Action: The Hakseer (NSFW)

[Get of W'soran]

The Khainite had obviously been unphased by the Ship Master attempting to stare him down but as the sailor spoke the assassin suppressed a sigh and hoped that the girl didn't bury a dagger in their new master's ribs.

"Very well." Arkeith replied before turning and striding away from the others and going below deck.

Although it appeared to the others as if he was simply leaving them the assassin only went to his own quarters to remove his armour, there was a little impractical to constantly wear after all.

Arkeith dressed in a long black hooded robe and wore only his sabre at his belt although he was wearing some thin light armour under the clothing.

Once he was finished dressing he made his way back towards the deck. He had no real idea how to "get to know each other" in any social fashion but it was a good idea.

 

[Count Vashra]

Karochi pulled his blades back and sheathed them. "You fought well, Tenril, I am impressed. Normally, I would have beaten a foe by now. Maybe we could learn from each other. Where did you do your training?" He waited for the other elf to respond, and while he did so, he inspected the cloak.

 

[Zephyr]

Tenril rubbed his hands "Son of a sea dragon..." He looked up at Karochi and nodded and gave death stares to the other corsairs. "Upstart bunch, haven't even served on an Ark and they think they know all there is. Pfah! They would not survive the things I've been through."
He turned to Kourla "Sorry to disappoint but a half-flayed back kind of limits me somewhat."
Turning to Karochi he lowered his voice so only he oculd hear.
"Truth be told I kind of knew that move wasn't going to save me but I figured that Sar'geth wouldn't win and I would be outnumbered by two extremely good swordsmen. Just a matter of time really.
Besides, it was just a test fight, when my life depends on it I fight a lot better, well..." Tenril laughed and pointed at his bad almost milky-white eye, "not if I'm outnumbered a lot."
He sheathed his weapons.
"As for training I'm self-taught actually. Picked up a few things here and there. You'll see when the raiding starts, you will get to see many interesting fighting styles. Learned quite a few things from ol 'Snappy here."
He patted the cloak. "That was a fast son of a bitch let me tell you, almost cost me my head. There is a good reason I call him Snappy."

 

[The Dread King]

As Arkeith lifted Sar’geth up and whispered to him, the vauvalka replied in a whisper, “It seems there are two of us that disagree with the petty rules of our society, then, unless you still serve Malekith,” and smirked. He pondered carefully over the mystery that was the assassin: If he does work for the witch king, he clearly doesn’t know my kind, because he’s underestimated me. If he doesn’t, then it seems I am safe from Malekith’s agents...for now, at least.

Sar'geth shot a hate-filled look towards Kourla. How little you know, fool,, he mused, but restrained himself from a retort, because certain information couldn't be released too early. He snorted in disgust at the idea that the retainers needed to "get to know each other"; if anything, it would simply make matters worse as comrades developed informal relations in a very formal profession. This could lead to severe problems with group combat cohesion later on, but Sar'geth knew that orders were orders, and complied in whatever manner he could.

Quickly, the mage turned on his heel and strode below deck into his quarters to comply with Kourla’s orders. Once inside his private room, he inspected the bruises he received. They would be painful, but manageable. The damage he received could have been a lot worse.

Preparing for social contact was not easy for Sar’geth; spending hundreds of years largely inside one room studying books in secret did not do wonders for his ability to work with people.
Nevertheless, he adjusted his robes so that he was fit for civil discussion with others once more, left his cabin and ascended to the deck.

Once on deck, the wizard felt a crisp, cool breeze lightly teasing the edges of his robes, though due to the thickness of their fabric they did not move. Sar’geth looked around and decided not to be the first to speak. He would rather listen to imparters of knowledge quietly: hopefully some tongues would loosen and the mage could then glean valuable information from them. Whatever happened, Sar’geth would (hopefully) be avoiding a potential punishment from the great stockpile of sentences Viseryn had created for anyone who disobeyed him over the years, and that was what mattered.

 

[Count Vashra]

"So, that's why it's called Snappy," Karochi muttered. "As for me, I was the son of a powerful Dreadlord, and my mother was the Supreme Sorceress at her coven, where my three sisters were acolytes. My brother was a minor noble at my father's court, and I was in training to replace him. Why am I not still there? Blood Night. I escaped, but could take few possessions, and I found Lord Viseryn and signed up, for a chance to regain wealth and return to my family in glory. As for the bladework, my trainers were my father's best soldiers. What's your history?"

 

[Malochai]

As Sinthair approached the door of Viseryn’s chamber, it was pulled open from within, and the young noble strode through it, wearing only loose hide trousers and a highly satisfied look on his haughty face. Rythia followed him closely, and her hair, like Viseryn’s, was damp as if they had been bathing, framing her comely face which had her customary small grin on it.

“I would find it difficult to believe you have not attended Athartist ... Devotions, my lady,” he commented, flashing her a sly smile over his shoulder, before looking forward again and catching sight of his most trusted retainer. “Ah, Thornblade, my prickly shadow! How did my father’s hired swords acquit themselves on-deck?”

---​

As they walked, the gruff retainer filled his lord in, and Viseryn shook his head, but said, “I’m not over surprised, although I feel Tenril may still be suffering from his punishment ...” He considered it for a second, and then shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. “Regardless. Rythia, do as you will. I shall send for you later. Sinthair, come, I would spar!”

They emerged onto the deck and the slave who had been outside the captain’s room hurried out behind them, and handed Viseryn his weapons; a longsword and whip. Proceeding to the centre of the deck, he took a ready position and when Sinthair nodded at him, leapt into action, his whip flashing expertly through the air, the blows only not hitting due to masterful jerks of his wrist at the last second, pulling them away.

After five minutes, both druchii were sweating profusely, and the liquid trickled down the nobles back, coating the tattoo of the pantheonic mandala on his back, covered in scars of varying size, from thin white lines no longer than a thumbnail to a long, knotted monstrosity which stretched down the right of his back. In the centre of his wiry chest, the rune of Khaela Mensha Khaine was prominent, beneath to the left and right were the runes of Atharti and Anath Raema respectively; the Cytharai to whom Viseryn gave his most devout devotion.

 

[Duke Danse Macabre]

*His gaze had never waved during the brief fight, staring stoically from behind his armour, his eyes shaded within its depths.

At its conclusion he had witnessed the exchange and giving it a few minutes he shook his head hefting his blade and headed to the ships bow to look out onto the horizon to contemplate what as to come and put this thoughts to his gods.

Speaking in hushed tones he looked up into the sky aware of where people where around him, his sword planted between his feet*

"Why must you always seek to test my patience?..."




*Sighing is resignation he sheathed his Draich across his back and made his way to the group on the deck, better to know the enemy you are with before looking to the enemy you are yet to meet after all.
Catching the end of what Karochi had to say he waited in patience for them to come to himself, you learned more from listening than you did by speaking, much like in combat for that matter.
First to charge, first to fall...*

 

[Shareya]

Rythia had at first followed her Lord and even observed his spar for a few minutes before seemingly losing interest. Carefully she forced her eyes to jump to the different elves that could be seen on top deck before allowing her gaze to settle on Arkeith.

"Ah! Wonderful!" How cheerful the noble sounded, as if she was apart of a cruise meant only for pleasure. "I wish to speak to you!"

Even though the assassin had just emerged from the ships bowels the female was already making her way towards him with swift and long steps.

 

[Get of W'soran]

Arkeith had only just reached the deck when the girl shouted at him.

The hooded Druchii's usual impassive expression was changed to one of surprise as he saw Rythia striding towards him.

Standing still waiting for the girl approaching him, feeling quite uncomfortable and tense he waited for her to reach him.

"Yes?" he asked her.

 

[Shareya]

"Come! Join me for a small walk and a talk!"

Ryhia still was quite loud and cheerful and worse of all if she was not stopped the young noble would have closed the distance between herself and the hooded figure. A slender hand swiftly wrapped around Arkeith's right arm before she even attempted to walk towards the front of the ship. After all it has the best view.

"I even know the perfect spot."

((Of course she can be stopped!)

 

[Get of W'soran]

Arkeith walked in silence with the Rythia, uncomfortably aware of how close she was, if the assassin had to list the three things he was least skilled at it would have to be women, socializing and small talk.

The khainite's usual grace was completely lost as he appeared to half-walk and be half-dragged alongside the female elf.

When they reached the front of the ship he managed to regain his composure and carefully disengaged his arm from her grasp.

"What can I help with you miss?" he asked in his hissing tones, frowning still feeling utterly confused as to why she wanted to speak with him.

 

[The Dread King]

Behind Closed Doors
Sar'geth realised that Karochi was not only intelligemt, but very dangerous. He seemed to have cottoned on to a small understanding of Sar'geth's powers in the middle of an intemse meelee.

The vauvalka was almost certain Nag'har would see through the lie Sar'geth was about to tell, but the mage was not someone to waste any oppurtunity.

His face expressionless, Sar'geth responded in flat, unsurprised tones to Karochi, "Well, it's simple. I used to be a noble, so I have a good amount of money. Corsairs aren't the most trustworthy people, and I had suspected before the fight you mentioned that a mutiny was being planned. Whatever happened, I intended to survive, so I bribed a corsair to protect me for the duration of the journeu on the night beforehand and muttered commands to him in the battle."

 

[Shareya]

Ryhia frowned ever so deeply when the assassin pried away his hand but she still was able to silently delight in the fact that her close presence was causing him some distress.

"I simply wished to talk." Her voice was much more lower but she still kept herself fairly close to the male unless he would actively try to distance himself from the noble. After all invading ones personal space was always a wonderful distraction.
"I hope you can be kind enough to spend at least some minutes with me, yes?"

 

[Get of W'soran]

Arkeith continued to frown still looking completely bemused by the situation.

"To talk?" he echoed.

The elf tilted his head slightly.

"I do not understand." he admitted after a few moments "But I have the free time, I believe the sparring match the young master ordered earlier can take the place for today's planned training regime so I have nothing else to do."

The Druchii had planned to inspect the armories and preform simply maintenance as he had done each day of the voyage but it wasn't a necessity and he had to admit, his curiosity was beginning to get the best of him.

 

[Shareya]

"Perfect." Already the female Druchii had resorted back to her soft words that where laced with her own poison. Naturally if not stopped she had kept herself close to the assassin to be able to keep their conversation private. Or simply continue annoying the male, it was hard to tell.

"Quite pointless these spars, don't you agree? At least I can not imagine that you benefit much from them." Her lips parted again but not to speak, she instead fills her lungs with cold air. "After all...best to slice open a throat when your prey still slumbers?"

 

[Get of W'soran]

Arkeith turned away slightly to look out over the prow to the sea before them.

He disliked the way the woman spoke so softly, it felt like she was toying with him...mocking him but he pushed aside the annoyance and put it down to his own ineptitude with these kind of situations.

"They can be useful but it was poorly arrange. Myself and one swordsman against two sailors, a scholar and a flayed corsair." he said with a shrug "The outcome was inevitable."

"A slit throat is far more prudent indeed...but sometimes more public statements have to be made and as such you have to make sure you're capable of it." he murmured distractedly.

He glanced side ways at the woman thinking of what the Ship Master had insinuated Rythia was doing with his Lordship earlier.
"Of course I suppose some of us would have preferred an easier time than what we've had."

 

[Shareya]

"I like to believe that my task is the most difficult one and what I do benefits all of us. After all keeping our Lord happy is ever so important."

Ryhia's head tilted back and a loud laugh escaped her but this time she was ever so quick to lift her right hand to muffle the noise she was so happily producing. After a few moments she calmed herself so more words could be uttered.

"So tell me why did you join this cruise, assassin?" The question was asked with surprising bluntness.

 

[Get of W'soran]

Arkeith's eyes narrowed dangerously as he turned to stare down at her with his brass eyes, for a moment he leant closer to the girl and when he spoke it was dangerously soft.

"You let your tongue wag a little to freely highborne."

He straightened up and turned back to his former position, looking out at the sea. When he spoke again he was back to his usual tones, quiet but much less malevolent.

"Best for us all? Perhaps." he knew how the pathetic upper classes acted and he wouldn't want to be the girl the day Viseryn tired of her.

The elf shrugged slightly.
"It's no great secret. I have served House Targarys for years as a low-ranking guard of little import, often accompanying their slaver ships, I did something that got me noticed by our master's father and a reassignment soon followed."

"What about you? Your young, well bred and a woman. Why did you decide to come here?" he asked, it seemed to be the right response to her own query.

 

[Shareya]

"My tongue is very well behaved my sweet assassin. I did lead us to a more...private place and I have kept my voice low, no?" The dangerous tone Arkeith graced his words with seemingly had little effect on the noble or she simply was quite skilled at hiding away the little fear she felt at the back of her mind. "And my sweet..? Not all killers for hire come from the...Temple." Her painted lips drew back wickedly. "You need to control yourself. Answering far too many questions with such gestures."

Just like her companion she fixed her gaze on the sea in front but yet the calmness seems to annoy her.

"Because my father desired it. He wishes that I will be wed to the young Lord."

 

[Count Vashra]

Behind Closed Doors: Karochi laughed haughtily. "You would expect me to believe that? No. The Corsair was in a trance. I saw it. Also, I barely heard what you were saying, and he was even further away, so how could he have heard any commands, or at least heard them loud enough to understand?"Karochi knew that he had Sar-Geth by the throat. If that was the best explanation he had, then he was obviously being less than entirely truthful. Of course, gold may have been involved, but Karochi doubted it, and it had been Viseryn's decision to kill the Corsairs, and they had had no reason, beyond a Druchii's normal treacherous nature, to revolt. The defence did not stack up.

 

[Get of W'soran]

Arkeith turned to the other retainer and barked a laugh, it was a harsh loud sound quite at odds with his voice.

"Not from the temple?" he tugged down his hood and brushed his fingertips alongside one of his unnaturally colored eyes "That is hardly something I can hide."

"It is not about hiding things girl, it is simply about ensuring they are not spoken...or at least not heard."

Arkeith turned away but as he did so a flicker of something close to sympathy crossed his face before it became stoical once more.

"An unfortunate command."

 

[Malochai]

With a loud hyah, Viseryn flicked his left hand and his whip whisked through the air and wrapped itself around Sinthair's ankle. A flick of Viseryn's wrist, and the retainer was flat on his back. The young noble spun with a flourish and pressed his sword against the hollow of his retainer's throat. "My, my Thornblade, you disappoint me! Do better tomorrow, or the Gutripper's punishment will seem like a heavenly experience!" A sick grin took the young dreadlord's face for it's own.

With graceful steps, Viseryn walked to the slave who had brought him his weapons and handed them over, before striding to the rigging and swinging up it like one of the primates of the Southlands he had learnt about when he was younger. Within a minute, he was hanging from ropes higher than the crows nest and looking out over the calm sea. Beneath him, the ship turned to face their destination - Karond Kar, the Tower of Despair. The huge tower of the cities Drachau rose like a sword thrust up as a challenge towards the heavens. "And that is only Karond Kar; imagine Naggarond's splendour!" he thought to himself. Looking at the corsair in the crows nest, he called, "How long until we dock?"

"No more than five hours if the weather hold, dreadlord. If it changes ... It's impossible to tell."

 

[Shareya]

"You misunderstand. I did not mean that you fully try to deny what you are but-..." Again there was the small pause Rythia so adored. "You do not desire that your profession is spoken about or that questions are asked. This can only mean that you fled. So I am curious to why you did such a thing?"

Still a soft smile danced on the females lips and her gaze remained on the sea.

"Ah I do not mind. At least he desires to force me onto a Lord that is...interesting. I also had a lot of time to accept the thought that I have little say in such matter."

 

[Get of W'soran]

Arkeith tapped his finger's softly against the railing as he considered the girl's question, there was little point in arguing.

"They were wrong."

The assassin smiled but there was no joy in it.

"Interesting?" he said sadly "I suppose some might find him that."

Arkeith glanced at the girl.

"I noticed that you carried no sword earlier. Do you actually know how to fight?" he asked suddenly changing the topic "Not kill but to fight?

 

[Shareya]

"Wrong? Such a dangerous word but do not worry I will keep my silence."

Just a second before she is about to speak more of their Lord, the Assassins words about her lack of blade stroke her ears.

"I am quite able to fight but I am best with my bow and I do have daggers should someone come too close. I admit should that someone be as skilled as you I would be in quite a lot of trouble."

The Druchii of course lied. Even most of the Corsairs on the ship where more then able to defeat her in melee combat but there was no reason for her to admit to such a weakness.

"But that is why we have each other! I can sleep peacefully knowing that others will assure that I can continue to use my bow without being annoyed."

A small sigh is heard that is followed by a new question.

"And while your past is clearly interesting...dangerous...I believe we have someone else on board who could doom all of us, don't you agree?"