The Burglar
-'Shit!' Eliza cursed.
-'Shit!'
She was running down an empty passageway, the lonely high-rises of Iinasian Hights casting a shadow against the morning's first rays of light.
Blood was dripping from her arm. Stopping, Eliza took a breath and leaned against the wall. She looked around, making sure she was alone; she was. -'Good, good, oh this is good' muttering with a sarcastic tone. She ripped a piece of cloth from her tunic, then wrapped it around her arm and winced while pulling it tight. She took one final breath, swiping her forehead then turned around the corner. Only to come face to face with a seemingly drunken flock of noblewomen and their entourage; All in their ridiculous and colorful high-horned headdresses. Eliza crashed into one of the servants, knocking him over. A bald tattooed man, only wearing an extravagant loincloth, now stained with a blood from her wounded arm. They began swearing at her, until they noticed the bloodied mess she was. One woman started to scream in panic, another to yell for guards. But by then, Eliza had already hopped around a corner. Alley after alley, corner after corner, she ran through the slowly awakening district. Staying in shadows and away from eyes. Scurrying like a wounded animal. After running for a while, she stopped again to take a breath. Again, instinctively taking her hand up to her temple, gently touching her Riekian Cwi-tattoo. Her long black braided hair covering her past shame. She looked around, Iinasian Hights was a quiet district, but it was a death trap. Only two ways out and it was surrounded by high walls. She had to get out. Refocusing, Eliza looked back, listening. Nothing, yet. But she had to push on, the exit was near. Clutching her hand, she turned again from an alleyway to another. Until she came to a narrow vestibule to a bridge over the city canal. Finally exiting Iinasian Hights. And no guards, good. -'What a disaster' She thought. -'I will flay that broker!' Eliza cursed under her breath. She needed to get underground and fast. But even she herself doubted her chances. She continued running towards the edge of the city level and looked for a way down. On her left, the main stairs. Though it seems that they were filled with guards. Marching towards her. 'Patrol? At this hour? Shit.' To her right, a terrace, where two drunkards were enjoying their drinks in stupor. Underneath it, an artificial crevice. It was steep, but with luck, one could slide it all the way down. Again she looked over her shoulder. There, pushing though the crowd, she saw the distinct purple-white plumes and tabards of the Amaranian Guards, shouting something at her direction. Eliza made a split second decision and jumped over the railing and slide down the steep slope directly to a lower level. She hit the ground- hard, and rolled over, nearly knocking herself out. Staggered, wobbling and bleeding, she rose and tried to start running again. Her dark and airy clothes now sticky with her own blood. A sudden pain on her side made Eliza yelp. -'A broken rib? Bloody Yavak.' cursing again as she spit blood. She was on the move again, though half limping now, she'll have time to nurse her wounds when she gets below the city. -'An easy job? Yeah sure. A freaking set-up!' She remember meeting with the Claws-syndicate contact, who told of a gig he wanted to arrange with her. It sounded easy, too easy. But she had debt she wanted to get rid of. A known nobleman had recently been discovered to be the orchestrator of the assassination attempt at Bal'Alr's Queen's head. And he had been found dead at his mansion, surrounded by unholy machinery. Now, everyone in the neighborhood avoided that house like it had the plague markers in it. -'The house is still abandoned, so slip in, we'll give you a map. In his office you can find a document with red jeweled seal. Bring it back to us and the Claws will reward you.' -'The house is empty.' He had emphasized. Eliza was nearing the Pardian's lower levels. Hopping down stairs after stairs and was practically hugging the walls, as she made sure to stay under any balconies and parapets, away from any keen-eyed guards, or unwanted glances from passers-by. It was early morning and the streets were slowly filling up with people going on to their duties. Dalis, in their flowing robes, horned headdresses and complex spiraling hairdos. Humans, many dressed in the sleek, tightly fitted Ravanian style jackets and tall boots. Finally reaching the ground, there she continued by the building wall, until she came across a small alley blocked by crates. Quickly climbing up and over, she ran through the small alleyway next to Turnast Wall, jumping over lowlife, high on which ever substance they had gotten their hands on. Eliza tossed a coin for a young looking girl as she passed. From there, she got into a side-street turned bazaar. Peppered by dozens upon dozens of ramshackle stalls, with colorful banners and wooden covers littered over the walls. The pungent smell of exotic spice and filth burned her nose, but she pushed through. -'Mostly downtrodden Rashis and Scalies here, they wouldn't snitch.' Behind her, the clang of heavy boots exposed the guard's approach. -'Search the alley! We'll go through the market!' A man yelled. Two armed men marching in. Eliza jumped between stalls, then crawled behind one. There was an alcove, where a group of robed figures sat mumbling to each other. While everyone were focused on the guards, Eliza grabbed a piece dark cloth from a nearby stand and with a quick hand motion span it around her head as a makeshift hood, letting rest of it fall on her back as a cape. Eliza sat beside the robed people, whom she recognized as Mystics of Shaoraix. -'Pacifists of an annoying degree' she though, huddling as close to them as possible, as if belonging in their group. They didn't seem to give her any attention, though one of them, a gray scaled Naazey spirited a flower from his robes and placed it over her lap and said. -'We all have our place, some just don't know where it is, I feel like your place is... Close.'. Their eyes locking. Eliza found the Naazey mystic's speech oddly calming. Her body relaxed for a moment and her pain eased. She kept looking into the Naazey's eyes. -'Look beyond' He said calmly. Voices around her blended together into a pleasant hum and the world around them seemed to disappear. With a corner of her eye, she noticed that a guard had arrived, he searched behind the stalls, gave a quick glance at the group, froze and stood there for a couple of seconds and just turned away. Visibly puzzled. Eliza didn't know how long it had passed when she finally snapped out of whatever she had been put into. Taking a deep breath, the pain came back crashing and it almost overwhelmed her. The old Naazey didn't say anything, just smiled at her. -'What did you do? She asked silently, while pressing down on her arm and looking around. The guards had finished the sweep and were jogging away from the bazaar. -'How did you do it?' He kept looking at her, until he said -'You asked for it. The plead exhumed from you. How? That will remain a secret, for now. You are free to stay with us, thou I doubt you will' Eliza nodded and was getting on her feet. The Mystic continued. -'You may find the road unpleasant, why don't you use our way?' And pointed to a door behind them.' She had not even notice that there was a door. It was smooth and painted in the same greenish gray color as the walls around it. -'Oh' She muttered. -'You are relatively new to this city yes? This door will take you north, I suspect that is where you want?' Eliza nodded slowly and said. -'Thank you, I, do you need something? Why are you telling me this?' The Naazey gave a hint of a smile. -'We don't interfere with fate, I'm just giving it a- nudge' His voice lingering on those last words. Eliza knew better than to start asking more questions, she walked to the door. There wasn't any visible handle, so she just pushed it gently. To her surprise, it opened easily. Behind it was a narrow corridor, only about two feet wide. The corridor seemed long and Eliza was sure that it was only recently carved here and judging by the surface, it was done by hand no less. The door behind her closed and a total darkness fell on her. -'Eyes forwards and blessings of Astach on your weary feet' reciting the old journeyman prayer, then gulped and pressed on. After carefully walking for several minutes in pitch dark, she stumbled on a wooden door. Slowly working through it, she finally found a round handle, then slowly turned it. The hallway was flooded in gentle morning light. Eliza found herself in a dim alley, the doorway was surrounded by large crates and behind her rose the massive Turnast wall. -'Finally' She said, then suddenly coughing and spitting some more blood. -'Fuck' cursing a bit too loud. Carefully walking past the crates, she came to an in-between boulevard. Close to the district gate. Just a couple hundred feets and she was in Merchantry. There she could vanish into the crowd. Eliza came into a busy intersection right before the gates. The place was swarming with guards. And they had a sniffer too! One of the guards had a strange looking lizard under his leash. It was about a waist high, with dark plate-like scales. It had a long and elongated body, that ended in a long pipe-like snout that it was using to smell everyone who passed through the gate. -'I bet they have one in every entrance.' She slowed down and hung her head low. What now? The safe entrance to undercity was behind those gates. Maybe she could try using sewers? No, with her wounds, that would be a suicide. Besides, she hasn't seen many man-holes around here and opening one would cause a lot of noise. Clutching her arm ever tighter, the pain was getting worse. Thanks to the throng of people around her, she was easily able to retreated to sidelines, behind a wall of large barrels that were stacked near what seemed like a warehouse of sorts. There she finally took a deep breath and nearly collapsed. -'How did, no. Why did this happen? Why her?' She thought, thinking back what had happened about an hour ago.
Eliza had easily found the correct building, a mansion really. And had found an entrance through the servants quarters. She remembered how a foul stench had entered her nostrils, something was rotten here.
She remembers how she stared in grim fascination when crossing what seemed to be a ballroom, swatting carrion fly's as she walked. It had looked like a butcher had had a field day. Almost every surface was covered in dark dried blood, even the ceiling was splattered with it. The massive chandelier still held bits of gore and viscera in it. -'What exactly had happened here?' Eliza had seen her share of gruesome sights, but this made her guts turn. Walking through the hall, she came to a long hallway, it's wall panels were shattered and near the ceiling, there were multiple charred holes, like something had exploded there. Back of the hallway, there were stairs up. -'Those would lead up to the offices' having memorized the map she had been given. In the stairs, Eliza swore she had heard the tiniest "thump" from above. Frozen in place, she stayed there what had seemed like an eternity, until she was sure that no one else was in the house. -'A house lizard?' Or something more exotic? Like a cat? She pressed on, swiftly climbing the stairs. She was having second thoughts about this job. Eliza came into to a small antechamber with three doors, one on each wall. She ignored the ones on the sides and went to directly to the one back of the room. This was it. Eliza tried the lock, noticed the lock was missing. Then opened the door. The room was dim, blinds had been pulled to the sides, so that the large, round window would let some streetlight in. She quickly scanned the room. Three large wooden cabinets, two glass displays, one was clearly broken and a small bust of a dragon goddess on a pedestal. And finally, in front of the window, a large stone table. And behind it she noticed a slumped shape. -'Is, is that a body?' She asked herself, shivers running down her spine. Then, a sweet musky smell entered her nose. -'Someone was here!' Her heart racing, Eliza took a step back. In that very moment, another loud "THUMP" came crashing behind her. Turning around, she stepped back and instinctively pulled out her dagger. Eliza came face to face with an imposing tall figure. It had an inhumanly long and spindly limbs. It wore an expressionless light gray mask, and it's light plated armor was painted in deep crimson. In it's hand, it was holding a large bladeless sword hilt. -'Soulfused' she whispered under her breath. Inside the room, a calm and pleasant man's voice called out for her -'Please, do enter, no need for panic.' Back inside, an overweight Dalian man stepped out of a secret room, one of the cabinet working as it's door. He wore an ostentatiously colorful ruffled jacket and his pale hawkish features were framed by a long curly black hair and his same colored large mustache was fashioned into perfectly round rings. As he lighted a candle, Eliza noticed that the shape on table was a fresh corpse of young Dalian man. His throat slit. -'What? Eliza said, dumbfounded. Slowly tensing her body, getting ready. -'Hmm, you are not the one I originally wanted. Alas, the name-' He flipped a note open -'"Eliza, the Hawk from the North" is a name infamous enough and seeing you brought your own dagger with you. Mmm, yes, you will suffice.' The round Dalis finished, clearly enjoying himself. Eliza began -'What is thi- but was cut off by the man. -'Anyway, let us get this over with.' Then indicated to the Soulfused behind her. -'This woman has killed the Emperor's Honored Steward's son. Kill her.' Then clapped his hands. Eliza's heart sank. But she was already moving away from the construct. Half a second later a thin blade pierced her right arm just below shoulder. But using her momentum, she stepped forwards, sliding the blade away from her. She spun around, but the stone-man was already on her. Eliza crouched and stepped away, only barely avoiding the thrust. The construct reeled back and prepared for another attack, Eliza rose and found herself coming eye to eye with the dragon bust. -'You'll do' she thought as she, in a spinning motion threw the bust at her assailant, who was already moving at her. The bust hit it's hand, knocking the blade away. It stopped for a second, but that was all she needed, and with a step Eliza jumped on the table and with another, jumped though the window. -'That thing had a retractable rapier! These guys are officials!' Eliza though as she fell into a bush fence. Above her she heard the man yell -'You idiot! Now call the guards!' Stumbling and bleeding from a dozens of tiny glass cuts, she climbed down on the street. Still in shock and confused on what had just happened. Eliza then cursed loudly and started running.
Focusing on breathing, she steeled herself and forced her body on it's feet. Then carefully peeking from behind the large wooden barrels, a strong sulfuric smell rising from them.
There were probably thousands of people on the streets, it was going to be a busy day in the Merchantry markets today. The masses were moving slowly, as nearly everyone were checked on the gates. Shifting her gaze up, she noticed how there were guards on the rooftops as well, holding crossbows and zooming goggles. -'Well that's just great.' She though with sigh. They are indeed well prepared.
Pulling back, she sat her back against the barrel. Shaking her head. -'There is no way in.'
An inkling of despair was gnawing in her heart. -'So this is how it ends huh? Stuck behind a barrel, like a coward'
Turning her head right, she noticed how a small Sturian lizard man was staring at her. 'How long had he been there?' The lizard was about a chest high and he had muted green colored scales. His short snout was lined with pointy teeth.
He was wearing a small vest and ripped pants and on top of his head he had the tiniest hat she had ever seen. He was carrying a small basket full of fish of sorts and was tilting his head left and right in wonder of this mess of a woman.
-'You have any ideas?' Eliza asked jokingly, not expecting an answer.
The small lizard man tilted his head again and said -'Fish?' with small and enthusiastic voice. Then took one fish from the basket and waved it as if wanting to give it to her.
-'Uuh, thanks, but I'm fine.' She refused with a smile. Then a thought came to her mind.
-'You scalies know your way around, right?'
The creature just stared at her, as if not fully grasping her question.
-'Do you know another way in?' She asked again, gesturing towards the gates.
The Sturian kept his eyes on her, squinting them, then asking -'Is this about the dead monkey? Because my master told me not to speak about it.'
-'What?' Eliza said, confused.
-'What?' The Sturian answered, even more confused. With frustration growing inside her, she asked one last time. -'Look, I just need to get inside and those people cannot see me, okay? Do you know a way in? I can pay.' Pulling a couple of coins from somewhere of her clothes. Upon seeing the coins, the lizard man's eyes flared with excitement and he nearly dropped the basket. -'Just wait here, the master is still sleeping and I have an idea!' He said excited, then the little lizard ran off. Now left alone, Eliza checked her wounds. Most of the smaller cut were already closing, but her pierced arm was numb, and was bleeding bad. She had treated wounds like this before and knew that it would take only couple of hours and she would pass out from the blood loss, and then the infection would take hold. She ripped a part of her sleeve off and using her teeth, she retied her bandage. Feeling her side, she could feel that something was broken there. Carefully pressing them, she could feel the broken ribs, wincing from pain as she tried each one -'Two broken, shit.' Then slowly looking around, she could see that the traffic to Merchantry was in full swing. Thousands of peoples with baskets, carts, palanquins and other equipment were slowly walking towards the gates. -'With luck, I might be able to sneak in. But those damn sniffers, I bet they have my blood. Or I could just run'. -'No. With my wounds, I can't even run properly' So with a sigh of defeat, she shifted her gazed up again. The buildings here were relatively low in height, at least when compared to the high-rises of other districts. Still, she spotted the watchful gaze of the crossbowmen. Scanning the area with their spyglasses. Especially the closest one to the gates was keeping a keen-eye to the people who were proceeding to the gate, his other hand on the glasses, turning the contraption and zooming in and out. Curiously, behind him she saw a shadow of a large bird, clinging upside down on a watchtower. It seemed as if it was wearing something shiny. She tried to squint but was cut short as she heard clatter and loud whispers behind her. Like a surprised Arnis-Gekko, she crouched and tensed her body. Turning around in a quick motion, ready pounce on whoever was sneaking on her. What Eliza saw was something she had not expecting. Four Sturian lizard-men were carrying a large barrel, the same size as those she was huddling behind right now. They walked at her, slammed the barrel down and the one closest to her was the Sturian she had spoken just moments ago and he had the biggest smile.
-'You give us money, we get you inside. Hop-hop in!' He said, while the rest of them were opening the lid. Revealing a strong smell of fish. It was obvious what the barrel has been used for. Dismayed, Eliza looked at the barrel, then the small lizard, then the barrel again.
-'This was your idea?'
Still wearing that stupid smile, the Sturian answered -'Yes! With this, the sniffers won't find you!' Visibly proud of his idea.
-'And if they open the barrel?' Eliza asked, rubbing her brow.
-'No worries! I have a plan for that too! Now hop in! My master will wake soon!' With a sigh of defeat she climbed in. One the Sturians helping her, after she nearly fell when her position made her side flare up with pain. -'Stay as down as you can! And keep your eyes closed!' He told her.
-'Why would I keep m-' She was cut off when two basketful of fish were poured down on her. Then as she was starting to curse at them, they closed the lid, muffling the profanities.
-'Now hush!' The Sturian yelled at her through the barrel.
She obeyed without any further protest. And then they lifted the barrel. Eliza was surprised how easily they carried it, such strength in a such a small body. And in Oroii they almost never let them bear arms, what a waste. Eliza was feeling very uncomfortable. Being stuck in a barrel, under mercy of idiot lizards. Wounded and helpless and she could do nothing about it. If only the old Capt'n Grachan could be able to see her sorry ass now, oh how he would laugh. A freaking disgrace. Worse still, the barrel was now full of dead Rhodian Eels, whose acidic slime made her wounds burn so bad it made Eliza want to scream. Biting her teeth, she only barely endured. She could hear a wagon rolling past them. Somewhere, someone was shouting, something clanged on the barrel. More shouting. Someone was crying. And soon, thankfully, sounds began to grow distant. -'It can't be far anymore' she thought, shaking and tearing up from her pain. It felt like an eternity until they set the barrel down and opened the lid. Eliza must have been a sorry sight. Shaking, swearing and wet from that cursed slime. She rose slowly, trying to stabilize her breath with a Vraa-mantra, taught to slow down one's heart rate. She wanted to skin the damned lizards, especially now when they were holding out their hands, expecting a pay for they "fine deed". But she had no weapon and killing them would only cause more problems. Now that she thought about, she looked around. They were in an empty, small warehouse. At least they had the brains to leave her in a inconspicuous location. Noticing a theme, she gave yet another sigh of defeat, she reached out to her chest and pulled out a small pouch of money and handed it to them. It wasn't much and she still had another pouch hidden in her. But seeing how exited the lizards became when they opened it, it must have been more than enough. Each of them in turn thanked Eliza, then packed up the barrel, took it on their shoulders and ran off in such unison and vigor that would have made her old Fleet-master proud. -'The smug bastard. I hope he drowned when he fell.' The thought made her smile.
Now alone again, she looked around, hoping to find some new clothes. For a warehouse, the room small and it was taller than it was wide. Eliza estimated that only about a ten people worked there. It had one door and a small window next to it, other walls were stacked with barrels and crates, a small black flower was burned in all of them. 'Lotuses' she said out loud, no wonder their people were so ready to smuggle her in.
She could hear the commotion outside as people were either setting up their stalls or already haggling or yelling something about prices.
In a wall near her, she found a piece of warehouse overalls and a scarf. They smelled like sweat and grime, but it was far better than what she had right now. Near it, she found some clean bandages and a bottle of antisept. -'Praise Yavak!' She thanked.
After carefully cleaning her wounds and changing her clothes, she peeked outside of the window. There it was, Merchantry. The largest marketplace this side of the world.
The morning sun shone on the rows of hundreds of small buildings built inward to the tall ring walls. Each building housed multiple stands, build in and outside of them. On top of them, a mass of colorful fabrics were set as roof over all.
There and there, taller buildings were repurposed as lodgings and guild halls. They were all covered in flags and signs, marking each area for each guilds. In the middle, a square and in the middle of it, a giant clock tower. It had a clock-face on each side and the entire building was painted in a rainbow of colors.
It was six o'clock and bell would sound soon, marking the official beginning of a new market day. Thousands of people were already flocking the streets, and thousands more would arrive still. This was the perfect place to hide and this was her entryway to the Undercity.
Judging by the angle of the clock tower, she was near to the south entrance, build next to a tavern. She knew that there were at least four other entrances here, though they were not safe.
'So close' She could almost see the tavern's roof. Making sure that her scarf covered most of her face, she stepped outside. There were guards at every corner.
Walking to the cobblestone road, Eliza now had a straight path to the tavern, she could see it's turquoise roof in the distance. Only couple hundred feets, then she was there. Eliza took deep breath. 'Eyes forwards' she started walking, keeping her eyes at the tavern 'Blessings of Astach on your weary feet' She had a new costume, they wouldn't notice. 'And I smell like fish' She kept saying to herself. Eliza paid little attention to anyone else, only focusing on breathing and trying her best to walk as if she wasn't cut everywhere. 500 feets. Her guise must have helped. People didn't even raise their eyes on her. Guards dismissing her as the rubble her clothes indicated.
400 feets. Two guards with a sniffer were talking to another official looking person. An older human woman, with a tightly fitted black jacket, her scalp was completely shaven and it had at least four rows of runes tattooed on it. She was holding a parchment that the guards were inspecting. They were far, but she could see a sketch of a feminine face, her face.
Eliza kept her face down and no one paid any attention at her. Except the sniffer. Walking past them, the lizard extended it's snout at her direction and gave a low "Mjeerh!" sound. The guards and the woman all turned their heads at her, their eyes locking with hers. One of the guard said something to the other. Eliza turned back and just kept walking. Hoping to disappear before they caught on.
300 feets. -'Did they notice? Maybe they didn't notice?' she thought, her heart beating fast. She could see the tavern in all it's rotten glory. The entryway was behind it, in it's cellar, under a trapdoor. -'You there! Laborer. Stop!' A man called behind her. Eliza did not stop. -'Almost there!' She could hear their walk turn into a run. Eliza gave a quick glance, the two guards were now running at her. The woman behind them had taken a small crossbow and was pulling a string that was attached to it's bolt and then fired it to the sky. A string of thick green smoke was left trailing behind the bolt. Eliza was running now. Each step an agonizing blow to her side, but she was almost there. Up front, two guards were running to block her. Eliza stepped left, inside a building with it's door open. A jeweler was counting his register when Eliza literally jumped over him and continued through an open window. A ball of green smoke puffed above her.
She ran into a tiny yard filled with tanning racks. On the other side, another door. Behind it, a row of large stalls. Around her, people were stirring in confusion.
Now turning right, she stayed behind the stalls while running towards the tavern. All the while dodging angry merchants and their produce.
200 feets. Passing a corner, from afar she saw how an entire squad of guards were jogging towards her in unison.
"THUCK" A bolt landed near her ear, there was a crossbowman near. Jumping over another stall and over the street into another building, there a mother with her child was shouting her to leave as she run past them. -'Cut her down!' a gravely voice was shouting behind her. Past another set of stalls, she came to an intersection, Eliza could already hear the usual drunken hooting coming from the tavern.
A clang of armor sounded near her and she barely dodged an downward glaive chop. A giant of man clad in a shiny Amaranian guard heavy plate was raising his weapon for another attack.
Swiftly ducking and sidestepping, she took some sand with her hand and threw it in his eyes, then turned to run, leaving the cursing man behind her.
There it was! The alleyway behind the tavern. Crossing the street, she saw how dozens of guards were running from both sides at her. Just two blocks away from her. The alley lead into a small backyard and there, two metal doors leading down to the cellar. To her relief, she noticed that they weren't locked, a metal lock was cast aside on the ground.
She tried it opening it, but they were incredibly heavy. Even in her adrenaline rush, Eliza had to use all her strength to lift one open, her arm now slippery from the blood. By the sound of it, the guards had already reach the alleyway. Barely being able to keep the door open, she needed to dive in. But then she heard a "Crack!" above her and dust fell on her. Looking up, she saw how a set of gray, emotionless eyes were looking at her. The being had a matte black body, it's face was mostly covered with a golden mask and on it's back it had pair of spread black metallic feathered wings. It was hanging upside down, it's long sharp claws struck on the wall and one clawed hand was stretching out for her. Eliza gave a sharp yelp and plunged inside, the heavy metal door crashing close behind her. -Whattefuckwasthat?!' Eliza said, her voice now trembling with panic. In a frantic scramble, she took a nearby hardwood blank and barred the door. Almost immediately after, something powerful tried to pull the door open, but only managed to twist off one of it's handles. And for few long seconds, it was silent again. Now looking for the trapdoor, she quickly found it under a flimsy bed, it too was made from metal and it had a crude valve lock. The guards had already arrive at the backyard, as someone was shouting orders and demanding people to go inside, while they themselves would break the doors open. She opened the trapdoor, dropped inside, then moved the bed back to it's place and slammed the hatch down and with a valve, rolled it shut.
Eliza was done, every part of her body was screaming for mercy. She was half jogging half limping through the dark corridor, one hand on the wall for support with only a minimal violet gas lamp light showing her the way.
-'What I would do for pint of Jarek's mead' a weak chuckle escaping her throat. Eliza tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry and she only tasted blood, the world was slowly starting to spin around her. Slowing down, she took a deep breath, almost falling to the floor. Her mind drifting to past memories. The Far-Spike years, the disgracing, then the pirating years and finally that damned raid. If only they had know there were some damned cold-blooded Xhaagi users onboard. How they had burned her captain, his ship and her family. A burst of anger giving her strength to kick the wall.
A loud "CLANK" from somewhere far back brought her back to her senses. The sound echoed across the tunnels.
-'Shit, they are in' Slapping herself on the cheek to help her focus. She gave a prayer to Koridast and Astach, then one feet at a time forced herself on the move. -'Past this tunnel, then to the right and you get to the "Small Kassaan". Eliza reminded herself.
Soon the the corridor gave away for a larger chamber. An old, repurposed part of the ancient sewer system. While it was damp here, the filth has not flown through here in ages and the canal below has long since dried. The gloomy violet glow from the gas lamps revealed a path made of sturdy blanks that had been laid on the ground, covering any collapsed structures.
Continuing with the path, Eliza came to a large wooden door. Tall bushes of white cave fern grew around it, surrounding it in an arch. She knocked on the door, no answer.
She looked back, she knew her pursuers wouldn't be far behind.
Knocking again, a lot harder this time. She heard mumbling behind the door and finally a small peephole opened on the door. A pair of stern, serious eyes looked at her, until they recognized the shambling human.
-'El!' the man yelled. Then opened the door. -'Back so soon? What happened?' He asked. Taking a good look at her as she limped in, -'You look like shit.' His already shadowy face darkening. Eliza turned at him and took a hold of his shoulders and said -'Bar the door, the gig was sham. They. Screwed. Us. And the city guards are almost here!' The man stared at her without saying a word. -'Jaq!' Eliza snapped at him. He nodded slowly then gave her a bottle he was holding. Eliza immediately took a heavy swig of and then coughed.
-'The good stuff' the man gave a hint of smile.
-'Jaq! Focus!'
-'Right!' And he turned to the door and began bolting a series of locks attached to it. Then finished it by lifting a metal bar in front of it. He could already heard clanking footsteps in the distance. -'El, go, now. Warn your crew. I'll make sure they don't get through this door.' Eliza nodded and she was moving again. Eliza limped though a short tunnel, finally coming to an opening. A half collapsed chamber where a group of vagabonds were trying to light a bonfire. Ignoring them, she crossed it, then past a wooden bridge over a deep canal turned chasm. Trying her best not to look down. Past it, she came to a door. Warning signs and threats were scribbled all over it, all signed with three claws marks. Ignoring them, she stepped in. The door lead to vast chamber, a cavern really. It was some two thousand feet wide in all direction. It's walls were made of rubble, ancient pillars and old forgotten buildings, most of which had collapsed onto itself ages ago. It's ceiling rose to at least a three hundred feet up and there she could see a small opening that brought actual sunlight in. Most likely an old well. Dozens upon dozens of shacks were build in the "town square" and in it's middle, a large bonfire was lit. Close by, there were even stalls where people were selling their goods. All around, there were people going on in their business. An actual town withing a city. -'There you are, small Kassaan.'
Eliza allowed herself a weak smile.
She would need to get to their safe house, get her crew and leave this place, tonight. The Claws had set them up. They were no longer safe here. Trying her best to not to rouse any attention, she walked around the town square. Eliza heard an orange furred Rashi trying to sell some cured meat to another, rather unimpressed Rashi.
Past a couple of ramshackle shacks, on the western side of the cavern. She found their safe house. An old stone building, half stuck in the wall. Light shone through it's two windows. At least some of her crew was at home.
Almost jogging now, she came to the door and knocked it. No answer. She tried the door, but it was stuck. Not taking any chances, she carefully peeked in through a window. Everything seemed normal. There were multiple cabinets on the left wall and her workbench on the other. A large dining table with five chairs was set in the middle. A giant bald heavily tattooed man was sleeping there, Erek. His hand working as his pillow, while the other was grasping a wine bottle. -'And drunk again.'
Behind the room were the bunk beds and the door to their storage room. Someone was sleeping there.
Silently, she opened the window and climbed in. And with a shock saw why she couldn't open the door.
Two familiar bodies were haphazardly tossed in front of the door. Marisha and Chav. Marisha's lifeless, orange eyes looking at her. -'No! Eliza yelled, while hurrying for the bodies. They both had a small red wound on back of their necks. Stabbed, with something really thin.
-'Erek? Eliza turned to her friend. -'Oh nonono!' Tears were now running down her soot covered cheeks. Slowly walking to him, she saw the same wounds on his neck. Closing her eyes, she touched his head and said -'Your soul is paid in full, sail well my dear'. Eliza walked for the beds. Karr was laying there, in a pool of his own blood. His eyes open, a surprised look on his face.
She kneel next to him and closed his eyes. Eliza stayed there for awhile, silently crying and trying to digest everything that had happened today. She was now the last surviving crew member of the "Firelord". And she was on the run. Again. She gently touched her temple, the tattoo reminding herself to move on. Finally standing up, she turned to get bandages from a cabinet next to her and immediately noticed that someone was there. She swallowed and slowly turned to look.
A tall, dark person stood in front of the table. It's shape was distorted, somehow wrong, but she recognized it as the thing she had seen earlier. It wore a golden mask and behind it's back it had a set of dark wings, only now they were collapsed. It's long and lithe arms ended in a freakishly large hands, hands that had an imposing brass-colored claws. And on it's left hand it held a rapier, it's blade slowly retracting back it's hilt.
-'This has been an interesting hunt.' It's booming voice cold and calculating. -'But all good things must come to an end.'
-'Why me? Why did you have to kill th-' And before Eliza could finish, she felt a sting on her leg. Looking down, a tiny black dart had appeared there.
-'Why?' was the last thing she managed to say, before her legs gave away and she collapsed onto the floor. Her head was pounding now and her vision was blurring, fast.
-'Because you proved yourself' the thing said to her.
Another winged stone-man entered the room. Eliza heard them speak in low tones.
-'Send a message, the subject was captured before the guards did. Protocol two is now in effect.' -'I heard the Doctor wants her.' The other construct added. The leader nodded. -'Tend her wounds and prepare to take her down'
They both turned to look at her.
-'Down to the Pits.'
-'Shit' Eliza whispered. And then the world turned to black.
Blood was dripping from her arm. Stopping, Eliza took a breath and leaned against the wall. She looked around, making sure she was alone; she was. -'Good, good, oh this is good' muttering with a sarcastic tone. She ripped a piece of cloth from her tunic, then wrapped it around her arm and winced while pulling it tight. She took one final breath, swiping her forehead then turned around the corner. Only to come face to face with a seemingly drunken flock of noblewomen and their entourage; All in their ridiculous and colorful high-horned headdresses. Eliza crashed into one of the servants, knocking him over. A bald tattooed man, only wearing an extravagant loincloth, now stained with a blood from her wounded arm. They began swearing at her, until they noticed the bloodied mess she was. One woman started to scream in panic, another to yell for guards. But by then, Eliza had already hopped around a corner. Alley after alley, corner after corner, she ran through the slowly awakening district. Staying in shadows and away from eyes. Scurrying like a wounded animal. After running for a while, she stopped again to take a breath. Again, instinctively taking her hand up to her temple, gently touching her Riekian Cwi-tattoo. Her long black braided hair covering her past shame. She looked around, Iinasian Hights was a quiet district, but it was a death trap. Only two ways out and it was surrounded by high walls. She had to get out. Refocusing, Eliza looked back, listening. Nothing, yet. But she had to push on, the exit was near. Clutching her hand, she turned again from an alleyway to another. Until she came to a narrow vestibule to a bridge over the city canal. Finally exiting Iinasian Hights. And no guards, good. -'What a disaster' She thought. -'I will flay that broker!' Eliza cursed under her breath. She needed to get underground and fast. But even she herself doubted her chances. She continued running towards the edge of the city level and looked for a way down. On her left, the main stairs. Though it seems that they were filled with guards. Marching towards her. 'Patrol? At this hour? Shit.' To her right, a terrace, where two drunkards were enjoying their drinks in stupor. Underneath it, an artificial crevice. It was steep, but with luck, one could slide it all the way down. Again she looked over her shoulder. There, pushing though the crowd, she saw the distinct purple-white plumes and tabards of the Amaranian Guards, shouting something at her direction. Eliza made a split second decision and jumped over the railing and slide down the steep slope directly to a lower level. She hit the ground- hard, and rolled over, nearly knocking herself out. Staggered, wobbling and bleeding, she rose and tried to start running again. Her dark and airy clothes now sticky with her own blood. A sudden pain on her side made Eliza yelp. -'A broken rib? Bloody Yavak.' cursing again as she spit blood. She was on the move again, though half limping now, she'll have time to nurse her wounds when she gets below the city. -'An easy job? Yeah sure. A freaking set-up!' She remember meeting with the Claws-syndicate contact, who told of a gig he wanted to arrange with her. It sounded easy, too easy. But she had debt she wanted to get rid of. A known nobleman had recently been discovered to be the orchestrator of the assassination attempt at Bal'Alr's Queen's head. And he had been found dead at his mansion, surrounded by unholy machinery. Now, everyone in the neighborhood avoided that house like it had the plague markers in it. -'The house is still abandoned, so slip in, we'll give you a map. In his office you can find a document with red jeweled seal. Bring it back to us and the Claws will reward you.' -'The house is empty.' He had emphasized. Eliza was nearing the Pardian's lower levels. Hopping down stairs after stairs and was practically hugging the walls, as she made sure to stay under any balconies and parapets, away from any keen-eyed guards, or unwanted glances from passers-by. It was early morning and the streets were slowly filling up with people going on to their duties. Dalis, in their flowing robes, horned headdresses and complex spiraling hairdos. Humans, many dressed in the sleek, tightly fitted Ravanian style jackets and tall boots. Finally reaching the ground, there she continued by the building wall, until she came across a small alley blocked by crates. Quickly climbing up and over, she ran through the small alleyway next to Turnast Wall, jumping over lowlife, high on which ever substance they had gotten their hands on. Eliza tossed a coin for a young looking girl as she passed. From there, she got into a side-street turned bazaar. Peppered by dozens upon dozens of ramshackle stalls, with colorful banners and wooden covers littered over the walls. The pungent smell of exotic spice and filth burned her nose, but she pushed through. -'Mostly downtrodden Rashis and Scalies here, they wouldn't snitch.' Behind her, the clang of heavy boots exposed the guard's approach. -'Search the alley! We'll go through the market!' A man yelled. Two armed men marching in. Eliza jumped between stalls, then crawled behind one. There was an alcove, where a group of robed figures sat mumbling to each other. While everyone were focused on the guards, Eliza grabbed a piece dark cloth from a nearby stand and with a quick hand motion span it around her head as a makeshift hood, letting rest of it fall on her back as a cape. Eliza sat beside the robed people, whom she recognized as Mystics of Shaoraix. -'Pacifists of an annoying degree' she though, huddling as close to them as possible, as if belonging in their group. They didn't seem to give her any attention, though one of them, a gray scaled Naazey spirited a flower from his robes and placed it over her lap and said. -'We all have our place, some just don't know where it is, I feel like your place is... Close.'. Their eyes locking. Eliza found the Naazey mystic's speech oddly calming. Her body relaxed for a moment and her pain eased. She kept looking into the Naazey's eyes. -'Look beyond' He said calmly. Voices around her blended together into a pleasant hum and the world around them seemed to disappear. With a corner of her eye, she noticed that a guard had arrived, he searched behind the stalls, gave a quick glance at the group, froze and stood there for a couple of seconds and just turned away. Visibly puzzled. Eliza didn't know how long it had passed when she finally snapped out of whatever she had been put into. Taking a deep breath, the pain came back crashing and it almost overwhelmed her. The old Naazey didn't say anything, just smiled at her. -'What did you do? She asked silently, while pressing down on her arm and looking around. The guards had finished the sweep and were jogging away from the bazaar. -'How did you do it?' He kept looking at her, until he said -'You asked for it. The plead exhumed from you. How? That will remain a secret, for now. You are free to stay with us, thou I doubt you will' Eliza nodded and was getting on her feet. The Mystic continued. -'You may find the road unpleasant, why don't you use our way?' And pointed to a door behind them.' She had not even notice that there was a door. It was smooth and painted in the same greenish gray color as the walls around it. -'Oh' She muttered. -'You are relatively new to this city yes? This door will take you north, I suspect that is where you want?' Eliza nodded slowly and said. -'Thank you, I, do you need something? Why are you telling me this?' The Naazey gave a hint of a smile. -'We don't interfere with fate, I'm just giving it a- nudge' His voice lingering on those last words. Eliza knew better than to start asking more questions, she walked to the door. There wasn't any visible handle, so she just pushed it gently. To her surprise, it opened easily. Behind it was a narrow corridor, only about two feet wide. The corridor seemed long and Eliza was sure that it was only recently carved here and judging by the surface, it was done by hand no less. The door behind her closed and a total darkness fell on her. -'Eyes forwards and blessings of Astach on your weary feet' reciting the old journeyman prayer, then gulped and pressed on. After carefully walking for several minutes in pitch dark, she stumbled on a wooden door. Slowly working through it, she finally found a round handle, then slowly turned it. The hallway was flooded in gentle morning light. Eliza found herself in a dim alley, the doorway was surrounded by large crates and behind her rose the massive Turnast wall. -'Finally' She said, then suddenly coughing and spitting some more blood. -'Fuck' cursing a bit too loud. Carefully walking past the crates, she came to an in-between boulevard. Close to the district gate. Just a couple hundred feets and she was in Merchantry. There she could vanish into the crowd. Eliza came into a busy intersection right before the gates. The place was swarming with guards. And they had a sniffer too! One of the guards had a strange looking lizard under his leash. It was about a waist high, with dark plate-like scales. It had a long and elongated body, that ended in a long pipe-like snout that it was using to smell everyone who passed through the gate. -'I bet they have one in every entrance.' She slowed down and hung her head low. What now? The safe entrance to undercity was behind those gates. Maybe she could try using sewers? No, with her wounds, that would be a suicide. Besides, she hasn't seen many man-holes around here and opening one would cause a lot of noise. Clutching her arm ever tighter, the pain was getting worse. Thanks to the throng of people around her, she was easily able to retreated to sidelines, behind a wall of large barrels that were stacked near what seemed like a warehouse of sorts. There she finally took a deep breath and nearly collapsed. -'How did, no. Why did this happen? Why her?' She thought, thinking back what had happened about an hour ago.
by Andreas Rocha
She remembers how she stared in grim fascination when crossing what seemed to be a ballroom, swatting carrion fly's as she walked. It had looked like a butcher had had a field day. Almost every surface was covered in dark dried blood, even the ceiling was splattered with it. The massive chandelier still held bits of gore and viscera in it. -'What exactly had happened here?' Eliza had seen her share of gruesome sights, but this made her guts turn. Walking through the hall, she came to a long hallway, it's wall panels were shattered and near the ceiling, there were multiple charred holes, like something had exploded there. Back of the hallway, there were stairs up. -'Those would lead up to the offices' having memorized the map she had been given. In the stairs, Eliza swore she had heard the tiniest "thump" from above. Frozen in place, she stayed there what had seemed like an eternity, until she was sure that no one else was in the house. -'A house lizard?' Or something more exotic? Like a cat? She pressed on, swiftly climbing the stairs. She was having second thoughts about this job. Eliza came into to a small antechamber with three doors, one on each wall. She ignored the ones on the sides and went to directly to the one back of the room. This was it. Eliza tried the lock, noticed the lock was missing. Then opened the door. The room was dim, blinds had been pulled to the sides, so that the large, round window would let some streetlight in. She quickly scanned the room. Three large wooden cabinets, two glass displays, one was clearly broken and a small bust of a dragon goddess on a pedestal. And finally, in front of the window, a large stone table. And behind it she noticed a slumped shape. -'Is, is that a body?' She asked herself, shivers running down her spine. Then, a sweet musky smell entered her nose. -'Someone was here!' Her heart racing, Eliza took a step back. In that very moment, another loud "THUMP" came crashing behind her. Turning around, she stepped back and instinctively pulled out her dagger. Eliza came face to face with an imposing tall figure. It had an inhumanly long and spindly limbs. It wore an expressionless light gray mask, and it's light plated armor was painted in deep crimson. In it's hand, it was holding a large bladeless sword hilt. -'Soulfused' she whispered under her breath. Inside the room, a calm and pleasant man's voice called out for her -'Please, do enter, no need for panic.' Back inside, an overweight Dalian man stepped out of a secret room, one of the cabinet working as it's door. He wore an ostentatiously colorful ruffled jacket and his pale hawkish features were framed by a long curly black hair and his same colored large mustache was fashioned into perfectly round rings. As he lighted a candle, Eliza noticed that the shape on table was a fresh corpse of young Dalian man. His throat slit. -'What? Eliza said, dumbfounded. Slowly tensing her body, getting ready. -'Hmm, you are not the one I originally wanted. Alas, the name-' He flipped a note open -'"Eliza, the Hawk from the North" is a name infamous enough and seeing you brought your own dagger with you. Mmm, yes, you will suffice.' The round Dalis finished, clearly enjoying himself. Eliza began -'What is thi- but was cut off by the man. -'Anyway, let us get this over with.' Then indicated to the Soulfused behind her. -'This woman has killed the Emperor's Honored Steward's son. Kill her.' Then clapped his hands. Eliza's heart sank. But she was already moving away from the construct. Half a second later a thin blade pierced her right arm just below shoulder. But using her momentum, she stepped forwards, sliding the blade away from her. She spun around, but the stone-man was already on her. Eliza crouched and stepped away, only barely avoiding the thrust. The construct reeled back and prepared for another attack, Eliza rose and found herself coming eye to eye with the dragon bust. -'You'll do' she thought as she, in a spinning motion threw the bust at her assailant, who was already moving at her. The bust hit it's hand, knocking the blade away. It stopped for a second, but that was all she needed, and with a step Eliza jumped on the table and with another, jumped though the window. -'That thing had a retractable rapier! These guys are officials!' Eliza though as she fell into a bush fence. Above her she heard the man yell -'You idiot! Now call the guards!' Stumbling and bleeding from a dozens of tiny glass cuts, she climbed down on the street. Still in shock and confused on what had just happened. Eliza then cursed loudly and started running.
by Noah Bradley
-'You scalies know your way around, right?'
The creature just stared at her, as if not fully grasping her question.
-'Do you know another way in?' She asked again, gesturing towards the gates.
The Sturian kept his eyes on her, squinting them, then asking -'Is this about the dead monkey? Because my master told me not to speak about it.'
-'What?' Eliza said, confused.
-'What?' The Sturian answered, even more confused. With frustration growing inside her, she asked one last time. -'Look, I just need to get inside and those people cannot see me, okay? Do you know a way in? I can pay.' Pulling a couple of coins from somewhere of her clothes. Upon seeing the coins, the lizard man's eyes flared with excitement and he nearly dropped the basket. -'Just wait here, the master is still sleeping and I have an idea!' He said excited, then the little lizard ran off. Now left alone, Eliza checked her wounds. Most of the smaller cut were already closing, but her pierced arm was numb, and was bleeding bad. She had treated wounds like this before and knew that it would take only couple of hours and she would pass out from the blood loss, and then the infection would take hold. She ripped a part of her sleeve off and using her teeth, she retied her bandage. Feeling her side, she could feel that something was broken there. Carefully pressing them, she could feel the broken ribs, wincing from pain as she tried each one -'Two broken, shit.' Then slowly looking around, she could see that the traffic to Merchantry was in full swing. Thousands of peoples with baskets, carts, palanquins and other equipment were slowly walking towards the gates. -'With luck, I might be able to sneak in. But those damn sniffers, I bet they have my blood. Or I could just run'. -'No. With my wounds, I can't even run properly' So with a sigh of defeat, she shifted her gazed up again. The buildings here were relatively low in height, at least when compared to the high-rises of other districts. Still, she spotted the watchful gaze of the crossbowmen. Scanning the area with their spyglasses. Especially the closest one to the gates was keeping a keen-eye to the people who were proceeding to the gate, his other hand on the glasses, turning the contraption and zooming in and out. Curiously, behind him she saw a shadow of a large bird, clinging upside down on a watchtower. It seemed as if it was wearing something shiny. She tried to squint but was cut short as she heard clatter and loud whispers behind her. Like a surprised Arnis-Gekko, she crouched and tensed her body. Turning around in a quick motion, ready pounce on whoever was sneaking on her. What Eliza saw was something she had not expecting. Four Sturian lizard-men were carrying a large barrel, the same size as those she was huddling behind right now. They walked at her, slammed the barrel down and the one closest to her was the Sturian she had spoken just moments ago and he had the biggest smile.
-'You give us money, we get you inside. Hop-hop in!' He said, while the rest of them were opening the lid. Revealing a strong smell of fish. It was obvious what the barrel has been used for. Dismayed, Eliza looked at the barrel, then the small lizard, then the barrel again.
-'This was your idea?'
Still wearing that stupid smile, the Sturian answered -'Yes! With this, the sniffers won't find you!' Visibly proud of his idea.
-'And if they open the barrel?' Eliza asked, rubbing her brow.
-'No worries! I have a plan for that too! Now hop in! My master will wake soon!' With a sigh of defeat she climbed in. One the Sturians helping her, after she nearly fell when her position made her side flare up with pain. -'Stay as down as you can! And keep your eyes closed!' He told her.
-'Why would I keep m-' She was cut off when two basketful of fish were poured down on her. Then as she was starting to curse at them, they closed the lid, muffling the profanities.
-'Now hush!' The Sturian yelled at her through the barrel.
She obeyed without any further protest. And then they lifted the barrel. Eliza was surprised how easily they carried it, such strength in a such a small body. And in Oroii they almost never let them bear arms, what a waste. Eliza was feeling very uncomfortable. Being stuck in a barrel, under mercy of idiot lizards. Wounded and helpless and she could do nothing about it. If only the old Capt'n Grachan could be able to see her sorry ass now, oh how he would laugh. A freaking disgrace. Worse still, the barrel was now full of dead Rhodian Eels, whose acidic slime made her wounds burn so bad it made Eliza want to scream. Biting her teeth, she only barely endured. She could hear a wagon rolling past them. Somewhere, someone was shouting, something clanged on the barrel. More shouting. Someone was crying. And soon, thankfully, sounds began to grow distant. -'It can't be far anymore' she thought, shaking and tearing up from her pain. It felt like an eternity until they set the barrel down and opened the lid. Eliza must have been a sorry sight. Shaking, swearing and wet from that cursed slime. She rose slowly, trying to stabilize her breath with a Vraa-mantra, taught to slow down one's heart rate. She wanted to skin the damned lizards, especially now when they were holding out their hands, expecting a pay for they "fine deed". But she had no weapon and killing them would only cause more problems. Now that she thought about, she looked around. They were in an empty, small warehouse. At least they had the brains to leave her in a inconspicuous location. Noticing a theme, she gave yet another sigh of defeat, she reached out to her chest and pulled out a small pouch of money and handed it to them. It wasn't much and she still had another pouch hidden in her. But seeing how exited the lizards became when they opened it, it must have been more than enough. Each of them in turn thanked Eliza, then packed up the barrel, took it on their shoulders and ran off in such unison and vigor that would have made her old Fleet-master proud. -'The smug bastard. I hope he drowned when he fell.' The thought made her smile.
by Dimitrije Miljus
There and there, taller buildings were repurposed as lodgings and guild halls. They were all covered in flags and signs, marking each area for each guilds. In the middle, a square and in the middle of it, a giant clock tower. It had a clock-face on each side and the entire building was painted in a rainbow of colors.
It was six o'clock and bell would sound soon, marking the official beginning of a new market day. Thousands of people were already flocking the streets, and thousands more would arrive still. This was the perfect place to hide and this was her entryway to the Undercity.
Judging by the angle of the clock tower, she was near to the south entrance, build next to a tavern. She knew that there were at least four other entrances here, though they were not safe.
'So close' She could almost see the tavern's roof. Making sure that her scarf covered most of her face, she stepped outside. There were guards at every corner.
Walking to the cobblestone road, Eliza now had a straight path to the tavern, she could see it's turquoise roof in the distance. Only couple hundred feets, then she was there. Eliza took deep breath. 'Eyes forwards' she started walking, keeping her eyes at the tavern 'Blessings of Astach on your weary feet' She had a new costume, they wouldn't notice. 'And I smell like fish' She kept saying to herself. Eliza paid little attention to anyone else, only focusing on breathing and trying her best to walk as if she wasn't cut everywhere. 500 feets. Her guise must have helped. People didn't even raise their eyes on her. Guards dismissing her as the rubble her clothes indicated.
400 feets. Two guards with a sniffer were talking to another official looking person. An older human woman, with a tightly fitted black jacket, her scalp was completely shaven and it had at least four rows of runes tattooed on it. She was holding a parchment that the guards were inspecting. They were far, but she could see a sketch of a feminine face, her face.
Eliza kept her face down and no one paid any attention at her. Except the sniffer. Walking past them, the lizard extended it's snout at her direction and gave a low "Mjeerh!" sound. The guards and the woman all turned their heads at her, their eyes locking with hers. One of the guard said something to the other. Eliza turned back and just kept walking. Hoping to disappear before they caught on.
300 feets. -'Did they notice? Maybe they didn't notice?' she thought, her heart beating fast. She could see the tavern in all it's rotten glory. The entryway was behind it, in it's cellar, under a trapdoor. -'You there! Laborer. Stop!' A man called behind her. Eliza did not stop. -'Almost there!' She could hear their walk turn into a run. Eliza gave a quick glance, the two guards were now running at her. The woman behind them had taken a small crossbow and was pulling a string that was attached to it's bolt and then fired it to the sky. A string of thick green smoke was left trailing behind the bolt. Eliza was running now. Each step an agonizing blow to her side, but she was almost there. Up front, two guards were running to block her. Eliza stepped left, inside a building with it's door open. A jeweler was counting his register when Eliza literally jumped over him and continued through an open window. A ball of green smoke puffed above her.
She ran into a tiny yard filled with tanning racks. On the other side, another door. Behind it, a row of large stalls. Around her, people were stirring in confusion.
Now turning right, she stayed behind the stalls while running towards the tavern. All the while dodging angry merchants and their produce.
200 feets. Passing a corner, from afar she saw how an entire squad of guards were jogging towards her in unison.
"THUCK" A bolt landed near her ear, there was a crossbowman near. Jumping over another stall and over the street into another building, there a mother with her child was shouting her to leave as she run past them. -'Cut her down!' a gravely voice was shouting behind her. Past another set of stalls, she came to an intersection, Eliza could already hear the usual drunken hooting coming from the tavern.
A clang of armor sounded near her and she barely dodged an downward glaive chop. A giant of man clad in a shiny Amaranian guard heavy plate was raising his weapon for another attack.
Swiftly ducking and sidestepping, she took some sand with her hand and threw it in his eyes, then turned to run, leaving the cursing man behind her.
There it was! The alleyway behind the tavern. Crossing the street, she saw how dozens of guards were running from both sides at her. Just two blocks away from her. The alley lead into a small backyard and there, two metal doors leading down to the cellar. To her relief, she noticed that they weren't locked, a metal lock was cast aside on the ground.
She tried it opening it, but they were incredibly heavy. Even in her adrenaline rush, Eliza had to use all her strength to lift one open, her arm now slippery from the blood. By the sound of it, the guards had already reach the alleyway. Barely being able to keep the door open, she needed to dive in. But then she heard a "Crack!" above her and dust fell on her. Looking up, she saw how a set of gray, emotionless eyes were looking at her. The being had a matte black body, it's face was mostly covered with a golden mask and on it's back it had pair of spread black metallic feathered wings. It was hanging upside down, it's long sharp claws struck on the wall and one clawed hand was stretching out for her. Eliza gave a sharp yelp and plunged inside, the heavy metal door crashing close behind her. -Whattefuckwasthat?!' Eliza said, her voice now trembling with panic. In a frantic scramble, she took a nearby hardwood blank and barred the door. Almost immediately after, something powerful tried to pull the door open, but only managed to twist off one of it's handles. And for few long seconds, it was silent again. Now looking for the trapdoor, she quickly found it under a flimsy bed, it too was made from metal and it had a crude valve lock. The guards had already arrive at the backyard, as someone was shouting orders and demanding people to go inside, while they themselves would break the doors open. She opened the trapdoor, dropped inside, then moved the bed back to it's place and slammed the hatch down and with a valve, rolled it shut.
by Alyn Spiller
-'El!' the man yelled. Then opened the door. -'Back so soon? What happened?' He asked. Taking a good look at her as she limped in, -'You look like shit.' His already shadowy face darkening. Eliza turned at him and took a hold of his shoulders and said -'Bar the door, the gig was sham. They. Screwed. Us. And the city guards are almost here!' The man stared at her without saying a word. -'Jaq!' Eliza snapped at him. He nodded slowly then gave her a bottle he was holding. Eliza immediately took a heavy swig of and then coughed.
-'The good stuff' the man gave a hint of smile.
-'Jaq! Focus!'
-'Right!' And he turned to the door and began bolting a series of locks attached to it. Then finished it by lifting a metal bar in front of it. He could already heard clanking footsteps in the distance. -'El, go, now. Warn your crew. I'll make sure they don't get through this door.' Eliza nodded and she was moving again. Eliza limped though a short tunnel, finally coming to an opening. A half collapsed chamber where a group of vagabonds were trying to light a bonfire. Ignoring them, she crossed it, then past a wooden bridge over a deep canal turned chasm. Trying her best not to look down. Past it, she came to a door. Warning signs and threats were scribbled all over it, all signed with three claws marks. Ignoring them, she stepped in. The door lead to vast chamber, a cavern really. It was some two thousand feet wide in all direction. It's walls were made of rubble, ancient pillars and old forgotten buildings, most of which had collapsed onto itself ages ago. It's ceiling rose to at least a three hundred feet up and there she could see a small opening that brought actual sunlight in. Most likely an old well. Dozens upon dozens of shacks were build in the "town square" and in it's middle, a large bonfire was lit. Close by, there were even stalls where people were selling their goods. All around, there were people going on in their business. An actual town withing a city. -'There you are, small Kassaan.'
Eliza allowed herself a weak smile.
She would need to get to their safe house, get her crew and leave this place, tonight. The Claws had set them up. They were no longer safe here. Trying her best to not to rouse any attention, she walked around the town square. Eliza heard an orange furred Rashi trying to sell some cured meat to another, rather unimpressed Rashi.
Past a couple of ramshackle shacks, on the western side of the cavern. She found their safe house. An old stone building, half stuck in the wall. Light shone through it's two windows. At least some of her crew was at home.
Almost jogging now, she came to the door and knocked it. No answer. She tried the door, but it was stuck. Not taking any chances, she carefully peeked in through a window. Everything seemed normal. There were multiple cabinets on the left wall and her workbench on the other. A large dining table with five chairs was set in the middle. A giant bald heavily tattooed man was sleeping there, Erek. His hand working as his pillow, while the other was grasping a wine bottle. -'And drunk again.'
Behind the room were the bunk beds and the door to their storage room. Someone was sleeping there.
Silently, she opened the window and climbed in. And with a shock saw why she couldn't open the door.
Two familiar bodies were haphazardly tossed in front of the door. Marisha and Chav. Marisha's lifeless, orange eyes looking at her. -'No! Eliza yelled, while hurrying for the bodies. They both had a small red wound on back of their necks. Stabbed, with something really thin.
-'Erek? Eliza turned to her friend. -'Oh nonono!' Tears were now running down her soot covered cheeks. Slowly walking to him, she saw the same wounds on his neck. Closing her eyes, she touched his head and said -'Your soul is paid in full, sail well my dear'. Eliza walked for the beds. Karr was laying there, in a pool of his own blood. His eyes open, a surprised look on his face.
She kneel next to him and closed his eyes. Eliza stayed there for awhile, silently crying and trying to digest everything that had happened today. She was now the last surviving crew member of the "Firelord". And she was on the run. Again. She gently touched her temple, the tattoo reminding herself to move on. Finally standing up, she turned to get bandages from a cabinet next to her and immediately noticed that someone was there. She swallowed and slowly turned to look.
A tall, dark person stood in front of the table. It's shape was distorted, somehow wrong, but she recognized it as the thing she had seen earlier. It wore a golden mask and behind it's back it had a set of dark wings, only now they were collapsed. It's long and lithe arms ended in a freakishly large hands, hands that had an imposing brass-colored claws. And on it's left hand it held a rapier, it's blade slowly retracting back it's hilt.
-'This has been an interesting hunt.' It's booming voice cold and calculating. -'But all good things must come to an end.'
-'Why me? Why did you have to kill th-' And before Eliza could finish, she felt a sting on her leg. Looking down, a tiny black dart had appeared there.
-'Why?' was the last thing she managed to say, before her legs gave away and she collapsed onto the floor. Her head was pounding now and her vision was blurring, fast.
-'Because you proved yourself' the thing said to her.
Another winged stone-man entered the room. Eliza heard them speak in low tones.
-'Send a message, the subject was captured before the guards did. Protocol two is now in effect.' -'I heard the Doctor wants her.' The other construct added. The leader nodded. -'Tend her wounds and prepare to take her down'
They both turned to look at her.
-'Down to the Pits.'
-'Shit' Eliza whispered. And then the world turned to black.
Much like "The Warrior" this was suppose to be a short, sparse, one page story. But that obviously didn't happen. This is also easily the longest piece of fiction I have ever written in English, so there is that. This also means, that there will be some rough sentences. Anyway. I ended up using waay too much time on this. It was a challenge for sure, as writing action is something that I've never really done before. But overall, I think it turned out okay-ish. Also, there are some references that my old players may recognize.
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