Completed Unknown Allegiances (Kynier)

Kelski meets someone new in the Temple of the Unknown.

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Unknown Allegiances (Kynier)

Postby Kelski on May 22nd, 2018, 3:20 am

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Kelski was quickly learning when Kynier didn’t want to talk about something or didn’t know what to say he simply didn’t say anything. That was fine with her because silence was a sort of answer in itself. No. A whole host of reasons crossed her mind, all based on her experiences not his, but it was enough to quietly shut her down and back her off. Most of the reasons came from dark places and were of a negative bent. She realized how it looked and what she seemed to be.

Darvin was making her more. So had Jaren, in his own way.

It didn’t matter that she judged her abilities as a sort of toolbox for survival and new skills such as magic as additional tools to add to it. One might not suspect a Kelvic to be really good at math, planning, and visualizing things, but she was. Kelski was smart. It was how she had survived. It was what made her an exceptional jeweler.

And in a way, his silence had been a rejection. She realized too that Sunberth had been changing her because she’d never be so bold in other places she’d lived. But in Sunberth one used what one could of another and moved on. Was that what this was? Kynier gave her nothing of himself. That was fine. It was his to have and hold. She had her own tools and would hold them close, taking a lesson from him if nothing else. Kelski had been to bold to ask him to teach her.

Tending his cuts made her feel good. She liked taking care of people. It was in her Kelvic nature to fuss over someone on to one to one basis. But his second set of wounds looked bad. It smelled rotten. “You need to pour alcohol in this one… leave it open. Get medicine. It’s going to give you a fever and if it’s not treated by a good healer, it will become more than just a wound. I would also leave it open to the air to drain and dry.” She said, certain. He’d need it tended by more than someone like her. Should she warn him about the doctor in town? No. Rumors might get back to that doctor. And Kynier had said he had lived in the city for two years. Likely, he already knew the doctor tortured his patients even as he saved their lives.

Kelski nodded in regards to his words, but she worried he’d be losing an arm and then swinging a weapon wouldn’t be much of an option. One armed people didn’t live long. Certainly loosing an arm to a creature like her was death. He had to know his situation though. And it also made sense why he was tired. “I’m glad you know some weapons work. It means you are a well-rounded person.” It was a stupid thing to say, but it was all she could think of.

Then he spoke of servitude and loyalty. She remained silent, not willing to help him understand the urges Kelvics had that they could not deny. He wasn’t one, and thus he couldn’t know. Just like he couldn’t understand the differences in being a slave. That wasn’t servitude. That was slavery. Serving someone was a joy to her, Master Li had been the sunrise and the sunset in her days. He’d been so old and had needed so much help. Master Li was kind and had a lifetime of knowledge he lovingly passed on to her. Making him happy had made her days complete. He’d taught her well, paid her fairly, and treated her like a daughter rather than the apprentice that she had been. She just wanted that again, someone who needed her as much as she needed them. Kelski was a realist though. She understood that Sunberth housed a different sort of people. And her odds of finding another Master Li was one in a million.

Kelski watched as he made his soiled bandages vanish. It was something she’d never seen before, but she noted it none-the-less. It would be handy to get rid of bodies, that much was for sure, though in Kelski’s case, she’d eat them if she had a choice… at least the best parts of them.

“You are very talented.” She said, nodding towards the space where the soiled bandages had been. “But I can tell you are tired. Magic has costs, doesn’t it?” Kelski speculated. She hoped he lived close because between his wounds and his magic, she could tell he was walking a thin line towards exhaustion. “You shouldn’t be here in this state. Your wound needs healing and you look like you need rest.” She said quietly, more in observation keeping her tone gentle rather than rudely pointing out he was showing weaknesses he shouldn’t be. He seemed even tempered, but one never knew.

Kelski wondered if she should offer to escort him home. It was too bold though, even for her.

She sat in silence at the foot of his broken column, content with the silence and the atmosphere of the Temple. Kelski stretched out her legs contentedly and tipped her head back to look up at him curiously. If she returned home The Barracks would be rowdy and Jaren would question where she was if she tired to slip through his room and into her own quarters. Yawning, she thought of the nest she’d made at the bottom of the old wardrobe in his spare room and how comfortable curling up in the pile of blankets would be just about now. She had a lot of work to do tomorrow, but that thought wasn’t going to let it ruin the moment. It would be best to just live in the now, enjoy the current moment, and take what was going to come with a grain of salt.

Now was good and she was going to enjoy it.

The dawn streaked through the broken Temple and highlighted Kynier’s face a bit. She watched the play of light across his features and wondered what the human was thinking. He had an expressive face that she didn’t mind looking upon. So, she watched him quietly as he fiddled with something beneath his shirt. She wondered what it was but did not ask. She’d pried too much today and with a complete and utter stranger.

“I spend more time with Darvin so I know him better. I do not know much of Jaren. He’s an unusual man.” Kelski chose her words carefully. Her true owner was fairly different than anyone she’d met yet so far. “He’s eccentric. He likes collecting beautiful and expensive things that others covet. He looks in the mirror a lot and worries more about how people see him than what he actually is inside. To him people are not people, but objects and decorations. He’s the only son of Sun Birth’s Warmarshal, which I think is an important position. They gave him many jobs in the past, but he’s done abysmal at them. He lost them territory. So now hes in charge of the main housing of the gang. And even that building is now falling down. He lives in excess in his chamber but others have holes in their portion of the roof. I don’t understand him, but no one will challenge his hedonistic ways because hes a brilliant swordsman. Having the Warmarshal as a father means he was holding a sword before he even walked.” Kelski said softly, shaking her head. She closed her eyes and lapsed into silence, thoughtful.

Then she heard it… the delicate scratching of something familiar. The Kelvic tensed, slowly faced towards where the sound came from and narrowed her eyes to use her sharp eagle vision. She went from calm relaxed young woman to kelvic predator in a heartbeat.

In the dawn’s dim light and because they were being somewhat quiet and Sunberth’s rats were bold, a rodent stepped out into the light. Kelski was quick, more driven by hunger than she was driven by caution. Her dagger arched out, sent off from her body by a flick of her wrist, and buried itself in the fat thick side of the monstrous rodent almost as big as a cat that stepped out from behind some rubble in its early morning quest for tidbits. The Kelvic was on her feet in a heartbeat and light footedly running across the stone to close the distance and chase down the staggering rodent. It hadn’t been a clean kill, and by far wasn’t her best throw, but it did the job of slowing down the rodent to let her get a chance to get her hands on it and kill it. It staggered off, screaming, and the Kelvic had it dead before Kynier could blink.

Kelski bent over it, took its head off, and slit it throat to vent and peeled back the skin on the animal, before carefully gutting it and leaving the offal for the rest of the rats. Had she been alone, she’d have eaten it whole and not suffered for it. But she was mindful of Kynier and what sensibilities he might have. She carried it back to the pillar by its tail and carefully began to slice off still steaming pieces of meat to eat. Between bites, she complained a moment.

“They don’t like to feed slaves well in The Barracks. Thin brought and hard bread is the usual. But I was supplementing my food with rats which I like just fine….” She ate as if was ravenous, not minding at all that the meat was raw. There was a surprising amount of meat on the rat as she made short work of it, tossing bones off towards the offal pile as she stripped them of flesh with straight white teeth. “Then the boys, the youngest ones, brought in a cat. She was okay… didn’t take too much of my kills. But then she had kittens and now there are nine of them. Rats are so hard to find now. I might have to eat the cats, but the boys are very fond of them. If they treated them badly I would eat them to save them a life of misery. But they don’t… they love them … so they’d be missed if they disappeared. So I leave them alone.” Kelski grumbled, a bit of fresh blood dribbling down her chin. She didn’t offer to share the raw feast with him. Humans liked their meat cooked. Instead she just ate quietly.

“Do you have a master?” She asked, curious suddenly, tossing him a question almost out of the blue. Maybe that’s why he didn’t mention teaching her magic. Maybe he was only an apprentice. She was used to apprentices. They’d run amok everywhere in Lhavit, causing mischief if their Master’s in the towers didn’t keep them busy enough.
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Unknown Allegiances (Kynier)

Postby Kynier on May 22nd, 2018, 5:20 am


Kynier could see that he had upset her in a way. The forced look of non-expression. Nothing is what he should have said. Only just meeting her and trying to make comments about things he had just heard. He cursed himself for his ignorance.

"It does. Some schools of magic cost more than others. But mages always have more to give than what they have. So we developed a term, Overgiving. It's when we use more magic than we should've. And it can have terrible repercussions." The temple was beginning to fill with light through the cracks. "Well I haven't heard of any trustworthy doctors to go to. And my purse is nearly empty. I got some Belltor which is supposed to help wounds heal. Burns like a hot coal though."

She made herself more comfortable during the silence. Kynier supposed that was a good sign. Especially since they had a tense introduction. Then she described Jaren. The man was sounded a bit like a sociopath. Certainly self centered. But what she said was all he really needed in order to know the man. Everything else would just be finer details. Son of the Warmarshal, but falling short of the legacy. Resorting to opulence to disguise his shortcomings. That sort of man would be easy to disturb should Kynier ever need to.

Kynier felt her tense abruptly. "What is it?" he whispered. Then he could hear something in the dark but couldn't tell what it was. A form entered one of the traces of light. By the time Kynier realized it was a Brat a dagger had already pierced its hide. Kelski's speed at killing the creature was impressive. Though he couldn't see what she was doing he heard the blade scrapping through the creature. Liquid splattered in the silence and something made a sickening squishy sound as it impacted on the floor.

Kelski turned around, holding the dead, headless, gutted Brat by the tail. She sat back down and began to consume the meaty portions of her kill. She's a predator. Good to know. Kynier couldn't look away as she spoke. It wasn't a gory mess like he would've expected had someone told him in advance. Kelski was efficient, stripping muscle and ligaments from the bone with her teeth before tossing them aside. "I've never really cared for cats myself," he said slowly.

When she asked about his teacher he cleared his throat and finally looked away. Strangely hungry all of a sudden. "I had one, yes. An Eypharian by the name of Bourin. We was what I guess you would call a rogue wizard." Kynier looked around the temple. Watching and listening for anything or anyone else that may come their way. "He did not have ties to any magical institution that he told me of. Magic supplies were limited and we didn't live in luxury by any means. He found me a few days after what happened with my parents. Took me in. Saved my life."

It was the first time he had talked about Bourin since leaving. Kynier just realized how much he missed the old man. "There were many things that he still wanted to teach me before I left to come here. I didn't feel I could afford to wait any longer though. The only thing he could've told me that would've gotten me to stay was the story to why, he only had five arms. His sixth had been cut off at the elbow." Kynier looked back at Kelski. "Ten years I knew him, and he still wouldn't tell me. But that's probably the most personal thing he could ever tell me. Because, Eypharians love all their arms more than I love..." Kynier tried to think of something for comparison, but his mind found nothing. "Anything," he finally said before shaking his head.

With fascination Kynier gazed at the clean bones scattering the floor. His stomach gurgled. It had been a long time since he last ate, and watching Kelski's ravenous appetite had reminded him of that. He chose to ignore it and just sit there with her. Thinking about all the things they had spoken of. Reflecting on the things he had said, or not said.

"My knowledge of magic is still very limited. Otherwise I'd be willing to teach," he said surprising himself. He didn't realize he was so tired that so many of his defenses were down. But now he had spoken, and there was no reason to stop telling the truth. "Reimancy, the ability to summon and manipulate the elements is the most dangerous school to learn. It involves a ritual that puts the apprentice's life in jeopardy, and the teacher's skill is what determines if they live. If I was to try that with you now, you would most certainly die." Kynier looked into her pale eyes again. A sad smile on his face. "And I'd hate it if I killed the one person in this city that I could perhaps call a friend."

"The pathetic display of your heart disgusts me, Kynier."

Kynier stood up with a grunt. Wondering if he should offer a hand to help her up, he decided against it. Kelski was quite independent he could tell. And he didn't want to offend her anymore than he may have already. "We should probably leave. The city is awakening, and your masters will question your absence."
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Unknown Allegiances (Kynier)

Postby Kelski on May 22nd, 2018, 5:10 pm

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The Kelvic finished her impromptu meal and almost glanced around for more. She could hunt out the Temple and feast because she knew Jaren was a late sleeper due to the fact he almost never went to bed early. If she got back too soon she’d be forced to find something to do until Jaren was out and she could head back to her workshop without disturbing him. Half formed plans developed in her mind as the man began to speak.

She wiped off her hands, cleansed her dagger on her sleeve, and reapproached. Kelski settled on her heels in her easy resting position, perfectly balanced on her toes. Kynier had been speaking and she’d been listening with interest. Overgiving? She’d never heard of it. But then again she’d never taken classes in magic that Lhavit had offered since she had been too busy with her apprenticeship. That didn’t mean she hadn’t picked up some knowledge, but her’s was on a very rudimentary basis.

Kelski nodded at Kynier’s comment about reputable doctors. “A friend of mine was gravely wounded and went to the doctor everyone knows. The doctor tortured him even as he healed him. He was lucky to live.” Kelski admitted, shaking her head. “I would not trust to go to him even if gravely wounded. There might be someone else in the tent city that secretly heals.” She said, whistful and sure someone there would know if enough light coin was passed about and people were asked. That would be doubly true if it was known he actually had a wound and wasn’t just a spy for one of the gangs. They were always pressing useful people into service.

A healer would be incredibly useful.

“If you have another means, I would use it.” She said quietly, her voice concerned. You have very few other choices.

When he admitted he never really cared for cats, Kelski laughed. It was a light dusky contralto that caused her face to light up and in a way made her look very young. She brushed part of her unruly hair out of her eyes and absently tugged at one of her piercings through skin on her chest. The Kelvic shook her head and said…. “Well, maybe they will all disappear one of these days.” Her strong suit wasn’t being subtle and if questioned she wouldn’t hide her dislike…. But there were other ways and maybe she could arrange them where she didn’t have to lie about not being involved.

The Sea Eagle sighed thoughtfully.

She liked Kynier. Kelski really did. The Kelvic didn’t want to like him, but it was happening nonetheless. He reminded her a lot of another of her friends, Neras, who was still young and figuring out his place in the world. Her new acquaintance started talking about how he had survived after his parents died, and she paused to listen. Full light was now streaming through the Temple causing the young jeweler to crouch in rays falling through dusty undisturbed air. She kept her quicksilver gaze trained on him as he spoke, reading as much into his words as she was watching his expression.

Bourin seemed like he was an amazing find. Kelski was glad the man had found someone to help him that didn’t take advantage of his situation. That was rare in the world among humans. She watched compassionately as Kynier explained further, exposing more of himself to her. Kelski understood the dangers and knew the risk he was taking by speaking of these things. “I bet loosing an arm was incredibly traumatic for him. I know it would be for anyone. They have plenty but still I think perhaps a loss is a loss, regardless of the how it came about. Maybe the how wasn’t even important. The important thing is that he moved through it and moved forward.” Kelski commented quietly.

She tilted her head and suddenly felt much better as her companion explained more about his magic and his own limitations. These were vulnerable things he should be telling no one. She met his gaze as he admitted he couldn’t teach her about magic because it was too dangerous. Kelski nodded. She understood well enough and she would not mention it again.

She said nothing about him saying he would kill her trying to teach her. Kelski was far stronger than she looked. Everyone underestimated her ability and will to survive. She was a child of Akajia, and for good reason. The Goddess did not have weak followers. But it wasn’t an argument for today.

“I’d like to be your friend.” She said softly, rising as he did. Kelski said nothing more as Kynier suggested they leave. She only nodded, and started quietly threading her way back towards the entrance, leading them both out of the temple. Jaren wasn’t here. There were other places to search before she returned home. Jaren might already be there… home and in his chambers. If he was not, then she still had a bit more time to search.

“I’ll gladly meet you here or somewhere else later… in a few days if you want to spend some more time together. I’m not exactly sure how to be friends, but I’m willing to give it some time.” Kelski said as she paused on the broken steps of the Temple. The sky was lightening rapidly now, making it harder for Kelski to use the shadows to help her.

Still, she’d find a way. The Sea Eagle paused long enough to hear Kynier’s answer and perhaps a suggestion for another meeting place, and then she was off at a light sprint, headed in the direction of the Sun Birth’s territory. If he did indeed want to meet, she’d agree to it so long as she could get away.
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They laugh at me because I am different.
I laugh at them because they are all the same.


Painted Sky Jewelry (The Wildlands) | Crossroads Jewelry (The Outpost)
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Kelski
Freedom is earned. Fight for it.
 
Posts: 1598
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Joined roleplay: July 3rd, 2014, 11:08 pm
Location: The Wildlands of Sylira & The Empyreal Demesne
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Unknown Allegiances (Kynier)

Postby Kynier on May 22nd, 2018, 8:03 pm


The sound of Kelski's laugh was as surprising as it was pleasant. Kynier seemed to have managed his way through her stern temperament. With her laugh she seemed more full of life, less worn down by her tribulations. He didn't consider himself a humorous person. But Kelski's laughter and how it affected her made him wish he was. But then he would just be a fool. A short lived one.

When she replied to his remark on friendship he felt hopeful. Apart from Bourin he never really had any friendships to speak of. Kynier smiled to himself as she led the way out. He paused briefly to look back upon the chamber they had been in. Remembering that she had been talking to someone when he found her. No one else was around though. That would be left for another time. Perhaps that was one thing they truly had in common.

"Looking for a way to connect? That's a dangerous thing to do. The stronger it becomes, the weaker it makes you."

Kynier followed the Kelvic outside to the steps. She proposed meeting again. "How about three days from now? But we should meet somewhere else. The western side of the river outside the Riverside Isle park?" Kynier watched her run off to the west from the steps. He was very curious about her, and who she really was. The only way to find out would be to take the collar off. Kynier turned his gaze on the rest of the city, wondering about the other slaves out there. Did any of them have a fraction of the will power that he saw in her?

Tired and hungry, Kynier started his walk back home. Though he had not found out anything about Merv, he had learned a lot. He would even describe it as a nice night.
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Unknown Allegiances (Kynier)

Postby Kelski on May 28th, 2018, 4:16 am

GRADING!
Kelski

Experience:
Investigation +5, Observation +5, Interrogation +4, Socialization +5, Medicine +1, Hunting +1, Dagger +1, Teaching +2, Planning +1

Lores:

Sunberth: Location Of The Temple Of The Unknown, Shadows: A Shadow Named Dawkar, Kynier: Reinmancer, Temple Of The Unknown: Smells Like Old Power, Kynier: Highly Intelligent, Kynier: His Personal History, Kynier: Wounded, Sunberth: History of Mage Hatred Comes From Obal Causten, Kynier: Has Secrets She Will Keep, Kynier: Very Private Person, Kynier: Sometimes Answers Questsions With Silence, Kynier: Isn’t Squeamish, Kynier: Knows His Limits, Kynier: His Mentor Bourin, Kynier: Very Humble About His Knowledge Of Magic, Kynier: Someone She Likes,

Kynier

Experience:

Observation +5, Investigation +5, Reimancy +1, Auristics +1, Interrogation +4, Voiding +1, Logic +1, Socialization +5, Teaching: +3, Planning +1

Lores:

Sunberth: Location Of The Temple Of The Unknown, Temple Of The Unknown: Smells Like Old Power, Kelski: Kelvic Slave Jeweler, Kelski: Odd Coloration, Kelski: What Kelski’s Aura Looks Like, Kelski: Her Personal History, Kelski: Knows Some Of Kynier’s Secrets, Kelvics: A Race Designed To Serve, Darvin: Kelski’s Guard, Jaren: Kelski’s Owner, Kelski: Hunts Rats, Kelski: Predator Animal, Kelski: Good With A Dagger, Kelski: Wants To Be His Friend

Note: Your autocorrect turned Rat to Brat and it set me to laughing through part of your posts. I could just see Kelski murdering little bratty kids. Let me know if I missed anything or you disagree with the grades.
Image
They laugh at me because I am different.
I laugh at them because they are all the same.


Painted Sky Jewelry (The Wildlands) | Crossroads Jewelry (The Outpost)
User avatar
Kelski
Freedom is earned. Fight for it.
 
Posts: 1598
Words: 2015452
Joined roleplay: July 3rd, 2014, 11:08 pm
Location: The Wildlands of Sylira & The Empyreal Demesne
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes
Medals: 11
Featured Character (1) Featured Thread (2)
Mizahar Grader (1) Trailblazer (1)
Overlored (1) Donor (1)
One Thousand Posts! (1) One Million Words! (1)
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