(☼) claim your weapon - kalon 1450 tryout dnp

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(☼) claim your weapon - kalon 1450 tryout dnp

Postby 76heart » Sun Sep 16, 2018 6:51 pm

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━with   the━━━━━━━━━━━━━
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━━━━━━from  below there━
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i play my forked flute and you
sway on your feet,
entranced by the song i weave
and it's airy beat

but when i free my knife and it
glints in the light,
you shriek at the sight, terrified
before the loss of your life

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Last edited by 76heart on Mon May 15, 2023 8:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
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(☼) claim your weapon - table of contents

Postby 76heart » Sun Sep 16, 2018 9:14 pm

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kalon #1450made by julibeemy post on the thread
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T    H    E       B    A    S    I    C    S
playlist
class and statistics
character interview
inventory

BEGIN      THE      ADVENTURE
the story begins - the first choice

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Last edited by 76heart on Mon May 15, 2023 8:24 am, edited 2 times in total.
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(☼) claim your weapon - playlist

Postby 76heart » Sun Sep 16, 2018 9:37 pm

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━━where  do  you    g  o━━━━━
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stretch your eyes - agnes obelenchanter - DA:I OSTvagabond - FJØRA
stronger - the scoreturns you into stone - fleurieway down we go - kaleo
dear god - lawless ft. sydney wayserblasphemy - bring me the horizon
it's got my name on it - sarah reevesthe reward song - mathias winum
holding back the fire - michael schulte
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stretch your eyes: the world this is set in is my medieval au, specifically erast,
which is highly based on egypt and vast deserts, and this song reminds me a
lot of hauntingly beautiful egyptian music, and honestly instantly this song
seemed to fit her and the ideas i had. the lyrics, i think at least, are also
quite suiting, and hold some hints of her aversion and distaste for the gods
worshipped there
enchanter: the main game this is based off of, regarding the rpg/game
elements at least, is dragon age: inquisition, so of course i had to include a
song from it, and this one just felt like the most perfect fit. while she is not a
mage, one who plays music could easily be called an enchanter as well, and
this type of tavern song is quite similar to the kinds she plays when she is
acting as a bard. it's also just my second favorite song from the game ahh
vagabond: truly, i don't think there's a single part of this song that doesn't fit
her absolutely perfectly. she is always traveling, with no where to call home,
and has always been an orphan. there's faces and places she may think she
recognizes, only to realize they're from somewhere else.
stronger: she really doesn't do this for the riches, and more often than not
she is within her head, withdrawn only to herself. while she's not died and
come back, she has, in a way, gone through a rebirth of sorts, and has come
back stronger, and better. life threw all it's most horrible cards at her, and
she survived them, over came them, and so far, she has won
turns you into stone: another song that fits her quite well with just sound
and feel alone, as well as the lyrics. she roams the world, but still cannot
a home. she has also stolen her own light, by hiding what she feels,
by hardening herself, and turning cold, like stone
dear god & blasphemy: these two songs perfectly describe how she feels
about religion, and gods, and why she despises them so
it's got my name on it: she has no desire for a crown, or to rule or be
queen of anything, but she will give credit where it's due, even if
the credit is meant for someone she's been sent to kill; "here's to
the strongest fighter/last survivor". there are also moments where
she's filled with energy and feelings that she cannot explain,
though if it's emotions, instead of embracing them, she hides them
the reward song: she's far from home, all alone, and on a quest. even
if she hesitates at first, she still climbs, and overcomes it
holding back the fire: nubia holds back all of her feelings, and hides
all of it, holding everything back, and drowning herself in the process
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el dorado - two steps from hellmeridian (day) - horizon zero dawn OST
secret melody - two steps from hellel tango de roxanne - moulin rouge
hallowed land - miracle of soundthe song of the seven - karliene
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Last edited by 76heart on Mon May 15, 2023 8:33 am, edited 9 times in total.
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(☼) claim your weapon - class and statistics

Postby 76heart » Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:00 pm

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so what am i to you, a blessing
or a curse?
a demon with an unquenchable
thirst?


am i a charmer more cunning
than a snake?
one who doesn't care what's
at stake?

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STRENGTH ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋



MAGIC xxxx;▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋

WITS xxxxxx▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋
AGILITY xxxxx▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋



STAMINA xxxxx▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋

PERSUASION ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋
STEALTH xxxxxxxxx;▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋

RANGExxxxxxxxxx;xx;▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋

HEALTH xxxxxxxxxxx▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋

INTELLIGENCE x▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋
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x;name: nubia khepri ain (eye-in)
x;meaning: nubia - one who represents
xxgolden treasures

xxkhepri - morning sun
xxain - an hour, eye, fountain
x;gender: female, she/her
x;species: kalon (six legs)

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x;level: 63 (sixty-three)
x;class: rogue, assassin route, bard path

abilities
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pickpocket: while sneaking, you may pick
pockets from behind other characters
reveal: tells you class and level of a player

sneak: you are invisible/hidden until you're
discovered or until you attack
silent strike: while behind an enemy, you
are able to silently kill/knock them out
before anyone notices. almost always
fatal
left branch:
double strike: strike rapidly with both your
blades at once
fatal swipe: attack swiftly in utter darkness
while your enemy is blind, before they
ever know what's coming, successfully
killing them
whirlwind: spin with your daggers at a very
quick speed, hits all surrounding enemies
right branch:
poison blade: coat your blades with poison,
the choice of what kind of poison, deadly
to merely irritating, is yours
bleed: an attack that inflicts damage over
a few seconds after it hits

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x;hex codes:
xx#B97E3C
xx#1E5251
xx#550B08

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agility: determines run speed, how effectively one can escape from chases, and
how well one is able to maneuver and leap over/weave between things

stealth: determines how easily one can be seen while sneaking, how silently
they move, and how hidden they are in the shadows

strength: effects how strong one's attacks are, how well they can defend from
physical blows, and allows them to carry more within their backpacks

range: effects how far one can attack at/from a distance

stamina: how quickly one's abilities recharges, how long they are able to sprint,
and how long they can fight before they tire and all attacks do half to three
thirds the damage depending on how many strength skill points are in place
(more points -, less points +)

health: increases base health

magic: every kalon has magic, but this determines what level of spell they can
learn and perform, and it's success

persuasion: how well one is able to convince another to do as they ask

intelligence: how smart one is, how quickly they level and learn new skills, and
how precise they can be with attacks (more critical hits)

wits: increases chances to win arguments, talk one's way out of
unpleasant situations, and increases chances to win at tavern card games

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rogue: while some may be brave and strong, or fanciful of magic fun, rogues
;are cunning and swift, and are not to be trifled with if you do not have a
;steady head upon your shoulders. they are of a tricky kind, one that
;cannot be matched, and the shadows are their best friends. beware
;when a rogue is around, as they can strike before you even blink, and if
;you've mad an enemy of one, well, i suggest you quickly run
all rogues can pick locks

x;thief route: there is no one more clever or tricky than a thief,
;they are one with the shadows, and can steal and pick pocket
;unnoticed, within even the quickest of blinks.

x;assassin route: one who will take out targets, for a price. either
;works alone and chooses which to do from notice boards, or picks out
;people asking for another to be killed to oblige, or they work with a
;guild, league, or organization of sorts that chooses that for them
xxbard path: a minstrel who acts as an assassin

x;archer route: one who strikes distantly from the shadows, and is
;rarely ever seen. they are marksman rivaled by no other, and can hit
;targets from buildings away as long as their sight is clear, and they
;have the strength to shoot at such a distance
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mage: every kalon has magic, but it is the mages who truly unlock it, and discover the hidden power and potential within. they can make
;dreams become reality, and make the impossible so very true. they can brew glory, weave things one can only imagine, and even
;put a stopper in death
all mages can interact with magical artifacts, of which there are many

x;warlock: a warlock is no male magic user, contrary to the popular beliefs of some; rather, they are traitors to the mage order,
;and beings of the most nefarious kind. they are often necromancers, ones who defy the most sacred rules of respecting the dead, or ones
;who have committed unspeakable crimes using their powerful magic

x;sorcerer: these are the ones who pursue magic of a most ancient kind, along with a vast knowledge of all they can gather.
;they are the mages of excel beyond all others, and often live well past their due, into the old years of graying hair and wisping fur.
;they are incredibly wise beyond their years, and use magic in careful, calculated ways and hold such a reverence for their power

x;healer: unlike warlocks or sorcerers, these mages would never even begin to dream of fighting; they seek to heal, long to ease
;the harshest pains, and care more for others than they do themselves. their time is spent perfecting their healing magic until they've
;mastered it and all there is to offer, and do not care about the energy it takes from them with each spell. healing magic is not light, and
;takes an often immeasurable toll


warrior: the final class of the three found in erast, and easily the most physically powerful. they rely on strength more then magic or
;mind, and often find themselves beside another warrior as they together embark on some quest. it is not uncommon for them to fight
;with each other at their sides, as opposed to choosing a solo path, and are notably firm and unmoving in what they stand for and believe
;in, and are usually loyal to their cause to a fault
all warriors can bash through walls

x;paladin: a knight renowned for righteousness and chivalry, who follows the teachings of the sun god, and call upon her light to
;aid them and guide them when times grow dark. they are noble, and often embarking on a quest of their own for much of their life,
;traveling all over the land, spreading the teachings of the light, and helping all who are in need of a strong, and brave knight to save them

x;kingsguard/knight: these are the warriors of grand tales, saving villages from mighty dragons and other beasts, with no
;unfamiliar feelings about claims to glory. they either travel like paladins, or serve the royal family as their most trusted women and men, and lay
;their lives on the line to protect them. they sweat vows that must never be broken, and if the king turns out to be a tyrant, they must either
;submit, or chose death

x;mercenary: like paladins and knights, they will travel, and are quite fond of it too, however they are not righteous, and have
;never been. they travel the land in search for gold, doing any job that will give them their prize, and will do anything it takes to achieve it.
;they are hardened and fierce, rugged and worn, and more than a little dangerous when angered. like rogues they are clever, but to them,
;brains are less important than bravery and brawn.


there are other, more minor classes found within erast, such as chef, hunter, scholar, and several more, but as they are pretty self
explanatory, they will not be explained here
Last edited by 76heart on Mon May 15, 2023 8:39 am, edited 10 times in total.
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(☼) claim your weapon - character interview

Postby 76heart » Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:07 pm

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━━━━━━━━━━━are    m  y━━━━
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━━━i'mma       d    o       this━━
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━━━this━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
━━━━f     o     r        t      h      e ━━
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━is i'm    a l w a y s    in  my━
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am i nothing more than a mere
minstrel
, a bringer of songs?

someone to who's music you
can dance along?

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C      O      N      C      E      P      T

What emotion best describes your character?
Nubia is not one who can be described by simply one emotion, despite how little she shows them. However, if one had to choose, the answer would undoubtedly be either cold, distant, or estranged. Because of the path life has lead her down upon, she has never been one to connect with people, or show them warmth and kindness. She holds back her feelings around others, and internalizes them, holding them in until the rare moments where she can no longer take them all, and they force themselves out, usually in only the presences of herself and her dearest two headed snake. Wadjet and Naja are truly the only two she has ever shown some semblance of warmth toward, and she would do anything to keep them from harm; they are her closest friends, and mean the world to her. To others though, it is only coldness from her that they will receive, something devoid of all heart. As someone who is first and foremost an assassin, coldness is something she has to show toward others, as is distance; if she got attached, or developed feelings or affection, platonic or something more for her target, or anyone really, she would not be able to properly do her job. She would let her target live, or let her actions be dictated by the fear of something happening to someone she cared for. Her focus would be on making sure they were not in harms way, on keeping them safe, and their relation to her a secret so they would not be put in danger, and because of all that, she could so easily take a misstep and cause everything to crumble around her, and fail her mission, which she cannot afford. Nubia has to be estranged from others, distant, cold, closed off, or else she, and anyone else she cared for, would have a bright target painted on their backs, and they would find themselves the target of someone else.

What emotion does your character evoke in others?
More often than not, she leaves those she speaks with feeling unsettled, or wary, and sometimes, even confused or intrigued. She is hardly around someone enough for them to get any good sense of her, and if she is, they aren't usually quite able to figure out what exactly she's left them feeling. Her enemies are usually long dead before they can form opinions, and those who give her her missions, assignments, or quests, have either known her long enough, or are also too hardened and cold like she, to form any distinct emotions when it comes to her. When it comes to her music, while she is under the guise of a bard, it is the tune she plays that others pay attention to, not herself, and as for the music itself that she plays, the songs that are an extension of her, of the heart no one gets to see, each person will feel something different; songs are not things that evoke a universal emotion; each person takes something different, even if it only slightly differs from another. There are times though, that she will leave someone angry, usually when her coldness comes off as rudeness in the bleary eyes of those in taverns, but they aren't events that happen that often, and often, in those moments, she is rather perturbed too.

What does your character need most?
Above all else, Nubia really needs someone whom she can trust, someone she can let down her guard around and be vulnerable with, someone to call a friend. She has that already with her snakes, Wadjet and Naja, but they can only speak a few words of her tongue, and while they are everything to her, and help a great deal, she could use another friend, one she can converse with, and depend on to watch her back. Having her guard up every second of her waking hours, and holding in all of what she feels exhausts her, and if it isn't already- she often needs tonics to help her fall asleep when she cannot let her guard down enough to fall into slumber, and she regularly needs a tonic to keep her awake and alert-, that will most certainly end up being detrimental to her health, and the only way to stop it, is to have a friend, someone she can relax around, someone she can talk to, and sleep near, without fear they will stab her in the back. She knows that not having a friend, a confidant is draining her down to the bone, but she won't allow herself to have anyone other than her snakes, and deep down, because she's never had a friendly or familiar relationship with anyone, she doesn't even quite understand how much she needs one. She needs someone to converse with, someone to trust, far more than she knows, and until she lets her impenetrable walls down, and allows someone in, it's not going to be something she realizes she needs, and if she doesn't find that someone, she's going to end up destroying herself.

What is your character’s goal in life?
To survive. Why? Because she's known nothing else. Ever since she could remember, she's been alone, all on her own, and struggling to survive and fight against the cruelness of the world she lives in. She learned early on that others cannot be trusted, that she can only depend on herself and herself alone, and that she cannot show signs of weakness if she hopes to survive. Nubia learned to steal, to fight, to defend herself, and that became all she ever knew, and is still, largely the only thing she's ever known. She just wants to survive, and keep going, and not let the world crush her.


How does your character believe this goal can be accomplished?
By well, surviving. By trusting only herself, and not letting others take advantage of her. By learning to defend herself, and making sure she never falls behind or gets rusty in her skill and knowledge of fighting. She feels she can never let her guard down, so she doesn't, unless she's alone with Wadjet and Naja, and even then she's still wary and careful. She feels that to survive she has to keep moving, to find new places to stay so anyone who calls themself her enemy cannot easily sneak up on her and take her life. By being incredibly careful in anything she does, and taking care not to anger anyone if it can be avoided, and by only placing what little trust she can in the few who she can deem trustworthy.
also by amassing hoards of gold so she never runs out of ways to get some food

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Where did your character come from?
Nubia comes from a town far off in the desert known as Beggar's End. It's a place for those who cannot afford a more luxurious life, and is more or less filled with beggars, and various criminals and thieves. It's where she spent the first few years of her life, until she managed to convince a traveling merchant to give her passage to the nearest town where he was headed next, which was much too far for a small kit to walk. She can still picture every inch of it quite clearly, and hopes that she will never have to return there and see it again. It is a place filled with those who think only of themselves, and those who would do anything to survive and get ahead, and it is too dangerous for her to return to now that she has acquired a great wealth, and is far from the miserable state of scrounging beggar she once was.
She knows nought how she got there though; if she was born there, or brought there by someone, or something else. She doesn't know if she was abandoned, or if her parents didn't want to, but had to leave her there so she would be safe, or if something happened to them, hence why they were never there. It could just as likely be that they had someone else take her there, a friend, someone they had take her, or someone tasked with disposing of a child they didn't not want. Maybe she fell off some carriage as someone with her was passing through, or she was stolen as a child and ended up there? She could be a lost or forgotten princess for all she knew, the heir to some kingdom high in the deserts sands or far across the great vast sea. The only memory she has of her parents is incredibly blurry, and gives no clues. All she can see of the memory's image is the dark turquoise of her mother, and the golden red of her father.

When did your character grow up?
She had no choice but to grow up from the moment she could stand, she's always been alone, with no one to care for her or protect her from harm. She had no choice but to do that all herself, and because she is still completely alone apart from her snakes, she still has no choice but to do that. Not growing up has never been something she's had the privileged of getting to choose. She's had no childhood, no time where she wasn't fending for herself and surviving all on her own, and it shows in nearly everything she does.

What values does your character hold?
➳ don't get attached
➳ do not kill innocents unless there's no other choice
➳ trust no one, no one can be trusted
Each one is like a mantra that she repeats within her mind. She cannot trust people, she will not kill those who have done nothing wrong or without reason, and she will not let herself get attached. Getting attached to anyone is something she cannot afford, with Wadjet and Naja being the only exception. She knows she can trust her snakes with her life; their bond is one that cannot be broken, one that will last a lifetime. Everyone else is a possible threat, and she can't let herself let down her guard near them. Regardless of the lack of trust and faith she puts in others however, she will never kill someone who has done nothing, or given no reason for her to, and unless the situation is dire and there is no other choice, that is not a value of hers she will ever break. Each value is also one she has to follow as an assassin, and not just a value she's put in place for the purpose of survival. For the safety of herself and others, she cannot let herself develop attachment to another, lest they be or end up as her target, and she has to kill them herself, or someone she deems a friend is killed, or she trusts the wrong person. If she doesn't hold herself to the second point, she will lose a part of herself, and become someone she is not, and does not want to be. She cannot let herself go down that path. If she trusts the wrong person, she could just as easily be the one with a knife in the back, as opposed to the one who's meant for it, and if the wrong person learns of what she does, and the knowledge gets to someone powerful enough, then no place would ever be safe for her again. She would be wanted every where, her face would be painted on every sheet of parchment they could make and find, and at best, she'd find herself rotting away in a dungeon, and at worst, without her head.

How does your character dress?
Nubia dresses more fancily than the average minstrel, with her form covered in draped golden pieces of polished jewelry, connected by a sloping, and faintly glittering piece of see-through turquoise fabric. All sorts of golden threads drape themselves along her styled tail, and a pair of golden earrings and a decorated nose ring adorn her face, while intricate bracelets of gold make their home on her most forward set of legs. She could quite comfortably seat herself amongst those of royal or godly blood and blend in seamlessly with the garments she wears, but they also suit her minstrel life well, and can certainly help in her task when her target is someone of prestigious blood, or noble decent.

What are your character’s means?
When it comes to fighting, or taking out her targets, her means and method are swift and precise, with no trace left behind. She sees no point in letting people suffer when their death can be given quickly, no matter how despicable a person they may be. With her music, she is slow and careful, letting each word and note play their part, and appreciating each one. Nubia is resourceful, and uses all she has carefully, and takes great care not to waste any or use more than she needs. She takes her time with things, learning all she can about someone before approaching and doing her job, and she uses what little she has to it's highest potential. She is wise with her spending, and when she has to socialize for whatever reason, she is observant, and uses what she gains from that, and the subtle cues she picks up on, to sway the conversation in her favor, and achieve her goal in the best way possible that she can foresee.

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What are your character’s personal tastes?
Nubia doesn't know exactly why, but she has found that she has quite the fondness for scorpions, especially the ones that can be found amidst the desert sands. Nubia particularly admires how dangerously beautiful they are, and how something so small, so tiny, can be so deadly, and how one can strike without always being seen. She especially likes one known as Androctonus Australis, that is quite the hardy and resilient little thing. They are able to survive even the harshest of sandstorms that have a the ability to scratch and tarnish even the most smoothed and protected outsides of the grandest palaces one can ever imagine, and sometime she found herself wishing that she had the capability to do that as well. Their strength was more than just a little admirable, and she liked their colors too. Other scorpions, such as Parabuthus varieties, Emperor Scorpions, and Leiurus have also struck her fancy.
Another thing she quite enjoys, is the color gold, and really, most things that are made of gold. There's not really any reason for it, other than possibly because she grew up with nothing- and now that she has something, she subconsciously doesn't want to let it go- and remembers her father having the color, but she loves it nonetheless. Her forked flute is made of gold, as are the garments she wears, and even the bottles containing her tonics and poisons are gilded with at least a fleck of gold, and while it is not at all the reason, or even one of the many reasons she took in and cared for her reptile friend, her two-headed snake, Wadjet and Naja, also happens to be colored gold. Perhaps she finds it a noticeable color, one of brightness and cheer, sunlight and hope, and after living such a dismal early life, it's something that draws her to it, and makes her feel safe, or possibly even reassured. That, or it's considered one of the finer things one can get in their lifetime, and as much as she hates the others in that position, the thought of that draws her to it as well, and is some physical sign that she's made it past such a horrible time where she did nothing but fend for herself out of the streets. Basically she's just Harry Potter who, as soon as he learned he had a fortune, decided to try and buy himself a solid gold cauldron like the genius he is.
In general, though, Nubia has a strong preference for keeping her things organized and perfectly neat, though at times, in the eyes of others, her organization habits appear to be an utter mess that only she and her snakes are able to magically navigate. She keeps her daggers with her flutes, her parchments and maps with her herbs, and her tonics with her poisons, and her snakes in the same side bag as her cloak when she travels and they'd prefer to be inside, so the two may cozy and warm at all times, even in the desert nights when even she, a being that made her own heat and was covered in thin fur and well adapted to the desert's harsh climates, felt a chill. It gave them something to burrow through as well, something they could make a temporary home in, and feel safe. Each thing has it's place for her, and she knows exactly where each thing is meant to be and where it's going to go. That being said, she also likes her appearance to remain presentable at all times as well, and likes to keep herself well groomed and quite clean. All of that is possibly because she can do that now, and wasn't before, but it's likely that will ever be known for sure. She has her own tastes, and way of doing things, some peculiar, but regardless of why or how she developed them, she doesn't want them to change, and it's unlikely they ever will; it's just who she is.
She also just likes soft and silky things, and the feeling of her snakes constricting and loosening along her limbs, along with the smoothness of their scales; they all relax her, and help her to calm down at least slightly when she needs to let herself loosen and let down her guard before it drains her last drop of wakefulness, and she falls unconscious in the middle of the street.
To her, the smell of fresh spices, and fancy perfumes are also quite pleasant, as is the familiar rhythm and buzz that can be found within taverns, and the comfort of them all feeling the same wherever she may go, no matter how different each one looks from the last and all that came before it in her travels. It's reassuring to have something like that to depend on, something she knows will never change.

What are your character’s opinions?
Nubia is not fond of Erast's most common religion, and she is incredible bitter toward their pantheon of gods. If there were gods, and if they were so wonderful and just, then why, as a child, had she so often felt starved, scared, alone, and why were others in even worse places than she? If there were gods, and if they were so magnificent, they wouldn't let anyone experience such terrible things, or allow their people to starve in the streets, and fight amongst themselves in ridiculous petty squabbles, and tear each other apart, or let brother fight brother, or sister fight brother's son. The world was a cruel and horrible place once the cover of what was good and glorious was stripped away, and it was cruelest to the weak. If the gods they prayed to were real, and if they were deserving of any worship, then children wouldn't be nearly dying, alone, in the comfort of no one's hands. The world was a place filled with sin, and no person was left innocent in the end, but if the gods were there, doing nothing but longing and watching the horrors that took place, then no one's hands were bloodier than theirs, and no one had a blacker heart than they, and she could never bend the knee or praise them, and honor them with the everlasting title of honor, respect, and reverence, of gods. They didn't deserve it, and they never would.
Regarding the King of Erast, her opinions are unfortunately much the same. Some say he made a deal with the gods to gain is power, while other claimed it was the devil. There was a good king before him, a wonderful king who rules with kindness in both his heart and his hands, and he was loved by all. She wanted to leave Beggar's End to go to the capital, to find him in hopes he would hear of her plight, and listen to her during the hours he spent listening to his subject's hurts and needs, and help her, but as soon as she managed to escape her first home with the merchant she convinced to give her passage elsewhere, she learned that he was dead, that he had been stabbed in the back by the very man who sat upon the lavish throne now. The good queen remained, morning the loss of her dear husband, a man she loved more than anything, but compared to the tyrant whom shared her crown, she had no power. He had a talent of snuffing out all lights, and her brilliant light of hope had been snuffed out long ago. Her lip would always curl in disgust and hatred whenever he crossed her mind, but unless she was asked to kill him, there was nothing she could do. She had vowed not to take the lives of those she wasn't tasked with taking, they were not hers to take, and it was a vow she did not intend on breaking.
Unfortunately, once again, her opinions regarding the rich of Erast were not much different. They were noting more than opulent cowards who lounged in their sumptuous homes, with their every beck and call answered quickly by a dutiful servant, and no whim of theirs was left unserved. They were despicable, and except for the rare few touched by the gift of kindness, a gift incredibly hard to find amongst their ranks, they never deigned to help those they saw below them. Anyone who was not a noble lord or grand guard or knight, or one of power and great taste, was seen as filth, and nothing to be associated with. The rich would stab their friend in the back just as often and as eagerly as someone with nothing would do the same, and they would sooner turn their back on everyone they knew than help someone in need who offered nothing in return, or could not broker some trade that benefitted them more in the end. She hated them with a passion as well, and when the name of one who helped no other found itself on her list, she had no qualms in fulfilling the order, and leaving the world to wonder and the others to gossip about why some rich man or woman was found dead.

What is your character’s comfort zone?
It is hard to define where her comfort zone is, and what lies within it, and what without, as being an assassin, all of that must be put aside, and with how closed off she is, there's no external or outside indication, and very little internal indication with how rarely she allows herself to properly acknowledge what she feels. Some of the few things that put her at ease are being along with Wadjet and Naja, and letting herself relax in their presence, or losing herself in the music she played. The moments where she paraded as a bard and played her songs were practically the only moments where her guard was completely gone, and where she could relax and lose herself within something, and find herself wholeheartedly enjoying it. Music had always been something she loved, and to create it is immensely healing for her, and makes her feel safe. Everyone likes songs, and if they didn't, it was her opinion that they just hadn't found the right one yet, and while she was open, and on display, giving the tavern beautiful sounds, no one would be foolish enough to target her, or maim her in any way. Outside her comfort zone however, is talking with others outside of her quests, and making friends; she just doesn't know how. Her mind is too ingrained with survival, and when she's not working, she refuses to manipulate and lie to someone when she strongly believes a friendship should be built on trust, and not false guises because she was cowardly and scared. Friendships and conversations are also just too emotional for her, and to her, regarding only herself, showing emotion is a weakness, and showing anyone weakness is most certainly far outside of her comfort.

Who has had the biggest impact on your character’s life?
Others never stay in her life long enough to have an impact, but there are at least a few people who have stood out, and shown her a kindness she will never forget. The first was a kind minstrel whom she met as a small kit. She was still in Beggar's End at the time, but something had been different that day, there was music coming from somewhere, and there were more smiles than she could ever remember there being. She followed the sound curiously, and came upon a kalon playing a forked flute. He had an eccentric appearance, one she had not seem before, and his clothes were unfamiliar and strange, yet she was intrigued by him, and his songs. She had been scrounging for something to eat before she noticed his melody, and that must have showed, because he beckoned her over, and offered her a fruit that appeared to be quite foreign. He noticed she showed some interest in his music, and so he showed her how to play his instrument, and taught her a song. He only stayed for that day, but his kindness had touched the wary kit who had never felt such a thing before, and as soon as she was able, she bought a forked flute of her own, and secretly, she hopes that some day she'll see him again. She doubts that will ever happen though, he spoke with a thick accent, and seemed wistful for the lands of his home, a home that likely lay across the sea, and a boat was something she would never get on if she could help it. She preferred her paws to stay on land, not on air, or on sea.
The next was a kind old woman whom she stayed with for a few short days who taught her to read in her early teenage years, and offered her warm meals as she recovered from an injury she had sustained after running from some guards. She hadn't let the woman help heal her or patch her up, she didn't trust anyone with that, even now, but she had trusted her enough to sleep in her presence, and accept what she offered her to eat.
Lastly, there was the dashing and debonaire kalon who taught her how to properly fight, and introduced her to the guild of rogues, and showed her the paths. He found her after she had been thrown out of somewhere for starting a fight, just before she had reached adulthood, and she supposed he saw some potential in her, because he helped her learn, and taught her most of what she knows now. He also told her of a hidden league of assassins, those who take out horrible kalons to right some wrongs, and help those who had been hurt by the target who could not fight back themselves. Sometimes they would do it for coin, and other times they do it for nothing, when those who ask for the target to be placed have nothing to give, though the assassins within it are always rewarded handsomely, should they accept the payment. Before she knew what she was doing, she had joined them, and she has been apart of it ever since. The man to introduce her to it all, is also the one to give her her daggers. She still sees him on occasion, when they cross paths, but the familiar relationship they once had, has since fizzled to tension, and strained wishes, and curt, knowing nods. It was hard to keep up a friendship where, whenever she saw him, it was always under the grim pretense of death, or the betrayal of a member, where all who remained were called back to their most central base.

What are some of your character’s unexpected quirks?
Nubia positively hates getting dirty, or getting sand mixed in with her fur or stuck in between her paws, which is rather odd for someone who grew up within a sandy wasteland without the luxury of a place to regularly rid herself of the layer of sand she was so often covered in. She used to be used to it, and sometimes didn't even notice or care, but now that she has the option to avoid it, and frequent access to places where she can get clean, the unpleasant feeling is not one she wishes to feel ever again. This can make her seem rather stuck up at times, or rather royal, but she can't bring herself to care, she hates being covered in sand or grime more than she dislikes being compared to a certain tyrant.
She is also not fond of plums, a primary fruit and food in the lands of Erast, and instead prefers the taste of the horned melon, or kiwano, which most of those in Erast deem quite distasteful.
While it's no quirk to her, or anyone who may know her, it is most certainly unexpected that someone who lived on the streets, could now seamlessly blend with those of high birth, and is able to fluently read, with quite the vocabulary. What she didn't learn from the books she read, after a kind old woman once taught her the basics of reading, she picked up from her times sitting amongst the nobles, hearing their unseemly gossip and listening to their petty woes as she waited until she had enough information to strike once her target was alone.

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20 Deep Questions for Character Creation


What clothing/armor do they wear? Does this garment do anything special? What material is it? Does it protect them, increase agility, or is it effective in certain kinds of weather?
As the world sees her as nothing but a traveling bard who will sing in their taverns, wearing any sort of armor would paint her as rather suspicious, so she wears jeweled garments instead, and a worn cloak that she covers herself with in the rare event of rain, and the unfortunately common occurrence of sand storms. The garments she wears are made of pure gold and expensive see-through fabrics of turquoise color with a faintly glittering hue, and she has no idea what specific type of cloth her cloak is made out of. If she once knew it, it was too worn to tell now, and the knowledge of it's material was long gone.

What items do they always have in their bag? Where do they get them? What do they do?
No matter what, Nubia will always carry with her her cloak, her two daggers, her forked flute, and Wadjet and Naja. The daggers were given to her by someone she once hoped to call a friend, and the lute is something she bought herself. As for her two-headed snake, she purchased them from a nasty man who had every intention to get rid of them, and if she hadn't overheard that and saved them by giving the man a considerable amount of coin, she didn't dare think of where they would be, or where they would have ended up. Nubia also often has an assortment of tonics, usually ones to heal, keep her awake, or help her sleep. She gathers the ingredients on her own, or purchases the ones she cannot find herself, but she brings them to someone of the same league as she to brew them. She also carries with her a vial of snake poison and venom from the same person who brews her tonics. The poison is from a rare and magical snake native to Erast alone, and when mixed with it's counterpart's venom, the result will fizzle and bubble, and is highly dangerous. It provides a quick and painless death, and is what she uses when daggers are not the best method of eliminating a foe. Some may say that poison is a woman's weapon, where a man's is a sword, but truly, poison is a weapon of cunning, and an excellent mark of an assassin.

Do they have any sort of class/job/specialty? How does this come in handy in their quest? What training or experience caused them to take this path?
Nubia is a rogue, one who's gone down the path of a bard, and as a secret assassin, it has become quite the useful, and life saving choice. She grew up in the streets, fending for herself, stealing what she could from the shadows, and begging and asking for things when there was nothing to take, a little urchin of the sands; it's only natural that she take the path of a rogue, and train herself to be careful and quick, and to take out her targets before they even had the slightest of inklings that she was there. She is one of shadows, one of guises and tricks, and she would have it no other way. She is not strong like a warrior, or skilled with magic like a mage; her heart lies with the stealth and tact of a rogue, the wits, the persuasions, the secrecy and silver-tongued words, the swiftness, the calculating care, and the quickness in which they use to defeat their opponents, and the clever ways in which they can outsmart them. Survival is not always of the fittest; sometimes it is of the quickest, or the one skilled with brains over brawn, and that is the side she likes best. There are other ways of achieving one's goals and desires than brute strength, and she much prefers the more graceful alternative that does not involve the possibility of accidentally setting herself, or someone else on fire.

What motivates them towards adventure/battle/treasure hunting? Who is their greatest enemies, or their greatest allies? What is their end goal?
Part of what motivates her, is bringing justice to those who were in the same or similar situations as her, and were refused help by the monsters in a kalon's skin she was sent to kill. Another part is survival- her end goal-; taking out those who are dangerous or cruel before they can harm her, but the main part is the pattern it gives her, the schedule, the movements to rely on. It keeps her occupied; when she's not masquerading as a bard and playing her songs, she is on a mission to take out someone with nothing but rotted blackness in their hearts, and when she is not doing that, she is training, practicing her skill. She needs something to do, something she knows so well, a role she can effortlessly slip into, so she is not constantly trapped in her mind and focused on the need to survive. It gives her meaning, it gives her purpose, and helps others go down paths better than the ones she chose. They let her focus on something other than keeping up her guard, and waiting for someone to stab her in the back, and it helps. She's not some paranoid fool hellbent on survival when she has her music, or a task, or moments alone to dance with her daggers, and until she finds a friend whom she can trust, besides Wadjet and Naja, it's really the best thing for her.

How do they take a break from their chaotic lifestyle? What at their hobbies? Why do they have a habit of relaxing this way? What do they find relaxing about it?
She's never really able to break from it, as she's always guarding her back, but there are moments where she's alone with her precious snakes where that all lessons, and she can finally at the very least, begin to relax. Apart from that, there is also her music. When she begins to play, the world fades around her, and she feels safe, like all is right. There's nothing but herself and her flute in those moments, and friendly souls that are listening to her play as they drink themselves into a stupor. If she was asked by someone she trusted enough to give an answer to, she couldn't say what exactly about it eases her so instantly, apart from the comforting memories it brings of the minstrel she once knew. It reminds her of a better time, where while she was still largely starving and alone, she had yet to learn how dark the world really was, and cold still put on a smile in front of others, and wasn't afraid of showing wha she felt. It's a comfort to her, like the sound of a mother's voice may be to others, and it just simply soothes her no matter the worries she's facing, even if she still cannot fully let her many guarding walls down.

Do they think having a group helps or hinders them? How do they interact with NPCS or other party members?
Nubia would not be Nubia if she thought having a group, or simply any companion that wasn't a literal snake, did anything but hinder her. She cannot afford attachment with her line of work, and the value she holds closest to her heart, the value that was at her very core, is to not get attached, and attachment is the exact thing a group promotes. One cannot work well with others if they do not get along, and hold enough trust in the others so that they can work as one.
There aren't really any NPCS in her world, as all characters are each as real and filled with free will and the ability to chose as she is, their points of view merely aren't featured in the story, but she interacts with them as she does with everyone else, with distance, and coldness. She isn't unkind to any of them, or at least doesn't mean to be if she comes across that way, but she would much rather be alone, on her own quest, with no help from another, and no company but that of her snakes.

What approach do they take on their journey? Do they plunder, destroy, or put themself first? Take a middle path? Are they merciful? What is their life philosophy?
For the most part, Nubia puts herself first. Her utmost goal is survival, to survive, to keep surviving, and she does not believe that is something she can accomplish if she is constantly putting others before her in acts of selflessness. However, that does not mean she has no care for others. She may have an inability to connect with them, or form any deep emotional care, but it is not uncommon for her to feel sympathy, or empathy for another's situation, and it is certainly not uncommon for her to help those who truly need it. Her job is eliminating the smaller, cruel tyrants of the land, a life path she would not take if she did not want any one else to go through the same pain she herself went through during the trials and tribulations of her youngest years, when she was truly, and utterly alone. She does everything she can to avoid causing pain to someone, even when her hatred for a figure with a target painted upon their back and shoulders overflowed the space around her, and she will no longer steal or harm things that are not her own. She doesn't take what she doesn't need, and she does not take more than she needs; her early years have given her a respect for things and preserving resources, and if she doesn't need truly them, she does not want to take something from someone who may need it more. Besides, now she has more than enough gold to forever eliminate her former need to steal to keep on living.

How do they deal with conflict? Do they face it head on or run away? Why?
It's a mixture, a bit of both, really. For dangers, violence, or fight, she will face the conflict head on without any hesitancy; she has faith in herself and her own skills and abilities, and knows that if she does not prevail, she can still find a way to get out of it and survive. She's escaped from enough people, and gone unseen enough times, and gotten away with enough murders, to know that she could escape death in a fight. It's the risk outside of combat or danger that scares her, the moments where she might let her guard down for only a second, a second just long enough for an enemy to strike. When it comes to familiar conflicts, or emotional matters, however, she tries to escape it. She is not good with feelings, she never has been, and she has absolutely no idea how to navigate such things when she's not playing a part, or wearing a mask to get close to someone with a target painted on their back. She knows even less when it comes to family, and sorting through that. It's all rather scary to her, almost terrifying, and the thought of having to let someone in is one she dreads ever coming to pass. Feelings aren't like sword dances or danger, they're raw, untamed, hidden beneath surfaces, unruly and uncontrollable, and when it came to them, all she knew was running or forcing them back down.

1,761 words

6,688 words total
Last edited by 76heart on Mon May 15, 2023 8:44 am, edited 6 times in total.
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(☼) claim your weapon - inventory

Postby 76heart » Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:28 pm

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━━━it's  got    m  y━━━━━━━
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━━h  e  r  e  '  s    to    t  h  e━━
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or truly, is it something more
sinister that you see?


it cannot be both, so honestly,
what is it you think of me?


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wadjet and naja - two headed snake, the color of gold. naja has turquoise eyes, and wadjet has ruby red

1 golden dagger
1 double bladed golden dagger, encrusted with jewels - named queenslayer
1 jeweled forked flute made of gold
1 vial of poison - venom from a rare erast snake, mixed with poison from a rare erast snake
several sleeping tonics
several waking tonics
several health tonics
spare parchment
stamp of league's seal for letters
assortment of herbs
bread

23/60
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these maps are enchanted to show where the holder is at all times

- signify the main towns in erast. there are hundreds of towns, and these are the most prominent
light patches - forests brought on by a particularly large oasis
dark patches - deep canyons


*i didn't have time to draw everything out, so linked are the references of the drawings instead
Last edited by 76heart on Mon May 15, 2023 8:49 am, edited 7 times in total.
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(☼) claim your weapon - the story begins: the first choice

Postby 76heart » Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:30 pm

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gold,━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
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━━━━t  h  e       s    e    a━━━━━━
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━━━━━ f        r        o        m ━━━━━
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━━━we  walk the   r  o  a  d━━
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i'm either a blessing or your
curse,

meant to empty your coin purse

so I ask you, choose carefully,
or
your final verse may be of me ❞

3,171 words

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background music to listen to while reading

    xxxAll around her kalons bustled through the narrow street, each with someplace to be, and ignoring all those they passed or shoved aside as they went to their destination. Vendors called out from either side of the street, hoping to entice someone over to peruse their wears. Some were selling crisply baked bread that smelled divine, while others sold woven cloth in all arrays of color, and others displayed jewelry for purchase that looked to be crafted by the hands of skilled artisans that had been touched by the gods. She could easily see why this city was considered the capitol of Erast now that she walked among it, and if she wasn't already on a mission she wished to be done and over with, and wasn't annoyed by the grains of sand slipping in between her toes, perhaps she would have paused to take a closer look at all there was to offer.

    xxxBy now, she was used to the routine of it all, the movements of journeying to some town to meet with a contact, carrying out whatever death they ordered, and returning to them slightly heavier in heart than before, and repeating the phases of it all all over again, and after years of it, she found she liked the rhythm of it all, and the pattern it gave her. She needed something to distract her from the myriad of thoughts in her head, all shouting for her utmost attention and quarreling with each other. It was an absolutely nightmare to be inside her mind sometimes, especially when she was holding everything back, holding back the damn that contained such forceful rivers of tears and emotions, and it was good to have motions to go through each day, a steady routine to follow, even if it wasn't the prettiest job, and by now, she had just as much, if not more blood on her paws than the terrors she took out. She didn't enjoy killing them by any means, or killing at all, but no figure that met the sharpness of her blade was undeserving of it. They were all horrid, despicable monsters, and deserved no kindness and warmth. They sought to seep all the light from their lands, and crush it beneath their grimy paws, and because no one rose to stop them, no one had the courage or the strength to do it themselves, she and the rest of the league had to step in, and save them. The world needed it's light, and each soul with a good heart had a light that shone as brightly as the sun, and she could not let these monsters snuff out the light. Darkness cannot win if there is one light left, and it was her job to make sure there were always thousands more. She had witnessed horrors no other ever should, and she wasn't about to let them win. Her light had gone long ago, in the days when she would do anything to survive, but that did not stop her from making sure no one else's went out, and to make sure no more darkness got it's power.

    xxxIt was odd sometimes to be in a new place what felt like every weak, but she knew this, and it felt nice to move before she had the chance to make an enemy, or a friend. It was safer this way, but now was not the time to ponder on that again. This exact thoughts had just crossed her mind, and she was not about to let them repeat. She had a job to do, and a time limit that she did not want to miss. If she didn't make it in time, she would miss him for the next several days, which was utterly unacceptable. He was only here, in the city's market district tavern, for a short while, before he went to a much less reputable place she dared not go, and he would not return to the tavern for three days. He was an underground sort of fellow, with eyes in every imaginable place, and in every city, and he was quite the busy man. He only had a few hours to wait for her, only a few after the sun had risen directly above the city, and she had already lost two of those hours. There would only be a third and fourth hour left, and she did not want to miss it. She knew he was one of the higher ups in the league as well, possibly even one of the current five leaders that were very discreet and with supremely well hidden identities, and if he in fact was one of the five in charge, she did not want to make such a terrible first impression on him by being late. That just would not do, it would not reflect well on herself, or anyone else, and certainly not on the league for entrusting someone with so many secrets and incredibly important tasks that couldn't even stay on time. He had also been the one to hire her, and it was only right that she give him the common decency of being on time. Making a man of his stature and importance with a schedule almost always filled to the brim just wasn't right, and she had to walk faster, and find that blasted tavern before her time was up.

    xxxNow, she was looking for a tavern, but where was the one she was looking for? She was certain it was down this street, the first left after the end of the largest market street jutting out from the market square, but she couldn't see anything that looked even moderately like- oh, there it was. She had found it. Thank the gods she had, her third hour of time was nearly done, and a part of her had been scared that if she didn't show up for the third, her contact wouldn't be waiting for her during the fourth, as was it often was with contacts. They couldn't take risks, and waiting somewhere for someone for hours on end could start to look suspicious if done wrong, and the contact couldn't always wait if the assassin took their sweet time getting there, or had something to deal with that delayed their arrival. There was always the possibility of royal guards barging in at every second; she had witnessed that twice herself, once while she was in the middle of disclosing the terms with a contact, and again when it was being completed, and that had not been pleasant. Everyone had to scram when that happened, and it was always next to impossible to find the contact after they disappeared and hid back below the sands, or wherever their hiding place was. But no matter, that was not going to happen today; she had made it here in time, and she was going to complete this without a hitch.
    xxxQuickly, she ducked inside the tavern, pushing through the swinging front door, and pausing once she was inside to scan the room, and find the man she was looking for. She remembered his face from when they met before, a few days ago, but thankfully there was always another sign to look for, one that stood out against the crowd more than a face of browns and golds would, and it was a good safeguard in the event faces were forgotten. There was always something red about them, some thin red cloth wrapped somewhere around their form to signify who they were. To everyone else, it looked like some choice accessory, nothing important enough to take a second look at, but everything within the assassin's league knew exactly what it signified. A contact. After a moment of scanning, a bright crimson red caught her eye, and there he was, her contact. His face as gruff and hardened as before, but his eyes old and warm. He beckoned her over, and she carefully slid in across from the man at the table he had garnered. He greeted her with the toothy grin she remembered from before, and she returned it with a hesitant smile of her own.
    xxx"Lord's dead I take it?" His grin widened, a rather gnarly looking tooth poking out above his upper lip.
    xxx"Right in his sleep, just as you asked." Nubia nodded, trying not to imagine how horribly terrifying the thought of going to sleep, but never waking up was. She hated carrying out deaths like those the most, but the lord she had been sent to dispose of was crafty, and all too aware, and the safest time was unfortunately during the heavy throes of his slumber.
    xxx"Good, good..." He trailed off, seemingly starting to hum something to himself, before he pulled a small sack that appeared to be quite heavy and prominently jingling before he plonked it on the smooth wood of the table with a noticeably loud clank. "I suppose I owe you this then?" He grinned again, his eyes flashing, and his yellowed teeth glimmering in the torch light.
    xxx"The agreed upon amount I presume?" Nubia questioned, her eyes narrowing a smidge.
    xxx"Of course, of course, I wouldn't cheat ya."
    xxx"Good, thank you." Her smile was more genuine this time, though still tight lipped as she pulled the bag of coin toward her.
    xxx"I suppose I shall take my leave then. Are ya sure you don't want to come along? My offer from before still stands now that yer off work for the night." She did not like the way his smile suddenly turned, and promptly shook her head.
    xxx"No, no, you go on ahead. I'd rather not go to a tavern known for shady deals and attacks, and besides, I'd not want to spoil your fun." Nubia replied, hoping the fake smile that rose to her lips out of politeness was enough to convince him not to press further.
    xxxHe scrutinized her for a moment, before dipping his head in a nod and standing. "Very well, just know yer welcome if you change yer mind. I'll have someone come find you soon to tell you yer next target, it's something special. Take care now, ya hear?" With that, he left, the red of his neck scarf catching her eye as he disappeared through the door. She let out a held in sigh, and felt her form sink into the pillows of the soft seat.
M  I  S  S  I  O  N    C  O  M  P  L  E  T  E

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    xxxFinally, for a little while at least, she could relax, and do as she pleased, and right now, above all else, she wanted something warm to drink. Silently, she stood from the cushy seat, and made her way over to the bar, where she slid onto one of the soft pillows. Nubia gently set the bag of coins on the table in front of her, hoping no one around heard it's distinct jingling sound. The young Kalon tending to the tavern's drinks noticed her almost immediately, and came her way with a smile, a slight skip in her step.
    xxx"Anything I can get you m'lady?" She asked, a bright smile that reached her eyes lighting up her features.
    xxx"Just something warm, thank you." Nubia answered softly, pulling an extra coin along with the standard price from the sack of gold she had just received. She placed them lightly on the table, and the girl gave a soft nod.
    xxxAs you wish m'lady, coming right up. It'll only be a moment." She practically skipped away then- a sight Nubia never thought she'd see from someone who walked on all fours- and returned shortly with a frothing mug of amber liquid.
    xxx"Here you are m'lady, have a lovely stay." The young girl gave her a final smile, and after Nubia returned the gesture with a grateful dip of her head, returned to her duties, smoothly going to wait on the next patron that had walked in since she had arrived.
    xxxShe heard the door sway open again, signaling the entrance of another, but she thought nothing of it. People came and went all the time in these places; she was no stranger to that, she saw it and heard it so often, it was even apart of her task as a bard, there was nothing special about a door opening, or closing in these places. It was as common as finding sand beneath one's paws in the deserts of Erast; it was nothing to pay extra attention too, or scoff at. It was normal, and she was safe here, and she should treat it as such. She no longer had to be hyper aware of such things, or look constantly behind her back to make sure there was no predator sneaking up from behind. She had overcome that, gotten past it, she no longer needed to care. She knew that, though it was still something she found hard to shake, some habit she didn't know how to get rid of, and whenever she noticed it, she couldn't fight the sneaking suspicion that maybe she should have looked, that maybe she should have payed attention, that mayb- no, she couldn't keep letting herself go down that train of thought. Breathe, Nubia, breathe, you're alright, you're fine, it's okay, breathe. She inhaled a deep breath, continuing breathing in until no more air came in and her chest hurt, and slowly let it out, allowing her old fears to go with it. She felt herself begin to relax. Now drink, you've had a long day, relax. It's fine, there's no poison, you're okay. She carefully lifted the glass to her mouth with her foremost front legs, and took a slow sip. That helped her feel better too. Okay. She was going to be okay.

    xxxAfter a few moments, now that they were staying somewhere safe for a little bit, and they could sense their companion relaxing, Wadjet and Naja began to slither out from their side of her pack, moving gracefully along her back, and wrapping around one of her foremost front legs in lanky languid movements, and that was when she heard a soft voice speak up from behind her, and her head turned to see something she did not expect.
    xxx"Excuse me, m-miss, may I pet your snake?" She turned to see a young figure looking up at her. It was a kit. A small kit at that, with golden hair covering his eyes, and fur the color of bright blue, fading into the color of whitening sand, with yellow specks freckled across his form that matched the color of his hair. His shine was that of a... log? Her head tilted to the side. She didn't know what to think of this, but as her eyes narrowed a fraction, studying him, she extended the leg the two-headed snake had curled around, and watched curiously as he hesitantly raised a paw to brush them the direction of their scales. His paw would look steady to most eyes, but she noticed a slight shake to it, a hint of fear, and that only caused her head to cock even further to the side. He seemed particularly uneasy, afraid even, so why was he asking? Why was he currently stroking her snakes as his small frame looked to be shaking? She couldn't see his eyes clearly through his drooping hair, though she assumed they would show signs of his nervousness, and anxiety if she could make out what was held within them. He didn't seem to want to be doing this, so why was he? Had he been put up to this by a friend? Dared perhaps? Or was he trying to prove something, trying to show a friend that he was brave by doing this? Whatever the case was, it confused her, yet a part of her softened, and wanted to help. Truthfully, she was begin to feel quite sorry for him as she watched him continue to shake, his paw shakily running over the smooth spine of her girls, as the two headed snake contentedly encircled her outstretched foreleg. Was there something she was meant to do or say to calm him, though? Was there some customary thing to say she didn't know of? She felt like she should say something, as this was her companion, and she was in charge of making sure others felt safe with her snakes as well, though she hadn't the faintest idea of what to tell him to make this right. She didn't want him to be scared while petting her snakes either, but what could she say?
    xxx"They won't hurt you, not unless I tell them too." Nubia offered quietly after a moment of pondering what to say. He only gulped, and began looking even more afraid. Oh, well, that was clearly the wrong thing to say, and she had absolutely no idea how to make it right. If her ears could droop, she was more than certain they would, as she watched him in silence, unsure of how to fix her mistake.
    xxxEventually, after a minute or so, she felt his paw delicately pull away. He seemed to be a little more at ease now, now that he realized the two girls truly were harmless, and would do now more than flick their tongues against his fur to figure out what he was, to which he had jumped at the first time they had done such a thing. It was a relief to know that he had relaxed during the moments he had spent petting Wadjet and Naja at least, and she was glad to see that the snakes had enjoyed it and relaxed as well.
    xxx"T-thank you!" He stuttered out a moment later, his eyes flicking to something behind her, before he gave her a little bow, and took his leave, darting away as if he couldn't get away from her and her snakes fast enough. That filled her with confusion again, though only a mere moment later, she found her answer, and her form started filling with rage. When she turned back around after the kit left, the moment her eyes fell onto the counter, she noticed that her bag of gold was gone. So that was why he had approached her, he was a distraction! He had been nothing more than a distraction so some petty thief could steal her gold! She whipped around- Wadjet and Naja quickly returning to their pack in the process-, only to see the blue of his tail disappearing out the door, and the golden shine of another's. Those little scoundrels! Two little children had just stolen from her, two children had just taken her hard earned gold. They had outsmarted her, a grown kalon with a lifetime of survival and evading death under her list of expertise, and they had gotten away with it. It was humiliating, and she was infuriated. She didn't want to let them get away with her prize, but they were children, was she really that heartless? Could she really do that?

Last edited by 76heart on Mon May 15, 2023 8:55 am, edited 4 times in total.
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(☼) claim your weapon - the story begins: go after them

Postby 76heart » Sat Oct 13, 2018 9:18 pm


    xxxApparently, she was that heartless, because before she could even begin to stop herself, she was racing after them, her drink and plans to stay there quietly for awhile instantly discarded and forgotten as she rushed after them through the door, the wood just barely missing a flying stand of her tail as it clambered shut behind her. She could not let them get away with taking her reward, she couldn't let anyone think that they could mess with her, and she would not allow these two pesky little kits to get the best of her. She was a trained assassin, alone since the day she had been born, and orphan from her first breath, how had she let this happen, how had she not seen through it, how had they, in that moment, been smarter than her? She would have screamed in frustration if her breath hadn't been consumed by her speedy running already. She had to give them credit, for little pests, they were certainly fast, and even with her six legs, and years of built up stamina and practice at running, she could still only keep at a steady distance of seeing the ends of their tails and the pads of their feet slip between figures she didn't bother to examine as they ran from her. She thought she saw the other one glance back once, but that could have easily been a trick of the mind, or her mistaking a similar looking kalon for the kit she was chasing, the one she assumed was the mastermind. The other one was too timid, to anxious to be a ring leader of brilliance, though she had underestimated him before and that had not gone well, so perhaps he could merely be an incredible actor, and have the world fooled that he was no more than a stammering kit. It didn't seem likely, but after they stole her gold, she wasn't going to discount any possibilities, not yet anyway. She knew better than that now. They could get the better of her once, but they would not get the upper hand twice. She was nothing if not someone who knew how to adapt to survive.

    xxxDarkness was setting in rapidly as she continued the chase, but she didn't care, or even notice the darkness that was clouding the sky, all that was on her mind was finding those darn rapscallions and getting her gold back. The two of them finally seemed to be slowing, or she was gaining ground on them, as they slowly seemed to be getting closer and closer. Though that credit could also be given to the fact they were not in the center of the market, and weaving through so many forms was exceptionally difficult, especially when carrying a heavy bag of gold laden coins.
    xxxThey continued to grow closer in her view, and she continued to gain on them as she ignored the displeasured shouts of those she pushed aside in the process, until she could no longer see them, and it struck her that she had lost the trail. She had to skid to a halt to get her bearings, and peer all around for a glimpse of the bright blue and gold of the two. She couldn't see anything resembling them or their colors, no matter how rapidly she spun around, or how many times she strained her neck to see over those around her. There was nothing, they were gone, she had lost them-
    xxx"To your leffftttt..." Came the hiss of Wadjet and Naja, their serpentine voices speaking in unison as their heads poked out of the bag they had previously retreated within. Sure enough, when she looked to her left, she saw the two scoundrels she was looking for, and to her luck, they seemed to have found themselves trapped in a busy alleyway with an end, that was bustling and too full with others to get back through. I've got you now.
    xxxQuickly, before the crowd had a chance to break apart enough for them to escape and thicken again behind them, making her lose them forever, she hurried over to the alley, and shoved her way through the other kalons present, stopping when she stood in front of the two. No one besides the two were this far back, so there was enough space to comfortably talk and get back what they stole. They hadn't noticed her yet, but she could tell they were frantic, panicked, and trying to look for an escape behind them. It was too late for that though, she had found them, and she intended to get back what had been taken from her.
    xxx"You have something of mine, I'd like it back." Nubia announced smoothly, putting on a silly smile. The blue kit jumped at the sound of her voice, and spun quickly around to look at her, eyes wide and terrified through his golden hair. She suddenly felt very bad for going after them like she had, but then she noticed the slow and cautious way his companion spun around, and that faded. The kit, a girl, had her face turned upward into a grin, ready to put on a show, and try and talk her way out of this. Well little thief, I promise you, that isn't going to work.
    xxx"Do we?" She asked, feigning innocence. Nubia narrowed her eyes, fixing the young girl with a hardened gaze; she was not at all in the mood for this child's games.
    xxx"My gold. I'd much like you to return it to me." Nubia pressed, stepping closer, close enough to practically tower over the smaller two.
    xxx"What gold?" The kit asked again, still acting as if she was an angel of innocence.
    xxxNubia lowered her head down closer to the kit's level, and glared. "Don't play dumb with me child, I know you have it. Now please, my gold." She stepped back to where she had been before, continuing to glare.
    xxxThe blue one beside the girl seemed to be cracking under her hard gaze, and he turned to his friend. "Zaida, I think we should-" He started, whispering something in her ear, only to be harshly cut off. "No Dimitri, we can't." "But, she's not going to let us be unless we give it. Please Zaida, I don't like this." "So you'd rather sleep on the ground again? We could live a life of luxury with this!" She hissed back, but her companion wasn't hearing any of it. He looked scared, afraid, and beyond a little nervous. She felt a pang of sympathy for him once again, and this time, his friend did nothing to erase it.
    xxxHe gave an apologetic look to his companion, a truly sincere one at that, before stepping forward and pulling something large from behind him. "We have your gold miss. I'm, I'm sorry we took it." He bowed his head shamefully, and took a few steps back, and his partner watched him with hurt eyes. The hurt was quickly covered up, but for a moment, Nubia saw a piece of herself in the younger girl, and hesitated in picking the heavy bag back up. She shook her head to rid herself of the thought though, right now she could not be sympathizing with thieves.
    xxx"Thank you." Nubia dipped her head as she shoved the bag into one of her packs that contained enough space, and turned back around to leave them, breathing out a sigh of relief. She would certainly have to make a note to stop in with with the banker of the assassin's league to store her gold soon so she didn't have to carry around something so heavy, but for now at least, she had what she wanted, she had retrieved her treasure, and she could go find somewhere quiet to relax.
    xxxUnfortunately for her, that feeling of everything being settled for the time being did not last, not even for a minute.

    xxxInstead of, well, doing anything but they were now like she expected, once they reluctantly gave her her sack of gold back, and she began to walk away, to wherever next her path would take her, the two of them began to follow her, trudging slowly behind, and stopping and starting whenever she did. What were they doing?

    xxx"What were you doing in the tavern? You don't look like you belong there." And there it was, the kit's voice. Nubia let out a quiet groan, and felt her head fall. Of course they had to follow her, and wish to ask her things. Well, at least she knew the girl recovered quickly.
    xxx"I'm a minstrel." Nubia answered plainly, trying to sound as uninteresting as she possibly could.
    xxx"But I saw daggers in your bag!" The girl protested. Zaida was her name, wasn't it? Of course Zaida had to be an observant little thing as well. What had she done to deserve this, what sin had she committed now?
    xxxShe heaved a loud sigh, and without glancing back, replied, "A bard, then."
    xxx"A bard?" Lovely, now the other one was jumping in too. At least he was more tolerable, and she liked him more. He didn't seem to have ant nefarious ulterior motive either. He was her favorite.
    xxx"It means I kill the people I'm paid to." Nubia told him, before halting and turning to face them both. "Now, will you get lost?" Zaida merely responded with a pout, her eyes widening in an attempt to evoke some sympathy from her. Her companion on the other hand, didn't stop quite in time, and managed to bump into the girl, earning him a little glare before the charm was turned back on the bard.
    xxx"We have no money, and no where to go, and we're oh so tired." Zaida informed, clearly trying to beg the obvious out of her.
    xxx"Do I need to remind you that you stole from me? I'm not getting you a room somewhere." Nubia raised a brow at her, before turning back ahead with a sigh.
    xxx"Wait! Please! Haven't you ever had no where to go? No one to go to? Nothing to eat? Please help us!" That had her stop dead in her tracks, had her freezing. She knew exactly what that was like. That had been her entire life until sheet the man who introduced her into the league, the man she owed everything to.
    xxxShe stood there fighting with herself for a moment, trying not to cry as memories of those times resurfaced, and the guilt at going after them now that she knew they were no different than her consumed her. She felt her legs shaking, and she gave a small nod.
    "I'll help. But only this once. I think I saw a tavern this way, follow me."

    xxxSome time passed, but before too long, she found the inn she remembered passing, and lead the two miscreants inside. It was likely a mistake to do this, a risk too grand to take, a risk she may get attached, but she couldn't just let them go through what she had alone. That would be cruel, and she had swore to herself to harm no child. She was a bard to prevent her misery from befalling another, and she had to do her part outside that to prevent that too.
    xxx"You two go find a table, I'll get you a room." She watched as the two kits went to find somewhere to sit, and she walked up to where she saw an older kalon sitting in what looked to be the area one would ask for a room.
    xxx"One room please. It doesn't have to be large, it can be small. Whatever you have available, and a hot meal to," She paused, pointing with a paw to the table the kits had chosen. One in a corner that seated four. "There if possible."
    xxxThe woman looked up from what she was doing and regarded her with wary eyes for a moment.
    xxx"What ya got to give in return?"
    xxxNubia plonked a few coins on the table, taking care to give a little more than required. No one ever really cared to give a little extra to those who worked like this.
    xxxThe older kalon looked her up and down a moment, a brow raised skeptically, but she still passed a key to her, and nodded to the table. "First room on the right, all yours. I'll have yer food delivered in a moment."
    xxx"Thank you, mam." Nubia nodded gently, and retuned to the two kits, watching as they halted their hushed conversation as she sat across from them.

Image
Zaida - Level 28 Rogue, Thief Route
Dimitri - Level 15 Scholar

inn background music
    xxxOne was a scholar? How did this pairing end up happening then? There had to be a story there, and she hoped that she would find it.

    xxx"So, tell me, why are you two troublesome rascals all alone?" Nubia asked. She fixed them with a hard glare as she settled across from them. The older Kalon who had given her the key came over and set three mugs upon the table, glancing at her as if to say she'd be back soon with the food. Nubia nodded in return, a steaming mug of some warm liquid now held tightly between her highest set of front legs. Zaida waited for the woman to leave before answering the question, staring down into the swirling liquid of her mug for a moment before answering, watching the patterns unfurl in the melting froth.
    xxx"I found myself chasing after a thief who I at first thought was someone who dropped their bread on my accidentally, but then when we were cornered, I realized they were a thief, and when I saw how scared and terrified she was, I knew I had to take the blame, and so I did." She took a large breath, pausing a moment before continuing. Nubia's golden red eyes softened as she listened. "They escorted me home, and then not long after my parents were arrested before my eyes for stealing and other acts of thievery that they did to provide for me. I never saw them again, and I didn't know they had done that until they were dragged from my home, and I had no choice but to take to thieving myself."
    xxx"And what of you, little blue one?" Nubia turned to Dimitri, her voice gentle, almost comforting.
    xxx"S-she talked me into breaking into the palace's treasure room with her. I thought we were going to play a game, but she lied, and now I can't go back home to my parents, I'm a wanted criminal." He sounded dismal toward the end, ashamed even, and her heart fell. He couldn't go home, and she had no home to go back to. They weren't much different from herself, she should have just let them be, she should have just let them take it. Why did she have to be so indignant and prideful?

    xxxShe continued asking them questions for the next few hours, only pausing when their food finally arrived, and she let them eat. They devoured it quicker than she had expected, hungrily taking all they had been given. When had they last eaten a good meal? Were they alright? Did they get enough to eat consistently? Why was she beginning to worry for them, to care? What was this? She had never felt this before, she had never felt what it was like to care like this before. She cared with Wadjet and Naja of course, who were now encircling her leg again, but that was a different sort of care. This was more motherly, and it was, weird. How was it, that only within a few hours of feeling something, of knowing these two, that she cared?

    xxx"You've been drilling us ever since we got here, could it be our turn to ask you some things, please? It's only fair we get to ask you some things too." It took her a moment to realize that Zaida was talking to her, and Nubia flicked her gaze back to her, focusing, and registering what she had just said. She had been too distracted by her feelings. She swallowed, and let out a soft sigh.
    xxx"Fair? My dear you stole from me, and asked me questions before coming here, I say this present arrangement is perfectly fair, but I suppose you are right, you deserve one question before sleep, so go, ask me whatever you wish." Nubia replied, offering a smile. They were fun to talk with, she supposed, and she was curious to see what Zaida would ask.
    xxx"Where are your parents?" The voice was soft, cautious. Oh. It was the boy who spoke up, Dimitri, asking it as if he had been pondering it for awhile, feeling for it with his mouth, and finally speaking it. That was the one question she hadn't wanted though, and now she would have to answer it. She owed them an answer to the question she gave them; she couldn't just come up with some excuse and dodge, that wasn't right.
    xxx"I've never known them, I don't know where they are. All I know is my mother was turquoise, and my father was red and gold. I've always been alone." She took a sip of the drink, the final lick of what was left, hiding the way it burned her tongue as best she could, and tried to avoid their eyes. She didn't want them to see the prickles of tears born of past pains.
    xxx"But you dress and speak so well! You look like some pompous noble!" Zaida blurted, unable to contain herself.
    xxxShe nearly choked on her drink, on the final sip, and had to struggle a moment before finally being able to slowly swallow and meet her gaze once again.
    xxx"I look this way, because I've gotten past the worst place in my life. I am no longer a poor thief on the road, begging for scraps. Appearances can be very deceiving Zaida, and do not underestimate them. Their story could be anything, be careful." Her gaze softened, and she looked into the deep blue of Zaida's eyes again. She held it for a moment, before standing.
    xxx"We should get you two to sleep, come on, up the stairs you go."

    xxxSlowly the three of them, five if one included her two-headed snake, made their way upstairs, and into the room. There wasn't even a moment between the kits entering, and the both of them immediately climbing atop the soft bed. The inn wasn't the best, it was old, and a bit decrepit, but it was good enough for a home for one night, and judging by the way the kits ate their food, they needed this. It didn't need to be luxuries. Her head tilted as she watched them, and something inside her heart softened, a spear of ice she hadn't known was there.
    xxxPoor little things, they must have been so exhausted, they practically fell asleep the moment their heads hit the pillows. What had they last had a decent rest, and when was the last time they slept in a bed? Part of her wanted to stay and care for them, to keep them safe, but the other half knew she couldn't. It wouldn't be fair to them. They were insufferable, and had stolen from her, but they were growing on her, and quickly, and she knew she couldn't stay. She couldn't afford to put them in danger, or allow them to get close to her, she would ruin them. They would be hurt, or worse, and she didn't want that to happen to them. They were too good for that. Maybe staying a moment more couldn't hurt though, just a little longer? Just long enough to give them a goodbye?

Last edited by 76heart on Mon Oct 15, 2018 12:14 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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(☼) claim your weapon - the paths diverge: tuck in

Postby 76heart » Sat Oct 13, 2018 9:19 pm

1,897 words

    xxxEven a moment more was too much, she couldn't stay. She had to say goodbye to them now, no matter how much it pained her heart to leave them. She wasn't good for them, they would be safer the moment she was gone, and she couldn't put them at risk, she couldn't let them be hurt that way, or used by someone who wanted to get back at her. Nubia wasn't going to let that happen, she couldn't, and unfortunately, that meant saying goodbye, that meant leaving them forever. Maybe someday it would be safe to see them again, but not now. It was best if she left before it got light, and she made it even harder for herself.

    xxxAt least, before she left, she could tuck them in, give them some warmth to cover them as they slept, a blanket to help them feel safe. Nubia gently took the covers in between her teeth, and pulled them over the two slumbering forms. They both looked so peaceful, so free of the world's horrors, so soft, and small. She paused to watch them fondly for a moment, to take in their peaceful images, so she would remember them forever, and never forget. Zaida no longer had her teasing air, her sphere of confidence that seemed to be a mask for her own pain, and Dimitri looked free from his fears. No pain was in his expression, and he looked more at peace than he did while awake. It was nice to see him free of anxieties, and the two somewhere they felt safe, in a world of dreams, and a blanket of slumber, that would protect them.
    xxxThey were safe, which meant it was time for her to go, time for her to leave them, and finally say goodbye. She no longer had any excuses to stay. Her time was up, and now it was time for the farewell, the final, everlasting, goodbye.

    xxxCarefully, she leaned forward, and ever-so-gently touched her nose to each of their foreheads, a sign of caring that no one had ever deigned to give her. She hoped they felt it in their dreams, and knew it was the goodbye from her, so they wouldn't wake up in the morning, and wonder where she had gone, and feel the hurt that she had abandoned them. She wanted to leave a note, or something to show she cared, but there was nothing she could give that would not trace back to her, and in the capitol city, where so many were out to maim or kill, and held a hatred for the league, she wanted them to have no ties to her, none at all, and a note in her writing, in her pen, would be a bigger giveaway than a sack of golden bricks with the league's mark tattooed upon them. She just couldn't do that, all she could do was hope they weren't hurt by it, and didn't take it the wrong way.
    xxxNo matter that though, her time was truly up now, she really had to go. She couldn't spend another second here, and possibly put them in harms way. It was time to go, and with one last glance at them, her heart wishing nothing more than to stay, at least until the morning, she left.
    xxxLittle did she know, that Zaida had not yet gone completely to sleep. She had felt the forehead touch, and watched her walk away through a faintly open eye, listening as Nubia descended down the creaky stairs, and reached outside after leaving the inn, before her eyes finally closed, and she went fully to sleep.

    xxxIt was dark, very dark, at least a few hours after midnight, and she had to squint to see through the horribly dim light. It appeared as if she was alone in the darkness, no one else was out, and it was a relief. If she cried, or showed some weakness of emotions, no one would know, no one would be able to tell. She let out a relieved sigh at the welcoming solitude of night, until she heard a voice, and she noticeably stiffened.
    xxx"Nubia?" It was a male voice, one that sounded gruff and older, and it's owner knew her name. How was that possible? Was it a new contact already? No, that couldn't be it, they never did it this late, or like this, they wouldn't dare risk speaking aloud a name, so who was he? How did he know who she was?
    xxx"Who said that? Who's there?" Nubia called, spinning in a slow circle, trying to find where the voice was coming from.
    xxx"I did, over here!" Nubia turned.
    xxxThere was a figure in a small alley right next to the inn, dimly illuminated by the light of a street torch, it's flickering flames jostling the light and casting and eerie orange glow upon his fur in the darkness.
    xxx"Who are you?" Nubia demanded, a deep frown creasing her brow as she fixed him with a hardened gaze, searching. He seemed to deflate in relief at the sound of her voice, and the confirmation of her identity by the light now faintly shining on her face, and he came at her suddenly, throwing his front legs around her shoulders. With a start, she realized he had six legs as well, and with a sinking feeling in her stomach, she realized that he looked strikingly similar to herself. Who was he? Now she was beginning to feel scared.
    xxx"Oh Nubia, my darling, I wasn't sure it was you at first, but I've found you at last!" To her surprise, he started to sob, and to her utter delight, his grip was too strong to pull away from. She was stuck, as this strange, probably senile old man cried into her fur, and she had no idea who he was, other than the thought that he could be family, someone who knew her. He could maybe even be her father, and she didn't know how to deal. She stiffened.
    xxx"I don't know you, who are you? How do you know my name?" Nubia repeated, pressing him to answer again.
    xxx"Nubia, oh Nubia, I thought I'd lost you after I last saw you in that basket with a card of your name." Her world seemed to halt, come to a screeching stop that split the drums of her four ears. How could he possibly know that? Only she knew that, only she, how could he? There was no way he could know unless-
    xxx"H-how did you know I was left like that?" She no longer cared about the fact he was crying into her, or the wet spot on her shoulder from his tears; all of that was long forgotten as her world remained frozen, shattered by what he had said.
    xxx"Because I left you there. I left you there, in that woven basket, with the white blanket, and the note with your name. I left you there and I'm so sorry. I'm your uncle Nubia. Oh, I've found you at least." She felt her world freeze over again, just as it had started to thaw. Uncle? Left her there? What about her parents? What had happened to them?
    xxx"Why did you leave me there, why not my parents? Where are they?" Nubia asked, beginning to struggle against her uncle's hold, starting to pull away. She saw the sadness in his eyes as she wrenched herself from his grip, and while that sent a pang to her heart, she didn't care. She need to know where her parents were, what had happened to them, where they had gone, why her uncle had left her abandoned in a basket at Beggar's end.
    xxx"Nubia, aren't you glad that I've found you? Aren't you happy that we can now be together?" He took a step forward, and she took one back, the hairs of suspicion beginning to rise again. Something changed in his eyes, and she didn't like it.
    xxx"Where are my parents? What happened to them?" Now she was beginning to sound scared. Her voice was rising, and her heartbeat sped up with dread. Her uncle's face instantly fouled, and she took another step back, afraid of what he might do.
    xxx"You had to ask, didn't you? They're dead Nubia, they're dead." His voice was a growl now, and she didn't know what had changed, what had prompted such a thing, but above that, she didn't know what to feel from his words. Her parents were dead? They were dead?
    xxx"What?" She began to quiver, as did her voice. She hated how weak she sounded, so small and scared, but oh god, her parents. Her parents were gone. Nubia nearly choked on a sudden sob that took over.
    xxx"I said they're dead. We were attacked, and I had to get you to safety." They were what? He, he what?
    xxx"Why didn't you try and save them?" Why had he let her parents die?
    xxx"I couldn't, they were attacked, and I saw the swords and ran with you." He seemed to be back pedaling now, desperately trying to wrack his mind on how to fix this.
    xxx"And you did nothing to help them? You just took me and ran and left them there to be killed?" Nubia cried, not caring who heard her shout.
    xxx"I had no other choice!" He bit back, defending his side.
    xxx"Yes you did! You coward! You could have tried to save them, but you just ran! My life has been a hell because you didn't try, because you left them to die!" She wanted to scream at him, to yell at the top of her lungs, but she kept her words to a growl, a hate filled growl. He didn't care for her parents, she could see that plainly. He only wanted to save his own skin, and took her because he thought he'd earn her pity, or buy into his schemes. How could he have done this? She bared her teeth in a snarl, and stepped away.
    xxx"Nubia, come here, calm down. Your parents may be gone, but I'm here, we can start being a family together!"
    xxx"No, stay away from me! You monster!" By now tears were streaming down her face, rolling over her fur, and falling onto the sandy ground. Her uncle tried to step closer again, but before he could touch her, before the man who let her parents die could come any closer, she pulled out her smallest dagger, and pressed it swiftly to his neck.
    xxx"I said stay away!"
    xxx"Nubia-"
    xxx"No, don't you dare talk to me. I should kill you for what you've done, you know that? For all you've done, for not even giving my parents a hope to survive, for killing my chance at a life, at a childhood. You took everything from me, I should kill you!" Her words were forced out through choked tears, her vision too blurry, she could hardly see. All she saw was the pitiful panic in his eyes. He was no different to the rest of her targets, the rest of the despicable monsters that met the very same blade, but could she do it? Could she kill him? He was still her blood, her family, all she knew that there was left, could she really kill him? Could she?

Last edited by 76heart on Mon Oct 15, 2018 2:59 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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(☼) claim your weapon - the paths diverge: stay the night

Postby 76heart » Sat Oct 13, 2018 10:32 pm


    xxxA little longer would do no harm. She wasn't ready to say goodbye to them yet, and leave them all alone. They deserved someone who would care for them, and at least for the moment, she could be that person.

    xxxGently, she took the covers in between her teeth, and pulled them over the two slumbering forms. They both looked so peaceful, so free of the world's horrors, so soft, and small. Zaida no longer had her teasing air, her sphere of confidence that seemed to be a mask for her own pain, and Dimitri looked free from his fears. No pain was in his expression, and he looked more at peace than he did while awake. It was nice to see him free of anxieties, and the two somewhere they felt safe, in a world of dreams, and a blanket of slumber, that would protect them.
    xxxShe didn't know if it was a part of her that had craved something like this for long, the companionship of another of her own kind, acting, or if it was something else, but she wasn't going to leave them, at least not tonight. Staying with them wouldn't be wise, and she couldn't do that to them, but she could at least sleep beside them, and protect them from the night, and leave when it became morning. She always woke up early, no matter what, there would be no problem now.
    xxxEver so carefully, Nubia joined them on the small bed after slipping off her pack, and awkwardly curled around them. It felt more than a little odd at first, and a bit uncomfortable, but after a few moments, she felt herself relax into it, and lower her head to rest on her paws. Was this what a family was like? Was this what it felt like to trust someone? Had her mother ever done this with her? She let out a quiet yawn. I guess I was more tired than I thought. Another yawn escaped her, and her eyes fluttered closed. She was definitely more tired than she had thought. Slowly, with the sounds of the kits' quiet breaths, and the comfort that just their presences' gave her, she found herself drifting off into slumber. She let the soft tendrils of sleep take hold, and pull her into the world of dreams, where a man of sand was fabled to ward her dreams away from nightmares. She trusted the man of sand, or at least, she trusted him with the kits at her side.

    xxxWhen morning came, and the first rays of the burning sun began to pour through the dusty window, she began to wake, and realized that she should not have stayed. It would be only harder to say goodbye now, and she didn't want to. What would they think when they woke up to see her gone? She didn't want to hurt them that way, but she knew they'd follow her if she didn't, and she couldn't let them remain close, for their sakes. Sighing, she slowly pulled herself from the remaining loose tendrils of sleep, and let her golden red eyes fall on the two still sleeping forms. They were still so peaceful, so calm. She hated to leave them like that, but again, she had no choice, not unless she wanted them to be hurt, and that was quickly becoming one of the last things she ever wanted. Softly, as she gazed at them with fond eyes, she bent down and pressed her nose to their foreheads.
    xxx"Goodbye, my little thieves."
    xxxIt was hard to let the words leave her lips, but she knew they had to, and she did her best to hold back a single tear that threatened to fall as she stood from the bed, and made a move to return her pack to her back. The glint of a coin stopped her though, and she paused. The coin sack. How this had all started. She shouldn't have come after them for it in the first place, it was only right she give it to them now, if only as a goodbye. A final sad farewell, a piece they would hopefully remember her by. It wasn't as much as she had received originally, as some had already been spent at the tavern and inn, or possibly even lost amidst the chase, but she hoped they'd appreciate it, and that it would do them more good than it would do her. They needed it more than she did, they always had. She hoped with this that they could get the food and room they needed, and make a better life for themselves, one better than hers, where they wouldn't have to steal to survive.

Image - 3,487

    xxxWith that, after one last forlorn glance their way as she reached the door, she left the inn, descending the stairs, and reaching the outside. She felt the tear roll down her cheek. Would she ever see them again? She hoped that she would, but unfortunately, before she had the chance to hope on that more, she felt a rough paw pulling her harshly to the right, that stopped once they reached a lonely alleyway, with not another soul insight.
    xxxNubia whirled around to see who had touched her, who had pulled her here, but all she saw was an old kalon, one haggard and full of signs of age, and he seemed to frail to successfully pull her here. Granted, she had underestimated Dimitri, and his reasons, so she had no reason to believe that this man did not have the strength of ten thousand of the strongest women and men. He stayed silent though, not confirming or denying the suspicion of her thought, and she narrowed her eyes. Who was this man, and why was he doing this? She didn't like this, not at all, and she could feel the hairs on the back of her neck begin to stand up.
    xxx"Who are you?" Nubia demanded, a deep frown creasing her brow as she fixed him with a hardened gaze, searching. He seemed to deflate in relief at the sound of her voice, and he came at her suddenly, throwing his front legs around her shoulders. With a start, she realized he had six legs as well, and with a sinking feeling in her stomach, she realized that he looked strikingly similar to herself. Who was he? Now she was beginning to feel scared.
    xxx"Oh Nubia, my darling, I've found you at last!" To her surprise, he started to sob, and to her utter delight, his grip was too strong to pull away from. She was stuck, as this strange, probably senile old man cried into her fur, and she had no idea who he was, other than the thought that he could be family, someone who knew her. He could maybe even be her father, and she didn't know how to deal. She stiffened.
    xxx"I don't know you, who are you? How do you know my name?" Nubia repeated, pressing him to answer again.
    xxx"Nubia, oh Nubia, I thought I'd lost you after I last saw you in that basket with a card of your name." Her world seemed to halt, come to a screeching stop that split the drums of her four ears. How could he possibly know that? Only she knew that, only she, how could he? There was no way he could know unless-
    xxx"H-how did you know I was left like that?" She no longer cared about the fact he was crying into her, or the wet spot on her shoulder from his tears; all of that was long forgotten as her world remained frozen, shattered by what he had said.
    xxx"Because I left you there. I left you there, in that woven basket, with the white blanket, and the note with your name. I left you there and I'm so sorry. I'm your uncle Nubia. Oh, I've found you at least." She felt her world freeze over again, just as it had started to thaw. Uncle? Left her there? What about her parents? What had happened to them?
    xxx"Why did you leave me there, why not my parents? Where are they?" Nubia asked, beginning to struggle against her uncle's hold, starting to pull away. She saw the sadness in his eyes as she wrenched herself from his grip, and while that sent a pang to her heart, she didn't care. She need to know where her parents were, what had happened to them, where they had gone, why her uncle had left her abandoned in a basket at Beggar's end.
    xxx"Nubia, aren't you glad that I've found you? Aren't you happy that we can now be together?" He took a step forward, and she took one back, the hairs of suspicion beginning to rise again. Something changed in his eyes, and she didn't like it.
    xxx"Where are my parents? What happened to them?" Now she was beginning to sound scared. Her voice was rising, and her heartbeat sped up with dread. Her uncle's face instantly fouled, and she took another step back, afraid of what he might do.
    xxx"You had to ask, didn't you? They're dead Nubia, they're dead." His voice was a growl now, and she didn't know what had changed, what had prompted such a thing, but above that, she didn't know what to feel from his words. Her parents were dead? They were dead?
    xxx"What?" She began to quiver, as did her voice. She hated how weak she sounded, so small and scared, but oh god, her parents. Her parents were gone. Nubia nearly choked on a sudden sob that took over.
    xxx"I said they're dead. We were attacked, and I had to get you to safety." They were what? He, he what?
    xxx"Why didn't you try and save them?" Why had he let her parents die?
    xxx"I couldn't, they were attacked, and I saw the swords and ran with you." He seemed to be back pedaling now, desperately trying to wrack his mind on how to fix this.
    xxx"And you did nothing to help them? You just took me and ran and left them there to be killed?" Nubia cried, not caring who heard her shout.
    xxx"I had no other choice!" He bit back, defending his side.
    xxx"Yes you did! You coward! You could have tried to save them, but you just ran! My life has been a hell because you didn't try, because you left them to die!" She wanted to scream at him, to yell at the top of her lungs, but she kept her words to a growl, a hate filled growl. He didn't care for her parents, she could see that plainly. He only wanted to save his own skin, and took her because he thought he'd earn her pity, or buy into his schemes. How could he have done this? She bared her teeth in a snarl, and stepped away.
    xxx"Nubia, come here, calm down. Your parents may be gone, but I'm here, we can start being a family together!"
    xxx"No, stay away from me! You monster!" By now tears were streaming down her face, rolling over her fur, and falling onto the sandy ground. Her uncle tried to step closer again, but before he could touch her, before the man who let her parents die could come any closer, she pulled out her smallest dagger, and pressed it swiftly to his neck.
    xxx"I said stay away!"
    xxx"Nubia-"
    xxx"No, don't you dare talk to me. I should kill you for what you've done, you know that? For all you've done, for not even giving my parents a hope to survive, for killing my chance at a life, at a childhood. You took everything from me, I should kill you!" Her words were forced out through choked tears, her vision too blurry, she could hardly see. All she saw was the pitiful panic in his eyes. He was no different to the rest of her targets, the rest of the despicable monsters that met the very same blade, but could she do it? Could she kill him? He was still her blood, her family, all she knew that there was left, could she really kill him? Could she?

Last edited by 76heart on Mon Oct 15, 2018 12:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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