The muffled cacophony of voices emanated through the boards of the Inn giving no hindrance to the man asleep, though his dreams did, in one of the rooms. The man tossed and turned upon the bed, a few unintelligible murmurings left his lips.....
Thunder boomed and lightning shattered the man's vision as he looked about the dark alley. A male form was before him waving him on.
"Oi come on, it's your time to shine brother!"The grizzled looking guard egged him on giving him an almost toothless grin before clapping a hand against his hood giving him a shove forwards."Remember it's the only way to be part of us! Ye just get what you can lad!"
Gaven grunted softly at the shove before he was sent through the open doorway they had managed to free the lock from. The young lad stumbled a bit before righting himself as he looked around the room. He was in a shop of various magical goods from weapons to potions and everything in between. His gray eyes adjusted to the darkness items gleamed as lightning flashed.
The young man quietly as he could would grab weapons though ranging from mid-size to small, keeping away from the larger variety so as not to be slowed down. He skirted around the room as softly as he could filling the bag, before he slipped around the corner finding a lock box. A lopsided smirk took hold as he breathed in slowly and attempted to pull the lock off, there was a creak and he froze his gaze darted about then over to the stairs as he waited.
Silence greeted him allowing him to exhale, his body relaxing in tandem. He would continue to keep alert as he came to a glass case of jewelry. He freed a small blade from his belt and placed it to the glass before circling trying to cut a good sized hole to fit his hand through. Gray eyes shifted about every moment as he worked before he finally placed his hand on the weak spot and pushed in. Again silence, he pulled a few rings and amulets out as his eyes settled upon a necklace with a single black pearl hanging from the chain. His eyebrows rose before he immediately snatched it and just as he pulled it free he heard footsteps and a door slamming open above.
"Who's there! I'm armed!"
Gaven hauled the load over his shoulder clutching the necklace to his chest as he bolted for the open door. Skidding through he found no one his eyes searching before catching a hand waving down at the end of the alley. As he heard the movement behind him flickers of light coming to life he ran as fast as he could the sounds of an elderly man calling out behind him.
"Stop! Thief! Thief! Call the guard! Thiiiiiiief!"
The young lad careened around the corner and followed the rest of the group through various alleyways turning this way and that. He lost track of where they were by then the men long stopping as they panted. Gaven dropped the bag down and they grinned giving him light punches and ruffling his hair, the man from the first time spoke.
"Well I'll be, ye did good kid! Almost got us caught but that's what happens. Old man didn't see you did he?"
Gaven only shook his head.
"Well ye get to choose one small thing for yourself as a keepsake mate then we will divide the rest and sell the useless. Small bonus for doing the dirty work eh? Not bad eh?"The man gave that mostly toothless grin as he beamed at Gaven before gesturing him towards the bag.
Gaven held up the black pearl necklace and would detach the pearl from it tossing the chain into the bag. He eyed the object before tucking it away grinning.....
An enormous crash of thunder snapped the man from his dreams as he about moved to his feet ready to fight, only to find darkness. He settled on the edge of the bed and ran a hand through his hair sighing softly, as his gray eyes settled on the Lion pommel of his blade a dark sheen coming from a spherical object held within.
Last edited by ValerieJean on Tue Aug 01, 2017 3:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
The taller man had been frequenting the Church of Torm in Baldur's Gate more often of late. Sometimes he attended the vigils and other times he could be seen kneeling in front of a pew looking up towards the statue. But most time the man had been giving some spare time to assisting the Church that had helped him upon his arrival.
He would volunteer to clean here and there as well as assist in various soup kitchens. Sometimes even taking care of children in their care...
Not even a tenday ago he was watching over some of the children and he could be seen playing with them. He would bring out play swords with him handing a few off to those who wanted to sword fight while carrying a small child on his shoulders his hair being tugged this way and that a chuckle left him while he winced. He would turn his head as he felt a tug on his tunic the lopsided smile in place just as he turned to look down before the man froze a moment as various memories flew through his mind....
Blood....blood on his hands.....blood on the cobblestones below his feet......blood on the blade he held in his hands the pommel gleaming in the moonlight. He looked at the form before him as the body slumped to the ground freeing itself off the blade he held. A soft whimper echoed in his ears from the being before a piercing scream snapped his attention up to spot his true target, a man who scrambled up the form in his arms.
Gaven reeled back the man only seeing hood and mask as he cursed the unknown assailant trying to staunch the blood that seeped onto him and the stones below, the man called for guards and healers whoever might here him as Gaven turned and ran as fast as he could ducking through the familiar alleyways he knew so well. He went on and on til he was well far away from the place. He ripped the hood off his head and tossed the cloth of a mask aside his hands quickly shoved into the waters of a fountain a red tinge swirling into the waters as he cleaned his hands.
Once the water settled he looked at the still reflection of his own features, anger evident in his eyes and across his visage as he panted softly...from there he had to change...he had to make amends even if it took his whole life....
"Mister..."The girl he was staring at who looked no more than ten tugged on his tunic still."Mister...are you ok? I'd like a sword too!"
After coming to his senses though he looked a bit pale he gave a shake of his head and ruffled her hair before producing one for her."I have one just for you Lady Knight! Be wary of the Dragon!"
The other child on his shoulders would give a child like roar as if they were the Dragon he spoke of and the two would chase after the girl his eyes still quite haunted as he watched her.
He had needed to clear his head and no amount of travel along the Coast could do it, he required the Sea and all it would throw at him. The man after days of contemplation found a ship looking for guards and various men with experience out at sea. It was the getaway he needed and so walked up to the man and signed up.
"Sign me up mate, I'm Gaven Arkalis. Guard, Sea dog whatever ye need."
The man took note and gestured to the ship."Get up there, make sure you have all you need we'll be casting off soon."
Gaven nodded giving a lopsided grin as he made his way up the plank his boots hitting the deck as he dropped down looking about towards any others who have gathered. Typical sailors and various soldier like men, he gave a shake of his head as his eyes fell on a woman who looked the priestly part he gave a quizzical look as he strode over towards the woman.
"Pardon but it is rare to see a Priestess on a ship, are you traveling with this or just a ride?"
The woman looked him over and slowly met her gaze with his."I am apart of this crew."She stated matter of factly, leaving Gaven to nod awkwardly as he rubbed at the back of his neck."Glad to have you aboard Miss....?"
"Priestess Elria."She corrected.
Gaven shifted awkwardly again his gaze drifted to the woman then back along the ship.
"Aye, pleasure Priestess Elira. I am Gaven Arkalis.He brought his forearm across his chest, fist to heart as he gave a proper bow to her.
She looked over to him and gave him a nod in acknowledgement though not much more.
"Yes, well a pleasure I suppose."
Days became weeks and weeks became months as Gaven would sit in on her various sermons when he was not tending to the needs of the ship. Now and again he would come across the woman and would indulge in her knowledge of the Deity she was so devout to.
The man was uncertain he knew Valkur, as helpful as he had been, was not his path. But nor was the trek in his parents footsteps. This deity rang true with him though he knew not where to begin for now he listened and questioned her until the Dock of Baldur's Gate was in view once more.
The palm of his hand pushed against the wooden gate of the Chapter House as he made his way in, the storm colored gaze drifting over to the space where a burning had taken place. The man breathed in slowly and slipped a piece of parchment out detailing what all had occurred in a report. Worn creases decorated the parchment as if it had been opened numerous times only to be refolded once more...the man's gaze read over the contents as he held it in left hand, his right flexing as the sound of leather creaking and metal plates hitting could be heard in the marginal silence of the morning.
He rose his gaze to the sky in wonderment if this was some form of test for him, if he had been there perhaps he could of stopped it all. The man may not have been innocent in body or by hand but on the Duchal Lands he was. That was the miss step his Charter or those who held station in it above he made. He folded the parchment once more tucking it away and retrieved another an answer of willingness to meet given.
He would slip that letter away as he strode over towards an ebony horse that was near the fencing, he gave it a light pat along the neck running his hand along it's flank, he occasionally came out to tend to the horses the repetition helping to clear his mind as needed.
"Is this left to Man or one's Deity?"He questioned.
He could only grip his shield and the hilt of his blade as hard as he could to keep his hands from shaking as he waded through the Troll bodies, with various pieces of metal embedded into their skin, back towards the Northern Watch Camp as the Erinyes had got away.
Words were exchanged between himself and the Commander but he was not fully listening to what was said even though he gave answer. Polite murmur fell from his lips though he moved on before he heard answer. Once he returned to the Gate he slid his blade back into its sheath and unstrapped his shield from his arm and onto his back, armored hands lifted before him as he saw the minute tremble.
A flash of a recent memory seared into his mind's eye that had yet to fade away and continued to haunt his sleep.
An angelic face that harbored eyes as black as night which dripped with blood that only marred what could be called a beautiful face. Her hands were outstretched towards him and close to catching him within their grasp while wings of pale white beat behind her in anticipation of taking him with her....
He started after he snapped back to reality the sounds of the Palace District wrapped around him as he laid on a bench, his chest rising and falling quickly a few beads of sweat tricked down his temples. He held his hands up before him again to find his hands still shaking. A grimaced formed in response to what he saw as he clenched his fists tighter and new what he must do.
Often times when he is alone a small ledger is retrieved from one of the pouches on his person, opened he collected two pages of parchment that were nestled between the front cover and first page. There was some creasing but not so much since they had been placed in the ledger. Storm colored gaze drifted over the portrait with simple note and the other not of his own visage, then turned over to read the writing. A solemn and somber look to his features each and every time as he recalled the trial taken, endured by the woman and beginning of something new that was snuffed out all too soon. After a while the pages would be returned with great care and the ledger returned to his person.
DM Ink wrote:There is a sketch of a tired tiefling staring forward at a mirror. It is an uncanny resemblance of Scarlett. Her red eyes stare into the mirror holding the journal and quill and over her shoulder was a man standing with a white mask in a set of grey robes. At the very bottom of the page she wrote the date and the two words "Thank you". A short note was written on the back of the parchment.
Gaven,
I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me these last few tenday. This has been the first time I ever felt like anyone other than a monster. Please know that I tried, I really wanted to be better.. But we both knew how this was going to end. I've seen how people look at me, and sometimes I wonder if they can hear the voices of the nameless dozens I've undone. Maybe they're right to hate me. Creatures like me don't have a next chapter awaiting us.
They found me sometime between here and there, so I promised them information I had no intention on gathering. I can imagine the look on his face under that mask. There is nothing more he loathes then somebody wasting his time. Thus here is my gift to you. Only one person has to die to end all of this. I'll face him on my own. I've done so much wrong in my life, Gavin. Its time I do something right, even if it should be the last thing I do.
Your friend.
Scarlett.
Resting at the bottom of the page are a few water marks long dried.
A small portrait of Gaven with a small note on the corner that reads. "Gaven - My Friend"
