A Warm Welcome to Sunberth (Complete)

[Ysabel]

Ysabel gripped the boy's arm and pushed her behind her. Ysabel didn't want any of them to be captured. She knew the man was probably lying about buying their freedom. Slave holders were greedy and she knew she would be in capture for the rest of her life. But what if she could save Tawk and the boy? Would he accept just her agreeing to pay for all of them.

There's always that one point in a person's life where they feel the need to be the brave one, the superhero. This seemed to be Ysabel's time of sacrifice. She would willingly give her life for the boy and Tawk to live. Somehow in the past few hours she had grown to care for the two be it gratitude or a sense of togetherness that she had never really experienced before. She wanted to sacrifice herself even though she knew she would never see the two again. Gathering up all her braveness she stepped out from behind Tawk and faced their attacker. She squared her shoulders and took in a deep breath.

"Take me. I'll work until I earn all of our freedom but don't take them. Please." She said with a hint of sadness lingering in her voice. She looked back to her boys apoligising only using her eyes. This maybe the last time she'll ever see them.

[Tawk]

Tawk had sweat drip from his brow. His wound took it's toll, and he was exhausted. He gave the man a warning stare as he swung his blade around in a threatening way. Tawk listened carefully to his proposition - ears perked. He tightened the grip on his sword and pushed the boy lightly behind him. He glanced over at Ysabel as she spoke. Tawk was not surprised she wanted to give herself up for the sake of the two, after all, Tawk had done so much. He frowned, pondering what to do. He found himself to care for Ysabel and the boy, feeling the need to bring them to shelter and rescue them from the horrors of Sunberth.

Tawk nodded at Ysabel. He was ready to leave with the boy if need be. -"I still need healing.." he murmured to Ysabel, worrying that the wound would fester. He inhaled slowly and waited for the man to respond to Ysabel, but at the same time, ready to lash out a blow at the brigand. This was not a man to be trusted, Tawk felt.

[Wrenmae]

Shroud frowned, time slipping by as the Night eyes began expanding their search. If he was found, now, he may be implicated with them. The Konti was pretty, a white haired vision. He'd seen few before, once or twice in Alvadas but rarely up close. Within him, a war of supremacy waged, but Shroud kept tight the lash of control. He clicked the dagger against the scabbard, thinking, "You know," he said quickly, backing down the alley and motioning they follow, "As soon as you're healed up, you can help her with the price...we don't have to set out the agreement in stone from the get-go." Pausing at the junction of the corner with the main street, Shroud peeked around the corner, careful, poised, before dashing out into the main street. His path back to the Crimson Edge camp was clear, and with two new recruits the group would find an opportunity for growth again. It helped, having these enterprising young slaves seeking freedom...it was a ripe opportunity to prey off of desperation. "When we reach camp," he hissed back, "You may use our medical supplies and rest a bit. Try to escape and I'll turn your location over to the Night Eyes...but stick with us and you may find the niche you built for yourself too comfortable to leave after you earn enough money to go." The Crimson Edge tents rose in the distance, squat against the bright sun. "There," he pointed ahead, "You'll find your safer harbor there."

[Ysabel]

Ysabel looked at Tawk. The proposal was very tempting. At least it would allow Tawk time to heal and her time to come up with a deal she could negotiate with. She kept silence the way to the camp and followed silently behind the napper. She didn't look behind her to see if Tawk was following her but she assumed her would. Being healthy again was too sweet of a calling. A part of her hoped that he would run for his life and find another place to heal but she was so selfish that the want for him to stay with her outwayed the good in her heart. She kept her head down as she walked the cold wet streets in her bare feet. Her feet had long since started to bleed and had calloused over.

"What will happen to us?" She asked quietly not daring to raise her voice any higher than that. Her eyes were still trained to her dirt covered feet.

[Tawk]

Tawk followed the rogue in single file. They had trekked through the urban jungle that was Sunberth and followed a dirt road, presumably beaten down by people that were in similar conditions to Tawk and Ysabel. The sun shone bright that day, and Tawk wiped the sweat from his brow. He was dizzy, maybe it was a combination of the humidity and his open wound. He caressed his wound, grunting slightly. Tawk surveyed the area, trying to remember as much as he could. He was still remembering the city - every little bit of information helped.

Tawk grew weary of the endless walking and not after long, dragged his feet against the road and made his arms hang loose, like that of a scolded child. He noticed a metropolis of tents in the distance, and heard the snake-like voice of the brigand hiss that this was indeed the Crimson's Edge fabled home. Tawk was already interested in the politics of Sunberth. The idea that large gangs of warriors, cutthroats and thieves ran this town interested Tawk. He wondered what would happen if all of Mizahar would be ran like this. Tawk stopped walking and poised a question to the man. -"What now?"

[Archelon]

What now? What now he says... how intriguing. Perhaps the male has some sense even if he is hurt." came a voice seemingly from nowhere as the three came to sudden halt, looking for where the voice had come from, yet finding nothing clear of note. The road to Sunberth was a half muddy slog, dusty in places that there was no remnant of the rains and the rivers and dotted with sparse copses of vegetation. One of the many pleasing vegetative growth welcome to the native eye. As Tawk, Wrenmae, and Ysabel walked towards the Tent City where so many seemed to lay , from the corner of Tawk's eye a flash of a shimmering veil dissipated as easily as it had come. A clear sign of a shield being taken down as it revealed the harsh spindly form of a robed figure, a bony hand stretched out from the newly arranged cloak as a strange, familiar voice , raspy in it's timber seemed to voice words that caressed the chills of their spine... The nuit procured a small bag which jingled from its sleeve and held it in hands, shaking it as the clear twinkle of coin would venture it's way to wrenmae's ears... Beneath the cowl of its robes, and the decaying edifice of its features, a twisted smile graced its undead lips as it pointed to the young lad. "Hahahaha... Giving up already? Even after such a pitiful little showing? He he he he... tell me slaver... what would you want for the child? Now that I've recovered my things, is there an amount of hard mizas you'd wish for such a worthless boy?" The finger swivelled, making its way towards the konti as it began to laugh, "Or perhaps a package deal... I could have the boy and the yougng woman both as I don't really care for the male... too scrawny for my tastes. But I've always wondered how it would be like to have a few curves. However Slaver, if you would rather not come to an agreement I'm sure I could get the attention of those searching nearby. Such would be quite an easy matter I'm afraid. So what do you say? Are you prepared to make a bargain?" Posting order and NoteI've been watching this thread very closely Plot twist anyone? ^-^. Posting Order: Wrenmae , Ysabel, Tawk, Archelon

[Wrenmae]

It was the voice that drew his attention back, the rusty cough of syllables only loosely common. Turning, long dagger drawn up between them, Shroud physically recoiled from the nuit with a look of loathing. Such a wretched creature, falling apart, scarcely standing by its own means and swaddled in mildewed robes. Shroud's first instinct was to attack it, but his blade paused as the jangle of mizas called softly across the alleyway. A nearby shout drew his attention momentarily, but it wasn't in connection to them. Some of the Crimson Edge were sparring a distance away. Taking the opportunity of the nearby safety, Shroud crossed the distance between them, facing the nuit directly without turning his back to the slaves. At first there was only measured perception, seeking the nuit for signs of give or weakness. His entire body seemed to exude the promise of decrepit bones and paper skin, but he cackled with an uncomfortable amount of confidence. He was dead on his feet...he'd never seen such a wasted creature before so far from a graveyard. It unsettled him, shuddering a piece of him deep inside. "Coin for the slaves you say, a straightforward offer." He looked to Tawk and Ysabel, then the child...his eyes lingering on the boy. Of the three, the child was the least of use...nothing but a drain on resources. But offering him so blatantly would draw the ire of the other two...Shroud was not confident he could fight both...or at least without a casualty. "I'm less interested in gold," he said at last, fixing the nuit with a measured stare, "Coins flow like blood in these streets and holding an amount necessary for a...strong child would only paint me as a target." He glanced at the other two, shrugging, "The other two are prospects for the Crimson Edge. We have more use for strength of arm and beating hearts than corpses...but if you want the child," He held his blade out, but not at the nuit, instead he menaced Tawk and Ysabel...not belligerently, only as a reminder of the situation they were in, "You'll have to offer something more powerful than coin."

[Ysabel]

Ysabel subtly wrapped her arms around the boy's shoulders holding him protectively. She wanted to scream and fight. She wanted to kill the nuit for what seemed like tricking her. She had never had such violent feelings before. Such feelings like these scared her. She whispered comforting words in the boy's ear but never once did she say that everything would be alright.

She stood there in absolute silence as her fate was being tossed up and decided for her. She felt a little bit of relief that their capture wouldn't sell her so willingly but then fear struck through her as he offered up the boy. She wanted to fall on her knees and beg to let her keep him. She restrained herself thinking that the nuit would attack this weakness and take him anyway. If he could find the right price that is.

[Tawk]

Before Wrenmae could answer, a rotting stench enveloped around Tawk. He coughed before turning around, facing the disgusting, wretch of a being that now stood before him. He stepped back, until the aroma of Ysabel clashed with the Nuit's stink. He immediately drew his blade and shook his head, trying is best to shake off the effects of his wound. The sunlight and heat had only fuelled the Nuit's revolting appearance and smell. He snickered sarcastically when he heard the clinging of coins in the pouch that the Nuit held. Tawk expected the rogue to spare the trio as they had value to him. He fixated deeply on the Nuit, never letting go of that scornful stare. He heard the rogue carefully step back away from the three. Tawk let go of his gaze and glanced over to Wrenmae. -"What the devil do you think you are doing?", Tawk snarled at the cut-throat, -"Have you no sense of honour or empathy!?"

Tawk scoffed before returning to the Nuit. The three different parties were at an impasse. Tawk wasn't about to let Ysabel and preferably the boy get hurt or taken. He hoped the Nuit would not be able to buy the rogue's allegiance, lest one of the three would die, be it the Nuit, the Rogue or Tawk himself.

[Archelon]

The nuits corpse smiled as it considered the spectacle with such delight. The fleshlings were such lively things, all full of boasting, posturing and bickering. "Oh dear...and here I thought the three of you would be smarter then this. Such a pity. Well I guess there is a way to give you something worth more then coin..." The nuit's burning glare would shift to Wrenmae as it continued, " But not to you directly, no... you're not a nuit. There's no reason to give you more power even if you are a mage. That much can be sensed by your aura... shame you still abide by the flesh. Indeed why not come to the isle sometime and let go of your form... hmm? But... you still wish payment , yes payment right... Hmm..." The nuit trailed off as if thinking before its eyes shifted back to Tawk with a rather evil chuckle. "You said you were looking for prospects. Very well, I will since have to modify the terms... I shall allow you one prospect who is stronger for the long term yet weaker in the short term. " At such words an unseen hand would grip Wrenmae by the neck and force him to the ground to grovel at the nuit's feet before it unceremoniously flipped him up to lay where he could watch. The force was a reminder, a gentle tap that even if the mageling did not quite realize what was happening could definitely construe that such a force could have snapped his neck without any abandon." I'm afraid that you will have to have a choice mageling slaver. That's only fair , not everyone in the world can be free to gain for the price of nothing,Yes? I think you shall choose very soon. Which of these 'prospects' is to either die or be indisposed for a while..." Without warning , Tawk would be dragged off his feet by a sudden pull, his blade being cast away like a toothpick as his body settled before the nuit's feet. Then, then the pain truly began. "But I did say I'd make one of them stronger so you would have to choose didn't I? Let me give this one a gift. A gift for his misguided courage so that he may be the coin for you... if you value your efforts to help him live otherwise..." Silent , unseen tendrils of an astral form held Tawk downa they slowly began to unanchor his soul from his body. A nudge here, a gasping twitch there as an eternity of pain began to occur within the man. The process could have been done much quicker, and with more damage to the soul. But this nuit was menacing in the reasons behind this gift... this painful wonder of expansion. The initiation of an untrained fool into a state of learning the value of projection. A gift he spurned from giving poor , poor Wrenmae due to his foolish notions of thinking he might bargain even as the nuit droned on. "Now my dear fool,slaver these are my final terms... yes I do like final terms. Such an interesting finality to the term of final terms, just sort of rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?" When it was done, Tawk's soul was pulled from its body, shimmering in its astral form as the unseen hands around his soul's neck showed him off like a prize to be shown to konti woman and the child who began to scream as the nuit paraded his newest acquisition like a prize, allowing Tawk's soul hover above the former shackles of its flesh. Wriggling like a fish stuck on a line. It was held there as the body spasmed below its feet before being shoved back down with the first mired pains of reattachment. The foolish male would blink and keen a cry of pain. Tawk would be weak for hours, perhaps days, unable to move from his spot without help... and then there was the wound. A wound which was a trickle slowly bleeding the force of his life out."Now here is your price worth more then coin, and coin besides. A single prospect stronger in the long term yet in dangerous and yet in dire circumstances in the short. As for you my still fleshed mage, a promise that if you come to the isle, we shall help you soothe the pains of the living life to become something greater... and perhaps a little bit of knowledge as well. Yes, you would value that, wouldn't you? You who thought to renegotiate terms. Phah! I'll take both the woman and the boy then! I guess I might trade them both to Schanke for a more... pleasing form." Wrenmae would feel the unseen hands prop his head up, and slapping him across the face as the nuit, who by now was clear to be stark raving mad by fleshling standards...(or was he?) punctuated each sentence with a slight slap across the face. "Yes... yes that's what I'll do! But... but I should perchance keep a slaver happy. Yes indeed for if I need your servvices... you did keep them safe, brought them to a place I could take them... Yes slaver, yes I think you should profit with a retention price a little so long as I, or one of my fellows can use your services to procure us bodies again... though I don't think you realize you'll have no choice by then." The nuit spat as if uncaring, a small wrapped bundle seemed to float itself out of his robes to lay upon the ground, the size of a small book in front of Wrenmae's nose. Though upon it, the jingle of coin would be heard as a tingle of mizas were poured from the pouch. Six hundred gold mizas fell and littered their way on the ground before Wrenmae. Enough of a proper slave price for the woman And the boy. Another pouch was tossed on the heaving chest of Tawk, a full hundred gold mizas. More then enough to pay for his wounds. Perhaps the nuit fancied it another gift to someone who had just received something painful? But Tawk would never know. He only had enough strength to lay there and pant, and maybe scream out some words... Wrenmae was in little better shape, but the next words for him bode warning beyond measure. "Do not interfere from now on slaver... do you understand?" All that could be said was the two males would lay there as the nuit took a single step towards Ysabel as further unseen hands reached deep into the earth to rip heavy rocks from the firmament... holding them over the downed Wrenmae and Tawk's head as the nuit pointed a finger in a 'come hither gesture to Ysabel.' "Come my pretty. For their lives now rest in your hands... and the boys. I think I shall have to trade you both for a better body. Even if you look so delicious with those curves... Still you'll be alive at least another afternoon, right my pretty, pretty girl?" With those words, a sickening unseen feeling would trickle down Ysabel's face as the nuit crooned to her. As a parent would to a child as the nuit took another step closer."Don't worry, my sweet Shancke's just going to love you... isn't he? And the boy?" Another step was taken,"Well, there's people in Sunberth who always loved the boys, kinda disgusting don't you think? But all you have to do, is come now with me..." Then he stopped. The nuit turned to Wrenmae, "Isn't this fair slaver, I did say I would only give you one choice... a choice of opinion rather then action until you get up, which is more valuable now? A girl that's about to be taken, or a man once healed may prove an extremely valuable asset over time? Hmm? I could take the male and the boy and trade them for a new body just as well or maybe the lady would decide if Tawk's life is worth more then her own... isn't the anticipation rather, well, exciting? Cackling with humor the nuit would throw back his head a bit before finishing, "I haven't felt this amused in at least two hundred years. Say your goodbyes now my pretty fleshlings and decide your fates. I'll let you have at least that much time." Posting order and noteYsabel's the main show from here on out guys to get her her character goal . Don't worry, I'll leave it up to you guys for a rescue attempt in another thread after about twenty days of pain as a slave for Ysabel... or Tawk . Don't you just love these choices Wrenmae? ^_^. For now, just have your pcs react as you would . For now posting wise, I'll leave it up to you to have a conversation between pc's now... especially since everyone is threatened . Posting order: Tawk, Ysabel, Wrenmae, Ysabel , Archelon(when your convos , "take me's!" and denials are done I'll bb monday.