(The Slums) Silent Steps (Kiara Killraven)

by **Antar** on July 2nd, 2011, 2:20 am

Antar smiled as they continued, watching the carriage all along. "My friend, yes I understand the need for power and the requisite need for strength. Without one, you cannot possess the other, but even with strength you may not possess Power dependant upon the situation. There are just as many types of strength as there are types of power. Strength alone only being merely a single facet of Power,:Wealth, Riches, political power, strength, agility, the ability to kill by blade, by magic , or by guile, or pure strength or pure Knowledge. All are the ingredients of power, and yet separate they hold nothing of value."

The side road ran parallel to the sea after the next bend, where it would flow through a series of twists and turns and downhill inclines before it entered the Seaside Market proper." All are different types of Power. And each type of power is paired with a different type of strength that walks hand in hand with it. It is my personal belief that in order to be truly strong, one needs diversity to grant them the flexibility to respond to any situation, or overcome any adversary. A single means of being strong while pure, is almost pure in its impurity as it will not always serve you in a time of your greatest need."

He looked away slightly towards the ocean at the shape of distant seabirds swooping down to dive into the ocean after prey mindful of keeping one ey on the quarry as he muttered bitterly, "even those who once hunted you or kept you as their pawn, or toy..."

Licking his lips Nothshook his head to dispell some bad memories as he quickened his gait. Within seconds he was moving faster through the crowd like a fish swimming in water even though the throng of merchants and other sorts in this section of town grew even thicker in numbers. After a moments pause to collect his thoughts, Antar finished, "I guess in order for me to best describe my thoughts, I can say that the beggar in question holds knowledge. I can say that before he was a beggar, he was a mage. And that knowledge is a type of strength for us to profit by if we choose to harness it; though knowledge from such a source is not without risks of course. And through diligence, that knowledge might in turn be turned into another form of strength to compliment my present abilities, and thus allow me to gain more power later... Do you understand what I am saying Kiara?"

by **Kiara Killraven** on July 2nd, 2011, 2:46 am

Kiara hated how Antar played with words. He never seemed to get to the point. Most questions she asked were simply met by more questions. She was beginning to see how that was a skill that he alone of their group possessed. As she thought about it she had to admit to herself that when he did so he caused her to think. Not just think. It made her think in a way she was new to.

As Antar spoke Kiara tried to mull over what he was saying. Most of it sounded more like mad ramblings then something she could understand. But as he continued on his train of thought a gradual understanding of what he was saying started to take form in her mind. It was true that with her daggers alone she was finding it hard to face some of the more rare things that she had been running into since she had met the others. He raised an interesting point. There were other weapons out there besides her daggers. Just because something wasn't an instrument of killing did not mean it was not a weapon that would give you advantage over another.

Kiara bit her lip as she sunk ever deeper into thought. Had it not been for her fighter trained reflexes she might have ran directly into a rather fat man that had just exited one of the side buildings. As it was she saw him in time to quickly side step and change her pace to match Antar's. She looked over at rogue that shared her hair color as realization hit her. "So what your saying is that the beggar, the mage, has something that we would find more valuable then just miza," she said. She continued to keep her eyes locked on the rogue as she moved through the crowd. Somehow she was seemingly able to keep from running into anyone directly. "What your saying is the mage has something that will give us more power then just coin will. Am I right?"

by **Antar** on July 5th, 2011, 1:20 am

Without the woman getting more then a chuckle in reply, Antar noticed Kiara peek around the corner of a building ast he carriage made another stop. This time one of them disembarking from the seat and going over to a roped off doorway, with a bit of tape loosely hanging between the sidewalls. Getting a closer look, Antar noticed the dwelling in question appeared to have broken windows, and a series of damaged tables which could be seen from the outside. It wasn't long before he noticed the one man coming back out with a large bundle wrapped in sailcloth hooked over one shoulder.

A package that was roughly thrown into the back of the wagon before one of the ruffians grunted and flicked the reigns of the horse to get it moving on. Antar could hear the animal winnie and neigh a moment, as the clip-clop of it's hooves clattered off towards the port.

Noth began following again, this time taking a moment to glance in the shattered window. There was enough light in the morning sun to notice inside the household the signs of broken glass bottles and a main room which looked like it had been cleared out in a hurry. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a sickening magenta colored stain on the wood, seemingly still slick and moist before his vision passed out of view as he continued following the quarry.
His brain categorized it as blood, and bits of gut. Whether human, Konti, or otherwise; he didn't know.
All he knew was that for the moment, was that someone or something had died in that house and the realization made him become deathly silent and eerily focused as he righted his full attention back towards the pair of ruffians.

Still realizing he hadn't answered the woman's question, Noth nodded slowly and spoke, "You're quite right, the old mage does possess knowledge, and was known back in his day of being quite well versed in the study of reimancy, auristics, and glyphing. If you truly are in the nature of being quiet, auristics might be a good thing to study, If you become strong enough, who knows? Maybe you'd be able to tell if someone's sneaking up on you, or if anyone's just around the corner from you. I'm not to sure, I'm not even sure if the knowledge might be worth it later on, but it seems like a small thing I might be interested in... how about you?"

by **Kiara Killraven** on July 5th, 2011, 6:10 am

Kiara's dark eyes watched the men with the same cold intensity that they always shone. As with all things even Kiara's eyes were deceiving. Outwardly she looked more like a predator stalking it's prey. Behind those dead eyes lay an intense curiosity. Antar still had not told her what the trinket that they were supposed to get for the old mage. It didn't take one of the brutes long to load something else in the back of the carriage and then climb back into the driver's seat next to his comrade.

The man that held the reigns to the horses flicked them almost immediately when his partner slid into the seat next to them. Kiara gave the two a few moments before moving from her hiding place. This street wasn't as crowded as the one they had just came from but never the less she still attempted to walk closer to a small group of people working their way down the street and blend in with them. The snowy haired woman turned her head towards the house as they passed it. She thought she caught a glimpse of her favorite red liquid coating the inside walls of the structure but couldn't be sure from her current distance. She took a large inhalation but all she could smell was the dirt and filth of those around her.

Kiara listened to Antar's response to her words with only half of her attention. She was more focused on keeping the two they were following in sight then actually continuing with their conversation. She side stepped a steaming pile that one of the horses conveniently left in the street as it walked. She glanced back at Antar to indicate to watch out for the pile before she answered. "I've heard tavern stories of Auristics users being able to track a man by his aura alone. Even hours after he had passed through the area. You think the mage will teach us though? Mages are notoriously distrusting."

by **Antar** on July 6th, 2011, 5:37 am

Taking a walk on Sunberth's streets was a treacherous one of course, not just because of the abberant activities you ran into being commonplace here. But rather in part to all the glops of horse dung, that were scattered as close to the harbor as the beasts were used to haul all sorts of cargo.

Keeping one eye on the prize he listened to Kiara's last words, only grunting noncommitedly in reply. If he logically didn't think he might coerce a lesson or two from the beggar then he wouldn't be taking this risk today.

The wagon was nearing the docks, Noth could smell the overpowering salt air, and hear the cries of seabirds which flew over the streets above. Some perching on the tops of houses. Their quarry turned the wagon to the left into a gated courtyard with high walls that served three medium sized warehouses. Noth slowed down and skirted off into a side alley, watching from afar as the two ruffians disembarked, one reaching back to carry the wrapped bundle from the back before the pair were greeted by a few other warehouse guards and they all went inside... disappearing from both their sights.

Three guards, of heavy stature closed the gate and took up guard positions, looking bored as they did the usual 'halls and walls duties.' Anything dealing with them might prove to be painful.

Noth scanned the area slowly, and then pointed trying to draw Kiara's attention to something. The rooftops around the complex were a mixture of flat and angled. But the archer knew the assassin might surmise what he was thinking. If one couldn't go through the gate without making some noise, then perhaps it might be best to find a different approach. Without a word, he motioned towards a small trellis next to a chimney that could be seen in an alley out of view from the guards, If one climbed that carefully they could get up to the street tops where they might get a better view of the warehouse itself... and determine the next step from there.

by **Kiara Killraven** on July 7th, 2011, 7:20 am

Kiara let a thin smile secretly cross her face as she heard the muffled grunt from Antar. The white haired rogue obviously thought he could get something from the old man, even if the beggar refused to pay them in the way they wanted. Besides if he refused they could always just not give the old man the prize that he had hired them to get. As the pair followed their quarry further along Kiara could tell that they were getting closer to the bay. The salt in the air filled her nostrils. Over head birds of the sea could be head making their own very unique calls. The while haired woman tended to stay away from the bay but when she did she found herself slightly amazed at just how different the sea was from the city.

Kiara's muffled foot steps slowed as they wagon turned a corner and was lead through a large bared gate. Making sure not to be seen she quickly and stealthy followed Antar into the shadow of the alleyway. From her vantage point beside her partner she watched as the two ruffians one of them walked up the a few men that stood outside of the warehouse waiting on the two. The other one moved to the back of the wagon and grasped the box that he had loaded into it not too long ago. Straining slightly the man carried his package over to the group that stood there waiting for him. It only took him a few moments to catch up with the other man that had been in the wagon. The men seemed to exchange words quickly before they all disappeared into the warehouse.

Three guards closed the gates that the wagon had passed through. The three took up a silent vigil around the gate. Kiara didn't notice the frown that had crept onto her face. They were pretty tough looking. She had no doubt that together her and Antar could take them but it would take time. It wouldn't go unnoticed either. From their vantage point they could not tell just how many other guards there might have been on the other side of those walls. Over all it would be a foolish gamble for them to try to go in through the front. A gamble that could cost them their prize and possibly even their lives. Her eyes were drew to the trellis next to a chimney that could be seen in an alley out of view from the guards. She moved over to it quickly. It had been a while since she had played on any roof tops. Slowly and carefully she climbed it, being careful not to lose her grip or cause too much noise. Quietly she slipped onto the roof and peered over the large walls and into the warehouse compound.

by **Antar** on July 9th, 2011, 7:48 am

Like a monkey to a tree, Noth began working his way up the trellis, hand over hand, foot over foot as quietly as he could to duplicate Kiara's feat. At the top of the trellis he paused a moment to transfer his handholds over to the chimney, his fingers feeling in the shadows for a hold to hoist himself upwards. It took one fumbling try where nothing but a bit of soot fell from the chimney to the ground below, but Noth made it up to the rooftops safely, without falling.

Antar knew in the future he'd have to be doing a lot of work on his climbing skills. It was only a natural part of the business after all.

When he reached to a vantage point beside Killraven, Noth took a moment to cup his hands around his eyes. It wasn't as good as a telescope the mariner's used but it was a good way to focus one's vision. Very carefully he looked over the wall into the warehouse compound. Surprisingly, aside from the three at the gate with the portcullis there were only two workers he could see in the ground floor courtyard, each of them tending to the horse and carriage it seemed, with no other guards on the wall.

The Warehouse the targets had entered was a two story affair, more like a giant barn of sorts, and it was the only building of note besides a privy and two other warehouses like it, and the grounds had a heavy cloying smell of brine, and fish.

Taking his time to signal Kiara's attention he pointed his index and middle finger in a fork at his own eyes, telling her to 'see' as he pointed out there was a small gap of about four feet between the compounds walls and a building close by, about three house lengths away over slanted roofs. If they could get there, they might be able to jump over to make their way inside.

by **Kiara Killraven** on July 10th, 2011, 5:17 am

Kiara did not turn and look at Antar as he moved up beside her. Like her he was doing his best to not cause any noise as they moved about on the roof. It wasn't likely that they were going to be heard. But fate rewarded the cautious. Kiara slowly moved to the side to allow Antar more breathing room as he slide into place beside her. She painstakingly lowered herself back to the roof to look into the compound.

She felt more then saw Antar cup his eye with his hands. She did not have the faintest idea as to why he was doing such a thing. Right now however it would not have been a good idea to bring it up. The inside of the compound appeared to be far more empty then she would have guessed. Outside of the three guards the only people in sight were two men tending to the horses of the wagon that had only recently arrived. She finished scanning the area and as she still could not see anyone outside of those five she had already seen.

She directed her eyes to where Antar had indicated and noted a small space between the walls surrounding the area and the main building the two they had been following had disappeared into. Her eyes followed the wall all the way around as it cut a corner at a ninty degree angle and then passed right below where the two of them were hiding. The top of the walls were flat enough for them to be able to stand on without falling and being about three foot wide it was more then wide enough for them to be able to move along fairly quickly.

Her eyes turned back and watched the two men as they continued to tend the horses for a few more moments. Her eyes continued to follow the men as they lead the horses to one of the other buildings that she guessed acted as a type of stable. As they men disappeared into the stables she turned her eyes back to the three guards on duty. They kept their, albeit seemingly bored, vigil seriously and had their eyes still glued on the gate.

Slowly and as silently as she could managed to got up to a crouch and slide off the roof. She hit the wall of the compound lightly, bending her legs as she landed to cushion the fall and cut down on as much noise as she could. She didn't look back to see if the guards had heard or seen her. Such a thing would waste time. If they had seen her they would have called out an alarm. The fact that the only sounds she heard were the highly muffled sounds of her feet hitting the wall told her that they hadn't spotted her. She made it to the cubby that Antar had pointed out and dropped into the compound in the same way she had left the roof, and waited for Antar to catch up with her.

by **Antar** on July 10th, 2011, 7:30 am

Keeping one's feet on a slanted roof isn't that difficult so long as you keep your balance, Noth thought as he sidled over to the area where it was close to the wall and waited until Kiara had gone first. Keeping her covered with his longbow in case of discovery. When she had disappeared over the side to the compound Noth secured his bow and prepared to follow.

It was about a four foot jump so Noth took a moment to check underneath the alley to see if there was anything or anyone which might spot him before easing back a foot or two. Taking an extra step to propel himself forward allowed him to bridge the gap with some momentum, yet he pinwheeled his arms to stay on top of the wall itself before crouching down. With his hands firmly anchored on the wall he lowered himself as much as possible before releasing his grip to fall down to the grounds below. Antar landed with a cat's grace immediately transferring his momentum to a crouch to cushion the impact.

They were in, without delay he moved towards a stack of crates and hid himself behind, only to peek around later to survey the area.

The ground floor of the compound was a mix of cobblestones and dirt, and the warehouses themselves reeked with the smell of fish guts. They were more like huge barns then anything else; and the smell of brine was heaviest the closer they were to them. Taking a look, he noticed the warehouse's themselves were about three stories high, with a small set of steps running up them from the outside to a door to what he presumed to be a second floor loft. There was also a smaller door on the ground level at the base of the steps which lead into warehouse where the pair had vanished. With a simple hand motion he looked back towards Kiara and gestured to what he saw. If they were of the same mind they'd realize they had a couple of choices here.

They could stay together and go in one of the doors, split up to cover more ground, or venture around to the large entrance doors of the warehouse and slaughter anything in their path. All in all, Noth wasn't quite partial to the last option as they still did not know anything about the numbers inside.

Whatever they did they'd have to move quickly to preempt anyone coming back from the stables from seeing them. They couldn't afford to be cornered here.

by **Kiara Killraven** on July 10th, 2011, 8:45 am

Kiara waited for Antar for what seemed like ages. Despite the lack of effort it had taken for her to move along the wall and slide into the compound her heart was beating quickly. The throbbing sounded like thunder in her ears as she strained her body to be as quiet as possible. She knew her heart really wasn't as loud as it sounded in her ears but she still felt like it threatened to betray her. Her hand darted for one of her daggers instinctively when she heard a muffled sound beside her. Almost as soon as she reached for it though she realized it was just Antar finally catching up to her.

She her white haired companion take the lead as he moved over to the crates. Unfortunately for the people who used this compound their floor consisted of a mixture of cobblestone and dirt. If they had spent a bit more of their money and done a better job of making it out of cobblestones, it would have been much harder for them to move without being heard. They dirt however helped prevent most of the sound. The fact that it was so easy for their steps to not be heard Kiara moved swifter this time when she moved up next to Antar.

The smell of fish guts assailed her senses as she moved closer to the warehouses. Peering out from behind the crates she let her eyes scan the scene before her. Her eyes told her what Noth's had. They had a few choices here. They could split up. But that was a bad idea in her opinion. With them spreading out the chance of them getting caught increased while their man power decreased. They could have went around the front guns blazing but that was something an amateur would do and would likely mean their deaths. So that left two options. They could either go in on the ground level or the second floor. In her experience people didn't look up as often as they looked around. The chances of them making it in and out without being seen were greater if they used that entrance. They would also have a better vantage point if the situation was too hot for them to go any further.

Kiara motioned to Antar. She clenched her fist but left her two fingers pointing up. Having had them spread apart she closed them to indicate them staying together and then pointed at the steps that ascended along the side of the warehouse and ended at a small door on what she guessed was a second floor loft. If he followed her train of thought he would likely also be assuming that if there was a way to the door from the outside there would also be a way to it from the inside.

She moved around to the edge of the crate peered around for a moment. From the spot she stood in she could not see anyone outside of those three guards that still seemed more intent on guarding the gate then patrolling the compound. Then again they likely weren't used to having to guard the compound against things inside it as well as outside it. Kiara crouched as she moved from the cover of the crates to the steps. She moved at a swift walk more then a run, using the balls of her feet to help keep her steps silent as she moved. After she reached the steps she slowly drew her dagger but kept it hidden under arm. The last thing they needed at the moment was to get caught because she had gotten careless and the guards had been alerted due to the glare of the sun against her dagger.