Serpent's Tooth

[Belinda35]

Quomor didn't lose any time and walked into the kitchen. He saw the bloody mess and the two statues, but he did not comment on it. He went forward to the storage chamber rather unimpressed. It had been opened and browsed, but not looted yet - the thugs have probably thought they would have time for that later. Fast, but not thoughtlessy, he picked up food and piled it in his new bag, then he took another bag from the kitchen and collected all the wine and liquer he could take and carry.
"Very well considered to take the carriage. So we can take some more provisons along then." He finally put a large bacon over his shoulder and a ring of sausages round his neck, and put a very large kitchen knife at his belt - surely it was as good as a short sword.

-------

"I could even feel sorry for you if it weren't for poor Flavius. Besides what has happened to himself, you messed up his house and killed all his servants - this damage will be huge, and he is a nice old fellow."
The gorgon saw no matter to discuss this further and looked how Verkul got the horses ready, and she aided him through words, as far as she could. She had never done such a thing herself and would not do it, but she had always been watching and learning anything that was going on in and around the rich houses, and it had paid off well so far.

 

[Cherubian]

At first Verialyn just watched and tried not to get in the way as Quomor loaded up on provisions. Finally she stepped into motion as well, grabbed another bag and filled it with some more bread, cheese and vegetables. Not that she'd need any of these, but Phyliss and their now two servants surely would be hungry sooner or later. While she did so she had to comment "The longer we are together, Quomor, the more of a bargain your purchase seems to me."

Finally they both were loaded with all sorts of foodstuff in their bags and in Quomor's case also as exterior decoration, and Verialyn led him to the stalls where the carraige was being prepared. Verkul had not bothered to state again that it was not him who did any of the killing or even would want to come here in the first place. It seemed rather pointless to argue this point with his rather thick headed new mistress. So he followed her guidance and by the time Quomor and Verialyn appeared the carriage was ready to go.

"All set?" Verialyn asked light heartedly "We brought something to eat as well, so it seems we are ready to go."

 

[Belinda35]

"Great. Good you found Quomor, Verkul will appreciate some professional help." Phyliss looked at Quomors new outfit, but did not comment. She hadn't cared much about him, but was lucky he survived. They would need his help, and she knew how much Verialyn cared for him. And she would have been sorry for him if he died, even if he was just a slave.

 

[Belinda35]

Quomor walked slow and selfconfident, not looking like a slave anymore. He piled the food into the carriage, beside the bags that where already in. There would be still enough room for three people inside. He looked with despise at the fat guy called Verkul, sitting outside on the carriage.
No wonder the gorgon had welcomed his help. If this bloke was a coachman, he would pass as a belly-dancer himself. So much for a place inside. Quomor hadn't worked much with horses before, hardly anything at all, to be true, but there chances to get moving where better if he would assist that Verkul. Or rather if he would assist Quomor. He climbed up the carriage, beside that fat man. As Qomor had hidden at the first fighting noises, he had no idea where the gorgon had picked up that obese fool, and why. Maybe he was another survivor of the slaughter, but he had not seen him before in the house.

 

[Cherubian]

If Verkul was in any way offended by the notion that he was incapable and needed help he did not show it. Instead he readily moved to the side as Quomor climbed up on the coach box next to him and without any comment handed over the reins. He knew not who that colorfilly clad man was, but if he thought he could steer the carriage he was Verkul's guest.

Meanwhile Verialyn lightly stepped inside and held the door open for Phyliss to follow. Personally she preferred to travel on horseback, but they had to be glad they got what they got. "Come in, and let's hit the road."

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss climbed into the carriage, there was nothing unusual for her to travel that way.
"To bad that we can't take our poor host along, but he might be more safer without us."

Quomor got the horses going, and they left the stables.
"Where are we going, ladies?" he called, bowing to the side.

 

[Cherubian]

Verialyn leaned back in her soft cushioned seat and spread her arms wide over the top of the backrest, for now content with the comfort the carriage offered.

"Well, why not follow Flavius's advice and head for Gorank? I've never been there, but I heard interesting things about that cesspool of debauchery."

 

[Belinda35]

"Then it has improved since I had been there." Indeed, it was several decades ago that Phyliss had been in the little city. It wasn't very attractive then, it literally never stopped raining, it consisted mainly of two large breweries and surrounding houses of workers and was a indescribable boring and dull place. But this unattractivness had a great advantage, as it produced tolerance. Nobody was interested who lived there, and nobody asked questions, a perfect place for persons who had to hide or found no other place to stay. Later she heard the the place soon get pested with criminals, and the rich owners of the breweries got worried about the safety of their belongings, including the skilled workers and slaves. So they hired the most merciless cityguards they could find. They didn't care about morality or conventions, but they killed robbers, thieves and violent riff-raffs at the spot. They didn't bother about prostitutes and all kind of dealers, though, turning the city into a decadent, filthy but somehow safe spot, making it a good place for nonviolent monsters, mages, artists and decadents of all kind. Maybe it has become an interesting place after all.
It was completely dark by now, and she heard raindrops hitting the roof of the carriage.
"According to the weather I already feel close to Gorank now. They didn't have citygates by then, I wonder if they have now. I renember some names of taverns who offered although single rooms, but I wonder if they still exist."
It would still take some days to reach the city, but the rain brought the old memories back.

 

[Cherubian]

"Don't ask me" Verialyn replied "I've never been in that place. But since it has not been involved in any wars in the recent past it might be likely that they still have no fortification."

The black haired woman stared out of the window for a fes seconds, before she returned to Phyliss. "Something else, though. It is the middle of the night now, when do we want to have our next stop. We all need to sleep at some time, but probably shoudl not do so too close to the city."

 

[Belinda35]

"I renember there was an inn, but it might take at leats an hour or more to get there, and it was really bad, the keepers were really unfriendly. They wouldn't give me a room, but my former companion insisted and was an important enough man to make them move in." she thought, but she did not renember anything else close to the mainroad.
"On the other hand, the carriage is large enough for us two to sleep comfortable, and it does not leak, if it keeps raining all night. And we have food enough. If the boys will find a good spot to stop, we can sleep here. Our slaves can be on guard, taking turns, and I will activate my shields as soon as I wake up, and so we should not worry about anyone."

 

[Cherubian]

"So you'd have the boys spend the whole night out in the rain? Or where should they sleep? You know, sooner or later they will have to. Unless you want for them to fall dead tired from the coach box."

While Phyliss was partially right in that they could spend the night inside the carriage, it was not that spacious and Verialyn did not relish the thought of sleeping in such cramped conditions. But at least for this night staying clear of an inn was likely the wiser decision.

 

[Belinda35]

"Why, they can take turns... And they can sleep with a blanket under the carriage if it keeps raining, where is the problem?"
Suddenly Phylisss renembered something.
"There was a sideroad that was a deadend, but maybe it is covered with bushes now. And there was a large ruin of an estate, most of it will be broken down today, but the cellar was build very solid. But it will be cold, much more cold then our carriage. And the carriage is more clean."

 

[Cherubian]

"You think Verkul will fit under the carriage?"

Verialyn thought for a moment longer, and then decided "We at least should have a look at that estate. Who knows what has happened to it since you last were there, and if we are lucky it is a suitable spot to spend the night. You'l have to lead the way, though."

 

[Belinda35]

"We can put him short in supplies, so that he will get in a better shape... But I will look if I see that way." the gorgon looked through the window, the darkness wasn't a big problem for her, as it was for Quomor. He was going really slow now, as he could hardly make out anything. It wasn't raining very strong, but he was sureley wet by now. Finally Phyliss saw two very huge trees and a stone pillar, just visible through a thick layer of ivy.
"There it is."
She opened the door and called: "Stop the carriage, Quomor. We are driving down that old lane, if possible. Verkul will better go in front of you, to see if the horses can pass. We just have to go straight ahead, you can't miss it."
Quomor stopped the carriage. He looked down the passway, but did not see much. "You better walk along, Verkul. If we can pass, we might come to a rest at least. And hopefully we will get out of rain then."

 

[Cherubian]

Timidly Verkul glanced around. He was completely soaked by the rain now, and the prospect of having to leave the relative comfort of the coach box to walk into the threatening darkness surrounding them was not a thought he relished. Maybe it was the hope for a place warm and dry, or the fear of the gorgon's snakes that finally got the better of him and under grunting and moaning he descended to the ground.

His feet made slurching sounds as they sunk into the mud, and he began to head in the indicated direction. It took him only a few steps before he cam to a halt and turned back to speak "Quomor, I think there are lights ahead." while one arm pointed in the direction where he thought he had seen the sparks pierce the blackness.

 

[Belinda35]

Quomor stopped at onced. Although he never drove a coach before, he had learned to handle the horses on the way. He had wished they had taken some good lamps along before, but now he was glad he did not. Lights in a desolated dead end did probably mean nothing good - at best some homeless having a camp. But he was not that optimistic.
"Be quiet, Verkul, and warn the ladies."

 

[Cherubian]

Verkul quickly nodded to this suggestion and eagerly followed the command. Anything that would not force him to head further into this darkness was welcome in his book.

And so he almost immediately stood next to the carriage door, poked his head cautiously inside, and spoke "Umm, ladies, Quomor asked me to inform you that ahead in the darkness there seem to be some spots of light or fire."

Verialyn rose from her sluching position, eyebrows raised, at that announcement. "Didn't you say those ruins were abandoned?" she turned towards Phyliss "Seems a lot can happen in fourty years."

 

[Belinda35]

"Well, of course. But we should not be to worried, we can handle with some scum hiding out there. But maybe there are just harmless travellers or some peddlers who stay there. Maybe we could chase them away, if they disturb us." Phyliss looked at Verkul. "Oh, I forgot we ar the ones that see better in the dark." The gorgon put her head out of the window, it was still raining softly, but not to bad.
"So, I have a short look. I cannot see from that window." She threw a black cape around her shoulders and stepped out of the coach, and walked around the horses to have a look.

 

[Cherubian]

Verialyn immediately accompanied her friend, and by the time the gorgon had gotten around the horses, the vampiress was next to her. For both of them it was not too hard to make out the walls of the building ahead in the darkness. If there had been a ruin previously, by not it had been rebuilt, at least partially, and the lights Verkul had noticed were coming from the window of the same.

 

[Belinda35]

"So someone actually is inside the ruins. It could be anyone, maybe just a traveller who had the same idea, or some paupers who found a new home. Or whatelse... I think we will have a look. I have both shields on, and you don't have to worry about some thugs as well." She looked around and grinned, then she whispered: "Of course it could also be a handsome, well-hung magician who blocks our magic powers and then ties us up to rape us all night. But i don't think so."
Phyliss moved forward to the ruin. Her black clothes and the black snakes blended into the dark, only her face was visible. But she moved silently and careful as she looked for an entrance into the ruin.

 

[Cherubian]

"That does not look like a ruin to me" murmured Verialyn as she followed her friend. And indeed, as they approached it became evident that part of the old estate had been restored to full functionality if not glory. The walls were fully erected again, with window panes even to block out the chilly night air and the rain. It looked like an appealing place to spend the night if it weren't for the fact that the building was already clearly inhabited.

"If you want to be tied up and fucked, maybe Verkul or Quomor could be of help?" she added in response to her friend's naughty suggestion.

 

[Belinda35]

"One of them is to fat and small, and the other one to ugly. And they are slaves... but you're right. This is not a ruin at all. The question is, if we should knock and hope that the owner is friendly and helpful to two strange ladies in the night, or if we should do some sneaking instead?" She shuddered, as she hear a very distant, strange wistling sound, almost to faint to be heard.
"I have no idea what was that and from where it came."

 

[Cherubian]

"Well, maybe they should not only tie you down but also blindfold you. Could that help?" Verialyn replied with a wicked grin, only to add. "Before we knock on that door, though, remember what happened the last time we did."

Like Phyliss she was immediately alert at the strange noise, her keen eyes scanning the forest in the direction it came from and trying to discern its origin.

 

[Belinda35]

"Uhh-ohh. I renember quite well." she grinned. "But I have learned to heal my ass."
Phyliss just knocked at the door, so there was no way back.

 

[jack80]

Zackery Whitbottom frowned as he heard the knocking at the door. His master wasn't expecting any quests... not at this hour, or any hour. Not with how he had been raving about assassins and backstabbers. His master was an odd man. But he was his master's trusted man-servant.

The old man, with short cropped white hair and winkled face, wearing the attire of a butler, open the door to his Master's Manor and looked out. At first a look of surprise came over his face, and then shock at the sight before him, but covered it quickly from years of service.

He however kept his eyes solely on the light skin dark haired woman and not the... other one.

"I am sorry milady, but my master isn't accepting any guests." He said politely, while trying to pretend the one with snakes in her hair wasn't there.

** *** **​

Inside the Manor....

Darren Thano tried very hard to not roll his eyes as he listen to his employers most recent rant. He had always been an annoying and uptight self-important twat, but in the last few months, he has gotten even worse. A few bad choices, and poor trades has made Deklin Saphous, a self-proclaimed lord, paranoia of even shadows.

"I promise you my lord, the last cook did not try and poison you. It was just unfortunate that bottle of wine went bad." Darren said. He found it harder and harder to not sigh out loud in this man's presence.

"Sir Thano, I swear to you I tasted it, it was a poison. I want the cook killed!" A properly groomed, red haired man wearing what was considered quite the style for nobles, in a far away land, of very colorful and artistic clothing. It hurt Darren's eyes to look at the man sometimes. Deklin could be considered handsome by some, save for his hook nose.

Darren himself was tall, broad shouldered, and muscular. He would have to be. He had been a knight for near ten years. Before his imprisonment. His dark brown hair hung to just below his ears, and he hadn't shaved in recent days, allowing a stubble on his face. In some lights though, his facial growth seemed to shine crimson.

"Again my Lord-" How Darren hated to call this twit by his title, but he was still being paid.... and that was all Darren cared about for a moment. "-killing your servants that you dismiss would just make it harder for us to find new hirelings. I suggest we just release the man and I will have Whitbottom start looking for a new one."

"Yes... alright... wait. That is just what they want me to do. Fire my cook so they can put a new one in his place." Deklin slapped his hands together. "Those clever little rats... no do not fire the cook, but have one of the guards watching him at all times!"

"As you wish... my Lord." Darren said as he shook his head. He towered over Delkin by a good half-foot and more, and there were times he just wanted to walk up to the man and smash him right in the head.

Darren's thoughts were quickly interrupted when one of the other guards came to him. Darren nodded his head. "My lord, there appears to be two ladies at the front door, with their personal-servants." Darren actually held back one part of this. One of the ladies had snakes instead of hair. He would very much like to see the reaction of Deklin's when he saw this woman.

"Ladies... no. Female assassins... they must be. Especially the dark haired ones. Come here to entice me and seduce me before they kill me." Delkin said as he looked himself in the mirror. Images of dark haired women throwing themselves at him... and then killing them.

"If you want, I can send the-" Darren was interrupted.

"No! This will give me a chance to learn more about my would-be-murders are planning. Invite them in. But the women must not wear any clothes. Even more so for the dark haired ones."

"As you wish..." Darren said as he turned and walked out.

** *** **​

At the entrance to the manor....

Whitbottom was about to dismiss these... ladies, when he saw Darren Thano approaching. His dark cloak of red trailing behind him and his longsword on his hip. He would be able to tell these ladies that his master was not accepting visitors and chase them off.

Darren walked up to the door and looked at the so-said ladies. One was a pale skinned beauty of dark hair that went to her shoulders, and wore traveling clothing that did very well to pronounce her assesses.

The other... she was more exotic. Darren had heard only what he had believe to be fairy tales of women to have snakes instead of hair. Created by magicians, the only thing he could remember was they had the ability to turn people to stone. Well he wasn't stone... but he was becoming rock hard. He gave the woman a very wicked smile as he looked her up and down.

As long as those snakes didn't bite, he could have fun with this one. But first business. "My Ladies, the master of this manor would like to invite you in, but you first must remove your clothing. We fear assassins, and particularity, dark haired female assassins of great beauty." He said that part while still looking at the snake haired vixen.


Darren Thano
ex-Knight
Race: Human
Age: 30 years old
Height: 6'5"
Description: Dark brown hair that hangs over his ears, A lighter brown beard covers his face. He wears neutral color clothing and always carries his sword at his side.


Deklin Saphous
Merchant/Self-Proclaimed Lord
race: human
Height: 5'10
Age: 40
Description: Properly groomed red hair, pale skin, lean build, a hook nose, loves outrageous clothing.