D and December 2017: Week 1 - Day 6

Main Post: https://elfson.blogspot.com/2017/12/d-2017.html

6- A Moment of Despair: Difficult choices


“Run Kat!” Eugene shouted at Katarina as the “guards” came plowing through the lower market of the city. These guards were nothing more than deputized drunkards who could be trusted to show up at some point during the day to be paid for a shift of work, chasing down pick-pockets & bread-thieves who weren’t good enough to not be caught.

He bolted down a side alley while she moved past & down to another, opposite. A common tactic to split the chasers, or make them choose one or the other if only one on their trail. And of course, should it get to the point of blows, less at a time to handle.

After scrambling up a wall and down a sewage culvert, he was confident he’d lost his pursuer, and doubled back to the rendezvous point he & Katarina had agreed upon.

She wasn’t there.

But that was fine, both of them had encountered more tenacious members of the city’s police force, requiring prolonged routes, meandering through the lower city streets.

Hours passed, and she still did not show.

It began to get dark, and, as they agreed, should that happen, they would then meet at the Church of Fate, to wait out the night in it’s relative sanctuary.

She did not show, all night.

The next day, he went about his usual routine, simply for a sense of normalcy, as they’d never agreed on such an eventuality.

When he finally took a break for the day and made his way back to the attic above the cobbler’s home where he & Katarina slept. Despondent, as he dropped from the eaves onto the ledge in front of the roof access door that led into the dark refuge, he did not even notice the light pouring from the hatch that led into the building proper.

He didn’t even yelp as the truncheon came down on his head & blackness swam over him.


When he awoke, it was in a dark, dank place. That day, he learned the two kids who ran the city streets did not exist anymore. He would answer to Dany & she was than known as Loti, and they served The Master of the House with unquestioning obedience, or the other would be punished.

It wasn’t all forced servitude & dehumanization, they were educated by experts in the fields in all manner of arts, entertainment, and letters, as the furniture should be able to entertain any guest in any number of ways, at any time.

Eventually came a day, during an extremely late night party, The Master was in a cruel mood, and too much debauchery led to him gambling away Loti to another like himself.

Dany cried, openly at this, and could not restrain the tears.

This was explicitly forbidden. The furniture did not have feelings, especially in front of guests.

Loti was whipped as punishment for Dany’s outburst, as the two Master’s agreed on many things, such as how to handle insolence.

Dany’s Master, in some fit of whimsy, held a blade against Dany’s throat, laughing, asked, “would you rather die? You are old and have served your purpose. I can replace you easily, if you wish to expire rather than see her leave your side.”

“Now now, ol’ chap. No need to be so dramatic. I’ll take the boy too. I’ll even pay full price. I can always use more playthings” the other Master slurred, already taking full advantage of his new property.

Dany knew the other Master was much more cruel & aggressive with his toys. So was his despair that much more amplified.

“ Would you like that Dany?” the first Master chuckled, light spittle flecking on Dany’s cheek, mixing with the drying tears.

Dany suffered, dragging his eyes to Loti’s, past the form of the other Master, trying not to see that which was visible to all in the room.

Loti blinked thrice in rapid succession. Their shorthand for “no”.

Dany continued his eye movement to the wall, to hide the communication, in a show of heavy contemplation.

He could not stand to leave Loti. He would die a second time. But nor could he go against her wishes. And so Dany would cease to be as well, in short order, after this night.

“I serve you, Master”, he choked out, feeling the love he held deep in his heart compact further, turning to a burning ember in his gut.


It was weeks later when the opportunity arose. The Master was slain in bed, by one of the pieces of furniture.

Several days later, a dashing young man, one Giacomo D’Alegrerre, came to visit a certain, respectable gentleman. They laughed & dined, and passed the night away. But the gentleman had lived a long and boisterous life, so it was not surprise when he passed on at some point in the early hours, Giacomo, summoning the staff to assist & try to save the man. It was for naught.

Later that same day, Giacomo asked to question the staff, to see if any knew of the gentleman’s next of kin, or friends.

The visitor seemed quite upset after the interviews, and implored if there were any other staff, or had any left the house in the last months.

They spoke of one young girl, who came recently, but, supposedly killed herself only days later by jumping from the top of the estate. Though it was obvious many of the waitstaff did not entirely believe this.

After exhausting what he must have felt was his responsibilities as a guest in the house, the man called D’Alegrerre left, chuckling, walking quietly along the path. Those who noted the chuckle would also mention, it was not a friendly sound and sent chills down their spine.

D and December 2017: Week 1 - Day 5

Main Post: https://elfson.blogspot.com/2017/12/d-2017.html

5- A Moment of Triumph: Quoting Princess Bride ICly
 

Often in the employ of shadowy figures, one’s office being wardrobes & rooftops, one must engage in martial contests for their very life. Giacomo was no exception.

One such night, having seduced & murdered a Countess of unscrupulous values, one of her OTHER bedfellows, whom was supposed to ALSO meet her that night, stumbled upon Giacomo.

A duel ensued across a starlit parapet. The incensed lover was no slouch with a blade, and just as he thought we has wearing down the the Jester, he noticed that stupid grin still rested betwixt that gaudy mustache and the ridiculous patch of hair.

“I must admit you’re better than I am” Giacomo offered, smirk still plastered to his visage.

“ Then why are you smiling” growled the casanova.

“Because I know something you don’t know” the embattled bard rejoined.

“And what is that” was the exasperated riposte.

“I am not left handed.” A wild moulinette flashed the reflection of the stars as the troubadour popped one half of his rapier into his right hand, revealing it was a trick-brace of blades, but more importantly, his ambidexterity.

The would be champion balked at the assassin’s duplicity, but not long enough to allow it to be capitalized upon.

However, the next morning, two bodies were discovered, and the esteemed Giacomo was asked to depart with a bonus, as his services were no longer required, what with the funeral to be planned, etc.

D and December 2017: Week 1 - Day 4

Main Post: https://elfson.blogspot.com/2017/12/d-2017.html

4- Favourite Villain: Same


Years down the road, many stages walked, numerous courts impressed, countless jibes thrown, as well as a plethora of rumours sold, an embarrassment of false information given, a sea of goblets poisoned, a gallows worth of throats slit, and once more, “the voice” was paid to perform what he thought might be his last role.

Alongside a team of equally ill-repute and infamy, they stormed the east wing of the castle, up from the sewers, slain guard after guard, and finally, upon entering what they thought would be the king’s private quarters, each was transported to a pocket dimension, where a band of equally well equipped and adept squads awaited.

It was there he made his last quips and where the last breath escaped his lips.

D and December 2017: Week 1 - Day 3

Main Post: https://elfson.blogspot.com/2017/12/d-2017.html

3- Favourite NPC: The Incomparable Giacomo
 

The Incomparable Giacomo, King of Jesters, Jester of Kings.
Born an orphan in a capital city, dubbed Eugene by the matron who tended the overcrowded children’s home, he was a clever boy, always getting into trouble. Bosom mates with another clever child, Katarina, named for the princess, the two were inseparable for nearly a decade, which is forever when you’ve barely lived that long.
Eugene loved to watch the buskers in the market square, especially the puppet theatre, and made extra coppers helping the various performers, learning all he could from them, dreaming modestly to be “as great as them, or even better.”

Luck, fair & foul would befall young Eugene. To hide himself from the burdens of both, he would adopt the nom-de-plume Giacomo D’Alegrerre, traveling across the world, never settling down, always running from the past. A smile greeting his audience, whether they knew he was performing or no, he played the part, and they all believed. Occasionally, so would he, but that never lasted long.

D and December 2017: Week 1 - Day 2

Main Post: https://elfson.blogspot.com/2017/12/d-2017.html
 2- Favourite Class: Bard


He had an innate proficiency in steering a situation through word & gesture. His nondescript appearance could be leveraged to great effect when he so desired. This unassuming man with the slightly silly facial hair, could be your best friend in two sentences, or the most dangerous thing in the city in one. You’d forget him as quick as he wanted, or remember him years later, having only met once. So was his skill & powers.
“King of Jesters & Jester of Kings” was a persona the world new. He sang, he danced, he played several instruments, occasionally at the same time, told jokes, recited tragic poetry that could reduce the most stalwart knight to tears, & much more.
It was the “much more” that truly kept him in fine silks and the nicest taverns. Although being the preferred Jester for numerous royal families did pay a shiny gold piece, it was his lesser known occupation as spy & assassin that ensured his comfortable lifestyle, as well as preference in the various courts of the land.
In the well lit places he was jester, bard, troubadour, skald and even fool. But clandestinely, there were no job titles.
A customer would contact “the voice” for an act of deceit or skullduggery, terms were discussed, and nothing further contact would be made after.
Should a noble die mysteriously, or a warlord know of his enemies plans months in advance, such was the wheel of fate. Who but the person & “the voice” would know such things were planned far in advance, for which of the two would ever confess to such things? Exactly.

D and December 2017: Week 1 - Day 1

Main Post: https://elfson.blogspot.com/2017/12/d-2017.html

1- Favourite Race: Human

His features were sharp & striking. Eyes that could peirce as readily as wit or rapier. All three wielded with deadly precision.
Dark hair, straight & mid-length. A short, well kept mustache and small triangle of hair below the lip added to the rakish air. A slim build & a medium height allowed him to be non-threatening for his primary profession.
Though accepted by members of their own race as an elf, half elf, half orc, and that one time as a “very tall dwarf “, he was in fact merely a man, and painfully aware of his mortality.
Though, through whatever gift granted by the Gods, this same curse had benefits. Such as the uncanny ability to morph, meld & adapt to any situation. As one of the “Common Speakers” he could drift from society to society, land to land; gathering riches of the mind, the pocket & adoration. Though not as resilient as a dwarf, astute as an elf, content as a halfling nor curious as a gnome, one could get awful close.

D and December 2017: Main post

Thanks to Holly Conrad's retweet of Scarlet Moth, here:

https://twitter.com/ThatScarletMoth/status/932980194289184768

This space has been dusted off(well, more like, garbage laid upon the dust, as is the way of my people) and will see ACTIVITY for the first time in SEVERAL YEARS, for this month at least.

 

As of this post, I've finished week two, and will auto-post every day into next month until it finishes!

Thanks for visiting!

-H47