Closed New Scars, Old Wounds

[Seyral]

Timestamp: 17th of Summer, 514 AV Fortune favors the bold, but truth be told, that saying is more often incorrect than correct. Something Seyral found out, time and time again, the hard way. Headstrong and stubborn like a mule, and the type to jump from one bad habit into another rather than rectify his mistakes; A lost cause, is a term most people who know him, would staple on his persona. Although he has met many different types of people, especially the years since the incident with his 'best friend', the ones who he can call more than an acquaintance or comrade in crime, have yet to be found. On this particular day, the mule found himself between a rock and a hard place yet again; Wandering about Sunberth during the early hours, in his cold goal to find some poor drunken traveller who had the misfortune to cross him after a fun night out and, consequently, be robbed blind. Although he searched around the right spots, the streets and alleys around the safest taverns and bars especially, since those were the best places to encounter his favorite type of 'prey'. Today was one where the prey escaped the predator as not a single person was found wandering about carelessly during the break of dawn. So, Seyral resorted to his back-up plan, which wasn't the smartest or well thought out plan in the world; Stealing from sailors and privateers offering their wares at the Seaside Market. These hardy folk weren't the easiest prey or target to triffle with, not that Seyral was scared, simply a lot more careful than when picking on the meek and weak. After grumbling for a while and going back and forth between actually going forth with his plan or not, his empty and growling stomach broke through the knotted feeling in his gut. The salted scent in the air pierced his nose, as he arrived at the docks with a mission in mind; Survive another day with a full stomach. With that vision before him, he walked up to the Seaside Market and pretended to browse wares, only to decide against purchasing the item at the last moment; This way he had time to check out every stall's wares and protection. He almost went through every stall when he noticed a large man who was wearing pompously fancy clothes and a feathered hat that made him look like a fool, even more than normal, with his bulldog face. First thing that crossed Seyal's mind was that the man would never be able to chase after him, not with that body. Even better, he couldn't spot any guards linked to this stall anywhere. Obviously, he decided to check out the man's wares and have some small talk to see what kind of man he really was. 'Nice gems, where do they come from?' "Riverfall's mines" "How much for that Ruby over there?" The man opened the case and took out the Ruby, to which Seyral responded by instantly and without hesitance, grabbing the man's wrist and prying the ruby from his sausagelike fingers. "Cheers!" "...Pleasure's all mine!" Dumbfounded by the man's response and sick grin, Seyral found himself backing away instinctively and looking franticly around for any sign of an ambush...Which basicly, was all around him. Every single hired goon guarding the nearby stalls, turned to face Seyral and the big man as he blew on a whistle. "A bonus for anyone who gets me this man alive!" He then whispered so only Seyral could hear him: "I needed a new slave on my ship...Cheers!" Seyral's eyes were lit with rage and, truthfully, fear as he grabbed his Gladius' hilt and swung it in a broad horizontal arc to try and cut off the snake's head and hope the body would die too...Surprisingly, the man effortlessly blocked it with his steel cane, apparently he wasn't a big simpleton as presumed. Rather than stay and fight the head, Seyral placed hsi bet on escaping the coiling body around him and run for it. Which was alot harder done than said. There were at least half a dozen guards closing in on him from all sides. He had gotten himself real deep in the shyke, and it wasn't the first time; As one of his last resorts, he grabbed one of the small stalls nearby and forced it to collapse behind him in order to keep at least a few goons at bay while he rammed the one guard blocking his way to the city, away from the harbor. The goon wasn't an easy one to beat and Seyral had anything but time to spare, so he assaulted the guard brutally and savagely, pushing him back in the direction of Sunberth's innars any way he could. While the guard was on the defensive and being pushed back, he wasn't budging either. Not until he was finally pushed back enough to let Seyral grab one of the stools near him as he slammed his blade against the guard's axe and pressed on, trapping it between his chest and the blade; While he slammed the stool against the guard's temple with brute force, knocking him down. Not wasting any time, he jumped over the sprawled body and ran for dear life towards Sunberth's city. Running and running until he could run no more, and even then it wasn't enough to outrun the hired guns; Who seemed to be in much better shape than him, which isn't hard to understand considering their profession and Seyral being underfed and having his current way of life. Considering it was still early during the day, he opted for one of the last measures anyone wants to take, hide in Stumble Alley. Without any other optons to really choose from, he quickly dove into the Alley and hid behind a few crates before the goons caught up with his location, he could overhear them shout in frustration as they lost track of him; Waiting there until the brutes left the area to continue their search, he realized moving back into the city streets was taking too much risk; So he looked over his shoulder and saw a window, barricaded with a few rotten planks; Decision made, he kicked in the wooden planks and crawled into the dark building.

[Fallon]

There was a long, drawn in breath as Fallon forced herself to move. Her mind was swimming, the tired blinks of a disturbed night's sleep filtering out the growing day light. There was a firm swagger as she stepped, the hop from one foot to the other as she marched herself the best she could - the thin drip of sweat running down the back of her neck. It was still the quiet time of the city, or it was the impression she got from the way she stepped through the alleyways and looked for a cool spot to reside. She had left her partner once more during the early hours, a bad habit but a growing necessary one, the leathers donned and the weapons strapped to her form. The persona of Bitzer was quickly donned after that, the cooler and deeper accent instead of the rolling lilt.

Eyes gave a sweep, her feet leading forwards as she worked through the necessary things to be done for the day. Stumble alley beckoned her, leading her in to grasp upon what secrets may have existed within. It was a point in Sunberth that carried a reputation - never be caught there after midnight being one of them. But that was not the only thing she was looking into. Routes, paths, to understand the narrow turns that made it and the surrounding area. The Scars were going to take it as territory, but before even such an ideal could be reached she had to know it completely and utterly.

She gave a dart between the houses, a wince as she stepped into daylight and then back into shadow. She had to move quickly, or fast enough to reach the area before the heat of the day. Somewhere beyond the faint cawing of gulls filled the air, the stenches and scents as she forced herself onwards and through. Shoulders rolled, a tap to the water skin and then down to the weapons once more. Around her the world begun to awaken properly, voices, shouts, the cries of the chorus that made up the city. How long had she been in here now? She could remember the snows and the icy snap that took the city last winter, had it truly been nearly a half a year already?

Fallon stepped to the side as a pair of street urchins ran on past, the bleating laughter escaping as they dashed into one of the other streets. Before her the open maw of Stumble Alley greeted her, still and silent in comparison to the rest of the city. There was a shuffle upon the border, a rock upon the heels as she considered entering it and did the last few mental checks and pieces of preparation. Scout the area out, draw a map and begin the planning of the takeover.

Steps were counted with a mumble, her hand falling down onto the hilt of the tulwar ready. Caution was the key word after all - she did not want to stick her head in somewhere it did not belong just yet. Absent of life and the stray locals playing their games. Her gaze looked to the cobbled ground, a firm step on the worn away stone as she slinked on through. Silent, looking and searching, she caught the glimmer of the door that marked out Sunberth's library, the worn wood door blending in if it had not been previously pointed out to her. Feet clacked and steel chinked, echoing out between the walls that made up the alleyway.

Pausing before one of the abandoned homes she gave a peer in, the wedge open door and long rotting furniture - one of many she noted silently. Not that all of the buildings we left in such a state, but the majority stood empty. It made her wonder how much it would cost to ensure there was security within the alley against whatever it was that prowled there. Sucking in the air she peered in properly this time, her foot rising and stepping over the long rotten material that marked it so. Shoulder first, she wriggled her way in, arms pressing against the jammed surface as she contorted and twisted to get her way in. As her eyes adjusted to the gloom, she weaved her way through. Gloved hands pressed against surfaces, a stumble in as she breathed in the damp air that held it.

"Stumble Alley, first abandoned building. Appears structurally sound from first glance," Tips traced, a low mumble of words escaping as she begun the slow and steady study of what was before her. Her knuckle rapped against the wall, leaning in and listening for a moment, "Two windows at the front, smashed in. Rotten furniture..." Crouching her fingers brushed against the floor, the thin layer of dust picking up on her fingers. There was a blink as she rose them for closer inspection, "Been left a while by the looks of things. Very long whi-"

Something snapped. Lifting her head, Fallon peered into the low light. The hand curled around the tulwar, her eyes narrowing as she brought herself up into standing. Her jaw tightened, ears pricking to the second crunch and the shuffle of movement. Air was sucked in, the faint whistle of noise as she felt herself squaring up. It came as a crash after that, a boarded up window crumbling in and by the looks of things a scrabbling form following in after it. The arm rose as the dust thrown up, a turn away of the head as the few splinters flew.

"There's a petching door you know!" She could not help the angry shout, "Petching... Arse!" Teeth flashed in the dark, eyes turning back as she tried to focus on the shape. The trembling of a growl caught in the back of her throat, the inner rise to react. Friend, foe or simply an accident? Did she really have time to wait and find out? "You looking for trouble?"

[Avarice]

Greetings! Salutations! Hello! *insert all other greetings in ze world*

I am Avarice, your lovely AS of Sunberth; and I am here to inform you that there is something wonderful coming your way...A Grade! Yes. You've finished a thread and it was wonderful so below you'll find your hard-earned XP and Lores. Any questions? PM me! (Don't be shy, I don't bite...I promise!) Also, please be sure to edit your post in the request thread to reflect your having received a grade!

 

Seyral

Due to your departure, your grade has been withheld for this thread. Upon your return, PM me and I'll gladly award your XP and Lores.

 

Fallon

XP

• Planning +1
• Navigation +1
• Scouting +1

LORES

• Stumble Alley Will Belong to the Scars!
• Scouting Stumble Alley
• Layout: Stumble Alley

MISCELLANEOUS

• N/A

Yours Truly,
Avarice <3