• PM To Join • A Tale of Two Jewels, The Chase [Part 2]

[Kaladis Anar]

A Tale of Two Jewels, The Chase [Part 2]

1st of Ashan
Western Nashaki, exiting the Atrium musical society at a run.
Very Early Morning, Cold and Dark.
The Scrolls of Anar Verse One, The Jewel, #12 The Chase.
Continued From Here

I

nside the atrium they headed, the back door was the obvious way out and the Qi'ora female with them led them there, opening it and then pulling them away from the door. "This way," she took them to a window, opened the shutters and let them jump out. "That will give you a headstart." Laventia's men shouted from the Atrium's center, making their way through the crowd at her beckoning, they were almost to the room. Kaladis decided she was right, beside's which Ralari was already outside the window! By this point he didn't put it past the Maker's that this helpful woman was a plant to lead them, and so he was wary when he vaulted into the alleyway. Vault he did, if only to avoid being shot with a crossbow, landing into one of Nashaki's dusty sidestreets beside his friend.

They'd lost the three pursuers easily enough, because they had headed out the backdoor in the other direction. Were they clear? No. Two more black clad figures rounded the alleyway ahead of them, they were trapped! "Come on Anar," Ralari jumped up onto a ledge, and boosted by Kaladis, heaved himself over wall. Kaladis followed, up and over with the help of Ralari hoisting him up. They hit the ground still running, walking through some clothes that had been left out to dry, hopefully for Ashan's rising light to hit them later today.

"I tire greatly of running Ralari." Kaladis remarked, always pushed around between other people’s plots and plans, it was hard to know exactly what was real anymore. His pride was telling him to stand and fight.

"So you've said," Ralari remarked, not slowing down for a second. They hit another wall and up and over Ralari went, boosted by Kaladis, who then got helped up by a hand the same way. They weren’t great runners, but working together so well as they did, gave them a small edge. Hitting sand into another house’s garden, a bolt flew forward striking the wall behind him. The only good thing Kaladis could think about crossbows was, they were slow to reload, and that was very difficult to do while moving.

“Pick a spot and we deal with this,” Kaladis demanded now.

“5 on 2, are you mad?” Ralari spoke between heaves of breath. They were both tiring, their endurance tested. This third wall had led them to an older crumbling house with three graves in the backyard.

“Here,” Kaladis said loudly. “Vhalar I swear to you it is needed. My oath to you is still in my heart.” One day, one day soon he would not need to do this. He had begun imagining constructs of metal, servants of stone, and clay. That day was not here yet, today he was forced to defile the graves of the dead. Ralari didn’t have the same qualms and had already raised two of the thralls out of the earth, their hands piercing upward. Kaladis could have left the third for Ralari as well, but no, he was done running from these Ktarga, the Eidisi spat. Beginning a song fit for bone and service, the third grave stirred and a skeletal hand rose through the earth. His first human thrall since the day he swore to Vhalar. The ether pooled into his voice and spoke command to rise and fight beside him, or more correctly, in front of him.

“Let them come,” Kaladis sang louder, they could shoot as many bolts as they wanted into his thrall for all he cared, drawing his sword and making his shield ready. Thankfully it was a private garden, in freezing midnight temperatures, but this is the first time they’d been so open about their necromancy all the same, it was a risk. A risk he diminished by standing in front of Ralari, shield out ready, the three dead in front of him gave him too a shield of bone, making their way in the darkness toward the wall.

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~

[Kaladis Anar]

S

ure enough the two closest on their heels jumped over the stone wall into the backyard, to their credit they didn’t flee, not that they could with how close the thralls were to them. A crossbow was fired again, straight into the front thrall, which carried on forward regardless. One of the men in black made a good strike with his sword, these were not marrow, just regular thralls and he almost cut it down. Almost wasn’t good enough. Their screams and struggles to follow would soon draw attention if the shambling undead and singing hadn’t already.

Ralari heard the crash from inside the house before Kaladis did, the others were headed their way, “come on.” Up and over the next wall the two went, Kaladis thought about doubling back, but had a suspicion they’d be less than welcome at the atrium about now. After the two attackers lay dead, the thralls were ordered to rebury themselves, hopefully they’d look like disturbed graves in the morning.

Sure they had been spotted, hearing Laventia’s voice, they gave it everything they had to get clear. Well Ralari did, Kaladis just wanted an advantage, any advantage to end her. For the two living Eidisi their endurance was being tested the further they went, Ralari visibly holding his side and out of breath. Trying three doors randomly, Kaladis found one open, which was a good thing as a screeching fire ball headed their way, sent by you know who.

“In here,” Kaladis shoved open a door to an indoor marketplace, it was very early morning so he doubted they’d be welcoming, the door was open however, and that was good enough. Dark inside and out, the sun yet to make an impression on the sky, inside lay deserted stalls, clay pots, sand sculptures, fabrics, and cooking oil…

A dark grin formed across Anar’s features, she wanted fire, then by Audrae she would have her fire. He threw pot after pot into the entrance way, soaking the walls, the door and the nearest two stalls till they were dripping in flammable liquid and fat. “I assume you need me again?” Ralari said, readying his magic’s to set the oil alight. “No,” Kaladis shook his head, taking a small flint and steel lighter from a nearby stall, and standing to the side of the doorway. “I will handle this,” he lit a small roll of fabric, rolling it around a hand tool.

It was a turning point for Kaladis. So far he’d been happy to keep his head down, to stay out of trouble and stay to the shadows. Idalos had not wanted that for him, so be it. As the three remaining pursuers burst into the marketplace and Laventia started barking, he tired of her voice, throwing the lit fabric down into the center of them. Raising his shield up to protect his own face, the oil began to burn and Ralari used the fire to create a surge of flame, utterly engulfing the three entering.

It wasn’t a pretty sight.

“Never about how fast you run Ralari. Only about choosing your battles.” He assumed to teach his teacher. The screams there would wake others nearby, there was no getting around it. Laventia crawling forward through the flames, Kaladis lowered his shield and looked down at her, “I will end it, tell me who knows about us, and where your research is,” Kaladis walked over her.

He expected a defiant spiteful voice as he was used to from her, but now she was reduced to a whimper, it was saddening in some ways to see a proud woman like this. She whispered a name to him, he nodded, and true to his word ended her life cleanly with a downward stroke. Closing an open chapter of his young life as he did so.

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~

[Kaladis Anar]

W

hen he looked up Ralari was already out the door. Kaladis snatched what he could from Laventia’s belt, finding a steel sword on a corpse also, but they couldn’t linger overlong, it wasn’t a large fire but two stalls were nevertheless burning and five bodies lay prone in this area of the city. Clever use of detective awareness and tactics, rather than outright power or skill had won these skirmishes, opportunistic yes but necessary. His mentor did what he could to dull the fires with moisture but was too busy running to have a great effect. Opportunity was proving to be their greatest weapon, and evasion their defense. Kaladis sliced his weapon downward to finish off another wounded man, mercy rather than malice, and then headed after his mentor, they needed a place to lay low. What he could never know is these three at least, would be recovered before the authorities got here, cleaned up by their own, the two in the backyard might take longer to find however, out the way as they were.

What was almost certain to him, was the repercussions of five dead from this group would be felt. Kaladis knew that, they’d come after them once for one man, what would stop them coming again? “Perhaps it is time to seek a new home.” Ralari said predictably. “No,” Kaladis shook his head, he wasn’t running from this. Technically he was right now as they entered another alleyway, jumping walls in a team effort, to separate themselves from the event in a less obvious direction. What Kaladis meant was, they would deal with this today, he was resolved to do that much.

“Do I dare ask what name she gave you?” Ralari said, having to stop again to catch his breath. Kaladis wasn’t much better off than him, also resting an arm against the wall. “Yanni,” Kaladis replied. Ralari had to stop and pause, but his mind was sharp enough to remember the name, “the dancer?” One of the dancer’s from the festival, Laventia's sister was an obvious choice.

“Yes,” Kaladis continued to move quickly, as did Ralari, settling eventually on a brisk walk. There was a chance Laventia had lied about the name to get the last laugh, but the way she looked so beaten, desperate at the end, he doubted it. Realising not only could their legs not take it anymore, but more importantly walking fast didn’t draw attention, running did, so Kaladis slowed to a fast walk to maintain some stealth. He had to make a decision here, to return to the Makers and ask them where their informant from the festival was, or show them initiative and act on his own. Who would know where the dancers were? The artists at the atrium were out as a source of information, the center of the city was too open in case they ran into their friends again, Bombast at the music shop might know something but it was a stretch.

Who?

Using some intelligent reasoning, the options were his employer at the smithy, seemingly owned by the same group, or where they currently stayed at solace inn, both of which were connected. “I think it's time for a new place to live,” Kaladis nodded, “we’ll find a new inn.” They weren’t moving cities, but they were moving inns, just as soon as they'd made themselves even less welcome to this group than previously.

They were already in too deep to back out now.

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~

[Kaladis Anar]

Solace Inn

O

utside the south gate, Solace Inn was as usual quiet, the name true to its word. White stone glistened in extremely well lit surroundings, candles were numerous allowing nothing to go by unseen. Private booths were above for sheltering its few patrons, a large seating area for dining existed below, with just one bald man dressed in black as always enjoying a big meal. Everyone usually avoided the bald man, the dining area barren of others, except today that is.

“Ralari get our things, I’ll start our little chat.” Approaching the table he was wondering how to best intimidate a man, who seemed to intimidate everyone around him just by sitting there.

“Ah…” Down the stairs Ralari came back, Kaladis looking up and then spinning around on his heel at another noise.

A familiar rough looking Lotharro carrying his mace shoved Ralari down the stairs, following him… then there was Alaya on cue, coming in the other direction again, knife between her teeth, strapping leather bodice on as always. Their appearance was becoming predictable, and tiresome, like the time he’d met them at the smithy, one entered through the front, and one the back to surround him.

It was not the best plan he’d ever had, just walking into the lair of the beast. He’d hoped they’d not been expecting it. To be fair Kaladis had not known just how connected Solace Inn was with this black armored bunch, he’d suspected from what little information he’d picked up of its inhabitants in his stay here, but never known for sure.

“Where is the jewel?” The man at the table asked, dabbing his mouth with a cloth.

Ralari was about to claim ignorance, which was the truth, but Kaladis’s look to him signaled to play the silent game, and let the others reveal their hand first. What they meant by jewel was anyone’s guess.

“We had to pay coin to keep your market antics quiet, now you owe us.” Not even a word about the five dead bodies, they were more concerned about coin, and more interested in information? Perhaps he had misjudged them, and hunting him down had been Laventia’s private project.

“Soon as you have what you want, were no more use to you.” Kaladis held on to their bargain chip, a bargaining chip he didn’t even have, trying to deceive the man ahead of him. The man didn’t actually look at Kaladis, too busy eating his own meal. Kaladis wasn’t sure if that was more or less unnerving, clearly the two professional killers surrounding them were looking at them, which Kaladis used as an excuse to try and detect any weakspots, injuries or gaps in their armor. This time his novice skill came away with little, they both only wore leather armor but seemed in good health, he did note they had no ranged weapons on them.

“My word, give me the information and you’ll stay alive.” The seating man bargained, not exactly the most trustworthy of characters. Besides it was information Kaladis didn’t have to give to begin with, think fast!

~

[Kaladis Anar]

“And Laventia?” Kaladis wanted to be sure, trying to detect any deception on the man’s face. Was he really just going to let that go?

“Laventia is a dead fool who attacked you in the street,” the bald man looked at Kaladis for the first time, which actually made the Eidisi mildly uncomfortable, “why would she matter to me?” The diner went back to eating casually, as if just discussing business at breakfast, as indeed it was. There was a sense that the fact she attacked Kaladis in the street was more important than anything else, but Kaladis couldn’t detect any more from his expression. Kaladis suspected he could still just kill Kaladis and Ralari after he had what he needed, whatever he felt about Laventia's behavior.

By the silence that followed, it was Kaladis who had to speak first. He could lead them into the spirit cave he found on his shadow walk, try and trap them in there, but he had no idea if the spirit was even going to be there, and he doubted crossing this man was the best of plans. No he needed a better idea.

“I need three days to confirm its location, they move it.” Kaladis haggled, that seemed the most logical way of delaying them, hoping he hadn’t made a misstep in assuming it could be moved, whatever this jewel was.

The man drunk a glass of what looked like juice, ate two more mouthfuls of his breakfast and then gave him an answer, “you have two.” Alaya stepped out from behind them, tapping a knife against her cheek, the lotharro moved clear too, resting his hammer across his back, with a malicious looking grin across his face. They were intimidating without even trying, casually so, hired killers both.

As the Eidisi started to happily vacate that room, he heard a reminder, “And Kaladis, we’ll be watching, in case you were thinking about leaving the city.”

Well if they were in deep before…

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~

[Kaladis Anar]

H

eading to their rooms, the door closed behind them, and they lit a candle. “I say we run.” Ralari was barely out of earshot, and already he was pacing. Kaladis sat on the edge of the bed and ran his hands back through his hair, taking a deep breath.

The time seemed to tick down, the pattern of footsteps from down below in the inn could be heard to Ralari, who stopped to see if he could make anything out, ear to the door, thankfully Kaladis’s dull hearing spared him the background noise.

“Just once Ralari I would like to set the pace of this game.”

Finishing off the dregs in the bottom of his wine bottle, Ralari’s lips pressed together. Kaladis was beginning to realise that was when the wine was bad. In fact he was beginning to realise facial expressions well and some hints at what each meant the more he observed people, pressed lips often meant sour.

“This isn’t a game Kaladis. These people mean business, I’ve heard of them.”

“What have you heard.”

“Rumors, whispers and stories, some mumbo jumbo about decrees, assassinations, all we need to know is they are dangerous, the Makers are dangerous and we don’t know what jewel they are talking about.” He put his glass down, running his finger around the remnants of the liquid, trying to get a last taste. “What we do know is…”

Kaladis interrupted, “we know they both must want this jewel, and Laventia must have been connected to it for them to implicate us, did the research mention gemstones?” That was the most obvious answer he could think of right now.

“No, nothing about stones. Where is it, let’s have another look?” Ralari began opening Kaladis’s one wardrobe here, their tiny room which they spent turns sleeping on the bed, didn’t leave many hiding places or privacy. “Didn’t keep it here Ralari,” Kaladis was somewhat surprised his mentor thought he’d be so stupid.

Standing up firmly, he slotted his steel sword one side of his belt, iron longsword the other, two knives, shield on his back and fitted the smallest rucksack over his shoulder, Ralari raised an eyebrow. “Are you preparing to fight a war?” All Ralari had was an iron longsword, which he tucked in his belt reluctantly.

“I’m going to war, and you’re coming to. Time we started making new rules for this game of ours.” With that they descended the stairs, equipped as they were able, ignoring any looks their way. The two pressed open the inn door and made their way to Kaladis’s hiding spot, cleverly placed under a sand barrel behind a small shrub. Fully aware his every move was likely watched at this point, he dug up all the coins he had there, took the research, and cleaned out the hiding spot of anything that remained.

"Let me have another look at that," Ralari laid the sheets of paper and parchment over a barrel, "that's interesting, wait did you see a..."

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~

[Kaladis Anar]

…woman alive in the dungeon?” Ralari finished.

“Laventia’s dungeon she pulled us into?” Kaladis already knew by deduction, there were no other dungeons they'd been in together, not since Viden, but it warranted repeating to be certain, Ralari nodded.

“Everyone was dead” in the dungeon, except the two of them, all Kaladis had seen was bodies when they’d left. The three researchers, the maker who fought beside them and Laventia’s stooge, with Laventia now gone that chapter of their lives was well and truly over.

“We must have missed something,” Ralari adjusted his sword, and grabbed the pieces of paper and parchment, bundling them together for safe keeping.

Kaladis sighed, “we are going back aren’t we,” he already knew by Ralari’s expression. Why had he agreed to get mixed up in this nonsense. “To trapped again between a dead end, a hallway and anyone who follows us in.” Anar was thinking tactically here, if they were going back to the scene of the crime, he wanted to be ready, he just didn’t see how to make the situation any safer.

“Unless you go prepared,” Alaya's voice came from somewhere, startling them both. “Audrae’s blessed,” Kaladis said in shock at the surprise, “madam, you are more silent than a desert snake,” Ralari said with a flourish. Exactly where she was speaking from was a mystery, Kaladis practically checked under the bed, and Ralari methodically checked through the wardrobe, there weren’t a lot of other hiding spots in this small inn room.

Alaya cleared her throat and they looked up. There she was in the roof, a small hatch lifted up to listen to their conversation. “Don’t feel bad, had to be sure you were on the level.” Dropping down between them both, she adjusted her leather bodice, and the many knives which called it home. It seemed Solace Inn had a few surprises of its own yet!

Not sure how to play this latest development, Kaladis took a moment to consider the implications, Alaya likely knew they didn’t know what the jewel was, did her employer downstairs at the dining table also know? If so why the ruse? No he found it doubtful the diner downstairs knew. He rubbed his temples, this was a lot to keep track of.

“What is your interest in the jewel?” Ralari asked curiously.

Alaya gave them a look as if to say, pfft isn’t it obvious, “coin.” Coin Kaladis could work with, not that he had any. “Not like you have a choice,” Alaya remarked coyly, “leave me here and I tell the boss, take me and I take a cut, simple.”

Kaladis's eyes narrowed but behind the leather covering to her mouth he could detect little expression, “simple” Kaladis said, not believing a word of it. Ralari wasn't convinced either but he was already waiting at the door, Alaya joined him. Once more back into the dark.


Fin For Now.
Continued in Part 3 The Value of Life

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~

[Nymph]

REWARDS

KALADIS ANAR

• Knowledge:
  • Acrobatics: Teamwork
  • Ranged Weapon (Crossbow): Slow to Reload
  • Tactics: Dead In Front; Living Behind
  • Field Craft: Fire from Flint and Steel
  • Necromancy: Spontaneous Thrall Guards
  • Necromancy: Hiding the Evidence
  • Laventia: Mercy Killed
  • Yanni: The Employer
  • Location: Solace Inn
  • The Makers: Dangerous Assassins
  • The Makers: Contracters
  • Alaya: The Silent Snake
  Loot:
  • Steel Sword (Poor Quality)
  Injuries: None
  Fame: -2 (The Makers Know)
  
  Story: 5/5
  Collaboration: 0/5
  Structure: 4/5

You may use your skill points towards Domain Magic due to your use of Necromancy in the thread.

- - - - - - -

Comments: As always, the story is very good. I am curious to see how Kaladis' story continues to pan out. It was somewhat sad to see Laventia suffer the way she had. Burns are not pretty, but Kaladis appears to be a kind soldier. Mercy is proper repayment.

I have docked you a single point in structure at this time. There are several sentences that have punctuation errors. I have highlighted two examples below.

“Unless you go prepared,” Alaya's voice came from somewhere, startling them both. “Audrae’s blessed,” Kaladis said in shock at the surprise, “madam, you are more silent than a desert snake,” Ralari said with a flourish. Exactly where she was speaking from was a mystery, Kaladis practically checked under the bed, and Ralari methodically checked through the wardrobe, there weren’t a lot of other hiding spots in this small inn room.

!

Message from: Nymph

Nymph Correction: “Unless you go prepared,” Alaya's voice came from somewhere, startling them both. “Audrae’s blessed,” Kaladis said in shock at the surprise. “Madam, you are more silent than a desert snake,” Ralari said with a flourish. Exactly where she was speaking from was a mystery. Kaladis practically checked under the bed, and Ralari methodically checked through the wardrobe. There weren’t a lot of other hiding spots in this small inn room.

Alaya gave them a look as if to say, pfft isn’t it obvious, “coin.” Coin Kaladis could work with, not that he had any. “Not like you have a choice,” Alaya remarked coyly, “leave me here and I tell the boss, take me and I take a cut, simple.”

!	Message from: Nymph
	Alaya gave them a look as if to say, pfft isn’t it obvious. “Coin.” Coin Kaladis could work with; not that he had any. “Not like you have a choice,” Alaya remarked coyly, “Leave me here and I tell the boss. Take me and I take a cut, simple.”

The structure issues I tend to notice towards the end of the thread, which is where I have pulled my examples. Many of it are related to punctuation and capitalization. I often recommend that people read a post out loud to ensure that appropriate pauses are made. When a sentence ends because you have become too long-winded, adding a period is appropriate. Although a quotation does not have to start with a capital letter, it should if the previous remark was complete. The second example ("Not like you have a choice," Alaya...) was a complete thought; which means that the next quotation should be started as a new sentence.

If you feel I've missed anything or if you have questions about your review, please don't hesitate to send me a quick PM. Thank you!