At The Bazaar [Rhuryc]

[Gabrielle Seawind]

40th of the Day, Fall of 511 A.V. After a while of simply traversing through the strees of Syliras, Gabrielle made her way to the Great Bazaar in the Dyres District. She watched as the people went about their business. Merchants hyped about their wares, and potential buyers looked around, looking skeptical and sometimes haggling for a bargain. There were all sorts of items being sold, from furniture to books. One stall which sold books caught Gabrielle's eyes, but she knew her pockets weren't heavy, and she was here to run some errands for her mother, yet again. Her mother was an avid fan of the bazaar, but rarely liked setting foot in cities, and hence often sent Gabrielle to do her errands. Not being comfortable being in cities was a common trait among the Svefra. Gabrielle wasn't comfortable with it herself, but it was something she knew she had to get used to. It had only been a few weeks ago when Gabrielle was here purchasing silks, and now she was back because her mother had liked the silks she brought back. Her mother patiently waited on their casinor out in the port. Gabrielle spotted the silks store she had purchased from weeks ago. The merchant was an old man with a wiry smile, and he held up his silks as Gabrielle approached him. "Twelve gold mizas for just a squard yard, miss," he told her. "Twelve?" replied Gabrielle as she scrunched her nose in irritation. Weeks ago, the price had only been ten gold mizas per square yard. She was about to voice her concern when she suddenly heard a ruckus from nearby. Several women screamed and men were yelling, and she turned her head to see what was going on.

[Rhuryc]

Damn. Twice damn. Where were the blasted Knights when you needed them? Rhuryc grunted and stepped forward into the mess of blood. He pushed past the hysterical crowd as the two men in the center sprung from their prey and scattered. Who had the balls to commit murder in the middle of Syliras? With a rush, Rhuryc launched himself ahead and grabbed the arm of a retreating assailant and pulled him around. He ducked his torso beneath the wild, sweeping knife, his boots scuffing across the stone causeway of the bazaar. One had gripped the hilt of his blade while he shoved the man away and into one of the vendor stalls. A rampant crash accompanied the scrape of steel against leather as Rhuryc sheathed his blade and follow the bastard into the splintered wood. Debris flew. The murderer snapped up and jumped with his arm thrown forward in a vicious stab. Rhuryc lanced out with his arm once more and knocked the offending weapon away. His sword followed in quick succession, the edge of the blade sinking deep into the bastard's stomach and drawing a torrent of red. Now where did the other one get to? Alert, and well aware the Knights would be there shortly, Rhuryc spun about and removed his blade from the man's gullet. He wiped a hand across his brow, shifting blond hair aside as he scanned the immediate surroundings, calm, careful. Most would assume he was a Knight. Clad in leathers, the brunt of his torso was covered by a thick, brown coat, he wore humble colors but otherwise he had all the features one would expect of a soldier. Tall, prime, weathered by obvious experience. And yet that did him little good here. Ah, there! Rhuryc stepped forward and gave chase to the second man. Their trek did not go far. Realizing he was outmatched, the murderer snapped his head rampantly about, looking, desperately searching for something to his advantage. Just his luck, he lunged at the lone girl by the silk merchant, the short blade in his hand drawn with intent to take a hostage.

[Gabrielle Seawind]

While she was a foreigner, Gabrielle was well aware that Syliras was strict with its laws, and committing crime (much more something as grave as murder) was met with much punishment. She knew that the city was practically free of crime, and so she never expected to see such a scene. Almost on cue, a Knight (or so she thought) stepped in. As a fight ensued and blood was spilled, she could hear the silks merchant behind her muttering nervous curses. Some frightened city men and women stood huddled in corners. Gabrielle watched with much focus as the strong looking knight with the blond hair and confident swings dealt with the situation. A young girl was crying to Gabrielle's side. Gabrielle turned her head to look at the girl with the tear-stricken face. She was screaming for her mother, and Gabrielle assumed that she had probably been separated from her amidst the crowded bazaar and the chaos. The silks merchant was trying to hush the girl and was prodding her with his cane roughly. The girl was young and small, and could easily be ignored. Amidst what was happening, she practically blended into the scene and probably went unnoticed to everyone present. "They killed mama!" the girl cried. Aghast, Gabrielle realized that the murder victim had been her mother. A heavy load of pity swept over her and she leaned down to the girl. "Where's your father? Little girl, who else are you with?" she asked in the most gentle tone she could. As she concentrated on the young girl, the sounds of the fight behind her became dim to her ears. With a surprised gasp she was sent stumbling to the ground. The young girl screamed and ran away, and the silks merchant quickly left as well. A man's strong grip pulled her to her feet, and cold steel was pressed against her throat. She could feel blood trickling down her neck, and she cursed herself for being so stupid. The man was easily two times her size, and she had been caught off-guard. However, she was not one to play a damsel in distress. Despite holding a hostage, the man seemed frightened, and the moment his grip weakened the slightest, Gabrielle reached up with her free hand and all her strength gripped the arm holding the short blade, restraining it. Swiftly, before he could react, she brought up her knee and hit his stomach powerfully, causing him to give a loud yell back up to a wall behind him. She was free, but Gabrielle had no weapon with her and he still had a blade, and she stepped away as he approached her with a furious expression. She expected him to lunge at her again, and she half-wished the blonde knight would quickly step in.

[Rhuryc]

There was little he could do but watch. Rhuryc came to a stop once the man had his prisoner, a young girl from the looks of her, his blade lowered to show a lack of aggression. His brow narrowed. The Knights would be here shortly and he very much doubted they would understand vigilantism. He said nothing and locked eyes with the murderer, staring, waiting for some kind of advantage or mistake. They stood for what seemed like hours. Until, that is, the hostage rebelled. Huh. Of all the possibilities. Ah, now. Steel clashed against steel in a righteous clang. With a quick step the man brought himself forward and around the defenseless girl, his body placed between her and the assailant with both weapons poised against one another in a test of strength. Rhuryc won. His free hand came about and impacted the other man in the chest, the sheer power of the blow sending him back and away without much fuss. Rhuryc shifted and continued ahead. He turned his blade to the flat and swung it about, the edge slamming into the side of the murderer's head and sending him sailing into the cold, stone floor without much hope of reprieve. "Coward." Rhuryc grumbled and sheathed his blade. With a kick he sent the short sword sailing away, out of sight and mind. His head snapped up and swiveled around, green eyes searching the crowds and corridors for any sign of the Knights. Huh. Slow today. Before long his vision came to rest on the woman he had 'saved'. Foreign. Go figure. Hopefully she spoke common. "Are you alright? If you don't wish to be interrogated by the Knights you should be off, they don't tend to take kindly to people doing their jobs for them."

[Gabrielle Seawind]

Gabrielle watched as the blonde man defeated the criminal in a quick fight. The battle had been on the blonde man's side entirely, and Gabrielle felt nothing but admiration in his fighting abilities. Like everyone else around her, Gabrielle found herself simply watching and was trapped in a reverie. She was on the edge of her toes, and when the man sheathed his blade and addressed her, the Svefra returned her attention to the present. By his words, the Svefra understood that even though he resembled one, he was not a Knight. She wondered why he would do such a deed if it meant nothing for him. In addition to slaying the criminals, he had rescued her. "I did not do their job for them," replied Gabrielle to him in a quick and matter-of-factly tone. The people around them were moving again. The crowd had kept quiet in his last fight, also on their toes as she was. But now that it was over, some of them dispersed quickly, while others approached the dead criminals in order to get a look at them. They whispered at each other, gossiping. Gabrielle continued, "If you think about it, you did their job for them, and you should hurry off. Let us go." Without waiting for him to respond, she put a hand on his elbow and quickly walked away with him in tow. She turned a corner and continued in her stride, not waiting for him to respond. A few people glanced at them as they passed, but they practically went unnoticed as most of the crowd’s attention were on the dead criminals. Amidst the crowd, they were probably forgotten. As they walked, Gabrielle could not help but notice how people stepped aside as two of the real Syliran Knights came running by. The Knights dashed towards the area of the crime, and Gabrielle and the blonde man were nothing to them. "My name is Gabrielle. What name do you go by?" she asked the man as she finally stopped in an alley where few people passed. "I must thank you for what you did. Is there any way I may do that?" OOCHope it's okay that I took control of your character a bit. If you want me to change it, please just tell me.

[Rhuryc]

Rhuryc quirked a brow at the young woman. He certainly had no intention of sticking around for the Knights to take him to the holding cells, so when Gabrielle took the lead he very much followed suit, his head kept down and out of sight. Not that it would do much. When questioned the crowd would not easily forgot the large fellow. He had a habit of standing out. Not to mention the blood that now graced the exterior of his coat. Damnation, how many times would he have to wash the blasted thing just this season? "Rhuryc." His baritone was low when he deemed that he was allowed to speak. He found a bit of humor in how calm the girl was. "But that can wait, I'd rather not stop so nearby. I have little desire to explain myself to the self righteous." He offered her a slight nod and motioned to the edge of the alley, beckoning her to follow as he started off again. There was an immediate familiarity with the area. The man made his way from their temporary reprieve back into the streets with a keen expertise, navigating the strange, twisting tunnels and back-water streets of the city as if he had built them himself. They dipped back around the Bizarre only to emerge near the city gates. Even then he did not stop. They cut across the meshing traffic and into another set of alleyways, twisting and otherwise becoming far too lost for anyone to even hope of following them. All the while Rhuryc remained steadily forward, glancing back only on occasion to ensure that his partner was still on his heels. Albeit, he did not seem to mind if she fell behind. That would be one less loose end, he imagined. When he finally stopped they were in a calmer part of the city. The crowds were sparse and scarce and few guards made themselves present. Even so, the man made an effort to examine the surroundings, glancing about to even the smallest shadows to ensure at least a limited degree of privacy. He sighed when it was all done and turned back toward Gabrielle, his countenance shifting from something serious to a far more jovial and welcoming gesture. "You'll have to forgive me for that, the Knights can be overzealous in their pursuits. I, ah. Well." He blinked and glanced about at the collection of alleyways. "I can take you where you want from here." His vision flickered from the stone walls to the girl, apparently already forgetting about her last question.

[Gabrielle Seawind]

The Svefra followed his lead. She was not a person of the lands, and while this was one of the cities she had frequented in her life, she still lacked enough knowledge about it. She had no idea where he led her, but was comforted by the fact that he had the mind to bring her along. Gabrielle had no intention of dealing with the Knights, whether it turned out to be a simple interrogation or an undue punishment. When Rhuryc stopped in his tracks, Gabrielle took a cautious look around their surroundings. It looked familiar, but she didn't have an exact idea as to where they really were. There were no clear signs to define their location. "No, it's fine, it was probably a good move," replied Gabrielle. She wasn't really putting much thought into her words, or even paying much attention to him. She always felt uneasy not knowing where exactly she was, and that sense of discomfort was taking over her at this moment. "My casinor is at the docks," she told him carefully. "You don't need to take me there, but you can at least point me the way." At that point, she placed her attention back to him. She looked him up and down and noticed the blood on his armor. It was not a pretty sight, and she habitually scrunched her nose. "Why did you step in if you're not a Knight, Rhuryc? And I believe I asked you if there is any way to repay you. Do you need something I can give you? I have a few coins. It's not much, but it's better than nothing." She spoke his name as if she was testing it. It was hinted with a tone of both suspicion and curiosity.

[Rhuryc]

"There's nothing you have that I desire." Blunt, forward. If there was any way to 'repay' him, Rhuryc was not the sort to imagine it. "I have coin enough. From the looks of you, no offence, but it does seem as if you have that much spare yourself." When he paused his eyes followed the girl's gaze to his coat. Blood. Right. With a grunt the man pulled an arm out and removed the thick material, revealing the worn tunic and muscled arms beneath. The bastard was built like a wall. Large, imposing, he was a warrior, he was hard as stone just be appearance. A few scares ran down what little exposed skin there was, but one could imagine the other wounds that hid themselves beneath so many layers of obfuscation. He fumbled with his coat for a moment, folding it under an arm and allowing it to rest on a hip. Blood was a good way to get caught. With another glance, Rhuryc eyed the alleys in his over zealous manner before making his way toward one of the varied paths. "Come on. This way, it'll be faster and you won't get lost." He motioned with his free hand and started off again, albeit this time he moved at a reasonable pace. He followed a few twists and turns - nothing so complicated as the original course - and eventually the duo found themselves back out on one of the main city causeways. Far away from the market. For most part Rhuryc was quiet, concentrating a bit too much on avoiding the horde of patrolling Knights. "If I hadn't of done something there was a chance those men could have escaped." He said, suddenly, as they neared the docks. "Crime does not last long in Syliras, but letting two murderers free for no matter how short a time was not an option." Quite the strange fellow.

[Gabrielle Seawind]

The Svefra gave a chuckle. He was blunt but he was right -- she didn't have much coin on her. It was typical for a Svefra not to carry too much money since they put much more value in skills and objects and bartered as such. It was just as good that he opted not to accept her coin, because she would probably need it soon. As they walked, there were several Knights they passed, but they did not as much glance at them. The time of being cautious was nearly over for Gabrielle, and she was almost sure they would not be sought after anymore. The city people didn't give them any attention as well, save for one man who eyed Gabrielle suspiciously. The girl eyed him back with an icy stare, and she knew he only did so because her race was not trusted by most. "If so, you are a good man," said Gabrielle. There were several ships out in the docks, and three which were right next to each other were casinors owned from member of her pod. Her own casinor came after the third casinor and soon they stood in front of it. She was part of a fairly huge pod, and most of the ships of her pod members were out at sea. As she glanced around, Gabrielle couldn't see her mother anywhere near. The docks were busy, but not as busy as the great bazaar. Men were loading their ships with merchandise, and a few children were playing tag as a woman scolded at them to be careful not to fall into the sea. Gabrielle nodded at a cousin who was carrying a basket of vegetables in her arms. Her cousin glanced at Rhuryc and shot Gabrielle a questioning look, but she said nothing as she continued on her way and Gabrielle knew she was going to be questioned later. "But I agree, it was just as well that you did what you did... those two lowlifes deserved it. Anyway, thank you for bringing me here. This is my ship, and I'll be safe from this point on," she pointed at small ship no more than twice the size of an average rowboat. The sails were down, and Gabrielle herself knew she would probably spend a few more days in the city before going out to sea again. However, near the waters and her other fellow Svefra, she believed the Knights couldn't touch her. This thought comforted her.

[Chevalier]

Gabrielle

LORE

• Being Taken as a Hostage
• Rebelling Against Your Hostage Taker
• Acquaintance: Rhuryc

EXPERIENCE

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	1
Unarmed Combat	2
Rhetoric	2
Interrogation	1

Rhuryc

LORE

• Hostage “Negotiations”
• Acquaintance: Gabrielle

EXPERIENCE

Skill	XP Earned
Longsword	2
Brawling	1
Rhetoric	2

Storyteller Notes

Secret :

Wrapping things up here, if you have any questions or concerns let me know.