Falling...(Open)

[Wrenmae]

Shroud smiled, a rare expression for the evening, and nodded along with what Owan said. The dog watched through as they passed by, eyeing the girl with dark, hopeful eyes. When they'd pass, it retreated back into the shadows, awaiting others to follow it into the gloom of its own realm. Shroud clicked a finger against the hilt of his dagger, pausing between two roads. "Bard speaks true," He warned the girl, "Best not trust anyone in Sunberth. Everyone wants something from someone and you'll be taken as a fool, new as you are." After a moment of deliberation, he chose the right road and started off at a brisk pace again, pausing only to speak between alleys. Thoughtful again. "I'll give you a place to stay and a way out of the city. Your kind is best across the seas, in Lhavit, but we'll make do with Syliras or Zeltiva." He offered her a mirthless smile. "Journey will not be easy for you, but staying here will get you killed...or worse." His tapping continued on the hilt of his dagger, a quick jaunty stacatto as though communicating in some complicated code. It was a nervous habit, or appeared to be, especially as Shroud stopped whenever he caught himself doing it. "I'm not helping you for nothing," he answered her languidly with a shrug, "Leth saw fit to raise you and drop you, I'm betting there's something special about you. You'll pay me back whether you wanted to or not. The question isn't if, simply when." Another turn, deeper into Sunberth as the houses rose like dilapidated sentinels. For Owan, someone who had been in Sunberth awhile, Shroud was no longer walking in the direction of any boarding house he knew. His path was on a tangent with the marketplace, a ghostly place after dusk and thick with the knives of thieves. Beyond that, the Gated Community, or in another direction, The Slave market. He hadn't yet settled on a direction and seemed aimlessly moving from street to street, although possessed with oddly specific purpose. He spoke nothing of it to either of them, only thoughtfully gaze his head, counting on his fingers numbers that he hadn't a mind to hold.

[Thelos Reignhold]

Thelos sat in the far corner of the room his hood pulled low over his wrinkled scared face. He did hid best not to draw to much attention to himself as he raised his head to observe the events unfolding before his very eyes. A young helpless damsel, a kind hearted hero, the suspicios stranger it was all too cliche he thought and slightly chuckled. Where did he stand on the New matter before him though? Magic users were not the most favouritepeople around these parts so if he did choose to involve himself he would have to be discreet.

He pondered what he should do stroking his beard as he did so. He had no vile thoughts about the girl that much was true but something about her was indeed peculiar and he might learn something that may indeed make this place worthwhile, because a fallen star would make a fine prize for any a mortal.

[Star]

Star whimpered a little as they passed the dog and stayed watching it for a few seconds more after they had continued walking then hurried to catch up. She frowned and pondered their answers to her question. She followed them more catiously now, putting more distance between Bard and Shroud without being too far away. "All men in this city are scary..." she murmured to herself.

[Owan Bardson]

Owan walked on in silence, a wry grin twisting his features. He knew Sunberth well enough to know that they weren't heading toward a boarding house. Their path had two options: The Gated Community and The Slave Markets. Owan assumed Shroud could've had a connection behind the gates, someone to provide the girl with a place to stay, or he could've been a petcher out looking for a quick miza. Owan sincerely hoped for the latter.

"Ye'd be smart to stay close," Owan said over his shoulder. Maybe the girl really was daft. "I think I know where yer takin' us. Great boarding house, up ahead. Just take a right. Safest place in the city," Owan said, shortening his stride to allow the girl to catch up. Hopefully Shroud'd get the hint. He seemed like a sharp fella. He let his eyes travel up and down the girl's body, skin peeking out from the flap in the cloak. She was small, petite even, her legs short and bare. If she ran, Owan imagined he could run her down. He hoped it didn't come to that.

Owan heard the girl mutter something, and he turned his head to face her.

"Speak up lass," Owan said. "And stay close. It won't do to have ye gutted in the streets before we can get ye to safety," he said, wry smiled made into something more wholesome. He waited until she had caught up with him and placed a hand on her lower back, encouraging her to stay close and keep up. Everyone's life'd be a bit easier that way.

[Thelos Reignhold]

Thelos followed the three from a distance, hood pulled over his head and sticking close to the shadows enough just to keep from being recognized by any of them. He could tell that the only truly innocent one there was the girl and he bean to worry that these men had ill thoughts about her or worse, they intend to sell her into slavery. Every once of fill and low life scum would pay for her so it was no great riddle that the men were planning such actions.

The more sinister looking of the two men began to speak though Thelos was out of hearing range he was able to deduce that he was suggesting which direction they could take.by they gestures he made. There were only two options. Left to the board houses or right, to the slave market. He hoped good the girls sake the other man was not a fool or a fiend, and that he would not lead her into servitude. Perhapshe could intervene and ask the girl to come with him, but would have believe him. All he could do.now is wait.

[Wrenmae]

They passed the doused lanterns of a bygone second daytime. Night held vigil here and demanded a toll of sight to pass. Around them, shadows glared and flared like monstrous bats and long fanged eels. They slithered, they undulated. Most were the fabrications of their own minds. Suspicious eyes seeking meaning in nothing. Some of it was the men that tailed them. Some had followed since the bar, folding into alleys and corners like paper and appearing again place to place. Interest, threat, misplaced heroism. It mattered little. If they made a move, Shroud would be on the defensive immediately. He hadn't lived in Sunberth this long just to be taken by some drunks or street punks with an eye for pale flesh and easy mizas. At the juncture between the two routes, Shroud paused, glanced back at Owan. The man was almost smiling, a hand gently on the small of her back and leading her. He had the same eyes as a Sunberthian man. He knew these streets. He knew what was coming. In that moment between them, Shroud nodded and turned left toward the slave market. The nod was all Owan needed to be assured of his place, his cut. Easier to cut the brigand some of the gold rather than find out how skilled he was with his axe. There were no words from him between that divide and the markets. Large tents that crowned the distant skyline. No screams, no moans. The slaves knew to keep their tongues from wagging. The whip was their ever perceptive snake, striking at those who dared to disturb a master's slumber. Outside one of the buildings he stopped, turned and closed his eyes a moment, rubbing them and then starting up the stairs. "I'll go in alone," He said to them, pausing at the door before knocking once, "Board isn't cheap, and I expect you to leave Sunberth as soon as you can. If Leth truly does love you, she choose a poor way to show it." He paused as the door creaked open, shadows amid flickering lamplight beyond. "No one but the prey and the predators here, little star."

[Star]

OOC : Oh how kind of you xD This is going to be interesting to say the least XD Star whimpered as they moved into darker streets, literally pressing herself against Bard's side and clutching his shirt with the hand that wasn't holding the cloak. She couldn't see very well and she kept thinking she saw something out of the corner of her eye. It was very obvious that she was terrified of the dark. As they stopped, she started to move towards Shroud but stopped when he told her and Bard to stay outside. She said in a shaky voice, "I-I'm scared! I d-d-don't like the dark!" She stared at Shroud as he spoke before going inside and his words sent shivers down her spine. "What does he mean by that?! Maybe I should run..." she thought to herself, really getting scared now. She glanced around nervously to try to plan an escape but she could see so poorly that it was no use. She bit her lip and released the large man's shirt from her grip. "It's probably not the best idea but they...they're starting to scare me..." she thought as she glanced around once more and took off running as fast as she could in the direction they had come from.

[Fallacy]

XP Award! Name:Wren XP Award: +1 Teaching +1 Observation +2 Rhetoric +1 Hypnotism +1 Persuasion +1 Familiary Lore: Watching an Ethaefal Fall Creating an Escort Notes: Name:Owan XP Award: +2 Rhetoric +1 Interrogation +1 Observation Lore: You're Like Dust to Him Notes: Name:Star XP Award: +1 Swimming +1 Observation +1 Rhetoric +1 Interrogation Lore: Falling Has Leth Forsaken Me? The Basics of Sunberth Notes: Name:Thelos XP Award: +1 Observation +1 Stealth Lore: Following Behind Notes: Any questions or concerns about the rewards gained please send a PM