Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-25828117-20191101220152/@comment-5583506-20191104202600

"Oh, isn't she a cutie!" the Argonian woman with the raspy voice said and bent forward as to not come across as too imposing. "Here, kitty kitty."

Kashya hid behind Celtian's robes. Though he was as much of a stranger to her as these people, at least he seemed to be genuine when he said that he would allow no harm to befall her.

"Please, Spits", Celtian said. "Do not intimidate her. The girl has gone through a rough patch lately."

The Argonian woman scoffed and rose up. "Fine then."

Celtian looked down at the Khajiit girl. "This here is Spits-Her-Venom. Don't mind her. She is always high of the fumes from her potions."

Spits-Her-Venom sneered. The woman was not a pretty sight to behold. Her scales were dark-brown, almost glistening black, and were covered with some sort of gray fungi. Her eyes were the color of a sickly green. She did not look particularly healthy. Her teeth were sharp and serrated, vaguely resembling fish ft

Next to her stood an equally dark, if not darker, male Khajiit. He was grizzled and scarred, and the years had begun to take their toll. A thick dry mane of darkened gray hung low over his shoulders. He had a most intimidating, piercing stare coming from a pair of eyes like molten gold. He also had two frivolous tufts of fur sticking out from the tip of his ears, contrasting his otherwise so stern demeanor. Kashya tried her best not to smirk at them.

"This here is Do'shanji", Celtian said. "A warrior monk trained in the arts of Claw Dancing."

Do'shanji regarded Kashya with the same interest as he would an annoying housefly.

He snorted. "This one does not seem like much to Do'shanji", he said crossing his arms. "This one asked for you specifically to bring this one warriors, Celtian, not seafood."

Seafood?

"She is still growing", Celtian assured him. "There will be plenty of time for her to learn from you."

"We shall see", Do'shanji grumbled, sniffing loudly. "We shall see."

Close by stood a skitterish Bosmer with shifty, almond eyes. He nervously twitched every now and then as if he suffered from some sort of spasms. He was lean with a braided

"Aenlin", Celitan said, presenting the elf with a wave of his hand.

"H-h-how d-do you d-do?" the Bosmer stuttered, his left eye twitching as he struggled to formulate his words.

Kashya immediately felt bad for him, even though she wouldn't want him anywhere near her. He seemed ... unpredictable. Just as the rest of them.

By his side stood another Khajiit. A woman in her early thirties. She had red eyes and pale-white fur. An albino, yet somehow she appeared as even more gracious in her mannerisms and appearance than Tsavirra ever had. She was completely robed with a hood pulled over her head, two slits allowing her ears to stick out.

She curiously regarded the newcomer with a smile Kashya could only describe as "alluring".

"My", she said, her voice as sweet as honey. "She is quite the little beauty, isn't she?"

"This here is Laleena", Celtian said.

"Charmed, this one is sure", Laleena said, not taking her eyes of Kashya.

Just behind her were a pair of twin boys. They couldn't have been more than a couple of years older than Kashya, still in their early teens. They were of the Pahmar-raht breed, stocky and sturdy, with gaunt faces and striped fur in the color of forest fires. They were dressed in pitch black, padded light armor.

They mischievously regarded the girl like two predatory housecats watching a kitchen mouse slowly come within the reach, unaware of the lurking danger.

"Daro", said one.

"Vashirr", said the other.

"And then there's Raavi", said Celtian. "But she is not here as of now, as she is out on an assignment. You will meet her in a few days when she gets back."

Kashya just nodded vaguely, unsure if she was meant to say something or not. These people were her new family then? Some of them seemed pleased to see her, while others seemed too intimidating for her to even look at. She still didn't really know what this place was, why she was even here or who these people were. Did they have something in common?

"So, tell us", Spits asked eagerly out of nowhere. "Who did you kill to get here, little one?"

"Huh?" Kashya mumbled.

"Spits", Celtian warned. "Let's try to settle for a different approach, alright?"

Spits-Her-Venom grimaced at Celtian. "Fine, but it was just an honest question."

"I know, but some might not be as hardened yet as others", Celtian said, nodding with his head to Kashya in a not-so-subtle attempt.

"Don't mind her", Celtian told the Khajiit girl. "Follow me, and I will show you to your room."

Kashya could tell as they walked through the vaulted ceilings and archways that this had at one point or another been some kind of crypt, now refurnished to resemble some kind of guild hall, like the merchant's guild back in Senchal. Strange banners were hanging on the pillar sides with motifs of black skulls and handprints. Not the most cheerful of subjects, but then again Kashya didn't feel particularly cheerful.

She had just killed two people, three including Tsavirra's unborn child. And she missed Kiro terribly. She was indeed the worst of the worst. Maybe a grave was a fitting home for her now after all. She didn't deserve to be seen among the living again.

Celtian showed her into an ante-chamber lit with candles. There were various archways leading off into separate directions.

He pointed towards an opening to her right. "That there is your new home. A room of your own complete with a bed, and a chest to store your possessions." He glanced down at her. "Or lack thereof. Not to worry though. Stay with us for but a while and you will soon have enough gold to buy whatever you desire."

Kashya didn't care for gold though, she realized. Gold couldn't buy her what she truly wanted.

"We will talk more in the morning", he assured her. "But for now just rest up. You will need it."

Kashya could barely speak. She was still depressed, nervous and perhaps a little scared. She was a murderer now. She had blood on her hands.

Bad blood.

Celtian made short, elegant bow, and she took notice. She had always curtsied, but the way the Breton moved made bowing seem all the more appealing.

"I will leave you know, but I will be back before dawn breaks. Until then, do try to relax, would you? And don't let yourself be intimidated by the others. I have great hopes for you. Destiny awaits, young Kashya."

Kashya got the impression that that was something she would be hearing a lot of in her life, and she wasn't quite sure how she felt about it. She had been disciplined, mocked, and tormented all her life, and just as of recently, even defiled. Was that what destiny had in store for her? What fate wanted from her? The idea made her feel uneasy. What if her whole life up until now, every cruel moment, had been to prepare her for something in the faraway future? To be special was perhaps a dream to many, but all things considered, she did not feel special. She felt cheated. If all it took to become someone special was a life of abuse and travesty, then she could happily be without it, and let someone else shoulder that burden. She wanted no part of it.

And even so, the idea that all of these things having happened to her for no reason at all, was even more terrifying. It made her feel insignificant and small. And perhaps that was right as well. She shouldn't even have been born, after all. The fact that she was here at all was either a miracle or a curse, the flip of a coin.

Destiny be damned...

As soon as Celtian left she looked back at her own room and approached with small, careful steps, as if she expected some sort of monster to lurk within the vault. It was quiet, and dark, or at least it felt that way, even with torches and candles all aglow. As she approached she soon became aware of a pair of slow, echoing footsteps approaching her from behind, but before she even had a chance to turn around she was all of a sudden pushed to the ground with a hefty thud.

She rolled over with a groan and was left completely without breath as she became aware of the identity of her perpetrator. His face was all cut up and his throat was cut to the bone from side to side like an extra maw underneath his chin, but the distinguishable features were still there. His face was stoic, but the expression was livid and his eyes pierced her with disdain and utter hatred.

"You will never be rid off me", Captain Ka'rin wheezed as his phantom continued on its driftless stride into a nearby cavern wall.

She had been holding it in for quite some time now, but just now Kashya started to cry.