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Perched atop a chipped alcove overseeing the execution gallows and stocks area, Lucifer watched as the head of his previous employer was severed from it’s lifeform, the fibers of his skin nothing more then thin paper to the massive execution axe. For a few seconds, Lucifer could see the eyes and mouth of the head continue to move as the brain of Bryan’s body attemptly valiently to keep it’s life systems intact. Then, with a finishing gasp, his pupils turned a milky white. The blood spewed from the severed neck of the corpse for a few seconds before subsiding.
Lucifer closed his eyes slightly at the sight of the blood. Through the slit in his eyes, he watched as pitiful, raggy servants retrieved the body and dragged it away. The executioner, a large, rotund, built man, left the area, smirking. The King turned away from the stocks with a flourish of his red robe, his wenchs following him closely.
Sighing slightly, Lucifer turned and leapt down onto the ground, sprinting away, his short silver cape flashing in the sunlight before disappearing.
He arrived at a patch of trees near the outskirts of the kingdom city, where upper class brick houses met lower class straw huts and mounds. Following a hidden grassy knoll, he arrived at a small digout in the ground, surrounded by random trees and rocks. It was almost perfectly camouflaged with the rest of nature. Crouching down, he felt along the dirt floor. Finding his objective, he pulled.
A series of knocks and clinks leaded to a hidden trap door popping open after a few seconds. Dropping down the hole, the door latched itself closed again, set on a mechanical timer.
Lucifer wandered the underground sewers with no light, using only his hands and sense of direction. Reaching an obscure wall, he bent down once more and pulled at another labyrinth skull key wedged in the floor. The wall slid open, pouring light into the sewer. Lucifer stepped into his home and closed the door behind him. Walking straight ahead, he knelt beside the bed and grasped his mother’s hands. Her eyes were closed but she murmured almost unintelligible words as he touched her.
“Are you hungry, Mother?”
Zaneck eye twitched as he heard some squealing outside. Slowly, he opened them and saw that a bunch of girls had gathered around in front of his store. Darned useless squabble, he thought as he pulled his hood lower and returned to his short rest but suddenly, the bell on the door rang as someone entered. Zaneck saw that it was one of the customers he had yesterday, one of the richest to boot. He stood up and welcomed him, “Welcome back, sir. How fares the swords?”
“Ah yes, very good. The blade is as sharp as people claim they are,” he commented. “I have returned for a certain problem with one of them however.”
Zaneck’s eyes twitched at ‘problem’, there were rarely any complaints about his merchandise and most of them were because of the customer’s stupidity. “What seems to be the problem, sir?”
“Well, yesterday while we were sparring with them one of them broke. I would like a replacement for it, if you may,” the customer placed the sword with a sheathe on the counter. Zaneck pulled the sword from its sheathe, indeed it was broken and he felt it was lighter than the sword he sold the man, “Sir, I sincerely hope you are not trying to get a free sword out of me. This is completely the wrong sword, its balance is wrong and the blade is rusted on one side. All of my merchandise is newly made before sale,” Zaneck called him out on this with certainty.
“W-Why t-that sir, is such non-sense! T-This is certainly the same s-s-sword t-t-t-that I purchased yesterday,” the man stuttered as he tried to save his argument. “Look! It even has the same hilt and sheathe!”
Zaneck smiled and began playing with him as well and curled his lips into a grin, “Are you sure about that? My memory may be deteriorating, but I still remember everything I have sold for the past five days and believe me, there were many sales. All the swords I sold were in black sheathes, this one is silver.” The man backed off slowly step by step until he was at the door, then making a break for it. Zaneck sighed, these people just didn’t know to play the swindling game, and according to the rules the man had just lost the game. Business was slow, and he was only entertained for several minutes. He sighed and blew out the flame lighting the room. He took the wooden sign that said ‘CLOSED’ and hung it on the door before locking the store. As usual, he had a black tunic on and a small cloak hovering behind him which concealed his bow. He walked for several minutes before stopping in front of a tavern, the Golden Lizard. This wasn’t his regular choice for a tavern but he was feeling lazy today and pulled the door.
Inside was a loud hellhole, the perfect place for his temper tantrum. He tripped into the person in front of him, a wealthy looking man. “My apologies,” Zaneck apologized. “It’s fine, just make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said as he sauntered off. Zaneck grinned, he had cut the money pouch hanging off the man’s waist as he ‘fell’. He looked in his hands and saw a pile of gold, “I’ll put this to better use.” He let out a small chuckle and walked into the tavern.
Hugh heard a noise and looked to his right and saw a woman dressed in a barsmaid attire enter. She was fairly attractive and her brown hair swayed in the wind. Her uniform was fairly clean, save for the specks of dust she had on her shoes from sweeping earlier.
Hot mama. I’ma get dis girl in bed, wooo! Then we can make lots of little baybays for the Cross Society! Man, I am a [b]GENIUS[b]!
He took another drink, and eyed the girl, waiting for her to turn around and look into his magnificent and hawt eyes.
Come on, baybay. Shake ya bootay, turn around.
[Heh. heheheh. hehehehehh. heeeehehehehhehehehee.]
Lavina stepped back in the dim tavern, and walked the counter at the back of the room. She replaced her broom with a rag, and went on the wipe the tables. It seemed that of the drinks the men ordered, more of it was spilled than actually drank. As she made her way to another table to clean, she spotted two men clash.
Another brawl. What else is new?She was shocked to see one the two actually apologize, and both went about their separate ways. What shocked her even more was the amount of the gold the first man had in his hands after their brief encounter. There was no way he could have had that while he tripped into him. She couldn’t be too sure about what the man just did, and she did not want to risk a terribly scolding from the owner, so she chose to walk over and strike up a conversation while taking his order. Hardly suspicious at all.
“Good day to you sir, what would you like today?” Lavina curtsied slightly with her greeting. “And if you do not mind me saying, it is not a very safe idea to be displaying such a large amount of gold in such a small tavern”.
Zaneck entered the small tavern and while he was about to pocket the goods, one of the waitresses stepped up to him. She was quite the beauty and he could see a hint of a forced smile upon her face, “Good day to you sir, what would you like today?” After the greeting, she noted the amount of gold he had in his hands, “And if you do not mind me saying, it is not a very safe idea to be displaying such a large amount of gold in such a small tavern.”
Zaneck smiled at the sight, it wasn’t every day a person would come up to him in order to greet him, “Oh dear me. I must have forgotten to pocket it after I made that huge sale.” He took a bunch of the gold and held it out for the waitress, “Well, there wouldn’t be any problem if no one else knows about it now will there?”
He was a sharp one, that was for sure. Lavina did a double take. This man was unlike the ones she normally came across. For one thing, his entire face was covered with a cloak. Lavina was used to being able to read a persons expression, but he was already a step ahead of her.
“Well, I suppose so, sir…” there was something about him that made her uncomfortable. “Your order, sir?”
When she took the bribe, Zaneck looked all over the room once. He saw no one staring at him but one person, but then tracing the path of his pupils, he saw that the young man was ogling at the waitress with a dirty look on his face.
“Well now, what is it exactly that I want, Zaneck pondered for a moment before ordering. “I’ll have a pint of your finest ale, if you may. Also, would you care to have that drink with me?” A small grin appeared on his face, the game has begun, and now it was the other man’s move.
Hugh watched as a man ordered a drink, wearing a smirk on his face.
Looks, liek I gots me some competition. Hmm…how should I go about doing this..
By now, he had finished his drink and he was getting bored.
He waved to the woman and said, “Waitress! Wine, please! And take your time. I enjoy looking at you pour.” ;D
Hugh chuckled to himself and pondered about playing a little game with her…“Truly sorry sir, but there are other guests to attend to” she gave a quick smile to the cloaked man before turning away to get his drink. Lavina’s plastered grin faded instantly when she had her back to the man. It was foolish to think this one was not the like the several other brutes that came in each day. As she was preparing the ale, she heard the calls of another barbaric man, this one either already intoxicated, or simply a foolish young man with high hopes.
As much as she hated working in this environment, she could not show any trace of her true feelings. She wanted to throw a wine barrel at this particular gent, but was forced to meet his every disgusting demand. She poured a large mug with a maroon wine, and placed both drinks on a wooden tray. She was tempted to use it as a discus and make a clean cut through his neck, but instead put on her serving smile and glittering eyes and give both men their drink.
She placed the wine in front of the younger one. “Please let me know if there is anything else”
As she turned around, Zaneck felt an aura of disgust and misery around the waitress. He watched her go to make the drinks before seeing the ogling man call out a request. He looked out the window and watched the people pass by while he waited for his drink. In a moment, his order had arrived and he forced a smile. The game was over, she would rather attend to many of the other brutes instead of relaxing in a seat, having a small chat with him. He sighed, was it any surprise that she would be different from all the women that walked into his shop? He chugged his drink in one go and signaled for the waitress, placing exact change for what he ordered and then proceeding to leave.
As Arladerus trekked through the dirty path, he looked from left to right and examined the buildings, looking for an inn where he could rest his head. He had been walking from a faraway city, and the only thing he looked forward to at that moment was a soft pillow. Or better yet…
The knight shook his head violently. Lustful thoughts is a deadly sin, and it wouldn’t help him right now. All that mattered was the mission. Arladerus glanced behind him, only to find a pretty young lady with a bow and arrow over her shoulder walking in the same direction as him. As soon as he began to think of why the road was empty except for him and her, he came across a tavern. Nothing else mattered to him at that moment; his eyes sparkled with joy. He opened the door, waltzed into the building, slammed the door closed, hearing a thud as he swung it back.
It was empty except for the owner. Arladerus would have questioned this and asked about the rumours of Vu Talia, but he was too exhausted. He needed rest. “How much for a bed?” he inquired the bartender.
“That’ll be 50 Gold,” he said. Both Arladerus and the owner of the tavern knew that this was an outrageous price. “I know what yer thinkin’. What the hell is this ol’ fool doing, chargin’ me 50 Gold fer a bed? Well I ain’t gettin’ any business and I need the money. Either 50 Gold or find somewhere else to stay.” The bald man was right to charge that much, in terms of business. He ran the last remaining tavern in the city. None of them were getting any real business; ever since Raczynski’s reign of terror began, nobody would dare visit the city, nevermind stay for a night. The only thing people cared about was getting out. Arladerus reached for his pouch, took out 50 gold coins and paid the man. However, before climbing up the stairs, Arladerus swung his head one last time to take a good look at the “empty” tavern. He saw the woman from earlier, with an angry facial expression.
(k let’s get it on connie <3)
As Rebecca was following the young man, she noticed he had looked back and spotted her. Startled, she pretended to observe a creature that was perched on a pole, though she was truthfully watching the man out of the corner of her eye. When he entered a run-down tavern, she wrinkled her brow in disappointment.
“So he’s of no special position, eh?” She sighed and looked at the creature before her, then let out a yelp. Unknowingly, she had been in front of a bird of prey. Having a childhood fear of birds, Rebecca was shaken and found herself unable to move. The bird echoed a loud shriek and flapped it’s wings, taking flight towards Rebecca. The bird’s claws latched onto her leather pouch she had strapped to her belt, tearing it from the seam and flying off with it and everything contained in there. Rebecca attempted to whack the bird with her bow, but to no avail it escaped off into the horizon.
Frustrated, Rebecca kicked a stand post and ran into the tavern. She noted the man she was following was climbing the stairs of the tavern. She took a quick look at the bartender, then back at the man at the stairs. Calmed down, Rebecca walked up to the bartender, “How much for a night’s stay?”
“50 Gold.” he grunted. Rebecca stared at him in disbelief. The bartender put down the bottle he was polishing and pointed at the man at the stairs, “That young man gave me that same look. Sorry ma’am, but it’s either pay or find another place.”
Rebecca rolled her eyes, and reached to pull out 50 Gold. Her hand touched nothing. Shocked, she looked at her belt. “That cursed bird took my money!” she yelled aloud.
The bartender returned to polishing and muttered, “That’s what they all say.”Angry beyond words, Rebecca turned around to see the man was still climbing the stairs at an incredibly slow rate, almost as if he was listening to their conversation. She shook her head in disbelief and turned back to the bartender. “Let me work here as a barsmaid.” The bartender automatically replied, “You make the cut, but we ain’t hiring at the time.”
Rebecca cursed under her breath and looked out the dusty tavern window. A middle-aged man was hanging a sign on the window of a pawn shop, shaking his head sadly. Rebecca immediately ran out and called to the man, “Are you the owner of the pawn shop?”
Turning to face her, he pointed to the sign he had just hung that read, “Closed for good.” Desperate, Rebecca pleaded, “Please, sir, I am in need of money right now.”
“Sorry ma’am, but with the new king an’ all, everyone is runnin’ outta business.” Rebecca rubbed her temples, when an idea came upon her, “Sir, please! My father! He’s going to be taken away be the King’s men if we don’t pay 50 Gold! I beg you, I have four younger siblings, one who was just born. My mother died giving birth to the latter. Please take pity on a poor commoner like me.”
“Fine,” the man replied, “what do you have to pawn? How about that bow and arrows of yours, they seem of a high quality.”
Rebecca’s grip tightened on her bow, no way would she sell her precious bow and arrow.Several minutes later, after a long raving argument, Rebecca walked away from the pawn shop with 55 Gold for selling her artfully crafted daggers. The extra 5 Gold was pity money. She ran back into the tavern where the same bartender was polishing the counter top. She slapped the coins in front of him and bluntly said, “I want a single room with bathing privileges. Now.”
(((Sorry Arly. I ain’t takin’ your money. AND I KNOW I’M NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE DAGGERS, BUT I WASN’T GOING TO SLEEP WITH THE OLD MAN D:<)))
Hugh grabbed his wine AND DEN CHUGGED IT ALL in a show of bravado, hoping to impress dat wench. HURHURRHURRRRR!
Some wine dribbled out the corner of his mouth, but he coolly wiped it off. Hugh burped, and said, “That’ssome good wine youhave there.”
He looked her straight in the eye and said, “How do you like the king so far, huh? You think he’s a good ruler, or do you wish he’d just shrivel up and die, ey?”Hugh burped again and whispers, “I’m the founderofthe Cross Society, an exclusivegroup of menANDwomen, who are preparingtooverthrowthe king. We all hate his tyrannousrule,andwecan stand it nolonger. It’d be greattohave aladylikeyou to helpkeepusentertained, whether it be with yourbarskills (idk lo), or your beauty itself.”
“So how about it”, asked Hugh, winking. “Wanna join? You’ll makelotsofnewfriends. And maybe some…morethanfriends.”
“Come on, brother! Let us retrieve some of the commoner’s grass make whistles!” Bergio skipped ahead merrily, down the stoned streets of Caelin. Lucifer laughed as he ran after his little brother, chasing him down the street, approaching the edge of the Mathys River. They neared the edge of the water as is softly splashed onto the stone floor. Lucifer leaned down and put his fingers in the stream, the cold water running swiftly through his fingertips. Reaching further down, he grasped as some loose rivergrass and pulled up, ripping them out of the ground of the edge. Handing a grass blade to his little brother, the two galevanted down their street again, holding the grass between their thumbs and
~~
The bright, orange flames sparkled, dazzling, almost beautiful. They jumped from rooftop to rooftop, victim after victim. Lucifer could barely see anything amid the lucid black smoke that covered the streets. All around him, piercing screams and rotting wood lit the air with a horrible sound. He felt a hand grab him by his arm, pulling him away.
“Lucifer, run, my boy, we must depart! Lucifer!”
The aching sound of his mother as she tripped over a passing guard..the sickening crush as her skull became lovers with the cold, stoned floor that Lucifer has lived upon all his life..
He woke up with a start, banging his head on he low overhead stone above his mat. Rubbing it with his right hand, he leapt out of bed and looked around. He was naked, his robe neatly patted down on the foot of the bed. Picking it up, he slid his left arm into the armsaye, then his right. Pulling the robe over his toned body, he fidgeted a bit. It was still a bit crusted from the dried blood near the foot of the cloth. Fleeting the hood over his head, he moved over to a empty table near his bed. Leaning down, he moved his fingers along the hardwood and found a small, metal orb. Twisting it, he activated a hidden mechanism underneath the table that opened the inner hollow table into a shelf of weapons. He slid a few throwing knifes under his robe on his back, and closed the table. Kissing his sleeping mother goodbye, he opened the sliding rock door and reentered the sewers.
Arriving outside, he took a look at the mound in the ground. The wooden slider was sealing shut. Brushing his foot against some dirt, he took off down the abandoned village street, sprinting full tilt. When the dirt of the village street slowly merged into the stone of the city road he moved to the right, leaping up to a overhead rafter of a run-down tavern. Stepping up, he pushed off the rafter onto the roof, and ran. Leaping from the roof with a quiet tap, he landing on the roof of the store next to the tavern.
He continued this motion along the roofs of the stores and buildings until he noticed more and more populous in the streets of the city, walking around quickly and muttering to themselves. Innocent victims of Bogdan’s tyrannical masquerade. Moving farther away from the streets, he leapt down from a high roof into a cover, rolling. He continued to run across the roofs until he reached a old, grey blocked building marked with tattered flags bearing the emblem of the King three generations ago. Searching along the wide roof cover, he found it: a small drophole near the corner. Walking over, his heart hammering from the long sprint, he let himself slip into the drophole.
Landing on his toes, he arrived in a dark room, the only light source arriving from the drophole and the outline of a door that led to the rest of the building. He spoke.
“Expecting me, m’dear?”
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