Closed Disturbing Discovery (Layal Ailith)

[Tourmal Firemane]

Tourmal, Winter 73, 512 AV Tourmal had been in town only three days and had not seen much. After a late breakfast he decided to head out and see what the city has in store. It was a few bells till noon and the weather was eerily calm for that time of the year. He was still not used to how nice it had been while in the city. Having lived in Syliras much of his life, he had gotten used to the biting cold winters and the scorching summers. Here however, instead of bone chilling winds, it was a comfortable temperature, not too muggy or too dry. The weather was perfect. The man wandered around the docks for a while. As the man looked around he saw a number of small businesses some with signs. Many did not have anything advertising what they were. The smithy took not of a building that had a sign saying “Tavern” above the door. Later he passed a place where a bunch of skinny boats were made at. A few minutes later he heard the sound of men shouting. He couldn't make out what they were saying though. The noise piqued his interest and he decided to investigate the sound further. As he drew nearer he made out what the men were arguing over prices kind of like an auction. Once close he noticed that the sound was coming from a large pavilion just like back home. However this pavilion was easiy five times larger than most in Endrykas. When Tourmal entered the pavilion there was a stage in the center which had a man yelling out prices. Next to him was a woman of particularly fine stock naked. She appeared to be human, with bright red hair. Just then the auctioneer said that she was Inarta. Tourmal looked around and noticed many iron poles sticking out of the foundation with shackles connected to it. Many shackles held people of differing race and gender. The place he had stumbled into was a market to buy slaves.

[Layla Ailith]

It was almost midday when Layla stepped outside, and for winter, the weather was delightful. Having no previous plans set up, she decided today would be a leisurely day full of exploration and wandering, until later that night when she hung out at her favorite tavern. Long thick curls bounced around her body as she walked, starting first up the nearest street. She passed over the bridges between buildings easily, her balance very used to walking on a floating city by now. Layla stuck to the outskirts of Ravok on her journey at first, slowly working her way towards the center, where everything else happened.

Layla wandered past homes and shops, taverns and service buildings, boat docks and hangout spots. Some greeted her as she passed, while others stared. A few kept to their business and pretended not to notice her. Used to such treatment, Layla was well aware that she was not a sight for sore eyes, with her curvy and muscular body, striking blue eyes matching the skin of an Akalak or the waters of the Suvan Sea, and rich brown hair almost to her waist. When Layla walked by, she was something to be noticed. And she enjoyed the attention.

Speaking of attention, Layla's gaze rested upon a man strolling along in front of her. He was tall and tan, muscular and handsome, his chiseled features standing out along with the golden green of his mixed color eyes. Layla had never seen him around Ravok before, and she debated whether she should stay back and investigate him, or go talk to him a bit. Deciding to see what he was up to, she followed him. They meandered around people crowding the way and soon came within earshot of Ravok's slave auction.

It seemed as though the auction was particularly lively today, begging Layla's attention. The man made his way over to the sidelines to watch, among a bustling of Ravok's other inhabitants. Layla positioned herself a good number of feet away. She'd been here many a time before, sometimes out of curiosity, sometimes to consider purchasing a slave herself, and other times, simply for the fun of it. Being a party girl as she was, she often came to see if there happened to be an attractive slave up for grabs, one she could keep at home for reasons no one needed to know. When it came down to it though, the woman often satiated her curiosity and then moved on to other things.

She stood there as an Inartan woman was auctioned off to a grizzly man, Layla suspecting the use the woman was intended for had something to do with her attractive physical features. Another slave was brought up on stage, a man this time, and just like the woman before him, prices were rattled off and he was sold to the highest bidder. And so the process continued. Citizens of all kinds were there watching, but Layla's focus remained on the man she'd followed here. His interest seemed piqued by the auctions at hand, and Layla got the impression he'd never seen a slave auction before. Working her way around the people standing between her and this new man, Layla walked up beside him, gaze resting on the slaves ahead of them. She leaned a little towards him as she addressed him. "Ever seen a slave auction before?" She paused to glance over at him. "You don't look like you're from around here."

[Tourmal Firemane]

Tourmal, Winter 73, 512 AV As the man stared he masked his personal distaste for the action and rather just shook his head. Hopefully people would assume that he was just not interested in any of the stock. But he continued to stare wondering how people could willingly enslave others who were just like they themselves were. They were all people and all had feelings. They all breathed and bled just as the rest. However some people think that people are possessions. He had joked on the matter a few times back in the moving city with some friends around the campfire. About how when you marry your wife becomes another of your possessions, however he never actually meant it. He was taught just like everyone else was that a wife is just as important as a husband. Because without each other the clan can not grow and strengthen. When a woman said something to him he was startled. He didn't quite catch what it was she said. But he caught the fact that it was a question. He looked around for the origin of the query. Then his eyes locked with two sapphire gems. Shocked at how stunning they were he stuttered. “Wh..What?” As he asked the question he quickly assessed the package holding the precious stones that caught his attention. Her face was lean and sharp, yet smooth. Her ruby lips framed stunning white pearls. Her hair was curled and accented her curvy figure well. After a few seconds of awe. Tourmal realized what he was doing and quickly covered his un-found attraction to her. He looked back to the stage and saw that the Inarta was gone and now a man of similar stature to himself stood there. “Huh? Oh. No. I'm not from around here.” He said in a hushed voice, for he did not want others to know. The city seemed to him a brood of vipers waiting to strike at unknowing prey. After his reply he again looked back to the scene on the stage. The price for the man slowly climbed. He kept an eye on the sidelines and saw that there were other deals being held for those chained to the poles. He deduced this by the occasional slave being unchained and taken outside accompanied by who he thought were the merchant and purchaser. Just then he realized that this woman knew he was a foreigner. He had heard from Kyra that it was dangerous to be seen as an outsider and anyone who was not a citizen could be put into slavery. The man was mentally kicking himself now for so easily releasing the information that he should have kept secret. “You aren't looking to buy are you?” He asked waiting for a response as to gauge if he was in danger or not.