Where to Start? (Open)

[Ispsyavinsens]

Prombus’ warbling had frozen Vins in his tracks. That had to be the bird he’d chased all afternoon, which at least meant he had the right room. But with the pigeon crying out at seeing him, potentially alerting its owner to his presence, Vins was wrought with sudden hesitation. Lying in wait wasn’t as appealing as it was a few minutes ago.

When his target started calling upstairs to the pigeon though, he remembered that hesitation wasn’t affordable in this line of work. If the mark was about to open the door then he needed to be ready.

Brodon continued to call up the stairs at his bird and Vins leaned in close to the door to hear better. Something about going to take a bath first, he gathered. That was perfect luck and he couldn’t miss that opportunity. He hurried to the window, past the started bird.

“Sorry, little fellow. Keep quiet, please?” he whispered, hoping the pigeon wouldn’t call out again and summon its owner up to the room. Vins leaned out the window to make certain no one below who could see him. Seeing it clear, he prepared to jump, wondering not for the first time if he was really suited for this line of work.

But as he hit the ground, barely keeping his balance, he chided himself that those thoughts weren’t really apropos to have on the job. He had to keep his mind on finding his goal, which currently was finding the bath. It had to be a room with a window, to let out the steam, he reasoned as he moved along the wall of the inn, listening for the sounds of water.

[Ispsyavinsens]

There was in fact a window to the bath, but it was more of a narrow slit set high in the wall for the sake of privacy. Reaching it wasn’t much of a problem, but squeezing through it undetected was another matter, even for someone as small as a Dhani Viper. But while a human might have trouble fitting through the window without notice, a serpent might be more able in that regard. The obvious problem was that Vins wouldn’t be able to take anything with him. His clothes he couldn’t do much about, but he could at least bring his lock picks. Vins cringed at the thought of what he was about to do, but he put the lock pick case in his mouth and began shifting into his viper form.

Upon finishing the change, Vins swallowed the case whole. Regurgitating it later wouldn’t be fun, but it was better than leaving it under a rock or something. That taken care of, it was a straightforward matter to climb the wall and slip in through the window.

The bath seemed quiet and mostly empty, but he could hear at least one person in the water. Carefully, Vins crept down the side of the wall and wove his way towards the water. His venom was deadly, but maybe if he only bit a foot or a hand there’d be enough time to improvise. Vins coiled up upon himself in anticipation and he struck out like a whip.

[Brodon Windriver]

Brodon heard a shout and a splash from the other side of the door. In one motion, he slammed down the latch and threw his shoulder into the door, wary of the possibility of water on the floor. He never got that far, the latch was locked, the door was solid. He bounced back awkwardly from the door with an 'oof'. He hit the wall behind him in time to see the tip of a blade slam through from the other side at chest level with a loud 'thunk'.

He swallowed hard as his mind formed the image of a knife hilt adorning the center of his chest. He leaned his staff against the door, grabbed a nearby wooden serving tray and reared back on one leg, raising the other before the door. Hearing the commotion already growing in the common room, he knew there was no purpose in restraint. Pushing off with his back and arms as well as launching from his supporting leg, he roared for adrenaline as he slammed his foot into the door.

The deadbolt tore through the doorjamb and the door flew open, hinged on the right. His momentum carrying him two steps in, Brodon flung his elbow to the right and slammed backward, crashing the door against the wall in case of a hidden ambusher there. He quickly crouched, pulling the tray up before him with his left hand, in case another knife was inbound. His staff hit the floor to his left with a heavy metallic thud.

He took a short, crouching hop forward and left to bring his staff to his right side. He swept it up as he looked left and right, and only then rose to his feet, the tray before him like a shield, to see what the situation was.

The most obvious feature was the naked man standing by the bath tub, sword in hand. His body was facing to Brodon's left, but his face was turned directly at him, an expression of contempt and violent intent souring his features.

[Gracen]

OOCInvited into the thread by Brodon. Gracen was a little drunk and a little relaxed from his time in the bath, but he had not survived his twelve years of exile by being an easy target. The hairs on the back of his neck rose on no account but danger, because it was hardly chilly in the hot baths. He flung himself to the other side of the water with all his might, just evading the strike of a snake. Dhisir? part of him wondered, but not for long. Rational thought was annihilated by the instinct to survive, and he scrabbled about for some sort of weapon with which to defend himself. If he survived, he would doff all his clothes, but still carry a knife when he went to clean himself. As it stood, his shorter sword lay with his clothes in an alcove not so very far away, but he couldn't move there just yet. Not until he was sure a serpent's fangs wouldn't sink into his back the moment he did. And then another man burst into the room, distracting the snake long enough for him to heft himself out of the water and bolt for his things. He didn't know who was an enemy, but certainly neither the snake nor the man could be recognized as a friend.

[Brodon Windriver]

Brodon's first option of letting the man think whatever he wanted about his sudden arrival was not likely to produce a peaceful response. But neither was the truth. He stifled a grim chuckle as he imagined himself apologizing to the man for allowing an assassin to mistake him for himself. No, that wouldn't do either.

He saw no one else in the room, but the way the man kept flicking his eyes around suggested he was aware of a hidden presence. The man's grip on his sword was firm but light, prepared to strike at any height, angle and trajectory with a minimum of adjustment. A swordsman's grip. "Not just a brawler with a blade, then." Brodon thought to himself.

Brodon hoped now to ease the man's suspicion of him with his recognition of the common threat. "Where is it?" he half whispered, "Do you see it? Is it still here?" He caught himself with a grimace, realizing he had just let slip that he knew what game was afoot. Surely he had just undermined whatever gain of trust he had hoped to accomplish. How could he have known what was up if he had had nothing to do with it...

[Gracen]

Though it had been the serpent who struck at him, a man with a blade was no less a threat. He held his blade horizontally before him, body low and feet spread for the maximum in balance, blue eyes peering over the keen edge. He said nothing at first, but nodded toward the snake. That the snake was an enemy was clear; the man, however, might not be an enemy. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, went the saying, but Gracen was no longer a possessor of friends. Still, a non-enemy was better than an enemy. "Who are you and what do you want?" he asked tersely in Common. He was a survivalist and spoke with the practicality of a mercenary; indeed, he often earned his coin as such. But this seemed personal, like he had somehow unwittingly become embroiled in something he oughtn't. He seemed not to care that he was unclothed. In truth, he only felt naked without a blade, and now he had steel in his hands and could take on anything.

[Ispsyavinsens]

Vins hit the water hard. His intended victim had reacted faster than he expected and he had ended up flinging himself into the water. He lashed about trying to right himself and take a breath of air. Was the target more skilled than he'd be told or was he just unlucky?

From in the tub Vins could barely see the room and with the water in his ears he couldn't make out what was happened around him. There was a crash, but he couldn't tell what had made it. Whatever it was though, it was probably bad for him; he wasn't sure he could handle a straightforward fight. With a heave he spat out the lockpick set as he tried to change into his full Dhani self. The moment he had a semblance of arms he scrambled out of the water and coiled up defensively on the floor, hood flared.

There were two men by the door: one with a sword and one with a staff. As ohis throat finally rippled into a shape capable of speaking common, he croaked out a quiet "...Hello."

He looked between the men, the water where his picks were likely sunk to the bottom, and the window.

"I like to go now."

[Brodon Windriver]

Brodon sidled to his left, looking to triangulate his relative position with the other two. He raised his right hand to the man with the sword in a gesture of acknowledgement. "Your first question, being answered, is my name, Brodon. New come to Ahnatep, for answering ques-...getting answered questions. The other second is being answered that I want you not to be killing this...man...here before I am getting...the answered questions...um...answered." He made an embarrassed dismissive gesture, knowing how inept was his speech.

"And you, snake-man, that is not good build for leaving. Too big for window, too far from door. Good build for fighting I am thinking. We talk instead, maybe? You were in my room? Maybe I thank you for don't be eating my bird. Why you want to be biting me? Or maybe who else wants you to be biting me?"

[Gracen]

A Dhani -- not Dhissir -- and a man with a heavy Drykas accent. Or Pavi accent, he supposed. But he caught the gist of what he was saying; he looked young and he was far from his ancestral lands. Then again, so was Gracen. The Dhani wanted out and Gracen felt the same, but the young Drykas wanted answers. Since he didn't want them from Gracen, he felt that he could bide his time without violence for now. But he kept his sword at the ready, not knowing when the snake might strike again or the Drykas lad decide he was in collusion with his supposed enemies. If things stayed civil, he could dress himself and depart for his room and consider, perhaps, moving into another establishment. He might move into the demesne of the West Winds, but there would be strings attached. Blue eyes shifted from one to the other, body held ready for any necessary action.

[Ispsyavinsens]

There was no way Vins could turn back into a cobra and make it out the window without being beaten or skewered. He was lucky enough that the two had stopped to do anything other than attack. He has tried to kill one of them, after all.

"Will talk."

He hung his head and looked into the water. He'd have to lay low after this - no one liked it when their assassin was caught, less when they talked. The less he could get away with saying the better he'd have it, but blacklisting and a price on his head were very real consequences to failing this badly. With a little luck and escape might present itself, but for now there was little he could do.

"My clothes are outside. Can get?"

Vins leaned over the water to fish his picks out, keeping an eye on the two men. Something occurred to him.

"I gone for wrong man, yes?"