Spring 71, 516 AV
There was a wisp of smoke in the distant, faint, but distinctly there. It was not yet dark, but it was definitely cooling down for the evening and Syna shone brightly in her slow descent. Sayana pulled the reins of her horse in the direction of the smoke, and kept glancing up through the trees as she headed down a game trail within the Bronze Woods. Even as she neared the source of the smoke she began noticing signs of hoof prints and freshly snapped branches. There was even trampled undergrowth and something that looked like half a boot print. There were definitely people this way.
She gave her horse another nudge with her knees and it nickered as a couple tents came into view. There was a crackle of fire, but it seemed oddly empty… With a frown, she dismounted and held the reins to her white mare with a high hand. Her black robe kept her other limbs out of sight with only her highs utilizing the sleeves. But as always, she kept several daggers at her hip, ready for her mids or lows to grasp in an instant.
Suddenly, she felt cold steel at her throat. A voice spoke from behind.
“Well well, look what we have here.”
She pushed hard the hand that held the knife, just enough to face her attacker but he reacted swiftly and soon had the knife to her throat again. However, in that moment, she had managed to draw her own dagger which she brought round to rest upon the back of his neck. For a tick or two, it seemed like a stalemate but then the man gave a nod. At least five bows came into view, all with arrows knocked and ready to draw. She had walked into a trap.
“Now, we aren’t going to do you any harm if you come willingly and hand over your weapons.” The first man spoke, clearly the leader of the small group. “You’ll sell for much better unscathed.”
Slavers. She didn’t think she’d get captured like this. But, she didn’t think she’d actually get captured at all.
“I think you’ve misjudged me,” Sayana spoke with a slight cough and teasing lilt to her voice. “I’m not a slave. I’m a buyer. I have funds to prove it.”
“So you’re an extra profitable slave, are you?” The leader goaded. “Money as a slave, and money in your pocket.”
During the banter, Sayana had silently drawn four throwing daggers from within her black robe using her mid and low hands. “Or,” she replied slowly, “I’m a client who you’d rather treat respectfully unless you’d like to lose several of your men in the process of my capture.” By then she had opened up her black robe and had the four smaller daggers drawn and in sight.
At this point he hesitated, thinking the situation over. “How much money do you have on you? And what sort of slave are you looking for? Pickings are slim here since it’s tricky to get past the knighthood. But we’ve got a couple in the tent, and one just captured today. He should be waking up soon.”
“I’ve got a good 500 gold on me, and more back home,” Sayana answered. “As for the slave…” She paused a moment considering what she would even want. She certainly hadn’t come here looking to make such a purchase but it might be simpler to part with the money than face the archers and however many others were here. “I’m looking for someone strong and fit. Someone for… trying out some torture techniques.”
At last the leader gave a nod and the bows lowered. He lessened the pressure of the knife and Sayana also withdrew her weapons. “I think we have just the slave for you.”
He led the Eypharian around to one of the crude tents. They looked like they might be easy to pack up in a hurry. When he opened the tent flap, she would see the recently captured slave bound with his wrists behind his back. Manacles were on both his ankles and wrists for the time being and any weapons had been removed. However, it wasn’t the items of confinement that she noticed. It was the slave’s face. The slavers had captured Garland.
Even as she fought to keep the surprise off her own face, the lead slaver spoke. “Sturdy build. I’m sure he could take most any torture technique you choose. Unless you plan to take him to the brink of death and back. He’s good with a sword and has a fighting spirit. So keep your weapons close. His opening price is 1000 gold mizas.”
Had she not been so surprised at her old friend being here and in chains, Sayana might have whistled at the price. Even so, one thousand mizas was not something she could casually part with.
OOCFeel free to roleplay the lead up to Garland's capture, and use any of the NPCs.
There was a wisp of smoke in the distant, faint, but distinctly there. It was not yet dark, but it was definitely cooling down for the evening and Syna shone brightly in her slow descent. Sayana pulled the reins of her horse in the direction of the smoke, and kept glancing up through the trees as she headed down a game trail within the Bronze Woods. Even as she neared the source of the smoke she began noticing signs of hoof prints and freshly snapped branches. There was even trampled undergrowth and something that looked like half a boot print. There were definitely people this way.
She gave her horse another nudge with her knees and it nickered as a couple tents came into view. There was a crackle of fire, but it seemed oddly empty… With a frown, she dismounted and held the reins to her white mare with a high hand. Her black robe kept her other limbs out of sight with only her highs utilizing the sleeves. But as always, she kept several daggers at her hip, ready for her mids or lows to grasp in an instant.
Suddenly, she felt cold steel at her throat. A voice spoke from behind.
“Well well, look what we have here.”
She pushed hard the hand that held the knife, just enough to face her attacker but he reacted swiftly and soon had the knife to her throat again. However, in that moment, she had managed to draw her own dagger which she brought round to rest upon the back of his neck. For a tick or two, it seemed like a stalemate but then the man gave a nod. At least five bows came into view, all with arrows knocked and ready to draw. She had walked into a trap.
“Now, we aren’t going to do you any harm if you come willingly and hand over your weapons.” The first man spoke, clearly the leader of the small group. “You’ll sell for much better unscathed.”
Slavers. She didn’t think she’d get captured like this. But, she didn’t think she’d actually get captured at all.
“I think you’ve misjudged me,” Sayana spoke with a slight cough and teasing lilt to her voice. “I’m not a slave. I’m a buyer. I have funds to prove it.”
“So you’re an extra profitable slave, are you?” The leader goaded. “Money as a slave, and money in your pocket.”
During the banter, Sayana had silently drawn four throwing daggers from within her black robe using her mid and low hands. “Or,” she replied slowly, “I’m a client who you’d rather treat respectfully unless you’d like to lose several of your men in the process of my capture.” By then she had opened up her black robe and had the four smaller daggers drawn and in sight.
At this point he hesitated, thinking the situation over. “How much money do you have on you? And what sort of slave are you looking for? Pickings are slim here since it’s tricky to get past the knighthood. But we’ve got a couple in the tent, and one just captured today. He should be waking up soon.”
“I’ve got a good 500 gold on me, and more back home,” Sayana answered. “As for the slave…” She paused a moment considering what she would even want. She certainly hadn’t come here looking to make such a purchase but it might be simpler to part with the money than face the archers and however many others were here. “I’m looking for someone strong and fit. Someone for… trying out some torture techniques.”
At last the leader gave a nod and the bows lowered. He lessened the pressure of the knife and Sayana also withdrew her weapons. “I think we have just the slave for you.”
He led the Eypharian around to one of the crude tents. They looked like they might be easy to pack up in a hurry. When he opened the tent flap, she would see the recently captured slave bound with his wrists behind his back. Manacles were on both his ankles and wrists for the time being and any weapons had been removed. However, it wasn’t the items of confinement that she noticed. It was the slave’s face. The slavers had captured Garland.
Even as she fought to keep the surprise off her own face, the lead slaver spoke. “Sturdy build. I’m sure he could take most any torture technique you choose. Unless you plan to take him to the brink of death and back. He’s good with a sword and has a fighting spirit. So keep your weapons close. His opening price is 1000 gold mizas.”
Had she not been so surprised at her old friend being here and in chains, Sayana might have whistled at the price. Even so, one thousand mizas was not something she could casually part with.
OOCFeel free to roleplay the lead up to Garland's capture, and use any of the NPCs.
