The Thief.

[Ravenloft]

Thildemar:

Running through the darkness of night, a slimly built man with silver hair looked over his shoulder at his persuers. Three heavilly built men. If they caught him, even his stealth wouldn't save him... He tucked a slender blade into his belt, the object he was being chased after for. His eyes flitted back and forth, looking for an escape, if he could simply withdraw from the main street, he could lose the oafs behind him in short order... He was tiring though and they were drawing closer... Just ahead, the street curved, putting on a burst of speed, the silver haired one dissapeared around the corner, and grasped the first door he found along the block of houses, flinging the door open, and drawing it shut behind him. He's breath threatened to betray him to the persuers, but he stalled it as he heard their heavy foot falls rush past, just outside the door. A moment later he gave a sigh of relief, only to freeze when he heard the rustling of bed sheets. He whirled around, flashing his stolen knife from his belt. From over its gleeming edge, he saw a woman set up in bed, quite in shock from his intrusion. The man faltered for a moment as he took in the sight of her, only to squint his eyes and take on a sinister expression. "Stay right where you are, not a sound..." He hissed as he approached her, knife still leveled toward her.

 

[Honey_B]

Jasmine

The sofabed's springs squeeked like a frightened mouse as Jasmine sat up abruptly. Her auburn hair tumbled around her face but she didn't bother brushing it away. Cold fear was curling its way into her consciousness even as she struggled to understand what was happening. Someone was in the room with her; she could just make out a form in the dappled moonlight. He was tall with a slender build - And he had a knife!

Jasmine's breath caught her throat as she saw the flash of dangerous silver. Her knuckles began to turn white as she gripped the sheet. Then he spoke...

"Stay right where you are, not a sound..."

Jasmine couldn't have uttered a thing even if she had tried. She shrank against her pillows, transfixed by the blade.

He was coming closer!

She broke the rules and said in a voice only a shade above a whisper, "Please, don't..."

 

[Ravenloft]

Thildemar:

The light from a single candle that sat next to the woman's bed cast across the man's face. His silver hair hung down past his shoulders, and she could see several teeth tied into his hair, wolves teeth... They clacked together as he moved ever closer, his fingers padded out the flame just as she saw the briefest glimps of his cold, steel colored eyes. Once plunged in darkness she felt his weight sink onto the edge of her bed, then the cold silver of his knife rest just under her chin. "You will come to no harm if you co-operate with me..." He said in a quiet, cold voice. She could feel his eyes looking her over as the point of his knife slid down her chin, along the silky skin of her neck, finally to rest, still, point down, just above her heart. "If you do not... I fear the worst for you..." He let the blade bite lightly into her skin to emphasize his seriousness.

 

[Honey_B]

Jasmine

In the darkness, Jasmine couldn't forget the brief glimpse of the intruder she had been give. Silver hair, glittering gray eyes - were those teeth in his hair! She felt so vulnerable, so small. She had to bite her lip to keep from screaming when she felt him
sit on the bed.

Jasmine felt the cold touch of his knife on her chin, touching her face almost like a lover does with his hand. She closed her blue eyes tightly, childishly hoping it was all a nightmare.

He spoke again and she knew with devasting certainity that he was there. He threatened her and punctuated the statement by trailing the knife from her neck down to her chest.

In a foolish burst of romanticism, Jasmine had worn an antique white lace nightgown to bed. She knew without looking that many of the buttons had come undone, revealing the tops of her full breasts. Instinctively, she reached up to cover herself.

 

[Ravenloft]

Thildemar:

The man caught her arm by the wrist and forced it down at her side roughly. "Keep still, do not move woman." He growled. Several tence moments passed as his grip tightened on her wrist ever so slightly, she could hear him breathing in the dark, the slightest drifting of air hinted that his mouth hovered somewhere over her face. He eased the point of his knife from her breast then, as well as loosening the grip his hand on her wrist. "Just... Stay still..." He whispered and the slightest hint of his breath drifted across her face once more. A moment later, he stood up sharply whirling toward the door, his blade glinted as he aimed it in the direction he was facing. A moment later there was a rough knocking at her door. They wee both silent, then the knock came again and someone called from outside. "You in there! Wake up! This is the city guard! We have reason to believe there is a wanted man in there!" The voice came as a rough barking male. The man with the knife in the room with Jasmine reached down and took her by the elbow, pulling her up into a sitting position. He planted one knee behind her back as one hand gripped her hair and the other, that held the knife rested it against her throat. "You will go to the door and you will explain to them that you are the only one here, do you understand?" He whispered sharply into her ear.

 

[SixteenthRelic]

new character introduced

Before she could open the door there was the sound of rustling. Quickly after was the sound of steel cutting flesh. "I hate them fucking guards," said Roan, "They ALWAYS gotta be dickheads." A light knock on the door and voice said "It's alright now fellow thieve. Them fucking bastards are dead." Jasmine opened the door and Thildemar walked out with Jasmine at knife-point.

 

[Ravenloft]

Thildemar:

"Damn it Roan, you didn't have to kill them!" Thildemar growled as he looked the fallen guards over, holding Jasmine around the waist, his knife still to her throat. "Now the whole city will be after us as murderers as well as thieves... You are far too impetuous for your own good and if I didn't know better I would leave you to the mercy of the law!" Thildemar spat, he was FAR from pleased. Jasmine struggled in his grasp, he felt her begin to wretch at seeing the dead guards and hoisted her about to face away from the grisly sight. "...I had everything under control..." Thildemar hissed. He regarded the woman in his arms for a moment. "We cannot leave her here now... She's seen too much..." He sighed, sounding regretful. "Come, we must be away before more guards arive!" And with that, he swept Jasmine up onto his shoulder. For being of such slender build he has surprising strength as his stide seemed barely effected by her weight.

 

[SixteenthRelic]

Roan:

"Sorry Thildemar,"Roan said. "Apologies are worthless right now!" Thildemar spat at Roan. "I just always get excited when there are people especially city guards trying to be all macho. If u found time to teach me more of your ways this wouldn't happen," Roan said with a hint ofjealousy in his voice. Thildemar, with Jasmine on his shoulder and Roan trailing behind left the city and went into the woods where Thildemar stopped to try to come up with a plan with Roan.

 

[Ravenloft]

Thildemar:

Silently, Thildemar pushed Jasmine against the thick trunk of a tree the moment they entered their hidden camp in the lonely forest. He looked to Roan with a nod. The younger elf understood, and rushed to bind her tightly to the tree with a length of silk rope. Thildemar looked into her eyes the entire time, his hands pressed firmly upon her shoulders to hold her still. He opened his mouth, seeming to want to say something but then lowered his eyes with a look of genuine regret just as Roan finished making several knots behind the tree.

Thildemar and Roan then sat down in front of a low burning fire not more than five feet from where Jasmine was bound and began to discuss what they should do next. "Its simple... We will have to move on to new territory..." Thildemar stated flatly, no amount of gold will do us any good if we are dead after all..." HE sighed as he rubbed the back of his hand against his forehead as he stabbed the knife he still held into the ground at his side. "Perhaps then I will have time to teach you more lad..."

 

[SixteenthRelic]

Roan

Staring into the fire Roan says"I understand Thildemar. I shall wait."Why can't I be more like Thildemar? Why did my father have to pamper me then go off and get killed?

 

[Honey_B]

Jasmine

The rough bark of the tree cut into Jasmine's back, but she hardly noticed. She felt as if she had been awakened only to step into a nightmare. The image of the dead guards still hung before her eyes.

Jasmine caught her abductor say, "Its simple... We will have to move on to new territory..."

She tried desperately not to panic, but failed miserably. Would the take her with them or worse, kill her? It seemed to much to believe that they would let her go, but she had to try.

"Please..." she began, her voice quavering.
"Let me go. I won't tell a soul what I have seen. Please..."

 

[Ravenloft]

Thildemar:

Lifting his steel grey eyes to look up at Jasmine, Thildemar spoke in a chillingly calm voice. "There is no gurentee of that woman. The only way to be sure is..." He stopped himself for half a beat then lowered his eyes toward the fire, the bright glow of it illuminating his fair face. "To take you with us..." He sighed. He noticed Roan turn his head sharply toward him, almost in surprise. Lifting his eyes to meet with the young half elf, Thildemar gave him a look that warned gainst arguing.

 

[Honey_B]

Jasmine

He meant to take her with him. It seemed only a small solace that she wasn't to be killed immediately. Jasmine watched as he stepped near the light of the fire. She could see his face clearly for the first time. Her expression changed.

"What manner of creature are you two?"

The words were out before Jasmine had a chance to top herself. She desperatly wanted to avoid doing anything to make them angry.

 

[Ravenloft]

Thildemar:

"I... Am an elf madam, I come from The Southwoods Forest... It is far from here... My companion here is an orphaned half elf, born of a human female and elven male..." Thildemar offered the information without pause as he stood, grasping the knife at his side as he rose. He walked over to her, and stood mere feet from her form. "If you have any more questions woman, ask them now..." He added as he locked eyes with her. His own seemed feral, almost the eyes of a wolf as he gazed upon her.

 

[Valdimer]

Domitri Constantenov

Domitri let his long black hair fall in front of his face, watching as the thief and his two companions left the small house. As soon as they pushed past the corner of the street, Domitri pulled his owlbear furs closer to him, and shoved off.

He followed them for quite some time, out of the city, and into the dark forest that lay beyond....

"If you have any more questions woman, ask them now..." he heard, purched high up in a tree close to the camp. Seeing the glint of steel, the knife......He knew he had found what he came for. "That knife sir, I do believe does not belong to you..." he said, in a gruff, russian style accent. Leaping down from the tree, he landed inbetween the two theives......the more inexperianced one in front of him.

Drawing his sword, he said, " Now, I suggest you return it to who it belongs too, namely my employeer. That knife holds a "sentimental" value.....and it cant be parted with." "Run Thildemar! I shall give you time!" yelled the inexperianced theif. "Such a pitty, to waste one's life." Domitri said, blocking blows with his two-handed sword, which towered over the elf. Pushing off yet another blow, Domitri swung his sword in a high arc, cleaving the young elf in two...........

The seperate pieces of the theif's body fell on either side of Domitri as he turned to the other....

"Thildemar, is it? Now that I know who you are, kindly return the knife, and the young lady, and I shall let you live.........

 

[Ravenloft]

Thildemar:

"You are the fool to have listened to the lies of your employer." Thildemar said coldly as he crouched into a fighting stance, the knife in his hand at the ready. He launched himself at the man suddenly, springing toward him like a wolf after its prey. A sharp kick caught the man across his primary sword arm, sending it rieling off to the side, and with a slash, a crimson swath was layed across the mans chest, the knife had cut him as though it ran through warm butter. Thildemar rolled away then, coming to his feet practically in the same spot he had launched from to begin with, only a foot away from the woman. With his eyes lidded to mere slits, Thildemar growled. "I suggest that you be the one to disengage from your course of action..."

 

[Honey_B]

Jasmine

Before Jasmine could formulate a single question, a big bear of man entered the camp. The knife. He wanted Thildemar's knife. And he was willing to kill for it.

She watched with undisguised horror as the big man drew a huge sword. He killed the half-elf gruesomely, slicing him in two. He turned on Thildemar and for some reason that Jasmine could not fathom, she feared for the elf. Perhaps because he seems to be the only one to resist violence.

And he moved like quicksilver when he had to resort to it. Jasmine held her breath as they began to clash. When blood whelled up on the intruder's chest, she silently cheered the site.

 

[Valdimer]

Domitri Constantenov

The knife slashed across his chest, blood flowing readily. He brought up his hand, ran it across his chest, and raised it to eye level. Licking some of the blood off his finger, he said, " A mistake boy, one you will not live to regret." Domitri made a headlong charge for Thildemar, crashing into him, sending them both tumbling to the ground. A large maw of a fist came crashing down, only to miss where Thildemar's head would have been. Agian, Domitri raised his fist, only to miss once more.

He climbed off, and half ran, half crawled to his sword......

 

[Ravenloft]

Thildemar:

With yet another growl, Thildemar tumbled forward, landing in a crouch between Domitri and his sword. The air around them seemed charged with an animalistic energy which brought a wicked smile to Thildemar's lips as he flashed his knife about threateningly. "You're no match for me..." Thildemar hissed coldy.

 

[Valdimer]

Domitri Constantenov

The words barely rung in his ears, his eyes filled with rage! Positioned on one knee, Domitri flung a handful of dirt toward Thildemar, destracting him for the few precious seconds he needed. He rushed headlong agian, slamming into Thil, knocking him off to the side. Grabing his sword, he said " I'll slice you to pieces boy....and ravage your girl after I'm done." he said, an evil grin forming on his lips......

 

[Guest]

Thildemar:

Brushing the dirt from his face, Thildemar spat some out as he glared at Domitri. "Don't you get it fool? You're being used as a tool by those who would poison this world! If this knife is returned to the hands of those who sent you after me, my home will be destroyed... And soon, the rest of this world will follow! For once the land beginst to rot from within, there will be nothing anyone can do to stop its cancerous decay!" Thildemar spoke quickly with desperation. He eyed the hefty blade in Domitri's hands with disdain. "I'll slice you to pieces boy....and ravage your girl after I'm done." Domitri said, an evil grin forming on his lips... Not a word Thildemar had said seemed to have penetrated the man's thick skull. With a sigh, Thildemar motioned for the man to take his best shot. And so he did, launching himself forward, blade arched over his head, set to swing down upon Thildemar's head. Only Thildemar was no longer standing still, he side stepped Domitri, catching his leg with a sharp kick, sending him stumbling forward, and in the same fluid motion, Thildemar brought the hilt of his knife down sharply at the base of the mans skull with a loud crack. The man fell flat on his face with a heavy thud and did not move. Thildemar turned slowly, his head lowered, his lips parted in an annoyed scowl. He kicked the man onto his back, letting his head lull to the side, he stradled his chest, and placed the blade to Domitri's throat. Jasmine gasped, bringing Thildemar's attention back to her. He looked up at her as he held the blade lightly against the man's neck. He saw the mingled fear and disgust on her face and with a heavy sigh stood back up, removing the blade from against Domitri's throat and sheathing it in his belt. He then circled back behind the tree Jasmine was tied to and quickly undid the knots that bound her there. Just as she felt the ropes fall free Thildemar's hand snapped out and caught her by the shoulder, he stepped out in front of her, the length of rope bundled up on his shoulder. "Come, we don't have long before he comes to... And we need to find shelter... SAFE shelter..." He said gruffly as he tugged her along. He paused next to Roan's sundered body and bowed his head with regret, whispering something under his breath. Then he pushed on past the body, and back into the dark forest.

 

[Ravenloft]

OOC: That was me up there...

 

[Valdimer]

Domitri Constantenov

His blade held high, Domitri had Thildemar in his sights. Then, the next thing he felt was a rather sharp pain agianst the back of his head, and the sight of the ground rushing up to meet him, and blackness.........


Hours later, he awoke. The sun had begun to rise, and a slight dew clung to him. Struggling to his feet, Domitri sluggishly sheathed his sword, and rubbed the enormous knot on the back of his head. He surveyed the campsite. The lifeless halves of the elf, a nearly extingushed campfire, signs of the struggle the night before, dried blood where Domitri had layed, and tracks.......yes, tracks. He gave a slight gruff, and made his way in the direction the tracks had taken.........

 

[Honey_B]

Jasmine

Brambles snagged at Jasmine's bare arms and her gown caught on a branch, ripping it to mid-thigh. She was determined to keep up with Thildemar. Her mind went over the night's events relentlessly. She was trying to understand him and everything that had happened to her. What was it about that knife? Jasmine could not fathom why a simple knife was so important. Could it really destroy Thildemar's home? The world?

Her eyes watched Thildemar's back. She felt a surge of admiration for him. He could have killed the intruder when he was the big thug had fallen unconscious. The fact that he hadn't intrigued Jasmine.

 

[Ravenloft]

Thildemar:

Once or twice, Thildemar looked back to see how Jasmine was keeping up. She stumbled along the way and he stopped to help her to her feet, lifting her up gently, they, without a word, started off again. The silence was broken finally, when he turned stopped and turned to her. She nearly bumped into him, he had stopped so suddenly, and she was straining to keep pace with him. They came nose to nose for a brief moment, then he slid back a step. "We are nearly to shelter." He said calmly as he lifted a hand, seeming about to place it on her shoulder, then he let it fall back to his side. "You're shivering..." He added as he reached up quickly and undid the heavy black cape about his shoulders. He whippped it about her, placing it over her shoulders, and began fastining it about her neck. Once it was fastened, he slowly eased away again, looking up into her eyes. For a moment they shared this look, then he turned away. "Come, shelter is not more than a few minutes distant."