Urturi Qualiente's Story

Suddenly there was a flash of light and Ara could see the homeless were getting ready to strike. Thankfully Uven stepped in just in time to scare them away. Ara had not been careful enough and thanks to her new savior everything was going to be ok.
Then she looked at him and noted he wasn't quite human... a reptilian man... Ara stared in awe. "Amazing!!!" she muttered.

When he spoke Ara was baffled, not because he could speak but what he said.
"Smell different?" when Uven started examining her more closely Ara stiffened. "I... don't know what... your talking... about..." Ara paused after she heard what he said next. "What? Im sorry for my rudeness... but... who might you be... sir?"

"oh wait... so... you didn't know I was Qiara?"
Ara tilted her head in confusion, she has assumed he meant he could tell she was a girl just by her sent. Also he had referred to them as displaced... she thought he had figured it out on his own.
"Oh well... I better scat if i don't want to be found!" turning to Phoebe Ara said goodbye.
"I don't want to get you caught... harboring a fugitive is punishable by death so fare well nice Lady..."
Ara Followed Uvan down the way he spoke of.

Urturi marches into an alley, her cloak swirling with the movement. Guards are coming closer and hunting her down, due to suspicions by passerby's. Muttering in her mother tongue she rummages around her pocket for her bottled liquids. If she knew she would be followed she would have planned better. Taking long strides, she leaped over a stack of boxes and threw the fragile glass bottle on the box. The box started fizzing and smoke are rising. Urturi ran while the smoke and sparks created a distraction. The hood limited her vision, so she bumps into a running Phoebe.

Anrik was doing what he did best, drinking and spending time in the red light district. Every women knew his face as well as his reputation. The worst kind of man... Enemy to women's kind. He was the type that bought his friends but got bored with them not long after. You can only do so much when a person only hangs out with you for money. He didn't use money to seek love or friendship he used money for what he though he was meant to use it for. Entertainment was the activity for the wealthy.

Thats when Anrik first saw Urturi. The red light distrect was located in a large section of what was next to the alley Phoebe and Urturi just met. Urturi must have bumped into Phoebe because he saw her drop her things. Everything scattered on the ground for him to see. Then he saw a wanted picture of the princess Ara as Phoebe and Urturi rushed to pick up their things.

Anrik's eyes narrowed. He quietly got up, played the brothel owner and walked out gracefully. Heading in the direction to see which of them was looking for the princess. What he found odd about it was that it was rare to find a female bounty hunter. That and the girls didn't look homeless, and they weren't dressed like a common brothel women. He couldn't be sure which of the girls were looking for Ara but he was heading over to find out. He didn't approach but stayed hidden and watched.

Urturi looks around for the princess. She sweeps up her dress and cloak. Looking around in subtle glances, she observed the scene and tried to find. She really needs to find the princess, she saw how bad the kingdom treated the royal family. It's partly the reason why Urturi's mom sent her here. It's for learning experience and because the princess's parents needed a safety net incase thigns got too drastic.

Anrik Followed Urturi interested to see what she was up to. Anrik also wanted to know if she was up to no good or if simply came from a family that felt some type of obligation. Anrik knew the princess in their childhood. And would have married her if his father hadn't taken things in his own hands. It was everyones assumption that Ara was wanted for execution. After all his father did need the royal blood in order to make his son king.

Anrik wanted no part of it and felt no longing to be the perfect son. Also he had more respect for Ara to know she would have married him but it wasn't right like this. Anrik wanted to know if the girl would cause his princess trouble.

And Baradakhus laughed as Uven distanced Ara from him. The lizard and princess left the room, and as he watched them go off, he laughed again. Ahh, fuck royalty. Baradakhus left the room he was in and started to walk. Walk where? Obviously the red-light district. Obviously. There were many a wench and tables of poker there. Fun, to be honest. Baradakhus laughed once more, thinking of his bullshit 'condition.' Why would he, Baradakhus Taber Niler, want to become a king? Goodness, has anyone ever seen his character? He loves freedom, money-which basically is freedom-and killing. He would drive this country into the ground, with death-match tournaments against him. Ahh, but it was a good thought.

Then he saw it! Or, rather, them. Two people, one female, one male. Male one following the female one and...that doesn't sound like a great combination. Or, maybe the woman is the mad wife, storming off from her cheating husband? Maybe, probably not though. "Oayyooo! Look around," Baradakhus started singing, swinging his body around like he was drunk and slurring his words, "You arrre boundd! Bound to seeeeeee...maybe me! Maybe Chan, maybe man. Maybe dark follower of the occult," this is the part where Baradakhus stop pretending to be drunk, "Maybe man. Probably man. Bitch! Look behind you!" He yelled at the woman being followed.

Urturi peered to the side to see a rather confident man stumble around. Noting it off as normal she hurried along. It was when he yelled at her did she turn. Regarding his outburst, she turned around, only to be met with someone's chest. Looking up she was met with a familiar face, although she can't remember where she saw him before.
She spoke with a guarded stare. "Pardon me," she paused studying the male. "May i ask as to why you're following me?"

Anrik took the slight set back head on... ok it seems like he was going to have take a different approach.
With a charming smile he said "How could I not follow a pretty bird like you... you remind me of the wild kind. Those are the most beautiful." Anrik knew even if he charmed her she was not the type to be charmed easily. Still honestly the other guy looked more dangerous then Anrik did. This little bird wouldn't trust easily... He liked a challenge though.

"So... what is a wild bird doing in the red light district were only tame and broken birds roam." That should at least give him some cover... asking that type of question. She could lie and he would pretend to believe her then change the subject, maybe flirt and get the truth another way.

And then Ara came. He raised an eyebrow when the woman who was obviously the princess pulled him away. "His higness?" Baradakhus asked the lovely woman, then, in an announcer's voice, "All hail King Baradakhus Taber Niler, worst king ever! Honestly no. I was just messing with you. Royalty sucks! I have to say I'm somewhat of a wanderer. Wandering anywhere is what I do. Maybe to do because my family were nomads? I don't know, except that I'd drive this city into the ground with how I would run things. Right. Into. The ground."

And then he realized he wasn't getting drunk and swarmed with slutty women, "Ara, you know what you need? You need to loosen up! Let's go get drunk!" Because getting drunk is always the responsible choice. And hey, it actually might lead somewhere with Ara in a bed with Baradakhus. That's always good for Baradakhus. Because Baradakhus is Baradakhus and Baradakhus needs the booze and Baradakhus need the women or else he'd gone insane by now...well, he would've been much, much more insane than he already is. If it wasn't for booze and women, I mean. Because, let's face it, Baradakhus is one sexy guy.

Urturi wondered where the loud man went. Staying still, she tried to listen, although that's not so easy as other people are talking and the familiar guy is still in front of her. She cursed under her breathe, she lost the princess's location. Deciding to be upfront about it, if he decides to reveal to the enemy she could kill him.
She lowered her voice and stepped closer. "I'm looking for the princess. The balance is tipping and she needs protection. I don't know if you know where she is, or if you're her enemy. What i'm saying is back off. I'm here on a missing and currently you're an obstacle." She turns her head to survey the area. "I'm pretty sure i'm close to where she is. I just hope the family contract with the royal family holds until i can find her." She nods her head. "If you don't have anything to say, i would like to end this and continue looking. A good day to you sir." She turned to leave.

Anrik was rather curious where the ass hole went but he didn't care after the little bird confirmed that she was looking for the princess. At that moment Anrik looked sad but the expression quickly went away when he realized he wasn't supposed to revile his soft spot. "So you want me to back off... even if i know where to find her?" he let that question hang in the air for a moment and watched trying to read her expression.

"Also... so many people want to find Ara... when i know for a fact Ara doesn't want to be found. The only way your going to find her is..." he stopped talking for a moment seeming distracted by something going on behind Urturi. It was Ara leaving the Alleyway and running down the street. She was gone before Urturi had a chance to look.
"Sorry little bird but I have somewhere to be..." with that he walked off in the direction Ara had gone.

Baradakhus laughed at Ara's reply. He could only scoff at the answer. Obviously, Ara didn't know Baradakhus at all. Well, they basically did just meet. So, after a few seconds after Ara left, Baradakhus left the alleyway that he was in to see the man from before. "Look who I just found!" Baradakhus screamed in the air with joy, "It is the hound, that was sniffing and following. I wonder where you are going, good sir!" And Baradakhus stepped into the way of the other man.

Some people wouldn't call Baradakhus smart, but he actually was. Piecing together from what he saw of this man before, and the direction he was going in, Baradakhus could only seem to suspect that he was going to follow Ara. He couldn't allow that. She was part of the group that he was being paid to work for. "Hello, hello! My name is Baradakhus Taber Niler, the God-Slayer, the Man with the Night's Sword, the Bogeyman. Of course, these are bullshit name's that I have just mad up, but I do like the God-Slayer, I kind of am one. So, who are you?" Ahh, he loved the act of messing up one's plans. It's quite fun!

Anrik just lost Ara's trail and this guy was in the way. If he had known Baradakhus was involved with Ara then he would have been to say the least surprised. The guy was obviously nothing but trash. So the reasons Anrik wouldn't feel the least bit interested in Baradakhus was clear.

"I will admit." he responded "I don't meet other men who don't mind there own business in the red light district. Most like to keep their business as discreet as possible. I am a man that needs not converse with the likes of you... so run along." Anrik gave him a warning look, hoping to scare him off. Still that was a foolish idea to think Baradakhus would be scared off so easily. Still Anrik was smart enough to know not to take his eyes off the man.

Knowing the little bird he had met just before was still behind him, he was also hoping she would run along too. Baradakhus was obviously dangerous. One was to wonder what the princess saw in a man such as him.

Baradakhus smirked. He liked this guy's attitude towards him. "'I am a man the needs not to converse with the likes of you,'" Baradakhus repeated, "Ahahah! You think you're better than me?" Baradakhus laughed, "No one person is better than I, Baradakhus. Baradakhus is the best because Baradakhus is just better. I can tell that you have an acquaintance with Ara, and you, the woman! What are your goals?"

Baradakhus returned the man's stares. He wasn't daunted, no mortal man could scare him. He wasn't scared of anything except the unknown-unknown's. He was scared of what he didn't know and never will know. He was scared of things that weren't physical. So, Baradakhus' smirk grew into a grin. "Oh, I love the expression on your face. You think you're better than me because of what? Because of who I am? Because I am a mercenary? Because I haven't come from royalty? Oh, people like you amuse me. And, I'm not most men."

Baradakhus' looked at the man in front of him. Obviously this person was trying to see if he could get anything from his eyes, but...Baradakhus' eyes were bright, bright with the images of slaying this man. Hey, a guy needs contingency plans, and slicing and dicing was a great contingency plan. "So, you're a stubborn one," Baradakhus said, "Well, I guess I'll have to tell you what business Ara and I have together: No business. None at all. I was hired buy the lizard friends that I have over in scale-town. But that could change anytime, honestly. Your father could hire me for more, or Ara's bounty could be raised. And, before you ask how I know who you are, ask yourself this; how do you not know me? I've made a name for myself.

"You know what? I'll just cut to the chase. This first time that I came to this city, what, um...ten years ago? Yeah, I profiled peoples of interest. When I came back a week ago for a contract, not the one of the lizards, mind you, I sought out those peoples of interest and saw if they changed any. And, then, here we are now. You know, this wouldn't happen. I mean, this man-hunt, or even the king's death, if this city had a democracy. Where there is no monarch, there is no king, queen. They have it good in the west because they don't have monarchies. Well, the elves there do, but not our species of Homo sapiens.

"Does that answer your question Anrik? Does it make you feel safe that I could betray Ara, that I could betray anyone? And I could do it too! I have no emotional investment in this retarded city, or Ara, or the lizard-folk. I am a sociopath, I guess, because all there is for me is the money." And then, after that little rant, "God...the elves in the west though...the sex is great...great but kinky. I might go there again after this."

Its not that Anrik thought that this guy wouldn't do thing... he knew mans capabilities just as well as Ara. He was Actually relieved Ara didn't have business with him and hope she kept it that way.

"Then your business isn't with me, its with my father. I honestly couldn't care less about the Brat, there are plenty of wemon... and you know... Elven women don't sound all that bad! Maybe when your done here ill see you there. But if you feel like betraying the girl find my old man. Don't even think about stabbing me in the back too because my old man is the only one who still cares to find the princess And I doubt he would work with you if i was dead. Also my advice is to talk to him fast before this all dies down... also If you tell him where to find Ara like you told me then he won't care to pay you... before he sends people after her himself." Acting like he didn't care a bit about anyone other than himself Anrik walked away.
"Be more discreet about information." Anrik told him waving before he left.

If the little bird was listening to that conversation the good news is she would now know where to find Ara.

"Wait, what?" Baradakhus said dumbfounded. Be more discreet about information. He never told Anrik anything. Okay, he might have said to much information, but if he finds Ara, Baradakhus will honestly kill him. Because that's bullshit. Baradakhus didn't tell Anrik anything about where Ara was. He wouldn't have even been able to piece it together, "God-motherfucking-damn it! I'm going to slice his throat open if he finds her. Okay...now I have an emotional investment in this. I'm so going to kill someone."

Then he looked at the woman and flipped her off. Walking away, still fuming, Baradakhus didn't even know how mad he was. That Anrik must be a great liar, or there was some, higher, force that was working for him. Goddamn! He kicked open the door to a bar and walked in, "Alright ya bastards! I'm pissed, and I want all of you to come at me as if you were going to kill me. The person who kills me gets my equipment"

The bar he walked into was filled with other mercenaries, and some guards. The mercenaries smirked and unsheathed their swords, the guards did the same. The owner of the bar came out from the back after all the ruckus, and one look at the crowd, walked right back to where he came from. He wasn't getting into that. The owner came back with two bottles of rum, seems he was actually interested, then through the bottle in his right-hand. That was all what was needed for the warrior's to run at Baradakhus.

Baradakhus laughed, a shrieking and high-pitched sound, and his eye opened wide with lust as he grabbed his swords of his back. His laugh stopped a few in their path, and that was all that Baradakhus needed to start. The man rushed forward and sliced at a man's uncovered neck, the "god-sword" coated with blood. His other sword, in his left hand, pierced through a man's leather armour. That was where it got bad. A guard got one clean hit on Baradakhus, but his well-made armour deflected it. This was where it turned from a fight to a slaughter. Baradakhus mowed down the mercenaries, who weren't that well trained, and then struggled with the guards, but Baradakhus was a master with a blade, and the guards were new. He killed them all, in about an hour.

Wiping his sword on a waitress' clothing, she was terrified, Baradakhus looked at the host and asked, "Some booze, please?"

The host raised an eyebrow before throwing a bottle to the man. "Thanks!" Baradakhus then sat down. He then turned to the woman, "Could you go through the dead guy's pockets, please? I want to see if they have contracts or money or whatever."

The woman could only nod shakily before what was asked of her. She came back with one contract, which read that someone put a bounty on a slaver a few days away from the city, and then there were only 134 gold pieces, shared with all the men. They spent it on drinking.

The good thing that happened was that Baradakhus wasn't angry anymore. So, yeah. He just killed people.

Urturi smiled and pulled her hood up. Now striding across in long strides, she finally knew where to go. Her family's relationship with the lizardfolk are distant. She doesn't know if they'll recognize her scent or her family name. Hopefully they would, then she could carry out her mission and actually be beside the princess to help

Oozi was striding across the rooftops heading towards the lizard district. In the pouch at his waist was a list of several slavers who were permanent residents, the make up and jobs of their slaves, and just how close the next slave auction was. Their were even some higher nobles who had brought in a few squads of their slave armies.

It was then that Oozi noted a little human female run into one of the men in the 'Final Alley' to the lizard district. Oozi knew what the men their would do. They weren't as merciful as the lizardfolk who simply killed, they did much worse. They would take every advantage they could, and if they liked it, they would keep it and go again and again, making the taken wish they had just died.

As the men of the alley began to surround Urturi, Oozi jumped off the rooftop where he was at. He crashed behind the men, pulling out the small, the length of his thigh, blade that he kept for emergencies. Oozi then let loose what the men of this alley called the 'End Roar,' for all who stayed after it would likely meet their end. And like always, the men scurried at the sight of the lizardfolk. They may have been insane and deprived and cruel, but they were not stupid enough to mess with a 7-foot tall lizard on 2 legs.

"What brings you to this place, small human? This is no place for a female of your kind, and the end of the alley is no place for any of your kind." Oozi spoke, letting the size of his body cause his voice to deepen.

---

Uven awoke to the sunlight shining through the broken blinds of the room's window. He sat up on the small mattress that he had been laying on without any pillows or sheets. He looked around at the bland and worn wooden walls with a paper-like substance that was peeling off in several places. Uven then looked at the floor, the fur carpet coked in dirt and dulled by use. As he stood, getting off the bed, Uven picked up his mace and the bag with the lantern in it. Attaching the two to their places on his belt.

Picking the door up and removing it from the door frame, that it was once attached to, Uven walked out into the downtrodden hallway. The walls were like the rest of the building, including his room, excepting the fact that only a few of the light-candle holders had fallen off the wall. 2 out of the 4 hanging lanterns were still their too, as Uven could see from the light coming in from the missing windows. He made his way down into the main room of the tavern. Some of his brothers were already up, the coin game had only two players, and the three-way spar was being watched, and bet on, by only four. It was just another day.