[NE recruitment]A Need for Thieves

[Valorae]

Fighting in the Blood Pits was quickly turning into more of a circus act. It was both baffling and relieving. She concealed what little confidence it gave her, so long as this “feral” Linellia was there. These people, whoever they were, did not fuss or joke around. She was on the edge with this one especially. The others being brought in really killed the mood though. Her lips were still, but her eyes could not help but flare. Her heightened attention toward the door, Darik, and Danck, though less than stealthy, was effective in getting what she needed. Not that there was much to see…it was only Darik, and a friend of his, apparently. He didn’t recognize her either. Ethaefal, she kept being called ethaefal, and the whole while she was still curious of what this was despite the obvious facts. For right now, being an ethaefal was a means of disguise, from Darik’s stupidity to no surprise. As he crossed over to her boundary of personal space she was still thinking for how to act. Sexy Lady…?! Today was bringing forth so many opportunities. Darik complimented her, and she couldn’t help but appease him for the moment. She used those eyes so well, fluttering those light lashes at Darik, but not without stilling herself for a glance to Linellia. She was sure to not keep Darik waiting or guessing. She looked back to him and sent more butterfly kisses his way followed by a little bite of her lip trying to hide a smile. What a fake floozy, but it worked, most of the time. She didn’t know what she looked like at this point. Weeks in the ground don’t do a daughter of Syna much good. Her captives certainly took better care of her than previous owners, as Kallina accurately inferred. The other commented… Who does this one think he is? It was too funny to her, and she cracked a smile. It was a trick, a joke, Blood Pits didn’t exist, and this was the punch line. Darik, Darian, those others, they were in on it too. There was something else though, that friend of Darik’s took the excuse-of-a-woman’s words seriously enough to convince Valorae to listen. Darian spoke, and she caught the inflection. Street speak was worse than dirty talk. Any more double meanings involved and you might as well consider it a second language all its own. This was really turning into a cluster – Forgetting the threat of death was still difficult. With these people something was coming, or rather they were coming for something, and she too wondered just what is was…patiently… Patience had become one of her dearest friends in these times, and she adored patience. OOCDarik… learn the difference between possessive and state of being your and you’re PLEASE. xD Danck, Darik is a proper noun(surprisingly), please capitalize appropriately. Also check for the paragraphs format in the BBC box when spacing paragraphs, it got s’mushed. Otherwise this is coming along well. ;P

[Archelon]

oocNow that it has finally been determined that Danck would be *captured* in Ink's prior thread this can continue. Sorry, I'm a stickler for continuity Darik's attempts to pace were cut rather short by an enforcer putting one hand on his shoulder and shoving him back into his seat after the little display he put on. The boy was either stupid and hand no idea of his surroundings nor his situation, or was simply nuts. Either way he might still prove useful. Linellia Ferral leaned back and watched as Darian made a move to beat Darik down senselessly as he so richly deserved before stopping to await her 'word.' The only word he got in reply was, "These are now your people to use as you see fit for this job. Disciplining them is your prerogative as well. Should you wish to beat the boy into a bloody pulp, I would not stop you; should you wish to kill him; likewise though I will simply ask you to consider the ramifications if you need him as a distraction later." She'd look at Dank, nodding at the other boy's questioning. It was bad enough he had been found assisting two spies to get free back to their masters amongst the Sun's Birth, but perhaps his wit made it sure he'd redeem himself. She had no tolerance for those unwilling to take the risks to chart their own course though. "My dear boy, you seem to have a cool head for now on you. Your target is a merchant, in a small keep out in the Aggrammon fields. He is old, infirm, but in his cellar and his office are two trapped safes. The contents need to be... liberated for us." She would turn scathing eyes to Valorae, "By now if you have any brains in your head you'd realize you're not here for fighting in the blood pits for money for us. Instead, I'll give you a clue: this merchant helped fund many of your prior captor's activities on the sly. Before you ask why; I'll simply tell you. He and his now deceased son didn't care if they bruised their women or killed them after a one night stand. In essence, you have been trained to strike back at those that hurt you and we are giving you that chance in hoping that your desires for revenge. If these papers were delivered back to us, we might use them to apply pressure on Schancke little endeavors. Do you understand?" "Darian is in command of you three for this task, and will ensure it's completion is successful. But because of this , only he will know where the location is to start. The last thing in your lives would happen if any of you attempted to run there first to warn the merchant. There's a few guards, who maintain patrols, so you should be wary as well and try not to kill each other if it's uneccessary to the completion of the task. Those that return successful shall be richly rewarded. Indeed a few people might wish to meet you as you will be watched during this job." Of course that hadn't needed to be said with most groups, instead Ferral may have decided to instil the words home just in case some were denser then others. With those words, Linellia would turn back to Darian and slide him a piece of paper, a small map leading to a keep close to the area where he had witnessed the slaying of Reacher, indeed it was very close to it as the abandoned hut was on the outskirts of the merchant's property. It was a rather unspoken signal that the Night Eyes did not know the full situation they were sending him into. For all the setup, the planning, and the preparations they had taken, Darian and his team could be venturing straight into the lion's den... When they were finished gawking and Darian had found to make his order int he group known one way or another, Linellia would have them blindfolded, armored, and escorted out to a carriage. That carriage would go a myriad number of directions to confuse their sense of where they were by all means which they could tell. In the end, after a bell's ride they would be deposited unceremoniously out into the southern Aggramon fields. Their weapons(those who hadn't had them due to their respective captivities) Danke, Valoraewould be returned. One enforcer would lean down to uncharacteristically whisper in Darian's ear, "Sunset's in three bells, you think you can lead these fools prospect?"

[Darian]

Darian took a moment to mull over her announcement before his hand finally released the hilt of his longsword. Punishing him too harshly could leave him absent an asset he could put into play latter on in the mission as he saw fit, and could leave him quite vulnerable. He never had much aspiration to be a leader, but to see this mission through thats what he'd have to be, and that demanded he work with others, despite how incompetent they might be. Still his actions demanded punishment for the simple fact that the ragged group gathered before him needed to understand the true gravity of the mission that was set before them. That he was only too happy to demonstrate, but in due time.

Taking a place against the wall he casually listened to Linellia's instruction to the rest, as he puzzled over how best to direct those at his command. The girl could perhaps prove a great distraction tool, and a deadly one as well if she knew anything about how to use those weapons so generously handed to her. Darik would prove the most troublesome, and no doubt cause some sort of complication, but even for him Darian could think of a use that would see their purpose well in reach, though the other man he saw the most useful out of the group. He looked like he had a good bit of skill at his fingertips and the will to rise beyond this mission if only Darian could find a way to set his mind to purpose.

Linellia's movement caught his attention and picking up the map he scanned its contents briefly before secreting it away in the folds of his armor where it could be safely kept till he saw much more familiar landmarks on which to go off of on reference. The area was rather familiar to him, though his memory muddled it, and he'd have to have a better view of the outside to more properly take in the contents of the map but from previous discussions, he didn't think the hard part of this would be finding the keep. No, the true difficulty would be breaching it and getting the required documents without getting caught and slaughtered. To prevent that, or at least keep his own life safe, these needed to follow his orders unquestionably, and seeing that Linellia was getting up and ready to send them on their way, Darian decided it was time for them to know who was going to be the boss on this mission.

Striding from the wall slowly, and drawing his longsword, he motioned for the enforcers to hold Darik's shoulders down for the moment it would take him to show the thief proper humiliation. When the attack came it was not made with the blade though, but instead the hilt of the sword as Darian punched out the cross piece crashing into Darik's sternum provided that Darik was held in place there properly. Had he missed Darian would quickly put the blade into good use despite his desire for the man to remain essentially intact for now, slashing after the man if he attempted to run. With that business done, he would sheath his sword and allow himself to be lead to the carriage staying quite through the uneventful ride till they where dumped out on the outskirts of town.

The view of the fields greeted his eyes as he stepped out into the cooler afternoon air, and staying near the carriage, Darian stretched his weary muscles while taking stock of the group. He'd be hard pressed to keep these ones in line without all the enforcers around but perhaps their greed and fear of death would keep them agreeable for now.

Turning to regard the enforcer, he patted the hilt of his sword. "They have little choice in the matter. They'll follow me or feed the fields" Darian remarked, turning then to face the group and walk out before it.

"We haven't much time for preparation as night will be upon us soon. I advise you to keep close and keep your petching mouths shut because I will neither wait up for you, or be forgiving for incompetence when we are in the compound. You try and draw attention to yourself without my word, you die. You do as your told and you might just come out of this mission alive and seen well rewarded. Understand?" Not waiting for much of a response, he turned on his heel then, lightly running off while pulling forth the map to compare the markings on it with that of his own surroundings. Once he had a suitable look at it, he adjusted his course slightly and replaced the map in the folds of his armor, his eyes ever watching the land before them. Within bels they would be at the compound and then the true test would begin.

[Danck]

Danck got a shiver down his spine as the woman as she addressed what seemed to be their leader, especially since the mention of disciplining fell underneath his discretion and he highly doubted that any punishment he would deal out would be anything he would like to live through. If he lived through it at all, since their employer didn't really seem to care at all if their leader slit all their throats as soon as he wished. When the woman's attention focused back on him he quickly snapped to attention and listened to what she had to say without interrupting. The mention of the safes being trapped did bring a feeling of anxiety too the young boy, he hadn't really worked with traps in his entire life, only having dismantled one or two very crude traps in his entire life and that was for practice. He was going to assume that those traps on those safes where at the least potentially lethal and would probably alarm the entire keep if they where set off. The rest of the assignment didn't really seem that much a problem for their group if all of them knew at least the basic's of breaking into homes. “Yeah, I'll make sure those things get opened safely.” He replied before going silent once more and letting the woman continue. After telling the strange looking woman about some stuff that he honestly could care less about the woman finally addressed the entire group of them. The man named Darian would be the person in command of the three of them and gave them some other information about the keep, which didn't really surprise danck, of course somebody with enough money to afford a keep would have bought guards, and warned them that whoever tried to run was making the last mistake of their lives. As Danck noticed that the woman was done giving her explanation Darian finally decided to punish Darik for his moronic behavior and probably to assert himself as the leader began to beat the crap out of darik. Danck turned half in his chair and just looked at it, a smirk creeping on his scarred face at the sight of the annoying, overconfident and dumb brat got its just deserts. After the Darian was finished he stood up out of the chair and followed his leader to the carriage. When they finally arrived at the southern aggramon fields and danck got his tools of the trade back, plus a set of manacles and a handcrosbow without any bolts both items he had never seen before, but he guessed they where in the box the man with the rapier has shoved in his arms when he had been captured. Stowing both of the items in his backpack before nodding at Darian's command, already having decided to not go against them lest the man tried out his longsword on him, and followed the man as he took of on the plain. Keeping all his senses open for anything that might be trouble.

[Valorae]

Valorae had been busy grudging Linellia over new crosses before even thinking of the old ones. That was before she spoke to her about it. It didn’t surprise her much that Darian - Craevan, she’d discover that truth eventually - would be leading them. It started to seem more like his job anyway than the rest. Two distractions, a lock pick, and Darian. We’re tools she thought. She didn’t have much intent of that becoming fact though. Ms. Ferral spoke to her then, and she stared in utter disbelief. She didn’t care about the insults. She was stupid, she absolutely was for not just listening, and realizing all of this before. The more Linellia spoke the more she began to tremble with a myriad of emotions. She couldn’t possibly mean, in the entire city, him? Would she have her chance, her exact act of – no. No, just not yet. The looming threat that would soon settle over Schancke was agreeable though. And above all, it would be her doing. She accepted being tool now, only her purpose wasn’t distracting. Oh by the Gods no it was not! Linellia’s words had a great impact on Valorae’s body. First the confusion and rising frustrations, then the cold stare of absolution of what purpose she had given herself. But no, the final absolution of this night was only a taste of the bloody forsaken vengeance she had sworn. The whites of her eyes were blocked out after the initial shock, the hairs on her body fell back to her body, and her loose lips, let loose by the initial drama of it all, the unbelievable news, tightened, and tightened some more. The faintest curl of sadism crossed her face. They might have sworn she laughed. Laughed! He will die a thousand times over… She half-wittedly listened to the rest of her orders. The promises of rewards were great, but there was something much more meaningful a stake. Life? Yes, but a just life as well. She had a chance before her now to reach that summit, to have his head on a spear posted over the city. It’d be a war banner against all of these vile tasteless fiends who deserved to burn, burn in a fire hotter than the flaming slag heap that burned against the sky. They would all perish in, horrible deaths of inexplicable pain that would make them beg and holler with inhumane howls to take him, take the other one, their most beloved or otherwise. Still it would be them; they would be cauterized from this sore on the world. it was time, her time. *** She gladly gathered her new skin and molded it to her form. The intensity that now filled her eyes was unsettling. She looked strange indeed, and no matter what the boys all heard none of them could understand. She contorted her body in every conventional way she might have use for one in full suit. Her blind spots were covered, and she was ready. The next hour of her life was torture in itself. She didn’t even consider the time she’d have to spend, waiting, and waiting for the next time to strike at him. She hoped that his suffering like this would be comparatively worth the suffering she endured, the suffering she lived with every day and night, in every thought and dream. Finally, she’d have him, hollow and hardened, just to smash his disgusting face into a million shards of nothing. Less than nothing even, she’d make him less than nothing. The thought of the mission intrigued her. Obviously, the safety of the party and success of the mission was the priority, but she couldn’t pick safes. She’d need some reason to either look for this old man, or convince Darian – Craevan – that he was an asset. She’s right, it would so damn unfortunate for other property to be…mishandled. Loose ends! A thought Darian could surely agree with. The last thing they needed, even as an organization – an organization she was intent on being a part of – it would be beneficial. Anyone who patrolled those woods, who oversaw those fields, who happened to handle the contents in question, must be removed from the design. How she’d propose this idea to Darian was an entirely different mountain to climb. Still, she would. She had to. Once she did, and she had him to herself… Well, she’d have him all to herself. An old man, it’s funny that he’d be the cause of so much suffering for other girls like her. He must not be so amusing to go on without his son. She wondered how he died, and how she could have him relive that. Though perhaps not; perhaps there were better means of, if she was so dark to suggest it, purification? She’d do what had been done to her. She’d strip him down to nothing, drain him of all he was, and then fill him with the unsightly truth of the matter: that he is not alone. What would come after that was something a bit more personal. Valorae’s first goal to help the old man understand her. He’d need to understand what she was there for, and maybe then – though she’d have it no other way – he’d see things her way, and help enlighten her. She was overly anxious with the thought of holding a sword in her hand. Not a wooden toy to spar with, but a real metallic blade. She could almost hear the dream-spawned hum of the sword’s vibrating body as it would strike. It almost made her vibrate in the good way. Her own methodology of swordsmanship kept coming up. Head, neck, heart – head, neck heart… She knew how to land a kill shot, and it stopped there. That was the other part of the anxiety: real combat. The promise she held was to be tested in this single instance. If she lived through it, by her captors’ demands, she might get to make such a decision again. The outcomes played through her head, most of which were her own death. She needed to keep her guard up, or else. The threat of death, although an ever-present event, was weighted above most other threats of pain or dismembering. She hoped that wouldn’t be the outcome. A solemn look crossed her face for the remainder of the ride. Not much longer really… It brought up a question though. Where would she be if this were to be it, the finale of her short time back on Mizahar? Syna would not possibly return her to her good graces in the Ukalas… She didn’t want to be born back into this world at all. Sunberth had become such a shit hole; she couldn’t imagine the rest of it. Taloba even might be a wreck. It was incredible she remembered as much as she did. Part of her remembers a world divided in two, civilizations on the brink of war. As for the other part, she witnessed destruction. This must be the aftermath of it all. A world of man at war ended like this? It must have been very poor to live through. She wanted someone to pray to, to know someone was watching over her. As the sun curled over the sky, which then fell to darkness, then there would be no Syna, even now that she was back in full view. Leth showed no interest in her either, it seemed. A lover’s scorn maybe? A lover of the one Valorae once loved, at the least. For the moment she had these three. Her prayer was one of faith in fate. She prayed she’d not die this night, and that these three young men would prevent that if needed. She knew the carriage was slowing to its stop; it was time. She rushed the prayer to closure. *** The escorts words of encouragement didn’t faze her much. She was focused. Darian’s command was answered by a single nod. She retrieved her blade and stood in wonder. It was a bit heavier, but the edge was so sharp. The point was perfect for her cause too. She let it swing through the air, clear of anyone’s reach, and tried to get a feel for it before they were to charge in. The sheath was in her other hand - a counterbalance. The hard leather might help her at some point. In a swift motion she lined it back along such a sheath and placed the blade in it firmly. It was secured to her person and she was ready to march out. She nearly went right into the fields without his command before turning back to him. She gave a look he must understand. Daylight was burning, and it would be terrible to maneuver through the fields at night. They wanted to be ready to enter by such a time. Time, an ever present factor, was not necessarily in their favor.

[Darian]

[10 chimes away from the compound]

Darian was on his belly, crawling through the muck and refuse to the crest of the slight hill overlooking the small keep below. His breathing was ragged but quickly was coming under control as his heart slowed a beat, and the effects of running started to wear off. The clothing he wore underneath the night leather stuck snuggly to his scarred form, and his armor chaffed at his joints, though the pain was just accepted as the cost for the mission. He needed to know who had pulled him from the brink of death, a task that had consumed him for the better part of the past few seasons. The desire was hardly sentimental, but actually simply practical, and more than a bit personal.

Fingers grasping the tufts of grass on the hilltop, he pulled himself up the last bit through the mud to peer down the slope on the other side, his cold gaze watching for patrols and the like. He was not dressed in the rags of a commoner, something he regretted when at last looking upon the small keep as he realized his dress might prove more of a hinderance than benefit. At least till night came to darken completely, and quietness reigned over the area once more. He continued watching for a few moments more, noting every little detail before slipping back down the slope, and turning to face his rag tag group one by one.

"The keep is just over the rise, I want each of you to take a look collectively at what we are dealing with here, before I tell you what you are to do" Darian whispered to the group, his eyes darting from person to person. He may have his doubts about the people selected for the job, but he needed the distraction they would offer, and that made him willing to be patient, for now. Reaching out to try and grab Danck by the shoulder, he would push the man before him if he managed to catch hold of him. "You first. Quietly!" Darian spat, turning to watch the others with undisguised suspicion.

[Archelon]

INTERTEXTUS Just as the group made their way to their positions a Night Eyes Enforcer appeared out of the brush of the fields, running towards them. "Abort Prospect! Abort! Take them back to Callik's "Craeven". There's a veritable army of mercs in the area. They were tipped off by someone on the inside!" With those words, the Enforcer would look towards the others, "You can work off your obligations another way. We'll just have to find another means to hurt Schanke. Bide your time for now." oocValorae you can begin that solo we discussed. Just shoot me a link via pm for a one shot post.

Thread Award "..." And the Results!!!!: Darian : SkillName 1-5 How/why? Leadership 3 Intimidation 2 Longsword 1 Lores: Working for the night eyes Valorae : SkillName 1-5 How/why? Observation 2 Rhetoric 2 Shortsword 1 Lores: Working for the night eyes Would you like some extra turtle sauce ? : It's a shame people retired a few characters. Oh well, if you guys ever come back you can work off your assorted obligations to the night eyes separately. Shame this had to be aborted though .