Crumbling Foundations [Aero & Grimm]

Subject: Crumbling Foundations [Aero & Grimm] Sat Sep 21, 2013 7:41 pm

Setting:
Kaionar, city of merchants and thieves. This arid desert town is a jewel among the sands. Tall proud buildings stand mightily among their neighbors, overlooking the bustling trade district and the outskirt slums where the poor resided. Caravans come in on a daily basis, bringing with them precious goods from far distant cities like Yarrowitz, Didienne and even Tarz. The market place is a colorful mesh of cultures where merchants from every corner of Dragons Cove mingle to try and sell their wares. At night however, one would be best to guard against the stalkers of the night, for this glistening jewel has many facets. Thieves, murderers and thugs prowl the streets in abundance. Some for their own wealth, others at the behest of others. For, behind the smiling faces and polite words, Kaionar is more cutthroat than any merchant. She is a beast in fine clothes, and only the greatest, most wealthy, and most cunning may rule her.

This RP takes place in the year 3705, four years previous to the current year.

*~*~*~*~*

Deorwynn stood at the edge of the balcony, a thin shawl of the finest lace across her delicate shoulders, her gaze set at some distant point on the horizon. A horrible nagging feeling had been eating at her all day, but no matter her attempts to quell the feeling, it had been persistent. Being the most powerful woman in the city of Kaionar came with it's own special brand of stress of course, but she had long ago determined that it was not the normal affairs that had bothered her. She had attributed it to her sense of far-sight, but beyond that had little else to go on. For surely, if something momentous was to happen, she would have "seen" it by now?

Whatever the cause, she could only sigh and lean against the balcony, her ebony hair tumbling over her shoulder in soft waves, grey eyes tired from worry. Her husband Orlias seemed to not sense anything, and as the head of the Xerceis household, she knew that his power of foresight would be fairly strong. Then again, he was not as powerful a seer as she.

None of her contacts had reported anything either. For all of her ears and eyes, it seemed as if Kaionar was functioning as it normally did. There was always the plot here and there to try and gain the wealth of the Xercies, but the heads of those rumors often rolled when she heard of them. She had worked too hard to attain this glorious position in the city of thieves. Deorwynn would let nothing part her from the sweet glory now that she possessed it.

Guest

Stood at his post as always, just outside the bedroom of the couple, with it kept open to stimulate a draft through the massive house, he still sweat like a pig in his armour, maintaining the same pose as he always had to for the last 3 hours of his shift, he occasionally and periodically poked his head round the corner and looked inside for one of 2 reasons.

He needed to put his face into the wonderful draft that blew through the open door.
He wanted to check on his darling Deorwynn.

Just happening to glimpse at that pig of a husband she had made him sneer all the more, how come being rich got you married to the most beautiful woman in this gem of a city, she was so enchanting out on the balcony, her ebony hair backgrounded by the ever blue sky.
He sighed at his affections and how hopelessly out of reach she was from him. But just as quickly realised that this aroused attention from a patrolling guard, where he righted himself quickly as the passing guard whispered "Anyone would conquer that arse like there was all the time in the world, wouldn't they".
He grew so infuriated by this that he briefly left his post to grab this rude guard on the shoulder twirl him around and deliver a metal shield to his face, knocking him over and drawing his sword to the man's throat, shouting easily loud enough so that the couple next door would hear "How dare you make such allocations about the Mistress, you should die where you lay for making such vile sexual comments about her." He had hoped that the Mistress he adored so much would emerge from her chambers to issue the orders or ascertain what he did, and he realised that he could solve that right away "Nobody takes the Mistress's arse like there is no tomorrow you filthy pig". He was enraged, but professional, awaiting at least one of them to emerge, even if it was the filty ratty husband he would take great pleasure in killing anyone who badmouthed his love.

Subject: Re: Crumbling Foundations [Aero & Grimm] Sat Sep 21, 2013 8:07 pm

She heard the commotion outside, the loud crash of metal against flesh stirring that unease she had felt for the better part of the day into a legitimate worry. With quick gliding steps, she made her way to the door, passing her sleeping husband who had stirred from sleep at the sound. "Worry not." She said quietly into the darkness, meeting the grey eyes of Orlias as he sat up in bed to inspect the noise. He leveled a suspicious look at her, but said nothing. It was not the first time his wife had not spent the night in their bed, though usually she was escaping elsewhere if her whimsy took her to the arms of another man. This was entirely different.

With her chin held high, she shifted her shawl around her shoulders and stepped out into the hall, her eyes immediately lighting on the two men in the hallway. "Gentlemen, are you aware of the time?" She asked, her voice cold as she surveyed the situation. Deorwynn recognized both men, as she was careful to memorize the faces of all her guards. Though she didn't know the hall guard by name, she knew that he was one of the newer guards to the estate. "Raven." She turned her gaze to the other man, the one whom she was most acquainted with and knew whose word would be unfailingly true to her ears alone. "Would you care to explain what you two are doing causing a ruckus in the middle of the night?"

Guest

He was a little taken aback by the response but nevertheless he responded quietly, "M-My Lady, this man sullied your good name, he called you a whore" he may have over exaggerated a little on the claim but it was for her, she wouldn't want people slandering her behind her back. "I simply wanted to let him know his place and that foul propositions like that can mean the end of his life, and i would be honoured to do the deed mi'lady as this bastard son of a whore should die, face down in the dirt".
He didn't think for a second that he was being preposterous in his claim or judgement, he wanted nothing but happiness for his Mistress, he turned to her and his stern features softened as he was lost in her eyes briefly, it seemed like all the time in the world had stopped and he had to admire every inch of her body in a glance, of course he had honour and could only admire her face. He then stood aside for the man to address his counter-claim, which was a mixture of blubbering and stuttering "N-N-No I would n-n-never, c-c-could never make such allegations about yourself mi'lady" blood was pouring from his nose at this point from where it had been flattened by Raven's shield. To which Raven moved his sword closer to his throat and said "Your mouth spills as much shit as your behind does, whelp, sully her name and then deny it".
He wanted to drive his sword right through this man's gullet, but yet, he knew better, it was not his place to issue the order, he turned to Deos and looked at her, awaiting an order he may or may not recieve

Subject: Re: Crumbling Foundations [Aero & Grimm] Sat Sep 21, 2013 9:49 pm

She met Raven's gaze unflinchingly, grey eyes showing no sign of softness that he was most like to expect from her. They were in the presence of someone else. This was not a moment to share private gazes. There was a time and a place for such things, but standing in front of a man accusing her of being a wore in the middle of the night was neither of those. Her icy look snapped to the guard once he started his excuses, but largely Deos ignored them. "I've heard enough." She cut across the man sharply when he began to argue with Raven, her solid stare seemingly boring into his brain.

"You should know your place, cur." Her voice was low, dangerous even. "You forget your rank. Raven," Her gaze did not leave the man she was condemning, speaking to Raven as if he were just another guard. "An example needs to be made of this man. To slander the Xercies is a sin far past forgiveness. Obviously, this man wants to die. I will nobly grant that request. But first, remove his tongue." The guard seemed to recoil at that, but Deos was not done denouncing him. "We will feed it to the dogs as he watches before permitting him the solace of death. See that it is done, Raven." This order she gave with the command of a woman whose place of authority was granted to her by the divinity of her birth. To rebuke her was to rebuke the gods, something no mere foot soldier was capable of doing.

Guest

He smiled almost sickeningly at the thought of it as he hears the man begin to plead "N-No! Have mercy, have mercy!!!". Raven stomped on his face to shut him up before dragging him across the polished floor, his groans echoing in the otherwise silent corridors.

After stopping to tell a Maid to clean his blood from the floor, he dragged him outside to the kennels and tied him up, he fetched a pair of scissors from inside and brought a torch with him as he added his own twist to the punishment.

He removed his armour from him until he was naked and heated the scissors with the torch to cauterise the wounds he makes and cutting his tongue out, he smiled as he made the scissors bite down on his tongue, he began screaming whilst Raven dropped the scissors, threw his tongue and grabbed his chin holding him up to watch as the dogs fought over his tongue, he watched with a solemn expression as they did so.

He expected a quick death after that, but all his fingers later he was still alive, wailing in pain but not bleeding due to the searing scissors, he peeled off his eyelids too so he could watch every second.

He finally for the killing blow seductively dragged his sword over the man's belly, pouring blood over him and the floor, spilling his intestines in the process, he cast these over to the dogs and left him screaming as the dogs dragged him closer and closer until they could tuck into him.

He returned to his post soon after, putting his duty over his cleanliness he resumed his post poking his bloodsoaked head round and whispered simply "It was my pleasure to carry out your will mistress, good night." He turned back smiling as the next guard wandered past on patrol and looked at Raven, confuse at why he was bloody so Raven turned to him and whispered "The dogs needed feeding and I made a bit of a mess cutting up their meat".

The guard shrugged it off but about 10 minutes later the guard would return full circle and be white faced, as if he'd thrown up, he didn't give Raven a glance as Raven smiled and said "The will of our divine lady is final".

Last edited by Aero on Sun Sep 22, 2013 1:49 pm; edited 2 times in total

While feigning casual indifference to the situation outside, Deorwynn calmly explained the situation to Orlias and went back to her balcony with a whispered sigh on her lips. There would be no sleep for her tonight, apparently. Luckily enough the distraction of the guard's commotion outside had provided the opportunity for a little distraction from her own worries. She heard the muttering through the door when Raven finally returned from his task and left to enter the hall once more. Orlias was asleep again, secure in the knowledge that their quarters were guarded by the finest fighters in Kaionar and so slept peacefully.

She stepped out into the hall, her passage marked only by the whisper of fabric and closed the door behind her with a soft click. Reaching out, she brushed her fingertips along the length of Raven's forearm gently, her eyes half closed as if about to fall asleep. "A gruesome task, but one that needed done. Thank you, Raven. Your steadfast loyalty warms my heart when confronted by the ignorance of mere men such as him."

Guest

He smiled at her warmth and the gesture, he said simply, muttering as if speakin to a goddess "Any request you give it is my duty to oblige, if you requested me to take my own life I would do so, but I assure you I'm of much more use to you alive, much, much more".

He knew his place, he knew who he lived to serve an he knew that, it was his only priority, to live and die for her. He knew that killing him proved something but he wasn't sure what it meant to others especially the one who he loved, respected and feared in equal amounts. He briefly glance into her eyes, then resumed his guarding stance, his blood soaked armour was being handled so gently by her and he just said "While I appreciate the praise mi'lady, I can guard you so much better if you remain with your husband".

He didn't mean it to, but he mildly seethed that word out, which he regretted instantly, he then frowned at his idiocy, him being a little weak in the knees for a change, he resumed his stance as quickly as he could and stayed silent whilst he did so.

Subject: Re: Crumbling Foundations [Aero & Grimm] Sun Sep 22, 2013 1:58 pm

Her gaze flicked up to meet Raven's briefly, a small frown drawing her brows together. She glanced over her shoulder, though knew that she would find no one there. She knew the habits of her guards almost better than they did themselves, and knew that there would be no one to round the corner into this hallway for another few moments. "You know why I must be married to him." She whispered in a low undertone, taking the smallest of steps forward and touched the center of Raven's chest. "The mandate of this house's god demands the strongest of seers be together to keep the bloodline strong." And she, as one of the stronger seers in her family, was a prime candidate for marriage to the head of the household. It was only a natural fit, following that logic, and one that she couldn't have escaped. "But I will not make your job harder." She continued with a little sigh of disappointment, pulling her hand away, rubbing the tips of her fingers together to get rid of the faint smudges of blood that coated them. "Fear not the order of death, my Raven. Your place at my side, as my shadow, would be a sorely empty void should it be vacated."

Guest

He smiled at this statement and broke his stance for only once to kneel at her feet "I live to serve you, if I am to become your bodyguard. I will accept this honour with open arms, although I do not accept your choice of spouse, it was not my place to comment on tradition." He smiles at her and resumes his position outside the door once more.

His life was hers and he accepted that, but he would not allow anything to befall her, not even the filthy pig she had as a husband, he looks at himself, covered in the blood of those who defied the one he loved and smirked, knowing it is what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. "Thank you, mi'lady I will continue to serve with as much diligence as I am now"

Subject: Re: Crumbling Foundations [Aero & Grimm] Fri Sep 27, 2013 7:51 pm

Her small frown turned into a blank slate when Raven knelt before her. Though he meant well enough, there were simply certain things she would not tolerate said in her presence. "Remember, you are that hand that holds my blade. Hands do not talk." This she said with a bite of chill in her tone, grey eyes gone steely as she looked upon the top of his head, her gaze following him as he stood once more. "You are correct: It is not your place to comment on tradition. A fact you should well remmember." The Or Else following that sentence hardly needed to be stated. He had after all just dealt with a man who had been convicted of slander. Raven knew well enough what happened to those that displeased the most powerful woman in Kaionar. "May the night find you well." She said in a strictly formal manner, turning and leaving him to guard the doorway, stepping back into her room and closing the door firmly behind her. Orlias was still firmly asleep, none the wiser for the conversation that had just gone on outside.

She did not join him however, instead retaking her place on the balcony. Sleep would not find her this night.

*~*~*

The sense of wrongness only got worse as night turned into morning. She snatched some sleep in the afternoon, but the persistent nagging made her almost worse than useless at her daily business. Deos couldn't concentrate or focus, the unease clawing at her like a living beast begging for escape. It wasn't until an hour or so after night fall that the feeling passed. Perhaps then the danger had passed as well, whatever event that had been causing the feeling resolving itself without her interference. Whatever the case, she was ready for a good night's rest so that she could make up for all the lost time of this day.

Orlias had just walked in, still dressed in court attire and mumbling darkly about the day's events. Not everything had gone according to plan apparently. Then again, nothing really ever did in a city such as theirs. She was about to ask after his wellbeing when the door suddenly opened once more, admitting a man that neither of the house heads recognized.

"Who are-" Orlias would never finish his question, the man dressed in guard uniform screaming incoherently as he drew his blade. Orlias was equipped with a ceremonial court sword and drew his weapon, prepared for battle.

Deos did not manage even so much as a cry for help. Instead, she stood perfectly motionless as her husband and the insane guard fought in the doorway of their bedroom. Not because she was terrified, but because she could not move. Her eyes had clouded over, giving way to an inner vision that played out silently while the fight raged on in front of her.

Tonight, her house would burn to the ground, and there would be nothing she could do to stop it.

The blade the bit into her chest woke her from the vision-induced stupor, and Deos fell back with a startled cry of pain. Orlias lay dead on the floor, the guardsman covered in blood from wounds of his own. She knew that she should get up and defend herself somehow, but she could not muster the strength to do little more than to touch the bright line of crimson that streaked just underneath her collarbone.

Guest

Sadly today Raven was guarding not her room, but another doorway further down the manor, he did hear the incoherent screaming of the guard and the fighting and was already setting off at this moment, he skidded across the polished floor and darted into the room, the man in a guard uniform stood over Deos, his sword wet with the blood of the pair of them, he said nothing as he saw Deos laying there with a slash wound upon her as he walked briskly, watching the already injured man approaching the injured, helpless damsel who just happened to be the one he loved so.

Rage was not the word he felt, he felt explosive, seething with hate and evil intentions he wished upon the man approaching Deos now ready to deliver a final blow, he walked foreward briskly, knowing if he ran he would not stop himself from tackling this man to the floor, but no, Raven needed to do much more to this man and as he approached stepping through the blood of Orlias's corpse he thrust his ready drawn sword at the rear of the attacker's throat. He felt a little of his rage die away as he noticed the feeble resistance of his skin being overcome when the blade struck, sliding between 2 vertebrates in his neck and out the other side, the man choked and raised a hand to clutch at his throat falling down himself and dropping his blade, but no, Raven had other things in store, he caught the sword in his free hand and waited until he fell to the ground.

Upon his now dying body falling to the ground Raven hopped one leg over this man's body and delivered stab after stab, riddling his body with holes as he did, the man was long dead by this point but he felt it necessary to punish his corpse, he then left the attackers own sword left in the dead man's face as he ran to Deos's side, sheathing his sword and picked her up.

Cradling her in his arms and moved to try and escape the manor, only knowing the front door and back door into the gardens as escape routes, he felt the back door would be the safest option, choosing guards to come to his side as he went, not needing to say anything as they saw the injured Deos in his arms knowing that her safety was his number 1 priority, he then sent for the healer of the building dispatching a pair of guards to bring him here and tend to his love, he put her down in a flower bed where it was soft and whispered in her ear "Nothing else will find it's way to harm you, my condolences about your husband milady and I will make sure you survive this.".

Raven then turned to defend her ordering the other guards around because the actual captain was quivering next to him "Stand in formation men! Noone get's past us except the healer! Everyone else who approaches is hostile and will be killed on sight! I also need 2 men with bows on the wall to see over us! You'll be our first defence! We will kill any that break that line!"

Subject: Re: Crumbling Foundations [Aero & Grimm] Fri Sep 27, 2013 8:42 pm

The death of her assailant barely registered, the slick blood pooling on the floor only a mere reflection of the devastation that she had seen in her vision. This was only the start of it. "Raven…" Her voice thin, unheard in the heat of the commotion as she was lifted from the floor of her bedroom. The after effects of the vision still plagued her, the images flashing past her unseeing eyes as the crippling lethargy continued to plague her. She could only be carried along for the ride, the vision clearing slowly, but steadily enough to be aware of where she was being carried.

Deos shut her eyes to the night sky as they stepped out into the garden, fearful that if she should look upon the stars sparkling so purely above their head that she would have to bear witness to the one of her house falling pitifully to the ground. Finally being laid down to rest was only a small comfort, Raven's shouting for the men to form up and protect her was little consolation when she knew what she had seen could not be avoided. Strength returned to her little by little, and Deos finally managed to get to her feet. "Raven, you cannot hold the line." She said quietly, falling forward more than managing to take a step of her own will, but refused to fall to her knees. "I have seen it. To stay is to be slaughtered." This she said very quietly, so much so that she doubted even Raven would be able to properly hear her.

Guest

Raven only just heard her undertones in the commotion and he was taken aback a little, he ran to her and saw her glazed over eves, knowing what this meant and said simply "W-What did you see? I-Is there a way to get you out of here? I will take you away, these men will hold the line for as long as they can" He heard roaring from behind him as a group of 5 men were chasing the guards and the healer back to them,he watched the 5 become 3 and the 3 become 2 as the archers were actually hitting their marks for once, then the pair of guards accompanying the healer turned back and fought the two men, killing them, one of the two died in the process but the other one fell back and joined the rank of men, he turned back to Deos and said "Your men are protecting you, but they cannot do it for long".

The Healer reached them at last as he stood there, he couldn't help but take Deos's hand and clutch it as she was glazed over and the Healer began fetching salves and potions from his satchel, knowing that if this wasnt resolved quickly she'd die and all would be lost, especially to Raven

Subject: Re: Crumbling Foundations [Aero & Grimm] Sat Sep 28, 2013 3:16 pm

Was it even worth it? The last scion of a dead house whose Star had fallen to the Pit… Her gaze looked finally to the night sky and saw exactly what she had feared; the stars were falling to the ground. But, the shower of light did not leave the sky blank. A lone star continued to shine among the heavens, and it was then that she knew there was a chance to change the steadfast future she had glimpsed.

Strength flooded back into her lethargic limbs at this revelation and Deorwynn pulled herself up to her full regal height. Tipping her chin back, she met Raven's eyes dead on, touching the bloody wound on her chest briefly. "Give the order to push back the intruders at any cost. The House will fall tonight, but we can still save some of the other Xerceis. The noble line of the Forgotten Kings will not fall in a single night to a pitiful lesser god." She glanced once more to the sky, now normal without the effects of her seer vision interfering with her ability to perceive reality as it was. Many of her kinsmen would die tonight, but at least one among their house of stars would continue to shine. She was determined that the lone star would be her. "Come." Deorwynn commanded, turning swiftly on her heel and began walking to where she knew a secret exit to be. No noble worth their salt in Kaionar built their house without a multitude of secret passage ways to escape through. Some of which not even trusted blades were allowed to know the existence of.

Guest

He nodded without saying a word to her and turned to his few last men, saying quickly to the captain "You, grow some balls and lead your men, hold them back for as long as you can, push back to the house, and fight to the last man, I will escort Deos off of the Premises, the healer will stay behind and give you aid, spare none of them"

He turned and ran to catch up with Deos making sure to take one of the Archer's discarded shields with him as he moved to touching distance of Deos and followed her diligently only having to step forward once to quickly dispatch an assailant who leapt from around a hedgerow, he'd have toyed with him a little longer but he knew his place was there, defending his love, the great seer. He continued to follow after that not sure where he was going, only looking down to see Deos's wound and if it was affecting her. He had tears in his eyes, he felt sad for allowing Deos to succumb to this much damage but mostly he felt rage towards the group trying to take her away as he silently stayed by her side, the only noise that was made was the rattling of his greaves clanging off one another and the fighting and dying of the castle, he was hardened to these noises however. He diligently followed knowing if a group of more than ten converged on the men guarding their way further back they would be overcome.

Subject: Re: Crumbling Foundations [Aero & Grimm] Fri Jan 10, 2014 11:59 pm

Head held high, her steps placed evenly and regally, Deos walked in her own world. To her left out of the corner of her eye that only her powers could see were the events that were about to take place in mere seconds and moments. A screaming woman, Lorissa, her second cousin on her father's side, would run down this way and be caught by a small group of invaders. She only saw as much as that, for the phantom of Lorissa toppled through to the right side of her vision where only desolation lay. The proud buttresses and flagstones of the courtyard were cracked as she passed by, blood stains long dried into the very stone by age and weather. This was the far future, the one that she could not prevent. After the fires had died, her house would crumble.

After entering the hall and passing through an adjacent archway, she heard the screams of Lorissa passing by in the direction that they had just come from. Deos didn't even check her step, she just kept walking with that same graceful flow in the sway of her hips that defined each step. Turning into yet another series of hallways, she led them to what abruptly became a dead end, the hallway becoming a shallow shrine dedicated to some long-ago head of the house, his bust looking regally out into the empty hallway.

Touching her fingers once again to the stinging wound on her chest, Deos stained her fingers with her own blood and touched the wall. Instantly, runes in an ancient script glowed a soft red. "Where this path leads, only those of Seer blood may walk." She said quietly, turning her grey eyes on Raven. Perhaps it was the blood loss, or perhaps she was still reeling from her vision, but it seemed as if there were three of him standing there. Boy, man, and elder. She doubted that the third would ever be a reality. Assassins simply did not live long lives in Kaionar. She concentrated on the one that was here and touched his arm briefly with her bloodied fingers. "Whatever is beyond this door, you cannot risk to follow me."

Guest

He smiled and acknowledged what seemed to be concern, and he said simply and dulcetly "You are my life milady, my duty is to following you and protecting you from anything, it is in this knowledge that I must insist that I stay with you through the tunnels for the fear of your safety, therefore I can risk to follow you and must do so for the rest of my life". He simply looked at her and stared into her Grey eyes, his green eyes glistening with a mixture of fought back tears for her being wounded and determination that she comes to no more harm, he knew his life was forfeit in the face of Deos' life.

He didnt move, he looked long and hard at her, not daring to speak against her wish but mentally screaming at her for her to allow him to follow, it was not just his duty to keep her alive but he wanted to serve her and keep her alive personally.

Subject: Re: Crumbling Foundations [Aero & Grimm] Sat Jan 11, 2014 8:55 pm

Deos did not at all flinch from his gaze, nor did she soften. The Lady Deorwynn did not back down from any decision that she made, and in this one she could no more afford to back down than any business deal. "Raven." She said, calm, unruffled, her voice steady despite the slaughter that she knew was going on all around them. "This ends tonight." She lifted her arms, encompassing the empty hallway. "Xercies has fallen. The greatest house that Kaionar has ever known perishes this night." these damning words she spoke from her heart, and even she, the mistress of illusion and deceit, could not help but betray the well of sorrow that such a reality struck upon her soul. It took a few seconds to gather enough of her wits to speak again. "And this great house will remain in darkness unless I come back to claim it." She had not foreseen a future for her house, only it's destruction. But that did not mean that she couldn't make her own future. It was one of the benefits of being a Seer: She knew that no future was utterly certain.

"If you fear for my safety, then do this: Prepare for my return. I will raise this house from it's own ashes. This I swear solemnly on the blood of my felled family." She was all steel now, those silver eyes of hers lighting with the core of strength upon which the rest of her character was formed. "These traitors have won tonight, but I will mark them in my heart, and when I raise my hand to strike them down, it will be with the fury of the divine who have been paid such insult by this lesser house. Mark this now; a god dies tonight, fallen into the Pit, but he leaves behind the seed of a Goddess. Look for my return, My Raven. Do not let your blades dull. Prepare them to be whet with the blood of this city and all who oppose me."

Guest

He stops and repeats and says quietly "If I may not follow you, I must meet you where the exit to this tunnel is, my duty is for you, no one else, if you plan to travel to the sand beyond Kaionar the power to take down whatever evil has destroyed this house, since you are the last surviving noble I am sworn to protect, and the only one my heart cannot bear the thought of you being alone in the world. Because of these reasons I implore you my dear mistress that you tell me where the passage leads and wait for me there to continue. In the knowledge so I may continue my sworn duty and fulfil my vow to never leave your side unprotected or perform your wishes elsewhere". He genuinely felt his knees buckle as he was about to grovel that he shouldn't be forced to leave her side, even as a seer her fate was uncertain like the sea of sand beyond Kaionar's walls.

He took one knee and said shakily "I cannot bear the thought of losing you mi'lady Deos, you are my life and I cannot allow my life to continue in that uncertainty, due to this fact I beg you..." After falling to his knees and bowing to her his head touching the floor as he grovelled "Show mercy and allow me to protect the one I need to protect with all my strength and dedication, allow me to look after the one I could not be without and allow me to not live a life of uncertainty of the only woman I can truly say I love." He stayed there for a moment then rose, shocked at how his own words came out about his feelings, he didn't want that to happen but he didn't regret it. He knew he couldn't just leave her as Kaionar was not his place to protect, it was her, aside from the fact that he was one of the best guards in her grand home he was always there early, always stayed long after his shift was over, his dedication shine like a beam of light.

He simply awaited a response, she said that he could not follow but not that he couldn't meet her at the other side and she must know this, she was the only person he had never lied to about anything and would do anything for, Including take his own life. Finally he removed his dagger and looked at its sharp, silvered edges and said "If I live in a world with the knowledge that there is a chance you will die, without me being there to lower that chance, I couldn't live with myself, so I beg you..." He raised the knife to his throat and exhaled a long breath "... Don't leave me behind like these ruins, allow me to serve you for as long as I can, I can tell you where my stockpiled income from my guardsman job is too so you get a head start, it's not much but it's something" He then finally saluted his mistress and love and kept the knife where it was so Deos could order him to take his own life or to continue on this journey with her.

Subject: Re: Crumbling Foundations [Aero & Grimm] Sun Jan 12, 2014 11:47 pm

For the first time in a very long while, she felt exhausted. Mentally, physically, and magically. Her shoulders dropped slightly, her proud and confident visage wavering in favor for the way she really felt. She was exhausted, and had no more energy for arguing with someone who clearly had no intention of listening. Worse, she was running out of time, and time was the only commodity that she had left. "Raven, my Raven." Her voice was soft as she bent down and put her hands gently on his shoulders. "When have you known your mistress to ever show mercy?" Deos brought her hands to his face, touching the under sides of his jaw gently to bring up his gaze. He would see the tiredness in her eyes, the toll that this took on both her mind and body to stay in this place a moment longer where the call to dip into another vision were so strong.

"If you truly love me, then I ask you only to obey." Her voice was little more than a whisper now, leaning forward just enough that their faces were only inches apart. "You may search the city for a week, but I do not know where this passage leads. It has not been used for hundreds of years, and I am among the only ones who know of it's existence at all. I do not know where it leads." This she said with some force, making her point very clear, then leaning back slightly to give her proclamation. "I am leaving this city far behind. Deorwynn Xerceis is dead to Kaionar. My greatest protection is my death. I am leaving, and there will be no trace of my passing. If you can find me, then that means others can as well and perhaps I will be dead already by the time that you have found the end of my trail. So my Raven, this is my command: You have one week to locate me. If you do not, prepare the city for my return as I have previously ordered and await for the day that I come back. If you cannot follow this order, then hand me your knife. I will be the one to slit your throat, and that will be the only kindness that I can give you. I will let you die in my arms and bear your body as your soul leaves it." She straightened, pulling her hands away from his face and waited for his decision.

Guest

Feeling completely crushed Raven rose as there was nothing else he could say and turned around, he opened the door and closed it again leaving Deos to leave alone, he had one week to find her but he didn't know where the exit was. He gauged that a straight shot to the wall was about twenty minutes but Deos' injury might slow her down, but nevertheless, with all the fighting he could not reach the wall exterior in time, so his first call to order was to literally kill everyone in this house and avoid it's total destruction. He simply opened the door once more and said after taking one final look at her "How do you like your traitors killed mistress?". He knew that if he were to see her again he needed to make the city completely ready for her to take control again, and he realised this fact all to well, but the rage he felt being abandoned in Kaionar was unbearable, the only way he could sate that was with pure unadulterated violence.

Subject: Re: Crumbling Foundations [Aero & Grimm] Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:58 am

A small part of her was relived that he'd finally given in, but the rest of her was all steel. "Quickly." Deorwynn replied with all due gravity. "Indulge in your own fun if you like, but make these traitors bleed and pay dearly for all that they have wrought first." Turning her head, she faced the darkness of her only means of escape from the slaughter that was happening and that would continue well on into the night. Kaionar would wake to rivers of blood in the street and a new Viscount to rule the city would follow in short order. Clenching her fists, she turned and stepped into the hallway, pausing with one foot over the threshold. "Fly true, my Raven." She whispered over her shoulder, then took another step and was instantly lost to the darkness. The wall appeared back in place, the runes of warding glowing briefly before disappearing once more as if they had never existed in the first place.

Deorwynn thought that she would have been completely blind without a torch, but it seemed as if the ancient makers of this passage has considered it. Her blood had activated the latent magic, and it now glowed a dull red. Just bright enough to navigate her way.

Walking in that darkness seemed to take hours. She had little concept of time as it passed, simply putting one foot in front of the other. The toll of her prolonged visions was catching up with her the longer she walked until it was a struggled just to stay awake, even on her feet as she was. The stairs were almost too much for her, the narrow little staircase abruptly winding upward from the gentle downward slope that she had previously been walking. The stairs ended abruptly at a door, and upon mustering all her strength pushing it open she found herself exiting quite suddenly from the side of a wall. Not just any wall she realized, but the one bordering the outermost ring of the city.

With a small gasp of breath, she found herself outside of Kaionar quite abruptly, standing among the shanties that had piled up close to the walls when the population inside the city had reached it's maximum capacity generations ago. It was booth a boon and a curse to end up out here. While she was sure that no one would be searching for a Kaionarian noble all the way out here, anyone that saw her would also note it. She was only in her nightgown after all, and bleeding on top of it.

Hissing in aggravation, she quickly set a course that would take her toward what she hoped was the front gate, ripping away a length of canvas as she did so from some unfortunate beggar's dwelling and wrapped it around her shoulders both for warmth and concealment. It was still quite dark outside, so she could only hope that no one would remark on a shoddily-dressed figure walking through the shanties if questioned by anyone even remotely smacking of authority. Her only ally now was anonymity, and she planned to keep that as close as she could.

Eventually, Deorwynn came to a stable yard attached to a small inn that had seemingly sprung out of the city wall itself, clinging to the side like some manner of parasite. She wouldn't dare enter the place, but the stables next door would be the key to her salvation at this point. She had to get away from Kaionar, and the horses that were stabled at the inn would be just the right mode of transportation at this desperate hour.

Saddling the beast herself was difficult in her state of weakness, but she hadn't forgotten how. For the first time Deorwynn thanked her young naiveté from her girlhood when she'd snuck out of the manor to ride her horses before the house woke, seeking to spare herself the laborious task of needlework and substitute it with an impromptu ride around the city. Now those skills she'd learned came in handy, and before the stable boy that slept in the loft could even properly wake to alert the inn keep that someone had stolen a horse, she was gone and leaving Kaionar a smudge on the horizon.

((What happens at this point is sort of up for discussion, Mal. I never planned for her to have any help beyond Kaionar at this point, and it's sort of written into her bio that she lone-wolfed it from here on out. So we could leave this RP at an end if you want, or pick it up somehow some way.))

Guest

(If you like we could time-skip to Deos' return to Kaionar, i think that might be cool)

His next few months were dank ones, cutting a bloody swathe throughout the Kaionarian underground, killing the attackers of the temple was the beginning, he then began whittleing away at large gangs within the city, crumbling them so they became what they were originally, upstarts.

He waited long and hard for Deos, drowning his sorrow of her not being there in drink and cheap desperate women, he also spent time killing people as he always did but when small gangs around you want to pay handsomely for killing off another small gang, what is the problem, especially when anything they make 30% of it comes to the gang that still waits for Deos, the syndicate remained strong and some of the money was spent making her mansion a place of grandeur once more.

He began to swap out his loadout, going for more interesting weapon choices and experimenting, and when Deos would return he would look different too, a tattoo around his eye of a Raven marking him.

Subject: Re: Crumbling Foundations [Aero & Grimm] Tue Feb 04, 2014 5:08 pm

She had never imagined that she would reenter her own city escorted by men of a foreign land. But then again, she had never imagined that there was a foreign land for them to come from, either. Dragonscove had been isolated for so long, it was easy to believe that they were the only ones in all the world who lived upon the great seas that stormed constantly just off shore.

But now here she stood. Deorwynn Xercies was still along way from the grace with which she'd left the city of her birth, but now that she was back, that would all change. She knew without knowing how that there was a way, and her will was strong enough to pry open that path. Opportunities had flown at her like desperate pigeons begging bred, and aside from the dragon attack shortly after her arrival, things had been going smoothly as could be imagined given the great uproar that her reappearance had no doubt caused for the nobles that had taken over the city in her absence. That would be remedied quickly enough. Deorwynn had made it her goal to take the golden throne of Kaionar for herself, with or without a family to back her. She would simply build her reputation with the blood of her enemies, and there were plenty of those upon which she could construct a staircase.

Sitting now in the window of a leased room lent by a supporter of her claim to her birthright, Deorwynn breathed the life of the city deep into her lungs. She'd missed the stench of corrupt money, of the unwashed masses, of the noise that the hawkers made and the grieving of widows who found their noble husbands dead. A smile quirked up her lips. Her little birds had been busy upon hearing of her return to the city, and though she hadn't seen all of them return to her coup, she had heard whispers that more than expected were still alive. All that was left was to see them reappear and reinstate their loyalty.