PM to join [The Drunken Fish] A Dangerous Intervention (Amora)

[Amora Jade]

An enormous wave of relief washed itself over the her when the Akalak decided to chase the other girl instead. Amora really had no idea what he was, or anything of his culture. It wasn’t everyday she decided to venture into the tavern by the docks. So many unusual forms of life she didn’t recognize found themselves in there she had no idea about.

Once the woman and her pursuer were out of sight Amora stopped to take a breath. The thief bent over and rested her hands on her knees while looking at the ground and panting. It only took a few ticks for her to catch her breath and begin to decide on what she needed to do next. Sure she had made a deal with the woman to catch up and help, but was that really in her best interest? The thief had very little skill in fighting and was definitely not even close to a match for the brute.

It would be easier for her to just simply point her boots in the direction of home and relax for the rest of the day rather than try her luck once more, but a nagging thought tugged at her decision. If she were to see the woman again, would she be angry and kill her? Or would she find herself fighting for her life again and the dark skinned lady be the only one around to help? Amora knew if it were to happen, she wouldn’t be so kind the second time.

Before she could come to make a decision, the thief was already running towards the maze of buildings the pair had disappeared into just a moment ago.

Amora ran as fast as her legs would allow her to, trying to catch up and find them. Her body shifted in and out of alleyways and around corners until she caught the slightest glimpse of blue skin disappear behind a building only a few yards away. Quickly she made a beeline towards his direction being quite certain he was still pursuing the woman.

She reached the spot where she last saw him, just to be disappointed that they had already made it away from there. Amora thought for a moment about what direction she would run if a giant was chasing her, then went with her instincts.

After about a chime she found herself running directly behind the pair. In a desperate attempt to get him to stop running, the thief bent over and scooped up a large rock from the ground then hurled it towards the brute’s head. It made a disgusting donk sound when it came in contact with the back of his skull. Amora smiled and laughed a bit at her success; she didn’t actually believe it would hit him!

Her small inner-celebration was cut short when the Akalak stopped abruptly and turned to face her. “Damn..”

[Kaie]

Adrenaline coursing thick in her veins, the Myrian did not feel the heaviness coming to her legs or the exhaustion in her lungs that threatened her escape. All that existed was the pounding of her feet upon the dirt and the huffing breath of the Akalak behind her. It was an unpleasant feeling, knowing one was the capybara rather than the tiger in the chase. Now sheathed to prevent it from heeding her dash, her gladius bumped rhythmically upon her hip. Yet how long could she evade the man before it did come to blades once again? Experience told her it wouldnt be long at all.

She juked around a slave carrying a heavy sack over his shoulders and his master soon behind him, narrowly missed barreling over a merchant stall, and made a simple vault over a half occupied bench. Then she hooked a sharp left back into an alleyway where rats scattered out of her way. A bit farther behind but still clear as Syna in the sky, she heard the angry pounding of feet behind her...and then it stopped. The Myrian whipped around and drew her blade into her grasp once again. Instead of staring upon a furious, incoming face, Kaie was met only with the Akalak's hulking back. His big blue hand had flashed to nurse the back of his skull, and his grotesque sword become trapped into the vengeful vice of his fingers. Behind him she spied the thief, and it appeared whatever smugness she had before was wiped clean from her face. Perhaps not so cowardly after all.

"Petchin' li'l bitch! Come here!" He barked with a gnash of imperfect teeth and dark eyes locked upon his new target. The Myrian's brow furrowed, but when his body began to move toward the thief, she found her window of opportunity. Blinded by anger. She moved swiftly, racing toward the man without a boisterous battle cry but instead a silent prayer to the Goddess Queen. Let my sword be quick, Mother. And the short blade jutted toward him just as he recognized his mistake. The gladius bit into his flesh as smooth as a butcher's knife into a hung boar's. He let out a cry, eyes shifted toward to the stream of blood and source of his agony, and gave such a hard backlash with his own weapon that Kaie hadn't expected from the wounded man. The nasty edge clipped her across the shoulder just as she stepped backward to relinquish her blade, and this time it was her turn to curse hatefully. The two separated, but the Akalak crumpled against the alley wall and dropped his weapon. Blood smeared against the grimy surface as he slid his way to the ground. Red pumped from blue skin ravaged through his abdomen.

"Goddess dammit," Kaie hissed in her native tongue, glaring menacingly at the wound. She ran the bloodied gladius across her vest in a crude attempt to wipe it clean before she sheathed it. Now freed, her right hand pressed sternly upon the red bite in her skin. Should've seen it coming. He was too big to be paralyzed by pain so easily. Should've known better...knowing a thing about the Akalak. At least her initial retreat had saved her from a deep wound. A trip to another tavern to acquire some alcohol would at least spare her infection. Amber eyes drifted up to the thief. "Didn't think you were going to show up to be honest."

[Amora Jade]

Amora realized what an awful mistake she had made once the eyes of the giant met her own. She wanted so badly to run, but found herself frozen with fear. The thief was engulfed in his shadow as he began to near her with the blade in hand that she was sure had ended many lives. Amora’s eyes shut tightly, she gritted her teeth and dug her nails into her palms as she braced herself for what was to come.

A sickening sound that was unfamiliar to her forced her eyes to shoot open to witness a blade that had found its way through the skin of the brute. Somehow he still managed to lash back at the one who caused his injury, but that was as far as his strength would let him go. The thief backed away as she watched the man stumble backwards and hit the alley wall and drop to his demise. Her eyes grew wide as the situation began to sink in. The sight of the blood on the wall made her stomach churn, but the crimson liquid pouring out of his stomach onto his blue skin made her want to hurl.

Amora stared at his lifeless body, feeling both relieved that he couldn’t cause any harm to her and terrified to know that the woman who slayed him could. It was unusual for her to see a woman with such strength, and it was both mesmerizing and frightening. She wished could could carry herself with as much pride and strength as the dark-skinned hero of hers did. She wouldn’t always need to be the one needing saved.

The thief swallowed hard and tried to pry her gaze away from the man when she heard an unfamiliar language spoken. She shrugged it off thinking maybe she just couldn’t hear correctly over the heart-beat in her ears once the woman spoke to her in common.

Of course, Amora didn’t expect herself to come back to help her either. The girl tried to manage a small grin as she looked up to see the woman with blood-stained clothes and a nasty wound on her shoulder.

“Well, I guess both of us are full of little surprises huh?” she managed a small chuckle before looking back down at the body. Death wasn’t something she ever enjoyed seeing, and it always took a toll on her nerves.

“Guess I owe you... Need a drink?” Amora needed a drink herself. She never got the opportunity to do so thanks to the now lifeless-body that had been chasing after them. Of course, that would mean having to take another go at picking someone’s pocket again. This time she knew to be more careful of the aware ones in a crowd.

“Oh and uh.. thank you,” she said, and meant it from the bottom of her shallow heart.

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[Kaie]

The Myrian woman shook her head, still internally cursing herself for allowing the Akalak to wound her in her carelessness. Nonetheless, she offered the woman a good natured roll of her amber eyes and a twitch of a grin upon her lips. "Full of little surprises. That's one way to put it," She laughed dryly, eyes wandering down to the fresh corpse between them. Absently, Kaie couldn't help but wonder what had become of the elder of the pair. Something told her she'd run into the bastard sooner or later. Probabilities in Sunberth hinted more toward sooner.

"A drink doesn't sound half bad. I could use some wine too, you know..." There was a facetious gesture toward her bleeding flesh and a shrug of her shoulders. Usually she carried her own wineskin for such occasions (and recreations) but she'd neglected to bring it today. The irony of its absence was almost as irritating as the fact she had real use for it. "You're welcome anyways. Though you might want to choose your targets a bit more carefully...or aim for more subtlety? " She nodded her head toward the decaying Akalak as proof and offered a more genuine grin. It's not like Kaie could rightfully blame the girl regardless of her thieving choices. She'd be a hypocrite if she claimed she never went for a challenge when it came to an opponent. That didn't make either less dangerous.

"I've got a feeling we should keep away from that tavern for at least a couple bells. Come on, let's try the Pig's Foot. More unsuspecting, drunken targets for you and plenty of ale for me."

Without much delay, the Myrian's boots pivoted and exited the alley back toward the steady Sunberth crowds. Of course that unwavering confidence didn't last long. She turned back toward the thief with a sheepish grin.

"You wouldn't know which way to go would you?"

[Amora Jade]

Amora couldn’t wait to tear herself away from the brutal scene the pair created to a more enjoyable one in a tavern. At the mention of the Pig’s Foot the girl remembered why she hadn’t just gone there in the first place. It seemed to have a larger, more claustrophobic, crowd than it normally held and she just didn’t feel like facing it at the time. Patrons were always incredibly rude when she would accidently bump into them while trying to make her way around to the bar- they always assumed she had just pickpocketed them and would make a scene. Of course, usually she had.

Now, after all of the trouble she created, she wished strongly that she had just dealt with the accusations and not ventured to a tavern she had never stepped foot in before. The Pig’s Foot seemed like a place created by the gods to her at that moment, and she was excited to go. Besides, some of the crowd could have cleared out by then.

The thief knew that the woman would want something to wrap her wound up with, but Amora hadn’t a clue where to get anything and she really didn’t want to make any pit stops on the way to the tavern. When the dark-haired woman began to set off in the wrong direction an amused smile set on her face and a small laugh managed to escape.

“Obviously you’re not from around here. Everyone native knows how to get to Pig’s Foot from anywhere in the city, ” she said, amused. “Just follow me” With a small motion of her hand Amora began to lead her hero-of-the-day in the correct direction to the tavern.

“I’m not always that bad, ya know. I didn’t realize the old man had company. Should’a been paying more attention I guess,” the thief shrugged then looked back at the dark-skinned woman with a slightly confused look on her face, “Honestly I don’t know why anyone would help a thief. Usually anyone who spots one of us helps the person who is trying to kill us.”

Amora didn’t know why she felt like making conversation, it really wasn’t something she would normally do. For some reason the strength of the woman fascinated her and made her want to talk. Never had she seen anyone from the female species able to wield such a weapon in such a professional way. The thief couldn’t help but look back and eye it a bit, curious as to whether she would even be able to swing it as all.


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[Kaie]

I should get better acquainted with these damned streets, The Myrian thought carefully to herself. So far was she from the few landmarks she knew that it was actually rather dangerous. Another chase through an alleyway or two and she'd easily be clueless of her whereabouts. Of course now that she understood there were entities in control called "gangs", understanding the nature of whatever city sector she hung around was more about survival than navigation. Perhaps even the thief herself would prove useful in informing her of such things. She'd save questions of that nature for small talk over ale.

"Help a thief? Usually I wouldn't," Kaie answered honestly if not a bit bitterly. The constant distrust she'd developed while in the City of Anarchy left her hand resting on her sword. "One of the men was Dhani though. Their kind and mine? We don't get along all too well." Bladed boots clicked deliberately upon the grimy street. A couple strange glances settled on the Myrian and the droplets of blood across her attire. For the most part, few paid her gory get-up much attention. Are they really that accustomed to this kind of violence? "Guess that worked toward your benefit today, hm?" A drunk stumbled out an opened door and meandered unsteadily around the building corner. His body bent over, a hand clutching the wooden siding of the building as he vomited in the street. Kaie couldn't help but grin in amusement. A tanned hand gestured toward the place. "I'm guessing this is it?"

She followed the woman toward the tavern with the faded pig swinging on the sign that hung above the door frame. Already was there drunken singing to be heard, one man going so far as to stand on one of the rickety tables as he led the chorus. Men and women alike cheered around him, adding their own voice to his. Kaie spied a table toward the back end of the tavern corner. She gestured toward the seating arrangement and raised her brow in question toward Amora. Then she headed toward it and sat down in one of the chairs. A breath of relief rushed from her lungs as the rush of their previous conflict left her. Feeling the presence of the wall behind her rather than other hostile patrons was comforting. "So...Why do you steal?" She finally asked when she was situated. A bar maid began to weave over toward them. Kaie raised two fingers in the air and the old woman gave a stern nod and disappeared toward the bar.

[Amora Jade]

The sound of the women’s boots hitting the ground filled the air between their speech, it was unusual for Amora to be walking with someone rather than walking near them. Their paces fell in sync with each other on more than one occasion during the journey to the tavern. When the women said she wouldn’t normally help a thief it made her cringe a bit. The girl wondered if she had any bitter feelings towards her because of her ways. The last thing she wanted was to be on the bad side of someone who could take down a giant.

Her explanation of why she helped didn’t make much sense to Amora. It was probably mainly due to the fact that she had no idea what a Dhani or the woman’s ‘kind’ were. The Dhani could have been either of those men, she hadn’t a clue. Curiosity began to flare up again but the thief was reluctant to ask her any questions. She’d need to get some alcohol in her system before she could be brave enough to pry. It never hurt to know who you were going up against, and the woman was right: that did work in her benefit. Had she not have been in the tavern, Amroa would be dead.

As they neared their destination the pair was greeted by the painfully familiar sight of a man stumbling around the tavern to puke on the street. The thief looked at the woman when she spoke and saw the grin that had spread across her face, then let her own lips turn upwards at the corners as well. It was a bit funny how a stumbling drunk could mark a location.

The pair pushed through the door to be greeted by the familiar sounds of drunken singing and a man standing on a table to entertain the crowd. The thief almost hoped he would fall, at least everyone in there could have a good laugh. Her gaze turned to her partner who motioned towards one of the tables in the corner the girl gave a slight nod in return and followed her to it, but not before she found an easy target. This time actually easy- not like before.

A man sitting at one of the tables they passed had one of his armed extended at his side and a mug on the floor beneath it, his other arm was sprawled on the table over his head which was laying on it as well. A pool of drool had formed on the wooden surface around his mouth and his breathing was off, coming in short gasps then stopping. The thief half-crouched as she walked to be able to reach her long fingers into the exposed back pocket of the mans jeans. There she could see the outline of a few mizas pressing against the fabric. As much as she didn’t like the thought of nearly groping the man, she slid her fingers into the pocket and grabbed firmly onto all of the coin that was inside. His body didn’t even budge a bit as she pulled out and headed to the table her partner wished to be seated.

As soon as her own bottom came in contact with the wood of the chair, the woman asked about Amora’s way of life. The thief couldn’t keep back a small laugh that escaped her belly as she laid the coin down on the table in front of her, “That’s like asking why I breathe really,” she started as she began to play with the coin. “I do it ‘cause it gets me by, ‘cause it’s easy, and ‘cause I like it.” Her attention was shifted from the coin to the waitress as their drinks were delivered. A mug of ale was set down in front of the thief and the woman’s drink was set down in front of her as well.

Amora smiled a bit in respect towards the barmaid and handed her the coin for the drinks from what she had on the table before turning her gaze back to the copper-skinned woman, “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else for coin. Besides, if the people I steal from can’t protect what they have then they don’t deserve it in the first place.” A shrug was followed by the lifting of her mug to her lips. The only thing she enjoyed more than being a thief was the embrace of a stern mug of ale.

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[Kaie]

The Myrian was quicker than anything to grab the handle of that ale-filled mug. She tipped the container to her lip and drank heartily the bitter contents. Then with a thunk of metal upon wood she focused back on the thief and her explanation. It was a curious philosophy for the Myrian to ponder over. Back in other cities she had traveled to with strict laws Sunberth's denizens loathed, she couldn't help but wonder if any people she'd met wished to ask her a similar question. Why do you kill? Just as quickly as Amora had come up with an explanation, Kaie too knew the answer to her own internalized question.

In a way it too got her by. Men and women were willing to pay coin almost anywhere for blood or protection. The need was what kept weight in her coin purse. Naturally such a task like murder was never easy. Sometimes the victim was unsuspecting or incapacitated. Other times they were armed to the teeth and brought down only after they'd done serious damage. Yet the Myrian knew she enjoyed it. Myri commanded the show of their race's dominance through warfare, especially over those that dared to invade their jungle abode.

The spilling of barbarian blood glorified the Goddess Queen and likewise pleased Dira with another death. The satisfaction of the goddesses she worshiped in turn brought Kaie satisfaction too, making the consequences of her encounters well worth it. How strange that she scoffed at the thievery of coin and value but not when a life was stolen. Even if she wanted to she could never stop herself. She'd been continuing the habit of violence for too long.

"Guess I can hardly blame you considering the shyke hole you call home," Kaie allowed in all fairness, voice losing the patronizing tone it seemed to have carried before. And how could she complain when such action was what bought her drink? She took another long drink before addressing the woman again. "Taking what another doesn't deserve because they couldn't protect it...You know, I heard something similar from a Svefra once in the Drunken Fish. Still haven't made up my mind about it."

Despite having already drank a portion of her ale, the Myrian lifted her mug toward Amora with a modest grin. The woman did make good on her promise to provide her with the alcohol after all. A simple toast to show her own gratitude. "If I knew I'd get a free drink for stepping in, I'd offer myself up as your hired guard."

[Amora Jade]

“The skyke hole you call home.”

Those words would usually offend Amora beyond anything else. She loved Sunberth and never planned to leave. No, it wasn’t the most dignified place to live, nor was it the cleanest, but it was home and she loved it. The people there were free and no one got to decide how anyone lived. It was all about survival, and that’s how she felt it should be.

The thief didn’t interject with anger, though. Instead she met the insult with a slight shake of her head and a small laugh. People who didn’t see the true beauty of the city were just simply ignorant to it. It was never easy to show an outsider how to see it correctly.

Again she spoke of a species Amora wasn’t familiar with. Svefra. Living in a place like Sunberth made learning of other cultures more than a little difficult. Especially when as a child she had no real teachers for useless knowledge such as that. The only things she learned were how to make it and thrive on her talents. If she found the courage enough to ask about Dhani and Svefra she would remember to do it, but for now she wasn’t all up to showing how little she knew of things outside the city.

The lifting of the woman’s mug towards the thief in an attempt to give her a toast forced an amused grin to form from her lips. Amora laughed and lifted her own mug, letting it clink against the other, “And if I could afford to buy you ale every time you beat the heads in of someone who catches me, I’d be more than happy to. Gods know I need it.”

The girl laughed again and took a long drink of the ale before setting her mug back down on the cheap woop of the table. Having a drink with someone was a bit relaxing, especially since she wasn’t just doing it in an attempt to rob her. Large eyes scanned across the crowd in the tavern. Most of the patrons in there were piss drunk while others, like she normally was, were there to take advantage of the situation.

“So what brings to here anyway? Business?” she asked after she turned her head to face the woman again. “Oh, and uh.. you can call me Jade by the way. If you ever find yourself needing a thief, just let me know,” her smile was small, but genuine. It would be nice for someone to owe her a favor for a change, and stealing something for her would do it.


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[Kaie]

The Myrian woman had to laugh at the thief's clever return. She certainly did not trust the woman, but their shared beef with the Dhani and Akalak had given way to an amicable bond between the two of them. It was enough to consider it camaraderie. Besides, it was nice to share a harmless drink with another woman as willing to take risks as she was. With the ceremonious clink of their mugs, Kaie drank the bitter substance heartily. After placing the mug back upon the table she licked stray alcohol from her lips. The thief's prying made her brow raise.
"Business?" She leaned back against the shaky back of her chair. Her mind raced back to the horrors she endured in Nyka, the grotesque monster of a creature worshiped by the equally disturbing resident cult. Their offer that allowed her her freedom had strayed from her mind as of late. Memories, however, corrected that as soon as she drifted back to them.

"It's...complicated. I never intended to come to this city. I doubt it's really a destination for many people anyway. Business...I suppose you could call it that though." Kaie offered the woman a narrow shrug of her shoulders and a wayside grin. Her expression turned almost pragmatic. She sipped upon the ale again. "Either way I can hardly leave for the time being. New obligations have a habit of doing that." The door to the tavern was thrown open rather violently, forcing the Myrian snap her head to investigate the disturbance. A pair of sailors gave a boisterous roar of laughter with their entrance, clapping each other on the back and wandering to the bar counter. The door slammed shut behind them. Amber eyes found the thief's again.

"Jade then? I am Kaie. Mercenary for hire." She gave the woman a flash of her teeth, a bit of pride associated with her new chosen line of work that suited her far better. There was no point giving the thief the formal introduction her people employed. No one across the Suvan Sea gave a shyke which clan a Myrian was from. "A savage is a savage is a savage" one man had dared tell her. It had been a cruel curse placed upon her by Lhex that they were comrades teamed together for coin. Maybe the gods will balance the world back out and put him on the other side of the battlefield. One day. "Something tells me there's no shortage of your sort here. I've seen kids swiping in the markets. Old people too. I'd be surprised if anyone in this city still had any weight in their coin purse."

Suddenly there was a furrow of her brow and confusion written upon her face. The ale in the mug was finished and then she was back to give the woman her questioning stare. When her thoughts finally became cohesive, she decided to speak. "Riverfall. Endrykas. Syliras. Ravok. Not once did I meet a thief. Farmers, merchants, bar maids, weavers, petch it, even whores I've met. You humans have no obligation to practice a certain trade like we Myrians do. You could do anything you want, especially here of all places. Isn't there something else you'd love to do? Maybe a trade you would choose to practice if you lived elsewhere?"