What's a Konti Doing Here? (Closed)

[Aello]

Fall 21, 511 AV Notes: Nearing the final bell Aello walked silently through the city streets, easing her tired form closer and closer to its center, where most of the city's populace seemed to be situated, at least, during this portion of the day. Her left hand curled around the center of her father's bow, while her bag and her quiver sank against the space between her shoulder blades. Her daggers rested against her thighs, largely unnoticed, save for the cool air that came with the presence of the cursed one. It chilled the girl to the bone. It has been a long day, you should find yourself something to eat, and then settle in for the night, Aello's mind whispered to her. A day like so many others in this city, and yet, so unlike them as well. After all, it is not every day that you come to meet one of the snake people. A woman... Aello nodded to herself as the moon was lost behind another line of tall, ominous looking buildings. Wooden expanses, which seemed to glow a milky white in the darkness. Dark clouds swept across a dark blue sky, the whistling wind pushing them along, whenever it felt as though the fluffy masses had lingered for too long. Chosen to watch over the people within the city's confines for a greater period of time than was expected of them. Aello was tempted to make her way to the Silver Silver, knowing that it was both familiar, and a place that offered food which was edible... enough. But something stopped her, pulled at her heartstrings. Something caused her to stop moving, directly in front of a window illuminated by a line of small white candles. As she stood in the street, listening to the water which lined the canal lap up against its side, she stared past the flickering light which hung towards the glass pane's bottom. She stared into the eyes of a little girl with long blonde hair, who sat around a wooden table with what Aello assumed to be her parents. Both mother and father, with darker, sun-kissed hair. Serving her strips of meat from a platter of ham which rested between each of them. Aello gulped, as a single tear welled in the corner of her right eye. That could have been her, perhaps, it once was. OOCSorry, I had to make it night since Aello is doing something else during the day.

[Ethan]

It was close to Midnight in Ravok, and the streets were finally settling down. His search was easier in crowds. He couldn't focus on more than one Aura at a time, but he could still sense the people around him. Like perfume lingering in the air. He knew the Konti well enough. That her spirit's scent was all he needed. He would spend hours sitting outside on a bench or ledge. Waiting for that familiar sensation. Combing threw all everyone that passed by. There where advantages to fewer people though. For one, he could finally rest. Even the traces of Aura's took some concentration and will power out of him, little as it was. And doing it half the day had put a strain on the Kelvic. Eating was another perk. He was able to grab a loaf of bread and some stew while he waited. Scanning the few people that came through. He doubted Sondra would be out during the day time. If she wanted to keep a low profile. By the time Aello came through. He was sopping up the last of the stew with his bread loaf. Savoring the delicious taste of soggy bread. Human's where disgusting creatures with barbaric tendencies, but he adored the cooking. Looking up from his soup. He glanced at the girl. She wasn't Sondra, and therefore she was worthless so he went back to delighting over bread. But When she continued to hang around a tavern window. He checked her out again. Something was odd about her. She was a hunter. That was plain to see, with the bow and quiver. But it was something... more. An emotion he was picking up on. It was definitely strong. Ethan lifted his hand up and extended his senses. The world around him went dim. Til nothing but her Aura remained. Unlike other Aurists, or at least his teacher. He worked through feelings rather than sight. It didn't take long before he felt her emotions. They where strong and more permanent than he was used to. People had bursts of feelings throughout the day, but true misery felt like rot in the soul. He stopped suddenly. Not wanting to look farther. Each Aura left a small footprint on Ethan. Affecting him for a short time. He squirmed as the feeling of loneliness and longing slowly faded away. This girl was tormented by something... something he could use. Emotional people responded well to emotional causes. A sob story about a lost Konti woman. Wouldn't strike too many people as interesting. But say that same story to a mother that recently had a stillbirth. And you had something. "Excuse me M'lady, but can I have a moment of your time?" He mumbled as he came up behind her. Ethan ditched the bowl where he sat and clung onto the half eaten loaf of bread. Making him look impoverished. And messed up his hair as he came over. Grabbing a little dirt from the ground and smearing it on his face. Then wrinkled up his clothes. Completing the look of a pathetic young man. Looking for his pathetic long lost lover. Or some other garbage that pulled on peoples heart strings. "I don't mean to bother you, but I have a friend. Thats gone missing. She is a Konti, and i think something has happened to her." He made sure the hood of his cloak covered his eyes. As he gave a small covered up sniffle. Lay it on too thick and people will see right through you. He also tried the tricks Hadrian taught him. "Feel the emotions as if they where your own. That way you can even fool me." He thought about Sondra, how she might be dead and dropped in a canal. Or raped by men of the Ebonstryfe. How Grimm had tormented him as a child. Anything to get that true feeling of despair he needed.

[Aello]

Aello turned at the sound of the man's voice. It sounded high, in a fashion, and deep in another. As though it had a bird-like quality. The woman's brow furrowed as she gripped her bow all the more tightly at the sight of the newcomer. He was taller than she, much taller. With golden-colored eyes, which reminded her of Nex, and messy brown hair, which seemed like a much shorter, tousled version of her own. The man appeared to be unarmed, which caused Aello's nerves to settle, but only a little. For truly letting your guard down in a city such as Ravok meant almost certain death. "Only a moment," Aello replied simply, as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, and then waited. As Ethan spoke to her, describing his situation, and hinting at the fact that he may require some help, Aello called her magic forth. It was by her side within an instant, revealing the nature of Ethan's aura. She could hear something fluttering in the wind. A sort of whipping sound. Like fabric flapping. She could hear the sound of waves crashing into the shore. Feel the spray of the sea upon her cheeks. Taste salt upon her lips. She could hear bells ringing, people shouting to scrub the deck, or hoist the sail. There was a clap of thunder, and then the sound of chains clanking together. Being dragged across a hard wood floor. Individual metal circles scraping along. There was the sound of a whip being cracked. A scream. A single, blood curdling scream. It was a man, who made it. His voice strangely deep for someone in such a high level of distress. The stranger once lived a life with someone of the sea. He was bound to him, but not by choice. He has left that life. Taken wing, come to this place looking for a fresh start, it seems, Aello's mind whispered. For he is not as he seems, and should anyone come to know this, he knows there is a chance he will wind up right back where he started. The whispers came to a halt, for several moments, as the girl chose to speak once more. "That would not be unlikely... the blondes being worth as much as they are on the slave market," Aello commented, as the words, he's hiding something, flashed across her mind's eye. "Since they're always gifted and all. Healers, seers. Sexual objects to some..." Aello's voice trailed off for a long time, as she turned back towards the window, and placed her right hand upon it. Her palm rested against the cold glass, which sent tiny tremors up the length of her fingers. They shivered slightly, as she finally curled her fingers a little, allowing her palm to lift off the clear expanse, so as to keep from growing cold quite so quickly. Her fingers seemed rather pale in the flickering light, as she forced herself to look at the family of blondes. As she forced herself not to shed any more tears for it, at least, not until long after Ethan had left her side. "Tell me stranger, does your friend look like she could be one of them?" Aello asked. "Is her hair the same color? Her eyes? Her skin? The way she holds herself? Or do the scales which line her portray her beauty in another light?" The young spiritist paused, and swallowed the clump of saliva that had gathered in her throat. She pulled her hand away from the glass, and returned it to the side. Silently wondering if the motion would be enough to draw the memory to her. Silently wondering how much longer everyone would have to have lasted for this to become a memory of her own. Aello sighed as she turned back to Ethan, and allowed her dark brown eyes to settle upon his golden ones. "Come, we can look for her together, and you may tell me about her as we move," Aello whispered, as she took a few steps past him, expecting him to follow.

[Ethan]

The woman seemed on edge when he spoke. Holding her bow a little tighter. She was alert and that was good. She would give plenty of tell tale signs when she let her guard down. Calm people where always the hardest to read. "Those people in the window?" He questioned. Popping his head around her shoulder to take a peak. Besides the fact they're human? He thought contemptuously. It was an irritating thought that the only person that would help him in all of Ravok. Would be a slow one. "She has lighter hair. And bone white skin. A warrior through and through. You can't miss her if you seen her." He stopped to let her continue. As she offered to help him on his search. He was starting to have seconds thoughts though. She seemed... troubled. And not in a way he usually worked with. Her aura reeked with hidden despair. Like decay covered with perfume. Did he really need this woman's help? "Thank you M'lady." He said, through a strained smile. Knowing it was better to have some sad girl's help than none at all. He only hoped that her emotions hadn't warped her sense of mind. Could he be traveling with a killer? One of the wicked Ebonstryfe? "I have been searching the streets all night, lost. Your kind to assist me. But do you know this city? Two foreigners wouldn't do much good." He didn't like the idea of giving away information about Sondra, just yet. Not before he knew who She was.

[Aello]

Aello nodded. "A lot of the Konti seem to appear that way. Perhaps a bit less warrior like, but with fair hair and skin." The aurist forced a smile as she kept on moving, nodding to indicate that her helping was not a problem. Perhaps, that she had nothing better to do. After a time though, she stopped, so as not to seem a bit strange, atop her misery. Aello kept on walking, even as Ethan kept on speaking. "I have been here a few seasons, and know my way around. Perhaps not as well as one who has been here for the entirety of their life, but I could take you wherever it is you want to go easily enough." Aello paused as she turned left when faced with a fork in the road. "But that's just it, you need to make it known where it is you would like to go. Or perhaps, what your friend is like, if you don't know. Perhaps then, we could figure out where she may venture." Aello paused a moment. "Unless of course, you think she'd try and secure housing for the each of you, whilst on your stay? For then, she may have run into a bit of trouble. Kontis are worth more than a few coppers around here, and with the slave market growing every day..." Aello stopped there, as she turned to face Ethan. She knew that couldn't have helped, or have been what he wanted to hear. "Don't worry though. She's a Konti, they seem to know where they shouldn't venture." The girl forced another small smile, she hoped it seemed far more genuine than the last one. "Something to do with Avalis, I'm told." OOCSorry this is such a short post.

[Ethan]

It was true, he was worried that Sondra had been captured. His non stop flight from the Norther Reaches was evidence of that. But he knew better. Sondra would of died fighting before any man put chains on her. Even without her hammer, she was a force to be reckoned with. "I doubt she would still be alive if she was captured. She wasn't the woman to go quietly." His stomach twisted just thinking about her death. He had become too attatched to her. Not far enough to think about bonding. But enough to scare him. He was determined never to let that happen again. No matter how much he hated being alone. Another Master would likely kill him. Mentally if not phyisically. "I don't know what she would do. But she must be trying to leave the city. The docks would be the best place to find anyone that has seen her." Ethan could check the slave markets in the morning. Hear rumors of any Konti caught. "Do you know the way? I get lost quick." He smiled weakly. He was lying of course. It didn't matter where he walked or flew. His sense of direction never faltered.

[Aello]

Aello chuckled, "she sounds like a lot of the women around here." Her eyes began to glimmer as a small smile spread over her lips. "Come, let us find her. The docks aren't too far off, and the ravosala men come and go quite regularly, so we should be able to find a few of them, if not the oarsmen for larger vessels." With that, Aello moved through the city streets. Taking far more back alleys than most may have in order to get Ethan where he needed to go. At times, as she moved, she could hear the soft rippling of the water in the canal. Resting across its bed. She thought she could hear some of the oarsmen as they dipped their instruments into the water, in their slow, rhythmic motions. But she ignored that, it was useless noise, something best kept in the background, the outer reaches of one's mind, where it belonged. After slipping around the corner of another alley, Aello and Ethan found themselves at the docks. Several chimes had passed since they began their journey, but the night seemed no later. It seemed just as dark, just as silent. "Here we are," Aello said simply, as she glanced out at the boats which had been tethered to wooden posts, all along the length of the dock. "We can talk to any of them I suppose," Aello commented, "although some of them are bound to lie, or only share for a price." The woman shrugged, "it may seem a bit strange, but we may want to gravitate towards those nearest other people. Talking to other people. With other people. Although busy, they tend to be the least shady of the lot." With that, Aello fell silent, waiting for Ethan to make a move.

[Ethan]

Alleo had a pleasant enough laugh. It surprised him that someone like her could laugh. Her smile was slight, but cute in it's subtlety. He found her calm attitude relaxing. It was a nice change from being around such busybodies as Hadrian and Kendall. With their raging emotions and vigor. Their walk to the docks was silent, but he didn't mind. It gave him time to think and in some ways unwind. He had a plan, or at least an accomplice to help him. And three days of flight and little rest had taken it's toll on his mind more than his body. He was still a little fuzzy from spending so much time in Animal form. Long periods in either state had a way of bugging up his thoughts. "We can talk to any of them I suppose," Said Alleo. Ethan turned in response. Hardly noticing they had arrived at the docks. Thoughts of Sondra where occupying every bit of space in his mind. Where she was, if she had been taken, how to sense her aura in such a filthy city. If she would be happy to see him... "The ones that are the busiest?" He said thoughtfully after she explained her idea of who was safe. The woman had a good eye for these sorts of things. Or perhaps just lived here long enough to know who was dangerous. In Ravok that wouldn't be too long. "If you say so." He said, acting unsure. "But lets split up and see what we can find." After explaining that if they found anything interesting. To meet back at this spot. He left, and walked towards one of the many ships docked and unloading.

[Aello]

Aello nodded. "See you in a few chimes," she whispered, as she brushed past the man's shoulder and headed onto the eastern portion of the docks. She moved silently, steadily, her eyes boring into the back of each man she saw. Their dark expanse easily gliding along between them, passing over them when she realized how useless they seemed in all of this. Frustrated, the aurist's fist tightened around her bow. Where are the boatmen? Aello wondered. Where are the ones who know? Those who hear whispers pouring past lips. Those who hear the city's secrets, passing always. Slowly, silently, to the ears of those who should not know. The girl's eyes danced across the water. Watching the rippling surface. The area's inability to be completely still, even in the death of night. The dark blanket it cast upon the world. As the woman stormed along, she couldn't help but wonder how Ethan was fairing. Probably no better than she, or only marginally so. For although he had a better idea as to whom they were looking for, he didn't know the people here. The lay of the land as she did. Nor should he be able to tell when they were leaving something out, or lying outright, in the hopes of getting the best of him. Shrugging, to ward off the thoughts, Aello eased herself onwards towards the outer edge of the dock, where she saw fewer and fewer people. Fewer boats, fewer oarsmen. This can't be good, her mind hissed, as she neared one of the closer boatsmen. A taller gentlemen, with salt and pepper hair, and deep green eyes. "You there," Aello called, causing the man to look up. "Have you seen any of the blonde scaly seers?" she asked. The man merely chuckled, shaking his head lightly as he leaned into his oar. "Not around here. At the slave market though, there were a few. Feisty young ones," he added with a chuckle. Aello growled. "Need a ride there to fetch yourself one?" he asked, causing Aello's muscles to tense. "Be grateful I'm not only in a hurry, but in a fairly good mood," Aello hissed, as she stormed off back towards where she had agreed to meet Ethan, arriving many, many chimes later.

[Ethan]

Picking the right individual was key. You couldn't just ask anyone any question you wanted. Swindling in Sunberth had taught him that. If you happened to try and pick the wrong pocket or woo someone else's woman. Things could go bad quickly. He walked around the pier. Looking for a captain or someone official looking. Readying a couple silvers in his hand. Information was never free but thankfully it would easier to bribe someone here. Than in a more pleasant city like Syliras. "Hate to bother you." He said walking up to a man shouting orders. "But I'm looking for someone." "Petch off, I'm busy." He interrupted not wasting time with niceties. "Listen, I know your time is valuable. I'm just looking for information on a Konti Woman." Ethan grabbed the sailors hand and placed a few Silvers inside. Apparently he picked a smart one. Because he slid them into his pocket deftly and nodded for Ethan to continue. He couldn't even smell any rum on his breath. This pleased the Kelvic a great deal. "Average height for a Konti. Hair, scales and eyes all typical. What stand out is the war hammer. Big piece of iron. She has the look of a warrior about her. Smart as they get." Ethan waited patiently as the man thought this over. The Sailor prattled on about Konti he had seen or hiding spots but nothing that indicated Sondra. He paid close attention for any possible leads. Until something shifted in the corner of his eye. He couldn't hear Aello but he could see her. In human form his eye sight was somewhat limited. But even so, he missed very little. She looked heated from the way she stormed off. It irritated him that his Auristics wasn't advanced enough to see that far. Thanking the sailor, he left to meet his companion. From the looks and laughing of the other sailors. They had began to wear out their welcome. "I'm guessing it didn't go well? Lets leave before we get more than just looks." He smiled and started down an alley. "Tell me what you figured out. I have a plan where we should go next."