A new day, another slave... ( Open )

[Ximal]

6th of spring 512 AV, early morning, Sunberth, streets.

Cold. A very cold spring morning in the streets of sunberth, frost still clinging to the ground in patches, where the suns rays did not deem worthy enough to touch. Breath streaming and steaming from the mouths of the simple folk doing their daily jobs, their natural hustle and bustle of their daily lives. Dark side streets and long narrow winding alleys stretching onwards. The creeping dark receding from, the city and the slow sun dragging it'self into it's lofty position, casting down it's light on the small-folk below. Dragging his heels his eyes still sleepy Xi rose, squinting to keep the light from blinding him as he headed towards the docks.

His head pounding from a head ached of untold proportions, but nothing he couldn't bear, after all he was brought up with pain, a small head-ache was nothing in the long term. Slowing his pace to a slow walk, the heavy steel beneath his pants, and the steel sitting at his belt both kept out of sight by clothing, Survival was one thing he knew, maybe not out in the wild but where it really mattered within the city, around people. And that was the truth of it, a beast in the wild could cause you harm for a short while, at worst death, at smallest a bit maybe but with people they would slowly cut you down over a period of time. Grinding down your will to exist until you were a mere shell of your former self. Stumbling out into the open street by the water front docks his head still swimming with pain, he hadn't been drinking last night he knew that much. At the very least.

Swinging his dark blue eyes across the docks he took in the scope of them, since arriving here two years ago he had never ventured to the docks he'd never had need too until now. Chatter from the locals had informed him that there was a delivery of slaves being brought to the city today, and it was his intention to free them. At the thought of children being aboard the shit bade his head clear of pain but the brand on his chest throb with agony, and his mind burst into angry life, like throwing water on an oil fire. His fist clenched and opened again. The ring on his finger digging into his skin, his teeth gritted, anger his substitute for pain, his fuel, his power, his strength. Still his face showed nothing. Straightening up to his full height and blending into the crowd, he waited for his opportunity to strike out. After all when ever goods which were living were brought to be sold, often they were sold to a large crowd. Pushing quietly to somewhere close to the front of the crowds he waited for his opportunity to strike.

[Desya Gold]

Desya sat in the mouth of an alley, looking over the crowded docks. It was more crowded than usually today and she had heard tell that a slave ship was to dock today, and she had found herself wondering over to the docks, curious as to whom the slavers were and if she knew them. She was worried though, she didn't like to be so close to so many people, especially not the kinds of people one would find in Sunberth, and she kept checking behind her every few moment to make sure no one was sneaking up on her, even though if they were, her heightened senses would pick it up rather quickly. Turning back around after glaring into the dark alley once more she noticed a tall man, pushing his way to the front of the crowd. He didn’t look like he was there to buy any goods, if anything he looked like he was there to start trouble. She bit her lip. If she had any sense at all she would head home now and avoid any trouble the man may start and avoid any slavers recognizing her. But she didn’t have any sense and her curious nature won over. Standing up she moved closer to the sunny mouth of the alley and pressed her side into the cold stone wall, basking in the golden, warm light that hadn’t been able to penetrate the gloom behind her.

[Ximal]

Surveying the surroundings he watched as the inanimate trade goods were unloaded from the ship. Pots, pans, vases, spices, jewels, furs, silks, gold, silver, then came the live goods which would be sold there and then, the crew set up an auction block, large enough to stand fourty people shoulder to sholder. First came the animals chickens by the dozen, pigs, cattle, donkeys, goats, even a bull big enough to kill three of the hands who tried to bring it off the ship. Only, once all the other exportable goods and animals had been sold, only then were the slaves marched up from the bowels of that creaking hulk of a ship. Watching the slaves be trotted out single firle and brought up to the auction block treated like cattle mere goods for the use and dis used of another person. Biting back his anger with all his strength he stood solemn. Thirty slaves in total, fifteen male, ten female....and five children.

It was only then he reached his hands to his belt and pulled on those gauntlets, only when the auctions began did he despise the trade even more, his anger growing with every passing second. First the men were to be sold, then the women, women fetching twice the average price of any man...but the children would have reached five times that price, seeing as they could live longer than their respective owners. The whole thing made Xi sick, clenching and unclenching his fists he waited patiently for his moment...then they were made to strip. At that point his anger was about to over throw him, he would roar into action and killl them all in a fit of sheer fury. But he quelled himself again only just. Stepping forth slowly, his cloak hooked over his head to hide his face. He strode towards the auction block his very soul burning with anger, and a deep rooted sadness that somebody had not been their to do this for him.

[Aeryna Seaworth]

Aeryna bounded along with an easy stride, her vivid, Svefran blue eyes looking around. Muir had taken off earlier that morning, likely to go for a dip in the ocean. Making her way to the docks to make sure her Casinor was still there, Aery nodded in clear approval when she saw it was. How long that would last, she didn't know. She noticed a dark shape dart off her boat, low to the ground, and streak towards her. She crouched, grunting as the heavy sea otter flung into her arms, and stood, stroking Muir's damp head, kissing his neck. "Have a nice swim?" She asked the otter with a grin. She always spoke to him in Fratava, and rarely in Common. Holding him in her arms, Aery noticed a large group of men, women and children, and frowned slightly. Clearly, they were slaves. Moving with ease through the crowd towards the auction block, she stopped beside a man with an angry expression on his face and with anger burning in his eyes. She glanced up at him out of the corner of her eye, before focusing on the slaves. There were more men than women, and even less children, and it was the children that really got to her. The oldest there seemed at least two years younger than she was, and the youngest could be no more than five, fright in the poor child's eyes and tears staining his thin face. Pity filled Aeryna as she looked on, a sadness for the fate of the slaves, especially for the children, but what could she do? She watched in silence, until she felt the man beside her stir, and the anger coming off of him was practically tangible. She looked up once more in alarm, a breeze whipping her tousled sable hair around her face. Muir chattered, following Aeryn's gaze up to Ximal. She knew he was going to do something, she could tell by how tensed his body was, but she wondered what, and wondered why this stranger was so upset. Likely it was something to do with the slaves. His hood was covering his face, so that all Aeryna could see was the glint of his eyes and the rage in them, the shadows of his facial features and the thin set of his lips just visible. When he started walking, she slipped after him, unable to help her curiosity. Muir chattered in her ear, warning her, but she paid the otter no mind. She sped up until she was beside Ximal, and looked up at him, lightly touching his elbow to alert him of her presence, thinking quickly. "Looking to buy a slave?" She asked with a grin, though her eyes were intent as she looked up at him, trying to judge what he was about to do.

[Desya Gold]

Desya watched as the woman moved through the crowd, stopping only when she was beside the hooded man. Perhaps they are companions she though, before noticing the odd animal the woman held. it seemed to twist in her arms to stare directly at Desya. Overcome by curiosity Desya left here little hiding place and slid into the crowd. Nearly everyone was taller than her and the smell of so many people in such a small space was making her nose sting, but she battled on, until she found herself just behind the man and the woman. She was just in time to hear the woman enquire if the man was to buy a slave. She avoided at the slaves, they mad her face burn with anger and focused on the little animal. She was close enough to smell the salt water on its thick fur. It gazed back, dark eyes showing more intelligence than one would expect.

[Ximal]

His mind totally fixed on the slaver, his anger boiling over at this point, he took step forwards, not even noticing the woman skulking up next to him, the fire of rage burned in his eyes, as he flexed his hand forcing it open before snapping it shut as almost to be a ritual, before he let his anger fuelled power take hold. As his foot landed with a dull thud on the docks, wooden planks, a woman jutted out before him, full of female features, of that there was no doubt and oddly tanned skin. Strange markings over her and a good foot shorter than him. Felling her hand brush his elbow, he wondered what she was doing until it hit him, the question. It hit him hard enough to light the fires of rage within him more but just behind his controllable barrier. A simple question harmless to any other passing member of sun berth but to him it stung like a knife deep into his soul."Looking to buy a slave?" His eyes caught the cheeky smirk on her face, and his anger filled pained eyes glared into hers, with fury and intent. Both literally screaming Let me pass. His lips parted and he replied ina tone harsh and almost as if he was trying to choke down fire. "No. I'm here to do what no one else will. What everyone else here is scared to do." His teeth gritted again as his mouth closed slowly.

Watching the auctioneer pace back and forth as the slaves were brought forth one by one, some scared some deluding themselves that this was not happening. Some of the children started crying on stage....That was when Xi saw the whip. Without a second thought he pushed the girl off of him and let his rage free, he could feel the energy shifting to his legs giving him the strength and sleed to leap onto the platform and his arms the power to soar a punch straight into the would be whipper's face. Sending him soaring off of the platform and into the water with at the very least a broken jaw and cheek bone, if not a broken neck. As he stood there regaining his footing, he realized his cloaks hood ad fallen down and his scars were viewable along with his hair and his shockingly dark eyes, which at present were almost alight with rage. The auctioneer cowered away as Xi reached for him, as he grasped his collar he took his right hand up and planted a settl plated fist square between his eyes. Crushing his skull and sending fragments of bone deep into his brain. at best brain damage at worst death. Turning his head over his shoulder he roared. " Dress and leave. NOW!" The slaves on the plat form scrambled for their ragged clothing, then began to flee as the crowed watched on in horror fear and awe. It was then Xi piped up again. " You are not people, you are not an audience. I'm ashamed to say your human, you look on gawking at this..this atrocity. and not one of you, not a single soul amongst you has the courage to say this is wrong? This is an abomination? This is oppression at it's height ? Not a single soul, not one amongst you. How...HOW CAN YOU CALL YOURSELVES PEOPLE ? WHEN YOU WOULD WILLINGLY LET HIS HAPPEN ? YOU LET SLAVERY OCCUR, AND YOU TREAT THE PEOPLE FORCED INTO IT NO MATTER THE AGE AS ANIMALS? YOU PAY A MEASLY SUM OF MONEY FOR A PERSONS LIFE, AND TREAT THEM WORSE THAN YOU WOULD TREAT ANIMALS! " It was at this point that the crowd began to murmur and start ramblings amongst themselves as Xi stood above them on the auction platform, his dark eyes burning with hatred. Then more slavers erupted from the ship this time having taken the extra time to arm themselves with swords, and shields. Xi's hatred erupted from him like a volcano spewing forth sheer rage, turning to face them it was four on one and he'd lost his only real advantage...surprise.

[Desya Gold]

Desya froze, watching the scene unfold in horror. The man must be insane, he had to know that the slavers would not stand for this, and even if he escaped today he had to know that he would be hunted, that they would catch him eventually, and probably kill him. Slowly she drew her dagger from her coat and pulled her hood over her head. If she was going to help him she wasn't going to give away her identity as he had. She paused, realizing what she intended to do. How could she help!? She was just a small woman and he was but one man, up against four heavily armored, sword wielding brutes. She was fast though, and she wasn't willing to stand by when she could possibly help. She wished she could change forms, but with nowhere to keep her clothes, and so little room to maneuver, she was more effective as she was. Steeling herself she lept onto the stage, feet spaced apart and knees bent, dagger ready to slash and stab. "Are you trying to get yourself killed" She hissed to the man beside her.

[Wrenmae]

"Animals, yes...but none so dangerous as you." A man stepped from the crowd, young with dark eyes, a whorl of mirth and cruel intent. The slaves did not make it far, armed men stepped from the shadows of the buildings and began to corral the weakened creatures a small distance away. They looked back at their momentary savior with wide eyes, frightened eyes, hungry eyes. Each one of them was nameless now, a distinction they received when their freedom was stripped. The crowd murmured, visitors to Sunberth feeling the words more heavily than others. They did not speak of of his words, his bravery, the murder of a man whose only crime was to keep a slave in line and sell them for a high price...no. They spoke of his legs, his arms, the power he used to crush the man and the scars across his body. Shroud had no need to look on their faces or read their lips. Mage was the word across their tongues, magic the conspiratorial whisper. The crowd edged together warily. Regrettably, the Slavers had chosen poorly, remaining inside the belly of the ship till the call of trouble. They were close shouldered, two abreast and tramping out with mismatched weaponry, outrage in them all. Shroud stood below the stage, noting the girl that leaped onto the wood as well...another child with a fatal case of righteousness. Regrettable. Truly honor, the cowards tool, was more deadly here than elsewhere. Few of the disparate townsfolk had qualms with burying their blade into a proffered back, or pouring cloying poison into a cup of mead. Unlike the highborn cities leagues away, Sunberth was a home of cutthroats and survivors, men who had seen fit to lose their honor and morality swiftly upon taking to the streets. Good men lay dead in alleys, strung up for buzzards at the edge of town. Virtue was skinned and laid out to dry and kindness was the disease ridden whore hiding a pointed blade. Nothing here spoke of justice or fairness. And of those who had come to the docks for slaves today...how many truly had qualms with purchasing? A few of them to be sure, Sunberthians recognizing the penitent weakness of the merchandise. "A mage is in our midst," Weaver cried out, pointing out Ximal, "See how he leaps! How he kills! And now he seeks to destroy our business as well!" [color=#00FFFF]Man, laying it on a bit thick there aren't you? Zan was speaking again, murmuring from within Shroud's stomach. The mage offered him no response but a smile. I mean, I'm up for a lynch mob as much as the next shapeless blob of magic water, but you really think you should be playing with fire? Keep in mind bro, I'm squatting in your soul so if you bite it, I bite it. Let's at least play 'tell my bestest buddy Zan a think or two' before we go all doom and gloom on some random petcher? With each punctuated word, Shroud layered his speech with Hypnotic Djed, reaching out lightly to caress the ears around him and sow its sweet, sweet discord, its fear, its anger. The crowd began to growl, scattered snatches of angry conversation as they stepped toward the stage, the slavers quick to attempt their attack on the would-be savior. "Destroy the mage! Hang him! Kill him!" He smiled, his words rising on the tide of Hypnotic Djed. Not enough to exhaust him, surely, but there was little this potential fire needed...only the spark of madness, of fear. Ok, I get it. Give Shroudy his space or you'll bring down a mob on me, lesson learned, really...loud and clear from the stomach through the intestines. Poor guy is gonna get thrashed, but hey...think about it this way. We could have been just bored today! I mean, hey! Incite a mob! I'm checking that right off my bucket list. He melted back into the angry bodies, watching the stage carefully. If the girl knew what was best for her, she'd abandon that mans side...else be strung up by the mob as an accomplice. And certainly the mob was stirring. Glittering blades in fists, boards and stones in others...they advanced on the stage, beginning to hem the saviors in. The mercenaries in the back with the slaves watched on impassively. Should the slaver crew die today, here...the slaves would be theirs. It was more than enough reason not to protect them. Shroud slipped through the shouting rabble and leaned against a wall, watching the stage from the shadows with a satisfied smirk on his face. This foolish brazen stupidity would get him killed...or perhaps enslaved, a far more fitting fate. In any case, the murderer would watch, right hand caressing the long dagger on his waist. Today was a good day. Today had entertainment. [/color]

[Aeryna Seaworth]

Aeryna blinked at the sudden fury on his face, taking a small step back, narrowing her eyes as she looked up at him. "What are you talking about?" She asked, warily, hoping the man wasn't on the fool's errand of trying to free the slaves. Unfortunately, she seemed to be right. The man pushed past her roughly, and Aeryna watched him deck the man with the whip, sending him flying. "Fool," She muttered under her breath with a swear, clenching her jaw. She crouched quickly to set the animal in her arms down, and without question Muir was gone, back to the sea to wait anxiously to see whether Aery would escape the scene unscathed or not. Suddenly, a young girl was on the stage beside the man, crouched, baring her teeth and holding daggers. Trying to be a hero, too, it seemed. Almost absently, Aery remembered the words from the man she'd met yesterday, as her hand went to the hilt of her cutlass. She had no intentions of standing with the girl and the furious man. That was likely to get her killed. However, she wasn't going to converge on them with the crowd, either. Perhaps she would help them, if she could, but not to fight. As proud and stubborn as she was, Aeryna knew when a situation was helpless. Suddenly a loud voice echoed out from the crowd, and Aeryn rose on her toes to peer around, and a dry, ironic smile curved her lips when she saw Wrenmae. With the witch hunts going on lately, and Wrenmae screaming such a claim, it would only worsen the situation. People clambered to agree and join in on the claim, accusing the man of being a mage, eager for bloodshed. Ah, Sunberth. Such a lovely city. Aeryna watched Wrenmae melt back into the crowd, and her eyes flickered back to the two on the stage. Her jaw clenched, Aeryna deftly slid through the crowd after him, stepping out from the throng of people to stand in front of Wrenmae, eyeing him warily. "Hello again," She greeted him, tilting her head to the side. Continuing on without waiting for much of a returned greeting, she cocked a brow and asked, "Pray tell, what in Laviku's name was that all about?" Clearly, the man liked to cause trouble. Warily, Aery looked around, the crowd becoming more and more riled by the minute, shouting and screaming, watching the slavers advance on Ximal and Desya. She would do well to watch her back in such an environment.

[Ximal]

Of all the rotten luck, a foolish little person had taken heed of his sentiments and jumped upon the stage with him. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"Cursing himself loudly in his head, he never meant for this to happen, he knew the slavers would get riled at him, and he had planned for this after all his limbs were armoured, once again his anger had gotten the best of him, never being able to fully control it had it's...problems. Still he had found himself in a situation he could get out of, four targets brandishing weapons and shields, and from the looks of them not one of them had any skill with those weapons what so ever. Then something caught his attention, somebody scraming that he was a mage from the crowds. He was no mage not like he clould use magic or hurl fire like some form of diety. No all he knew was that his anger gave him strength, but hearing the crowd suddenly spark to anger against him and not knowing what fr he assumed it was for freeing the slaves. At this his anger exploded. His hand opened and closed again the steel of the gauntlet scraping against it'self as he closed his fist. His rage bursting forth."Save yourself, it's me there after not you, leave now and you will probably be safe."With that, and his anger burning strong, he could feel the power it was granting him, he felt strong. Leaping from the stage and driving a plated fist into the shield of one of the slavers, with easily enough force to break at least one or two bones in his arm, and as the arm fell limp driving a plated and edged fist into the same slavers chest shattering at least two ribs, he rose relieving the slaver of the simple steel shield he carried with him."Alright slavers, you want to play, lets dance!"

His movements still slower than when his anger is at peak he slid to the side of a slavers downward strike and careened his fist carrying the shield into the side of his head, easily useing enough force to stagger him, allowing Xi to land another blow, to hus jaw with a strong uppercut one of the edged on the gauntlet catching across his throat and opening his jugular, Blood spraying forth like a fountain of crimson water, he turned to see one fo the slavers about to take his arm off, moving his arm just fast enough to get it out of the majority of the sword, the cut was still enough to make a harsh cut along his left bicep,as blood slowly oozed forth from his wound he merely growled and then roared like a wild and caged beast. Now his anger overflowed, his speed quickening, raising his leg in line with the slavers waist, the plated steel greaves helping the force of his blow deliver enough strength coupled with flux power fuelled by anger, the kick careened the slaver into the one to his right impaling him on the slaver behinds sword.

As the slaver screamed about being almost completely run through Xi raced ofer rearing up his good hand he smashed his fist into the the impalers face flux fuelled fury delivering enough force, and weight to send the slaver's nise through his brain, as both men fell to the floor one still screaming in agony about being impailed, flailing he slashed out at Xi, nicking his right arm just above the guantlet, a shallow cut not even 1/2 as deep as the one on his left arm, xi turned to face the enraged crowed. Fantastic he thought, four armoured targets, and now a mob of citizens. Throwing the shioeld upto the person on the platform. Take the shield and run, GO SAVE YOURSELF. Tearing a seagment of his cloak he bandaged the cut on his arm as best he could, to stem the bleeding as he lifted the corpse of of one of the slavers, thinking "Finally your gonna help someone other than yourself" Lifting the corpse and turning it sideways he harnessed his anger pushign his energy into his legs and ran at the crowd, useing the corpse of the slaver ad a mikshift battering ram and shield he ploughed through the crowd, taking small cuts left and right all over his arms sides and face but not too deep, and no catchign anythign vital most weapons hitting the corpse, and sticking. Punching through the other side of the dense sea of people he threw the corpse behind him knocking down a few stragglers, as he kept running, his legs powering forwards not being used to runnign but having some acrobatic skill he slid beneath a low bench, useing a extra pinch of power to help himself over he vaulted a high wall and used the brief respite to catch his breath, letting his power calm and breathing deeply to slow his now pounding heart, His wounds bleeding, his heart pounding , and metal being tasted in his mouth, he caught his breath on the other side of that wall, he may be battered and bruised, cut and out of breath, but he was alive, and thats what counted. Heart racing and his anger settling he looked around, and saw three exits to the area he was stood, figureing it safer he headed along the left pathway at a slow walking pace ducked into a small alley and laied low, hunching over like a beggar and pulling his hood over his face sitting in the shadowy area he waited for the next, heart pounding minutes.

oocA believe-able escape ?, Tried my best not to god mod so he's cut up like a b*tch, out of breath and over gave a lil in the flux depo, due to him panicking, and the flight or flight roaring at him to RUUUUUUN!