When Rain Turns to Blood (Solo/Job)

by **Darian** on November 28th, 2011, 9:19 pm

Timestamp: 2nd of Fall

It was still yet raining when he came from the springs to come see Callik, his body still yet sore from the previous night's ordeal. He was beyond the fact that he was bone tired and his employeer probably even had less time to recover as he knew, come rain or shine he'd be expected to show up to his post, the eyes in the night demanded it. He decided first to try the shack were he usually met the man, dipping in throughout the alleys in a effort to reach his destination without being stopped by the milling about commoners and some particularly nasty large rats. The streets where even filthier now if that was even possible, and the very site of the piles of refuse was enough to turn a lesser man's stomach. Most of the garbage that littered the ground was almost unidentifiable in the mush of the mud and picked clean bones that mixed in with everything else. The cobble stones were especially slick forcing him to mind his every step as he leapt from shadow to shadow, just a corner away from reaching the small dilapidated house his employer usually met him in.

Just ahead of him through the sheen of rain, a thick, stooped shadow hobbled into view, and almost immediately was followed by the a cry from the figure as it's form fell heavily against the wall. Hesitantly he stepped forward, drawing his dagger as he did so, and keeping wary not knowing if it be plague, metal, or madness that so tormented the man. The wicked edge of his cold iron dagger gleamed with the rain spreading across its cold surface, but his hold on it, a underhanded grip to help with sweeping strikes was still yet awkward for his hands had yet to grow nimble enough to wield the smaller blade with the skill he did his longsword. The man slid against the wall, leaning heavily against the side of the building that he thought to belong to some mundane merchant that had 'stumbled' into his money and wares. He still couldn't see what caused the man to limp so bad because of the overcast sky and the heavy rain that would have rendered him blind had his cowl not been protecting him from the brunt of it.

Another quiet step forward, his foot slowly easing against the ground much like when he tried to steal upon the intruders yesterday, except this time the man obviously knew he was there. It was what was possibly behind the man that Darian wanted to remain quiet and unheard though for he didn't need anymore trouble when he was simple trying to do what was requested of him. Requested, that was a nice way of thinking of it. When he at last managed to catch a glance behind the man to see nothing was there. Perhaps it was illness, or madness that afflicted him then? Unconsciously he took a step backwards, holding his dagger warningly before him but the stumbling man seemed to be much too distracted to take notice of him. Again he let out a cry louder this time and now that he was just a few feet away from him he could see the fellow thrashing around with a small eating knife, slashing around wildly at his back as if to strike some bug from his flesh. He'd heard of such sicknesses but he'd never expected to run across it so close, especially during a day like this as raining as it was.

The man turned around in attempt to get at whatever ailed him and finally it came horrifyingly clear as Darian took notice of the large rat clinging to the man's back, bitting into the flesh of his back while ignoring the minor scrapes the man was giving him in return. The rat seemed tied to the man's body as if it was meant to be a macabre torture device to get the man to loosen his lips. Another yelp echoed out, bitting into the night air, and drawing a cringe from Darian. He wasn't much inclined to step in and put a stop to the man's pain, but the constant cries was bound to draw unwanted attention and besides that, the man was still in his way.

Standing up straight, he took a slow step forward, his hazel eyes locked onto the stumbling mad man whirling around the eating knife wildly to try stop the beast that was burrowing into the flesh of his back. Perhaps he had a moment of lucidity or finally noticed Darian, but the man suddenly turned to face his back fully towards him, and desperately tried to stop his limbs from reaching backwards to try and stab the beast there.

"Kill it" The man cried, bracing his hands against the wall as his head sagged low.

Darian answered with silence and hushed footsteps, slashing his blade out at the last moment when he had came into range. The rat turned it's head to the side at the last moment, and his dagger went whistling by to slice into the man's ear, and elicit another shriek of pain from the shambling figure. He was quick to step back and draw his dagger in close as the man fell against the ground clutching his ear, writhing in pain and throwing no small amount of curses Darian's way. All he could do was curse at himself under his own breath for not being more comfortable with the dagger, but then again there would be no witnesses to his blunder soon enough he knew as he stepped forward to cast a faint shadow over the prone man's struggling body. Gripping his dagger in both hands, he allowed himself to fall to his knees heavily and as he did that he brought the dagger forward using his momentum to bring the blade down even harder and with more force than his awkward grip could thrust it normally.

Within the blink of an eye the man's cries cut abruptly short as the blade buried itself up to the hilt in the center of the man's broad chest, and from underneath the cloth covering his mouth, Darian smiled soaking in the brief look of confusion that shone so obviously on the figure's face. Soon blood started bubbling from the man's lips, his eyes going wide as he realized his soon coming death and looked blankly at Darian as if he didn't understand. He could only offer a slight shake of his head though as he slowly rose to his feet before bending down and yanking the blade from its firm place in the man's torso, and with a rough kick he spun the dying man over onto his belly to get a better look at the still thrashing rat, stubbornly clinging to life despite the broken bones it obviously bore.

Leaning down he took a firm grip of the beasts large head and quickly put the edge of his blade against the base of it's skull, slicing down and up to cut through it's spine and erupt out the other side of it's neck and send the head stumbling down lifeless as it's body continued to twitch with the last sparks of life that clung to it's form. Casually he picked up the rat's decapitated head, and sliced off a large patch of the dead man's shirt, using the cloth to wrap up his grisly trophy. In the head went into his pack, and not long after that, he was wiping his blade on the man's shoulder and walking out of the alley, whistling a simple two toned tune he'd heard often by the docks. Now, where was that shack again?

by **Darian** on December 5th, 2011, 2:38 am

The rough hewn wooden door of the was slightly ajar, and the course wind that blew across the alley and sent the door to a repetitive slamming against it's own frame made Darian note that it was not held open by anyone, possibly even vacant for quite some time. His heart yet hammered in his chest from his previous engagement but with only a brief look around he strode across the small gap of open space separating him from the entrance of the shack and as the door swung open again, he caught it's wooden paneling easily and risked a peak around its' corner. Inside awaited utter devastation, and most noticeable to Darian was the heap of kindling in the center of the floor where once had been a well crafted oak table, as well as the blood that streaked the walls and floor all around.

Hesitatingly he took a step inside of the structure, and looked around slowly to take in all of what had happened inside. Everything was shattered and strewn across the wooden floor in pieces, and blood covered almost everything but no body showed itself. The lone furnishing left unbroken was the roughly hewn closet that seemed to rest against the far corner of the on the wall to the left of him. Save for a few deep gouges it seemed to be rather fine for being the sole piece of furniture left in the dilapidated structure. It was useless anyhow, mainly being used to store his own belongings while he was on guard duty the other day, but that time was long past, and his belongings rested securely with him across his back. It would be found empty more or less he knew instinctively and instead of investigating it he turned his attention to the pile of kindling in hopes of finding some note of where his employer might have run off to.

Perhaps it was the racket his shuffling through the pile of debris or maybe he had been growing to lax of late, but not for the first time in his life, Darian found himself caught unawares as suddenly he found the razor edge of a blade pressed against his throat and himself being roughly dragged upwards to his feet only to be slammed into a wall just to the side of the still yet bouncing door. A man just as tall as him, but with much smoother skin stared back into his wide eyes, and instinctually Darian reached for the wide bladed dagger he kept tucked in the thigh of his armor. A slight pinch against his neck stopped his hand cold as the man pressed the dagger slightly tighter against his soft neck, and slowly Darian brought his hand back to his side. His hazel eyes stared silently back at his assailant as he waited for the man to speak the first words since he obviously had reason not to kill him right then and there.

"Aye you'd be the hired hand I'd suspect, I seen you hanging around Callik so don't be trying to tell me otherwise" The man growled in a thick accent Darian had grown quite used to growing up on the streets himself. He couldn't help his body from tensing however at the man's tone of voice, for couldn't this man very well be one of those self righteous men that tending to spit at the kind of work his boss did. It didn't make much sense though, though the next words that spilled from the man's lips cleared things up considerably.

"Callik be looking for you boy, said he needs you by the market quick. Said he's got a tent now, and he'd be needing someone to watch the entrance while he plies his invaluable wares to the masses. Tells me it be a right disservice the the common people to waste valuable time and to send you to all speed to where he is at." The man finished with a grunt and none to gently tore his blade from Darian's exposed neck, his sure movements showing due caution not to harm him any further than he did. Darian's own eyes watched the man carefully as he secreted his small blade back into his belt loop of twine, and he had to resist the urge to run the man through when the man spat and had the audacity to grapple the front of the back and breast adorning his chest and drag him along outside of the door, only to shove him out a few paces into the cobble stone streets.

"Get you going then, and be quick about it!"

The man's voice echoed in Darian's head for some time coupled with the ever reminder to show that one the true meaning of pain some day when he got the chance. He could handle being rough handled by the men of Crow, or even Callik's personal guards, but if he let such treatment from a messenger stand then he had no right to call himself a man of the blade. Of course he'd have to be smart about it, but the man would learn as they all did. Everyone gets there due some day, and the ugly scars that so marred Darian's entire body made him living proof of that. Only those ruthless and clever survived to obtain power on the streets of Sunberth, and that was a lesson Darian barely survived. He'd not soon make another mistake like that again.

by **Darian** on December 5th, 2011, 3:19 am

Ask them for weapons he says. Check them for any hidden ones he says. Treat them cordially he says. You'd think Callik would be more grateful that he even returned to the house to help combat the men thirsting for the slaver's blood after all that happened. And all for what? To be treated rudely like just as much a slave as I am a guard. The thoughts pounded in his head as he sat easily back in the wooden chair, scrapping idly at the flesh that still webbed across the large rat skull he kept cradled in one hand. His complaints lacked any true serious value though, more just of a way of working through the rage that coursed through his blood still from the events earlier in the day. He knew well the costs of rage, and he could hardly spare yet another close call like that especially when he was working with far more dangerous people now, men that would flay the flesh from his very bones should he even hint at raising his sword against them or their organization. So to avoid such a slip of judgment, he did something comforting to him, and something he tended to do well. Carve.

The last scraps of skin and blooded flesh at last seemed to fall from the back of the bleached white skull, and whipping his dagger against the canvas of the tent behind him, he stashed the dagger in the thigh of his armor before shuffling into his backpack and drawing out a chisel. He cradled carefully the skull between his legs as he brought the chisel up in both hands and set it against the bare, white top of the rat's skull, and slowly and with patience he worked the chisel against the hard surface of the bone, shaving off mere grains of it at a time at first before working it harder, but with due caution, slowly shaping out a fine circle on its slightly curved surface with the edge of the chisel held firmly between his index finger and thumb. The slight slope was a bit difficult to work with but he managed it if only just, and with the completion of the circle with the lines meeting up cleanly, he blew across its surface to dispel the shavings and better look at the canvas where upon which he would work that magic he learned those many years ago.

The blank inner circle seemed to burn into his mind as he stared bringing no image except emptiness and prompting the would be guard to close his eyes. It had been a slow day so far, with just one or two 'customers' braving the rain to come take a look at Callik's prized wares. He saw no one around for quite a bit, and slowly he pulled the cowl of his silken hood over his head further before closing his hazel eyes and sending his mind into that realm of imagination so little favored since he had emerged from childhood. Images of scurrying vermin flitted across his mind, of rats and mice gnawing on cheese, and others making a home in the skulls of the dead. They continued on to play out grinding sharp teeth chewing through tender flesh, burrowing under the skin to better get at the tasty organs the freshly dead corpse kept hidden. A man's screams as a rat ripped into his back tore through Darian's mind as he remembered his brief acquaintance with this particular rat and it was then he decided that would be what he would carve onto the top of the beasts' skull.

Slowly he brought the edge of the chisel down again save this time in the dead center of the circle, and dragging the chisel down with a slight bit of firm pressure he carved two lines that met as they tapered down and brought a third carved line rising out from where the two other ones met. He connected the three lines carefully at the top by scratching the chisel across horizontally, making sure that the line was clean before he cut into the top the hilt that would complete the small dagger blade he had carved into the top of the rat's skull. His hand trembled slightly as he worked, muscles clenching up as they started cramping from being holding something in such a way for so long. Still he had to press on, and pressing it's metallic tip down again he scratched it's tip against the tip of the dagger cutting thinner, shallow lines across the bottom till they all connected seamlessly and worked in such a way that he hoped that when the skull was stained with his blood it's tip would remain red from then on as a testament to the enchantment possessing it.

A cough interrupted him, and drew his eyes up to meet that of a taller man standing just before him, holding a piece of wood over his head in some feeble attempt to protect himself from the rain no doubt. Quietly Darian stood up, and set down his chisel, and rabbit skull gently before turning around and eyeing the would be customer. "I'll need to check you for weapons, you'll get them when you get out. Callik likes his guest well treated, and unarmed so best your not your not found with a weapon inside" Darian spoke calmly as he walked towards the man that flinched away only slightly. The man would not leave at such a demand, none of them ever did for they came here because they needed something, and wanting something as valuable as a slave made it very hard to be dissuaded from a course no matter the cost Darian found. His hands slapped up and down the course of the man's body, but stopped at the man's left ankle when they came across the hilt of a dagger that he was prompt to draw out and tuck in his own pocket before standing up and nodding towards the man.

"Enjoy the wares, and try to stay out of trouble" He growled at the man before taking up the skull and chisel and planting himself in his seat once more.

Now were was I?

by **Darian** on December 5th, 2011, 3:37 am

A newly acquired bit of twine taken from the edge of edge of the tent, twirled in between Darian's fingers as he pulled with his free hand his cold iron assassin dagger from it's place under the thigh of his armor and set it gently across his lap right beside the rabbit skull. The plan was to merge the skull with his dagger, and hopefully generate some kind of effect to help with the cutting power or effectiveness of the blade still yet foreign in his hands. Malediction was a unpredictable art to be sure and he could hardly ever be sure what might turn out next from his applications of the art on the animal bones he usually found to occupy his time with. Through the eye he threaded one end of the twine, and carefully he looped it three times around the hilt of the dagger before looping it out of the other eye and back around the hilt two more times before tying it off tight. It would need better securing later on, but for now this was good enough for what he intended for the blade, and hopefully the enchantment would take effect sooner than later.

With a gentle push of his nimble fingers he set the skull in place over the base of the dagger's hilt and locked it in place with the hilt fitting almost perfectly in the hollow at the base of the large rat's skull. The time was coming soon for the blood sacrifice, and reverently he took the dagger blade in his and and shifted it slightly so it's wicked tip was held out before him. Up his free hand went, and slowly his thumb dragged across the tip of the cold iron blade, splitting the flesh there and drawing droplets of blood from the fresh wound. He hardly winced at the minor irritation, and instead focused on flipping the blade over in the hand so that the newly ornamented hilt was now facing towards him, and quickly pressed his tender thumb against the smooth surface of the rat skull, bringing the few drops of his blood that welled across his flesh to soak into the carving and the bone it was set in. He'd like to think that power flowed out from him in that moment to soak into the very fiber of the bare essence of the bone, brining from it the very energy that had once flowed through it when it was living, but he also knew only time would tell whether or not a enchantment would set in and whether or not it would be good or bad. He had time to whittle away though, and after replacing the dagger in it's hidden place on his leg, he continued his watch over the entrance of the tent for the rest of the day while thoughts of his newest creation distracted his brooding mind. Just another day among many lived on the knife's edge that was Sunberth.

by **Ink** on December 5th, 2011, 5:56 am

And in the Aftermath . . .

The Rewards are Revealed.

Darian :

Written in the ink :