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Stranger in a Strange Land [Aeyt!]

Started by Rhindeer, September 19, 2017, 06:36:15 PM

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Rhindeer

At first, it seemed hopeless. How was she supposed to find the thief in the thick of the crowd? She hadn't even gotten a clear look at what he looked at, just enough to make out his hair and skin color, and the clothes he wore. He could slip away and be gone in a flash--he was probably already far from her. But Niamh didn't know what else to do, and hated feeling helpless, so she did the only thing she could do.

Ran, and hoped for a clue.

That clue came quicker than expected, in the form of swearing and stumbling bystanders--and a desperately running man where everyone else was walking.

"HEY!" she shouted, louder, and dashed after him. She might not be as fast as him, but she knew how to maneuver through a crowd, how to watch far ahead of her and anticipate openings, how to plan a few paces ahead. The fear had faded with the rush of adrenaline, and now that she saw her attacker, she was just pissed. Was he the one that had groped her?

Ohhh, he was going to be sorry.

"You better pray I don't catch you!"
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

Aeytrious

        Guardsman Reid could see the thief now. Barely a man, the youth had jet black hair, bronze skin, and clearly had a Scavenger Wolf marker on his back. From what he'd heard, this was the only city that the Soot Wolves wore their insignia publicly. Everywhere else in Serendipity, the organization was secret and underground. Here they had helped rebuild after the war with the Mountain Cats. They had kept peace and enforced laws while the city became organized again. When the city had mended its wounds, the Soot Wolves had relinquished control back to those appointed by the Queen. The rogues still held all the real power, but at least on the surface, Cerenis was the Queens strong harbor once again.
        This Wolf was not very good at being a thief though. Reid wondered if the boy would make it as a Scavenger, or if getting caught today would mean being weeded out. He felt a bit of pity for the cutpurse. The guardsman hitched his shield to his back and began to trot after the boy.
        "Make way for the Guard," Reid called, and the chaotic crowd began to part, giving him an open path toward the thief. The young man caught wind of what was happening and turned back, with fear in his eyes, to look through he parting mass of people. Then someone caught the boys arm and drew his attention away. A whispered exchange later, and the thief's eyes took on a look of determination.
        Zipper had just been given a tip, and once he knew the plan, his eyes scanned the crowd. He was fast, and it was time to show  everyone, just how fast. Instead of continuing through the mass of bodies, Zipper turned to face the approaching guardsman full on. Then he did something unexpected, he ran straight at him.
        Reid was taken aback for a moment, a little confused by the Zipper's change of direction. Zipper knew what he was doing, he had a plan, and when Reid hunkered down to brace for impact, Zipper knew this had been the right choice. With amazing speed and grace, Zipper leaped over the crouching Reid and continued running.
        Guardsman Reid turned, and gave chase.
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


Rhindeer

"Make way for the Guard," a voice called, and the crowd parted before Niamh's eyes. It was only then that she saw the guardsman up ahead, and a wave of relief washed over her. At least someone was doing their job today!

And as the crowd parted, it also revealed the thief. Abandoned and exposed, he was as good as done for, and her possessions were as good as in her hands. But it wasn't just the guard who was surprised when the thief turned around and ran at him. Niamh blinked in surprise. Was he genuinely nuts? Or was he stronger and more confident than he looked? She paused, a good few yards from the action and standing back with the rubbernecking crowd, and watched as...

...As he sailed effortlessly over the guardsman's head.

Oh Light! At this rate he was going to escape! Just leave it to the heathen's guardsmen to be utterly incompetent!

But the thief was now running in her direction, so in a desperate final bid to catch him, Niamh lunged out from the crowd as he drew closer, and threw herself at him. She grunted as their bodies collided and grabbed onto whatever she could latch onto, his clothes, his hair, and held on for dear life.

She just had to hold on until the guard caught up.

"Give me back my stuff, you cur!"
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

Aeytrious

         Zipper had his goal in sight. A window sill with a small overhang above it. He could leap his way to the roof tops and get above the crowds. Then he could disappear. Just a few more strides and he’d be home free. There was no way that guard was catching him.
        “Oof,” Zipper grunted as he was tackled to the ground. “Give me back my stuff, you cur!” The Mark had her arms wrapped around him, and she was not letting go. Zipper pushed, and tried to kick the woman off, but the angle was wrong. He swung back an elbow, but it didn’t really connect right. No matter how he scrambled he wasn’t getting loose, at least not before that guard caught up.
        Guardsman Reid caught up quickly. He liked to keep fit, not like many of the other slack off guards that were growing fat under the Soot Wolves. Reid reached down picking up Niamh and Zipper, making sure to keep a good grip on the thief.
        “You know the drill Scavenger, give the woman her things.” At Reid’s command Zipper handed over the coin purse. “Good, now give me your marker and your name.” Zipper rooted around for a wooden token, painted brown and marked with a Wolf insignia, and gave it to Reid.
        “They call me Zipper, on accoun’ o’ me bein’ so fast.” The boy inflated with a bit of pride, even as Reid glared at him.
        “Not so fast today now were ya?” Reid pointed out. Zipper visibly deflated. “Well, get outta here Zipper, hope this failure doesn’t cost you too much.” With that, he let the Scavenger Wolf go. Zipper was up to the roof in moments and gone from sight. Had he not been a Wolf, Reid would have taken him to the guard house. Bad things happened to non-Wolves operating in Wolf territory. Then Reid turned to the disheveled Niamh.
        “The goddess has smiled on you today it seems. It’s not often that a Scavenger is caught. If you follow me to my post we have a healer.”
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


Rhindeer

Niamh snatched back her coin purse and tucked it away, glaring all the while at the thief. It was a good thing the guardsman had showed up when he did; Niamh had been dying to bloody the thief's face for what he'd put her through. And had he been the one who groped her? She felt tainted still, more angry about that than even her coin purse.

She figured the thief was busted, fit to be punished for his crime--lose a hand, maybe--but to her shock, the guardsman let him go. Her jaw dropped as the thief, Zipper, zipped away and was gone, and she whirled on the guardsman, staring at him in horror.

"Smiled on me? If that is your idea of some fake idol smiling on me, she sounds like a sick goddess, indeed!" she snapped, bristling. "He assaulted me! He...he touched me places not fit for mention! And you're just letting him go? So he can just do it again?! You may as well not have helped at all!"
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

Aeytrious

"Best you keep words like that to yourself," Reid said. He looked back at Niamh, with an expression that showed little patience. "The freedom to practice and preach any religion you want is perfectly fine by us, but if you start insulting people's deities you're likely to find yourself with a sharp object in your soft places." Reid continued the short walk to the post-building. A circle free of milling bodies could be seen. Like a zone of quiet in a chaotic sea. "Our healer uses divine magic that is granted through her prayer and belief in the goddess. So if you don't dull the sharp edge of that tongue, you're likely to go home worse than you are now."
        The small building was of fine craftsmanship. The bricks that made up the outside were carved in runes that protected against all sorts of different magics and elements. Two large glass windows were also etched in runes around their edges. The other "windows" were nothing more than slits in the wall that could be fired through by the guards inside. On top of the small structure sat what appeared to be a large wooden basin, reminiscent of a ships crows nest. A ladder inside led up through a hatch in the roof that gave access to the crows nest, though it was unclear to Niamh how it would be useful, since it was not very high up, and couldn't give the guard sitting in it much of a better view.
        A woman wearing a mix of heavy plate armor and clerics robes stood at the door holding a large metal shield, emblazoned with the symbol of Kia's religion in Serendipity. In her other hand she wielded a large repeating crossbow. If she needed to, she could fire three large bolts in quick succession before having to reload. It was more likely however that the crossbow would be discarded for the heavy bladed mace that hung at her hip. The image on the shield was repeated on her breastplate in greater detail, and her cleric robes did little to hide the pauldrons and greaves she wore beneath them.
        "Ho Reid," the woman called, her silver eyes scanning over Niamh before returning to the crowds. "What have you brought us?" At her words two heads peaked out from the door behind the armored cleric. One, nearly as dark as the woman, and the other, of an olive tone found in Essyrn, belonged to the remaining members of this guard squad. The two men stepped out from inside the post.
        The darker one, and clearly youngest of the group, was tall and gangly. He wore very thin leather armor over most of his body. On his back he carried a cluster of javelins, his left arm was heavily armored with a galerus at his shoulder, and a bundled net hung at his hip. He held a visored helmet loosely in his hands as he stepped out. He seemed to be deciding if he should put it on, or if it was acceptable to keep it off. A glance from his compatriot decided it for him and he pushed his bald head into it. Only his violet eyes could be seen through the front.
        The much older olive skinned man was armored similarly to Reid. A mix of leather, chain, a sturdy breastplate and a skull cap. Where Reid had a heavy shield and a broadsword, this man had a light shield and a short sword. A short bow on his back and a quiver at his hip, made it likely that he was the one to take the post on the roof. He also carried a baton, whereas Reid had a sap.
        The older man was decorated, his distinguished service cord plain to see. The young soldier beside him, took the veterans lead, but the cleric didn't even look to the other men as Reid and Niamh approached. She knew her duty, and she was strict in her adherence to it. Though her face could have been attractive, she wore a scowl and some wicked scars. Neither of which endeared her to the locals.
        "As you were squad," Reid said, "this woman caught herself a Scavenger." All three heads turned to appraise Niamh now. The cleric had already noted the religious robes, but now she saw the dirt and the limp.
        "I'm surprised she's not bleeding out in the gutter," the older soldier said. The younger man was shaking his head.
        "The kid was young. I hope his punishment isn't too severe. He really just needs someone to put him on the right path, but that won't happen in this town." Reid pulled off his skull cap and rubbed at his cinnamon colored hair for a moment before placing the helmet back on his head. "His name was Zipper." Reid flipped the marker to the older man. "She did get a little banged up," Reid motioned to Niamh. "If you could heal her up Bert." The cleric grunted and nodded in response. She turned to follow the other two guards inside, and Reid took up the post outside the door once again.
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


Rhindeer

This was...terribly awkward.

Niamh didn't really want to be here, among these people and their false gods. She didn't want to be touched by their magic, either, and as the rough-looking cleric turned to lead her inside, Niamh reluctantly followed. She really just wanted to turn and head on home, but she wasn't sure she could. Would they stop her? Surrounded by so many militant looking folk, she didn't really feel...safe...disengaging, especially since the guardsman hadn't really given her much choice to begin with.

And the other "official" folk she'd met so far had been nothing if not intimidating and brutish.

"Healing isn't necessary," she said. "I'm not that bad off. Scrapes just need a little cleaning, that's all. Uh...just...don't use magic on me, alright? I'm fine, really!" Divine magic granted her by their..."goddess". Sure.

No doubt it was demonic.

Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

Aeytrious

        Bert stopped as she lead Niamh to turn and look at her oddly. She noted again the religious robes and decided there must be something in her beliefs to prevent the receipt of healing magic. As unreasonable as walking home with injuries was, Bert was never one to deny the merits of strong beliefs.
        "Well that's fine girl," Bert said with her ever present scowl. "Have a seat and Ptolemy will fix you up. The old warhorse was a battlefield medic in a Connlaothian merc band before he joined Serendipities military." Bert moved a chair close to Niamh for her to rest in.
        The younger soldier fetched a medic bag while Ptolemy set his sword and shield aside and removed his helm. When the young man brought the bag over Ptolemy immediately went to work. He poured a strong smelling alcohol on a soft cloth and moved to clean the scrapes. "This will sting a bit," he told Niamh, "but it will keep rot from taking hold."
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


Rhindeer

Niamh took the seat and pushed back her sleeves, showing the scrapes and bruises on her palms and elbows. There were cuts on her knees, too, and some other minor bangs and bruises from her tumble, but those were in places she'd rather not reveal.

"Rot? I don't think these are bad enough to rot," she said, eyebrow raised. "It was just a little tumble, that's all." They were acting so strange! Like she'd done something unusual or extraordinary. Was she missing something? She shifted awkwardly. All she really wanted to do was get back to her people after a long and trying day, but instead she was being fussed over in some...religious compound of some sort.

Looking at the man, Ptolemy, in confusion, she frowned. "Am I missing something? Everyone's acting like tackling some scrawny pickpocket is some big deal."
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

Aeytrious

        Bert quirked an eyebrow at Niamh, scowl not changing. Ptolemy grinned at Niamh's confusion as he idly touched the Holy Sword of Ansgar that hung from his neck. He silently thanked his god for tiny miracles. This woman could have been killed by her ignorance, but escaped with just a few scrapes. Many found it odd that a soldier and ex sell sword was such a devout Ansgarite. Ptolemy found it strange that others, especially soldiers, lacked faith. When you specialize in death it's best to know where you're heading.
        "This city looks and operates like any other," Ptolemy began, as he cleaned Niamh's scrapes. He was using clean linen strips dipped in a strong smelling potato alcohol. The method was taken from Connlaoth, a land without healing magic. "The well known secret is that Cerenis, and most of White Sands, is under the control of the Soot Wolves."
        "They're a huge criminal group," cut in the younger guard, drawing looks from his superiors. "Sorry."
        "Aye, Quib has the right of it," Ptolemy continued. Quibilah looked a bit sheepish from his silent admonishing. Ptolemy carried on cleaning as he explained further. "Some think they run the whole country. I'm sure the Queen, God keep her, doesn't like that. They do run Cerenis though, and that boy was a Scavenger. A member of a group within the Soot Wolves. He could have easily gut you, and the crowd would have helped him escape."
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


Rhindeer

Niamh stared back at the three. Were they serious? So they were saying that this backwater town was basically overrun by criminals and crime--that the country was overrun by this group!--and that even their Queen was helpless against them. That this town was so lawless they would have allowed a murder to take place in broad daylight in the middle of a crowd!

And they were talking like this was totally normal!

Her stare broke when Ptolemy started to clean her scrapes. She flinched, sucking in a hissed breath, and fought the urge to jerk away. But she'd collected enough scrapes and bruises over her life to know she just needed to endure and focus elsewhere.

"And so your guard just let him go?" Niamh said, and flinched again when Ptolemy moved on to different scrapes. "Knowing all this? Seems like if it's such a problem, you'd be locking them up one by one!"

She shook her head, scoffing. "Especially after I went to the trouble of catching him. He was the only one truly in danger, really. I would have beat him in that scuffle if we hadn't been broken up--ow!"
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

Aeytrious

        All three guards began laughing immediately. Even the serious looking Bert was left in stitches. Ptolemy was the first to get control of himself. "Sorry lass, we don't mean to have a laugh at your expense. If Reid hadn't been there you'd likely be dead or badly injured. The boy probably had several hidden weapons and allies in the crowd. Count your blessings. God was surely looking over you."
        Bert and Quib scoffed at that remark in unison. Bert resumed her scowling while Quib spoke up again. "Don't mind the Ansgarite and his god," he said. As for the Soot Wolves, we don't lock up or arrest them if they can give us a marker," he explained. "We file a report and turn in the marker and the official Soot Wolf liaison handles it. The guard or squad gets a reward, and either the Soot Wolf that was caught is turned over for punishment, or..." The statement was left unfinished. Nobody really knew what happened or how the internal punishments were decided. There were rumors, but the only real confirmation was when a body was found. Branded with a the Soot Wolf mark that had a slash through it.
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


Rhindeer

"So you all just let criminals run rampant and are totally okay with it," Niamh concluded with a scowl, though her face was still flushed with embarrassment. No, she didn't appreciate being laughed at at all.

She hunched her shoulders. "Great. I feel real safe here. Day one and I've already been molested and robbed."
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

Aeytrious

The rest of the encounter progressed mostly in silence. Ptolemy cleaned Niamh up, while Bert and Quib returned to their duties. After he was done, Ptolemy gave Niamh a bit of clean linen and a small glass flask of alcohol. "I don't know your bathing habits," he said. "Every culture has their own ideas about it. So I'll tell you to use this to clean your scrapes every night before bed as to prevent angry pink wounds and stinking pus. Once there are strong scabs you only need to use it if the scabs get broken or split." With that he bid her farewell and sent her on her way.
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


Rhindeer

What a day. The day was basically done by the time she was through, between the hours of bureaucracy, her run in with a thief, and getting fussed over by those...heathens. Niamh was exhausted and sore (now the aches and pains were settling in; she'd taken more of a beating than she'd thought) and more than ready to just end the day so she could start over the next.

Tomorrow couldn't be worse, right?

Trudging back through the streets toward the temple, the only thing that stopped her was the marketplace, which was starting to wind down. Her stomach rumbled, and she felt a little shaky, a reminder that she hadn't eaten since the morning. So she paused to use some of her meager coin to buy bread and cheese, and ducked into an alley to down a few bites.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

Aeytrious

        An alley in Cerenis was not the smartest place for a small woman, alone in the evening, to go to eat her food. No sooner than after taking her first bite, Niamh was blocked in by a large tough. Her only escape would be deeper into the alley, but there was movement there too. She was definitely not alone.
        A Shadow Wolf stepped out and approached the Missionary, sword in hand. She pulled down her dark hood to reveal a beautiful dark skinned face. A sapphire blue eye scanned Niamh from above an angular, slightly upturned nose and full lips. A black eye patch covered her right eye, a deep scar passing beneath it. The patch was decorated with an eye that looked remarkably like her real one, though it's gaze was fixed. Under her dark cloak she wore deep black, obdurite studded leathers. Soft leather boots muffled the woman's steps so well, Niamh would not have known she were approaching if she hadn't wanted exactly that.
        "It's your first day in our city," the woman began, without introductions. "Your actions did not go unnoticed by us, and they earn you a month of protection from Scavenger actions." The woman pulled out a coin pouch and tossed it at Niamh's feet. "That is two weeks pay for Zipper, and his punishment for being caught today. You'll also find him cleaning your temple for the next month. It's already been worked out with your superiors." The woman turned to go but first she gave Niamh a small bit of advice. "If you're going to survive your stay here, I suggest you learn to swallow your pride and show respect to everyone around you. You never know who might be a Wolf."
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


Rhindeer

Shakily, Niamh picked up the pouch, her heart still pounding furiously. She had frozen up completely when the two Wolves blocked her in, and even after the woman left, it had taken a moment for her limbs to cooperate. For a moment, she had thought the woman had been sent to rough her up or even kill her for what had happened with Zipper--and even though the woman had clarified, even paid her, it left her feeling unsettled and unsafe and sick. For how long had she been followed, been watched?

And now the thief was in her temple? The one safe space she had to look forward to, and now that thief was there. The same thief that soldier had warned could have gutted her. How could she go back there now?

How...awkward.

Thoroughly shaken, hands trembling as she put away the pouch and her meal, Niamh bolted out of the alley as soon as the woman was gone. Nope. Nope. She hadn't been here a day, and already she was done with this city and ready to go home. Except not even home was safe.

Day one: threatened by the law, molested, robbed, assaulted, threatened again by thugs.

She hated this city.

By the time she made it back to the temple, a small building that was still unfinished, but livable, angry tears were burning her eyes. She slammed the door behind her as she entered and Mikeil--the leader of this damned expedition--snapped a look up from the desk where he was currently writing. With white-blond hair going gray in streaks, and sun-tanned skin dimpled with scars, he was senior among the group, and he flashed Niamh a look both tired and irritated.

"Fruitful first day, I see--"

"We're housing thieves, now?!" Niamh snapped, and Mikeil sighed.

"Good evening to you, too. And mind your tone," he warned, setting his quill down. "Don't jump to conclusions, girl. The boy was offered up to us, and we agreed he could serve penance for his crime."

"Are you mad? He's--"

"Quiet. And listen," Mikeil cut in, cutting her with a warning look. "The Light works in mysterious ways. Perhaps this is an opportunity for him. Perhaps even for you. It could be a chance at reform, at change."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She stared at Mikeil, and he shook his head. "This city isn't like the others. If we want to make a change, we have to start small. So start small."
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

Aeytrious

        Outside the office Todorka listened. After melting into the shadows, she had followed Niamh closely. The woman had no sense that she was being followed, but then again, most normal folk didn't. She smirked at the way Mikeil cut off the complaints. He was strong in his faith, and worthy of the respect of his peers. After all, he was the only one that had refused all the bribes that was also without dark secrets that could be used for blackmail. The Soot Wolves would persist, and they would use manipulation, and the other missionaries would be further corrupted. Opulence was a powerful tool.
        Tod slipped back into the shadows, her cloak summoning the darkness around her, reducing the illumination in the corridor as she clung to the ceiling. There she waited. She'd follow Niamh back to her room, and then she'd learn all she could of the woman. Perhaps she'd call the dream walker to send her into the uptight woman's dreams. This was an interesting development in the assignment she'd been given.
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


Rhindeer

Niamh stared at Mikeil a moment longer, and he returned her look mildly, unfazed. Finally, seeing this was going nowhere, Niamh threw her hands up with an exasperated sound and spun on her heel.

"Whatever. I'm too tired for this shit," she growled as she stomped away, not waiting for his response. Mikeil be damned! He could reprimand her for that later if he chose! But in that moment, she was done. All she wanted was to crawl into bed and forget the day ever happened, so that's exactly what she did.

She marched to the tiny room serving as her temporary lodging and threw her things down to the side of her modest cot. Then she just let herself fall onto it, because somehow throwing herself down onto a bed when she was upset just felt more satisfying. She buried her face in her pillow and screamed into it in frustration, before those screams tapered off into sobs. Maybe this was all a giant mistake. Maybe she shouldn't have come. But if she'd stayed home, she knew what waited her there--a marriage she didn't want, a life she didn't want. None of that was her. But maybe this would be worse, if this was how her first day was going to be. She'd thought she was ready, but she'd had no idea how difficult or different it would actually be. She missed home, her parents...

This was all so stupid.

When she finally calmed down, she couldn't be fussed to get back up. There was a proper way to go about things; she needed to clean herself, clean her teeth, say her nighttime prayers, and actually undress. But she didn't have the energy to even remove her boots. Exhaustion, emotional and physical, had settled in, and soon she had drifted off into a fitful sleep.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

Aeytrious

        Todorka dropped silently from the ceiling and shadowed Niamh back to her room. She waited until she heard the soft snoring within before easing the door open and slipping inside. The missionary slept restlessly, and Tod felt the circumstances were right to peak on her dreams. She took out a small piece of paper and drew her finger across it in a very precise pattern. The paper folded itself into a little mouse and scurried away to fetch the Dream Walker. In the mean time Tod could do the usual information gathering. She rifled through Niamh's things, searching for notes to read, or any objects that stood out. She counted her sets of clothing and noted the type of undergarments she wore. She checked the wear on her boots, and for patches on her clothing. There was no piece of information too small. Everything could be useful.
        By the time Tod was finished, the paper mouse returned and the door slowly crept open to admit a mountain of a man. He stepped silently into the small room, barely leaving any room for Tod, and closed the door behind himself. From a pouch a grabbed a pinch of sparkling powder and sprinkled it on Niamh. Next he turned to Tod and held out his hand. She offered her own, and the Dream Walker pricked her finger drawing forth a single drop of blood. He mixed the blood with more of the powder, and once again sprinkled it on Niamh. Then he blew some in Tod's face, and the Shadow Wolf sat down cross-legged to prepare. Soon she was falling asleep, and linked as she was to Niamh, through the magic of the Dream Walker, she'd be able to watch Niamh's dreams like a play at the theater.
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


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