Open No honor among the living (Riverside Park)

[Cadin Crouse]

Winter, Day 30 512 AV The day was as cold as any this wretched city had seen. The gravel paths among the trees gave his sodden boots a break from the freezing ground. The street's of Sunberth would freeze when majority of it's inhabitants slept the freezing night away. Then as the sun rose the streets would slowly melt, the crowds massing along the muck only acted as source of agitation. By the time the sun began falling each night the streets were a mix of icy chunks, melted mud, and puddles of water. Walking around for any period of time was sure to wear on even the most subdued of personalities. Cadin had wondered toward the "Riverside Isle Park", seeking a brief refuge from the madness that was Sunberth. Majority of his morning had been wasted, lurking in the shadows of the many taverns. He sat in silence listening to the patrons passing through. His goal was information, any information that would aid him into obtaining membership into the Daggerhand's ranks. That was one reason he chose this place. The very park itself was an embodiment of Robern's growing authority. The man would rule the city one day, slowly choking the fight out of his opponents. Though Cadin had no distinct loyalty, he was a firm believer in picking the winning side. No one liked loosing, even more so when loosing more than likely meant death. Death, that was one thing Cadin was good at avoiding. The wading pool was generally a nice asset to the environmental, especially during warm months. Currently it was tightly in winters clutches, the shallow pool looked to be frozen solid. A gently reminder that even the strongest of men and women, were nothing compared to the fierceness of Mizahar. Nature seemed to always remind Cadin of how insignificant one's life is. They were all just specks of dirt, meaningless little specks. Cadin wore an expression of disdain, letting a hint of his true nature show through the facade he normally displayed for others. He wasn't worried about exposing himself today. He had not seen another soul while wandering the pathways of the park. Leading him to believe he was alone. In his believed solitude, Cadin knelt down slowly scooping up a few frozen chunks of gravel. Rising slowly Cadin walked toward a tree nearly a man's width thick. It looked as good as any for a proper leaning post. He leaned back, bringing one leg up to rest on the trunk, his knee protruding out further than the rest of his body. He squeezed his right hand together, forcing the chuck of frozen gravel to crumble in his palm. Destruction was one thing he was adapted at causing, slow agonizing destruction of whatever he set his mind to. Escape, that was why he had wondered into the park in the first place. Not to dwell on negative aspects. Forcing the heightening sense of hatred down, back into the pit of his stomach where it could sit and fester. Cadin leaned his head back. Looking into the sky, feeling utterly insignificant. He took a few deep breath's allowing his approachable personality to resurface. That was the only way he made money now, a hound for information or dirty deeds. He couldn't scare potential customers away. You needed to find where some scumbag was sleeping for the night? Cadin was your man. You needed a knife to slowly cut someone's throat while they sipped a jug of ale? Cadin was you man. A knife in the back from a dark alley? Cadin was your man. Need to know how to bribe the nearest loan shark to 'collect' early? Cadin knew a man or two. No honorable men survived long in these streets, it was no place for honorable men. Only the sick and rotten. He may hate everything about himself, but at least he would outlive most.

[Zenobia]

It was cold, much too cold to be out of doors, Zenobia decided, and it was Sunberth, another reason not to venture out, but if not now, then when? Zenobia had distinctly felt the need to stretch her legs, and the sight of her little two room apartment, colourful and wonderfully decorated as it was, was growing wearisome to her. With this in mind, she had quickly left her apartment (Leaving her door unlocked. There was no point in locking places in Sunberth, especially since it just gave people the idea that there might be something worth stealing there, which there really wasn't) and taking her blank book and quill with the intention of finding a spot in which to write her play, she went to Riverside Park. Zenobia, who had been born and bred among the many lovely sights of Zeltiva did not suppose that the Park was very pretty, but there was certainly something striking and thrilling in the danger of it. With a light smile, she walked around to find a spot where she could be almost alone, passing by the prisoners who all shouted lewd and suggestive comments. Obviously, they were fresh ones or they wouldn't have the energy to do so. She ignored these and continued walking until she settled under a tree. It was also in an ideal position to see an attacker coming and run if needs be. She opened her book and started writing. 'The Honourable Strumpet', a play in four acts. Synopsis. Laurie Salvada is a warm-hearted woman, who has been the mistress of Gerland Anorber, the most ruthless crime lord in the faraway city of moonquay, for over a year. She finds herself pregnant but is met with a dilemma as she doesn't know if the child is Gerland's or the product of a night of folly after being left alone for a week in cold, dark mansion with Gerland's handsome young secretary, Artur. Although Gerland knows nothing of the affair or the pregnancy, he has grown bored of 'his whore' and wants to be rid of her. He plans her death, also hoping to use it as an excuse to strike out at his long term rival, Yuareg Yolander, and have him killed quite openly for the crime of murdering her. Zenobia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with a light smile, before continuing in her usual, narrow, elegant handwriting. She had hardly any time to write since arriving in Sunberth, and it was very pleasant to feel like a writer again. Unfortunately, his plans are temporarily scuppered when he tells a number of his followers in the Knifehand group how it would be carried out. Although Artur is present, he is too scared of retribution to act and, besides, feels his position would be safer with Laurie out of the way, so it falls to the group's dim giant - Milktongue - to feel sorry for her and warn her. Laurie escapes with the help of her maid, but without any money to move to another city far away is forced to stay in Moonquay with her old nanny, never leaving the old woman's little cottage. Eventually time passes and Laurie gives birth to twins, a boy and a girl, whom she names Inali: Black as the Raven's head, and Albina: White as the wings of the dove. Well, it wasn't brilliant, but she would edit it when she had the time. For the next seven years, Laurie lives in seclusion and relative peace with her children and, during this time, Artur has gained power within the Knifehand Organisation. Artur, still worried about his position, sets about hiring what is apparently a ghost to track down Laurie. When the ghost finds the small dwelling, Artur appears within the hour. He kills the old nanny for trying to bar him from entering her home then finds Laurie asleep on the bed where he proceeds to attempt to strangle her. Waking up at this, Laurie puts up a fight but Artur finally succeeds in smothering her with a pillow. On reflection, thought Zenobia, the nature of her plays had really changed since she left Zeltiva. She had always liked melodrama, which was good since that was currently the fashion in plays, but they had definitely taken on a distinct turn for the tragic. She was about to return to her continuation of her synopsis when she heard footsteps near her. She looked up and tucked her leg under her, ready to jump up if needs be.

[Cadin Crouse]

The cold began to bite away at him, slowly draining him of the energy that had encouraged his journey into the park. Cadin relinquished the position he had maintained for several minutes against the tree. Leaving a noticeable imprint on the frost covered bark. He started along another pathway, leading toward the trio of cages. Upon entering the area where the cages where hanging, Cadin did a quick survey of the area. The prisoners had drawn his attention first. They seemed fresh, well they were still breathing. Though they seemed to put on a large front, boasting and cursing loudly with one another. They knew as well as any who passed, they were dead men anyway. He noticed a woman sitting underneath a tree, alone. A woman walking alone in here could mean trouble. She could be setting a trap for those who meant her harm. Trouble for her if she was not capable of protecting herself. Or trouble for someone who would under estimate her, she could be very dangerous person herself. Within Sunberth, one could never judge from first appearance's. Despite the situation, it was obvious she had heard him approaching. Which made sense, as he had made no attempt to mask his approach. Walking toward her direction, Cadin raised a hand slowly, in a half wave, making sure she was aware of his presence. " An odd place to for writing this evening. With the cold biting away at everyone." He spoke as warmly as he could manage, with nothing but hatred hiding beneath his surface. Taking a few steps closer, but not enough to make himself seem like a threat. Cadin took a knee, not quit setting it on the ground, avoiding the cold surface. "If I may intrude, I am a curious fellow. And I am quite curious as to what your writing." A small smile broke his face, just a warm greeting smile. " Only if your aren't to busy that is."

[Zenobia]

Zenobia had immediately shot up as the footsteps came closer, relatively calmly for such a sharp movement. She tucked her book into her pocket and looked at the man standing there, her smile guarded but genuine. "A strange place perhaps, and a strange climate in which to do it, but when else did I hope to have the opportunity to sit under a tree in the middle of Sunberth, writing, without getting into any sort of trouble." Of course that didn't seem guaranteed anymore, not that the man looked at that moment like he might mean her harm. If so, she had perfected her technique of turning on her heel and running in the opposite direction, but she didn't feel like doing this immediately, especially as it could have had a negative effect rather than a positive one. The man was not unattractive nor good-looking, rather he was not striking, with a face you would lose easily in a crowd, which probably served him well at times. He could therefore not really blur her judgement and she thought she sensed that his smile was not as genuine as her own. "I do not think you'd like it. I used to have talent in writing but I'm afraid that my ability to write coherently has plummeted recently." Which was true.