Open When men were kind,

[Berend]

Timestamp: 7th of Winter, 514 AV Alone he lay on his straw pallet, just staring at the ceiling for some indefinite period. It had been light outside since he awoke, and that light hadn't changed hue through the cracks in his walls, just stayed dirty shafts of no particular color that made the musty air glitter. His belly growled with hunger pains, but he didn't get up, still too groggy to be of use. The drink last night left him with a roar in his ears, and a sour appetite despite his stomachs protests. He couldn't right reckon what to do, laid out as he was, with his thoughts moving like molasses in this timeless place. With the glare of sun though crossing overhead though, he couldn't go back to sleep either though. So he kept in place, and thought in circles, till someone started knocking on his door. No, not knocking, more like beating on the wood with such force that the walls shook as well. Berend sat up with a start, grabbing for his dagger just as the door swung open hard to clatter against the wall, and two rushed in, one carrying the other. It was Aaron and Matthäus. They were both covered in blood, and Matt’s face was as pale as cream. In response, he climbed to his feet, dagger in hand, but at the sight of them, he held it loosely, quickly forgotten in the heat of things. “Shyke, what? Why?” He managed to get out as he was still registering the scene, the two men taking the moment to sit heavily against the wall. It gave him a better look at what was ailing Matt, because he could see now a big tear in the side of his shirt, and a gash that was still bleeding steadily. Neither responded, instead breathing hard were they sat, Matt picking at his side, and Aaron holding covering his eyes with a single hand. “Wadda ya get into, petching speak you!” Berend was pacing now, and chewing his lip, his head still pounding from the night before, and his heart as well now. It took him past his open doorway rather quick, as it was a small room, and outside he could see the blood trail, though it was thankfully devoid of people for the moment. He shut the door anyways, and slid across the locking bar for good measure. “Foking Dagger Thugs, and Sun Prancers did dis!” Aaron was the first to speak up, banging his fist against the floor in a frustration that only left Berend more confused. “Oi really, and what ye having to do with them, eh?” “Nothing” Matthäus spat, blood coming out with the words to dribble down his chin. Aaron looked ripe to say something, but chewed his lip and continued to beat against the ground again. Berend started to pace again. “Alright, alright, so nothing it is, why the petch are yer hear bleeden all around to get yerself here then? Grael knowing dis?” “What!? No, just working, close you know, then steel comes out, and Matt gets himself stuck. Took him here cause yer close, and ye owe me.” “Owe ye!? Owe ye!? This is more then that petty debt, don’t need no Daggers here! Not for what little I borrowed!” “An you ain’t going to have any, this wasn’t supposed to happen” “Petch it did happen though” Berend replied through gritted teeth, his nervous panic lapsing into anger at what little he knew, and what little they were telling him. He wanted to thrust the dagger in his hand at something, and clenched his fingers around the hilt at the thought. At the dead look he found in Aaron’s eyes, and the anguish in Matt’s, he dropped it instead, letting it clatter to the floor. “Say I believe you then, say no trouble this way, why the petch ye bring’em here!?” Berend growled, softer now as he crouched just in front of them to get a better look at Matt’s wound. The shirt around it was dark with blood in the dimly lit room, and the man’s breathing was ragged gasps now. “Like I said, ye owe me” Berend turned slowly to look at his insolent friend to see a face just as stubbornly cold as his own. “What just am I owing with this? Know nothin bout helping cuts” “No helping that even if you did me thinks” “Oh thanks for your confidence” Matt groused, finally looking up at them both. “Then what?” Berend continued despite that, still looking at Aaron. “That just it, called upon you for ideas” “For petch sake, took you that long to get that out!?” Berend sat back at that, on the ground not far from where his dagger lay, and took to spinning it around while he thought. “You try wrapping it?’’ “Yea, used his good coat to do it, but he insisted. Came off around half way here too” “Well this is shyke..” Berend muttered, mostly to himself as he scratched his chin with one hand and twirled the dagger with the other. It had occurred to him one thing that could be done, but he didn’t like it much. Came to him when Aaron commented about there being no help for his condition. All it would take was one awful moment. Thing was though, would Aaron be on board, or would he try to stop him? Suppose he had to find out sooner or later, though he wished it could be later. Matthäus was bleeding all over the floor though; making a mess of the place that needed no help in the regard. That, and he was also making quite a bit of noise with his wheezing and grunting all the while. “Ya know, I don’t think ye came for ideas” Berend said as he sat up upon his knees, and moved closer to the two men. He still idly slide the dagger this way and that across the floor, but now he never stopped touching its handle. “I think, ye already knew the answer” “Oh ye do?” Aaron growled with a glower of his own, meeting his stare boldly. “What answer would that be, eh?” Matthäus spoke, wheezing halfway through it, before continuing on. The dagger stopped spinning, and Berend grabbed the handle tight. He breathed in a deep breath, and out slowly through his nose as he looked at them both. Matthäus was in too much pain to care much, but Aaron shifted where he sat, looking ripe for some sort of action. “Actually, Aaron has the answer in hand” Matt shifted to look at him, and Berend brought up his dagger hand, the tip pointed at his distracted friend. All it would take was a thrust, but still he looked over to Aaron, seeing that he saw it. The man shrugged, and he looked again at his target, jerking his hand forward in a rough semblance of a thrust. As it connected, Matthäus gasped, grabbing at Berend’s wrist, but Aaron stepped in now, wrenching free the man’s arm so he could finish pushing it through. He’d gone for the chest, and stabbed close on target to the center. After that, he just kept pushing and pushing, till the dagger was down to the hilt, and even then he kept up the pressure till Matt stopped struggling. It was over after several long moments, with him covered in a thin sheen of sweat, and almost as much blood as Aaron was. The dagger came out easily enough, though more blood came out in it’s wake, and sighing, he wiped it off on Matt’s sleeve. He wanted nothing more than to lay back down, but there was a pool of blood underneath him, so instead he stood despite the aching protest of his muscles. Aaron stood up as well, stretching this way and that, not paying the body any more attention now that it was done. “So, even now?” “Hardly! It doesn’t take much to kill a dying man ye know. That was a favor for him.” “He ain’t going to be paying no favors back” “Yea, but you let me pick him, and we’ll call it even, yea?” “Got to take care of the body, then yea” “Sure thing” With that said, Berend tucked his dagger into the waist of his breeches and moved towards the door. The odor would soon choke them all if he didn’t open up something quick, and removing the bar, he let it sway open with the wintery breeze that whipped inside. “So, where’d all this go down?” “By the sea, in the market, we were looking for marks when it all started, me, Matthäus, and Liel. All the sudden, the thugs were trying to kill the prancers, and Liel somehow managed to catch a quarrel to the face. Well Matthäus didn’t take to well to that, and went running after one of em. Got himself thrown into the dirt, and stabbed in short order so I waited for a break, then brought him here.” “Thanks again for that” Berend spoke, emphasizing the first word in hopes it might get his frustration across. “Petch you, didn’t need to come here you know. Just thought you’d like a chance at the pickings. I brought him along cause he was good to us both once.” Aaron said standing up now, apparently done filching Matt’s body. “Huh, now there’s a thought, too bad I’m all covered in blood” “All the better, you can wash em by the sea, or get new ones by the Market. You got a cloak don’t you? Use it” Aaron started to move towards him, but Berend held a hand up. “I’ll go, and alone for now cause you’ve got a body to take care of. Come find me after though,” Ignoring the man’s protests, he walked over to the open chest and grabbed his cloak, putting it on quickly before leaving the room. Outside, he bundled up tightly, and hoped that was enough as his marched towards the Seaside Market.

[Kry]

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Date

The seaside market, a smelly place full of smelly people selling smelly things. Or in other words the epitome of Sunberthian culture. Ef walked through the stalls looking for something to buy but not really trying very hard, It was more the issue of lacking anything better to do that had landed her wandering about in the seaside market looking for something to do, Ef hadn't fully explored the city yet and had wanted to see more of it anyways and the seaside market had been a place she had yet to see, Ef had been warned not to wander around too much in the city, but she was fairly certain that anyone who would dare bother her, wouldn't be able to keep up with her if she decided to take off. It was a bit of a chilly day though not so much so that the water had frozen but enough that along with her entirely white outfit she wore her bright red scarf, replete with a little silver bell on each end in place of a tassel, She wore it for two reasons, one was that when she wasn't sneaking around the belss and bright color made it easier for her friends to spot her, and she really enjoyed the sound of the bells hanging from her neck.

Ef didn't particularly want anything from the market, though she had come with intent of purchasing a weapon of some sort, Although Ef had no idea what she as looking for though she did know she wouldn't be buying anything expensive. Well that's even if Ef would buy anything at all.


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[Berend]

Before all that though, he needed to take a bit of a detour into the Commons, and find something else to wear. It might not make much of a difference, if it was really like how Aaron said it was, but he'd feel a lot better if he didn't reek of blood. The blood was making his clothing stiff, cold, and otherwise unsuitable to wear in this weather. He'd still rinse them off in the water sure enough, but he had to have something to wear while they dried. Nearing the commons, Berend pulled his wool cloak tighter around him after tugging down his hood. Plenty of people around these parts, crowding the 'streets' that were little more than dirt paths in places. He kept to the fringe, the path right up against some of the ramshackle buildings, and kept his eyes out for someone peddling what he needed. Keeping his head down as he moved past the butchers, and grocers, he headed closer to the warehouses knowing that would be his best bet around now. Berend tried avoiding touching other people, but when it got cramped in places, he couldn't help a bump or two as he tried weaving aside, though he mostly ignored anyone who'd dare protest. Haste was in his best interest right now, so it was with relief he regarded not far down another such narrow dirt street some skinny vendor holding out some wool for all to see. The man had a formidable companion by his side, a robust fellow that was thick with muscle. Business must be good.. He mused to himself, before continuing on to place himself in front of the stall. "Eh, you be having some trousers, a shirt, and perhaps some gloves even?" "Yes! Yes! of course, wool yea? Never can bundle up enough now, right? Wait a moment" The man responded animatedly while he held up a hand, and ducked beneath the stall. Meanwhile, Berend cast a glance at the guard, and then decided to focus instead on the articles on the counter already. All of them were long strips of material, and plain of colored, nothing too interesting. Before all that though, he needed to take a bit of a detour into the Commons, and find something else to wear. It might not make much of a difference, if it was really like how Aaron said it was, but he'd feel a lot better if he didn't reek of blood. The blood was making his clothing stiff, cold, and otherwise unsuitable to wear in this weather. He'd still rinse them off in the water sure enough, but he had to have something to wear while they dried. Nearing the commons, Berend pulled his wool cloak tighter around him after tugging down his hood. Plenty of people around these parts, crowding the 'streets' that were little more than dirt paths in places. He kept to the fringe, the path right up against some of the ramshackle buildings, and kept his eyes out for someone peddling what he needed. Keeping his head down as he moved past the butchers, and grocers, he headed closer to the warehouses knowing that would be his best bet around now. Berend tried avoiding touching other people, but when it got cramped in places, he couldn't help a bump or two as he tried weaving aside, though he mostly ignored anyone who'd dare protest. Haste was in his best interest right now, so it was with relief he regarded not far down another such narrow dirt street some skinny vendor holding out some wool for all to see. The man had a formidable companion by his side, a robust fellow that was thick with muscle. Business must be good.. He mused to himself, before continuing on to place himself in front of the stall. "Eh, you be having some trousers, a shirt, and perhaps some gloves even?" "Yes! Yes! of course, wool yea? Never can bundle up enough now, right? Wait a moment" The man responded animatedly while he held up a hand, and ducked beneath the stall. Meanwhile, Berend cast a glance at the guard, and then decided to focus instead on the articles on the counter already. All of them were long strips of material, and plain of colored, nothing too interesting. "You'll be needed something to cover your head with too!" The merchant said, showing off one of the articles that had been already on the table. "All that you ask for, and this, just five and ten silver mizas!"" No, I don't need that.. uh thing for my head" Berend replied hurriedly, pulling at the hood of his cloak to emphasize his point. "You take it and wear it like this!" The man wrapped the thing around his neck, and turned in a circle to show it off. "Keep your face warmer!" "Lemme see, then we will be on with it, yes?" "Of course" Berend accepted the scarf with a nod, and tried his hand about wrapping the woolen thing around his neck. It was wide enough enough to cover the lower half of his face, and was warmer than nothing. "How much for this alone?" "Usually, two silvers, but for you, I'll part with it for one" "Alright, add to it then, and be seeing you" He said after digging through his coins to grab to gold mizas, and handed them over in exchange for the clothing. Thankfully the man was quick with the change, and soon he was on his way back home for a quick change. * * * * * * * In some cleaner clothes now, with the bloodied ones wadded up in his right hand, he found himself at last in the Seaside Market, and more than a bit relieved that he'd whatever action it had seen looked long over now. He couldn't even tell at first that their had been a fight here until he got a bit deeper into it and started seeing the bloody snow. Their were drag marks to, small body size trenches that it wasn't hard to wonder about, but avoided checking where they might have been dragged too for now. Instead, he headed for the waters edge so he could start scrubbing at his clothing with a bit of soap and a brush he'd brought with him from home. He figured no one would bother him, not after what had happened, though he hoped they'd still be around if he wanted to talk later. It was tempting, to ask about what exactly went down, but part of him didn't feel right about that idea. If Aaron was right about whom was involved, perhaps it be better if he just looked around, letting them guess at his purpose instead of him just blurting it out to them. Maybe there was still something to see after all. Behind him, something stirred. "Uh, yes?" He asked loudly, to nothing but the winds for all he knew.

OOCApologies that it was a bit lengthy, but the market part needed to happen before Berend could progress.

Moderator NoteI've subtracted the 15 silver mizas from my ledger

[Kry]

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Date


Walking about the place, waeving between stalls Ef tried to learn and observe her surroundings, There were stalls of all sorts with all sorts of people selling all sorts of things, Ef made sure to keep a wide birth of slavers and the like, she had had enough of their kind and If she could keep her distance from them for the rest of her life, She would.

As time went on Ef finally got board of the place, there wasn't anything worth buying and if it was it was being sold at a price that was more than Ef would be willing to pay. As ef walked about she began to pay less to the stalls and more to the people, Human's were weird, Ef had decided that, they did all sorts of silly things and had all sorts of mannerisms, Some were confident strutting about like peacocks, others were like rats, darting about taking what they wanted from the unwary, and many more walked about looking at things that they had no intention of buying, Yes, humans were indeed weird.

Looking for something to do, Ef decided to look for things that stood out, Ef for a moment saw a large man in one corner of the market that she could swear was blue, another time she saw a woman that had, extra arms, though Ef was sue that that must have been her imagination. Though at one point Ef did pick up a scent, off of a man that passed her by, the smell of blood. Ef knew the smell and it wasn't particularly rare in the city, but It did pique her curiosity, the man didn't seem overtly large so Ef figured she could get away from him if she had too, and well Maybe following him would prove interesting. So Ef followed him as he made his way to the water not really attempting to be sneaky, after all their were plenty people about, and sometimes the best way to sneak was to fit right in So Ef followed him for a while as he made his way to the water, though without Ef noticing the amount of people decreased until ony a handful were round and then none, leaving Ef her jingling scarf, and the stranger.

The man must have picked up on the sound of her bells because the man suddenly turned around asking as if he knew he was being followed.

Making eye contact Ef had the moment to choose to run away now or stay. he smart choice was likely run away, it always was, but Ef's curiosity won out and she ended up just standing their looking stupid.

not really sure what to do Ef looked back and the man before looking down at her feet, like a child caught doing something she shouldn't. But Ef hadn't done anything wrong, In fact Ef had been called a good girl recently by her friend.

Looking back u at the man Ef gave a short wave, a common greeting among humans.



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[Berend]

When no one immediately answered him, he turned around, standing up as he did to see that it was just a girl. He frowned, and allowed himself to not be so tense. "Thought you might be someone else" He muttered, barely audible because impulsively explaining himself to this stranger felt very awkward. Not just that, but he was still registering the fact that there was no threat to his person, and inwardly admonishing himself for not noticing the bells sooner. Was he slipping before even having gotten good at any of it? Several moments stretched in silence as he stared blankly forward, thinking such ponderous thought over. The girl waved, and rather mechanically he mimicked the gesture. He had no idea what to make of her, or what she was doing out here without company from what he had observed. "Uh.. you lost girl? Got folks around here or something?" Berend shifted awkwardly in place, limply holding his bloodied clothes in one hand, and in the other, a brush. They weren't forgotten in all this, and maybe he could've dropped them, yet it was so much easier to just not move. To continue observing, and make sure that he really wasn't in danger out here, friendless on the waterfront.

[Kry]

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Date

The man turned around and looked at her, giving her one of those, Oh it's just a kid looks. He seemed to be looking for something, but seemingly glad that she wasn't it, though perhaps glad wasn't the right word, relieved more likely. Ef was quick to realize the awkwardness of the situation, it wasn't like there was any reason for them to interact, she could just as easily been on her way and not bothered the man, but Ef was the curious type.

Uh... you lost girl?"

Ef's answer came in the form of a shrug and a shake of her head saying not really.

Got folks around here or somethin?"

A more definitive shake of her head.

Ef was just board and looking for something to do, and if she could be useful, then that made it all the better, Ef liked being useful.

Pointing Ef pointed to the Clothes and in turn the brush. then looking the man in the eyes again she quirked an eyebrow as if to punctuate her actions with a question mark. Maybe he could use some help or at least have an interesting story, Or maybe Ef could learn something interesting, her friend had said to be on the look out for information she could use, the city was going to shambles with the gangs current activities.
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[Berend]

Berend raised an eyebrow at her denial, chewing his lip as he again started to scrutinize to people that passed by, imagining knives and swords just out of sight. The girl remained unexpectedly silent, which only served to make him fill more suspicious. Perhaps she was a trap, her parents set to rob him if he tried helping her find them, or maybe she was just wondering why he had bloodied clothes. As if she'd heard his thoughts, she pointed towards his clothing, and then to the brush. Looking down at them, then back at here, he couldn't decide if this was just a really clever con or just as it seemed. "This?" He asked, glancing down at the bundle in his hand. "Just got done helping a butcher in the commons, figured I'd wash up these before heading home" It felt really silly explaining himself to her, but he said it anyways because he felt it needed to be said, and loudly so others in the market might hear. He'd never been that good of a liar though, and cringed to hear it said because it sounded like he made it up. After that, for several awkward moments, he groped for what else to say. Now he felt as suspicious as she was, and wondered how many others looked on, keeping an eye out for any sudden moves from him. Worse, what if he'd attracted attention from the wrong sort of people with his little stunt. Suddenly some Dagger thug, or Sun Prancer might be looking at him having had some role in today's events. Despite the cold, he broke out into a bit of a sweat at the thought, and rubbed the back of his neck while he decided what to do. "So.. speak girl, what is it you want from me? Someone send you? Was it Grael?" Berend asked, speaking a lot less loudly now, and voice cracking.

[Kry]

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Date




Nervous.

It has a smell, it has a smell in the same way danger does, a smell nearly impossible to place with ones nose but a scent none the less. And he man reeked of it, beads of perspiration nearly becoming visible on his brow. Ef would do well to calm him down, but she would have to figure out what it was he was thinking to do that.

The man had stated his intentions to her, He wanted to clean the blood from his clothing. Though Ef doubted the Origins of said blood, Ef prided herself on having a little knowledge when it came to smells, and while she couldn't be sure, the clothing didn't smell of livestock blood, A smell that made Ef hungry, the smell of the clothing was more akin to the smell of danger that Ef swore had a scent.

Now the question was what to do, It was hard to explain that she was just looking for something to do to pass the time. Well Ef could try something she had never done before, Using the toe of her boot Ef slowly carved into the sandy soil the words.

I

Help

Perhaps this approach was a bit aggressive, but it might get the point across, At this point Ef figured it couldn't possibly get any weirder. So not see just how far she could push human interaction with broken words and a lack of voice.

Holding out her had Ef pointed again at the brush and bloody clothing, If this person was anything like the people she had known growing up he wouldn't know how to pull a bloodstain out of clothing anyway. Instead of stopping their Ef kept her hand help out and took a step towards him.

Ef wanted to run just thanks to the oddity of the situation but decided against it, After all she had bothered him,Might as well see how the situation she had created would pan out.


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[Berend]

If only the girl would speak, then it wouldn't feel like he was talking to himself He thought while contemplating what he should do, which depended a lot on him deciding if his suspicions were valid. As it was, he couldn't bring himself to jump to that conclusion just yet, not with so many witnesses. On the other hand, he wasn't quite ready to play along with whatever was afoot either, for he knew his acting skills sucked, and that would only make him more of a target if he tried. Perhaps coming to the docks had been a bad idea. He shrugged off the notion, determined not to despair when the situation called for him to be resolved. Though he might want otherwise, he was in this situation for good or ill, and what he did next would decide a good deal. Taking in a deep breath, and tightening his grip, he stopped looking around so much, instead focusing on her. If he was being watched, so be it, he wouldn't give them the satisfaction of giving into paranoia. Ahead, the girl scratched at the sand with her foot, seemingly very intent on it. "You got something on the ground you need help with?" He asked, striving to keep the fear out of his voice while he took a few cautious steps forward, looking at the ground when he got close enough to make out what she was doing. "Drawin eh? You want something to draw with, is that it?" Whatever it was, it looked like those scratchings they made on the posts of wealthier establishments to states it's name or something like that. "Is that your name girl?" Berend gestured with his brush at the drawing as he did, before looking back up to her to see a response. Maybe she'd finally speak, and he wouldn't be the only one thinking of all these words for talking.