~Vanira Talamora ~Feet Well Traveled

[Oarthias]

Vanira is a character that I played during my NWN1 years and enjoyed so much that I just couldn't leave her story unfinished. I wanted to play a character that was nothing like I had ever played before so her story, unlike most of my other characters, has a complicated past full of troubles that even surprised me when I sat down to write her back story a few years back. With that note I put a warning here that while not graphically written her story is a bit intense in nature. I'm looking forward to flushing out the story a bit more here (though by all means I'm not the most talented writer) and seeing how she will grow and develop here on this server.

**Also keep in mind she doesn't speak very much about her past so while you might enjoy (I hope) reading and getting to know her too, by no means does your own character know any of this.

Artwork is done by me

[Oarthias]

The beautiful elven woman stepped out of the wagon closing the door behind her with a grace and dignity that made her appear ill-suited for the environment which she stood. The wagons were worn, though functional, and the ground was littered in filth. Her blue eyes were cold, void of emotion, and she observed the area to see who might would have noticed her exiting the wagon. The child "hiding" behind a nearby wheel of a wagon and she narrowed her eyes. "I told you to take your ass to the bone yard*, now go!" Her hand snapped up and pointed in that direction of their tent. "If you are not there before…", she did not need to finish the sentence; the child ran as fast as her small legs could carry her. At least the child knew to follow -most- instructions given to her, but now she had to wonder, just how much she had overheard going on in the wagon.

The heavy canvas tent flap was pushed open and the elven woman entered the tent. There had been a few stops before she entered this one, the delay was for no other reason but to make the child cower as she anticipated the coming discipline. Life was hard, it was unfair, and to survive it, there were rules. The child sat and shook on her bed roll, eyes wide, but she remained silent. The inside of the small tent was a tidy, as tidy as one could keep such simple and temporary accommodations. Gracefully the elven woman moved and collected a few items from the trunk of her cot. She ignored the slight whimper when the skirt of her dress brushed against child as she passed her. It would be a mere moment before...

No longer being able to remain quiet, the child leaped up from her thread barren bedroll and blurted out the contents of her thoughts. "Mother, I could be like the hin and get fired out of that gnomish contraption! That would be fun! I think! Yes, I could do that! OR! I can work with you on the swings! You look so lovely up there and graceful... like a bird or something. I could do it… honest! I want everyone to love me just like they love you!"

The elven woman peered at the child with a blank expression, her emotions however, battled between resentment and perhaps a small bit of love. When she spoke, her voice was emotionless, words spoken as a simple statement of truth. "He is right, you are at the age in which you can begin to earn your keep around here and it's best time you begin to help bring in some scratch*." As she watched the child's face she pitied what she observed there; innocence, excitement for life, and a blind and pure untainted love that gazed up at her from such young eyes. It was for the briefest of moments she thought about getting rid of the child. To somehow find a way to try and spare her from the cards that had come with the life she was born into. That was unrealistic though and not an option; one had to learn how to play with the cards they were dealt with. Once one was taught how to play those cards correctly they stood a fighting chance The child only needed to have someone who to teach her how to play them correctly or she'd just end up dead in a ditch or possum belly*.

The idea the child came up with was not a bad one, she would fit inside the gnomish device, but it was not one of the options given to choose from. Inwardly, she shuddered at a few of the available options he had stated so bluntly. It left one to wonder if there was anything really "human" about him. "We will speak of this more on the road while we travel as he has called for a 'jump'.* We have till the next town to decide which cards you will play."

"Yes mother." The child moved over to hug the woman. "I love you."

The elven woman's face remained blank as she raised her hand and slapped the child hard across the face. How the child even knew those words, was a bewilderment to her. "You are never to let those words come out of your mouth again child. Love is something you can never afford to feel, or you are as good as dead. Never forget that."

The child lifted a hand and held it to her cheek but made no sound. The hurt that reflected from her eyes however was displayed clearly in her eyes. The child turned and begun to pack up her things that belonged those her mother, so that it would not need to be done in the morning. With her back turned towards her mother, it was safe to allow for a few tears to fall.

The elven woman turned and left the tent and remained absent till returned in the morning and finished packing what the child unable to do on her own. She did not regret the jarring slap to the child’s face; she knew it was needed, it was best to learn this lesson now rather than later when the men would be sure to try and play their games with the child. It was destined to happen to the daughter of one such as she. While it was not the most pleasant of survival tactics, if those cards were played skillfully one could stack up several favors to "cash" in later. Survival was a game best played without emotion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Bone yard - Place at which employees stay when not working. (called the bone yard because employees work hard all day long until they are nothing but bones)

* Circus "jump" - Term used to describe the need to tear down, drive, set up and work in another town, the very next day.

* Possum belly (sometimes possum gut) compartment under a wagon

*Scratch - The revenue from a concession, or money in general.

[Oarthias]

Years pass, the child who was beginning to blossom into a woman became one of the "star freaks" in the act to lure customers in. She played the part of the amazing "unicorn child". Always on display for those who payed the set amount of coin. The costume was magically made to make her appear as if she had soft furry horse like legs and a silver glimmering horn that protruded from her forehead. The man paid a great deal for the girl's appearance which of course was passed onto the viewer. The rumors that if one offered enough coins that they would be allowed to touch the girl's "magical horn" only drew in more of the curious that were quite willing to part with their coins.

The man in charge was be no means an honest or compassionate man; but there were cases in which he allowed a "charity healing" to occur so word might spread quicker of the girl and her magical horn. The horn was in fact not a hoax and did contain healing properties; magically enchanted by a close at hand but secret source. It cost him a great deal, but the scratch* brought in was more then enough to pay for it.

He was eager for her to grow a bit older so that he could bring in even more by allowing them to have other more "personalized" services with her. Breaking her in was if course to be his job; a job he would thoroughly enjoy with great pleasure. Currently that plan was all on hold as the girl's (germbag) of a mother had somehow convinced him to agree to that. It was ridiculous that every time he would even remotely have the thought of breaking that contract and take the girl anyways he would find himself in bed with that woman yet again.

Having this freak of a child in his act he viewed to be a stroke of luck. Not only was she going to his to claim but this was the one thing that none of the other traveling carney families could advertise having in their own acts. Tieflings seemed to be becoming a common attraction amongst the carney people now, the bearded woman was only good in the areas in which dwarves were uncommon, and the magicians were getting to be all to common as well. This child was his bragging right and his way to fame that brought him enough scratch that if he wasn't so greedy, would allow him to stop having to run a two-way joint*.

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* Scratch - The revenue from a concession, or money in general

* Two-Way Joint - A game that can be quickly converted from a fixed, un-winnable game into a temporarily honest one when the "law" come by.

[Oarthias]

Tonight would be the first night in which she was allowed to walk around somewhat freely. The halfling, Tiny the shadow dancing canoneer, would be staying close by her to make sure that the prized possession of the troop was not harmed in any way. This was to be a trial night to see if the men indeed would spend and play more at the flats*, and in turn loose more money, if they felt a bit luckier with her at their side. There was of course a small fee for that as well.

"Remember, men never think with their brains when a woman is around. All it takes is a simple movement of making sure your leg shows a bit more as you walk, a small arch of your back to make your chest just a little bit more in focus, or sometimes just a simple batting of your lashes is enough to make most men do anything you want them to if they think it might just win your favor. Remember the next few days you are to say nothing, just look pretty and if they offer you an arm, you take it and lead them to the flat*. He has said to burn the lot* so be smart on your feet and use everything you think you can pull off -without- letting them lead you off someplace alone. They are not to touch the horn unless they pay you the normal fee. Do expect roaming hands as the night and drinking continues, keep control of your expression a look of revulsion tends to hurt profits. Just make sure you keep control of the situation and you will be fine. If you however feel that the situation is leaving your control, make the hand signal for Tiny to step out of the shadow and help you out."

~~~~~~~~~

The night was just like any other night on the lot. People dank and laughed having fun as they watched the different acts and wandered from the different tables and flats*.

The girl walked around, wearing the dress that the man had picked out for her. The skirt was long, to hide her legs, and had a fairly sheer top to keep the interest of the men up. There wasn't a time in the entire night where she wasn't on some fellow’s arm with a a flirting smile almost always on her lips and giggles when he would attempt to be humorous. Her expression did slip every now and again when the man's hands would roam a bit too much for her own comfort or the smell of their breath made it to her nostrils.

The man's eyes watched her lustfully and he hoped that she would be as delicious as her mother. Tonight he would finally be able to have that taste without her mother slipping in the way. He was distracted too long and was not able to react in time to the big armored man that walked up and grabbed his wrist.

"You will be coming with us sir. You are under arrest and we are closing this down."

All hells broke loose; people scattered like the wind as news spread like wild fire. The current escort of the girl tried to take advantage of it and grabbed her wrist to steal her away with him. Tiny, the halfling, stepped out of the shadow and with a single toss of a dart the man fell to the ground clutching his throat and gasping as he struggled to breathe. Tiny grabbed her hand and begun to run with her towards the other side of the lot, away from the commotion. His hand slipped from hers and she screamed as she tripped and fell hard to the ground. The flimsy material of her skirt tore to almost ribbons around her and the horn fell from her head to the ground. The more she struggled to get back onto her feet the more she tripped and tore the skirt.

The halfling turned and rushed back to help her up only to fall to the ground as an arrow hit him between the eyes. The girl's eyes grew large and she just sat there staring at his lifeless face. Her best friend and protector was now dead her body shook and she dry heaved as the blood began to pool around him. The shock of it all kept the girl there frozen in place unable to look away from her friend until a heavy hand touched her shoulder.

"Come with me child. This is no place for you." The large, armored covered man helped her up. His brown eyes were kind and seemed to look into her very soul for a moment. He looked around the lot for a moment and when he looked back down at her, she saw pity in those eyes now, though she did not know why.


~~~~~~~

She stayed in the house that belonged to the paladin guard and his wife for a number of days. Here she was well fed and given clean clothes proper and befitting of a girl her age should be wearing. She helped with simple chores around the house but she spoke not a word to anyone. The couple began to think that she was not able to speak and no longer tried to ask her questions. They treated her very much like a daughter; the kind woman would try to kiss her forehead and hug to try and comfort her but the girl pulled away from the affection.

Not knowing what else to do, she stayed there in the house with them. She was not happy or content as she often thought about her mother and the rest of their carney family. There was no other place to go as she did not know where those who did escape were; neither did she feel the need to flee since the couple were not harming her. It was nice to have such a clean place to stay, warm baths, nice clothes, and delicious food in her belly for a change. All that changed when she overheard a conversation between the couple.

"I've come to find the girl's mother is one of the ones due to hang in the morning."

"Is there anything you can do?" The woman's tone almost sounded pleading.

"No, she is guilty of murder as well as a number of other things which are not fit for a gentle woman's ears to hear. Justice must be served." His eyes looked sad at the fact that this event must come to place, not so much for the woman but for the child to lose her mother in such a way.

"And the girl? What will happen to her?" Concern for the child was clearly in her eyes and sounded on her voice.

"We have been given permission to keep and raise her as our own if she wishes to remain with us." The couple embraced each other in a tight hug as tears sprung to his wife's eyes. Her womb barren, this sad and unfortunate event was to her an answered prayer.

The girl listened with a blank expression on her face but her eyes betrayed her as tears began to form. She went back up to her room without a word or sound not wishing to let them know she has overheard them. That night she slipped out of the house taking only the clothes and a cloak on her back, a small bundle of food, and one of the kitchen knives.

She made her way to the main section of the small city and slept in a corner of the empty market. When the morning came, she lifted the hood of the cloak to cover as much of her face as she could and followed the crowd. The crowds today she knew would lead her to where she needed to go. It didn't take long to reach the destination in which everyone stopped in front of a platform and began cheering for the event to come. Small as she was it she found it easy to work her way towards the front of the crowd and there she stood watching the guards bringing out her "family".

The man was the first to see her as they put the noose around his neck. Even then, with the things happening around him, the lust shined in his eyes. The others were lined up beside him, hoods all being placed over their heads. The woman was the last one in the line, her expression blank. Her eyes met her daughter's and there they stayed emotionless until the hood was placed onto her own head. They left the man without a hood though for what reason was unknown to her. She could hear words being spoken but she did not really listen to make sense of them.

The crowd heckled and cheered for this morbid event in which they found entertaining. Rotten food was thrown at her family as they attempted to shame them more. The girl stood quietly through it all and only flinched when the executioner pulled all the levers and one by one her family fell.

Those that were unfortunate enough to live through the drop struggled and flailed around as they fought to breath. Much to everyone's disbelief and horror the unhooded man died with that lustful look in his eyes and a grin on his face. The girl only turned to go when most of the crowd had gone. All the bodies remained still save for a light swinging movement caused by the breeze.

She did not return to the home of the paladin and his wife.

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* Burn the lot - To cheat players with little or no attempt to conceal the subterfuge, in the carney's expectation that the same town will not be visited again.

* Flat - A game that is rigged so that you cannot win.

* Scratch - The revenue from a concession, or money in general

[Oarthias]

The girl stepped over the now decaying body of what once used to be one of their work horses as she moved through the grounds. Her cold icy blue eyes scanned the lot as she let the recent events soak in again. It looked like an unfamiliar war zone rather than the bright colored carnival grounds she was used to calling home. Weeks had passed since that detrimental night and still the smell of death lingered and hovered there like a haunting fog. Unable to stand the smell she rushed to one of the wagons and there she heaved until her stomach was empty.

Her hand up to her nose and mouth trying to keep the stench at bay she slowly weaved over and around fallen booths and trash making her way towards the bone yard. There she paused a moment looking at the darkly stained ground where Tiny had fallen in his attempt to help her. Kneeling to the ground she began to shake as she hesitantly placed her hand upon the soil. Quickly she jerked back, stood back up, and slapped herself hard across the face. "No, we don't feel a thing! We feel nothing or we will end up like all of them!" she screamed at herself in a barely controlled voice.

Once she reached the bone yard she proceeded to move herself to the tent that she had shared with her mother. The tent was leaning heavily to one side but still standing so she slipped inside. Glancing around she noticed that most anything of any real value was already gone. It really didn't come to a surprise to her that it had been looted but she doubt they took what she came here for. She righted up the few pieces of furniture and began to sort through the items that remained. Her old backpack was still there surprisingly so she rolled up a few articles of her own clothing along with some of what once was her mother's. Then she packed a well used make-up kit, a thin blanket, an old dagger, a beat up deck of cards, some dice, and a very small amount of coin that the looters had missed.

Emotionally drained, though she would deny that, the girl curled up on her old cot and stayed the night there in that tent for the last time. When the morning light began to caress the land she awoke and without so much as a backwards glance she slipped out of the grounds. She didn't know where she was heading, nor did she really care at this point... each step she took away from the camp the emptier and more alone she felt. She raised her chin in a stubborn fashion and shoved the emotions away that would make her weak, emotions she could not afford to have if she was to win this new game called survival, a game she would try her damn best to win with every breath she took.

One other thought however did enter her mind... She wanted that paladin dead. She doubted he'd still be alive by the time she was ready to face such a foe so she would strive to kill any other like him that she came across. No one should have to suffer and loose their family as she did.

[Oarthias]

The traveling from small town to small town was never ending. It wasn't that she disliked any of the towns she came across in her journey, (neither did she have a strong liking of them either) but it was the “borrowing" of items and supplies that kept it so she couldn't stay long in once place. The last thing she wanted was unneeded attention; that would greatly decrease her survival chances.

She didn't have a inkling of what she was going to do to change her situation; all she knew was this was not the life she wanted to live. Her only likely choice she thought was that if she stumbled upon another group of carneys she would join them. There she knew what to expect from that life, she had watched many of the games everyone played with the others and so there she would be on more of a level playing field as the rest.

Now thieving wasn't her only way of life; on occasion she would perform acrobatic tricks during small festivals and on the busier market days. The coin earned was not much by any means but it did allow her to stay in an actual inn and take a real bath now and again. It became a luxury she craved; she didn't like being dirty or having the smell of the alleys linger on her body nor did she care for being looked at as worthless living trash. The problem was she saw no way out of that life. She was stuck with the same hand of cards she was dealt with at birth but forced to sit at a different table.

Time past in a blur as it always does and for the most part every day was the same as the day before... that was until her hand slipped into the wrong man's pocket. Her hand hesitated as a strange tingling sensation migrated down her arm as she lifted a small piece of parchment out of his pocket. Curiosity got the best of her causing her to pause a moment so that her eyes could look it over. The parchment held a list names with unknown symbols marked beside several of them.

Many of those names were ones that she was familiar with as she had heard them whispered in fear amongst those that traveled through the streets. All had passed in unnatural and mysterious deaths. Such a thing as this she wanted no part of and was about to slip it back into the pocket and sneak away when his hand reached back and gripped her wrist tightly.

In a full panic she tried to jerk away from him with a deep fear in her eyes but his grip was far too strong. His cold eyes bored into her as he jerked her closer and leaned down and whispered very harshly, "Struggle any more or scream out for help and I will not hesitate to kill you. You will come with me now."

He led her to a large and elegant house in a nicer section of the town. There in a room beneath the rest of the house she remained chained up in a room for an amount of time she lost track of. Here she was made to wait as he decided what to do with her.

When he made his decision, he went to visit her room. "You are much to pretty to kill. It would be such a waste to just let you decompose beneath the dirt."

He circled around her as he spoke... as she sat there on the floor in her chains like a helpless animal. "But see the problem is you saw something that you shouldn't have so I can not exactly let you go, now can I." He paused a moment as if to let that sink in and let the fear build of not knowing what her fate will be.

"I've decided that I will spare your life with and offer you a small proposition. I will all you one night to think it over and make your decision." His eyes met hers as he waited for some kind of response from her to make sure she understood.

He continued after she gave him a slow hesitant nod, "You will aid me by being the one to mark off more names off that list. I don't much care how you go about killing them as just long as you don't get caught. You will not point them in my direction as you will die before such things could escape those lips of yours. So do not be getting any clever ideas in that pretty little head of yours, as I will be watching you. Every little movement you make, every little word you try and speak I will know it, I will see it, and I will make it so you will beg for death if you try anything. Is that clear?"

She nodded slowly in response to his question. Really she had no choice in the matter; she would kill in order to not be killed.

"That is not all there is to it of course. You will of course, be staying in my bed every night unless I say differently. Anything I ask of you is to be done without question; in fact you will not speak unless I ask you too." He looked quite pleased with himself.

Her eyes widened slightly but again she nodded. She had already decided she wanted to live. Her mother had been a strong woman in her eyes and had bedded such men to play the game and often won favors... she could do this as well if for no other reason then but a chance to kill this man later. "I accept your proposition."

"Such an eager wench I see; not needing a night to think it over." The man grinned wickedly as he pulled a scroll from a pouch at his waist, "Perhaps you are not just pretty and do actually have a brain in that head of yours. Sign your name down here.' He motioned with his right hand to the place in which she was to sign.

He bends slightly down and jerks her up to her feet. His lips grazed across her pointed ear and his hand wandered on her body as she slowly signed her name. She stared at her name, Vanira Talamora, on the scroll with a blank expression on her face.

"When you have served your purpose the scroll will crumble and you will be free to go if you choose to do so. But some how I don't think that is what you will choose, I feel that you will come to find this life will suite you very well." He whispered in her ear before straightening himself up and began a soft incantation.

She dropped to her knees as the magic pulsed through her body and swirled around her. When it finished the scroll pulsed with a soft glow which he then rolled up and slipped it away into a pouch at his waist.

"You will wash and dress in the clothes the servants will bring you. Then you are to join me for dinner. After dinner you will serve me dessert with a willing smile on your face. If you do not the arrangement is off." He pressed his lips hard and lustfully on hers. He turned and left the room with a smirk on his face. It was about time he got a perk with his job he thought to himself.

[Oarthias]

She cringed and squeezed her eyes shut as he stirred in his sleep beside her. Please don't want any more... please please please... she inwardly chanted in her head as she subconsciously held her breath till he rolled over and remained asleep. The man had quite the appetite for her and for her "newness" she guessed. Whatever his reasoning for the hunger was it did absolutely nothing for her... why people enjoyed this was beyond her.

For now he did not push her to get started in the marking off of names and for that she was glad as she had no idea how she was going to pull this off. Murdering folks was not exactly something she had experience in. Perhaps that was the man's intention anyways. This way he got to bed her and she would take the fall of all the other murders if she got caught. If she succeeded then he still wins... again keeping her in his bed and having the names crossed off his list for him. He really had nothing to lose in this deal.

She did notice however that during this time they spent in bed that his guards were down; he didn't seem nearly as alert and aware of his surroundings as he normally did. This brought a number of ideas into her head, she was going to play her cards in such a way that she would have them folding their own hands just so they could play a different game with her... a game she had a much better chance in winning then if it came blade to blade. She slipped out of the bed and slipped into a dress; it was one of the many outfits he had bought for her.

The soft blue and cream dress's skirt flowed loosely down to her feet, the material at the top of the dress hugged her body just enough to show off her curves without looking like a woman that worked the street. Her hair she neatly pulled up, piling it on her head she used a beautifully ornate yet very deadly hair pin. Her fingers continued to work on her hair a moment, pulling a few strands out of the pile and letting them fall around the side of her face in order to help frame it and bring attention to her cheek bones.

She couldn't help but smile at her appearance in the mirror and for a moment she was able to forget about all of her troubles. She looked like a woman of stature, a woman of grace and beauty, and most importantly not a hint of "street trash". Her eyes flashed a moment in anger as her reflection stared back at her. I deserve to have this life but without this other nonsense all mixed in with it and one day I -will- have it.

Pleased with her appearance and feeling as ready as she could for such a task she added the finishing touches: a small bit of rose lily perfume and laced parasol with the small matching purse. Chin raised proudly she then headed out the front door giving the slightest nod to each of the servants as she passed them. Oharan was the name of the "lucky bastard" who she picked off the list, this man would be her first and she hoped... for her own sake that it would not be the last.