Dreadlords Parade of Dancing Stars

[Draven Helmer]

Draven had planned on going to whatever was consider a public hiouse in this god forsaken place but after he heard little miss and her sidekick say they were going there it made him reconsider. he would have liked to gone with them to wind up the noble but he'd rather not possible face a two on one should they decided they had enough of him.

Draven would follow after Dorian and Alistair to find the leader, te sooner they could get out of her the better. why anyone would live in these mountains was beyond his understanding, it was bleak, cold and downright miserable her though the same could be said of the slums outside Vel'Anir.

 

[Dorian]

The structure Liliana approaches differs little from those seen in the savannah tribes to the north of Vel Anir; it's an impermanent shelter built upon collapsable wooden poles. Animal hides cover the tent, keeping the bitter winds at bay. A curtain of colorful beads separates Liliana and those trailing behind her from the villagers within.

Meanwhile, Dorian progresses deeper into the village, disregarding sets of wary eyes and even his companions behind him.

Don't mention that were are Dreadlords.

Well, no shit, right? And they weren't yet. A technicality that, were it not for his numbed lips, Dorian would have been more than happy to expound upon.

Alas.

The boy suddenly stuck a hand out from under his cloak; his fingers splayed wide apart, "Hail, friend!" he calls to a woman just as much a stranger to these lands as them. Not particularly tall nor short; she also has hardened features that are a much too familiar sight for comfort.

Dorian's pace slows a very comfortable, safe distance from the woman. Shimmering blue eyes quickly dart around to take in his surroundings. He comes to a stop and puts on a friendly smile. Attaches his hand to his hip, his arm bent at the elbow.

"Wouldn't have guessed to see a fellow stranger around here," Dorian says, and the young man is particularly talented at smiling.

 

[Liliana]

As Liliana pushed her way through the tent her nose immediately crinkled.

The inside of the place smelled like a ragged beaten cloth that had been most recently used to clean up grease spilled from a pan. Lips thinned almost instantly, but she was glad to see a fire at least was roaring at the back of the room.

Some tables were arrayed around the tent, though it was clear the place was hardly a tavern. "Ahem."

She said, leaning back towards Kalix.

"See if you can't find us something to drink, yes?" Quickly she reached into her belt pouch, pressing some gold into her companions fingers. "I'm sure this speaks volumes even in a place like this."

Liliana said with disgust, picking one of the nearby tables and very carefully selecting the cleanest one before she sat herself down.

 

[Kalix]

Kalix took the gold and nodded his head rather dutifully. Some of the proctors may have found it extremely difficult to get Kalix to focus on simple tasks, but Liliana just had that way of commanding an entire room. Sure it was, more than anything, due to Liliana’s weaving and being able to actually calm and reorient Kalix, but the brute of an initiate had no idea. Even if someone had told him that was the case he probably wouldn’t even have believed them.

Leaving the two ladies by themselves he then went to whatever seemed to be the main counter of the huge tent. Although it wasn’t really a counter as much as it was a extremely large and wide cart. A teen younger than the initiates was the one manning it, looking somewhat bored yet also a bit curious when Kalix headed over.

“You got anything to drink here?” Kalix asked. The teenage girl gave him a “duh” look and gestured to behind her. Kalix raised a brow. He waited a few seconds for her to speak. She said nothing and instead looked at him as if he were growing a second head. “If you got something hot and strong, I need three.” Kalix said slowly, then wondered if maybe she couldn’t understand him. Maybe he just needed to talk like them?

“Eff youse gowt sumthin’ hot an’ strong, Aye needs thwree.” Kalix said, doing a horrible impression of the man from before and holding up a hand with three fingers up.

“Fuck you.” The teenage girl seethed. “I understood yee the first time!” Kalix glared at her. He then held up two of the gold that Liliana had given him. The girl stilled.

“Yeah that’s what I fuckin’ thought.” He mumbled, sliding her the two gold coins. The teen slowly took them and in an act of spite gave Kalix a hard look as she bit each coin— hard. Even kalix could hear that TING! And almost felt bad for her molars. He waited as she went to the back, carrying out three large wooden bugs filled with a hot liquid with a ginger-spice smell. Kalix took the three mugs easily in his hand, walking over to where Liliana and Ella were. He handed Liliana’s hers first, then gave Ella’s hers. Like a gentleman should! He thought smugly to himself.

 

[Eleanor]

Eleanor took her seat at the table with Liliana. The whole place was so drab and cold. This mission was a terrible idea and the mug that Kalix set in front of her was the first bright spot. She would never volunteer for a mission that would be in the cold ever again. She picked her mug up and brought it to her lips. Even the smallest sip helped to start to warm Ella up.

"Thank you, Kalix," she said with the smallest smile. She did not want him to think her smile meant she was taking him to bed later. The boy wasn't very bright, but he was hot so she had to give him that.

 

[Zana]

Zana eased her weight onto her right leg and tapped her reins against her open palm as she took in the ragamuffin group of initiates in front of her. She should have known that Vel'Anir would have sent someone. In the days of old the House would have sent someone to retrieve their lost Dreadlord because they were an asset. Now, the guard sent them when they were concerned one of their Dreadlords might have decided to have gone rogue.

It would not be the first time.

For many the revolution had been a chance to live, but for others it had been a death sentence. Their minds, their powers even, had needed the careful chains of the old system. Without it many had gone mad or drifted or simply vanished.

But why on earth send initiates? Any Dreadlord could have stomped them to dirt beneath their heel.

"Go home," she said bluntly, ignoring the painting-like smile and friendly greeting. "This is not a place for children."