[Killroy's Kennels] A Svefra's Best Friend (Kailani)

Koroshtoph and Kailani meet when Kailani visits the kennels to buy a dog

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[Killroy's Kennels] A Svefra's Best Friend (Kailani)

Postby Koroshtoph Ephael Petyr on October 12th, 2018, 11:32 pm

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31st of Fall, 518 AV

The animals at Killroy’s were of a surprising quality. Though strays were plentiful in the streets and alleys of Sunberth, they did not seem to make up the bulk of the stock. The dogs, which were the most useful and therefore the chief source of income, were well taken care of. Most were in good shape, and when one arrived that was hungry, beat up, or otherwise abused, their state improved after only a few weeks of being under Hannah’s care. Whether this was out of genuine care for the creatures, or whether it was simply a merchant taking good care of her wares, Koroshtoph did not know. The woman certainly did not give the impression of being heartless; yet to run any business in Sunberth one had to act in accordance with the environment. That is to say, with some degree of ruthlessness. Or so the Syliran imagined.

It was afternoon and Koroshtoph was stood at the entrance of the kennels main hall, waiting to be summoned by the owner after she was done with the current customers. The customers in question were two men, each representative of its own breed of thug. The younger of the pair was of an age with Koroshtoph. A mocking grin had played on his face as they passed the entrance of the establishment. It had been directed at the Syliran, or more precisely at the hand that he had put on the hilt of his sword upon the pairs approach. He had tried to put on a face befitting a seasoned mercenary whom such a thing would not faze, but the derisive chuckle which the man had let out made it clear that the act was transparent.

The other thug was older. He bore a grim countenance decorated with many scars, which extended also onto the bald of his head and onto his bulbous nose. The callous eyes underneath furrowed eyebrows, and a thin, jowl framed mouth, which bore a tight frown, conspired to give an effect of a choleric brute with an edge of intelligence – exactly the type of man that could keep the other one in line. This one had not seemed to notice Koroshtoph at all, nor did he acknowledge his companions chuckle.

Though the newly-baked mercenary did not have a particular affinity for animals, he could not help but feel sorry for each creature that left Hannah’s care. It was rare for an animal to be bought by someone who would or could provide it a better home than the kennels, but the fate of those bought by such men as these two seemed particularly grim. Or perhaps the bigger and meaner dogs, which such types tended to buy, were of a compatible temperament to their new owners. Koroshtoph thought of a black hound, its breed unknown to him, which growled and bared its teeth him each time he passed the enclosure where it spent most of its time. None of the other dogs ever approached it. That one would fit right in, perhaps.

It had been a couple of chimes since the thugs had entered the kennels, and Koroshtoph could hear them speaking to Hannah. Judging by the gruff voice, the older man did most of the talking. As far as the Syliran could tell, they were looking for a tracking dog that could follow a scent. He wondered what kind of quarry they had in mind, but something told him they would not be hunting for food.
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[Killroy's Kennels] A Svefra's Best Friend (Kailani)

Postby Kailani on October 14th, 2018, 7:01 am

“Thank you,” Kailani said with a smile as the merchant across from her handed over her purchases-a leather worker from whom she’d just purchased a collar, a leash, a belt, and a pair of low-slung black boots. All seemed in more or less good repair, though she couldn’t help but think the man had overvalued his goods. Oh, well. It wasn’t like she had much of a choice. The Seaside Market was relatively safe compared to some of the other areas in Sunberth she might try to purchase such goods.

She tucked the items into her pack as she moved on to the next vendor, a butcher’s cart selling meat of seemingly good quality. Kai bought a pound of venison sausage and a pound of pork sausage, then stuffed them in her bag along with her other goods. Thanking the burly merchant, she kept moving until she arrived at a blacksmith’s stall.

The same reason she was examining a pair of steel punching daggers was the same reason she’d picked out a collar, leash, and far more meat than she’d ever consume. It seemed the Svefra woman was stuck in Sunberth for longer than she’d imagined, and she needed to make sure she could protect herself. Kailani intended to stay alive as long as possible, and an unarmed woman in Sunberth was as good as dead. Once she was finished at the bazaar, she was headed off toward Killroy’s Kennels-by the end of the day, she’d be armed with steel and a guard dog, and hopefully that much safer for it.

Kailani handed over her mizas in exchange for the punching daggers, one promptly stashed in her boot and the other in a small holster at her belt. Her head dipped in gratitude as she departed from the blacksmith’s company, her steps carrying her over to a stall full of all manner of clothing. She’d left the vast majority of her possessions aboard her quarters on The Wayward Tabernacle, and unfortunately, that had included most of her clothing. She sighed with heartfelt relief as she made her selections, her arms laden with a variety of different garments by the end of the sale. She'd selected two dresses, three shirts, three pairs of breeches, two pairs of stockings, four sets of undergarments, a cloak, and another backpack to carry it all in. Some of the stitching was of questionable quality, and the wool was not the softest she’d ever felt, but she thought it would hold up well enough. It was certainly better than wearing the same outfit all the time.

Well satisfied with her purchases, the azure-eyed seafarer headed back toward her casinor, The Sunset Tide. Climbing back on board, she stashed both packs in her quarters and made quick work of unmooring her ship and setting out toward the river. Her trip to the Seaside Market was only half of what she wanted to accomplish that day, but the other half was what she was far more excited about.

A dog. Kailani sighed happily as she stood at the helm with her hand on the wheel, winding down the river toward the area of the city known as The Den. Her pod had always kept a dog or two aboard The Wayward Tabernacle when she was growing up, the animals serving both as rat population control and adored companions. She was only too eager to have such a companion again. What she was not eager about was the kennel’s location. The Den was not exactly known as a safe place, though, luckily, Killroy’s Kennels was on its outskirts. Still, she had armed herself that morning with good reason. She had no idea what her reception might entail.

It was only a matter of minutes before she pulled ashore near Killroy’s Kennels, emptying one of her packs until it contained only the collar, leash, a couple sausages, and enough mizas to purchase the dog. She double checked the weapons at her belt and boot, threw her new cloak over her back, and squared her shoulders. The woman could only pray she’d reach her destination unmolested.

She had only just stepped onshore when she found out she would have no such luck-a wiry woman with a dirt-streaked face approaching her with a nearly toothless grin. Thin fingers clutched the hilt at her waist, pulling it halfway from its holster as the woman neared. “I’d stop there, if I were you,” Kailani said in slow, careful Common. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if you come any closer.”

A harsh bark of laughter parted the other woman’s lips before she hissed, “Hand over the bag, blondie.” When Kailani’s expression told her firmly enough that she would do no such thing, the stranger growled and ran at her. She jumped toward the Svefra and attempted to tackle her, but luckily Kai was prepared for the impact. The sailor stumbled, but did not fall, countering the woman’s attack with a well-aimed punch to the face. A feral grin pulled at Kai’s lips as the woman staggered backward. The hand wrapped around the dagger pulled it fully from its sheath, then feinted toward the woman’s stomach. However, her opponent recovered more quickly than the Svefra thought possible and managed to avoid the blow.

Both wary of the other, the pair circled each other. Kailani occasionally made a lazy swipe with her newly acquired weapon, but her adversary was quick, and the sailor was still clumsy with the knife. Kai managed a shallow slice across the woman’s ribs, but with her guard left open, she found herself knocked back with a fist flush against her eye. The Svefra cried out in pain and anger alike, free hand flying up to her face as the other set upon her. A flurry of blows rained down on her chest and shoulders before Kailani managed to push her back. She took a deep breath and struck out again with the dagger-this time managing to bury the blade between her assailant’s ribs. The woman crumpled to the ground in surprise as the Svefra took her leave. She didn’t bother to retrieve her blade, in case the woman rose again. She could always buy another.

Kailani half ran, half stumbled the rest of the way toward the kennel. Luckily, the remainder of the trip passed without incident, but her eye was already starting to swell shut. Well, this has only reaffirmed my need for the dog, she thought wryly to herself as she arrived at the door. She breathed a deep sigh of relief as she entered, firmly shutting it behind her and stepping inside. Hopefully, this part of the day would go more smoothly.

Upon seeing the other patrons, she didn’t feel too confident in that hope. The two men had the rough and tumble look about them that often bespoke of trouble, and she could only pray they didn’t look her way. She dropped her aquatic gaze to the floor as she waited for them to complete their interaction with the proprietor-one that would hopefully not last too much longer. The sooner they leave, the sooner I can. No eye contact, no talking, and hopefully they’ll just walk on by.

Ledger :
- 36 gold mizas and 8 silver mizas


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Kailani
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[Killroy's Kennels] A Svefra's Best Friend (Kailani)

Postby Koroshtoph Ephael Petyr on October 18th, 2018, 9:51 am

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Chimes passed with the unsavory pair still inside the kennels. From what Koroshtoph could hear, they were trying to get a discount. The words that the older man spoke were not overtly aggressive, but there was an undertone to his voice which bespoke a menace. Of course, Hannah was not and could not be the kind of woman to back down to intimidation. If she were, the many thugs in the vicinity of the unfortunately located establishment would be sure to smell blood. From what the Syliran had heard about The Den, he was thankful that the kennels were at least not deeper within. Even though she had hired him for his professed ability with the sword, Hannah had warned him about straying deeper into the district. This was saying something for a city like Sunberth.

A low growl came from inside. In response to a snarl from the older patron, one of the bigger dogs which Hannah liked to keep close-by as a deterrent, had apparently risen to attention. But just as Koroshtoph was about to go in to make sure things were okay, he saw a figure approaching the kennels. It was a woman. She was moving in a way which implied distress, and when she came closer the Syliran could see that her eye was swollen. He had wanted to advise her from entering while the men were still inside, but she was in such a hurry that she flew right by him, closing the door behind her before he could find the time to speak. Busy day. The ineffectual guard sighed as he moved to follow her.

When he entered, Hannah’s face made it plain that she did not appreciate the interruption. However, when the black hound that now stood at her side let out another low growl, this time directed at the Syliran, she put her hand on its head to calm it. “Well, what are you standing there for? Ask the woman what she wants, and I’ll be with her as soon as I’m done here.” She made a short pause to underline her request, then turned back to her customers. “So, where were we?” Her confidence was certainly impressive, yet Koroshtoph could not help but be slightly annoyed at her manner. Banishing the frown that had formed there from his face, he turned his attention to the customer assigned to him.

From the long blonde hair decorated with sea themed trinkets, to the well tanned skin of a sailor, every aspect of her being made it clear that she was a Svefra. Even her eyes were the characteristic reflection of Laviku’s domain. He saw them wisely averted from the considerably less pleasant patrons, the younger of whom was looking at her and the Syliran with a wolfish grin. Koroshtoph repaid him with an ineffectual scowl of contempt before speaking to the woman. His tone was cordial, and he tried not to stare at her swollen eye.

“You’re looking to buy a dog, right?” It was a safe assumption to make. Unless she’s in the market for a fish? Luckily, he had not said that out loud. Not letting uncertainty stay him, he continued, pointing at the door on the west side of the establishment. “They’re through there. I’m Koroshtoph by the way.” He motioned her to follow, adding the introduction at Hannah’s glance. You didn’t hire me as a salesman. It was what he had wanted to say, but contented himself with a slightly agitated nod in her direction.

If the Svefra would follow, they would find themselves in a room full off kennels housing dogs of various breeds. A small Ovatalis Terrier would follow them closely behind, clearly attracted by the scent of the contents of the woman’s pack.
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[Killroy's Kennels] A Svefra's Best Friend (Kailani)

Postby Kailani on October 18th, 2018, 10:00 pm

Kailani looked up with a small smile as the kennel worker approached, pointedly keeping her gaze averted from the more interested member of the thuggish pair. Don’t even acknowledge him, she continued telling herself as she kept her attention focused on the new man. “A dog, yes,” the sailor murmured in response, still clearly shaken from her altercation only moments before. Her heart still raced, her blood still pounded. And the lascivious grin of her fellow patron was doing nothing to ease that thrumming nervous energy.

“A pleasure to meet you, Koroshtoph,” the Svefra responded, her voice a little stronger now as she followed him toward the kennel proper. Her Common was slow and careful, tripping a little over the unusual name. “I’m Kailani.” She kept her gaze forward as they walked, even though she could feel the smaller man’s eyes boring into her back. Please be gone when we come back.

When they passed through the doorway, the Svefra breathed out an audible sigh of relief. Her shoulders relaxed as she gazed around the crowded room before the little white dog following close behind caught her attention. With a laugh, she dropped to her knees in front of the small terrier, digging for one of the sausages in her pack and breaking off a piece. “Is this what you want, little one?” A wag of its tiny tail met her question, Kailani smiling and offering the morsel to their diminutive companion.

She gave the dog a gentle scratch behind its ears before she rose back to her feet and took another look around. There were animals of all shapes and sizes held within the various kennels, some shy and withdrawn, others begging for attention, and others downright aggressive. Barks and growls of every pitch filled her ears as Kailani started wandering up and down the pathways between the cages. She needed a tough dog, one who wasn’t afraid to fight for her, but one that wouldn’t take her own hand off first. It seemed a rather important balance.

“How long have you worked here, Koroshtoph?” the Svefra asked, her tone friendly enough as she sought to fill the quiet between them. “Do you enjoy it?” She continued to meander about the animal-filled room, waiting for one of the canines to call out to her. Too small, too shy, too friendly, too fluffy…each one she passed was more disappointing than the last until she came to a set of kennels with a tougher-looking set of dogs. This is more like it.

At last, Kailani stopped in front of a kennel toward the end of the aisle, cautious amber eyes meeting hers as she crouched down. This one was an Akinva Deerstalker with a black and brown brindled coat and a muscled form well over a hundred pounds. As she crouched down closer to his eye level, a low warning growl rumbled in his throat, but she persisted; something about this dog in particular called out to her. She pressed her palm against the thin bars of the kennel and patiently waited, her gaze never leaving the animal’s in front of her. At first, his growl continued, but once he saw she made no threatening moves toward him, he shuffled forward. His cold nose pressed against the skin of her hand, giving it a few testing sniffs before going over her palm with a swipe of his tongue. A slow smile spread over her face as his tail slowly started to wag, her heart almost instantly stolen.

Rising back to her feet, she turned back to Koroshtoph. “What do you know about this one?” she asked, indicating the brindle beauty in front of them with a soft smile. It was obvious her decision was already made. “Is there somewhere we can take him out?”


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Kailani
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[Killroy's Kennels] A Svefra's Best Friend (Kailani)

Postby Koroshtoph Ephael Petyr on October 25th, 2018, 11:51 am

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Kailani had not been the first to have trouble with Koroshtoph’s name, but in contrast to certain previous encounters, and despite her relatively lower skill with the language, she did not take the route of coming up with one of the many abbreviations that the name offered. The Syliran appreciated it.

As the Svefra knelt down to spoil the little white terrier with the coveted sausage, Koroshtoph looked uncomfortably at the mess of growling and barking that surrounded them. He was not an animal handler by any stretch, and the dogs had not gotten used to his presence in the short while that he had been working with Hannah. Turning back to the terrier, he hoped for a moment that Kailani had made her choice as the pup rubbed its small head against her palm. Its friendly manner would come off as cloying to many a patron of the establishment, and its solicitation was more likely to be met by cold disregard at best, and a swift kick to its fragile body at worst. The Svefra was a rare visitor that seemed like she would provide the little fellow a loving home. No such luck. She rose up and meandered for some time from kennel to kennel, not seeming impressed by much of what she saw. When she broke the silence, it was to make small talk. Koroshtoph hesitated a moment, considering the timeline before giving her a reply.

“About four weeks, I believe.”

Did he enjoy it? That question was harder to answer, and it was not one that the Syliran had spent much time considering. “It pays well enough. And it keeps me busy. I’m usually not in the position of a salesman though.” As he said it, a thought flashed through his mind that his skill might well make him well suited for such a job. Perhaps he could make her want to take the little terrier? The thought became more tempting as Kailani rather deliberately made her way to kennels housing bigger and bigger dogs. He took a step towards her when she finally stopped to crouch before a large hound with short fur and pointed ears. It growled, and the Syliran winced as she put her hand against the cage. Once this beast lunges at the bars, she might be amenable to something a bit more manageable. It did not come to pass. Pretty soon the Akinva’s tail was wagging, and the look Kailani gave the Syliran made it obvious that no amount of trickery was going change her mind. The question she posed put him utterly out of his depth.

“Well,” he started, “if you need a pet I wouldn’t have recommended that one. But he seems to have taken a liking to you.” The words of defeat were accompanied by a careful stroll closer to the cage. The dog growled at his approach. Koroshtoph frowned. “I don’t know that he likes me quite as much though,” he said half to himself before looking back at Kailani. “I imagine he’d be a good guard dog if you can keep him from ripping you apart.” his gaze slipped to the Svefra’s swollen eye. “Might even drive away a marauding a thug in search for an easier target.”

“Quite the salesman.” Hannah’s voice came from behind them a chime or two later. Moving on swiftly from the jab, she opened the kennel, took a leather leash in hand, and put it around the dogs neck. “It’s an Akinva Deerstalker,” she said, handing the leash to Kailani. “Great dog for hunting or guarding. This one’s mean enough, but if he likes you he’ll use it to protect you from anyone that so much as looks at you sideways.”

“Might want to rein that instinct a bit,” Koroshtoph chimed in as the Akinva directed another low growl at him. Hannah gave a chuckle before returning to her customer.

“If there’s nothing else, Koro here can take care of the rest of the purchase. You can take him out front to see if you’re the right match.”

If Kailani had no further questions for the more knowledgeable proprietor, Hannah would leave the room to rush to some task on the other side of the kennels.
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[Killroy's Kennels] A Svefra's Best Friend (Kailani)

Postby Kailani on October 28th, 2018, 4:00 am

“I’m not here for a pet,” Kailani murmured as Koroshtoph went on with his reluctant description of the dog, a dog which she could hardly take her eyes off of. Was this what love at first sight felt like? “I’m sure you’ve noticed the black eye by now. That’s why I’m here. I’d like those marauding thugs of Sunberth to at least think twice before taking a swing at me.”

The Svefra looked over with a smile as the kennel’s proprietor came onto the scene. “Akinva Deerstalker? Quite the name,” she remarked as she took hold of the leash the woman offered. Kailani could feel the animal’s tension radiating from the other end of the line, unsure how he would react now that they were no longer separated by metal bars. Slowly, she crouched down in front of the brindle canine with her free hand outstretched to show she meant no harm. The dog looked on with caution as she went into her pack and pulled out a thick venison sausage. Immediately, drool gathered at the corners of the animal’s mouth as a smile tugged at the corners of Kailani’s.

“There, that’s a good boy.” Hand flat, she offered the sausage link, the Deerstalker eagerly accepting the meat. He was careful not to bite her hand as he ate the sausage, tail wagging when he finished. He looked up into her face as if to ask for more, the Svefra laughing while she dug another out of her bag. “Glad I thought to get these.” He took the second link as gently as he had the first, scarred nose questing against her palm to make sure he’d snuffed up every last crumb. Laughing, she scratched under his chin, only to be rewarded with another wag of his tail. “Might almost be too sweet, this one,” she said, though the enamored expression on her face showed they were only words. It was clear this was the dog she’d be taking with her.

Kailani thanked Hannah when she left before turning back to the nervous-looking Koroshtoph. “You don’t actually work with the animals, do you?” she observed, walking with him toward the entrance of the building. His uncomfortable demeanor and reluctance to get too close to the dog painted that picture rather clearly. “What do you do here?”

The Svefra was relieved to note that the men from earlier had cleared out, tension easing in her shoulders as they made their way through the lobby. The dog walked calmly by her side, Kailani glancing down at him curiously. Scars streaked his fur almost as regularly as the black through the brown, but there was a still a pep in his step that a clearly harsh life hadn’t dulled. Perhaps we’re even better suited than I thought, the sailor mused silently as they pushed through the front door, the animal more on alert now that they were outside. A bit scarred, but still willing to see the best in the world.

She nodded in satisfaction as she observed his taut musculature, the focused angle of his posture, the attentive prick to his ears. This was exactly what she needed, a guard animal with acute attention to their environment and the capacity to react at a moment’s notice. While Kailani felt both sympathy and rage for the horrors the dog must have suffered in the past, she was glad for the history that would have shaped his instincts in the present. She needed a grizzled veteran protecting her.

“I’ll take him,” Kailani declared after barely even a moment of letting the dog sniff around. It was clear she’d made her decision as soon as she’d laid eyes upon him. “Honestly, I don’t think I could leave here without him. He’s perfect.” As if he understood, the dog’s ears pricked up, and his tail was in motion. Turning away from his inspection of the yard, he nudged his head against her hand, and the Svefra felt her heart melt all that much more. Pulling a pouch full of mizas from her pack, she handed it over to Koroshtoph.

As if on cue, two figures slid out from either side of the building nearly as soon as she handed the money over, Kailani quickly recognizing them as the thugs from before. Her heart sank. Of course they’re still here. Just my luck. Her new dog’s hackles rose as the pair approached, feral snarls ripping from his throat as he strained against the leash. It was clear he did not have a good opinion of the two, and it was obvious why. Both moved toward them with swords at the ready.

“Now, now, ya didn’t think we was just gonna leave, did ya?” the younger of the pair said as they closed in, his tone almost friendly. The undertone of menace was not lost on Kailani, however, her heart beating a quick, staccato rhythm within her ribs. “If that bitch inside won’t give us what we want, why, I reckon we’ll just take it.” His eyes were on the dog, but it wasn’t long before they travelled over the curves of Kailani’s lithe form. The double meaning in his words was clear, and it was enough to make the sailor’s skin crawl.

“I’d stop right there, if I were you,” the Svefra warned, putting enough bravado into her words to fool even herself into thinking she wasn’t terrified. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking we’re easy prey. The dog here doesn’t seem to much like you, and I’ll not hesitate to let go of this leash if you take another step closer.”

Twin barks of laughter sounded from both of the men, the two glancing at each other before looking back at Kailani and Koroshtoph. “Big words from such a little slip of a thing,” the older man said with another laugh. “Your words won’t be so big when we’re done with you, girl.”

“Get ready,” Kailani muttered to her companion before saying louder, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you!” The Svefra dropped the leather lead in her hand and the Deerstalker was off, a ferocious mass of muscled rage intent on death as he raced toward the smaller of the pair. The Svefra leaned down to pluck the dagger from her boot and settled herself into a defensive stance. Two fights in one day? How could she expect anything less?

Ledger :
- 20 gold mizas


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Kailani
Daughter of the Sea
 
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Joined roleplay: September 16th, 2018, 5:16 am
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