PM to join Venomous Allies (durv)

[Licearsvansan]

A frown grew across the snakes face as Durv spoke. He wanted to do things the fun way. Scale a building, slide down a chimney, fight a guard or two, and perhaps nab a meal on the way out. Even more importantly Durv's plan didn't have a chance to get the bonus of catching the merchant in the act of his trade. It was a horrible plan, and Svan hated it.

However, once Svan tried to lift his body to object a ripple of pain coursed through his body, and he was quickly reminded of the poor condition he was in. His teeth grit in pain and a slightly strained voice spoke out, "Your plan. Are you sure you can make it work?" Svan's own stealth and tracking abilities were rather meager outside of his snake form, and he was unsure of how much faith he could put in this man's talents. "I can take us to the entrance of the building that they will be meeting. I didn't see any other ways to exit so unless they have a secret entrance we can probably catch this guy leaving after the transaction." Svan would have liked to tell the man that there was a matter of urgency with the speed of this mission due to the other merc who was likely to be chasing the same quarry, but the snake decided that it would be better if the spider remained ignorant of the other blade wielding fighter involved.

For now at any rate.

Without allowing himself to make a hint of the other mercenary, Svan continued, "I hope you know what you are doing."

[Durvekral Wormwood]

I will make the promise that I can get you to this Jacob. Durvekral told him. Unfortunately, I will also have to give you my promise that this way is going to take longer than your method. You'll have to accept that cost."

Durvekral leaned forward at this point, staring at Svan in a way that was altogether more challenging. He had his forearms up on the table. They pointed forward, supporting the weight of his upper body which was now leaning toward Svan.

"There is, first, an important discussion which we have not yet held. This was the first hint of a smile which Durvekral had allowed. Yet, he had only allowed it because it wasn't a real smile. It was a falsely sweet, saccharine parody of a smile. "Exactly how much are you willing to pay for my services?"

This time Durvekral did not take another sip of his wine. He didn't avert his gaze or even move. He simply stood there, waiting in silence and staring at Svan. In fact, the Symenestran didn't even make a noise. He remained silent as to allow the question to sink in. He was very purposeful in his decision to remain awkwardly silent, allowing the various sounds of the bar to assault Svan's ears and to force him to focus on one very simple question. How much was he willing to spend on Durv's assistance?

[Licearsvansan]

Svan wasn't loving the idea of waiting. Every moment they waited was a moment for a certain someone to steal their kill. Luckily for Svan, the bounty couldn't be collected without the bounty note. Unfortunately for Svan, the bounty could be collected if the other hunter pried the note from his lifeless body...

Svan shuddered at the thought of being impaled. He was never found of popsicles. He was even less fond of the idea of becoming one. As Svan pushed the image of being a freezing corpse on a stick out of his mind, he turned to his drink and took another sip.

"There is, first, an important discussion which we have not yet held."

The cup made a hollow sound as it was placed on the table. The seriousness with which Durv spoke caught Svan's attention, and a hard pair of eyes met the spider's.

"Exactly how much are you willing to pay for my services?"

"Oh." Durv had seemed so serious for a moment there that Svan had expected the spider to say some bad news. It was almost disappointing. The snake scratched the back of his head casually, "50/50 of course." The brown haired man had simply assumed that they would split the profit even. Svan pulled out the paper and looked at it, "The head of this compass points to the house where the meeting is supposed to take place. Its a lot like the keys in Alvadas. I will escort you there the night of the meeting since I'm the one with the note, but I will leave you to you own business soon after if you wish."

[Durvekral Wormwood]

Winter 14th 512AV,

Due to Svan's handiwork, Durvekral now found himself outside of a windowless house which was surprisingly large. It was either very dark in their or deeply orange from the hue of wall torches. Because the pair had decided not to storm into the house during a stressful business transaction, Durvekral was camped outside of the house during the night-time hours of the next evening.

A few feet behind his back the quiet sounds of a wealthy Alvadas neighborhood chirped on. Well dressed citizens clicked their hard soled shoes on stone. Laughing and lighthearted voices carried on in conversational tones. A few birds chirped in the various trees. What stood to his front was nothing but silence. Two men stared off into the city. It looked as if they were armed to control small numbers of people. He saw a net draped from the left sides of both of their belts. He noticed that one of the guards wielded a thick club while the other had a flail.

The men were thick and muscular. They looked like they would be very frightening in a street brawl but Durvekral knew that they would stand no chance in an organized attack from any significant organization. There were more guards somewhere. He simply couldn't see them from his current vantage. Whether they were archers hidden on the roof, rangers among the grounds or soldiers, at the ready and inside the manor, Durvekral had to figure out where the additional threat would be coming from.

Durvekral wore his night-camouflaged purple assassin's outfit. His mask was drawn over his face and he had slipped his way into an alley between the stone, gate of the manor and the building which neighbored that gate. The alley, on one side, opened to the vulnerable street but on the other, into a wider network of alleys. From the relative seclusion of the alley he crept up the wall and crawled low across the rooftop where he might be able to have a better look over the estate.

[Licearsvansan]

Svan Should have sat back and sipped tea while the real assassin worked. It was safer that way. Svan didn't have any real training for this kind of thing, and in the winter his ability to flee was severely weakened. However, Svan wanted to keep an eye on things regardless. The man, while skilled in stalking and watching, was not a fighter. Neither was Svan, but at the very least Svan could offer more to combat than his associate.

As Durv scaled buildings, Svan walked the earth below. The snake was not dressed like the other men of the street, but rather as a courier. A fashion he had just hours earlier, bought from a passing youth who was all too eager to give up his job for a day in return for some coin. The outfit was tight on his body, but the biggest problem was that it was too thin for his liking. As the winter air blew by him Svan cursed himself for his stupid schemes.

Down on the road Svan followed the spider by pretending to deliver letters, and asking for directions or looking puzzled when the spider stopped. It wasn't an easy task. Svan repeatedly lost track of Durv's movements, and if Svan paused too long he began to draw the attention of the other people on the street. He heard at least three different people refer to him as "special".

Talking was even harder. Svan found every conversation difficult to keep due to his lack of knowledge of the city or the letter delivery system in Alvadas.

"I'm just filling in for the day. The other guy is sick."

"I'm a new here, they gave me this job as training."

"No, I don't know how to deliver a letter to a building with the door three stories off the ground."

The questions seemed endless, and Svan only barely managed to deflect them. He began to wonder if it would have been wiser to simply come here in his usual fashion. Still, despite the difficulty of maintaining his act Svan managed to keep some measure of surveillance on the spider, and as time went the snake noticed that he was slowly getting better at keeping the facade. Not much of course, but at least his lies were growing more consistent.

Above all else, the dhani made sure to keep out of the view of the manor Durv was watching. Causing suspicion among the other wealthy was fine so long as it didn't cause Durv's quarry to grow nervous as well.

[Durvekral Wormwood]

It was actually quite a difficult task. Eluding the senses of the estate guards was one thing but Durv needed to be invisible to the citizens of Alvadas as well. Furthermore, Durvekral wasn't just skulking along in the shadows, he actually had to map out any important information in the estate.

He used extreme caution, moving as slowly as possible. He took special precautions to crawl as low to the roofs as he could. He also paid very special attention to his surroundings. He noted the darkly colored walls and roofs as opposed to the brightly colored ones. He was acutely aware of his silhouette against the buildings. He carefully analyzed which buildings would make him stand out in the night and would help him fade right into it. Windows were another consideration. Would he be crawling in front of one? Were the windows large and conspicuous? Were they dark or did they shine incriminating light? The sound from the streets below became vitally important to Durvekral. He remained cognizant of footsteps and voices so that he only moved when he was adequately alone.

He was only able to explore one section of the surrounding estate. As he moved along, to his left, he lost track of the city streets. The environment became more and more wooded. This was a good thing because his surroundings became progressively quiet. However, this also called for a change in his tactics. He grew more and more weary of coming across guards lying in wait. Ever careful of an ambush, he crept forward.

There wasn't much, here, of interest. The owner of the house had seemingly purchased these many acres with the inspiration to do nothing with them but shelter himself from the rest of the city. He came across a few small towers. Twenty or thirty feet, Durvekral estimated. He was able to spot three of them. Archers, no doubt but there was no way to know how many were actually in use. Eventually, the rough, tiny path was no longer viable. It ended at a steep drop. Ahead of Durvekral was a rough, tree dotted decline to the street below.

He quietly backtracked and made his way to his original location. The right path seemed, at first, easier to follow. He was able to weave through alleys and rooftops. In this way, his progress took far less physical effort but he had the added difficulty of remaining unseen while traveling so close to the citizenry. He could see, ahead, that the way forward would end in the great tall walls of Alvadas' city border. There were two archer towers in the distance but once again they were constructed in such a way as to bar Durvekral from ascertaining whether or not they were manned.

In the distance, he saw something that interested him. There was a small building, alone amidst the lands of the state. The structure was completely nondescript save for a road that led from the estate gates to a large door. The building gave no outward clues as to its purpose. Durvekral knew that he should turn back. He knew better than to tempt those towers but he was so curious about that building! It may have been the key to getting the snake in here!

His discovery process was brought to an abrupt end, unfortunately as he was reminded of why this was such a bad idea. He cursed his short lapse in professionalism as an arrow whizzed by his head and bounced off of the stone building behind him. He wondered how long ago he had been spotted and how close any private soldiers or mercenaries may have been. He leapt from his rooftop and started planning his urban escape.

[Licearsvansan]

Svan had followed Durv to the best of his ability, but between trying to track a shadow, and trying to loo like he was doing his "job" Svan had lost sight of the symenestra. Svan swore harshly as he scanned the rooftops in hopes of finding Durv. Unfortunately, the more he looked the more he realized the hopelessness of his actions. Further more he had attracted the attention of an elderly man.

"Ehehe The stars sure are beautiful this time of night aren't they?"

Svan almost jumped at the man's sudden voice. "I-um- Yes?"

The man laughed...or wheezed. It was hard to tell with this man. "Don't worry young man I don't bite. I don't even have the teeth left to do it if I wanted to." The man said as he gave a near toothless smile.

Svan laughed uncomfortably. He disliked being called young by humans, but it was still preferable to being called old. Being called old meant that he was either suspected of being a Nuit or a Dhani. "I was caught off guard." Svan remarked in a slightly defensive tone.

"I thought you would have heard the creaking of my bones from at least a street away." The man adjusted his arm and several audible popping sounds echoed into the night.

"Er- Yes, I was just distracted by Leth." Svan looked up to the bright full circle in the sky.

The old man looked at Svan curiously for a moment before he spoke."Yes Leth is is in his full glory tonight. Not the same as Syna's light, but there is a certain humble beauty to him isn't there."

"Yeah..." Svan stared silently at the moon for a quarter of a chime before the old man spoke again.

"So which do you resemble?"

"Excuse me?"

The man rolled his eyes. Who are you more like? The wild Leth, or the peaceful Syna."

It didn't even take a second for Svan to realize which he was. Svan lowered his head in shame. "Leth."

The was a brief pause as Svan was analyzed by wise old eyes. "You don't sound proud of that. I assume you wish you were more like Syna then?" Svan said nothing, and the man laughed at the Dhani's silence. "Remember this, neither Leth nor Syna rule the sky forever."

Svan wasn't exactly sure what to say. He was expecting the man to explain himself a little more, and perhaps he would have if Svan asked. However, before Svan could decided to have the man elaborate he saw something move on the roof behind the old man. As his eyes focused he saw what was the silhouette of an arrow buried into a building. Durv was being attacked. "I'm sorry but I have to go! Messenger duties and all. BYE!" Svan shouted as he ran off towards the direction he thought he saw Svan going.

The old man simply smiled his toothless grin as the Dhani fled. Nice kid, but he needs to work on his lies if he plans on surviving in this city. The man looked up towards Leth. The bright white circle was sitting in the sky opposite to the side Svan had been staring when the man had arrived.

oocIf you want to make this man a bad guy, good guy or just ignore him then do as you please. I have no further plans for him.

[Durvekral Wormwood]

Durvekral disappeared from aerial sight and into the street below. Before he lost site of the estate, he paid attention to the opening of the gate and 5 or 6 combatants running through it. He didn't stand a chance of facing them alone, he'd have to shake them from his trail before they could even find him.

He started running away from the sound, not quite sure of what his plan was going to be. Maybe if he could get to the Bizarre, he'd be able to lose them among the crowd.

His mind, to that point, had already been racing with possibilities. At this point, his favored plan was to somehow separate them. They were mere humans and possessed none of the gifts that he, as a Symenestran, had possessed. He could use the very walls of the city to evade their sight. The only weak link was Durvekral's physical endurance. He wasn't a trained sprinter. In this particular moment, he felt quite grateful for those long, light legs. Once he made it to a crowded city center, it would be easier to strike at them in secret.

Even this assault plan was a bit of a backup. Playing to his strengths would mean simply evading them, something that his talents were more apt to allow. Still, the symenestran had options. This certainly wasn't the preferred outcome but in a large city like this, he certainly had the advantage over a gang of noisy mercenaries. The real tragedy was how difficult this could make a return to the estate.

He managed to sprint a few paces before he came across the snake, running the other direction. "I've been spotted and there's more of them. Clear out and we'll return." He warned his accomplice. As he ran off, he gestured for Svan to follow him.

His plan was starting to form but the addition of an ally made everything easier. Durvekral had a few different options now, depending on Svan's own inclinations.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Svan, the old man with whom he had been speaking had hobbled along behind Svan. With a calm smile on his face, he conveyed a message to some unknown force using the magic of webbing. "Your bounty payment seems to have just walked off in this direction. Stay with me."

[Licearsvansan]

Svan hurried himself through an alley and down a wider road as he made his way to intersect with Durv. While the Dhani was naturally faster than the average human he was currently moving at a rather sluggish jog. The cold winter air was freezing his cold blood, and any serious exertion would leave him in a groggy heap on the ground. Regardless of his attempts to conserve energy, Svan was feeling fairly tired right now. Having spent the past few bells in this cold the snake could practically feel the ice forming in his veins. What Svan needed more than anything right now was a nice warm room with a piping hot cup of coffee. Or two, or thr- Svan nearly toppled over as he briefly flickered out of consciousness. -FIVE! Five cups of coffee! Svan shook his head and slapped his hands to his face to keep himself awake.

Lost in thoughts of warm fires and hot drinks Svan almost didn't see Durv as he appeared. Not that spotting the night colored man was any easier when Svan wasn't distracted. "I've been spotted and there's more of them. Clear out and we'll return."

"Oh really?" Remarked the Dhani dryly, "You mean you aren't just on an evening jog?" The snake was far from pleased by the cold weather, but had little right to complain since he hadn't been required to come in the first place. With a sigh that failed to even produce enough hot air to see his breath Svan turned to the spider. "Lead the way." he breathed as he followed after Durv.

Slightly dying inside as he worked his hardest to keep up, Svan aimed his head at Durv and spoke, "So you have a plan...right?"

[Durvekral Wormwood]

Durvekral knew how to handle himself but he was trying to figure out what to do with the ally. "Well, for myself, I do." he panted through out of struggling breaths. The dialogue was wearing down his already diminishing stamina. "They didn't see you, act like you're just a frightened citizen..."It was all that Durvekral could manage to say. With the last bit of his strength he veered around a corner only to scurry up the side of a small building as quickly as his wheezing lungs could manage. He wasn't sure what the snake had decided to do after that. The multitasking was starting to sap his energy and he couldn't spare any of that energy to monitor Svan's activity. Durvekral felt a sense of relief upon having accomplished his sort of "plan A escape maneuver" but was immediately alarmed to notice just how quickly the hired muscle was able to shimmy and climb their way up and onto the rooftops with him.

"Shyke!" he yelled, with his muscles begging for rest. He took off again, this time while craning his head across his view of the city. He could see some of the random tricks across Alvadas on this winter night. Some of Ionu's whims were just humorous, but he saw a particularly helpful street, currently paved with grass. Durvekral worked his way to as small a building as was nearby and then dove downward, rolling into landing which would be as reasonably painless as one could expect from a small rooftop...

He was running out of options and certainly running out of energy. It was a cold evening in Alvadas; the Bizarre was closed and the streets were sparse. The grass street was a poignant reminder that he would have to use the city, now. Durvekral broke into an unexpected sprint. It was the last of his energy. It was a dangerous gamble. Durvekral knew that Ionu was just as likely to send him sprawling right into the backs of his pursuers as the god was to weave him far away from them. It was a chance that Durvekral had to take, however. He made a quick left onto a city block, the name of which he hadn't paid particular attention to. He then made another left, and then another, there was a small tunneled alley to the right; he ducked down that way. Durvekral wasn't even paying atttention to what was happening behind him. He didn't know if they were still behind him or they were gone or they were inches away and catching up. He couldn't focus on anything but coercing his legs to keep moving. Nearing the end of his energy reserves, he made another left, and another.

Only in Alvadas, could it have been true that after all those lefts, Durvekral had managed to end up somewhere utterly different than when he had started. There was nothing left, Durvekral collapsed along the street, waiting to learn what his fate would be. He couldn't move another inch, the Symenestran barely had the energy to wheeze with enough vigor to deliver blood to his shrieking muscles.

Ionu had been kind to Durvekral tonight because after a few minutes, he realized that although the two parties traveled down the "same" path, they must have ended up in two different locations. No one attacked Durvekral, no one even paid him any notice. It took another 10 minutes for Durvekral to want to stand but once he was able, he started heading back to the direction of where he had last seen his partner. ]