Esylana: There it was. After days of traveling, weeks of soldiering on past, well, soldiers, and finally crossing the border between the verdant lush lands of Espanino, the road had leveled out and become rockier. Harder on the feet, for sure, and the sun, even in spring, seemed to sear the land it touched with its ever-bright rays of light. Now, Esylana stood with her traveling companion at the edge of a ridge that sharply sank down onto plains of black-as-night obsidian, stretching out in a miles-wide ring from a volcano that spewed dark smoke from its mouth and made the sky constantly look like it was a thundering cloud, ready to storm, as fire leaped here and there. The dark outline of the city that clung to the outside of the volcano was impressive, to say the least, for even from here one could tell that the people there were used to living in the harsh conditions. Above the city, jutting from the side of the volcano, was a fortress-like ediface that Esylana had read was once Lord Shade's palace. It cast a shadow upon the city, even as the volcano cast a shadow on the old palace itself. She dipped her hand into the satchel at her side, and pulled out the spectacles she'd enchanted to see the dried up leylines, and looked through them. And there it was. It seared the landscape with its winding trail, and led into the city...and up the side of the volcano...to its very top. "Oh gods..." she whispered, paling. They'd have to go into a populated area. -That- was bad news...

CrystalOnyx: -Hildria didn't stumble or even limp over the sharp rocks the now covered the road. The lush greenery had turned into black rock as the sky was covered in heavy smoke. She could feel the heat radiate over her body as she stared off at what looked like a mountain. Was that the so called volcano that Esylana had described? It didn't look very impressive to her. The city seemed small in the distance, but it would be no problem to get to. Hildria's wings once again disappeared as she tried to look as normal as she could, though she was a 5'11 woman with a large axe on her back. She watched as Esylana placed some kind of item on her face, noticing the dispair on her face.- "What is the problem?" -She questioned as nothing seemed to phase her. There was no danger, so what was this human fretting about?-

VampyrVixen: The rocky land was disleveled upon her hide boot. Bringing her gaze to the skies above, she allows a sigh to escape her hidden lips. It was always so dreary here. Darkness hung over the city with a never ending reminder that if that lovely piece of nature erupts, all could be destroyed and condemned by the liquid hot sensation of the underrealm. The darkened clouds appear as a natural diseaster brewing in the mouth of the world. The black smoke in the air was oddly perfect for a woman like her, masking her within her own attentions as she drifts about the city. Her hair swirls back into subtle waves, like that of a flowing sable river. She scans the area with her eyes, a powdery blue that one can only see in a clear sky. They looked about the citizens, watching for anything unnatural or suspicious that she would need to peek into. Her body was fully clad in a lovely black leather that form fitted her shapely body; she allowed a small amount of skin to show as it was always good for convincing or persuading men that don't know how to listen. A cloak would be clasped upon her shoulders, and mask hid her face. She looks like any other rogue that is looking for work within the city. She fiddles with a small pouch in her hand, clearly jingling with payment from something she had completed. She purses her plump pink lips that compliment her daring features. She struts off, allowing her hips to swing effortlessly. A walk that could only be described in one word: sultry. She was utterly bored, however, with no quarrel or barfight in sight; she had nothing to investigate or do, besides people watching, and it burned her core intensely. She certainly was meant for more than just this. She served the empire with unwavering loyalty, and she was here upon their order, looking for the lurking trouble. But where would it lie? She stroked her chin in thought, a small smirk upon her lips as she hoped a clue would show it's face.

MrMurasaki: This terrain was unfamiliar to Zenshi; the Drow Rogue held an outstretched map in front of him, his head tilted while he squinted through his one uncovered eye as he read it. He chewed on a long piece of wheat in the crook of his mouth as he staggered down the road with somewhat of a strut melded into his drunken staggering. "Chardeshh," he stammered as he lowered the map. Looking forward into the distance, he could see walls and activity there; he rolled up the map and tucked it into a pocket in his cloak. He gripped the gourd at his waist, his hand grazing as it passed the other bottles and vials of various poisons, tonics and explosives; attached to his belt, he kept his herbs and lock picks satchel - which is locked by a custom lock, created by someone unknown to him, but who had an interest in his work; it is a lock that only he knows how to crack. Bouncing, with his stagger behind him, he raised the gourd to the opposite side of his mouth as the reed and bit off the cork which was strapped to the gourd before he swigged it back. He came to a stop and looked into it. "Black Ore Reserve, a fine feat of the Dwarves, although hard to come by, and my reserve has all but gone black..." he chuckled to himself, corking the last swig and returning it to his hip. He placed his long, runed, elvish fingers in between his waist girdle and his stomach, and leaned into his drunken swagger as he approached the city. His face was covered by his large straw hat that had runes etched into the black silken fabric adorning it - runes that matched the various ones on his body, and more, though that did not matter; it was obvious he was no human. The only thing that would scream Drow any more was if he were carrying a staff - yet besides his potions, he carried nothing; he held no weapons, save his hands wrapped in chains. His clothing was a combination of reinforced leather and Drow silks in various colours and shades. He quickly forgot the ways of his people, be it Magick or weapons, for in his travels he had met with Masters of a form of Energy channeling. This suited Zenshi: he wasn't casting flashy spells, he was directing the energy of his being into various parts of his body, and when required, his Mastery allowed him to do it on a whim - although his abilities were greatly hindered by the cutting of the Ley. Cut off from the Shadows that concealed and guided him, he felt more exposed than ever. His initial advance into the city was subtle, he could see an Imperial influence, even if it wasn't always right in your face. He slid past walls and cut down alleys like a phantom; if he needed to take to a rooftop, he did. Nowhere was off limits to him - he went where he pleased. He walked the streets, trying to blend in, but to no avail as he staggered into a group of noble citizens, knocking them aside. He staggered, his legs splitting, and he caught himself with his hand before he brought himself back up. "Watch yourself, Dark Elf, your kind should be locked away. You're lucky we don't get the guard, be gone whelp." They spat at him and walked off, conversing about petty things as they had been before Zenshi bumped into them. "Imperial pigs, they stuff themselves, not only on food, but the life of the Land. Consuming, destroying... Well, the gluttons won't miss these...Suckers," he smirked, rolling the reed in his mouth and then clicking the crook of his mouth; in his hands he held three fat coin purses. He faded into a nearby ally before he reached his hands behind his back and, feeling the complex, but crackable locks, began feeling them: closing his eyes and using just his sense of touch to open them. They were familiar, but he still daily practiced. Once unlocked, he rested the pack on the ground and he (in sequence) opened his lock to the satchel; he took two of the coin purses and dumped them into a compartment of the satchel. He closed it up, sealing the lock before he returned the satchel to his belt and then walked out of the alley, tossing the third coin purse in the air and catching it, even as his other hand tucked between his girdle and himself. The reed rolled around his mouth as he wondered to himself how he was going to get out of this city and continue on his ever continuing search for the only friend he ever knew, still remembering the day they took her away. He tossed the bag up and as he did, he stopped and held his foot out, catching the bag on the top of his padded soled boot and rested it there. Thinking of her, he gripped the Drow beads around his neck and rubbed them, closing his eyes. "Would you even remember me, would someone so innocent even give such a Bandit a chance, or just cast me away..." He sighed and kicked the bag up, catching it firmly, then returned to tossing it in the air and walking. "Even if I disgust her I need to know she is at least alright..."

Esylana: She carefully packed the spectacles away, murmuring to Hildria, "The leyline...it runs through the city, straight through it, up the side of the volcano and...into it...we have to go up and into it..." She assessed their approach a moment, and then pulled her scarf up over her head, and around her face. As she moved, she felt the wave of nausea that was always present, but she had kept chewing on mint leaf after mint leaf in desperate attempt to keep it at bay. She was living with her headache; she didn't have a choice. "I'd ask you to fly us up there, but...I don't want to risk getting hit by crossbow bolts...besides...the drafts could be dangerous." She looked over apologetically at the fallen valkyrie who'd deemed herself her companion, and then slowly slipped her way down the side of the hill, the dirt smoothing into hard obsidian. She brushed herself off at the bottom, stumbled a moment, took a breath, and then made her way up to the city gates, and in, mingling with the thick and dirt crowd of miserable looking humans. Miserable, because it was hard to find joy there in the heat of the desert and the shadow of the mountain. But this was the most expensive city, known for its fine steelworks, it saw the most trade. There was always a use for weapons and armor, after all. The heavy smell of smoke, ash, and fire was in the air, and it was nearly smothering. She kept close to Hildria as she tried to make her way through - she wasn't sure how far they could realistically get, but there must be some way up into the volcano, right? She paused and looked down a street, it was filled with vendors of all sorts. "This way," she beckoned to Hildria - they hadn't quite yet attracted the attention of any guards, even as a stray strand of her copper-toned hair slipped from beneath her cowl.

CrystalOnyx: -Hildria scanned the city, as she followed Esylana down the slope and soon hit the hard black rock. Her feet were fine against it, she didn't even feel the heat of it.- "I would not want to draw attention to us anyway, and besides if my wings were to get hit it would take so long for them to heal here." -As they entered the gates Hildria placed her hand on Esylana's shoulder so that they wouldn't get separated. Though she easily looked over the crowd she didn't want to take a risk. She followed the mortal close as they turned and went down a street with merchants. It seemed people were walking way around them as Hildria's axe blade stuck out and could easily cut someone. The large chain that remained attacked to Hildria's shackle on her wrist bounced against Esylana's shoulder as they walked.- "How can people live like this?" -She questioned out loud, this would surely annoy her to the point to where she would just shove everyone out of the way and walk as she needed. She kept slightly calm as her grip on the woman's shoulder tightened with a bit of anxiety.-

VampyrVixen: The woman's buckled boots click upon the dusty street as she makes her presence known to the passerbys, if they already aren't looking at her. This was a purposeful act however, as she wishes to establish herself, whether through clear attention or intimidation, of what she could do. The sound was like a noblewoman's own delicate heel pressing itself upon the marble of some grand hall; not too far off in such a city, though her lovely leather kept her from looking as such a woman, anymore than her flawless pale olive skin would suggest. She heaved a heavy sigh, stroking a locke of her thick, charcoal hair behind her ear. She notices a few guardsmen waiting out in front of a shop. She grinned; they held fresh bottles of what seemed to be some cheap ale in their grasp. "Hello boys." A firm jut of her hip as her hand gently rests upon it now, demanding their attention. Her smile radiantly showed upon her cheeks. "Oh... Look, sweetheart. You really shouldn't be talking so openly like-" Distracted by her charm, she slipped the bottle out the closest guard's hands with ease, who was now staring at her in awe. She brings a fingers to her lips, "Sh..." she whispers playfully. As she is about descend down a darkened alleyway in hopes to consume such a beverage, though, one of the guardsmen quickly follows her with furrowed brows, grasping her small wrist, that is engulfed in his hand. "You can't just take things like that." The drow can surely hear this in front of the alleyway in which he sulks, possibly misinterpreting what the situation may be. The roguish woman looked back calmly, realizing this may be the little quarrel she needed for some fun today. She smirks happily, bringing the open bottle to her plump lips. "Whatever do you mean, sir?" Her eyes joyfully danced about his features as they twisted with annoyance and anger. "You can't just take whatever you want, V-" She immediately brings a well rounded fist to the guardman's face, staggering him back. The glare in her eyes is cold as it pierces into his, reminding him who is in charge in these parts. As her eyes glance away for a mere moment, she sees a woman carelessly shoving patrons out of the way. She heaves a heavy sigh, knowing she must check it out, but first, drinks ale that she rightfully has taken. She smirks with euphoria as she turns to see the alleyway is not so empty. "Oh..." she utters, seeing this strange man that was like a torch for her to follow, a signal that he clearly was not human. But why would someone like him risk his own soul in this city? Her hand now is re-placed upon her hip, happily staring down the alley at him as the adrenaline rises, flowing through her veins; he hasn't a clue what he's gotten himself into. "I suppose I hid you there," the rougish woman's voice was a sultry purr, that usually would draw anyone in to listen, no matter the importance. Her charm seemed to seep through, with a sweetened smile to follow. The ale bottle rests tenderly in her other hand. "Why would you be sulking about like that, hun?"

MrMurasaki: Zenshi tilted his head over his shoulder, looking back to the woman who was speaking to him; he noticed her pale features and regal beauty. His body slowly followed his head, turning towards her. He tossed the empty coin purse to the ground and flicked the final coin off to his side; unbeknownst to anyone, he had started taking the coins from the purse and flicking them throughout his wandering to the poor, who would come across them in the hot dirt. He placed his hands in his girdle once more and leaned forward; his single white eye seemed to sparkle as he looked her over. He saw the bottle in her hand and he scanned her over, being overly dramatic in his head motions, still rolling the reed in his mouth. He tilted his head to the side, his eye still looking her over taking in every detail. "I'm not convinced," he muttered to her. "I mean, it is a great get-up, but you got it all wrong love." He crossed his arms at his chest and sneered. "You almost had me fooled, for a moment, but you know what gave it away?" He smirked and chuckled to himself, emphasizing movement of his shoulders. "There is a difference between a Vagabond who becomes the dirt, than a Noble who just splashes it on their face. So whatta yea anyway? Don't tell me some Duchess who is trying to stretch her legs from the palace." He shook his head and placed his hands at his hips, one holding his gourd. "Well, whatever your story love, do you mind topping up a parched traveler?" He smirked; saying the words he would have raised his gourd in the air and shook it in front of her, the low sloshing giving away the empty space in the gourd.

Esylana: So far, so good. The guards were distracted. Drinking, gambling, being general buttheads to the poor folk who, quite frankly, didn't deserve whatever heckling they were getting. The people who were going about their daily lives barely tossed them a glance (maybe two, at Hildria), and for all the dread she'd felt since looking through the spectacles a few hours ago, she now felt like maybe they'd make it after all. She stopped by a stall where they were hawking pottery, and pulled out her spectacles again, slipping them into place. The leyline wasn't directly beside them, but as she turned to stare up towards the palace, she could see how it disappeared into its walls, and then out again to the side, reaching up to the volcano's mouth. Was the source at the top, or -inside-? She really hoped it was not the latter. That would be dangerous to reach, probably impossible...unless...she took the spectacles off and looked at the palace again. Lord Shade was known, in ancient of days, to have a great deal of arcane lore and knowledge. If he'd known about the source, which was likely, it could be safe to assume he had a way to access it from inside the palace. But how would they get inside? How would they get out? She hesitated as she thought through her options.

CrystalOnyx: -Hildria kept her eyes out for guards, but thankfully they were distracted by other things. She kept a hold of Esylana's shoulder as they walked. Maybe they would get by without incident. But soon Hildria began to feel sick; her hands were sweaty and her heart raced faster as they continued into the crowd. She soon leaned down close to Esylana's ear as the woman seemed to be in deep thought.- "Is there a place we could go with no people? An alley or something?. ." -She tried to hide her nervousness, but it was written all over her face.-

VampyrVixen: She smiled at the young looking drow, a glint her eye. She would bend down, gently caressing the gourd in her nimble and delicate hands, brushing against his own. "I suppose you could be right, silly me, I suppose," giving him a playful chuckle that is wrapped tightly in sweetness. Gladly, he may have pointed out some interesting details one may not have normally seen, but yet it seem he was still ensnared in her ruse. "I guess I'm just a Duchess with a very strong arm." She giggles at her own jokes. "I suppose I do clean up well for having such a dirty job, or rather contracts." A finger dances and strokes upon her chin with curiousity. Her eyes analyze him, tracing his outline, and burying any visible weaknesses in her mind, just in case he tries getting away from her grasp sometime this day. "You seem like the type always sneaking about... I can certainly relate." She shakes her head, now meeting his eye with her own of a crystal blue that gleams brilliantly. She purses her plump lips in a small smirk."Well, I do have some things to attend to... a contract I'm being paid for. I may need some helping reeling in who I am looking for..." She quickly remembers the two suspicious women she had seen pushing their way through. A giant axe wouldn't be too hard to find, even upon warriors there. Her deceptions ran deep, but she deeply hopes he would somehow be enticed by her. It's slightly frustrating that he didn't seem to be... "The guardsmen here are more laid back, but as you can see, even when they cause trouble it's rather easy to handle them. If you aid me in finding what I'm looking for, again, I'd love to share in the reward." She smiled with excitement, as her little lie left her teeth. "Giant axe, black hair... One has a scarf over her face." She gently said. "Surely you can provide me with a little back up; I'll handle the guards if they become an issue. Do we have a deal?"

MrMurasaki: He scratched his chin, the reed circling in his mouth. "Hmmm, well, I can always use coin. However if you hadn't noticed, your highness, I don't really blend in. To perform such a contract as that in broad daylight would mean my execution..." He crossed his arms, tilting his head again, sucking on the reed and then making the sharp clicking noise in his cheek once again. "That is a crime that, no matter how much bribing you do, you can't brush away." He chuckled to himself. "Or how hard you can punch them. V, we will call you? The roof tops provide an excellent place to eavesdrop." He walked closer to her and leaned in so close she could now see the detail in his face, his runed skin and his uncovered bright white eye. "I can respect a double agent, but don't try to play me a fool, love - been in this business too long." He reached his hand out to take his gourd back. "I will look into the matter, but I won't promise anything."

Esylana: Esylana was momentarily distracted, but then she realized that Hildria wasn't comfortable, and she laid a hand on her friend's arm, turning to face her fully. "Hildria, are you alright? Let's...see..." her eyes darted around, trying to find a quieter place, but...there was not really a place that was fully quiet. She finally pulled Hildria along, towards a wall, slightly behind another stall of hanging rags...or was it supposed to be rugs? It wasn't good weaving, Esylana couldn't help but notice. But now they were in the shadow of the outer wall to the palace itself, away from the main traffic of the street. Again, she looked at Hildria. "If you need to leave, or rest somewhere...I can go on alone..."

CrystalOnyx: -Sweat had covered her face as she was so nervous. She was pulled along and soon she took a deep breath as they weren't as surrounded as before. She wiped her face and son began to calm as the shadow casted over them.- "No, I just needed a moment to collect myself. Please forgive me." -She curled her hand into a fist and placed it over her chest as she bowed deeply to the woman. She had never acted like that in front of someone before, it was quite embarassing. She soon stood straight once more and gulped down the lump in her throat.- "Please let us continue, I promise this will not happen again." -She reassured her friend with a soft smile as her golden eyes seemed to glow in the darkness of the shadow.-

VampyrVixen: The woman looked over to the drow, with a curious curl of her lips. "Trust me, hun, my face is pretty well known around here. That is why I tend wear this little baby." she pulls out a small face mask, re-placing it. "Saved my ass quite a few times. If I had it on, those guards probably wouldn't have even touched me." She shakes her head, running a hand through her hair. She bends in to him, meeting his gaze with tender eyes. "Well... sweetie. Crime is crime - sometimes one must commit it to get past what they need to... I had a partner the sounded just like you," she chuckled, hoping he would empathize. "A wood elf. They're resting, currently, and cannot help me in this matter." She offers a hand to him. "Allow me to handle the guards, I have a tendancy to keep them wrapped around my finger," she chuckles. "Sadly, I must go now if I wish to catch them. I lost their scent, and I fear they will not stay long."

MrMurasaki: Zenshi rolled his eyes at her departure and returned his hands to his girdle. "Well, may as well see who got that wenches attention," his words sneered as a crooked smirk cracked his face. He found his way towards the palace and looked up to examine it. "Sure, it's big, but back home in the dark we still had elegance..." he turned down an alley to find some comfort in the shadow as he ghosted around several corners, silent until he saw them, the two figures the woman had described. "Well, well, well." He rubbed his chin and twirled the reed. He glided over to them, his stature now raised as the intoxication seemed to leave him. He stood up tall, his hands still remaining in his girdle. He melded into the shadows around him, not as well as when he had his Magick, but still masterfully and silent with his padded boots. He looked them over, his eye fixated on the dark-haired woman; he could see in her face the panic. His voice was soft as it traveled through the alley, seemingly out of the shadows. "I want to just make myself known, do not fear..." He walked into view, his hands now held up, opened, his palms facing them. "These alleys are hardly a place for someone like me - is she alright?" He stood, arms crossed, the reed still in his mouth.

Esylana: A sigh escaped her lips, she was briefly reassured that Hildria was alright, and she couldn't help but return an encouraging smile to her, before the sudden whisper, like a soft breeze, made her tense again. She turned towards where she'd heard his voice, and watched warily as he approached. "Yes, she's fine..." she said suddenly, then trailed off, trying to assess who he was, or if he was a threat. He was non-human, but he had moxy, walking down the streets of Chardesh like this. Or...maybe he was in the employ of the Empire? She had her bow on her back and her arrows, but using them here was going to be impossible. And most certainly not a close-distance weapon in the slightest. She went to speak again, to ask who he was, but then came the worst wave of nausea she'd had all day, causing her to double over slightly as she turned her face away with slow, deep breaths. The runes on her ankles burned briefly, flaring up, before the spell passed and she was "fine", her eyes watering from the experience.

CrystalOnyx: -Hildria stiffened as she heard a voice, her golden eyes laying upon a drow. She knew what he was and what they were about. And even from his clothing she could tell his was a rogue of sorts. She moved in front of Esylana, tall and holding her head high now as her nervous features dimminished from her face. She heard Esylana vomit again, this was strange as the mortal had been doing that or at least dry heaving a lot. She was worried for the human, but she kept her stance.- "Who are you?" -She spoke sternly, adjusting the strap across her chest that held her great axe.-

VampyrVixen: She smiles happily to him, "The alleyways do not suit you one bit, hun." Her lashes fluttered. "Do what you must to be comfortable, as long as you're near me, I can keep the guards off your tail." She scratches behind her ear. "I saw the women flow down the street, before those guards caused me to lose their scent and made me blend them right in. Quite frustrating, when they were so closely in my grasp." She furrows her brow in annoyance. "We don't have much time to waste, come." She nudges her head out of the alley way. Out of his eye-view she is already halting guards, whether they know why yet or not.

MrMurasaki: He tilted his head at them, his eye scanning over them; his long ear twitched as it heard the rattling of armour drawing closer. "The name's Zenshi, but now isn't the time for such pleasantries. You got the attention of some double agent, or I would assume worse, and I don't know why, and the worst thing is now I am involved." He adjusted his gear, made sure it was tight and ready. "You two lovely ladies are the only ones in this dismal place I have felt compelled to trust, so I will. I hope you can run fast, because the guards are getting closer - which probably means the Vixen who hired me to take you both out is working with the guards, maybe even the Empire, to take us in." He rolled the reed in his mouth. "So I leave it up to you: you can stay here and I will flee to the rooftops, or you can trust me and we run out of here. I saw some horses near the entrance - two of them; one of us will have to double," a fiesty smirk cracked his cheek, looking around and gauging the surroundings, remembering places of interest he had seen to make a getaway.

Esylana: She was slowly recovering herself, but as he spoke, as Hildria moved to stand between the rogue and herself, she also heard the coming guard and her heart sank - no, crashed. She looked up at the palace. They were so close...they were...what if she couldn't come back? What if she couldn't reach this leyline's source at all? What if this was where her quest ended, leaving her in some wretched limbo of illness for all her life? And worse, the people...Rembrant...all would remain under the Empire's thumb and it would have all been for not. She looked back at the drow rogue, her hazel eyes filled with a mix of worry and determination. "I need...to get inside," she quietly insisted, pointing up at the palace. She didn't really need to tell him why, did she? They didn't have time, the marching was getting louder. She pursed her lips, now looking at Hildria. She'd...put her trust in the woman who was willing to risk everything to stay with her.

CrystalOnyx: "Lead the way." -She simply said to the drow as she readied her legs. She was a fast runner with her long legs, but she would soon push Esylana in front of her so the woman could follow him. They couldn't get caught, not now. As they hurried Hildria followed behind them. She heard the clattering of armor behind them, which made her uneasy, but she kept going. She would do anything for this mortal, whether it was for friendship or something more she would give her life for this being.-

VampyrVixen: The woman watched him closely, upon a nearby roof top, a small smirk upon her lips. She knew her plan of convincing him may or may not of worked, but she wasn't about to give that up to be tested. She already had guards swarming around, not too close to her work space or they could easily be made to take one her bolts; she removes her crossbow from her back, now simply launching herself off the roof top. Her lovely hair flowed in the breeze - effortless elegance; she drops to the ground in a squatted stance before all of them. "I'm sorry to say, but getting inside isn't a privilege for you - unless it is a cell." The woman smirked to the three of them. "You come quietly, or resist. Quietly is easier...but I'd much rather have fun," her grin is almost sadistic to look at as those words leave her lips. "There are guards all around you. And also, thank you dearly for leading me straight to them." She throws a small bag of about 20 gold pieces to the drow. "Your efforts are appreciated," she chuckles warmly.

MrMurasaki: His arms crossed as he scoffed at her words and shook his head, sinking back into his swagger. "I don't need your coin, Imperial, and... " he let out a long drawn sigh, "I can't let you take them." He stood between the crossbow and them as he tilted his head and looked over his shoulder to Hildria, whispering, yet his voice carried to them both. "There will be a bright flash, followed by smoke. You will grab her, you will run with her, and you will both get out. Go directly north - see there, through that arch way," he pointed towards the entrance with the least guards. "Follow that road and you will be at the main gate; the horses are there waiting - I can hear their hooves from here. Don't worry, I will handle the guards in your way. And Miss," he spoke to Esylana, "If we ever see each other again, I will personally get you into that castle. But you must run, or face the Arena, or worse. Now go - I don't want to die today!" his voice became sharp and shrill, yet muffled, so only they could hear. He turned back to his pursuer. "You played me a fool, I will admit, but I knew you had Imperial stench on you. Who really played who, Inquisitor?" He smirked, spinning on his heel and extending his leg, kicking a wave of dirt into the air and sending the coins flying back towards their source; as he spun, he threw one of his bottles towards the guards to the north and, still in motion, he threw one at their feet. At the same time, the glass shattered on the ground, causing the chemicals to react with the air and letting out a blinding flash; a cloud of smoke blanketed the area around them, and thair exit. As the smoke would eventually clear, Zenshi would be knelt where he threw the bomb into the ground, his hands resting on his knees and his head bowed, awaiting his surrender. His eyes were closed with the hopes the only people he trusted in this city had made it out alive.

Esylana: She was startled as the woman dropped down and aimed a crossbow at them, and her words sent a brief chill down her spine. Had they been played after all? But then, what had he called himself, Zenshi? He had told them, in so many fast words, to run, and then his promise to get her into the castle. As her headache pounded and the nausea threatened to put her back on her knees, she could only nod briefly, reaching out to hold onto Hildria. There was a pause as she looked at him. "Thank you..." And then it all happened rather fast, didn't it? The smoke, the flash of light, and they were moving, fast. As fast as they could, much to the disgruntled dismay of nearby guards who were caught (ah-hah) off guard. This brief pop and the commotion of the guards, it was a wonder not more citizens were stopped to watch what was happening, with murmurs running through the crowd. She could only pray to ever-silent gods that the way would be clear and easy.

CrystalOnyx: -As the woman from the Empire jumped down, rage filled her eyes. Oh how she wanted to cut the wench into halves and laugh at her last expression. It wasn't the time for it though as the drow spoke so fast. She could only nod to him and as soon as the bottles were thrown, she picked up her weak friend and carried her through the crowd. This time she shoved people out of her way, even knocking some to the ground. They soon reached the gate which didn't seem to have many guards as they just stared at them. The horses were there like the man had said, she lifted and placed Esylana onto the first horse. Once she was settled, Hildria climbed onto the other beast's back and soon rode off at lightning speed. Hopefully the mortal was hanging on tight.-

VampyrVixen: She grins at the sudden dissatisfaction. "You seemed pretty bent on finding some form of work not too long ago, for anything." A small giggle escapes her. "I suppose I did fool you for a moment, but I knew it may not have lasted forever - either way, I've calculated we'd end up here? I mean, one can never be too certain. That's what makes them too naive. You're quite entertaining, little drow, I've enjoyed playing this little game with you," she states with the bolt so close to release. "You know, an exotic being like yourself... Before I was stationed here, I heard rumors that they had a dark elf in capture, sent to the pits to be treated and ripped apart by the animalistic fighters as a reward for the death of their opponents. I'm quite sure the empress would love another fine addition to her collection." She chuckles sweetly, a constrast to her grostesque words. But his last words catch her off guard, and as the smoke filled the area, and even blurred her own vision for the moment, she was filled with rage. She wasn't about to allow her plans to fall apart. "After them!" she barked at the guards as they scurried aimlessly. "Must I really do it all myself?" she groans, annoyed by this entire situation. As the smoke cleared, she would see him there, knelt. She pointed her bow at his head. "I was hoping you, out all of them, would resist. Either way, it was fun while it lasted." She then pulls a dagger out, kneeling to him with it pointed at his neck. She then laid a small kiss upon his covered cheek. "I haven't had too much fun lately. Thank you, I suppose I could maybe see you perform at the arena sometime, a slave or a fighter. Either one would be fitting." She chuckles, forcing him to his feet.

MrMurasaki: He smirked and patted his cheek where she had kissed him. "How sweet, a black widow. You massacre the Ancients and sever our sacred Ley; you hoard the sacred gems to use for your own pleasures. Hypocrites. Do not forget, human, you are young here." He spat on the ground at her feet, raised his wrists and clapped them together, his already chain-covered braced wrists clanking together. "Come on, now, I don't have all day; surely you need to get back and report of your brave exploits of genocide to your Crusaders." He lowered a hand to his gourd and raised it to his mouth, uncorking it with his thumb, causing a deep pop to vibrate in the vessel. He clasped it to his lips and drank back the final swig, then returned it to his belt. He smirked and tilted his head at her. "Tell me one last thing, Inquisitor Wench - were they your targets, or did you have a thirst for my exotic skin? You clearly wanted a taste." He lunged forward - as he did, he lowered his head back and his hat fell to his back, being held in place by a ribbon. He stopped right in front of her, his crooked nose barely touching hers, and his bright white Drow eye stared deep into hers. "Throw me to the Lions, give me all you can, and more, Imperial swine, and I will stand victorious every time. I won't stop fighting, and in the end, Seductress, I will be the one to kill you." He sneered through his teeth and his face contorted, his ancestry coming through in his anger. At this point, the guards already had his hands and were chaining him, and one was moving to remove his belt. He hissed over to the guard, his ancestral Drow tone replacing his normal traveler tone. "Watch those, you break the wrong one and this entire square will be dust, you foolish mortal." His eye never left the woman until he was inevitably removed from her sight.