66th of Summer – 511 AV Ravok, defiantly existing in the midst of untainted nature, stood in the center of its lake like any other day. The mild summer weather warming the bones of an unusual guest to its streets. A Symenestra, Venidus Larkspur, navigated the streets attracting more eyes than he would have liked. Ravok was a difficult city to live in regardless of race, but being anything but human made survival in the city... inconvenient. Harassment seemed inevitable and slavery lurked around every corner. The Symenestra preacher brandished bruises he had received for “giving a funny look” to a group he hadn’t even seen. Today, like every other day, Venidus had no plans, no meetings, and no purpose. He wandered the streets of Ravok merely to understand the essence of evil and soak in any information that may aid his work with the Rising Dawn. Still, there was no definitive purpose. The aforementioned reasons were more byproducts than the source. He was oddly aware of his surroundings, his mind still thawing from a particularly chilly night. A path sprouting from an alley across the canal caught his attention. The path called to Venidus due to a gut feeling rather than anything observable. His journeys often consisted of him just wandering with intuition as his guide. He peered down the canal and then looked the other way. In lieu of a bridge, Venidus jumped on a nearby Ravosala and then leapt off to the walkway on the other side. The passengers and driver shouted curses that faded as buildings began to separate them, but the Symenestra hadn’t heard any of their words. His mind properly thawed, he was now lost in frivolous thoughts. As usual, it led nowhere. The sun now hovered at the center of the sky, heralding midday. Just as Venidus began feeling the tendrils of hunger wrap around his stomach, a powerful shove sent him sprawling against the wall. This particular path was empty. In any other city, it was probably not ideal to be mugged in an empty street, but in Ravok, a Symenestra an empty street meant an easier escape. Today’s assailants were a group of three young men, almost children. One look and Venidus could tell that slavery seemed the most likely threat. The combination of a thuggish appearance and some expensive trappings seemed indisputable proof. Another blow came from a steel rod. The Symenestra’s fragile frame collapsed under the heavy blow. A kick to face sent him reacquainted him with the wall. They were stronger and Venidus tended not to carry around his crossbow on days like these. One of the men said something and grabbed Venidus by the arm, lifting him to his feet. In an instant, Venidus was bounding away, having used his agility and innate acrobatic skills to dive and roll between a gap his assailants made. He was fast and soon put enough distance between him and the three slavers to slow to a walk. His nose was bleeding and the steel blow to his shoulder may have dislocated or sprained it, but in comparison to other days, he had escaped without much harm. He made his way to quieter and emptier part of the city and slumped against a wall. He needed a moment to regain his energy. |