Reaching conclusions. (Dim)

Selena Ile Andra · June 2, 2007, 03:05 PM

Second Cycle of Junctior, in the Season of Autumn, Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIII Post Fractum

Selena removed the cloak from herself and stuffed it into her bag that was around her shoulder. Her white cotton dress felt cool against her sweating skin, the air still held a bit of the summer heat to it, though a passing breeze would relieve the heat every so often. She wore her nice boots though the swelling in her feet was making it a tight fit and she didn't have time to get new ones. If any of the passing people where surprised to see a young woman appear out of thin air, they didn't show it, none passing even a glance at her as they went about their business.

She brushed her chestnut brown hair out of her face and rested a hand instinctively on her stomach as she walked, she was hungry but she had eaten before she had left Nexus Prime and she had eaten along the way until she had made it to Vortex, she would stop off for a meal soon, but first she needed to find some way to find information on where Dimitri was. She couldn't go to the gaol and ask them, he could possibly be there and she didn't want him knowing of her there in Vortex just yet. Selena wanted to find Kaiser and get out of the dark city as fast as possible, she had her own trouble back in Nexus. Surely Viskyia wasn't going to be happy to find Selena gone and she would know where Selena had gone, she only prayed Viskyia didn't follow.

It was early evening and the sun had begun to slowly sink over the horizon, setting the sky ablaze and taking the comfort of the light, leaving Selena to wander in the dark city alone. She didn't see a single friendly face and was sure to stay away from alleyways, she would surely be an easy target given her condition. She had no weapons and was only a druid initiate, she could defend herself but it would take her some time to enter clara to make the spells work and she doubted an aggressor would give her such time. She could feel eyes watching her and felt the hairs on the back of her neck standing up, someone was watching her intently, but they were somewhere she couldn't see them, perhaps in the crowd or somewhere higher up, she doubted it was Dimitri, surely he wouldn't know she had entered the city, at least not this quickly. She hugged her arms over her chest and continued her way through the streets, weaving in and out of the crowds just hoping to lose the eyes that watched her, whoever they are.

She was also on the look out for a tavern or a place that seemed friendly enough to rest at, being in this condition weakened her and she doubted she could watch much longer.

Dimitri Wladisyaw · June 10, 2007, 07:06 PM

The guard in Vortex were comprised mostly of humans. But since the declaration against orcs, there seemed to be more of these specimens in the rank and file, large green or black skinned creatures often under the command of veteran human guardsmen, true shock troopers. Recently the guard had become more of a force with a pair of Minotaurs leading difficult attacks and guard duties. It was a tight ship and despite the obvious corruption it seemed to crack down on crime largely.

Selena needent of worried, Dimitri himself the Bear of Arium as he called himself was out of the province, however this left in many ways an even more dangerous opponent pulling the strings of power, Dorvold Hammerhelm of Clan hammerhelm had the gift of sanity a joy Dimitri had yet to experience.

Perhaps Selena would ask one of the small group of guards moving across the city for information on their head, or she could aska citizen, he was not largely known in the city, he liked it that way, though by now the people knew a man claiming lineage from the old Dukes of Vortex had appeared. Or she could ask the Dark elf that at that moment followed her movements through the city, and had followed her movements throughout Nexus Prime, oh yes Dimitri had wanted it to be a game, but he did not intend to loose, this dark elf who went by the name of Taulkis a notorious slaver and employee of Dimitri. He began to righten his net awaiting Selena to get far enough into the city, the guard would not help her as the net closed in.

He would be beside her in a moment appearing to be a mere street vendor, a old rag worn over his leather armour and selection of knives, "By the whim of the gods can I intrest you in any manner of exotic goods, the tail of a rare Vortexian stink rat, or a cruise on the great underground lake Yilkaraahaz?"

Selena Ile Andra · June 11, 2007, 07:31 PM

Moving through Vortex seemed easy enough, most of the people she passed didn't pay her any mind and she ran from the ones who did simply because of the dark looks they gave her. This city was such a horrible place, how anyone could live there was beyond her. There wasn't a friendly face anywhere she went, no one she could really trust, if only she hadn't come to this place alone. She saw a group of guards that were clustered around talking amongst themselves, but she didn't dare ask them for fear they would tell Dimitri of her whereabouts. She would have asked a passing citizen had any look like they wouldn't kill her.

Selena nearly screamed when approached from behind, her heart racing as a man began speaking to her. She whipped around and stepped back a few inches all while inspecting him carefully. He looked like a mere street vendor to her, but that didn't mean she trusted him in the least and certainly wasn't going to buy anything from him. She hadn't brought many crowns with her anyway and wasn't interested in rats or knives. She certainly was in no mood to take a cruise, this street vendor gave her a bad feeling and ever since she ignored her bad feeling when first meeting the bastard Dimitri, she learned to listen to her bad feeling.

She saw that she a way of escape, though she doubted she would have to run from the man, he would see that she wasn't interested in his wares and move on. "I'm sorry sir, I'm not interested." Without waiting for a response from him, she whirled around and began to walk rather quickly away from him, hoping that maybe he was just a simple street vendor and not some psycho that wanted to kill her. It didn't help that she couldn't run in her condition, maybe there was somewhere she could hid.

Dimitri Wladisyaw · June 13, 2007, 01:26 PM

Taulkis admired Selena, she was with babe his careful appraisal saw that, the slight puffing of her flesh, a seemingly incessant glow that seemed to emmenate from her. Yes babe she was with, and immediately Taulkis developed a theory though he would keep it to himself. Meanwhile he was sizing her up. Taulkis did not look at women in the way most men look at women, Taulkis took great pleasure in the artform fo slavery, in the chase and the capture, he was anticipating binding her and even now flicked through his tools concealed in his pouch, perhaps the chains, although rope always made them squeal when it was tightened, and to Taulkis that noise was like a celestial choir.

Gently he would follow her, staying within the crowd, he could track in urban places, even the looks of the people could reveal where she had gone, it was like sailing a ship as he gently moved through the crowds concealing himself for a time. One hand gently moved people aside, the other rummaged through the bag strapped to his side, various restraints were inside as well as his well used torture tools, he was anticipating a very amusing time with this one. He decided to ve very brazen and walked up behind her so he almost whispered in her ear, "Dimitri, he is the one you seek is he not? I seek him too, I need your help." Gently a hand would softly touch her lower back, "Let me guide you for a moment, his people watch us, I have to disguise myself as this vendor, he has my son Josistah, I need your help." There was a pleading in his voice, of course entirely faked but Taulkis was an expert at this sort of thing, he hoped she would fal into his trap.

Selena Ile Andra · June 13, 2007, 08:03 PM

She had slowed to a fast walk as she was in no condition to run and she figured she had lost the man, though she could just be paranoid and no one was following her. She still felt eyes upon her, but she tried to ignore it as she continued her way on one of the less crowded streets, surely the man would have given up by now since he hadn't approached her, she had woven through crowds of people to make sure she wasn't followed. She sighed and leaned against a wall for a quick rest, being pregnant was no easy task and finding Dimitri was even harder.

She never even heard the approaching footsteps, which was why she jumped back when she heard a whispered voice speak to her from behind. She twirled around to see the vendor standing there, but his words had spoke nothing of buying his wares. "How did you know I was searching for Dimitri?" Hard part about being in Vortex was she didn't know who to trust and had no way of telling the men with evil intent from the men who would help her. He said he too searched for Dimitri and the desperation in his voice was convincing, having help in her endeavor would help her chances of finding and saving Kaiser. She was still leery of the man, but she offered a tiny smile to show she accepted his help. "Dimitri has my brother and I need to find him and rescue him, but I don't know where to find Dimitri or who to ask." She hoped this was a bad thing trusting him. "We can help each other, but I cannot move too quickly." She doubted she had to really explain why, the reason quite obvious.

She didn't allow him to get to close to her though, weary of him as she began slowly walking. "Where can you guide me and how can I help?" She couldn't help but ask questions, she needed to know she could trust the dark looking man. "What is your name?" She didn't dare offer her own name yet.

Dimitri Wladisyaw · June 17, 2007, 10:05 AM

"I am Mordenkai, I was a guide in the great caverns below but Dimitri realised I knew where treasure was and took my son until I gathered it for him, but there is not treasure, just leagues and leagues of caves as far as the eye can see, and now I am desperate." He smiled softly, "But I do trade in information and I knew you were here, one of my men in the guards has explained the fiasco with your brother and I have kept an eye on your progress, Dimitri wants you and as such he has a weakness, we just need to work out how to exploit it."

He coughed gently, "We need to go down to the first level of the undercity where his men cannot hear us, will you follow me? Youmust trust me or we are both doomed."

Selena Ile Andra · June 17, 2007, 10:40 AM

The great caverns below? Selena hadn't known there were caverns below the city, she would need a guide if she was to find Dimitri's home and somehow fate had brought a guide to her. She still wasn't sure whether she should trust the man, he came across as a desperate man in search of his son and a willing guide to help her as well. She didn't like how he spoke of exploit Dimitri's want of her, that sounded a lot like using her as some sort of levergae or bait. Now that she thought of it, if this man's story was true, he was trying to save his son, who was to say he wouldn't trade Selena for his son?

He had given his name, but she wasn't willing to give her own, if what he said was true, he already knew her name and thus her introduction was not needed. She was getting tired from just standing there speaking with him, her legs aching to sit for a while. As much as she would have rathered going it alone and hoping she would find his home by chance, she highly doubted it would happen, she needed this man's help. She rested her one hand lightly on her stomach and looked up at the man, her chestnut brown hair falling across her face, her jade eyes filled with worry and suspiscion as she looked up at him.

First level of the undercity didn't exactly sound like a good place to go, but if they could go somewhere where Dimitri's men wouldn't hear them speak, she would go. "I can't say I trust you Mordenkai because I can't bring myself to trust anyone in this city, but I shall help you in exchange for being helped get my brother." She would follow him where he led, careful to watch for any odd behavior on his part, if he gave her any reason to panic she would bolt, not caring what he said.

Dimitri Wladisyaw · June 17, 2007, 08:25 PM

Taulkis knew she was but a woman, however he ever was weary of his quarry." He smuled gently remembering the time he was tracking a small girl, toying with her onlyfor the wretched child to stab him in the leg with a hidden blade when he approached her, since then he created inescable traps for even the most modest contracts.

In full view of Selena Taulkis moved over to a guardsman guarding an entrance to the undercity, he would have her wait and to her eyes he would pass a small pouch over to the man and exchange words. From afar it would appear a bribe to get down in the city, in reality Taulkis had just informed the guard not to intervene with himor the girl and passed a small pouch of rocks to the man, Taulkis however needed this theatrical trick to feel confident.

Taulkis would move back to Selena and move her down into the undercity towards a house Dimitri once used as a residence, now it was abandoned and used as a safehouse for Dorvold or Taulkis, Taulkis had set it up to suffice as a prison for a moon or so, then he would take her down. On the way however Taulkis would speak more to her, "My son is being groomed as a squire from what I have heard, it is unjust! I only wish to leave this cursed city, it is like a prison in the earth, and here we are." He would unlock the door and allow her entry first before casting off his cloak and stepping in after her, the glint of seven knives strapped across his chest would no doubt catch her eye, he drew a curved blade inscribed with words in an unknown tongue and devilishly sharp,a smile crept to his lips. "Now will you come quietly, or do I have to deliver spoilt merchandise to my master?"

Selena Ile Andra · June 17, 2007, 08:48 PM

Selena walked slowly, following the man carefully, she hated being in this city and having to rely on a man she had just met. She stood back as he instructed while he spoke with a guard up ahead, handing him a small pouch, it appeared that Mordenkai was bribing the guard to let them pass. She began to grow a bit more confident that perhaps Mordenkai was telling the truth and he would help her retrieve her brother from the monster.

Once he finished paying off the guard, he came back and had her follow him to the undercity. She felt chills pass over her arms as she followed, this entire city gave her the creeps, the sooner she got out of there the better. She listened closely to what he said, she felt sorry for him and his son and hoped things would go better for them. She looked at the house that he indicated and raised an eye, it appeared abandoned, but perhaps that was a mere illusion Dimitri wished to have so no one found him. She wondered why he was able to unlock the door, perhaps the guard had given him a key, she walked past him and looked around, it didn't look like a liveable residence.

She whipped around quickly as she heard the door close, what had she gotten herself into? He had taken the cloak off and cast it aside, showing that he was no mere street vendor nor any guide, he carried weapons! She slowly stepped back until her back hit a bare wall, her eyes set in a defiante glare. Her gaze fell upon the wicked looking knives strapped to his chest and the blade he now held in his hand. How could she have fallen into such a trap so easily, she cursed herself as she watched him, so he worked for Dimitri. "You bastard!" She hissed. "I won't go with you willingly." She knew she was in a bad situation and being stubborn only made it worse, but she couldn't allow herself to give in, she searched the room some sort of weapon, but there was nothing she could use to defend herself. "Stay away from me." She knew she would be taken, but she would make it hard as feth for him, hopefully he wouldn't cause injury to her child, that was her real fear. Spoilt merchandise, all he saw her as was merchandise!

Dimitri Wladisyaw · July 2, 2007, 09:07 PM

Taulkis smiled, "I wonder how much damage I can do to you and get away with, I would not want to decrease your value too much would I, especially since that would effect my comission." He grinned and moved forward gently throwing the blade from hand to hand, his hands were close and his fingers lithe so there was little chance of an accident. "Now lets make a deal, we have a nice little trip down into the bowels before us pretty, now we can do this one of two ways. You get safely manacled and blindfolded and I take you down in a nice fashion and get you set up."

He smiled, "Or you resist, and lets be honest there is a slight chance you might escape, always is. Though I am an exceptional tracker and my master has spies all about this city. Best you pass through as few hands as possible to your plight, pluss if I overpower you I will truss you up like a chicken and be a bit meaner." He laughed softly and withdrew slightly holding a small length of rope, "What is it to be princess, come with me now or risk punishment?"

Selena Ile Andra · July 2, 2007, 09:25 PM

Selena pressed closely against the wall as the deranged dark elf tracker came closer, he still thought of her as merchandise and perhaps to him she was, she didn't see much room for escape and as he had said, Dimitri had spies all over the place. She could see the insanity in this man's eyes and could tell that this man would maim her as much as possible if he could manage, an elf that took pleasure in other people's pain. She had never been the sort of woman to go quietly, she wanted to fight as best she could, but being that she was pregnant, she didn't want to endager her child inside her. Her eyes followed the blades as he tossed it back and forth, the way he threw the blades, she figured he wouldn't drop the blade.

Resisting was the more dangerous of the options and she wouldn't have much of a chance of escape, she swallowed her pride as best she could and strode forward with her head down and her hands together in a sign of defeat, this man would most likely lead her to Dimitri anyway and perhaps even to Kaiser, once she was inside she would have to figure how to get out again. She hated the ego she heard in his voice and wanted nothing more then to run from him as fast as possible, she figured the blade was sharp enough to cause some serious damage on her, but if she could somehow get it, she would have a weapon. As soon as she stood in front of him, she decided that giving up just wasn't her style. She stamped on his foot as hard as she could and tried to get a hold of the knife he had been throwing, should she actually get ahold of the knife, she would grab it tightly and try to stick it in him, should she miss, well that would mean she would most likely be in a world of pain.

Dimitri Wladisyaw · July 2, 2007, 10:00 PM

Always be on the lookout Taulkis, always. A lesson that had been drilled into his head for years and years, yet at this one crucial moment Taulkis refused to heed it. He had fought worse than her and yet at this moment his blade pointed directly into his chest, he did not remember and before he knew it his own knife impaled his upper chest. It was not fatal he could tell immediately, but he fell backwards with a look of suprise and shock on his face. "What......no, this.....this cannot...." he gently coughed and rested a hand on the hilt of the blade.

"You have taken that small chance, I applaud you for it human. I underestimated you." He smiled, "He will kill him your know, I have seen him with my own eyes. He is fine for now, as soon as he is in danger he will die however." Taulkis grinned knowing he was probably helping his master with his words, "There is a plan in place, should he come into danger, should he be in trouble a lockdown will occur." Taulkis grinned and tried to pull the blade out with little success, "Killed or moved by his forces, run now little lightfoot away from me, the guards will let you up again without me in attendance, but heed my warning, even though you are free your brother ensures your slavery does he not." Taulkis grinned and lay back coughing gently and trying to wrench the blade from his chest.

Selena Ile Andra · July 2, 2007, 11:04 PM

Selena was amazed that she was able to catch the man off guard, she had never stabbed anyone so deep before and it was odd to do so, she wondered if the wound she dealt him would be fatal, she hoped so because this was one sadistic man. While some people may have dealt another blow to ensure his demise, Selena's only worry was escaping this horrible man. She looked down at him and actually had the nerve to laugh at the complete shock on his face, he had completely underestimated her simply because she was a woman and if he knew, also pregnant.

She looked down at him for a bit, the blood was everywhere, she hadn't expected to have such a solid plunge. She glared at him when he called her a human, being an elf she hated being called anything other then what she was. He admitted underestimating her and she turned to leave until he began speaking again, his words sending a shiver up her spine. He was talking about Kaiser, she knew it. She wanted him to tell her where Kaiser was and how to get him out, at least Kaiser was still alive. She noticed Taulkis refused to name is master which was rather irritating, she knew she should run but she wanted information and being that he was horribly wounded, he wouldn't be too much threat to her. She leaned down close, but was careful to be out of reach of his arms should he try and grab her. So should Dimitri come to any danger, then Kaiser would be in more danger then ever, it was unfair, but most of what Selena had gone through was unfair.

She would be let go by the guards, well that was a comforting thought, but she couldn't leave Vortex, not until Kaiser strode out of the city with her, she would take up residence somewhere in the dark city and try to find a way into Dimitri's home. Taulkis was right, she may have kept herself from being taken into slavery again, but Kaiser was the lure that in fact kept her snagged into slavery, she couldn't tell anyone about Dimitri for fear Kaiser would be moved elsewhere or even killed. It was so odd that she had to protect Dimitri in order to protect Kaiser. She got to her feet slowly because of her stomach and looked down at the rather helpless man, she wouldn't strike a killing blow because she was sure he would die soon enough, instead she kicked him in the face as hard as she could before turning and exiting the house he had led her in.

She felt a sense of confidence that even though she wasn't in the best condition, she was still able to protect herself from the likes of men like Taulkis, she would have to get away from the house as fast as possible and find a place to stay within Vortex where she would be remotely safe, she would lay in wait for any chance to find Dimitri without directly contacting him, it didn't make much sense to anyone, not even herself. She walked past the guards and noticed Taulkis' words were true, the guards didn't bother her as she walked past him, after she had gotten past the guards she took off into a run.