he did this job; that and the fact that it paid relatively well.
His eyes focused intently on Moryldar's face and eyes as the judge talked. He smirked at the 'parlor tricks' comment, but waited until it was clear the judge was finished.
Kamar leaned back, his eyes traveling up the wall behind Moryldar and resting on the ceiling, though Moryldar was still in his peripheral vision. A half smirk crawled across his face as he muttered, "I was never very good at parlor tricks." His eyes flickered down to catch Moryldar's, giving him a comradely wink, before again focusing on the ceiling.
"I notice you beat around the bush a little, Judge Moryldar, and I understand that it's a lot of political double talk. I know that as a politician, you need to say things without saying them, and make it seem like you mean one thing when you mean another." His eyes again drifted down the wall to stare deeply into Moryldar's. "I'm not particularly fond of double talk, or beating around the bush. Perhaps we can get to the point."
Kamar flicked his wrist, a knife appear in his hand with the simple movement. With another flick, the knife twirled end over end to stick into the tiny seam of mortar between bricks. Kamar's eyes never left Moryldar's.
"You have a lack of good men. You'll find I'm the best of any of the good men you have, or will ever find. Anything you need, I can get. Anything that needs doing, I can do. I can be your best asset, or your worst nightmare."
Kamar smiled apologetically. "Habits, I suppose. It is not meant as a threat, simply a fact. I am the best."
He stood and began to make his way to the knife sticking out of the wall. "It's your call, Judge. Like I said, I'll be out of this place one way or another."
You’re gonna find out you’re already dead, and I was the world coming down on your head.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, assassin. I like your enthusiasm, but we have our ways here and you must learn to adapt to them or things will not go well."
While he and Kamar talked, he continuously watched Kamar's eyes, studied his posture, tried to read him, and all the while held a surprisingly neutral composure. His smile was gone, and it wasn't going to return any time soon.
"We serve the people of this city as spiritual as well as physical protectors. We are more than assassins and more than police. We are their salvation, Dennison. We live and die by the tomes left for us by the first settlers of Marn."
Whether he believed a word of what he was saying was not evident.
"Once you have tasted the fruit, there is no turning back. Not even if you want to. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
While he and Kamar talked, he continuously watched Kamar's eyes, studied his posture, tried to read him, and all the while held a surprisingly neutral composure. His smile was gone, and it wasn't going to return any time soon.
"We serve the people of this city as spiritual as well as physical protectors. We are more than assassins and more than police. We are their salvation, Dennison. We live and die by the tomes left for us by the first settlers of Marn."
Whether he believed a word of what he was saying was not evident.
"Once you have tasted the fruit, there is no turning back. Not even if you want to. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
Let the tomes be your guide.
-
Kamar Deythal
- Citizen
- Posts: 333
- Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:52 pm
- Name: Kamar Deythal
- Race: Half-elf
Kamar listened as he inspected the tip of his knife, his back still towards Moryldar and his desk. He'd dulled the knife by throwing it into the mortar, but with good quality came durability. It would only take a little bit of work to restore the blade's edge and make it deadly again.
Kamar turned as Moryldar finished his speech. He strolled easily back to his seat across from the Judge, seating himself in a relaxed manner. He didn't reply immediately to Moryldar, busying himself with a continued inspection of the knife. He wasn't at all worried about anything Moryldar could or would do to him. Though the room was enclosed with only a single way out, Kamar still seemed completely relaxed.
After a few moments, Kamar finally returned his attention to Moryldar, slipping the knife back up his sleeve where it had come from. He inspected Moryldar in turn, sizing up the man, obviously trying to read him. A small smile came to his lips as he began to speak in an even, no-nonsense tone that was at odds with the smile and his casual body language.
"What you are telling me, Judge Moryldar, is that 'Once on the inside, always on the inside.' You're saying that failure may, and sometimes will, result in death. I know of what you speak, Judge. My chosen profession, whether within a guild or whether freelance, often comes with the same stipulations."
Kamar continued to study Moryldar as his tone changed, moving from a business-like monotone to a harder tone that didn't quite move over into the realms of threat.
"What you need to understand is that I do things my way. You can give me any objective you wish, and I will carry it out. You can even offer stipulations and suggestions as to how you wish it to be carried out. But in the end, things will go how I want."
Kamar lifted an eyebrow, as if asking if Moryldar understood, but didn't give him much of a chance to answer. He continued in an easier tone, no longer carrying the hint of threat as his previous tone.
"I'm not much one for being in the public eye. It's not good for business if people begin to recognize me and what I do. I'd like to work from the darkness, in a covert manner for your operation. I understand that once in, I'm in for good, and I've decided that I'm tired of the continual need to move around. If you help protect my back, I will help protect yours."
Kamar leaned forward, his easy manner and posture gone in the small amount of time it took to complete his move. With the intensity that showed him to be a dangerous man to double-cross, Kamar looked hard into Moryldar's eyes.
"Just be straight with me. I don't like not being told everything about a situation, especially if things are known. I'm used to secrecy, and know how to hold my tongue-" Kamar offered a wicked smile "-even under torture."
Though much of Kamar's own speech had held the hint of threat in it, the tone was obviously not meant to insult Moryldar as much as warn him. It was meant to be informative rather than look like simple posturing to save face. Even though they had just met, Kamar could tell that the Judge had much of the same ruthlessness as Kamar's profession required of him. If it could be said that an assassin had something of the sort, it might seem that the two were kindred spirits.
Kamar, of course, didn't believe any such thing. Remaining business-like, he continued to look into the Judge's eyes, no longer trying to assess the man through his body language. Kamar was obviously awaiting a response.
Kamar turned as Moryldar finished his speech. He strolled easily back to his seat across from the Judge, seating himself in a relaxed manner. He didn't reply immediately to Moryldar, busying himself with a continued inspection of the knife. He wasn't at all worried about anything Moryldar could or would do to him. Though the room was enclosed with only a single way out, Kamar still seemed completely relaxed.
After a few moments, Kamar finally returned his attention to Moryldar, slipping the knife back up his sleeve where it had come from. He inspected Moryldar in turn, sizing up the man, obviously trying to read him. A small smile came to his lips as he began to speak in an even, no-nonsense tone that was at odds with the smile and his casual body language.
"What you are telling me, Judge Moryldar, is that 'Once on the inside, always on the inside.' You're saying that failure may, and sometimes will, result in death. I know of what you speak, Judge. My chosen profession, whether within a guild or whether freelance, often comes with the same stipulations."
Kamar continued to study Moryldar as his tone changed, moving from a business-like monotone to a harder tone that didn't quite move over into the realms of threat.
"What you need to understand is that I do things my way. You can give me any objective you wish, and I will carry it out. You can even offer stipulations and suggestions as to how you wish it to be carried out. But in the end, things will go how I want."
Kamar lifted an eyebrow, as if asking if Moryldar understood, but didn't give him much of a chance to answer. He continued in an easier tone, no longer carrying the hint of threat as his previous tone.
"I'm not much one for being in the public eye. It's not good for business if people begin to recognize me and what I do. I'd like to work from the darkness, in a covert manner for your operation. I understand that once in, I'm in for good, and I've decided that I'm tired of the continual need to move around. If you help protect my back, I will help protect yours."
Kamar leaned forward, his easy manner and posture gone in the small amount of time it took to complete his move. With the intensity that showed him to be a dangerous man to double-cross, Kamar looked hard into Moryldar's eyes.
"Just be straight with me. I don't like not being told everything about a situation, especially if things are known. I'm used to secrecy, and know how to hold my tongue-" Kamar offered a wicked smile "-even under torture."
Though much of Kamar's own speech had held the hint of threat in it, the tone was obviously not meant to insult Moryldar as much as warn him. It was meant to be informative rather than look like simple posturing to save face. Even though they had just met, Kamar could tell that the Judge had much of the same ruthlessness as Kamar's profession required of him. If it could be said that an assassin had something of the sort, it might seem that the two were kindred spirits.
Kamar, of course, didn't believe any such thing. Remaining business-like, he continued to look into the Judge's eyes, no longer trying to assess the man through his body language. Kamar was obviously awaiting a response.
You’re gonna find out you’re already dead, and I was the world coming down on your head.
Moryldar shook his head and closed his eyes upon hearing Kamar's reply.
"You don't understand. This is not another assassin's guild, Dennison."
His voice did have a hint of contempt in it. He wasn't stopping himself from saying what he wanted as long as he wasn't busy quoting from a text.
"We have an assassin's guild. I'm not inviting you to join them. I'm inviting you to join the battlemages of Marn. It means you do what I tell you. I give you the orders and you carry them out in a way befitting of a battlemage. I don't care what it takes to get it done, but you will wear our colors and follow our traditions when you're doing it."
"Don't think about your other bosses. I'm not like them and we are not another gang of thugs - whatever you want to call your kind. Learn your place Dennison. Don't flaunt your nerve at me."
Moryldar motioned towards the door.
"If you don't like what I have to tell you, you can leave now. I will give you that option this one time." He emphasised each word: "This one time."
"You don't understand. This is not another assassin's guild, Dennison."
His voice did have a hint of contempt in it. He wasn't stopping himself from saying what he wanted as long as he wasn't busy quoting from a text.
"We have an assassin's guild. I'm not inviting you to join them. I'm inviting you to join the battlemages of Marn. It means you do what I tell you. I give you the orders and you carry them out in a way befitting of a battlemage. I don't care what it takes to get it done, but you will wear our colors and follow our traditions when you're doing it."
"Don't think about your other bosses. I'm not like them and we are not another gang of thugs - whatever you want to call your kind. Learn your place Dennison. Don't flaunt your nerve at me."
Moryldar motioned towards the door.
"If you don't like what I have to tell you, you can leave now. I will give you that option this one time." He emphasised each word: "This one time."
Let the tomes be your guide.
-
Kamar Deythal
- Citizen
- Posts: 333
- Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:52 pm
- Name: Kamar Deythal
- Race: Half-elf
Kamar smirked. He had known this was how things would boil down. In a strict, militaristic regime like what permeated Marn, it could only be those at the top who gave the orders. The Judge didn't realize how closely his beliefs mirrored the 'gang of thugs' Kamar had once been a part of.
With a single nod, Kamar gave the Judge his acquiescence. "If that is how it needs to be, then that is how it shall be. I will follow your orders, and I will take care of things how I feel they need to be dealt with. I shall wear the colors of a battlemage, but I will likely often hide them beneath the cloak and shadows I already wear."
Kamar dipped his head in a mock bow, remaining seated. "It shall be as you say."
Kamar's eyes came up to meet Moryldar's once more. "I do have a couple questions regarding the recent prisoners brought in. First, what is to become of the wolfman? My suggestion is death, for he is much too dangerous to keep around. But again, your word is law, Judge Moryldar."
Kamar's eyes showed a hint of repressed ironic humor, but his tone remained businesslike. "Second, what are your plans for the one called Chrishton Radu? I may be able to use him in the future, and if I 'rescue' him, I think he is one of those who may remain indebted to those who help him. Again, simply a suggestion."
Kamar leaned back and idly twirled a knife in his hand. The knife itself seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
With a single nod, Kamar gave the Judge his acquiescence. "If that is how it needs to be, then that is how it shall be. I will follow your orders, and I will take care of things how I feel they need to be dealt with. I shall wear the colors of a battlemage, but I will likely often hide them beneath the cloak and shadows I already wear."
Kamar dipped his head in a mock bow, remaining seated. "It shall be as you say."
Kamar's eyes came up to meet Moryldar's once more. "I do have a couple questions regarding the recent prisoners brought in. First, what is to become of the wolfman? My suggestion is death, for he is much too dangerous to keep around. But again, your word is law, Judge Moryldar."
Kamar's eyes showed a hint of repressed ironic humor, but his tone remained businesslike. "Second, what are your plans for the one called Chrishton Radu? I may be able to use him in the future, and if I 'rescue' him, I think he is one of those who may remain indebted to those who help him. Again, simply a suggestion."
Kamar leaned back and idly twirled a knife in his hand. The knife itself seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
You’re gonna find out you’re already dead, and I was the world coming down on your head.
Moryldar smiled, and appeared satisfied when Kamar agreed to his terms rather than back away at the prospect of serving authority. The man still had no idea what it meant to be a battlemage, especially one hand picked by the second most powerful judge in Marn. There was no way he could know, but that would soon change.
"I will find out what I can from the wolfman. He will likely be killed in the end if we find him guilty of sufficient crimes, but I will not say what will be done until I know all there is to know. At the very least we'll hand him over to the guard and let them deal with him. I doubt he is worth much consideration.
"As for Chrishton, he is wanted by someone of supreme importance. Someone you will soon meet." The judge lowered his voice, as though they were being listened to. "But I have a desire to know what he is doing here and how he managed to evade our scryers for so long."
He stopped and let the words sink in for a few seconds. He was already speaking of an act that verged on treason. Suddenly the old man's glassy eyes shifted to the side. He was listening to something. Something in his head. It took only a moment, and he was back to himself, watching Kamar once more.
"He's out of his cell already. Quite determined, he is. Shame he's on the wrong side.
"Show me what you can do with him, Dennison. Find out what there is to know and then either kill him or bring him back here. Consider it your first test before your initiation."
"I will find out what I can from the wolfman. He will likely be killed in the end if we find him guilty of sufficient crimes, but I will not say what will be done until I know all there is to know. At the very least we'll hand him over to the guard and let them deal with him. I doubt he is worth much consideration.
"As for Chrishton, he is wanted by someone of supreme importance. Someone you will soon meet." The judge lowered his voice, as though they were being listened to. "But I have a desire to know what he is doing here and how he managed to evade our scryers for so long."
He stopped and let the words sink in for a few seconds. He was already speaking of an act that verged on treason. Suddenly the old man's glassy eyes shifted to the side. He was listening to something. Something in his head. It took only a moment, and he was back to himself, watching Kamar once more.
"He's out of his cell already. Quite determined, he is. Shame he's on the wrong side.
"Show me what you can do with him, Dennison. Find out what there is to know and then either kill him or bring him back here. Consider it your first test before your initiation."
Let the tomes be your guide.
-
Kamar Deythal
- Citizen
- Posts: 333
- Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:52 pm
- Name: Kamar Deythal
- Race: Half-elf
Kamar nodded, all trace of emotion gone from his face as he switched suddenly to what he called his business mode. When a task was at hand, all of his concentration was often on it. He attempted to make things fun when he was working on his own, but if a directive was handed down, he would often become workmanlike and carry it out.
He nodded curtly at the response to the wolfman's fate, though he again didn't particularly care, so long as the creature wouldn't get in his way in the future.
When told of what he was to do with Chrishton, Kamar felt a momentary pang of remorse for a possible ally lost. He didn't care about Chrishton himself, but more for what the man could do for him.
However, he did get to speak with the man, and if he got away while under Kamar's watch, it wouldn't be such a big deal. Chrishton was a resourceful fellow, and the Judge obviously knew that. Information always came for a price, and having an ally that could help in various situations was something that Kamar always looked for.
Kamar stood, pushing the chair back across the floor. The knife vanished back to wherever it came from as he stood and started for the door. He turned and paused just before pulling the door open to look back at Moryldar.
"I'll have to get him to trust me before I can do that. That means I'll have to lead him to safety, and out of Justice Hall. Let whoever speaks in your head know who I am, so I can get us out of certain situations," he said. A small smirk appeared on his lips as he looked across the room at Moryldar. "Also, he's out of his cell because of me, so I already have a point in my favor. He's expecting me to meet him at the top of the prison cell stairs in a few minutes."
Kamar waited a moment for Moryldar's reply.
He nodded curtly at the response to the wolfman's fate, though he again didn't particularly care, so long as the creature wouldn't get in his way in the future.
When told of what he was to do with Chrishton, Kamar felt a momentary pang of remorse for a possible ally lost. He didn't care about Chrishton himself, but more for what the man could do for him.
However, he did get to speak with the man, and if he got away while under Kamar's watch, it wouldn't be such a big deal. Chrishton was a resourceful fellow, and the Judge obviously knew that. Information always came for a price, and having an ally that could help in various situations was something that Kamar always looked for.
Kamar stood, pushing the chair back across the floor. The knife vanished back to wherever it came from as he stood and started for the door. He turned and paused just before pulling the door open to look back at Moryldar.
"I'll have to get him to trust me before I can do that. That means I'll have to lead him to safety, and out of Justice Hall. Let whoever speaks in your head know who I am, so I can get us out of certain situations," he said. A small smirk appeared on his lips as he looked across the room at Moryldar. "Also, he's out of his cell because of me, so I already have a point in my favor. He's expecting me to meet him at the top of the prison cell stairs in a few minutes."
Kamar waited a moment for Moryldar's reply.
You’re gonna find out you’re already dead, and I was the world coming down on your head.