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Stare
08-16-2017, 12:59 PM
contains some mature language.

With the thick scent of death and decay in the air, Stare strode though the kingdom of destruction. Her clawed feet clacked against broken stone and charred metal and soft grey ash spiralled around like rain. The remains of furniture and structure could be seen - from the truncated half of a table to the shattered remains of heavy-duty machinery. Machinery expensively bought and installed from the newest Aleraran engineers. This broken world lay around her as the aftermath of a great sorrow, blasting out in concentric circles like the rings of a tree. And at the epicentre of this mighty horror lay the remnants of the small incendary firework that had started this all - the mixture of saltpeter, sulphur and charcoal.

Shit, was her thoughts.

Seeing a small collection of ashy snow fall on her shoulder she swept up a hand to wipe the flakes away. The deep grey colour streaked across her black feathers like chalk on a slate, rubbing into the organic material with haste. Huffing through the high nostrils on her beak she darkly grumbled to herself, looking up again at the empire of smouldering terror that surrounded her, and she knew that there was only one man who could have done this.

Thesus Heysan. A merchant who had troubled Stare and her employer ever since he had cheated them out of payment ... then tried to kill them.

I see, came a quiet voice from in her head, and she knew he had been watching this entire time.

Him, Vitruvion Ellsmith, noble of Beinost and owner of this once mighty working mill and warehouse.

Also, he was a god, but very few people knew that.

Slowly Stare blinked, coming to a stop in her pacing. She turned, moving to peer now at the edge of the destruction where groups of people were standing and staring. Most of them were the remnants of the survivors - those who had been chased out by the desecrators before they set off the explosion.

Head back now, he ordered, with a sigh in his voice, Organise for the survivors to come directly to the Guard House.

Kicking at a small upended wall, all rubble and soot, Stare took a last moment to mourn this place. Then, with a ruffle of her feathers and a clack of her huge beak that took up the majority of her face, she twisted back to the people and made her way out of the wreckage.

As she strode forth questions silence fell. She was a kenky - the bipedal form of a crow, all black feathers and avian features - and thus a rare sight even in the grand scheme of the continent. Even rarer was it that she was the steward of these people's employer, tasked after six months of being his plaything and personal experiment to run the administrative side of his thirteen projects.

One of which was now lying in ruins.

Her eyes drifted around those who had made it out. Some who comforted the ones who had had it worse. Apparently they had been held up in there as hostages for over half a day before the final explosion had been set off. Some had been raped in that time - and not just women, but children and men the same. Some of them had been forced to stay behind - including the Manager, a one Bergen Holt, who had been a proud elf and a kind boss.A great man, now dead. He, along with other randomly chosen individuals, were now declared missing and likely dead, their charred remains very likely somewhere under wood and brick and ash.

Quietly she made her way to one of those who seemed to be organising things. Speaking in a low voice she told him of Vitruvion's plans, to have everyone taken to the Guard House - a once grand and now discarded pub that served as a base of operations on the outskirts of the city. In one of the more unpopular areas, where the proudest would never deign to go.

"There will be medical supplies there," she murmured to him, a tall Raiaeran with raggedy brown locks, "And safety at least for a time."

The man thanked her and smiled briefly to begin talking to his close friends, before sending them out to the general people. When this warehouse and cotton mill were rebuilt Stare was sure he would be a good and popular choice for the new manager. This day would perhaps change his life. Lucky him for having her chosen him.

And you, Vitruvion said, and Stare could simply hear the pain at the edge of his voice. The agony of loss, that only she and a rare few others seemed to glimpse in the strong-willed noble. She imagined him in his study at his mansion, standing at the window. His long white hair would be pulled back into a ponytail, and his eyes half closed as he focused on her. I want you to head into the city, Stare.

I want you to head into the main pubs and brothels and all the other places you might find a villain. Find someone new to this city, rare and unknown. Someone who is not you, or I. Find out when Thesus Heysan was last seen, and send this villain to him, to end him, to make him pay for what he did here.

We will end this. Now.

Nosdyn
08-18-2017, 12:20 PM
One in their midst was an instrument of change and of utter violence and rage.

This one, a Demon of Haidia, currently found himself in Raiaera. The domain of Elves. Remaining calm was oft difficult for him...especially in the plain view of the enemy. For Demons like he, The Demon War's loss of ages past was still a painful memory. Nosdyn wore a scary mask those days to hide his face away from the masses. The mask did not have any Haidian markings, but his panic aura did. People oft felt uncomfortable around the burly Demon, oft to the point of outright hysterical fear. Nosdyn preferred things that way...it made things easier.

There were criminal elements in the world that associated with those like he...knowing full well what he was.

Only thrill seekers and those with a death wish usually approached The Haidian. Despite that, Nosdyn sat in one of the many pubs in the Elven city. Planning, thinking and getting ready to make his next move. His table was empty but he sat there drinking a strong ale. Purchased with dishonest coin but bought so that it could calm his troubled mind for a long moment. Of his house of Demons...only a few remained now and they had grown politically weak. Which was why Nosdyn was sent away from Haidia and left to his own vices. Nosdyn oft thought of the battlefields back home...things were simpler there. One followed the iron fist of the battalion they were a part of.

There was an Overlord named Zieg. He was mighty and proud. Nosdyn and many others admired their leader and wished to accomplished what Zieg had accomplished. Nosdyn observed the crowd. There were exotic dancers of all sorts...all genders. Some were attractive to the proud Demon's eyes but he would only consider mating with a Demoness and their ilk. There was a live band playing varying instruments in the pub, playing upbeat music. He hated the sounds but got used to it after several hours of the repeated songs. Nosdyn took a pull of the drink in his goblet and placed it gently on his table. He had not yet eaten anything...but would before the night was out.

For it was also rare to see Haidians up and about in that day and age...playing at being a daft Adventurer folks.

Nosdyn was a large framed individual his muscle sinewy and bulky.

He was deep in thought when one of the dancers carelessly danced up to his table.

"Would mi'lord like some company?" She was a pale skinned Elf. Mid thirties, and had long, blue flowing hair. She was handsome as far as Elves went...and in good physical shape. The question lingered in the air for a moment.

Nosdyn blinked for a moment and looked at the woman. "'Tis a free place after all. If you wish to have seat you may do so."

She nodded and grabbed a chair next to the Haidian. She moved the chair so she was right next to him.

Nosyn looked at her for a moment. "You are very brave to want to get so close."

"I know what you are..." She suddenly said and whispered something into his ear...

Stare
08-25-2017, 11:23 AM
Somewhere, over in a grand mansion in Beinost's beating heart, in the governmental heart of the city, a man stood by the window. He had long, flowing platinum blonde hair, great blue eyes and a handsome physique. Dressed in the finest silk shirt and breeches, complete with brocade patterning, he waited, seemingly watching the bullseye straight driveway to the gates of the small estate. But what he was actually doing was something else entirely. His eyes were unfocused, after all, and seemed to be watching a part of the horizon that belonged to a another dimension.

Which was not far from the truth.

Because this man was Vitrutvion, also known as Sir Ellsmith of Farrier Heights: noble, master of thirteen less-than-legal projects, and physical-form trapped god. Invested in his mind he was focused, reaching through the metal of a small ring on his third finger of his left hand towards another piece of metal, bound around a wrist. The wrist of a focused kenku who was right now striding into the fifth pub.

Stare marched straight to the bar this time, ignoring all of the odd looks and raised brows. Most of the people here had never seen an animalistic humanoid, let alone a kenku. If they knew anything of Beinost city also they might realise that this kenku was the steward of one of the grandest noble houses in it.

So far the pubs she had been to had been no use. Even though she had sought out the grimiest, most notorious places possible, Stare had seen not been able to find the best of the villains. Thieves, lockpicks and slavers were there aplenty, but no fixers, no artists. All of them so far seem the part-time sort, those who spoke big but achieved little. They were clumsy, foolish, more interested in her than anything.

That, or Vitruvion, inside her head, dismissed them.

No, no, no, he kept saying, watching through her eyes as he stood there at the window.

Hopefully this public house, finally, would have something worth the massive amounts of money that would be on offer.

Straight to the bar she went and slammed a clawed hand on the scarred wooden bar. Her black eyes focused through the dim light, the dusk and the muttering other customers. She tried her best to ignore the current glares and stares, not willing to attract more attention than using the magic her own eyes offered. Instead she waited for the wirey-haired barman to finish dealing with another, and when he finally came she blinked twice. She did not smile - for she could not, and waited for initial shock of the sight of her beaked and feathered form to die down. Then she focused on him and asked:

"Beer, please."

The barman looked at her a while and shrugged, reaching over with a greasy hand to a greasier tap. Grabbing a glass that was clearly dirty he did nothing to clean it, and filled it up with some sickening, frothy liquid. Slamming it down on the wooden bar top he glared at her for a while and then turned away. She gave him a sly, malicious look and then turned away to survey the people in the bar.

Old and young. Gristled and fine. Ugly and beautiful. They were all there. Possibly also heroes and villains. She sucked in her breath through the narrow slits of her nostrils, set high on her beak and leant back, letting time pass by. Grey hair. Brown hair. Slim body. Fat body. She let others through, taking a seat in a distant corner.

Eventually all eyes fell off her, leaving her to her own devices. Rolling back her shoulders beneath that thin waste of a tunic she finished off the last of her beer as her sight evalutated every last one of them, studying their auras that lay beyond normal being preception, and what their personalities told her. Whether their hearts were in the right places or not. Whether they were capable of what she desired. What Vitruvion desired.

Shit.

As she stood to leave she saw a man stride in. A man of dark aura and grim physique. Immediately he caught her eye. As she set her empty glass down and considered him she saw a woman stride up and talk, and she knew that if she could, she would smile. Him, she thought, and Vitrivuion's voice in her head agreed.

Him.

Nosdyn
08-29-2017, 06:13 PM
(Small bunny of Stare, hope you don't mind.)

The words lingered in the air for a moment.

For Haidian kind...some words were power...contracts.

Haidia was a Demon Society...a contract society... And Nosdyn was not immune to the effects of bound contracts. When she whispered in the tongue of the binders...the contractors...Nosdyn's eyes suddenly went wide as his mind was clouded. The woman's voice was honey and she looked at Stare for a moment with a nod.

Nosdyn stood up but stared into dead, empty space for a moment as if waiting for something...a command...a line...a something.

The woman walked right up towards Stare. "Use this document to control him." She said calmly and handed Stare a small handbook. "He's already under a contract and you can lay claim to him in that matter of speaking. I have been waiting for a long time for the change he is going to bring." She nodded towards Stare. Then walked out of the bar quietly.

Nosdyn was in a trance as he stood there.

Carefully staring forward. His mask drawn over his face. A few of the patrons in the pub were staring at Nosdyn at that point...but they quickly turned their attention away. The Demon observed emptiness ahead. The woman had triggered something in his subconscious mind...and all he needed was for the contract to be sealed...

Stare
08-30-2017, 03:50 PM
Bunny away in this thread I think. I bunnied you here, let me know what you think.

In all honesty, the kenku had no idea what to do.

As she held the leather bound book, her thumb claw raking over the binding, she felt her heart beat thunderously. Quite casually, as seemingly normal as it had been to step into the pub and tell the dark man words enough to still him, the gorgeous woman sashayed from the building. Blue hair spiralled around her like a second sky, and she was but a beautiful hiccup in the dimness of the dusk. The door closed behind her and silence remained in the pub, unknowing, unusual, unsteady.

In little time at all, comments began once more. Murmurs, as those who apparently saw this type of behaviour every day turned back to their own boastful conversations. Leaving Stare to look between the masked man and the tiny book in her hands, listening to the whispers that repeated around her head, again and again.

"Use this document to control him. He's already under a contract and you can lay claim to him in that matter of speaking. I have been waiting for a long time for the change he is going to bring."

Control him? This man? Contract? Who the damnation was he and who the blazes was she?

Though some were going back to their own conversations, Stare saw the glances from the corners of eyes. Clicking her tongue behind her beak she realised that having a masked man standing there, seemingly stunned and the interaction that had issued between him, the blue haired elf, and the only kenku in Beinost ... well. Curiousity was a natural thing. At least it possibly meant that she had found someone to carry out this contract now.

Without consulting the celestial at the back of her mind, Stare went forwards and grabbed the hand of the strange man. A brief look into the aura that everyone had, but only she could see, and she saw his chaotic heart, his desire to lie, his dark intentions. Pulsating around a deep violet core - the core that she knew belonged to a demon. Possibly what she might need right now. Her claws that were not around that of the book closed around his wrist and with a grunt she tugged, causing him to stumble into her. Not having time to look at the odd book - whatever it was - and wanting to be out of that room before anything else bizarre happened, Stare half-dragged the man through a back door that led to a passageway and then the outside privy. Once there she found a good enough storeroom, decided that she had permission to use it and strode in anyway, pulling the contractor with her.

She dumped him unceremoniously on the floor. Then pushed the door behind her closed. Moving a box she used the last of her normal strength to drag it enough to use as a temporary door stop, and then she sank down on it.

And breathed out. Took a moment for herself to steadily inhale and exhale. Meditate. Fixate. Breate.

Well. He might just do.

Sighing, she looked over at the man she had placed there. He was rigid and still, like he had been in the pub when the elf-woman - whoever she was - had whispered the initial words into his ear. Precisely what she had done, and why she had chosen Stare was beyond the kenku, but at least for now that could be placed aside and more important things could be settled upon.

Perhaps it was because the woman knew that Vitruvion lay beyond Stare?

No, concentrate.

The elf woman said that there was some sort of code ... word. 'Speaking' she said, Stare looked down to the book. There was no lettering on the front cover and it was thin. Opening it she found fifty or so pages, naturally blank. A quick flip through told her it was all handwritten. And in some weird, foreign language that she knew not. Her eyes pierced the words, and they were descernible runes, but in some sort of language that was not common, not elvish, not even kenku as far as she could tell.

So she went to the front. And saw a single word calligraphically scribed there. She thought over their syllables.

Her throat formed the word, aching to slip past her beak.

Be careful, Vitruvion murmured in the back of her mind, watching every move, If this really is a contracted demon then he may be dangerous.

I will be careful, but do you want him or not? she retorted back.

The god thought for a moment, then nodded. Miles away, across the other side of the city. Yes, we can use him.

And Stare sat up straighter - and spoke the word.

Nosdyn
08-31-2017, 01:57 PM
...At that moment...

His mind was chaotic, it spun out of control for a moment when the command word was spoken.

Then he relaxed with a deep breath and heard the word of Stare speak in the night air.

Nosdyn opened his eyes at that moment again and he understood that she was now Master of his Destiny. Contract were serious business for ALL Haidians and the contract was made. Nosdyn looked at Stare with a soft nod and sealed the deal. He knelt before her and her. "I pledge my blade by your side." Nosdyn said calmly. There was a strangeness in the way he spoke, a finality. For Nosdyn, he would honour their contract to the ends of time. He stood up after a moment and looked at Stare. "My name is Nosdyn. You lead...I will follow. I will obey. Always." The finality in his voice was ever present. The Contract sealed with the hint of the future and of what tomorrow would bring.

Nosdyn looked around for a moment. "What is your Order? My Master?" Nosdyn asked and carefully looked at Stare with that mask covering his face. He looked forward, no longer seeing into the abyss, but rather, directly staring into the eyes of Stare...there was something in them. A particular something...they were hiding something within. But it was not Nosdyn's nature to question those who had contracted him.

Stare
09-02-2017, 01:42 PM
"Holy Kami!"

As soon as he dropped to his knee and offered his blade, Stare was taken aback. Immediately she dropped the book as he began to utter words of fealty. As it landed with a light thud he continued speaking, and looked up to her. Fully golden-amber eyes peeking through the holes of his black mask.

Hiding a face she could not see.

Slowly the kenku blinked and stumbled back a step, her hands up in the air. "I ... I uh ... Fuck."

Uneasily she ran a shaking hand over her head, pressing down and scratching through the feathers there with the claws. Dust and dirt fell, as well as a few tiny flakes of ash that were remnants of where she had been walking only a couple of hours before. As she thought rapidly, her own black eyes meeting his gorgeous ones she fretted and tried to actually realise what the feck had just happened. The few moments of the elf giving her the book. The words 'binding of the contract'. Him, here, now, kneeling in front of her. It all made sense plot-wise, but it really had not been what she had been expecting when she had walked into this pub.

I want to see his face.

"Eh?" she said out loud. And then she realised she had completely temporarily forgotten about Vitruvion here. Her master. Her bloody god.

"Fudge," she nodded, remembering he could see exactly what she did. "Yeah. Uh ..."

Leaning forwards she tried to smile, and failed as usual due to the massive beak on her face. Giving the kneeling man an apologetic look in her eyes she paused for a moment before gently touching the mask.

"Sorry, do you mind if I ... um ... take it-"

Unexpectedly the man suddenly nodded. He made no move to put up his own hand to offer to help, but rather tilted up his chin in a proud, but still accessible way that allowed Stare to easily reach the underside of the mask. Pausing, she took a breath, then very carefully fitted her claws beneath it, gentle enough to not break skin. With a slow motion, uncertainty still pulsing through her veins, she eased the mask up and over and off his face.

Her eyes blinked. And she looked at the man with features as alien as her own.

Deep like the ocean, blue-indigo skin. Sharp, handsome features. Exotic, seamless tattoos. Hair expertly and tightly combed back into a high ponytail. And those eyes that were as whiteless as her own - observing, profound, majestic.

"I am sorry," she said in a quiet voice, as she offered him back his mask. "But thank you. My name is Avis, but I am known as Stare, and I apologise for what I have forced you into. But I need someone to assist me, and assist ... well assist my own master." She tightened her spare hand into a fist, slowly bending down to pick up the book once more.

"Tell me, are you good at all in getting revenge?"

Nosdyn
09-04-2017, 09:44 PM
Revenge...what she really means is Vengeance... Nosdyn hesitated for the briefest of moments searching for a proper response. The mask sat on the ground, in the gutter and forgotten about. Nosdyn blinked a moment or two and then looked at Stare once more. "I am trained to complete the mission...no matter what it entails." Nosdyn said calmly. "My people serve under Overlord Zieg." He was giving her more information that she probably needed...but she was the master now. "You lead...I follow." Nosdyn said carefully.

"...Always." Nosdyn added.

He felt the cool evening breeze against his exposed flesh. He'd gotten used to hiding behind the mask...it provided a small comfort. But it was gone now...no longer a necessity. Nosydn considered the change very carefully. He was a deep thinker and tried to think logically when his own rage would allow him to. It was an interesting conundrum. Nosdyn found Stare to be quite agreeable in nature. She spoke of a Master and the piqued Nosdyn's interest. Nosdyn knew Thayne oft walked the surface of Althanas...and sometimes in the deep places. He wondered if her Master was one such Thayne...or perhaps something else in entirety.

He did not know...there were too many unknown variables. I am bound now...I MUST obey. Nosdyn thought for a moment and considered the situation at hand. She needs to have someone destroyed...my kind of folks are rarely used to honest ends. This should prove quite entertaining. He continued to look at Stare with and nodded. "If it is revenge on something or someone you are seeking...consider using my sword arm." Nosdyn said. "I will get the job done." Nosdyn promised...he was trying to lay down ground work for how their relationship would work. She lead...Nosdyn would follow.

Always.

Being bound wasn't really that bad of a Fate as many cultures oft made it out to be. Bound Demons oft changed the flow of events in history herself. Nosdyn, at that point, thought about his youth for some reason. And undergoing the harsh training regiment of The Demon legions. He thought back to how Squad Lords would train their underlings and subordinates with an iron fist...He thought about what his training meant...what completing it had meant. I have to follow in my Father's foot steps...and eventually serve Overlord Zieg. In the mean time I must serve Stare and her Master. The fates have granted me a new purpose. Briefly, Nosdyn considered his current employer...known only as The Boss by surface dwellers and legal authorities. Will The Boss understand...? I doubt it. He might send sellswords after me...perhaps...I will be ready though.

"Where should we go now, Stare...? The night is young." And truth be told...Nosdyn was getting somewhat tired of the current location and wanted to be somewhere more appealing than that place...

Stare
09-05-2017, 02:46 AM
Stare paused for a moment, thinking. Looking down at the blue-skinned man - who hadn't put his mask on as yet - she thought about what she could do right now with him. She had an opportunity now to even try to get away from Vitruvion. With a demon at her side - for he surely was a demon - she could try to face him. Fight him. Conquer. Or she could try to flee. Run over the plains and far away. With her own demon in tow.

But her heart hammered and she rubbed her temples. No, using this young man like that would be doing the exact same that Vitruvion had done to her. Even having him call her his 'master' was beginning to get uncomfortable. Slavery was not something she liked, or enjoyed. In fact it was a little bit insulting. If she could, she would curl her lip with distaste like she had seen humanoids do, but she had to opt for clicking her tongue against the inside of her beak.

"I ..."

Bring him here, came the voice.

And Stare blinked. Bring him ... To the mansion?

No, idiot, to the Guard House, Vitruvion answered with an impatient note. That was where you sent all the workers, remember.

Ah yes, the workers. The burnt down mill. Those who had died, and the point of all of this revenge-getting.

You want to take him ... into the Hollow? She asked, a little incredulous.

Vitruvion sighed and she could almost hear the audible clack of his boots and cane across the floor. No, not the Hollow, he said. But bring him to the room above the Mess. I will meet you there when I can.

Then he broke away, quite suddenly, leaving Stare with a pause of confusion.

"Oh right ..." She said, audibly, "Erm ..."

She looked down at the man before her. Her man.

"My master wants us to go to where he is now," she said quietly. "There will be many people there and they will ask questions as we walk through so you ..." She ran a hand through her feathers at her upper arms. "You should probably try to act normal. Normal would be useful to me."

She breathed through the nostrils of her nose and held out a hand and forearm to the man, clawed and scaley and irregular.

"I'm Stare by the way. What should I call you?"

Nosdyn
09-11-2017, 06:29 PM
Nosdyn assumed she meant for him to take her arm...he conceded.

And felt his strong arm slide around her own.

A strange thing was their meeting...Nosdyn considered very carefully the situation at hand. She must want someone dead pretty badly... Nosdyn listened to her instructions. "I will obey." He said calmly and when she asked that last question...he nodded towards her. "Nosdyn will do. It is the name my sires gave me." By sires, Nosdyn meant his parents. Demon society was complex and not the same as the surface dwellers societies were. It was exotic and full of danger and intrigue. Nosdyn walked with her silence thinking about what the situation would be. The idea of having to face many people at once made him feel discomfort of a sorts.

Nosdyn figured that he could probably explain the intricacies of Demon society to her.

But at that precise moment was not the time. I have to think about the contract that now binds me and her together. I will give her my life if need be... He thought to himself. The moon above Raiaera looked remarkably large. His eyes were narrowed as he felt strangely calm by Stare's side. Nosdyn knew that the folks of Raiaera...namely the disgusting Elven folks...had been through a lot in recent times. Namely with the razing of Elluriand by the hands of The Fell Necromancer Xem'Zund.

Nosdyn was being guided somewhere.

Somewhere with a sad history he guessed...but he did not mind it. When they walked the night wind passed calmly through his leather clothing. It was a fairly warm night. Comfortable by Hume standards. Nosdyn observed folks as they eyed the strange pair, keeping their distance. Especially from Nosdyn and his infamous panic aura. It made the trip to their destination much less of a hassle than it otherwise would have been. Nosdyn half expected to be thrust into a battle from the moment they arrived...but that was The Fell blood speaking within him.

He waited until Stare spoke again before he saw the set of buildings they were advancing to.

Stare
09-13-2017, 02:46 PM
The silence that had been around them in the journey from inn to Guard House was immediately broken as they approached.

Outside of the large, ram-shackled building that took up a major part of an otherwise unused street, many people milled around. Most had the haunted and dishelleved looks of those who had been through the disaster of that day - now clothed and fed but incredibly done in. They would have a place to stay for the night in the rooms of the Guard House, but then they would be sent back to their homes in the morning, the promise of a new job opportunity occurring some time in the near future.

As Stare and Nosdyn approached a few of them glanced around and stared at her, looking between the black feathers and his blue skin, caution and respect in their eyes. Though they still talked to one another the volume of it definitely fell as they realised just who was there. Most stayed back, allowing the kenku and demon through, but a rare couple came forwards with open hands. They greeted Stare with a small bow and pleaded for her to take their personal case direct to Vitruvion herself.

She threw Nosdyn an uneasy look and started faster, apologising as they entered the building. A structure of rooms and halls began, with a few staircases in between, all decorated in little furniture and panelled walls. The people continued inside, and the pleading, but here they were more relaxed, seated, or lounging. Stare felt a strange wave of nausea come over her as she imagined just what a project this would be, trying to please them all, give these people who had lost their dignity and livelihoods back. Despite the fact Vitruvion was a megalomaniac god he had always treated his employees with respect.

Most of them anyway.

Grasping Nosdyn's hand tight, her claws likely accidentally nipping at skin, Stare pulled the demon past the people. Their eyes rested on her for full lengths of time and when it came to the guards of the Hollow itself there was some contention. As it stood Stare was the official steward of Vitruvion, and he as the founder and leader of the brothers who ran the Hollow meant that responsibility for the general day to day running of the place fell to her. And those under her. With the Guard House really being the glorified entrance to the Hollow - the wicked catacomb empire as it was - the guards were present. And clearly annoyed that their personal space was being taken up by almost all the workers from the now destroyed mill.

"Damn sex-dungeon-bloody-project," Stare muttered under her breath as she stared a guard back. And he backed off almost immediately, feeling the anger behind it. She pulled Nosdyn down one, then two flights of stairs, deeper into the Guard House as it was.

A small hall filled their vision. The end of it ended with a final descending staircase, from which murmurs and faint firelight came. To the right was a single, plain door sent into the wall. Stare took one brief look at Nosdyn before speaking in a quiet voice.

"This ... through here is my master," she said, "Call him Vitruvion, or any honorific title that you want."

Then she pushed open the door, taking them inside.

What lay beyond was a small room, decorated nicer than the rest of the building. Fine paintings took up the walls, and on the opposite wall sat a fireplace, with a cosy white heat emanating from it. It was the only light in the room, but it seemed to be sufficient for the single man who sat there. Regal but relaxed he lounged in the only seat in the room - a red, leather armchair - with legs crossed and an elegant slump to his pose. He wore rich cloth woven into the finest breeches and shirt, with a gentleman's jacket. In his hand, which was angled to his main torso, was situated a cane, and on his face, framed by long locks of white-blonde hair, was a smirk.

"Well," spoke the man, in a rich, luxurious voice, "How very delightful. Close the door, Stare, and bring your new ... friend to greet me."

Stare rolled her eyes but did as she was bidden, going behind Nosdyn to close the door. She nodded him to go forth. Lazily Vitruvion stretched out a hand before him, intrigue sparkling in his eyes as he looked the blue-skinned man up and down.

"You see I have some questions," Vitruvion said, "About you. Firstly, how does a demon come to be contracted to my kenku? What are you doing out of Hadia? And how on earth do you intend to serve her when she already belongs to me?"

Nosdyn
09-13-2017, 03:03 PM
Nosdyn followed Stare without a single complaint...not even when her claws gently broke skin once in a while.

He was used to pain...the path of a soldier was full of pain and sacrifice...and loss.

Nosdyn observed Vitruvion...the man had a ferocity hiding in his eyes...something lurked there. Nosdyn head before that some Thayne liked to take the form of Humes to do their business on Althanas...maybe that was one such case? "Kenku..." Nosdyn repeated the word for a moment as he looked at Stare with a nod. "What I am doing outside of the Tular Plains...is a complex matter. I initially followed my squadron through a portal that we found some time ago. In my youth. My squad disbanded some time after...but I decided to stay on the surface world and not report back to any of my superiors. I wanted to grow strong and powerful before I became as Overlord Zieg." Nosdyn looked at Vetruvion and nodded. "Stare explained to me the situation at hand. Her master is also MY Master." Nosdyn said calmly and carefully not tripping up over any of his words. He suddenly unlatched the mystical weapon at his side.

He raised it for a moment and greeted Vetruvion with a strong gesture. He then replaced the weapon back at his side, attaching it back to his belt. "My blade is at your command." Nosdyn understood how The Thayne played their games. He wasn't completely positive that Vetruvion was a Thayne...but he was certain a being of power of SOME sort lurked behind that handsome face. "I'm not certain the details of The Contract itself. Only that I must serve now as is the way of my people." Nosdyn was trying to explain complex matters..but what somehow certain that the being before him would be able to understand everything he spoke about. "I was briefed somewhat on the situation you are currently faced with. You are seeking revenge on someone or something...are you not?" Nosdyn asked.

"Please tell me more...so I can understand the gravity of the situation." Nosdyn spoke with a surprising amount of articulation. He was clearly a somewhat intelligent Demon not like the brutes of the ancient Demon's War. Some of his kind were clearly capable of vast intellectual deduction. Though admittedly, Nosdyn was still young and was still learning how to control his own powers...he had some way to go still.

Stare
09-13-2017, 09:15 PM
As Nosdyn raised his sheathed sword to the seated man, Stare saw Vitruvion tense slightly. His crossed leg slipped a little, and his hand grew tighter on his cane. Back straightening he very so minorly flinched, and she was intrigued for a moment. Just what did Vitruvion think Nosdyn could do? What is the fact he was a demon that concern him? Or was the simple act of the weapon being raised? Did he forget, that in that moment he was, apart from some small details, a god, and that, as soon as Nosdyn made to attack that Stare would come running, ready to defend Vitruvion to the last.

But then the demon, for clearly Stare was right in her suspicions, after Vitruvion's mention of Hadia, has proffered the blade and spoken the words of essential fealty. The same words Stare had been practically forced to utter those few months ago. Calling himself under Vitruivion also, seeing as Stare was her master. She was 'his'. In many ways more than one.

And then the admittance that Nosdyn did not know the full terms of the contract, and a question of their purpose. "You are seeking revenge on someone or something...are you not?"

A small glance over to her, those blue eyes of celestial intensity catching hers. Into her mind Vitruvion delved, searching through the silver ring to her cuff, seeking answers to what else she had learnt, what else had been revealed. After a short couple of seconds he grunted and lifted up his caneless hand, opening out the palm flat, clearly inviting something to be placed there.

No words were needed for her to know what it was he required, seeing as an image of it had just flashed up in her memory. With a small glance to Nosdyn, Stare crossed the room, an apology in her eyes, before she took the small hand-bound book from her tunic and pushed it into Vitruvions waiting palm. The room fell silent for several long minutes as the god flipped it onto his lap and started gently peeling through the pages, his eyes rapidly working over the spindley words and foreign language. Looking back to the demon, the kenku blinked slowly, trying to communicate to him the need to simply be patient in this time.

The silence went on. She started thumbing the mythril knife at her belt.

Eventually - "You saw the people outside and inside this building, demon," came the rich, handsome voice again. All eyes turned to the man there. "They are employees of man ... were. The warehouse and mill they worked in, that I own as well as other places, has been destroyed. By a man I have been at war with for some months now, which started over the simple fact he cheated me out of money for a perfectly good product-"

"And then you had me scare the living daylights from him," Stare muttered.

Vitruvion waved a hand, but did not look at her. "This has accelerated over time, and this morning ended in his taking hostage of my building and employees, raping some of them and then burning the place alight with a small explosive device. Which I deem to be entirely unforgiveable. I have tried to reason with him, even resorting to kidnapping his daughter, but this has gone too far now. I want him ruined. His title, business, worth, reputation ... gone. I want him gone. If it ends in his death," he shrugged, "It was not my order, alright? If I sent one of my people to do it, the authorities and the public would know far too easily, hence I need one such as you."

He closed the book slightly, his finger still within, "Do you reckon you can commit to such a task? I presume you may have had history in similar projects?"

Nosdyn
09-13-2017, 09:48 PM
Nosdyn listened to the information that he'd just acquired.

This man...Vitruvion...was asking for the destruction of a rival man...an enemy.

Nosdyn listened very carefully to everything he had just learned. Absorbing every single word...image. Demon politics were similar to the politics this man was proposing...stabbing folks in the back...destroying entire households and clans. Nosdyn pondered the situation at hand. "You needed an outside hand." Nosdyn said carefully. He pondered for a moment or two exactly what was being asked. Nosdyn considered the situation very carefully. He would need information, statistical data, supplies...man power and knew he would not have that at the same time.

He was a soldier acting alone...as it was always meant to be.

What would Overlord Zieg do? Nosdyn thought to himself as he considered. He was certain that Vitruvion would provide all the needed information. "In The Tular Plains...we have a military mentality." Nosdyn explained. "We're taught to follow the Squad Leader's command to our very lives." Nosdyn said with a certain sense of pride. "If this is your wish I will see it done. I will bring destruction to the enemy." Nosdyn said matter-of-factly.

"But yes...I have handled similar projects. I will destroy all of his followers." Nosdyn said with a finality. He figured that Vitruvion meant to utterly destroy his opposition. What that reminded Nosdyn of was the way The Boss in Alerar operated. Nosdyn's mind flashed quickly of The Boss of Alerar..but he knew at that point he was no longer one of The Boss's employees. He was a Demon tied to Vitruvion and Stare...and their particular methods of doing things. He would commit the act to the exact working of Vitruvion.

Stare
09-16-2017, 08:23 PM
The smile that spread over Vitruvion's face was utterly glorious. Like a sun appearing over the horizon it transformed his features from irritated and conventional, to utterly satisfied. His eyes, all natural azure as a summer, cloudless sky, glistened with an unearthly light. For a moment they seemed to actually glow - as if some otherworldly essence was gleaming through him, and then it faded, softly going back to a normal brightness. It was not distinct, and could easily have been mistaken for a trick of the light or simply amusement on his part, but Stare saw and knew it as the godly power within him thoroughly awakening, called to engage as he learnt more of this demon's particular powers and the idea of taking that one single step closer to defeating Thesus Heysan became possible.

"I do need him thoroughly taken care of. Either death or complete humilation so that none will ever do business with him would be satisfactory," the celestial being said, leaning back once more in his throne-like chair. "If you are able, then I will employ you. You will be given compensation for your time, of course."

Looking over to Stare he focused in and addressed her directly. "As for you, my kenku, you will stay with ... Nosdyn, his name was, yes?"

Stare grunted a cawing reply, a little tired of Vitruvion always trying to seem so impressive, but interested in seeing the project all the way through.

"Right," Vitruvion picked up and waved the book on his lap. "This, I think I may be able to translate some of."

That made her blink. And she looked between Nosdyn and the god, suddenly very surprised, and taken aback. She tried to gauge the reaction of the demon but he did not seem to be giving away much "You ... understand it? But that language is ..."

"Likely demonic, yes," Vitruvion, "And I am a scholar, a man who is very well old enough to have studied most of the languages, or at least have books on them, that you should know well enough, Stare."

He scolded her with a slightly harsh tone. It made her grumble slightly with a undertone, and if Nosdyn had been watching carefully he may have seen her twinge as a quick jab of pain touched her mind, fresh from the connection between her and Vitruvion. But it was quick, and it was a warning, not the worst he could do and not the worst that had been. She tightened the fold of her arms and just stared, but not reacting further.

"As I said. I will translate this as best as I can to give you more of an idea of what you can achieve here. Likely only a few portions here and there but it will provide a start. As for you and ... him," he looked back to Nosdyn and addressed him. "Go with Stare and rest for a while ... eat. Plan. She will show you a map of the city and where you might find my enemy. You can come up with some form of strategy. Yes?"

Stare kicked off from the wall and without another word looked around at Nosdyn, waiting for him to look back at her, and follow her out.

Nosdyn
09-20-2017, 01:05 PM
Bowing his head gently Nosdyn walked out of the room when his order was given.

He followed Stare out of the chamber stepped into the hallway of the mansion. His eyes were deep in thought as he considered the situation at hand. Many will die...it will be a bloody mess. Just like old times. Nosdyn thought to himself. As he considered everything he'd just learned, he realized that one of his initial thoughts were correct. This man...Vitruvion...he hides power. He will be a useful ally when the time comes. I will follow Stare and Vitruvion to the ends of time if need be. Nosdyn considered the situation carefully. I will have to sever ties with The Boss...but that is something I can take care of later on...I figure that these two are my new Masters now. Nosdyn nodded. It's not such a bad arrangement.

Nosdyn looked at Stare at that point. "Let's go plan...prepare. I need to know what we are up against. A lot of people are going to die." Nosdyn promised. He'd paid attention to everything Vitruvion was saying. It's not that he wants his enemy defeated...he wants the man utterly destroyed...this could be a new line of business for me. Nosdyn did not feel any sympathy towards the lives that were ruined by the enemy. However, he understood the casualties of war. And they were at war. Fighting against an enemy full of hatred and wished horrible fates on them all. A business dispute likely is what this all is...not very dissimilar from the clan disputes back home. The Tular Plains. Nosdyn thought as he rubbed his chin. Nosdyn needed to study the maps, layouts of the structure they were going to invade. He needed to know exactly what he was going to destroy.

Nosdyn walked with Stare towards their destination so he could think...ponder...plan.

The downfall of an entire Clan.

Stare
10-03-2017, 04:39 AM
She led him away from the stairs that had noise and laughter coming from it. Bringing Nosdyn anywhere near the mass of guards, she was sure, would bring questions, confusion and possibly chaos. Even if he was with her. Even if she did say, "Vitruvion." Demons were not common in this city that was mostly elves, some humans and a smattering of other nations. As the only kenku (that she knew of) in the city, even she stood out like a jester in a royal celebration. Adding a demon into that mix, and introducing him to the toughest active army this side of Raiaera ... it was a bad idea.

It was why she turned and gestured at Nosdyn's mask.

"It is alright here, amongst these people who trust me and my 'master'," she drawled the word, "But when we get out to the city proper I suggest you where that thing. I still get more trouble than it is worth, and I am known to be a noble's steward."

She passed by a window and paused for a bit as she watched the last rays of the sun scattering magenta, orange and scarlet across an otherwise deep blue sky. Her single heavy brow furrowed for a moment before she decided.

We will be at the mansion, she told the emptiness of her mind.

Then she did not wait to hear a reply from Vitruvion and turned to Nosdyn. "When was the last time you were in a noble's manor?"

Not waiting for him to reply she reached out and grabbed his hand - or rather had been aiming for his wrist. Unceremoniously she began to pull him again back through the wood-lined corridors and halls of the Guard House, out past the people who had lost their homes. She promised that their plights would be seen to soon, but advised that really tomorrow they should head back home. Vitrivuion would provide other means of work soon. Then she eased the demon out the front door, by the front of the building and then around to the back by a wide, dark passageway where a quiet and fine stables was kept.

Fit for any noble. She gestured to his mask again, then a horse.

"You can ride, yeah?"

Nosdyn
10-05-2017, 06:25 PM
The first moment that Nosdyn heard her speak of the mask, he immediately replaced it atop his head, hiding away his exotic features for the time being.

It will be time soon. Nosdyn thought to himself. When Stare pointed at the horse, Nosdyn nodded. "Not skilled but I can ride...yes." Nosdyn said carefully. Nosdyn assumed the horse she was pointing towards was his. After another nod, he proceeded to mount up on the horse with some degree of skill. Surprisingly, the great beast was able to manage Nosdyn's great weight. At that point, Nosdyn waited for Stare. Whenever he wore his mask, he felt bolder than normal. Probably a side effect of the mask's simple enchantment. He drew the hood of his cape up as he waited for Stare. At that point, he ran a hand across the length of his arcane weapon.

It was silent now, but soon it would feed.

Nosdyn planned to quench the weapon's great thirst. The weapon of his people...and those who were dark like he was. Nosdyn was a Demon from The Tular Plains and was trying to write his own destiny. Much like Overlord Zieg once had. For some reason as he sat on the simple leather seat strapped to the horse, Nosdyn looked at Stare. "Will you be joining me on this..? Or am I expected to operate alone?" Nosdyn had to know some of what she was thinking. Nosdyn's people were a people that were bound by contract law. He would carry on the mission to the best of his capacity. For some reason he found himself thinking of that disgusting Elf...his enemy...Jake Narmonalya. Jake stole from me...one day I shall repay the favour. Nosdyn needed to round up every amount of resolve he could. As he waited he considered. Planned, and thought carefully about what must be done.

Thinking back on his hated enemy, Jake, he considered what he would do if he ever came across The Thief's scrawny little hide again. I am going to kill you Jake. I swear by the bastard Thayne that I am going to kill you someday. That made his stomach swell up in a rage and the rage shot up his spine, he was mentally preparing himself for the task at hand. Vitruvion stated it plain as day. They could not be tied to the downfall of the enemy. Though having Stare along for the ride would be quite interesting. He seldom had the chance to work with an audience.

As he stood there he waited for the order from her...

Stare
10-06-2017, 02:00 PM
"I will be joining you," Stare nodded, kicking her horse's sides. Slowly the chestnut mare snorted a little before setting off a lumbering trot. A second later and the mellow clop-clop of a secondary pair of hooves told her Nosdyn's steed was not far behind also.

"But first we will head over to the mansion. A place where you can rest briefly, if you wish, and eat. And then we can plan and either later today or tomorrow head to war."

She said 'war' as if it was the most casual thing in the world. A simple word to bandy about, throw into the vocabulary of the air and consider it canon. Rolling her shoulders back the kenky gently urged her horse into a quick canter. Muscles flexed and tensed, huffed steam billowed from round nostrils as the mare sped into the streets of Beinost. Faster still they went, allowing the cobbled streets to disappear beneath their hooves as if they were no more than mere dust, and the very dust itself was left in the memories of yesterday. This duller side of the city soon became a long stretch of silence as they came into the empty part of the district - that space between the Guard House, the once mill and Vitruvion's mansion, where the lack of population had brought just wilderness.

White buildings and grey passed them by but still onwards Stare pushed the horse. Twisting around in her proud seat of the saddle she watched Nosdyn apparently riding with ease. Through his mask, however, she could not tell if he watched her and so she went on, no words or direction. Simply the rhythm of the street beneath them. Steadily the houses became larger, grander, filling with huge bricks and the beginnings of ornamental gardens. Planes of glass that could be afforded to stretch over a metre wide came into view, the very structure of the buildings now woven with magic. What were simple terraced homes became lone mansions, and untended patches of grass became vast public gardens. Small back alley stores became official specialised small-holdings and where there was no one to walk amongst the streets soon there were stall-holders in the common markets with a lively, bustling crowd.

Stare pulled her mount back to a trot and threw a nod over to a large crossroad. Leading Nosdyn away from the crowds she angled them back into a dwelling area, to a place where hedges grew tall and the areas between each land area was beyond reason. Quietly and still not speaking Stare led him into a more silent part of the town, where only gardeners sang and birds chirruped. They passed by one, two, three large gates before coming to rest before a fourth pair of ornate ones. Large, made of a dark iron and firly locked they needed Stare to get off her horse and reveal a key from her tunic in order to push them open.

And behind them a cream house appeared, as vast as a small palace and as elaborate as a revolution painting. Stare nodded to Nosdyn and gestured in as she started towards it, saying, "So, this is where I live."

Nosdyn
10-06-2017, 05:00 PM
Nosdyn allowed himself a small amount of comfort.

He steered the horse as a beginner might, but he grew gradually more comfortable at the skill set. When Stare spoke, he listened to her and nodded with approval. "It's quite a nice place." Nosdyn was socially inadequate...but he was trying to keep the tension he felt as controlled as possible. He never knew what words to say to allies or friends. He looked around as they entered the decently sized structure. She...must have quite a bit of resources at her disposal. Nosdyn liked the idea of working with folks like Stare and Vitruvion.

In Alerar, Nosdyn worked for an enigmatic individual who was a called only "The Boss". By enemy and associate alike. He was a part of the "criminal" element of Alerar and Ettermire herself. That contract is what lead Nosdyn to his hated enemy...Jake...in the first place. It was during one such raid working for The Boss...that Jake had stolen from Nosdyn. An artifact that rightfully belonged to his employer. Nosdyn had ruined many lives to try to obtain that artifact and Jake took it from him before he could claim it. A battle occurred, and Nosdyn fled from the site when far too many mercenaries and Ettermire police force showed up. Jake had won that round.

Never again.

"NEVER AGAIN!" Nosdyn suddenly yelled. Nosdyn looked at Stare for a moment after that short outburst. "When your enemy is adequately destroyed, I have a favour I will need to ask of you." Nosdyn said calmly as they approached the stables where the two horses would be placed for rest, and food. "I have an enemy as well. Perhaps you can help me track him down when we are done with the current job. My enemy is an Elf named Jake Narmonalya." The face of his enemy flashed before his eye. He swore he would kill that teleporting bastard Elf some day. Nosdyn frowned behind the mask, deep in thought. He wondered if Stare even knew Jake...or if she did, would she help Nosdyn to track The Elf down. He wondered. He shook his head. "I apologize, Stare. My problems are not your burden. Jake stole something from me of great importance. I intend to take it back from him and someday kill him." At that point, they arrived at the stables.

Nosdyn dismounted with some degree of skill and lead his horse towards the stable hands. His eye twitched for a moment but he held a surprising degree of self composure. Nosdyn looked at Stare and waited for what they would do next.

Stare
10-07-2017, 03:44 AM
Her beak parted as she gently guided the horse into the stable. A stable hand - Jeremy, was his name - shouted out a, "Hello, Madam Stare, thank you," before taking their steeds to a warmer place.

Stare, after a brief look at Jeremy, turned back to Nosdyn, her heart racing still after his outburst. Help him? After he had helped her and Vitruvion ruin Thesus Heysan? Did he even have a right to ask such a thing? Was it even possible after the spell he had been placed under?

But then he had apologised. And Stare felt torn. Lost between wanting to be kind to him, and knowing she would need to wait for Vitruvion's own permission. Why would be even want her, after all, to chase after a shadow. What interests were it for him?

But Stare felt her heart soften. After all, her and Nosdyn right now were in a bit of a similar situation. They both had been caught up in magical rituals, and bound to another being in some way. They both came from a place so far from here, and were aliens in truth. They both had no say, yet both would be rewarded greatly for this. Truly, she wanted to say yes, but she knew she could not promise anything. Therefore she started up to the house, going around the back to the servant's entrance where she honestly found it easier these days. It meant they could go straight to the kitchen where Mrs Deerling, the cook, could give them fresh food.

"You don't need to apologise, Nosdyn," she replied, turning to point at his mask again. "You could take that off if you wanted by the way ... I would help you if I could. But I can't promise anything. The way I see you ..." Carefully she eyed him, and paused as she tried to grasp a tight hold of the swirling colours about people. The way that a person lit up in a certain light when she watched them that particular way, with a hue that gave her clue to their personality ...

"We are very similar," she said, coming out of that silence and that sight, seeing the same shades of dark colours that swirled around them both. He was a pretty dark blue-purple and she was closer to a brown, but they were similar enough.

She opened the door, and immediately the fine smells of a kitchen burst in. A short corridor was before them, alongside a large common area filled with a long table and many chairs, the entrance to a very full pantry, and a steamy kitchen. Stare gestured, leading the demon straight down to the billowing water vapour, where they were seen by a huge-bosomed woman.

"My dear!"

Stare held up a clawed hand and waved. "Chance of food?" She asked, black eyes piercing the slowly place. The bosomed woman nodded and pointed back down, green eyes momentarily dancing intrigued on Nosdyn.

"Of course, dear. Common room, please. And tea?"

Stare nodded, "Tea," and she led Nosdyn back out ... To head back to the room with the long table where she sat.

"What did this Jake steal from you anyway?"

Nosdyn
10-09-2017, 11:57 AM
Nosdyn followed Stare and removed his mask when he was told, without question.

He observed, learning the faces of the people he would be dealing with quite often...should he survive the day. Then they walked to another room. Nosdyn sat down for a moment and thought about the question at hand. His memories flared up for a moment and thoughts of the day he met Jake angered him. But he would not take his anger out on the associates of Stare. He simply sighed as she asked the question, but he decided to be forthcoming with her. "Back in Ettermire, I worked under the employ of a man simply calling himself The Boss." Nosdyn continued, revealing a little bit about his past. It was a surprising thing that he could talk about it in such a way.

"One day, I was sent on a particular job to retrieve an artifact of Thayne Codex origin." Nosdyn's face became very serious. "The thief intervened when I had the artifact well within grasp. He moved faster...could move in a way that I was not used to seeing from Surface Dwellers." Nosdyn shook his head. The loss of that artifact, the report of failure...and the incredible torture that The Boss put him through as a result...reminded Nosdyn of his failure. "We fought for a few hours but he ran...away." He spat that last part out. "He stole the artifact and I have not seen him since. I had been hunting him down for some time. The Boss...his fury was harsh." His eyes went very distant as he considered the week-long torture session that The Boss put him through for his failure.

"I will never fail again." Nosdyn suddenly said with a serious tone. His eyes narrowed at that point as he remembered the long battle he'd had with Jake. Jake used his damned powers to collapse an entire building on top of Nosdyn, but his hatred kept him alive. His hatred had saved him. The memories of crawling through burning stone and mortar haunted him to that day. But most important, the memories of what he'd undergone at The Boss hands was there too. The fury was real. ALL of The Boss's servants were subject to the same kind of treatment for reporting failure. He sighed at that point, his eyes appeared haunted at that moment. But the glimpse went away soon after.

Nosdyn didn't know what he should do. But that was far from his current worries. He needed to get the job at hand done so he could report victory to Vitruvion and Stare. That was all that mattered. Nosdyn looked away for a moment. Then he looked back at Stare. "Tell me the nature of the location we are to destroy. I need to know what we are going to be dealing with." Nosdyn said after he had calmed down considerably. The memory of Jake was a powerful one to Nosdyn.

Stare
10-10-2017, 07:01 PM
Stare carefully watched the demon with her brow raised. Even as delicious-smelling food came - pies and pastries with curls of steam that wafted the gorgeous and tasteful scents towards them, she still kept her eye on him, cautious but keen to know more of him. It seemed in a way that there was even closer of a tie between herself and Nosdyn. They both suffered, or had done, at the hand of cruel masters. This ... 'Boss' of his, with no more name than that, seemed a man shrouded in mystery, but one who had the allowance to let Nosdyn roam free. Her heart thudded with empathy and sympathy for him, longing to understand his predicament more - yet, she had a focus to do. She had a job to do. She could guarantee nothing with her situation in life, it would simply have to give her trust to him.

"It is not so much a location as a family," she said quietly to the demon as Mrs Deerling set the food before them.

With a finger raised she noted Nosdyn to be silent a moment as she smiled to the cook. Mrs Deerling took time to tell them the contents of the pastries.

"Lamb and basil, pork and potato, salmon and rosemary. I hope you do enjoy them."

"Thank you, Mrs Deerling," Stare said quietly, but gently. There was a pause.

"You are welcome," said the big-bosomed one, and then she bowed her head and made her way out, a curious glance thrown towards Nosdyn at the last moment. It was a lingering one, that spoke of uncertainty yet also trust - as if she was trying to understand why Sir Vitruvion would allow such a strange creature who had the air of someone unpredictable into the house. Stare thought, 'Clearly she has never been to the Hollow. Clearly she knows nothing if its existence.'

When the cook was gone she turned back to Nosdyn, voice quieter than before still.

"The Heysans are one of the most powerful families in the city. Thesus is not a noble, but he is rich and on the inner council. His daughter married a Duke ... since she has provided information to us in the past, I do not see Vitruvion wanting to end her or her husband. Just cut off her connection to her father. The tricky part will be in tearing down his merchant empire. That is key to this whole thing. We need to bring shame to him, ruin the Heysans forever. Have his daughter never want to speak to him, his wife abandon him, his son and wider family ... all dead or abandoning the name. As to Thesus himself," she let her voice down to a whisper. "It would be best if he was dead."

She took up a pasty and with a sharp clack of her beak she snapped a piece off. Then, tipping back her head she swallowed the pastry back, letting it fall down her throat and swallowing like an animal and a few lithe movements.

Then, once done, she looked back at Nosdyn, not able to see his reaction under his mask. But she went on, "We start in trying to find out the state of his business, and causing it to fall. Luckily, with Vitruvion as my patron, money for bribes is not an issue."


I have already said in a new solo thread I am writing that the business is actually going bankrupt.

Nosdyn
10-12-2017, 03:27 PM
Nosdyn carefully listened as the plan was laid out.

He only thought of home at that moment...not Ettermire...but home in The Tular Plains. "Back home...on The Tular Plains...there are great Clans." Nosdyn began to tell of the story of his people "All work to achieve favour of The Overlord. Zieg." Nosdyn continued and carefully took a goblet and poured himself a drink. He decided it tasted fairly decent after a long pull. The woman...what was it? Mrs. Deerling is a good chef. I will have to thank her when time permits. Nosdyn continued the story. "When a clan falls from Zieg's favour...the clan is absorbed by other clans. Larger, more powerful ones. It is quite similar to what you're talking about. I'm a Soldier for one of those clans." Nosdyn explained carefully. He did not stop. "My Father achieved Favour with Overlord Zieg and my family prospered for many years."

"While Father grew our influence, our enemies plotted. Schemed. Was the nature of things on The Tular Plains." Nosdyn rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Schollatha Tactics." Nosdyn said the term carefully. "As you surface dwellers call it...the ruining of an Entire Clan." Nosdyn became very serious at that point. "Accumulate enough Enemies on The Tular Plain and you could forfeit your entire Clan, and all it's wealth. I was training in Schollatha Tactics since I learned to walk. From age two or three it was military training." Nosdyn could feel the memories of his early youth haunting him. One battle after the other, friend one day, enemy the next. "My Commander one day ordered my Father's death." Nosdyn shook his head. "Squad rules. I had no choice...no say in the matter. It was obey or die." Nosdyn had a very serious expression on his face. "From the moment on...when my Father was slain by my own hands. I learned that I could lead. I could do any mission that was asked of me." Nosdyn considered the situation.

"What you're asking is we employ Schollatha Tactics here. The complete and utter destruction of Vitruvion's enemies." The Demon had a brilliant military mind. His mind was already thinking about how they would destroy their target. "The financial destruction and ruin I shall leave to your capable hands. But the clan itself...to the man. I will destroy that with my OWN HANDS." Thoughts of his enemy, Jake, once again haunted him. I have to grow stronger, I have to test myself. Only then can I someday kill Overlord Zieg. And become Overlord myself. Nosdyn took another pull of the drink in his goblet. "The drink is good. I've not tasted one quite like it." Nosdyn said calmly.

Stare
10-12-2017, 07:34 PM
She listened to him, drinking in the stories of his culture and life. When she heard that he had been forced to take his own father's life, Stare felt a pang of sorrow. Looking down she could not bring herself to face Nosdyn for a while, realising now that they did have their differences. She had lost her father, brothers and mother, yes, but not by her own hands. Only by the wicked ones of fate.

"I am sorry for your loss," she told him softly. "And I am sorry you have to do this without your true will. If it helps I will try to find the page in the book to entirely release you ... Vitruvion is smart. He will be able to decipher it."

She paused, rubbing her hand through the feathers at the crest of her head before sighing, and deigning it time to look back up. Carefully her eyes sought Nosdyn's behind his mask.

"You will still get paid, but if you honestly don't want to be here, I would prefer to know. My ... Master. He wants you to help and I will not be able to release you until I get permission but it kills me to know that you are here not of your own will. That woman at the bar," she leant forwards.

"Who was she? The one with the blue hair? Do you know anything about her? Also," she paused a while, thinking.

Did she really want to promise something she could not keep? Really and honestly, despite her best intentions? For, at the end of all days she was adherent to Vitruvion. He was her true patron, her god for all things realistically and exceptionally. She could not deny him his power. So therefore, knowing what she did, being who she was, could she give this?

Honestly, truly, fully?

Fuck it. I will deal with the consequences.

Suddenly standing, she knocked into the table as she quickly got to her feet. Frustrated with it all, with everything, she slammed her goblet down. A gasp belonging to Mrs Deerling came from the kitchen, along with a stunned face appearing from the doorway.

But Stare ignored it.

"I promise to help you. Find your retribution. On my tail feathers, I promise this." And she held out a clawed hand to him. "But for it, I ask you agree to work with me on this. We will fell the Heysans together, and then destroy your enemy, in time. I cannot promise now, but I can promise later. And I also promise to do it when we are not bonded by your stupid contract ...

Do you agree?"

Nosdyn
10-16-2017, 01:39 PM
Nosdyn carefully considered the situation. "If not for The Contract of my people we would never have met." Nosdyn said calmly, a certain momentary shadow passed across his face. "The Contracts are simply laws that bind my people." Nosdyn explained. "As long as I am Bound I will be by your side." Nosdyn stated that as a FACT. He'd already accepted the situation he was in. "The blue haired woman is one of The Boss's colleagues." Nosdyn rubbed his chin calmly. "I've seen her on various jobs before but never interacted with her up until The Contract's forming." Nosdyn was thinking of what else he knew. "She is someone of great influence in The Boss's circle." Nosdyn considered another angle. "I am certain we have not seen the last of her." Nosdyn nodded.

"Thank you Stare for what you are offering. I agree to the conditions of the mission." Nosdyn was deep in thought as he sat there. He'd learned a lot in the past few hours about Stare, Vitruvion and many other matters still. The glow in his eyes are supernatural. Nosdyn thought for a moment as he considered what was Vitruvion's ultimate end-game. PERHAPS...they would coincide with Nosdyn's own goal. And that was to become reigning Overlord someday. I need to defeat Zieg with my own hands in order to become Overlord. Nosdyn further considered his situation. He will not agree to a union of our Houses and he would not give up power so easily...I have to grow stronger.

Nosdyn was beginning to understand the basic role he would fill as part of Vitruvion's ranks. He would be muscle, hired muscled at that...but muscle nonetheless. Nosdyn took a pull of the drink in his goblet and thought about the games that The Thaynehood and other pantheons of Gods played in general. Though Nosdyn had very little knowledge of The Thayne Codex, he would make it a point to learn. "Does Vitruvion have a personal library here on the grounds?" Nosdyn suddenly asked. "When we return from defeating The Heysans...I would like to take a look at certain manuals if they are present in those shelves." Nosdyn figured that Vitruvion would have tremendous knowledge of The Thayne Codex. Even N'Jal.

Nosdyn had never been one for small talk, he was a man of action. But even he could have hobbies...of sorts. He was also curious if they had the means to increase his own understanding of his Demonic heritage. He was growing a particular affinity to the powers of Fear specifically. Which would someday make him a very dangerous individual. Nosdyn grabbed a few snacks and looked out one of the nearby windows. "We should attack the enemy when the hour grows dark. There will be less guards patrolling." Nosdyn was becoming serious. It was almost go time.

Stare
10-16-2017, 02:54 PM
Stare looked at him a while, observing the way he watched out of the windows. Tilting her head she observed the demon that she felt an affinity for and let silence fall for a few moments. She considered all he had said - his confession about the woman working for his 'Boss,' his acknowledgement of the contract he was under, his agreement to the promise. Through them all, through all the words he had actually so far, she felt a sense of pride and control within him. Slowly she stood, hands sliding around the hilts of her daggers on her belt and she nodded.

"If you wish to go now, then we will. I wondered, however, if you wished to rest ... but I am guessing you do not. If you come with me I can show you a map of the city and where we are headed ... if that is agreeable?"

Pausing for a moment she waited for him to look back at her and then she twisted away to begin walking. Out of the servants mess and into a small corridor that connected to a set of stairs that led up to the main floor of the manor. The much more formal area, where Vitruvion spent all of his time and her most, organising and governing the various projects in the city from this aristocratic hall. As they strode they passed by many a panelled wall and elegant candle fixture, which grew more and more elaborate as they gained to the finer rooms. Once out of the next small hallway at the top of the stairs they came to a massive dining room that truly was, obviously, the formal eating hall for Vitruvion and his guests. Portraits hung on the walls - a series of six of all the same man, who did not change through a hundred years despite the difference in styles. In some he wore military attire, in others he had sigils that paraded his nobility. But overall the pose and the atmosphere surrounding him was the same.

Proud. Strong. Focused. Unconquerable.

"The library is huge," she said, gesturing to the far end of the room, where a great wall bearing three of the portraits was. "Certainly you can use it later. But what we can use now is here."

She turned to the chestnut wood table, with carved lion-feet legs and scalloped edging. The table was currently empty, save for several large rolls of parchment that she had laid out well before even heading out to the pub, all in the prospect of hiring someone for this plan. The papers were several large maps, including one of the wider area of Raiaera, and then a close up of the city, showing all the small streets of Beinost along with words that depicted out their various sectors.

Walking over to it she pressed a finger down. "We are currently here," she began to explain to Nosdyn, "And we want to get here," she prodded to another house, on a street a good few blocks away. "Here are his offices," again she moved her hand, "And here is his daughter's palace, but we should likely leave her alone ..."

She dragged out another map that showed various plans of buildings. "His office and his house. You should maybe get to know it as well as I do," she said, stepping back and letting the demon in.

He wants to go now, she quietly said in her head.

There was a pause. Then Vitruvion replied. No rest? She could feel him frown, and received an image of him leafing through the book. Wait. Say this, and he gave her a few words in a deep gargling tongue.

She frowned. What ... what does that mean?

Does it matter? he asked.

Yes, if we are to get our - your revenge on the Heysans.

She felt him tense, but he seemed to acknowledge her point. It is our revenge, my dear, he said with a tone of bitterness. But I was telling you a word to let him go. He is useful, but he is filling your head with ideas. I did not give you permission to make the promise that you did.

Stare watched Nosdyn gaze at the map, her eyes large. But - but we are so close.

You practically disobeyed me!

That is my problem, not his, she argued back. You cannot let him do yet. Just because he is determined, just because I actually have potentially made a friend. Do not you think you control enough things in my life?

Vitruvion was silent for a long while. His brooding anger could be felt at the back of her mind like an oncoming storm. Rumbling, threatening.

I made the promise because I wanted to. She said quietly. I, not he. He is more useful to you under control, is he not?

The god leant back in his large chair and nodded slowly. You are to make no more promises with him. True, if I gave him back his freedom now, he would forget everything here ... but you knew that already.

I know enough of magic, she replied with a note of distaste.

And you don't want him to forget you.

She did not answer to that. He waited a moment longer, then agreed.

Fine, keep your friend for now, we will discuss the issue of your promise to him later. Complete the distruction of the Heysans, and we will evaluate his usefulness then again. For now, Stare ... he gave the image to her of him looking utterly serious. Do not go making promises without me.

And then the picture of him faded, as did the feel of his presence. But she knew he was still there.

Looking up to Nosdyn she approached the demon and held out a hand. "Shall we go then?" she asked gently.

Nosdyn
10-18-2017, 12:02 PM
"There." Nosdyn suddenly said.

He pointed to a structure that had the most vulnerabilities on the maps he was seeing. "We will infiltrate from that point." Nosdyn noticed that Stare had gone quiet for a time. But he did not question her, he merely allowed the silence to become all-encompassing. Nosdyn was studying the maps, carefully making mental notes of structures, weak points, integrity situation. The daughter would be left alone so he was not even seeing the structure that contained the Heysans' daughter. He would let her live.

The thoughts on his mind were those of a soldier fighting a war.

He studied the maps for a moment longer memorizing where they would potentially need to take escape routes should the mission go south. He was mainly concerned for Stare's safety over his own. "We need to secure an escape route. Just in case." Nosdyn did not doubt their capacity to succeed, he'd caused a LOT of people a LOT of damage on a similar scale. Images of his enemy, Jake, flashed in his mind for a moment and that burning building that had collapsed practically on his head. His hatred of Jake had kept him alive that time. She spoke at that point and Nosdyn nodded.

Nosdyn was aware that Stare was a mysterious woman that had some considerable skill levels.

He did not know the extend of her power however...he could only guess at it. "Stare...before we head to the enemy's House..." Nosdyn had a plan. "We will need torches, or some way to cause fires." Nosdyn was determined to utterly DESTROY their enemy. He'd studied the structures, simple Raiaera design that was not immune to fire's touch. He was willing to destroy everything that the man they were going to face owned. But he needed to be certain it could be done.

Already, his mind was acting quickly.

Planning, making strategies and tactics.

Nosdyn was a Demon fighting for the other side, and he was about to unleash his fury upon a new enemy.

Thaynes help all who got in their way...

Stare
10-21-2017, 06:30 PM
Slowly Stare nodded, agreeing with him entirely, but the weight of Vitruvion's words still on her shoulders. She had managed to persuade him this time - this once she had reasoned with the god and managed to gain power over his considerations.

To parley with such a man was mythical, for some they had not considered such a thing even possible in their lifetimes. Yes, he had given a warning - to not make promises without consulting him again - but he had also told her that she would need to break the one she had forged with Nosdyn.

Truly, she did not want to. Truly, she wanted to keep him as a friend, even if he was, in part, coerced into aiding her through magics ancient.

Gently she took his hand and led him out of the large dining room. Twelve eyes stared condemning from the multiple portraits of her patron. It came to her mind that he had no other family, besides Ventrua, here on Althanas, and so, compared to other larger noble houses, he had no one to share kin with. Thus, in other houses where generations of family would adorn the walls, Vitruvion had just his own self. His own history, his own life, with Ventura merely as a passing visitor.

"We can use these," Stare said, leading Nosdyn into a vast marble hall. Four huge pillars held up the ceiling and an elegant staircase angled away to a second floor. She was opening a cupboard, just near the door they had come through, and taking out a series of odd looking objects that were in fact just very fancy tinderboxes.

"That and ..." She held out some long sticks of thin wood. "We use these to light the candleabras here. Hopefully they will do." She slipped some of them into a pouch at her belt. "Can you ... Do magic at all by the way? I'm just thinking it might be useful."

She lastly brought out a jar that had no label and placed this, without describing it, in her bag.

"I think that is all we need?"

Nosdyn
10-25-2017, 11:11 AM
Nosdyn thought about that for a moment or two.

Then he tapped his head for a moment. "I have an interesting power, yes. But I would have to do it to interrogate only certain of The Heysans." He also tapped the long haft of his majestic weapon. And nodded after that. "And I have that." Nosdyn said carefully. "I will honour our bargain and his daughter will be left alone." Nosdyn confirmed that. He was a Demon of his word. That much had always been true. He stood there calmly and looked around. The thought of having access to a grand library if they should win the day, excited Nosdyn for a moment or two. But that would be his reward for hard work.

Nosdyn nodded once more. He looked at the map. "Simple Raiaera structures." Nosdyn said carefully. "We will attack from the point I suggested. Unless you have a better point of infiltration. Then we will make our ways to this point, set fires along the structures as we go. I can weaken structural integrity with my weapon." Nosdyn said. If worse came to worse, he would bring The Heysan house crumbling down upon all of them. He knew from past experience that he could survive such acts. The Surface Dwellers...will not be prepared for our retribution. Nosdyn considered what Stare had said. "One more thing Stare, when we are in there stay close to me so I can protect you easier." Nosdyn honoured his commitment to Stare, contract or not.

He did not doubt the Kenku's power, but it would be easier to protect her if he could see her. That much was certain...squad mates were loyal to squad mates. That was true even in The Tular Plains. Nosdyn carefully considered if everything was in order, then gathered his belongings. "Let's be on our way...Destiny awaits." Nosdyn said, with a little more emotion than he meant to actually show.

Stare
10-31-2017, 06:10 PM
Stare slowly got to her feet, looking the demon in the eyes. For a demon and all the trouble that could go with them she actually liked this one. In general, Vitruvion had been reluctant to ever sorte with demons, Raevin, the captain of the guard, had told her. It was mostly due to the fact that they were typical enemies of anything celestial. But this entire situation had been different - Stare had been given Nosdyn on a strange silver platter by a blue-haired elf, and Nosdyn was as dedicated to her, Vitruvion and their cause as the god was himself. She felt no discomfort from being around him, and Vitruvion seemed to not have either, so she could only guess that their continued presence around one another was because of the bond.

"I've got some magic," she admitted. "Good for interrogation also. It is actually how I got involved with the Heysans in the first place. Vitruvion used me as a sort of ... Forced bribery tool," she smiled uncertainly, waiting for the demon's reaction.

She was waiting a while.

"Anyway," she paused between the hall and the map again, taking one last good view of it and memorising the layout and their plans. "If we act swift neither of us should need I interrogate, although I should say that none should escape."

She considered Nosdyn for a while, then smiled and realised she would be in no worry for worrying about him. Certainly, this man, this demon, would help them today and do his job. With a brief check outside she decided that by the time they got to the Heysan business estate it would be dark and empty. Ideal for ransacking. Heaving her bag onto her shoulder she nodded once and gestured.

"Horses to get us there again," she suggested and started down the hall.

A few minutes later they were riding softly with the dying light at their back. A map was in their minds and a god at their side. Memories, hopes and dreams would need to be left alone as they headed out to start a fire and end an Empire. Stare just hoped, as she listened the the clopping of her horse's hooves, that this was all worth it.

But then she looked back at her blue-skinned compatriot and remembered what had had disapproved about his race and their reputation. She decided then that just some time with him was worth it.

Nosdyn
11-03-2017, 01:24 PM
Nosdyn considered the situation.

He knew the score, knew what they were up against. But he also knew he had Stare by his side and his own weapon at his command. They would destroy every last one of the Heysans. Except the daughter, that one would live...that was part of his Code. He would honour that part of the bargain. As he commanded his horse, he noticed that he rather liked horse-back riding. There was a strange comfort in it. The two horses were side by side and Nosdyn was thinking solely on the mission. He had a reputation to uphold after all, and The Boss of Ettermire had trained him to be a skilled mercenary. Soon, they were upon The Heysans property, much larger of a building than Nosdyn initially expected to see. It was typical Benoist architecture but was much gaudier and richly designed than the other buildings in that district.

Nosdyn pointed towards a position they could leave their horses, relatively nearby to the entry point that he'd suggested near the back of the property. A seldom used servant gate. Nosdyn stopped moving first and dismounted his horse. In a surprising show of care and affection, Nosdyn whispered to the horse, and petted the side of his face. The horse was unafraid of Nosydn's natural panic aura. He nodded towards Stare as she also dismounted. Then, he proceeded to walk towards The Heysan property. Once he was certain Stare was with him as well, Nosdyn locked the servant gate and prepared for the mission to start.

At that point, he unlatched the shaft of his mighty weapon.

He was not certain how Stare would react to his weapon, but at that point they both needed to focus.

Nosdyn held his weapon with both hands, gripping the handle tightly. Upon it's activation, a runed, energy blade appeared. Making a terrible sound as of a thousand screaming souls. It was a purple blade,and it would be used heavily that night. Nosdyn held his weapon in the stance of his combat style, and proceeded forward. His eyes were narrowed behind his mask, but he decided to actually remove the mask at that point. His hood was raised back up after he removed the mask, he would need all of his ferocity that night. He started marching forward, the fate of The Heysans, sealed.

Stare
11-04-2017, 12:39 PM
Stare watched Nosdyn stride forwards, his shoulders set and pace full of determination. In that moment she felt a swirl of emotions - happiness, dignity, pride - coming flooding into her as things she hardly ever felt. Here was someone she felt that she could call a friend, and there were so few of them she had right now. This man, this demon, had come to her when she had not called for it and shown himself to be trustworthy and of the same frame of mind, giving himself in loyalty to her. Even though it was a truth that he was contracted to her and Vitruvion, even though that one day he would no longer remember her, that day the contract ended, Stare felt a connection and a sense of honest joy in that single moment. To be with such a person of familiarity, to share the feelings, a purpose and a focus, that was all she wanted. Thus, as he began to walk to the place where they were to start decimation tonight, she hurried over, falling into easy step beside him.

The crow of death beside the demon of destruction. Easily one of her hands caught up one of her daggers, and the other hand remained poised to snatch the flint at the first point of needing to begin a fire. Her eyes blinked fast, clearing any form of blurriness, tiredness and anxiety from them to stress forwards and prepare for war. Which the two of them strode to with condemnation; the pair of phsycopomps, ready to take the soon-to-be dead to the next realm.

Wordless, she strode beside him, their feet soft but firm whispers on the ground. They carried the pair of them forth with no fear or worries, only terror on their minds. Before them stood a rough stone wall, ten feet tall and bordering the beginning of Heysan land. Beyond that was a short garden, then buildings that they knew to be offices, centres of Thesus' command. A gate stood in their way, but it was only wooden, and it led to a path that was rarely used, this they had planned. Stare breathed slow as they approached it, her hand gripping tighter around her dagger and determination growing in her eyes.

This was it. This at last was the time when they would bring the revenge of a raping, torturing maggot. A man who ordered fire and would get it at his own home. Starting in the most unseen way.

"The side first, where the stables are?" she whispered, double checking the plan. Her hand twitched beside the flint pouch at her belt. "You ready?"

And she pressed herself against the wall, looking right at the demon.

Nosdyn
11-04-2017, 04:37 PM
Nosdyn's face was a terrifying mix of emotions. But his golden eyes showed all...hatred. Hatred for The Heysans, their enemy. When Stare spoke they had already made their way to the stables. "Set it on fire." Nosdyn said carefully as they stalked the compatriots of The Hayans. There were two workers by the stables. One on point. and one further inside the stable. The first one heard the sound and felt the sudden oppression in the air. He turned to see Nosdyn upon them already. The man's eyes went wide with terror as Nosdyn attacked. The first mark of the night fell quickly as Nosdyn plunged his sinister weapon deep in the man's chest. Removing the weapon, the man had a stunned look on his face, and a pained expression as he quickly died. The methodology of The Tular Plains warriors was an exact science.

The man slid to the ground, gasping for air as he died, with a smoking hole on his chest. Nosdyn began to pursue the other that he'd seen inside the stable building. This...is a start. Nosdyn turned to look at Stare and nodded towards her. "NOW!" Nosdyn yelled. The stable would be as good a place as any to light a tremendous fire for the night. Nosdyn was intending to destroy every last one of Stare and Vitruvion's enemies. The second figure was alarmed as the fire began to spread and saw Nosdyn approaching.

"We're under attack...!" The second stable hand yelled as horses and other stable critters began to yell in protest at the heat and fire.

The wood of the stable and hay, etc made for excellent combustibles. Nosdyn's eyes burned with a hatred that equally matched the fire that was spreading. Nosdyn decapitated the second stable hand. Smoke already spreading from the stable building. Nosdyn figured that there would be a lot of fighting that night, and he was prepared. Shouting, yelling and curses came from nearby as the fire started to spread. Several of They Heysans came forward in a futile attempt to stop the fire from becoming massive. Nosdyn engaged.

Five individuals came running towards the stable and were quickly cut down. Three remained.

One of the hands was a big leaner than the others, and looked at Nosdyn with fear in his eyes, but was yet brave. "DEMON!" The hand suddenly yelled and the others realized what was happening to them. Too little too late. Nosdyn was already attacking. His weapon gave off a horrifying sound as he moved upon The Heysan hands. "Get every able bodied hand to protect The Heysans, we must fight this--SHIT!" The man was already killed quickly as the weapon went cleanly through his neck.

Two were left. One of them grabbed a nearby pitchfork and rushed towards Nosdyn attempting to engage him. The other also grabbed a farm tool, a shovel, and tried to back his partner.

Nosdyn was prepared...

Nosdyn showed a tremendous control with his weapon and intercepted both of the incoming attacks. The shovel snapped in half as it connected with the blade, breaking at the shaft. Nosdyn intercepted the pitchfork and held it at that point. Nosdyn had a cold expression on his face.

"Why are you attacking us?" The hand demanded.

"...Your fate is already sealed. Human." Nosdyn responded in a deadly threat. He soon blocked another attack from the pitchfork, the other man tried to run away. Nosdyn would not let any of them escape that night. In a supernatural show of strength, Nosdyn broke the man's pitchfork with his weapon, and in the same fluid motion, plunged his weapon through the man's chest. He turned towards the fellow that ran in a blind sprint towards the largest building of The Heysan estate. Nosdyn powerfully jumped forward and brought his weapon downward in an elegant strike at the man's back. He screamed in pain and agony. When Nosdyn landed, he walked towards the injured man as he tried to crawl away from his fate. Nosdyn plunged his weapon into the back of the man, finishing him off. He readied himself at that point. More of The Heysans were starting to become aware of the fire, and were coming for them...

Stare
11-05-2017, 05:15 PM
After casting the sparks at the stables, Stare pocketed the flint and began her run. Her claws clacked on the ground like pebbles against a shore as she pulled away from the hay store and descended onto the victim of the second planned phase. Behind her the flames attached themselves like lovers to the wood, becoming one and reproducing at a rate like rodents. Savagely they became a swarm, feeding on the desire and lust in their hearts and birthing more children to become a raging torrent. Soon the fire was truly subjugating the stable, as people ran screaming, and more still began to run towards it. What they didn't see was the demon lurking in the shadows, killing them off as they came.

And thus the flames spread, thus more came to put out that which could not be tamed. And all meanwhile the kenku headed to the offices that they had originally passed. As she did she spied a series of lights being turned on at the main household in the middle distance, where likely various people were being shouted out of their beds. One of those who would be woken was the master of the place himself - Thesus Heysan. Oh yes he could run, flee from the place but he would be plastered a coward. There was no proof to say that the fire at the stables was deliberately started so far. He was honour bound to come and seek it. Especially when that fire was about to spread ...

The offices were a large block that was once a coachhouse, renevated when the business of the Heysan became advanced. As a symbol of his success they were part of what needed to be destroyed. The fire from the stables would, after a while, pick up and carry over to them, but not before the danger may have passed entirely. There was too little time, too much at stake. To put it simply, the offices were that one thing that needed to die along with the Heysans. In it was all of their paperwork, their years of success, their money. Yes, there was a house within the city council buildings itself, but it would be very likely that they would attack there right after this, reducing every last piece of the Heysan empire to nothing. Or at least stealing and burning the papers there.

First she surveyed around the building quickly, checking each window was shut. Once satisfied it was so, and finding it that she was lucky the upper story ones were also, Stare set around to sealing all of the doors. There was a main one, and also one out to the back, which connected it to the stables. The main one was easier to secure - a great set of double doors were easily bound in a matter of seconds by a stout chain that Stare had. The second was harder. It took her some time to find enough debris in order to build a block behind it. Unfortunately it was unlocked, but luckily it opened outwards, and thus she was able to construct a full barricade.

Once that was done, and the light from the emblazoning stables was high in the sky, Stare grabbed the flint again and set a stick alight. She then took it for a walk around the house, smashing windows as she went, then placing the torch through to enable to interior to catch. Furniture, curtains and fabric ate up the fire easily, and so from the inside out the offices started to burn also.

It did not take long for her to begin to hear the shrieks from inside. There were voices crying, "Help us out," but the kenku would not hear. Instead she threw the flaming stick to the ground between first buildings and stalked to the front of the offices, ready to do as Nosdyn was doing already.

Killing those who came to the aid of the fire. Still assuming this was all accident, as people burned inside the office. Dying, deliberately, suffering. Becoming ashes and suffocating from the smoke.

Quietly she ran back to Nosdyn, eyes on the great house, dispatching two as they came and remaining in the dark. For those who might see her they would just see a silhouette figure after all.

"Office alight," she whispered, stabbing a man in the back. "Now we just need to seal off these inner walls. The portcullis gate should be around to the left. We drop that now and they will all be forced to come this way to go out the back, brave or not. Are you ready?"

Nosdyn
11-07-2017, 11:37 AM
Reunited with The Kenku by his side.

Nosdyn slayed many in the short time that Stare went into the building and began to light the innards of the great beast on fire. It was glorious. Nosdyn's eyes were lit up with the blaze. He was...enjoying himself. A chance to cut loose like that was well worth the price he'd paid with the contract. He growled as he cut down several more of The Heysans, confusion and uncertainty in their ranks. Smoke swirled through the night making it difficult for the feeble Humes to breathe and concentrate. Nosdyn cut down several more as they were running in a futile attempt to put the fires out. Stare returned and gave the next set of instructions, which would be followed to exact specifications.

Nosdyn took his mighty weapon and nodded towards Stare. He moved towards the portcullis suggested by Stare and the fires inside the building were already spreading quickly. Nosdyn took his weapon, and he began to slash at the support structures. A few of The Heysans ran towards Nosdyn, he cut them down and prepared to collapse the nearby walls. A few skilled slashes did the trick and he saw the fires were already moving quickly inside. Their fate was sealed. Nosdyn frowned and as a precaution, activated his iron skin capacity. He felt the rush of fell energy coursing through his blue skinned body.

Nosdyn continued to slash at the wall and the support structure, and soon the weight of the fire caused that portion of the building to cave in. It brought back flashbacks quickly from his battle with Jake. However, that served as a focusing drive. One the crashing sound was heard, Nosdyn proceeded to cut down those who attempted to flee from inside the building...

No mercy would be shown.

As a Demon, he struck down all he could find. It was a matter of simply what he was, and he took great pleasure in the slaughter. As he fought, he considered the next optimal movement. He cut down several more in one fluid action, screams filling the night. He stabbed another in the back as they were knocked down. This strangely reminded him of the many dirty jobs he'd done under The Boss' employ. He knew that he would use every inch of skill he could muster. To Nosdyn, the only strange part of it was working in front of an audience. He didn't know how to feel about that.

Nosdyn was quite skilled at what he did. There were several Benoist guards running towards the property, trying to figure out what the fuck just happened. Nosdyn began to make short work of them, leaping at them from the shadow. As he struck folks down he couldn't help but wonder if The Heysan's lord, their target, had already fallen. As he thought that, a shadowy figure broken and defeated began to emerge from the husk of his building...

Stare
11-10-2017, 04:20 PM
As Nosdyn took care of the portcullis, Stare weaved her way around to the main building. Slowly it was emptying, the people running towards her or the demon, for she was directly and deliberately in the path of the way to the back gate. As they ran she was merciless, slaying them without a second thought as if they were parasites.

But this was it, this was the purpose and the justice that Thesus Heysan had brought to himself. Stare took up position at the lawn, facing the grand house with the burning offices behind her. Between kills she took the container of the thick liquid she had brought with her and took time to dip an entire arrow with the contents. Careful not to spill any onto her hands or claws she created the arrow of unspoken doom. After felling a personal guard with a flick of her wrist and a glare of pain that made him be frozen in place, Stare fixed the arrow onto her small bow.

Then, taking out the flint and steel for one final time she lit up the fisted arrow and a heavy, horrible stench arose. As quickly as she could she launched it, past the dark image of the man stumbling through smoke.

The arrow landed dead through a window, smashing glass as it did. There was a pause - then a huge explosion rippled tub the dark night, lit by flames.

BOOM, it sounded. BOOM! The doom of the Heysans.

The figure between her and Nosdyn, who had been stumbling through the smoke looked back. His best hair, his purple robe and the small eyes gave him away as he sucked in a breath of horror. Looking back at his own mansion, his own world that he had made happen.

Thesus Heysan was finally here.

He looked over to Nosdyn, apparently not noticing Stare at all. Maybe she was so black that she merged better than the demon with the night.

His lips parted.

"Who ... Who are you?"

Nosdyn
11-13-2017, 02:57 PM
Nosdyn killed another of the followers, they were becoming less and less at that point. He knew Stare was doing the same thing he was. As he stood there he noticed the shadowy figure emerge from the crumbling building, scream of panic and death and uncertainty. Thesus looked at Nosdyn at that point and asked again. "Who are you?"

Nosdyn blinked at that point and there was a tense moment as he stared at Thesus. Nosdyn was contracted, and honour-bound to keep all information about Vitruvion and Stare hidden. He would not reveal any of that information and would act as a third party. It was perhaps, a convenient thing that Nosdyn was a Demon. Several of The Heysan guards surrounded Nosdyn at that point and Thesus. Nosdyn was not afraid of any of it. He was a soldier...fighting a war. He was in front of the enemy and this was just another battle for Nosdyn. Though Stare made the situation somewhat more personal, Nosdyn considered the matter at hand.

He began to kill the guards that surrounded him. "Generations, ago your people stopped my ancestors from taking ALL of Althanas. I am here to gain revenge." It was a simple motive and desire, true, but never the less meaningful. "You will never know who I am. But I know who you are. Thesus Heysan." Nosdyn said very carefully. Pronouncing the man's name with absolute hatred. At that point, he cut down the last few guards and began to walk towards Thesus. For some reason, Nosdyn shut down his majestic weapon. He placed it back against his side. Then, he swung towards Thesus preferring to finish the man off with his own hands...

"Your fate has already been sealed." Nosdyn said as he swung towards Thesus.

Stare
11-15-2017, 10:40 AM
Stare breathed in and allowed Nosdyn to speak the words that would bring about the destruction of Thesus Heysan.

Around them, his world burned. The offices were in smoke, flames rising high and clawing at the dusky sky as if starving beasts who needed to feed. Every so often a pop and a crash would signal another window caving in, a woosh would tell of another room becoming embroiled in the deadly, heated embrace. Cries, choking sobs and pleas for help told of those who had become trapped inside because of the methods of the kenku. Beside it the stables, with their horses now fleeing if they could and screaming in fear, was alive with blazing infernos, the roof alight with brilliant colours. The stink of charred, burnt bodies stung the air, poisoning every nose that it came across. It hung like a cruel miasma, existing long after death and refusing to disappate as the hungry blaze began to devour the trees now.

BOOM!

Another explosion went rippling across the courtyard as the fire in the main house met something else immensely combustible. Huge new flames launched like birds fleeing danger from the house, but tethered by their tail feathers. Embracing the house they begged like those of the office building, clambering upwards along the walls and pleading to the sky with signals of smoke. Please, they emplored, please, feed us more.

And Stare stood as a shadow in the darkness, with the billows of smoke from a thousand tongues of flame behind her. With knife in each hand she watched her new found friend tell the master of this failing empire lies, even before his timely death. Thesus Heysan, Lord Heysan and Master of the Heysan Estates, drew a long steel blade from his side and held it with uncertain hands at the demon. Letting out a cry he yelled in fury, never seeing the kenku who was attending it all, and began to run at the one who had just downed his guards.

Human against demon. Noble against trained killer. It was never going to be a pretty sight. Stare kept her beak held high, little remorse for the memories of the burnt warehouse and mill, the near one hundred workers held hostage, and her own near death experience at this man's hand. Yes, there were innocents here, yes not all of them needed to die, but this was her life now. It was how justice was brought to those who stood against Sir Vitruvion Elssmith - a man who was secretly a god, and held more power in his little finger than many ever dared dream of.

Clash, blades struck one another. Blood flew, it could not be told who it was. Desperately and with rage on his face Thesus flew at Nosdyn, asking him over and over again who he was, and still Nosdyn lied. He kept on lying as he powerfully slammed the nobleman back a few steps, then negotiated some others. Sweat glistened on brows under the heat of the fires around them and the ready efforts of battle. Stress, grunts of displeasure came as they exchanged blows.

Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

Thesus began to laugh. Lips upturning he began to presume he was winning as Nosdyn took a blow. And a step backwards. Then another blow, a slash across the cheek. Small and slight - a mere flesh wound that could have been by his own making.

Still Stare watched as the idiot lord slashed wildly, too wildly, his confidence making him arrogant. An opening. Nosdyn ducked in and stabbed the man through the heart. For a while the idiotic grin remained on Thesus Heysan's face - and then it flickered.

And fell.

As his own body collapsed to the ground. Dead.

Nosdyn
11-16-2017, 01:06 PM
A myriad of emotions crossed Nosdyn's mind at that point.

He wasn't certain why...but the feeling that he was killing with an audience made the situation that much sweeter to him. He felt guilty in some ways about Stare's situation. He wondered if he should have let Stare get the kill, but the situation no longer mattered. After stabbing Thesus one last time, the man's defeated boy fell. Nosdyn felt the rippling steam and heat in the air from the fire that burned. A fire burned. Strangely enough, the inferno shone brilliantly in Nosdyn's glowing eyes. Nosdyn turned slowly to locate Stare, he was genuinely concerned for her well being. Contract or not, Nosdyn had his honour.

He raised his hood up at that point and began to slowly walk towards Stare. A symphony of screams filled the night as the old estate burned and crumbled on itself. It was glorious. At the same time, Nosdyn thought of the night he met Jake. One day... I will have my revenge. He fled last time...but I will finish what was started...this I swear. Nosdyn spotted Stare looming in the shadows, and he moved towards her. He nodded towards his...friend. "It is done." Nosdyn said with an almost poetic sense of finality.

The Heysans were finished. That night, an entire noble's clan fell at the hands of one psychotic Demon and the kenku by his side. Fire burned through the night and he looked at Stare with a heightened sense of emotions, a hunger for her. "We should get going." Nosdyn said calmly. "The escape route we secured will suffice." His military mind was put to the test, but it had come through in spades. And the fires began to spread. As Nosdyn stood there he felt heat in his fell blood. The cut that Thesus had given him, would remain intact. He didn't bother trying to heal it, or close it up. his black blood, ichor, trickled down from the flesh wound.

It didn't even hurt.

Nosdyn felt a different kind of feeling for Stare at that moment. He was not even certain why he felt that way...perhaps it was the heat of the fire. The thrill of combat...or maybe something more. There may be more guards about I will cover our escape. Nosdyn's glowing eyes danced about the area as they left the burning husk of a property. It had all been perfectly executed, The Heysans were no more. The only person spared...upon the request of Vitruvion and Stare...the daughter. She would survive, but would not have enough influence to rebuild. Nosdyn observed the road forward and kept looking for anymore wayward guards that would attempt to stop them...none came.

The Heysans were abandoned, and that was the price of society...

Stare
11-18-2017, 02:27 AM
Wrapping her clawed hand around his, Stare led Nosdyn from the burning horror. Both of dropping with blood that was not their own, sprinkled with ash from fires they had started, the two of them got on their waiting mounts From there they rode like savage warriors through the streets, deliberately taking wrong routes to confuse those who may be already suspicious.

Eventually they got back to the house, sneaking in around the back, taking the horses by a back gate that no one but the cook used. It was night now, and it would take the city just until early morning to become alive with rumours. It was better to seem asleep and unknowing. Therefore Stare stabled the stallions herself before leading Nosdyn upstairs. She quietly showed him a room, then bid him good night before heading to her own.

She refused to look back. She had seen his intense stare, and she knew what instincts were driving him. But this night, this time ... She couldn't. Not without talking to Vitruvion first, however ridiculous it sounded.

Therefore she washed roughly and curled up under her soft covers and blankets.

---

Clunk.

"Here," said the god quietly, placing the bag of money before the demon.

Heavy sounding the bag was a blue velvet, with draw strings. It was pristine, as if bought just fit this occasion. Vitruvion kept his eyes glued to the bag for some time before lifting his eyes back up to meet Nosdyn's.

"Three thousand gold. Should be sufficient."

Stare's brow rose. Certainly it was a generous amount, and an outrageous offer seeing as he had shown such dislike towards the demon earlier. But the morning had come, and no connection between the terrors of the night at the Heysan estate and the Elssmith enterprises had been made. Instead the rumours spoke of a demon that had come seeking ancient revenge for secret crimes.

"You did well," Vitruvion admitted as he stood opposite both of them, across the desk in the library where they were gathered.

"The inner city offices shouldn't take long to sort out," Stare said quietly.

Her master nodded in agreement. "I would think so." He paused. "Now that this has concluded, however, it is right that we let you do, demon. Is this enough money? And will you entirely lose your memory when you are released from my kenku's service?"

Nosdyn
11-28-2017, 08:23 PM
Nosdyn carefully looked at Vitruvion and considered what the man was saying.

For Demons contracts were a binding for of servitude...but was that really so bad? If he releases me...I won't remember anything. Won't be able to defend myself if they come after me for lack of memories...that won't do. Nosdyn thought long and hard, and an idea crossed his mind. Is a life of servitude really that bad...? After a long, deliberate ten minutes of silence passed. Nosdyn suddenly looked right into Vitruvion's eyes. The god that slept within mortal flesh.

"I have a different proposal." Nosdyn suddenly said out loud. "If you release me...I won't remember a thing. BUT. I propose that you keep me bound. I rather enjoy working for you two anyway." The life of a soldier bound wasn't so bad. It's no different from squadron command...servitude... Nosdyn considered what he was saying very very carefully. "Keep me on the books. I will do whatever is required..." Nosdyn looked at the money pouch. "Also...keep your money...I do not need such funding. I'm more of a soldier in the ranks of my people anyway. I do what's needed." For one of the first few times since Nosdyn had been bound, The Demon sincerely smiled. It was actually quite an interesting event.

Though he didn't always agree with how The Gods...The Thayne...did things...he found himself liking Vitrivion's agenda. It wasn't that different...from squad tactics of Tular Plains. It wasn't that different from The Overlords. Nosdyn considered what he was saying as he waited for Vitruvion and The Kenku's response. He hoped his response would be acceptable. I don't want to...forget. Nosdyn thought to himself.

Stare
12-02-2017, 01:18 PM
With hope at the request this time also coming from the demon, Stare turned and looked at Vitruvion, her eyes large and bright. In them she poured in her desire to have a friend, just a single compatriot in this world. Of course, there were people like Nevin, but she had but met him once, and once was not enough to truly be able to make the bond that she and Nosdyn had that night.

They had killed together, brought about the destruction of a house with fire and fury and blood. There was no deeper understanding than that, where two people could come and know that both of them were as dark hearted as each other, each capable of committing murder.

And Stare had seen Nosdyn do it with joy in his features, just the same rush of energy and excitement that she herself had known. Would always know now she was 'Stare' and not 'Avis'. By the kami, Avis had been so very, very weak, even though she was a fighter, she would never had sought to kill. Not if she had to. Stare, on the other hand ... Stare was what Vitruvion had made, what he wanted her to be. Both lady and monster when the times came, as genteel as he could be, as ruthless and merciless as he. A being full of hate, rage and horror, that had seen the deaths of her entire family.

Quietly, Vitruvion looked back to her, one eyebrow inching up bit by bit. Her own black eyes forged a pathway into his ice blue ones, and the dead silence went on for some time. No sound, not even a creaking of the old flooboards could be heard as she begged him with no words, only her thoughts. She told him that it was his fault she was like this now, and he entirely admitted it. A sly smile told her that he was proud of what he had created within her, and that it was his right after all.

You are, well, mine.

And I found the answer. We have ended Heysan, she desperately went on, Nosdyn is strong, you saw what he did. Clever and a good killer. Is it really worth getting rid of him now?

Vitruvion sucked in his breath and actually, for one of the only times, paused in his consideration. He would have shrugged were it not of a good demaneour. Looking over to Nosdyn he eyed the demon for a while and then finally, finally, nodded.

"There are conditions to your proposal, for me to accept. First, you will tell nobody of your association with this house. I have a facade to protect, I am sure you understand. Secondly, I will not be constantly hiring you. I do not have the need, right now, for a demon constantly on my payroll, and I prefer to not have one stalking around my home. When you require work, you request it, when I need work, I will let you know and you will come. At those times, for those jobs you will be paid."

And he is loyal. He has literally be sworn to do what I ... what I ... She could not quite finish her sentence.

What you order him to do. Well, what I order you to order him to do.

He paused and folded his arms. "Is that sufficient?"

Nosdyn
12-03-2017, 07:08 PM
Nosdyn listened to the man very VERY carefully.

The conditions were laid down plain as day and Nosdyn understood that they would be absolute. No wiggle room, or room for error. It would be now or never. He is interested as well...in an alliance. All good things start small...but the interest is there. Nosdyn thought to himself and waited to forge the right words. They were difficult for him to express under such circumstances, but the fact remained. I...don't want to forget. Nosdyn considered for a moment longer and looked at Vitruvion dead in his eyes, without fear. He'd played The Thayne's game before...he suspected this would not be the last time The Thaynehood would see fit to use Nosdyn as a tool of war.

He really did not mind.

Before he knew it...

"...I accept your terms. The conditions will suffice for the time being." It was a sincere and honest sort of request. I don't want to forget them...nor the truth. Gods walked in mortal flesh...Vitruvion was proof of that. It was clear to Nosdyn that the deity contained within mortal flesh...wanted something but was too stubborn to request that something of mortals directly. It's a game they all play...nothing more...nothing less. But it will get interesting from here on in. Nosdyn looked at Stare for a moment and then back to Vitruvion. There is something there...but I won't pry...that's not what friends do. Though a bit of a weird thing, Nosdyn did have an honour code of sorts.

Nosdyn could only wait to see what the next step would be...but for now, he was satisfied that they would allow him to keep his memories.

And his friend...

Stare
12-05-2017, 11:13 AM
Slowly, Stare walked back with him from the house. Her heart heavy she knew that this was going to be a difficult goodbye. From the time she had entered this city she had made so many few friends, and not one as strong and steadfast as with this demon in just a single few days. Breathing became sighing and she stayed quiet as they walked their way towards the central carriage station in the city, that would take Nosdyn then to the harbour, or with a horses back south to his homeland of the Tular Plains. Even Skra, the dwarf baker who had taken Stare in as his apprentice when she had first come here, could not get to the same level of friendship as she felt she had made with Nosdyn. He did not share her complete loss of family. He did not share in the racism, the confusion of people, the belittling of them, all because they were different.

"I will miss you," she said quietly, as they approached the archway, with the words 'Grand Carriage Station' written in iron lettering, and pinned atop it in a industrial fashion. "It was good to meet someone so similar."

She ran a hand through her feathers and paused before tapping the demon on the shoulder. Then she stepped forwards and gently hugged him - the first time she had really touched anyone, of her own choice, and in a friendly way since her promotion into life. She kept the hug there for a moment, and then stepped back to nod.

"We will be in contact, I am sure. Vitruvion won't keep you waiting for too long ... though you have your own life to get to, and I have my promise to keep to you. As you helped us, so I will help you retrieve what was stolen." She looked down, eager for tears not to fall. So few days had it been. Maybe two at most, the hours had merged together so delicately. Pausing, she pushed a hand into a pouch at her belt and withdrew a small, purple stone. It was smooth, the colour of violets and almost perfectly round.

"If you ever feel this heat up ... It will let you know that we need you. Also if you need me just hold it and think of our address." She looked right at him "... Goodbye, my friend," and she hugged him again.

Then stepped away. Kenku and demon separated then, both eager for the next time their paths would cross.

Breaker
12-17-2017, 02:17 PM
Thread Title: How to Hire a Villain
Judgment Type: Condensed Rubric
Participants: Stare, Nosdyn

This was an interesting thread detailing the meeting of two like-minded mercenaries, the development of a relationship between them and their patron, and the destruction of a rival lord's property. I really enjoyed the steadfast references to other characters such as Zieg and Jake by Nosdyn, and some of the pretty pieces of imagery from Stare. Overall I feel like you both have a lot you can work on improving, however, so let's move on to the scores and commentary by category.

Plot: 13/30

This story got off to a very slow start. What could have been a dynamic inciting incident (the blue-haired woman giving Stare control of Nosdyn) instead got stretched out to be painfully and awkwardly long. After that it felt like the story mostly consisted of talking and thinking heads until it finally picked up when the climax arrived. What you want is an inciting incident/narrative hook that really grabs the reader's attention and leaves them wanting more, followed by rising action that builds the tension until the climax. This felt more like a questionably convenient opening, followed by a lot of conversation. While the prose and conversation did provide some exposition, there was really nothing to keep a reader invested in the storytelling and anticipating what will happen next. If the most interesting thing in the beginning and middle of your story is a character's history, you definitely need to make some adjustments.

To be more specific, I would definitely recommend a stronger element of planning for your next thread. This one felt like you agreed on a general premise and then just kind of went for it. Neither of you seemed completely comfortable bunnying the other's character, which made those instances where you did bunny fairly awkward. Ideally the introduction of the fire could have segued a lot more naturally into the meeting of the main characters, which I already mentioned felt really convenient, despite the lantern Stare tried to hang on it in post 7. Overall I felt like the middle of the story was mostly filled with exposition and memories rather than actual rising action. This is where the planning comes in; if you'd pre-planned specific things that your characters would do to advance the plot, you wouldn't have ended up with post after post of motionless conversation and memory.

Whereas the beginning and middle (and the climax, really) felt longer than necessary, the ending felt short, almost rushed, and almost as convenient as the initial meeting. It didn't make much sense to me that two hardened killers and experienced mercenaries such as Stare and Nosdyn would become so friendly after spending what totaled maybe twenty four hours together. Yes fighting and killing together forges trust, but the way they both just decided to trust each other completely without an ounce of doubt rang really false for both of them. If you'd had a few more posts after the climax of them debriefing from the mission and getting to know each other, you could have made the friendship seem a lot more legitimate.

Character: 12/30

As I hinted at above, action was really the weakest element of this thread. A lot of the time the dialogue and internal monologue took place in a void where nothing was really happening. When they were expressed, actions were often awkwardly written and difficult to follow/understand. Here are a couple of examples of this:


Her claws that were not around those of the book This is such an awkward way of saying she used her other hand, that I had to read it several times to understand what was happening.


So she went to the frontI had no idea what was happening until I got to the sentence after this one. Taken on its own, this phrase would seem to indicate that Stare went to the front of the bar, not flipped to the front of the book as intended.

This is just a couple of really a lot of examples I cited in my notes of awkward or unclear action. I noticed that Nosdyn had a tendency to write really generic, non-specific actions, whereas Stare was more specific but had a tendency to get overly wordy and focus on unimportant things.

Communication was probably this thread's most redeeming category on the rubric. The dialogue was decent and in character despite Nosdyn's tendency to say some fairly cliche things, such as telling two different people "your fate is sealed" during the climax. You also both utilized internal monologue well to provide backstory and flesh out your characters. The personas of the main characters felt fairly weak and inconsistent. To relate back to something I said earlier, it seemed like you just decided that your characters would become friends in this thread and didn't bother so much with planning out the how. The result was that the relationship kind of got shoehorned in, and both protagonists seemed to come across their feelings of trust and friendship far too easily.

Prose: 13/30

The commentary I have for the two of you in this section is fairly different, so I'm splitting it up.

Nosdyn: You have some serious mechanical issues to address. Luckily, it isn't anything complex. The biggest error which I noticed the most often was your overuse of capitalization. Words such as human, hume, demon, fate, master, the, and many others, do not require capitalization. It often felt like you had a needless capital in every other sentence. I would also recommend that you stop putting all of your dialogue in bold. At first this makes it seem like everything is being shouted, and then as I got used to it it just became annoying. The truth is, by putting all of your dialogue in bold you are really giving your writing a handicap, because you take away all the effectiveness of bold font. If you only used it sparingly, it would actually serve the purpose of pointing out certain words, and have an impact on the reader. I also encourage you to use more specifics in your writing. A lot of the time you tend to be extremely generic, saying things like "Nosdyn swung toward the human" or just repeating over and over that he has a brilliant strategic mind without providing any examples of brilliant strategy. Being more specific about these kinds of things would really help your writing be more grounded in character, and help it to become more cohesive overall.

Stare: I noticed a very large number of small errors in your posts. Typos, missing words, homonym confusion, and phrase repetition all really serve to slow down and even stop a reader, so I would strongly recommend that you start giving your work an extra editing pass, preferably reading out loud to yourself. Overall I think the most glaring weakness in your writing is your wordiness, which is a shame because it tends to get in the way of everything else. You really overuse words like beautiful, gorgeous, and handsome in your writing. These words are often meaningless to the reader because it tells them nothing except that your character is attracted to the person/thing she's describing. Being more specific such as saying "a handsome jawline" or "beautiful slender legs" really throws the reader a bone for two reasons; it gives them something to envision, and it lets them know WHAT your character finds attractive. Here's another example of one of these words being overused:


pies and pastries with curls of steam that wafted the gorgeous and tasteful scents towards themThe word "gorgeous" adds nothing to this sentence, in fact it takes away from it because all the other words are much more meaningful. You have some beautiful instances of imagery in your writing, but these were very frequently obscured by the thickness of the writing around them.

Wildcard: 6/10

I commend you both for putting in the effort of finishing such a long thread. However, I think there is lots of room for improvement, and the path to it lies through better planning and proofreading.

Final Score: 44/100

Stare receives: 2294 EXP and 89 GP! (Stare's GP used to pay for Nosdyn's spoil as requested)

Nosdyn receives: 1550 EXP and 194 GP, and the following spoil: Violet Marble: A marble that acts as a communication device between Stare and Nosdyn. If Nosdyn holds it then he can talk to her mentally. It will heat up if she/Vitruvion wants to talk to him to a mellow temperature. Stare can reach out and try to touch the marble, but it will only work if held.

Philomel pays 4 AP for the judgment as requested.

Congratulations!

Breaker
12-17-2017, 02:20 PM
Rewards added and AP deducted.