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Dance of Diamonds and Blades {Aeyt}

Started by Celegwen, January 18, 2018, 12:33:51 PM

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Celegwen

It had been nearly a year since Vel Hartmut last visited Arca, and the city held a special place in his heart as being somewhere that he felt he belonged. He sat gracefully atop the ornate saddle of his tall, black mare, as she trotted into the city.

Arca had an interesting reputation in Vel's eyes: rather, Arca's underground was what really held the intrigue. He had been to the city numerous times, each time for about a month and each time separated by about four. It was a decent trip from Ketra, but he enjoyed being the mysterious traveler that blows in and out of town with no sign of who he truly was. Arca, to Vel, was interesting simply because of the people who ran it. Not the lords and ladies, but the gang known as the Soot Wolves.

Vel stopped at the edge of the city, his left hand gripping his horse's reins and his right resting on Anima's pommel. He took a breath and dismounted, tying the reins to a post outside of a tavern. It was nearing dusk, so he figured it was time to find a place to stay. A tavern with a few open rooms seemed to do well enough, so he walked in and was hit with the strong scent of his favorite hard ale.

Sitting at the bar counter, Vel held up two fingers to the bartender. "Your strongest," he said, leaning forward. Two shots were brought over, and he dropped four silver coins onto the counter. The man threw back the first shot, then started sipping the second one to pass some time before nightfall.

Aeytrious

        Nobody payed much attention when Vel rode into the city. He was just one more person among many. Arca was the capital of not just Kia's Court, but all of Serendipity. It was the seat of power and home of the Queen. The greatest Mage College in the land, perhaps even the world, was located within its walls. A great center of trade and commerce as well as tourism and even education, Arca was hailed, far and wide, as a grand metropolis. But as with many grand cities, for all of Arca's beauty and prestige, it had a dark side, a seedy underbelly. Vel knew of the Soot Wolves, as many across Leranna knew.
        A criminal syndicate hidden in the shadows, the Soot Wolves seemed to have their fingers in everything. From the most innocuous philanthropic ventures to insidious backroom deals, it was not a far fetched idea to think the Soot Wolves might be pulling the strings. From raiding caravans, to running fencing operations, the Soot Wolves traded in everything criminal, except murder. There were rules against wantonly shedding blood.
        The newest Red Wolf, or Cannis Rufus, had changed many things. He organized a chaotic group, and pointed it toward achieving goals, spreading influence. He'd used his secret identity to garner information to muscle out opponents. The Soot Wolves had grown by leaps and bounds, and had begun to work with a code. Arca had been ripe for the plucking, and Rufus knew not to take more than his fill. Excess would cause rot, and could damage the whole. There were only a few things that Rufus was greedy for, and one of those were the magic blades he was trying to collect.
        Vel had one of the blades at his hip, Anima. Though he was at first unnoticed, it didn't take long for a Shadow to see the blade and recognize it. Rufus had a copy of any book or scroll that even mentioned the blades. Even rubbings of wall carvings were among the works he'd accumulated. The descriptions were clear, and the bounty he'd offered for finding the blades would set up anyone for retirement. So the Shadow that saw it, left his post. Reprimand was a risk worth taking for the payout. He went straight to Rufus, and delivered the news first hand. The Soot Wolves attention was quickly redirected.
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


Celegwen

The man kept his eyes constantly moving. Everything that happened, he was aware of: sorting that information into useful and nonsense was where it got tricky. Now, he was smart person, so he knew of the power that was contained in the sword he carried. He also knew of the legends that surrounded said blade. Anima was possibly his most valued possession, but he didn't use it the way it was supposed to be used. To Vel, Anima was a sword - nothing more.

As he finished his drink, Vel walked up the stairs and set himself up in the tavern's room. Locking the door, he slipped out of the nobleman's garb and into that which he felt was his true self. Looking in the mirror, he smiled and put on his helm. One regular sword across his back, and Anima in the other sheath across his back.

He made sure once again that the door was locked, then climbed out the window and scaled the twenty feet it took to reach the ground. Vel rubbed his neck, not from necessity, but a habit to make sure the necklace his ring was on was still there. He glanced around, making sure there were no witnesses, then ran. He was quick on his feet, and silence was as much a virtue as patience when it came to stealth.

Out of the countless times he had been to Arca, never once had he been able to find one of the entrances to the Wolves' Den, the hideout from which the Soot Wolves based themselves. Of course he could hypothetically draw the group out somehow, but the chase was much more fun. He had tried to subtly capture their attention for a long time, so perhaps, bringing Anima along would be the way he finally could attract their interest.

He rounded a bend and crouched in wait, scanning the nocturnal activities of the city. It wasn't surprising that life in the daylight and the cover of night was different. Nighttime gave an element of anonymity, so Vel thought maybe the Wolves preferred to hunt at night, as well.

Aeytrious

        When Rufus received word of the possibility that sword was in Arca he ordered eyes to watch the man that carried it. Vel was quickly under surveillance, and when he climbed the stairs to his room the door and window were both watched. When he climbed through his window and down to the street below, hand signals flashed to make sure everyone nearby was prepared. Nobody pursued as Vel ran, they simply watched. From roof tops and alleys they saw him fly by, and their hands danced. Better and better the description of the man carrying the blade became. Tiny mirrors shot signals of the direction he sprinted, preparing those along likely routes. They waited to see where he was headed, watching to discover a goal, if there was one.
        The nature of his after dark run was almost as much a concern as tracking the blade he carried. Was this man a criminal? He would soon regret plying his trade in Arca if that were the case. Anything short of murder and the Soot Wolves would do what they normally did, press him to join up and pay dues, or leave forever. If blood was his trade, they would spill his, and another assassin would join the others as food for the city gardens. For now, there was nothing to do but watch, so that's what the Soot Wolves did.
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


Celegwen

There was nothing. It was as though the streets of Arca were frozen in time at night, and it had been the same the last two times he had come to the city. If the walls could talk, Vel was pretty sure they'd be just as silent.

He rounded a few corners, his routine the same as every time he was there. This time was different, though.

Vel felt eyes on him. He didn't actually see anyone, but his gut told him that he was being watched: his gut was never wrong. Before he reached the cover of his next shadowed corner, he cocked his head over his left shoulder mid-run and caught sight of the faint glimmer of a mirror.

There you are, he thought tauntingly, ducking into the cover of an alleyway - not a move that even he anticipated. He glanced out, taking hold of a dagger he had on his belt. With perfect accuracy, he threw it, lodging it in the side of the building from where he had seen the mirror's brief shine. It wasn't a move that was meant as too much of a threat, but rather one to tell his tail that he knew. Then, he reached over his shoulder and held Anima's handle loosely, ready for a fight if necessary.

Aeytrious

        The unanticipated deviation from the expected path wasn't enough to shake the multiple sets of eyes that watched him. They saw him slip into the alley, and noted that he may have spotted one of the Shadows that watched. The dagger soon after confirmed they'd been seen, but the Wolf on that particular roof had already moved on. He was supposed to be heading up the original estimated path, and was too far ahead to notice. Others saw the move, felt the threat.
        With the prey knowing it was being hunted, the Wolves gave up all attempts to be silent and unseen. Like a pack they moved, circling, howling. They called out to each other, hooting and laughing. The Red Wolf had marked this man for collection, was waiting to meet him. That meant regular duties were on hold if you were within range of the chase. While most of the metropolis felt the grip of the Soot Wolves tonight, the several blocks around where Vel now stood were free of their influence, though they didn't know it. All the night noise likely terrified them, someone would rouse the guards. But everyone knows you never put your hand between a Wolf and its prey.
        Quickly they came to line the roofs of the nearby buildings lining the street and alley. They came out of other alleys and walkways, hopped down from some of the roofs. The multitude of men and women, and even children, flooded the streets. From the dress of vagrants to soldiers and so many in between, the gang came in a variety of scents and flavors. They stood together, treating each other as friends at an arena spectacle, carousing and jeering, pointing at the man in the alley. They left the mouth of the alley open, but blocked part of the street and other alleys. They'd left a path for Vel, but one of their choosing. His free run would now be corralled. Several Wolves dropped into the alley behind Vel, weapons drawn, they inched toward the man, barking, urging him forward. Others above drew back their bows and shot arrows at his feet, their message to get moving clear. There were too many for one man to face alone, what other option did he have but to run.
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


Celegwen

The man watched as more and more people emerged from the shadows and alleyways. His little display with the dagger definitely did what it was supposed to, but he absolutely didn't expect there to be as many on his tail as there were.

Seeing how many had surrounded him, blocking nearly all possible escape routes, Vel knew that it would be suicide to fight; there were too many. At the same time, the escape routes that he would've liked were blocked. He dropped his hand from Anima's handle, but then started backing up, as arrows lodged into the ground closer and closer to where he stood.

"Fuckers," he growled, turning and moving quickly into a sprint. Vel knew that he was being herded by the Wolves, like a goat to slaughter, but what else was he to do?

Glancing around as he ran, he realized that there was no point. The control being taken from him was one thing, but his pride refused to have the onlookers continue to mock and taunt him. That was too much. His run slowed until he reached a walk.

With a slight breath, Vel shook his head and stopped. He turned around in a full circle, facing the Wolves that had gathered. "I have something your leader wants," he said, "but I'm not handing it off to the pack. Where's the Alpha?"

Aeytrious

        "Where's the Alpha," someone mocked in a singsong voice. The crowd laughed and someone else repeated the derision. Quizzacious calls, jeering, barking and howling, and so much laughter. The Wolves were enjoying their taunting. "Where do you think you're headed," someone else in the crowd asked. "You think he's gonna come to you? The most powerful man in Arca?" Then another voice called, "more like the most powerful man in Kia's Court." "Nay!" called another, "most powerful in all Serendipity!" There was more laughter at that, and some cheering. The message was clear though, Canis Rufus, the Red Wolf, was waiting for Vel at the end of this journey.
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


Celegwen

Wolves, Vel thought to himself, shaking his head. More like hyenas.

The man was able to tune out most of the back and forth between the Wolves, picking out only what he needed to hear in response to the question he posed.

"So, that's where you're leading me?" He muttered, more to himself than any of the jeering onlookers. "Very well." Rather than run, Vel walked at a slightly quickened pace, but he followed the path that the Wolves had created for him. There was no point in fighting them if they were leading him directly to where he wanted to be. Of course that didn't mean he'd make it entertaining for them to watch.

Aeytrious

((I didn't wanna to trouble you while you dealt with school, but if you're gonna be coming back to us soon, I figured I could get ready))


        Many of the wolves got bored and dispersed, but those that were tasked with being the guiding wall remained, shifting down the line as Vel walked along at an annoyingly slow pace. The path laid out by the ever shifting wall of Soot Wolves eventually led to a tavern. It was the only building with its candles and torches lit, guards posted outside waiting for Vel to enter. It was here that Vel would find the Red Wolf. He sat inside waiting, eating a real meal for the first time in several days. He was always too busy to eat when he was being Rufus, but he had the time now. A veritable feast was set out and Rufus had his highest ranked here with him. They had a meeting while they waited for the sword to be brought, and now they all ate, a single chair left unoccupied for their tardy guest.
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


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