Fantasy [Closed] A nation in havoc

[Duke of Doge]

(Time skip for us folk in Dalania)
Nia would wait in her room until things got nice and quiet, making sure to dress as casual as possible, which wasnt much considering her wardrobe, before opening her window and crawling out. Making her way onto a rather precarious ledge that ran under her window, shimeying her way across. After a few minutes of careful maneuvering, she got onto solid earth.

Somehow, she managed to get out of the castle without being noticed. Reaching into the bag she brought, swinging on a white cloak, not to stealthy, but it served her purpose, hiding her face, and distinctive red hair. After this, she put a small dagger on her belt, she had no idea how to use it, but better safe than sorry.

Soon she found herself walking down the stone streets, observing her surroundings as she held her cloak tight.
TheCountryWarrior Rhaine

 

[FireMaiden]

About to throw another punch as the orc regained his feet, she didn't as Sirius stepped in and threw an elbow to his head. "Nice shot," She chuckled. The orc groaned, now his head hurt and his nose was broken, but he decided this kid wasn't worth it. He grumbled something, but let, like a puppy with its tail tucked between its legs. The boy looked deafed, glared at both Zephyra and Sirius, but quickly left.

The woman patted the seat next to her, "Drinks on my buddy. Well, him. I did take his money, but I did win it," She said. CabalAnomicPotato

 

[CabalAnomicPotato]

Watching, more dissapointed than angry that the orc had ran off, he then looked towards the woman, chuckling as the human ran off, probably scared out of his wits with his muscle gone. "Urg, ran off like a coward" Sirius said, shaking his head, he then turned towards the woman who offered him drinks, at closer look, quite toned, seemed to be someone who was used to these situations, "well....I shouldn't, but what the hell" he spoke, sitting next to her, readjusting his sword and sheild on his back. Sirius decided if he was going to drink, he'd miht as well make conversation with the woman offering, not really turning his head, "what is your name, if I might ask" he said, remembering how usually sensitive the softer flesh were, "though, looks can be deceiving" he thought, reminding himself of this fact.

 

[FireMaiden]

"Zephyra, sword for hire, buyer of booze, puncher of dicks," She said with a chuckle. "What about you?" She asked, taking a sip of her of her drink. "Also, I'm looking for work. You wouldn't happen to have any would ya?" CabalAnomicPotato

 

[CabalAnomicPotato]

Sirius, now vigorously drinking his beer, listened to the woman, known as Zephyra, introduce herself, and would have chuckled, if he wasn't extremely tired. After her asking, he introduced himself, "I am Sirius, of The Forgers tribe, the war specialist specifically" he finished. Sirius then listened to her offer her services as muscle, and sighed, slightly annoyed, "thank you, but I am in no need of an arms bearer, as I can take care of myself " he said, finishing his drink. Now feeling tired and particularly warm (an effect beer has, of course), he really needed to find a place to stay, "well, this meeting was nice, and thanks for the drink" he finished, standing up, "I must be off now"
FireMaiden

 

[FireMaiden]

"Well, do you know anyone who may have some work? I'm stuck out here for another few weeks, and low on coin," She said with a sigh. She finished her drink, and tapped the bar for another round. CabalAnomicPotato

 

[CabalAnomicPotato]

"Me and you both, I guess" he said, listening and feeling slightly bad for taking that free drink. Sirius then proceeded to gather his wallet, and shove 20 silver coins on the counter, "consider this thanks for the drink, as I can't really tell you of anyone I know who needs a sword for hire....though with the weak flesh around here, I assure you, finding someone should be easy" he finished, though if you haven't figured it out, he didn't understand the species barrier, and how hated her kind was.
FireMaiden

 

[FireMaiden]

She nodded, taking the silver. "Thanks. You know, you orcs aren't as mean as everyone says you are," She chuckled, finishing her second drink. "Shame, but still, thanks." CabalAnomicPotato

 

[Rhaine]

Ru's voice drew soft now over her final song, sounding something like a lullaby. She was swept up in the stillness of it, in the quiet. Only a few remained in the tavern, milling silently over drinks or preparing to make their way home, wherever that may be. Candles burned low, and the light was dim. Ru fancied these moments the most.

She reluctantly hummed her last note, her fingertips gently striking her final chord. The lute felt heavier in her arms. She inhaled as deeply as she could manage. The air was heady and warm, and she felt undone by it. She shifted the lute, holding it by its neck in one hand, her other drawing her hair out of her eyes. She was touched pink and rosy in her face and in the crests of her shoulders as if she had been running, and she shifted with weary limbs.

Ru began to mentally ready herself for the walk home. Though she adored the time of night, she never felt safe taking the eerie streets alone.

Duke of Doge Caffeine Freak TheCountryWarrior

 

[Caffeine Freak]

Sam groaned as he came to, the counter reverberated under him. The bartender knocking in front of him, he realised. "Hey. We're closing soon, either buy a room or get going."
Still not completely managing to lift his forehead from the wooden surface, Sam murmured, "Salt... Salt and.. and water."
A glass full of the cloudy liquid was in front of him moments later, which he knocked back graciously. "Thanks." He muttered, feeling more of himself.

Once the ringing in his ears stopped, he managed to pry himself from his seat, giving Dan a clap on the shoulder. "Thanks for not letting me get robbed." Was all he said, taking back his coin pouch. His gaze began to roll over the tavern, roving over the customers casually flowing either upstairs or toward the door until he spotted Ru packing up. "Hey, how about the three of us head back together?" He gave Dan a quick nudge from where he lent against the counter, nodding in Ru's direction. "I'm not exactly drowning in more exciting things to do."

TheCountryWarrior Rhaine

Duke of Doge

 

[TheCountryWarrior]

Dan shrugged and handed the pouch back. "Sure thing. Fine, lets go protect the damsel in distress. Not like I've anything better to do. Hey buddy, save me a room." He paid the innkeeper for a room and checked himself for anything missing. Weapon that has yet to be named: check; coin pouch: check; acid vial: check; extra black powder and steel balls: check. "Alright, I'm ready to go. You're the one who wants to help her, so you can go first." Caffeine Freak Duke of Doge Rhaine

 

[Duke of Doge]

(DID SOMEONE SAY DAMSEL IN DISTRESS?!?)
Before long, Nia was happily running through the streets. Her white cloak flowing with her, making her appear like a childs ghost costume from the right angle. She laughed as she ran, freedom felt good. No formalities, no fancy dresses. She loved it, and she loved exploring the city.

After a few moments of this, she got her first taste of just how good she had it in the palace. When a large man suddenly stepped around the corner - Nia bumped into the large man's chest, and he grabbed her firmly by the shoulders. Nia struggled to get free as the man caressed her cheek. "Dont you know it's dangerous for a pretty girl like yourself to be all alon-OW!" He was cut short as Nia bit his hand, causing him to release her. Only to earn her a slap across the cheek, sending her falling onto the street, along with her hood falling off. Soon, his acomplice came from behind Nia. "Whats the problem here Ben?" "The bitch bit me!" "Well, we're going to have to teach her to behave then... wait a second! Oh. It's our lucky day! We're in the presence of royalty. There's no one else with that hair." The second man took of his hat and did a mock bow with a wicked smile. "Your highness..." he said before both men started advancing towards her. "Imagine the ransom we'll get from this one. Once we're done with her that is..."
TheCountryWarrior Rhaine Caffeine Freak

 

[Caffeine Freak]

[DAMSEL IN DISTRESS?? CONVENIENT PLOT DEVICE INCOMING]

"Alright, I'm ready to go. You're the one who wants to help her, so you can go first."

"Gee, thanks." Sam muttered, pushing off the counter. On his way over to Ru, however, he tripped up on a haphazardly strewn stool - loose coppers spilling from his pocket. "Damnit.." He hastily snatched up the ones around him before chasing the one that began rolling out the door.
"Gotcha." He declared to himself triumphantly, once he had swiped the the escapee copper from the tavern's hearth.

"OW!"

Samuel's ears pricked up, his head snapping in the direction of the neighboring alleyway. "Wha..?"

"The bitch bit me!"

A bitch? Are there rabid dogs in Dalania now? Is it even safe to walk home anymore? Could-

"..wait a second! Oh. It's our lucky day!"

Oh, Sam finally pieced the context together. It's just some rapist muggers. A shrug. The guards should really do something about that.
He made to turn back to the inn, until he caught the hiss, "Your highness..."
"Oh. Great." Sam groaned under his breath, quickly aware of just who was around that corner. He rifled through his pockets, definitely not prepared for a fight he intended to win. "I swear I had some mercury fulminate in here somewhere..." He murmured, the depths of his pockets yielding nothing valuable. "Aha!" He exclaimed, holding an empty glass test tube to the heavens before shattering it audibly on the cobbles before him. "A distraction!" His triumph faded quickly. "I- swear I had the second part of this planned out a moment ago..."

Duke of Doge TheCountryWarrior Rhaine

 

[TheCountryWarrior]

Dan followed Sam, rolling his eyes as Sam ate it and lost a few coppers in the process. He started to head outside to wait for Sam and Ru as Sam scrambled for the rolling coins. When he heard glass breaking he felt the need to investigate. Coming upon the scene he heard the two men mention a ransom? They both seemed to be looking down on something or someone; then Dan saw the characteristic hair of the Princess he had met earlier. Since Samuel had frozen for some reason, Dan pulled his weapon out and pulled the trigger, a loud explosion could be heard from a couple blocks away as a small ball rocketed towards the one on the right's head. He jerked and fell dead, the ball embedded in the mans brain. Dan turned his weapon on the other one as the guy turned to face the source of his friends demise and fired twice, the man falling backwards from the force and sliding down the wall as he bled.
Duke of Doge Caffeine Freak Rhaine (not sure if I should have one shot those guys. I mean point blank with a pistol, primitive as it is, would definitely hurt.)

 

[Rhaine]

Ru had made her way to the small room behind the bar. She stored the lute away, and retrieved her satchel and muted cloak, which she fastened over her shoulders. As she began to make her way out onto the streets, a loud explosion shook through her senses. A noise of alarm left her, and she flinched, covering her ears with her hands. What in the world could have garnered such a noise?

Quickly, and with a tremble to her movement, Ru exited the tavern. At the scene that lay before her, she stilled. The breath of a curse in Elvish left her parted lips, and her shoulders were strung tense. Her hands stayed clasped together, close to her chest. She recognized the majority of the group - Samuel, Dan, and the Princess. There were two dead men she did not recognize.

"Wh- What has happened? Why- ?" She was too shocked to conceive a more complete verbal expression, and her green eyes were wide and affected, trained on the two men. Her dagger was stashed safely in her satchel, though she hoped she wouldn't need it.

TheCountryWarrior Duke of Doge Caffeine Freak

 

[Caffeine Freak]

Samuel raised a finger to the air. "That was the second part of my plan! Wait for Dan to come out and do it for me." He grinned, making a complacent gesture. "Genius as always on my part. Nice work too, I guess, Dan."

"Wh- What has happened? Why- ?"

Flinching at Ru's sudden voice, Sam whirled round and blurted, "It was all Dan's idea! He's a murderer!"
Sam's attention hitched onto the injured mugger-rapist-ransomer as he heard pained coughing and groaning. Hurrying over, he tapped Dan. "Shoot him again, he might press charges!" He said quickly, before scratching the back of his neck, turning to an all to familiar figure. "I-I mean, glad to see you're safe princess!"

TheCountryWarrior Duke of Doge Rhaine

 

[Duke of Doge]

Nia's ears were ringing, some blood had gotten on her, and as a result. She just laid there, backed up against a wall as she held her knees to her chest, eyes wide as she trembled slightly, holding her slightly bruised cheek. She'd never seen this much blood before, let alone expected to be almost raped and ransomed. She tried to speak, but nothing came out exept the stuttering of; "I-I-I..I I....." she continued to shake, taking deep, quick breaths, as tears started to well up in her eyes. This was her first taste of how cruel and unfair the world can be - and she was not coping well at all.
TheCountryWarrior Rhaine Caffeine Freak

 

[Caffeine Freak]

"Don't fret, your highness," Sam reassured gently, willing his voice into one of calming silk. "If we hide the bodies, no one has to know about this." He finished, utterly oblivious to the gravity of the situation. Stepping over to the dead goon, he hoisted his arms under the cadaver's shoulders. "Just you and me ol' Ben." He mumbled. "I.. think you're Ben. Eh, one of you is called Ben." Sam grunted as he dragged the body toward a nearby sewer manhole.

[afk ensues]

 

[TheCountryWarrior]

Dan walked up to the injured man bleeding out on the ground, propped up on the wall. He pressed the barrel to the mans forehead and glared coldly at him. He spoke, his voice calm and cold. "What did we learn today. Rape is bad. Don't do it." He pulled the trigger and blood splattered across the wall, and some of it got on Dan's clothes. He dragged the corpse to the same manhole and dumped him in. He calmly started to reload his gun. "Well Sam! You seem to have done this before. Either that or your cold blooded." Duke of Doge Caffeine Freak Rhaine

 

[Rhaine]

As Dan ended the life of the second man, Ru quivered in the wake of the sound, her hands coming to cover her mouth in horror. Her wide eyes darted between each of them. She was horrified with the lack of regard for human life, and something hot coursed through her limbs. Her arms fell to her sides, and she spoke with more strength than she felt.

"Apparently both of you have done this before. I'm assuming imprisonment and civilized justice weren't available options? Or did you not wait long enough to find out?" There was an edge to her voice. From what she had overheard from Dan, she had reasoned what the men had threatened to do to the Princess. Still, she didn't believe one person had the power to choose who lived and who died. Perhaps it wasn't the act that made her blood boil, but more so the lightness and almost jovial tone to the two men's cadences.

She looked to the Princess, concern defining her features. "Are you alright, Princess Nia? Are you hurt? Do you need to go home?" Her voice returned to its customarily gentle lilt.

Duke of Doge TheCountryWarrior Caffeine Freak

 

[TheCountryWarrior]

Dan didn't even look up as he answered. "You know what civilized justice is when you try to kidnap, rape and ransom royalty? It's basically that, but greatly depends on how loved said royalty is. If she's beloved by the people these two would've been on the run for their entire lives, however long that would be. When the people caught them they would've been tortured and killed slowly." He finished reloading his firearm and stared at her with a cold gaze. "Welcome to life kid. In this world: its kill or be killed." Duke of Doge Caffeine Freak Rhaine

 

[Rhaine]

Ru bristled, and there was almost a sharp, feline quality to her look. She didn't take to his reasoning or the patronizing nature of his statement. It might of been the way his world worked, but it didn't have to be her truth. "Yes, it might have been worse for them if their fate were up to the people. Maybe so. Maybe that's what they deserved. We'll never know now. The course of their lives shouldn't be solely up to you, especially when there are other options. That's not justice."

The stark violence she had witnessed had thrown any of her complacent and docile mannerisms out the window. She didn't shrink or hide. The sharp copper scent of blood permeated the air, and brought her back in a visceral way. She cast her eyes out to their surroundings. It was a wonder no one else had come running yet at the noise that had been made.

TheCountryWarrior Duke of Doge Caffeine Freak

 

[Duke of Doge]

Nia sniffed as she slowly came to her senses. Standing up quickly as she then glared at Dan. "I'll have you know this kid is the second most powerful person in the entire country, so show some damn respect, and some compassion while your at it. I was litteraly a walking stereotype 30 seconds ago. A princess in need of aid, saved by some gallant hero who insures she is okay. But I guess Ru was the closest I got." She said gesturing to her. Nia did her best to clean off the blood on her face and cloak, to not much success. "These people may have done some terrible things, but they probably only did it because they fell on hard times, and the desperation got to their head. They may be bad now, but they still have a family" she looked around at the street they were on. "This area of the city is noticeably more dilapidated than the rest, and the people are hungry, desperate, and tired." She let out a breath. "I will personally see to its improvement... starting tomorrow."
Nia said proudly, she gets very upset Dan called her 'kid' then proceeded to glare at her, thinking her weak. "And Dan... consider your next words very carefully. Personally, I'd recommend saying nothing." she added.
Rhaine TheCountryWarrior
(Nia=Triggered)

 

[TheCountryWarrior]

Dan turned to the princess. "I wasn't talking to you. I don't care what stories you paint in your potential rapists defense, they had a choice. They could have kept walking and looked for a job. They decided instead, to rape to first girl they bumped into. When they recognized you as royalty they thought they could make some money while raping you. If they needed money they could've knocked over a bank or simply kidnaped you. They had a choice! Anyone who thinks different denies the existence of evil! I've said my piece. I don't expect to be thanked." Dan walked back into the tavern and up the stairs to the room he had rented. Duke of Doge Caffeine Freak Rhaine

 

[Rhaine]

Ru listened to the Princess and Dan's response, her chest rising with effort, her face flushed with feeling. The sound of the gun still left a subtle ringing in her ears and her head was pounding. "No one is denying the existence of evil, or the fact that these men meant to commit an atrocity. I'm simply pointing out that you yourself had a choice, and you decided that their lives were in your hands and your hands alone without a second thought!" Her voice rose and followed him as he turned and left the scene.

Her hands were balled into fists, her nails imprinting marks into her palms. It stung, but she hardly noticed. The moment her last word left her, she let out a breath, her head bowing, her dark locks of hair falling over her face. It was too much for her to process properly in the moment. She swayed slightly in her place.

She looked up to the Princess after a while, a weariness in her eyes. "Did they manage to do you any damage, Princess?"

TheCountryWarrior Duke of Doge