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| Eating Silver; [P] Rinrae Drrrrromigg | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Wed Feb 20, 2013 6:26 pm (1,299 Views) | |
| Rin | Fri Feb 22, 2013 1:41 am Post #16 |
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The group of werewolves they had rendezvoused with were apparently the same ones from the warehouse fight earlier. They definitely looked worse for wear, especially compared to the other pack. Tensions were understandably high, and most of them did not look thrilled to see Eko standing there with a straggler in tow. The urchin herself seemed to have forgotten about the construct until it was pointed out. She turned to glower at Rin, warning her to stay out of their business. "Oh, were you not leading me out of this neighborhood? I thought I mentioned I wasn't from around here." She smiled charmingly, and despite her words there was no doubt whatsoever that she had known exactly what she was doing. "And I don't mean to be contrary, but I think our business interests might be fairly similar. My name is Rinrae Dromigg, but you can call me Rin." She paused for a moment, taking in the dynamics of the werewolves and trying to assess which was the leader. She finally settled on either the largest male or female and directed her next words at the two of them, blatantly ignoring the rest of them. "The silver didn't work on them, did it? That's why you couldn't do anything." Rin lifted her head slightly, allowing the nearest lamps to light her face underneath the cowl. "I know why, and I plan on doing something about it. Which means that it would probably be best for everyone involved if you didn't pump me full of quarrels." She glanced at Callista pointedly, who was still steadily pointing a crossbow at her midsection. She raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Of course, if you'd like I could leave. Good luck with your gang war." |
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| Lady Eko | Fri Feb 22, 2013 2:31 am Post #17 |
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"She killed several of them by herself and didn't receive a scratch..." Eko thought out loud. Eduardo looked at the two of them and finally ordered all his werewolves to stand down. "Approach and take a seat. Before I have my son carted around the city, we need to talk." Eduardo motioned with a broad hand-paw tipped with stubby but sharp claws. Eko did what she was told, sitting down on the cold stone floor. She avoided the bloody dragmarks on the ground where they had likely moved corpses away. In this position, Eduardo absolutely towered over her. His stature combined with his ragged appearance to be quite an intimidating sight and a completely new side of him that Eko had never seen before. Normally the alpha male of the Silver-Eaters was very clean and composed. The desperation practically radiated off of him now. "Both of the human girls are with us for now. If anyone so much as touches them, I'll rip out your throat. Got it?" The others nodded. With that assertion over with, Eduardo settled down with a tired sigh. Eko thought he suddenly looked old in that moment. "Dromigg Human, this isn't just a gang war. It's a fight for survival. My pack of almost thirty wolves has been effectively reduced to those you see here. Three of my sons are dead. Those former members accepted something into themselves that changed them. They lost their loyalty to me and focused it all around a mere omega, Matvei. Omega is the lowest rank possible in our society, yet they are manipulated into accepting him as alpha. Please tell me why all of these changes have happened, and what you aim to do about it." |
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| Rin | Fri Feb 22, 2013 8:00 pm Post #18 |
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Rin moved forward with Eko, seating herself on a empty crate once she was inside the building. The male werewolf quickly confirmed that he was the leader of the pack by making it clear that the two girls were under his protection. That statement was all it took to settle the matter and he quickly proceeded to discuss the matter at hand. The construct listened to his description of the situation, nodding to herself as he spoke. "There is a rather powerful artifact responsible for this phenomenon. It can grant a strong-willed individual an extraordinary amount of power in a wide variety of ways. I suspect this 'Matvei' you speak of is in possession of this object and has used it to enhance his followers. They'll be stronger and faster and more resilient, plus their apparent immunity to silver... I suspect that the strength he has given his followers is why they accepted him as alpha." She pressed her hands together in her lap, interweaving her fingers and smiling brightly. "I am interested in reclaiming this artifact from Matvei. Removing it from his person should also strip away its effects, and I'm sure your pack will return to its normal hierarchy once his power is taken away. That's why I was at the warehouse earlier; I was tracking him down." She paused, tilting her head to one side and matching Eduardo's gaze. "The only problem is that they seem to know when I get close and take precautions to keep Matvei away. I don't think he was one of the werewolves I fought in the street, and he definitely wasn't part of the group hunting Eko. I possess... a magical method of tracking that he has somehow managed to obscure." A note of frustration crept into her voice at the admission. Rin didn't like obstacles when she was collecting the pages and it was irritating to be stymied by what was essentially the runt of the litter. "If you help me get to Matvei, I'm willing to eliminate the threat he poses to your pack." Her blue eyes flickered aside, resting on the still form of the wounded werewolf behind them. Her expression softened somewhat. "I'm also willing to mend the most severe of your son's wounds. I can stabilize his condition so that he'll heal faster overall." With that she lapsed into silence, waiting for the werewolf's response to her offer. |
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| Lady Eko | Fri Feb 22, 2013 11:45 pm Post #19 |
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"Which brings me to my next point," Eduardo said, looking to Eko. "You should understand the kind of position I'm in. Under no other circumstances would I place the life of my son in the hands of an outsider." He spoke those words with marked disdain. "But we've reached a point where there's no other choice, and you are the only one I can trust with this. All others in Balefire are attached to too many strings. Too many confusing allegiances and hidden loyalties or debts. You work for yourself. Therefore, after Dromigg has stabilized Jachin's condition, you will take him to the Western Quarter and hide him." "I accept. What will you do after that? You can't stay here." "We still have some loose ends to tie up, things to gather for the coming fight. Then we'll scatter. We can hide for a moment, but only to lick our wounds." Eduardo stood up and reached into his ripped suit jacket, procuring a scrap of paper with an address written on it. He handed it to Rin. "That place should be good to start tracking down Matvei. It's in the market district of the city, belonging to an old friend of mine. He moonlights as an information broker. A little eccentric, but a good man, provided neither of you are on Lord Kromkowski's bad side. He might know something, or know someone who knows something. You know how it is." Eko pushed herself up onto her feet. "I'd ask you all check into Mohdu's Inn and Tavern in the Western Quarter once you're done with your business. How long will it take?" "Not long. Perhaps a cycle or two. Mostly collecting our assets -- and if our old stockpiles aren't safe, we won't risk it." "We'll come looking for you if you're still gone by then." Eduardo nodded. "Appreciated. Prioritize getting Jachin to safety, then worry about my friend. Dromigg Human, can you heal Jachin to the point that he could walk on his own, or should I have Simon tag along to carry him?" |
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| Rin | Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:18 pm Post #20 |
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"Good question. Let's find out." Rin rose and walked over to the prostrate werewolf, who was clearly unconscious. She didn't bother trying to assess his condition based on sight alone. The construct had no medical training to speak of and wouldn't have known where to start if she was dependent on traditional treatment methods. She knelt down next to the injured youth, gently resting a hand on his chest and closing her eyes. The injuries that were muddying his presence were extensive and undoubtedly painful. If the knot on Eko's forehead was like a scuff mark, then the beating he had suffered had left tears and holes in his personal signature. At least three ribs were broken. Two of the breaks were clean, but the last had splintered the bones into slivers that could lacerate internal organs. One femur was snapped as well, and there was a multitude of lacerations and bruises covering his frame. "I can... but he'll struggle. Please hold him down so he doesn't try to rip my throat out." She waited until two of the werewolves complied before proceeding, her brow knitted in concentration. She very carefully spread her own presence into that of Jachin, focusing on the points damaged by his injuries. Unfortunately, unlike normal healing magic the process was not painless, forcing him to relive the pain of receiving each injury. Jachin's eyes snapped open as his ribs snapped back into place, hissing and snapping at the girl. Without opening her eyes Rin grabbed his snout in her left hand, clamping it closed so he couldn't bite her. Next she mended the damage his fragmented bones had done to his spleen and liver, then ushered the femur back into place. The entire process took almost ten minutes of silent concentration, and when she was done her shoulders slumped slightly. "I left his bruises and cuts... They aren't life-threatening and should heal fast enough. He'll be very hungry, but he can walk." Rin stood up, swaying slightly as she did so. It was incredibly difficult to alter the signature of a mortal being on such a level, especially a virtual stranger. The fact that she could do it at all was indicative of how much her powers had grown since her separation from the Grimoire. She took the piece of paper from Eduardo, memorizing the address before crumpling it up and shoving it into her satchel. |
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| Lady Eko | Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:27 pm Post #21 |
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As it was, Callista had to hold Eduardo back to keep him from attacking Rin, thinking the girl was killing him. He didn't stop until he realized she was making his bones realign and come back together, not doing him any lasting harm beyond the pain. By the end of it, Jachin was far more aware of his surroundings and was even making a few pained groans. When he got to his feet, Eduardo tightly embraced the small werewolf. "Go with the outsiders and do what they tell you to." "But--" "No arguing! This is for your own good." He withdrew, giving the kid a pat on the back. "Stay strong, Jachin." Callista did the same, saying her goodbyes before everyone split off in their own directions. Eko led the way with Rin and Jachin, heading north. They walked through a blown-out city block before coming out of that war-torn patch and into more settled districts of the Southern Quarter. Eko kept always alert, one hand in her pocket wrapped around the hilt of her hidden knife. She also urged Rin to keep a look out for trouble. Escorting the pup somewhere safe would be about a half-hour's walk. "You said you were unfamiliar with the city, Rinrae. Well, what we're walking on right now is Whitetooth Street. We're in the Southern Quarter, which some people also call the south side. We'll cut up north into the central market districts first, then swing around to our destination." "Where are you taking me?" Jachin asked. He was in human form now, to blend in. Looked like any other destitute kid. The only way really to guess if someone was a werewolf was to look and see if their eyes looked just a little bit strange, and even then that wasn't the most accurate indicator in the world. "Somewhere safe. You'll probably complain." "I'm not just some brat you can boss around, you know. I'm twelve years old." His tone made his age sound like an achievement, and it probably was, to be honest. When Eko didn't answer, he grumbled. "I won't complain." They cut through a poor neighborhood. An old man sat on a scratched-up porch rocking chair, only bothering to give them a passing look. Some little kids playing on the side of the road stopped to watch the strange trio walk by with unabashed curiosity. When Eko heard some screaming tomcats in a bordering alleyway, she made a shrill whistle with her fingers and lips. A big, bulky shadow split off from the site of the cats and came running. Once it hit the lantern-light, it revealed itself to be more than a shadow: it was a tremendous dog with long, shaggy blue-black hair, coming at them with so much enthusiasm it could barely contain. It jumped up on its hind legs and put its paws on Eko's shoulders, weighing her down so hard she fell to her knees; she hugged it as it licked her face. After greeting her, the dog bounded up to Rin and Jachin, brushy tail wagging as fast as it could go. There was some blood on the animal's lips and teeth, possibly from what had caused the cats to shriek earlier, but it was friendly enough. "Ansha, stay alert for enemies," Eko gently told the dog as it took its place next to her. They continued through the Southern Quarter for a time. With the addition of a dog that was bigger than Eko herself, they were certain to proceed without trouble from locals -- though she guessed they wouldn't have gotten trouble anyway. Many of the poorest neighborhoods in Balefire got a bad reputation for being dens of violence and iniquity, but the vast majority of these people were like any other Balefiren and just wanted to keep to themselves. As the roofs got taller, the dark outline of the market districts came into view in the sky, highlighted by countless lanterns. The time tower at the center of the city burned a clock into the sky. Eko estimated the hour was about 1300, and turned to Rin. "I can meet you at the address if you tell me where it is -- and if you can find it by yourself. Otherwise, you can come with me to drop him off."
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| Rin | Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:51 pm Post #22 |
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Rin followed Eko and Jachin as they started out into the city streets, still feeling slightly dazed from the healing process. Her close proximity to the young werewolf meant she kept catching flashes of his awareness and senses, and his augmented sense of smell especially proved unsettling. She didn't talk for the first several blocks of the walk, focusing on clamping down on those irregularities and making sure she wouldn't be compromised by the healing. She didn't like to manipulate the reality of other beings for precisely this reason. The construct also kept her eyes peeled for any sign of aggressors or pursuit, and although their party received plenty of attention from other passersby, none of them seemed to have hostile intentions. She absorbed the information that the waif offered about the city without comment, filing it away within her eidetic memory. She was actually far more comfortable with the extensive sewer systems underneath the City of Lanterns than the twists and turns of its streets and welcomed any extra knowledge that could be gleaned from the trip. Rin's face flickered into a smile when the werewolf offered his "advanced" age as a sign of his maturity, choosing to not divulge the fact that she was less than two years old herself. Neither Eko nor the lycanthrope would believe her, in any case, and the explanation for her appearance given her age was far too complicated to get into. She was far more interested when the urchin's canine companion made an appearance, her eyes lighting up. Rin was a fan of animals in general and was slightly upset that she lacked a pet of her own... So long as you didn't count the mechanical cheetah she could call upon if the situation demanded it. Eventually Eko asked for the address of the informant that Eduardo had suggested. Rin rattled it off without hesitation. She didn't exactly trust the girl, especially if her own life was put in danger once more, but she doubted the urchin would be willing to compromised her relationship with the pack of werewolves. "I could probably find it myself, but I would prefer staying with you two. If Matvei or any of his followers are on our trail I don't want to leave you unprotected." She made sure to speak with no trace of irony or pride in an attempt to avoid offending the two Balefire youths. They were undoubtedly capable in their own right, but she didn't think they would stand a chance against the augmented lycanthropes. "Plus, the last time I wandered around Balefire someone tried to pick my pocket. The nerve of some people." |
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| Lady Eko | Tue Feb 26, 2013 8:46 pm Post #23 |
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Eko nodded an affirmation. Even though she liked to think she could handle herself, it definitely gave her more peace of mind knowing that Rinrae was around. There was a difference between confidence and the illusion of invincibility. The latter killed a lot of kids, but Eko promised herself she wouldn't be one of those. They went through some of the higher-end market districts near the center of the city, but only skirted the surface before they turned off onto Bane Street. This wider-than-usual "highway" took them to what was known as the Western Quarter. Unlike the Southern Quarter, the architecture of this section of the city was a little aged. Human and dark elf styles intermingled; the buildings were patchwork at times as materials weren't always consistent. Eko almost seemed to blend into the roughshod background, so closely did she match its feel. The Western Quarter generally had a more stable economy than the Southern, and was thus "less poor" -- however, it was an unavoidable certainty that the whole of Balefire was underprivileged (relative to denizens of other cities that held the same status, it was sometimes debated) except for a top few, no matter the neighborhood. They turned onto an unpaved side-street and saw a pair of fat ravens fighting over what was left of a small animal. Ansha chased them away, her tail wagging, but left the bones alone. The dirt road was dry, but bumpy from the footprints it received when it was last wet. One of the buildings lined on the side of the street had a stone stilt on one corner to keep it level, with stairs leading up to a wooden landing. The sign dangling outside said "The Feisty Mare: Western Quarter Dining and Entertainment" in faded paint. The word "Dining" was crossed out. Eko stepped up and knocked on the door. She was already rummaging through her pockets and by the time the door opened, Eko was holding a coinpurse in her hand. The woman who answered the door was an elf, her braided blonde hair falling in front of her shoulders. She looked young, but it was impossible to tell how old she really was thanks to her species. "Oh, wow, is that you, Eko? You've gotten so big!" She heard snickering from within the building, and Eko didn't discernibly react to the light joking. "Good night, miss Finwa. I have something I wish to ask of you," she said in her best polite voice. "Can we come in?" With a simple "Of course!", the gang entered the hazy interior of the building. Jachin immediately looked uncomfortable, and for good reason. The size of a large shop, the Feisty Mare made no attempt to hide the fact it was a brothel. Lanterns were dimmed, dust particles suspended in rays of light, and there was a lingering smell of mold just faintly annoying her senses. Eko declined a seat on one of their old padded couches. Several of the girls cheerfully greeted Eko, a few bold enough to hug her, but most of them stuck around to introduce themselves to Rin. Miss Finwa voiced what probably all of them were thinking: "What's your name, dear? Man, if a girl like you joined this place we'd all be moving into mansions in the Northern Quarter by the end of the month." "And he's so cute!" others added, smiling at Jachin. Eko took these distractions in stride. "This boy is very important. I need a safe place where no one will look for him. Can you keep him here for a few days? The money should cover his meals, too." She handed Finwa the coinpurse. The elf opened it, sifting her fingers through the heavy fake-silver coins. "You're all business," Finwa laughed. "No room to catch up at all. Fine, we'll take him. Not like anyone comes here looking for men, anyway." She bowed her head. "Thank you. I'm sorry we can't stay and chat, but we have to get going." Finwa shrugged. "I know how it is, dear. Don't get killed out there. And if your friend ever needs some extra income, we'd be glad to have her." "Ah, you shouldn't say those things. They're demeaning," Eko added as an afterthought. "My apologies. It's true, though! No offense intended." Finwa smiled sheepishly, waving as they left. |
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| Rin | Mon Mar 4, 2013 3:59 pm Post #24 |
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Rin's head swiveled back and forth constantly as they worked their way deep into the Western District, her blue eyes drinking in the sights of the city like a tourist. She didn't seem bothered by the general squalor and destitute nature of their surroundings, nor was she intimidated by the rough nature of Balefire's citizens. Her blue eyes were always moving, searching out threats and making sure no one was paying untoward attention to the trio. Eko eventually led them to a cramped structure with a wooden landing that almost looked like a strong wind would blow the supportive stilt away and send it crashing into the street. She hopped up the stairs two at a time, tilting her head to one side and blinking as she took in the corrected name of the establishment. Once inside, it was plain to see that there was no food available. In fact, she had no idea how the place could stay in business with so many female waitresses. Wait... They must be entertainers? Like, singers? Rin was still working through the puzzle when the crowd of women descended on her. The construct introduced herself and received a dozen names in return from just as many directions. Unsure of who was who in the crowd she simply smiled and stayed silent, allowing the women to crowd around her and accepting their compliments with gracious nods. "Oh, I couldn't get a mansion! I can't sing at all!" This comment elicited a surge of giggles from the crowd, but before anyone could explain the joke they were on their way again. Eko seemed to think that Rin should be offended by the owner's offer of a job, but the girl couldn't think of why. So far as she knew, entertainers weren't disreputable in Balefire. She considered asking the urchin for more information but decided against it. "So, how did you get drawn into this mess, Eko? You're clearly not a member of the pack." It wasn't the most subtle transition, but now that Jachin was gone she felt comfortable discussing the politics of the situation. The young werewolf would clearly provide a heavily biased opinion, but the waif might be more objective. |
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| Lady Eko | Tue Mar 5, 2013 3:49 pm Post #25 |
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Eko kept walking, the tight coil of her whip slapping against the small of her back with each step. She took a moment to consider the breadth of her answer, deciding that it wouldn't hurt to provide a coherent narrative. "I was meeting with the alpha male of the Silver-Eaters, Eduardo Gouveia, to talk about moving his pack to the Western Quarter. Normally that kind of thing would be uncalled for, but I was... strategic about it. Silver-Eaters was losing ground even before all this happened, and I knew Eduardo wanted the violence to stop. But the separatists knew about the meeting, so you can probably guess how they felt about fleeing the South." She absentmindedly rubbed her forehead where she'd been struck, still surprised that she got out of that alive. Eduardo really must have thought of her as his pack's key out of the Southern Quarter if he went through all that trouble transporting her unconscious body to their safehouse when it would have been so much easier to let her die. Normally she would have asked the same question of Rin as part of their slightly awkward conversation, but Eko already knew why the foreigner girl was here. She needed something powerful that Matvei was using in his coup. It was nice to have someone powerful dragged into a mutually beneficial enterprise; it severely reduced the likelihood of a dangerous betrayal. Eko remained silent after her answer, leading the way through the streets toward the central market districts of the city. All the Quarters had their own markets and businesses, but their selection was limited and they were often pushed around by weaker gang leaders, Lords, and upstarts. Everyone knew that to get anything good, you needed to go to the center of Balefire, where prosperous businesses were fiercely protected by some of the strongest, meanest Lords of Balefire -- or even independents. Eko asked Rin to repeat the address once they got closer. "Keep your hands on your weapons when we go in. Kromkowski is known as the Mad Lord, and his followers are unpredictable." She didn't bother to explain why she would know so much about the different Lords despite looking like an urchin. They crossed onto Seventh Street and quickly located the number of the address. Eko wasn't actually sure what this building was for -- all it said on the sign was "Spillium's Emporium" -- but it smelled like smoke. As she passed the sign, Eko tapped a fist-sized design painted near the corner. It depicted a red, purple and black eye, and crammed within the iris of that eye were a bunch of smaller eyes. "Pay attention to these symbols. They can mean life or death if you make enemies. This is Kromkowski's." They entered. Entering revealed that Spillium's Emporium sold magical trinkets. Just shelves and shelves full of seemingly arcane crap. Lots of it glowed, it was all flashy, but Eko kind of doubted it all was really magical. They passed a big pointed hat marked as "Magical Wizard's Hat - Grants All Wishes - 500 gold" alongside cages of familiars such as pigeons, owls, toads, and rats. Eko approached the main desk and asked for-- "--Ah, welcome! You're looking for me, Lucian Spillium!" The man at the front, seemingly standing there for the sole purpose of waiting for them to approach, was a tall, thin young human-looking man with nearly white hair cropped short. His dark brown eyes didn't just feel intense, they felt like they were cutting into her. "...Yes." Realizing their information broker was a psychic, she focused on thinking about the job instead of how much she hated dealing with the Mad Lord's lackeys. "And you're Eduardo's friend! Wow, a Page? I'm suddenly wondering if I should get involved. That's heavy stuff. You know what happens to people who mess with the Grand Grimoire? Rinrae Dromigg kills them dead. And that's why My Lord and I don't deal with Pages anymore. Come with me to the back rooms! I need to be convinced to help." Spillium spoke rapidly, like he wasn't even thinking about what he was saying before he said it. He pushed aside a curtain of beads hung over a back entryway, leading the two of them into a lounge-type area with a couple card tables on it. Less than a handful of people were there: Kromkowskian thugs with arcane sigils etched into their backs and cheeks. "Do you enjoy gambling? Oh, you've gambled recently, little one? Cheating isn't gambling, silly, that's just clever extortion." Eko got a headache. Every time he asked a question, she couldn't help but think about matters related to it, which he would immediately pick up on and comment, worsening the cycle. "Oh fine, I'll shut up. Clean little one and dirty little one, what's your favorite game in the whole wide world? I can gamble my services for it."
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| Rin | Tue Mar 5, 2013 4:48 pm Post #26 |
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The warning about keeping her weapons close at hand wasn’t necessary; Rin might appear unarmed, but there was never a time when she couldn’t summon a blade or spear to defend herself. She entered the shop behind Eko, nodding when she was told about the small symbol that represented this so-called ‘Mad Lord.’ The construct had a basic understanding of politics in Balefire. It was a primarily adhocratic government, ruled over by a supposedly immortal werewolf and council of corrupt nobles. As a Lord of Balefire, Kromkowski undoubtedly possessed a huge amount of influence in the city. Rin doubted that anyone was willing to call him ‘Mad’ to his face… at least not if they wanted to live. The interior of the shop was quite interesting, full of objects that gleamed with arcane power. Rin focused for a moment, reaching out to feel if they disturbed reality in the tell-tale manner that indicated an actual enchantment. Although the vast majority of the purchasable items seemed to be relatively worthless, there were several that were actually quite powerful. Her eyes flickered back and forth among these items, noting that they were actually the least gaudy of the collection. A simple rock on a shelf reverberated with power, while a cracked walking stick stuck in a bin with a variety of flamboyant staves was the strongest focus by far. It seemed like Spillium mainly provided goods to amateurs, but still serviced some magically-inclined individuals. The owner of the shop was not what she had expected at all. His brown eyes met Rin’s for a moment and she gasped at the intensity there. There was some manner of magic at work in the thin, unassuming man. It didn’t take very long for her to realize that he was a psychic. The construct immediately clamped down on her thoughts, It wasn’t a foolproof method, but it should keep Spillium from gleaning any dangerous information from her thoughts. She could have entered a martial trance to further obscure her mind, but she tried to avoid such an emotional state when it wasn't absolutely necessary. Psychics were preferable to precogs, but dealing with either gave Riun a headache... The best method she had found of circumventing their powers gave her a splitting headache. Her caution was soon proved founded when he picked knowledge of the page out of their minds, revealing not only that he was familiar with the artifacts but knew her by name (if not by sight). Rin carefully kept herself from reacting in the least, mentally reciting a ballad from a different realm to try and keep her thoughts secret. My first thought was, he lied in every word, “Oh, any game?” That hoary cripple, with malicious eye “How about Five Finger Fillet?” Spillium turned to look at her, and once again she was caught by the sheer intensity of his gaze. She had met other individuals with such a stare before, mainly powerful practitioners of the arcane arts. Julian Cross was one such person, and the High Sage’s abilities were truly powerful. Could Spillium be operating on that level? Askance to watch the working of his lie. Despite her best efforts, mentioning the game made her think of the last time she had played Five Finger Fillet. On mine, and mouth scarce able to afford. It was a simple challenge of stabbing a knife between your spread fingers as fast as possible. Rin didn’t like to brag, but she could only think of one person in Imythess that might match her proficiency for the game of skill and daring. Suppression of the glee that pursed and scored. She doubted that Spillium would be willing to face her in such a manner, but it was probably their easiest way of gathering the information. She didn’t want to hink how difficult it might be to beat him at a game that required any sort of bluffing… This poem might be longwinded, but it would end eventually. Its edge, at one more victim gained thereby. |
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| Lady Eko | Tue Mar 5, 2013 5:16 pm Post #27 |
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Spillium, blank for a moment, broke into an inappropriate amount of laughter all of a sudden. "What an excellent choice! I love Five Finger Fillet! Oh, I forgot to mention that both of you need to choose different games. Go ahead, native little one, make up your mind." Eko struggled to come up with a game. She knew what he was trying to do -- get them into a game where he could win without effort -- but why? She already said they were friends of Eduardo's, and surely Spillium would have picked up on how critically his help was needed. Was he just toying with them for his own amusement? It was impossible to truly tell. "Kids these days really just need to calm down," he said out of the blue, patting Eko hard on the back and then leaning on her shoulder by his arm and elbow, his weight pressing her down. "Girl, you're the worst case I've seen in a long time. Your face is blank, but your mind just pours out everything. You have to work on that mental discipline, girl -- or the instant someone finds you enough of a threat to attack your mind, all your plans will fall apart." Those were most certainly not just surface thoughts he was hinting at. Eko pushed the Kromkowskian away, suddenly angry and afraid, though once again her face was stoic as ever -- for all the good that was doing here. "I'll play Back and Forth. Go cut your fingers off first." It was a card game based entirely around random chance, which was better than trying her luck with something like poker or Backstab. This is a complete waste of time, she grumbled in her head. Spillium made a tut tut sound. "So angry," he mumbled, before sitting down at one of the tables with Rin. "We'll one-up each other in speed. First to stab their own hand loses. If you win, you get information. Okay?" |
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| Rin | Wed Mar 6, 2013 1:14 am Post #28 |
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Rin kept herself from grimacing when the psychic revealed each of them would need to win a game to receive all of the necessary information. She wasn't sure how EKo would do under pressure... in fact, the urchin already seemed like she was having difficulty adjusting to Spillium's abilities. What else should he be set for, with his staff? The construct wasn't even sure what Back and Forth was, much less how one won...but hopefully the waif could stay ahead of the mind-reader. What, save to waylay with his lies, ensnare. "Me first, alright?" Rin put one hand underneath her cloak, summoning Carnwennan to her grip before withdrawing it once more. The dagger was a matte, lusterless black with an ivory hilt. All travelers who might find him posted there. She spun the blade nimbly before flattening her left hand against one of the card tables, spreading her fingers wide on its surface and reversing her grip on the knife. And ask the road? I guessed what skull-like laugh. Due to her split focus, she didn't feel up to starting Five Finger Fillet at top speed. Instead she stabbed the knife down at a merely improbably pace, the tip neatly gouging chunks out of the table precisely between each digit. Spillium didn't seem put-off by her opening round, merely chuckling and receiving a knife from one of the others in the back room. Would break, what crutch 'gin write my epitaph. Without looking away from her the information broker raised and lowered the knife at a slightly faster pace with ease, his lips quirked upwards in a small smirk. "Now you, clean little one... you're quite the mystery. You seem rather determined despite your age." Rin smiled back at him, spinning Carnwennan and continuing her silent recital of the poem. For pastime in the dusty thoroughfare. She didn't bother to respond, instead stabbing down with the knife while meeting his intent gaze. She could play Five Finger Fillet and recount the ballad but not exchange witty dialogue at the same time. They continued to go back and forth, stabbing down with their knives faster and faster. If at his counsel I should turn aside. Spillium might not look like much, but he was clearly no stranger to this particular contest of skill. Plus, they were starting to get to speeds that were almost too fast to track with the naked eye. Into that ominous tract which, all agree. Rin pursed her lips, unwilling to abandon her mental defenses but knowing that if she did not, she wouldn't be able to keep up this pace. Spillium seemed aware of this and was watching her with a predatory grin, holding his own knife loosely. The construct sighed and sank the dagger into the table, running her right hand through her hair and mumbling softly to herself. "Hides the Dark Tower. Yet acquiescingly / I did turn as he pointed: neither pride / Nor hope rekindling at the end descried, / So much as gladness that some end might be." With that stanza complete she snatched up the blade, abandoning the poem and narrowing her fingers. Instead of having plenty of space to stab down the dagger, she now barely had enough room for the blade's width between each finger. Rin smiled lazily as she plunged the dagger down repeatedly, her arm moving so quickly it was almost a blur. The sound of the knife striking the table beat out such a fast rhythm that it seemed like a constant noise. She flashed a wide grin at Spillium, leaving the knife sticking out of the table between her thumb and pointer finger. "I think we skipped the introductions. You should call me Rin! Your turn." |
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| Lady Eko | Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:36 pm Post #29 |
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Spillium laughed again, but something about it was different in a way Eko couldn't pinpoint. "Splendid, Rin!" Eko was equally impressed. This girl was... she didn't even know. 'Different' was probably an understatement. Spillium noticed Eko's thought and grinned at her before taking up his own knife. He placed his fingers as close together as Rin's were, lifted his fingers, and stabbed. Fast. Actually, he held on for quite a while. The man had good control of a knife. But almost halfway through the round, the rhythmic noises of the knife hitting wood stopped. The thugs in the room surrounded the table as Spillium watched blood pool beneath his hand. He had skinned the flesh off one side of his middle finger, but the look on the psychic's face seemed more like he was facing a mild annoyance than self-mutilation. "You win! Oh, quit the aggression, you people." The thugs backed off. He beckoned Eko to replace Rin in her seat at the table. As if abiding Spillium's unspoken whims, one of the Kromkowskians pulled a fresh deck of cards from the nearby shelves and tossed it at her. She caught it with one hand and broke it open, then worked on shuffling the cards in her typical elaborate manner. Spillium. Eduardo is in danger. Why are you wasting our time and yours? Eko thought. "Quit that. When you think about thinking coherent sentences, it just makes an annoying echo." "Then listening to people speak must be awful. Answer my question." "I'm bored, and Eduardo can hang on for a few minutes longer. If it was more urgent, you would have gone through with those inkling thoughts about beating the information out of me." Eko flourished the deck one final time, stacked it on the gouged table, cut it twice, and then gave Spillium one of the halves. What followed was quite possibly one of the most boring and no-brainer card games in existence. The psychic grumbled, irritated by Eko's angry thoughts and the lack of excitement in the game. "While we're here, I might as well make some conversation with the more interesting of the two little ones. Rin, I heard there was someone else going around and collecting the Pages. Know anything about that?" "Don't answer. Information is a product to be sold," Eko interjected casually, eyes half-lidded and focused on her cards which she rhythmically laid down on the pile at the center of the table. |
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| Rin | Thu Mar 14, 2013 3:24 am Post #30 |
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Rin was actually quite worried when Spillium started his round of Five Finger Fillet, demonstrating a level of skill near her own. He couldn't quite keep up the pace, but it was a remarkable achievement for a normal human being. She grinned wolfishly as blood trickled from the cut on his finger, pooling on the table. The psychic didn't seem very put-out by his loss, immediately starting the next game with Eko. He didn't even take the time to bandage the cut, leaving smears of blood on the back of several of the cards. Rin was worried about one or both of the players using the marks to cheat and predict cars, but quickly realized her worries weren't founded. Back and Forth was apparently a game so simplistic that a toddler could play it. There was absolutely no skill involved; each round came down to pure chance. Spillium apparently didn't feel like talking with Eko and soon turned his attention back to the construct, seeming bored with the game. Rin couldn't blame him, but she had to admit that her companion had thought quickly and picked a remarkably apt game for the situation. Being a psychic didn't give her opponent any advantages whatsoever. When he asked about another person collecting pages her smile froze for an instant, her friendliness disappearing in a flash. She recovered quickly, but it was clear there was some truth to Spillium's inquiry. "It's okay, Eko... I'm sure he can make it worth my while." She pushed her fingertips together, staring at Spillium seriously. "Anyways, this is a warning I give to everyone... free of charge. The pages are far more dangerous to possess now than ever before. I am not sure how you or Kromkowski are even aware of their existence... but I suggest your future operations do not involve the Grimoire even tangentially. I am not the most dangerous person after them." She carefully kept her thoughts from straying too far, unwilling to share any information about the replacement the tome had made for her. "Whattaya say, Spill? Do I get any store credit for that?" |
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8:19 AM Jul 11

