The Dawn breaking night (Open)

[Venessa Blackthorn]

In a small town near the border of Bern and Etruria, the sun was rising. Piercing the darkness to start a new day. The Towns folk began to go about their day as it seemed to be same as usual. Off in the distance, a black like blur went falling fromt he sky until it barely hit the ground. With wings opening, this unknown person or thing would skim above the ground with dust shooting up behind. A few kids was watching with this figure getting ever so closer towards them. They haven't seen anything like it before since they were very young. WHen it was close enough to make out what it was, the figure flew over them and they saw it was a black wyvern. Chasing behind, the one shouted out loud. "A Wyvern! It's a Wyvern!" The child's parents came walking out to see if their child was starting nonsense until they saw the black Wyvern land right infront of them in the center of the town. A rider was seen ontop of it as it would let out a loud roar, stretching out it's wings.

Most of the towns people never seen a Wyvern before. So fear quickly struck them with the rider hopping off it's mighty mount. A few of the towns guard came walking up to the person with lances and swords lifted. "Halt Stranger! Who are you and what is your business?" The black armored rider's helmet looked at them. The person took off the helmet to show them who it was. Her blonde hair shinned with the sun as her ruby red eyes studied them as she spoke up, "I'm Lt. Venessa Blackthorn, I'm a scout with the 2nd Light Armor Division of our lord's military. I've been riding for two days with no break. Me and my Wyvern decided to land here to rest up."

The guards quickly put away their weapons as they apologized greatly for raising their weapons at her. Venessa shrugged it off as she took the harness and led her mount to a trouthle filled with water. Sorrow began to gulp the water down quickly. She tied it down just enough to give it resistance to it moving. She walked over to the only pub/ Inn. With her helmet under her left arm and her lance on her back, she looked around to see a few men sitting around drinking and playing a game of chance. With that, she went over to the counter where she was greeted by a female in a somewhat tore up dress. It seemed she was in a fight and by the looks of it, Lost. "Good day Rider, what can I do for you today?" , "An Ale, a room and whoever beat the crap out of you." The woman was shocked at the last order. She shook her head giving her a tanker of ale and a key saying, "Oh no, it's fine. I fell down in the cellar when my candle went out." The woman had a fake smile on her face as Venessa could see a fat man's head slowly poking out from around the corner behind the counter. Her eyes would look at him as she placed onto the counter 100 gold. "That should cover me and my Wyvern's expense. If he hits you again, you know what room I'm in." Downing the ale, she slammed the tanker onto the counter and made her way towards her room which was upstairs.

Resting her eyes, it seemed like a few minuets went by. But in fact, hours had past her by as she rested. Sleeping ever so quietly, it seemed like that she was sleeping like the dead. Everyone that was inside the building before had left leaving only Venessa, the bartender and her boss in the building. The Wyvern Rider would wake up when she heard the woman down stairs begging and then a heavy hit was heard. Quickly jumping up, she ran downstairs with lance in hand. She saw the woman on the ground with the fat guy above her. He looked at her and said, "What you want some too woman?!? Maybe you shou..." Before he was able to say another word, the bottom of her lance hit his gut with great force that it knocked the wind out of him. Falling to his knees, she'd grab his heavy set head and say to him. "The next time, I hear you Hit her, your fat chubby little head will be on the tip of my lance infront of your building. Do I make myself clear?" Nodding his head, she'd throw him back. The owner scrambled back to his room, slamming the door in fear of her chasing him down. Venessa helped the woman back up. Not saying anything, the Wyvern rider went outside to get some fresh air.

[Zerachiel]

"Oh wow, what a strong independent woman. I daresay you need no man." Waiting right outside the frame of the inn's doorway was a man garbed in black, leaning against the wood with a sort of smirk on his face. Speaking as soon as the woman left the building. He wasted no time in making his self known, what with his cocky grin and condescending chuckle. "You do realize that as soon as you leave this town, that man is going to take out all the stress and frustration you placed on him upon that poor little stewardess in there, right?" The man shook his head with a morbid smirk. "Fear isn't an effective deterrent if it's not consistently kept in check. What you may have considered an act of kindness may have made a poor situation even worse. There's better avenues to pursue, and more effective ways to get people to do what you want." He shrugged his shoulders, uncaring if she was even following him or not. "What is right isn't necessarily always what is nice. Personally I would have just avoided getting involved altogether. Messy situation that is, what with the kids involved."

He pushed off the building he was leaning on and took a few steps toward the wyvern rider, smirking ever still. "Then again you just arrived in town Venessa, there's no possible way you could have known something like that. Right?" Throughout all his movements, his arms stayed still. Not a single gesture of the hand, nor a flourish of any sort. It might have stood out as a bit unnatural to someone with keen observational skills, but he wasn't sure if this girl possessed such things. The reasons he was confronting her with this information was a mystery to all but him, perhaps he just liked watching people squirm? Well that was true, it wasn't even a question there. The real question was that if that was all his intentions were.

[Venessa Blackthorn]

Venessa stood there looking at the sky as the guy was talking towards her. The ruby red eyes didn't look at him. With one question now in the air, she would reply. "I can do it one of two ways....1. do it like my father's way or 2. Stay ere a couple of nights since I'm on leave. Funny how life works when your father was once a General in the military and is now an Advisor. Besides, he woke me up from my sleep since I haven't been able to for two days worth of flying." Doing a quick whistle, her Wyvern came towards her. Placing a hand on the head of her mount, she gently patted it's head with it watching him. Not putting any expression, she'd play it off for the moment. She didn't have to look at him to know how far he was. With her left hand patting the Wyvern's head, her right hand was to her side, out of his visual view. If he was to make a move at her, she'd draw her lance out and have it ready.

"So Mister no name, what brings you to confront me now and why tell me such information? By just listening to you and looking at you once, it looks to me that your not the type to really give out information out, atleast without a price."

[Zerachiel]

"Clever girl. Nothing comes cheap, least of all information." He grinned, the woman didn't regard him with all the attention deserving of someone your speaking with but he didn't seem to mind in the slightest. "However, let's call this one a 'freebie'." His words slithered out like the hissing of a snake as he slunk around the shadows. He was a man remarkably light on his feet and his footfall was silent like that of a cat's. If it wasn't for that voice he seemed to be intoxicated with, it would be hard to keep track of him with sounds alone. "It isn't as though such thoughts and idle gossip are particularly valuable, outside of personal desires mind you. I thought you'd be interested in knowing a little more about this couple you've taken upon yourself to get involved with. If you want the truth of why I tell you... well that might cost you something." His voice was almost a little sing-songy there at the end, his words practiced and precise as if he spoke in front of a mirror for hours before approaching her.

"I'll just say I'm interested in what you'll do with this info. It's a simple feat to get involved in something you know little about, the ignorant are always eager to voice their concerns, it's those that possess a knowledge of things that know when to open and shut their mouths." He tread closer to her, but not so close as to alarm the wyvern. Sensitive buggers those are, never did like them very much, beat pegasi hands down however. "I want to see this course of action you take, as such if you are in need of any information... I'm your man. Ask away and I'll deliver all that I'm... Let's say 'willing' to give. Only thing I ask in return is the opportunity to ask of you some things, deal?"

[Venessa Blackthorn]

Listening to him carefully, she'd trace where he was stepping. Smiling a bit, she'd wait til he was close enough. Words did help her tell where he was which was close behind her. It was the only other place to hide out of the sight of Sorrow, the Wyvern. Turning to face him, she would ask him straight out. "Like what things you'd want to know?" Her hand laid upon the bottom of her lance as she stood there looking at him finally. Sorrow Stood up fully looking down at Zerachiel. A low hissing sound came from it's throat. "Sorrow, relax girl."

The Wyvern stopped the sound making and kept staring at the odd man who seemed to be very interested in telling her information about the couple inside. 'What's he got to prove by telling me such things?' Whipping the smile off her face, she would look in through the door way to see the woman standing there watching the two talk as the heavy set male also had to look outside at them.

[Klain]

Klain watched with some amusement as so poor sod got his butt handed to him by some woman. He couldn't help but laugh. Turning away from the window he pondered going in and checking on the poor bastered. The angry woman was out front so Klain decided to go in through the window. "Ser are you alright?" Came a voice as the swordsman crawled through the window. He thought the person was talking to him but before he could answer an Voice said, a mans this time. "Shut you moth woman! When i get my hands on her." "Come down lad. Now ask ya self is she worth getting ul hot under the ol' collar over?" Klain said as he plop down from the window. "Who the hell are you? and where did you come from? The man said standing up slowly his feet not quite his yet. "Who da ell am I? I'm Klain but you can call me Da Hyrda. As fer where dats simple through ya window. Now you should ask da why. Dats o-so simple I'm need a wee drink to wet me mouth but I didn't want to deal with da sirly lady wit drop ya." The swordsman explained taking lax steps forward. "You should leave now." "Sorry boss can't do dat. well at least until a get dat drink. Ell I pay double for ya troubles boss. So whacha say?"

The man looked utterly confused but went behind the counter and got the newcomer his drink. Klain sat down and searched his pockets for the coin. He saw a battered woman trying to piece her self together as he looked around still digging through his pockets. "Didn't See ya dere love. What pray tell happened to ya?" "Thats none of your business. shes just clumsy aint that right?" The woman cringed abit and put on a fake smile. "yes Im just clumsy. I fell down in the cellar when my candle went out." "Is that so?" Klain said dropping the act and changing his tone. He took a sip of the ale. "You have payed yet." the Man said slamiing his palm down on the counter. "Your right I haven't. I get your coin and do you a favor by fixing your cellar steps." Klain said putting his cup down as a devilish grin spread across his face." The man behind the counter took a few steps back. "wha wha what do you mean." "Oh I think you know wha wha what I mean." Klain said reaching over the counter and hauling the man over it. The swordsmans grin was now ear to ear and he began giggling as he dragged the man out the door. "Don't hurt him!" "Can't hurt the dead sweetheart. Can't hurt the dead." Klain said just before giving a loud maniacal laugh. Klain kick open the door and tossed the man out. He saw the angry woman from before. "Sorry sorry taking the fith out before in stinks up the place. HA! Klain said to the rider his grin taking on a more sinister feel by the second.

[Zerachiel]

"Nothing so dire as to cause alarm I assure you, and nothing that I could not dig up myself without trouble. I simply wanted to cut out the middle man and hear it straight from your mouth, things only need to be as complicated as people are willing to make them." He shrugged with a somewhat bored sound in his voice. He realized that it sounded like he was focused on this one small, and seemingly unimportant thing. That couldn't be further from the truth, but if that was how she wished to see him that was fine. He looked out of the corner of his eyes, and let out a simple sigh and shrug. "However, I fear I am boring you aren't I? My my, what a thing, I must say I'm awfully rusty at this. I thought I would have captured your attention, but I fear I've only wasted my time." He shook his head with a bit of pitiful laughter.

"I suppose it can't be helped, this was a weak hand to show." The wyvern named 'sorrow' which was probably the worst name ever seemed to particularly dislike. That was fine with him it was a mutual dislike, he never did like animals too much. They were stupid and single minded, either only concerned with themselves or blindly loyal. He looked at the couple inside, trying to eavesdrop. He let out a small laugh, what a thoroughly uninteresting pair of people. If it was up to him, he'd just let the woman be miserable for it was her poor choice to marry such a man in the first place. "However in the end, I was did what I set out to do. You see, what I was really trying to do was to keep you occupied." He tilted his towards the doorway with a smirk. "You see, inside the bar right now there is... well let's call him an unexpected variable." There was a sudden burst of noise from inside, some yelling some crying and the sound of glass shattering. "You probably want to get in there, or things are gonna get messy."

By the time the man inside had tossed the fat man out Zera was nowhere to be seen. He was watching, of course, but he wasn't going to get involved.

[Venessa Blackthorn]

Watching what was now going on, she kept her mouth shut. The fat heavy man was now begging for his life as he looked up at the mercenary. His eyes were wide as he cowarded towards the ground. But he won't feel anything. No pain, no pleasure, just the same fear. Looking up, he'd see the Rider's lance over him as if to protect him from any attacks upon him. "I don't agree with this poor excuse of a man, but he doesn't deserve the fast way out."

Venessa slid her helmet on as the Wyvern looked up to see her rider prepare for combat. If the Merc. would try to strike the fat man on the ground, she would block each attack with her lance. It was odd that she was defending such filth, but she had her own rules of combat that she was raised on. When fighting, you even the battlefield. But some fighters didn't always play nice or fair. But with her, she had her Wyvern close by incase she had to change the field.

[Klain]

The fat man just cowered. No attempt to run. No drive to fight back. It was sad, depressing.....Boring! "Would you like me to hand you something to fight with? My sword perhaps?" Klain said in a disinterested voice as his smile began to slip away. still the man did nothing so Klain took his sword out. "Here take it....TAKE IT TAKE IT TAKE IT! the swordsman said with increased fustration. Still the man did nothing so Klain swung his sword down he wasn't going to hit the bastered just scare him. The riders lanced stopped him and he felt a sudden rush of joy return to him. He began to laugh madly and looked up at the moon. Calming himself down he looked at the female rider with a sinnister smile and a cocked head. "OH don't worry.*giggle* I wasn't *giggle I wasn't going to hurt him. *giggle* Just make sure he never thinks about laying a hand on another woman." Klains eyes gained an intensity to them the shot through the woman as if trying to see her soul. "SP-EEEEE-KING OF WH-II-CH-Ahh. Im going to come back to this town ever so often. I won't get any warning because I never give any. And if I come back and find out your still hurting that woman or that you moved all of a sudden. I'm going to hunt you down and break you! He then took a swift breath in and straightened his head. "I thinks names are in order. Im Klain also known as The Hydra. An art critic by train. Swordsmanship is more of a hobby of mine. But it brings me so much joy. Hahahaha! Sorry sorry Im alittle overjoyed right now. And who might you be my dear lady knight? Your are a knight?"

[Venessa Blackthorn]

Lifting up a brow, she would begin to think to herself. 'Wow, what a nut job. He's three screws shy from a full sword.' Placing her lance on her back holster, her eyes would glare down at the guy she saved, why? Because she could she thought to herself. She bent down and lifted the fat guy up with one hand to show that she was able to lift more then her own weight and said as cold as she could be, "Get out of my sight, or I'll feed you to my Wyvern."

The Inn's owner quickly got back up, and ran back inside his building. The sounds of a few locks coming from within the building was heard as he locked himself in his office. As she was mounting up, she heard the question go through her ear. Sliding on her helmet, she would face Klain and answer his question. "I'm a Wyvern Rider, a scout for my lord's army. Lances and Scouting the landscape is my train. Flying is my life. As for the name, you can call me what the rest of the Etrurian military does. The Black Rider. If you want my name, you'll have to earn my trust Swordsman. Is there anything else that you want to say, ask or rant about before I take to the sky to stretch out her wings?" She would wait for his answer.

[Zerachiel]

The man locked himself into his office and let out a deep sigh, holding his pudgy little hand to his pudgy little chest. He was safe, for now, from those psychopaths. The room was dark, save for the light of a lantern sitting upon a table in the corner. At the least he was alone now, he wasn't entirely sure what to do about everything. Perhaps he should go to the guard, they threatened and assaulted him with no provocation, and no doubt his wife would agree. The problem was that woman seemed to be someone in the military, so it made such a thing more difficult on him. Instead, for now, he leaned his back against the door and took in a deep breath. Content in knowing that there wasn't anyone in here trying to kill him. "Tough day, huh?"

He fumbled around blindly trying to grab the lantern as the voice slithered through the air like a snake. Not now, not again, the innkeeper was sheet white as he held the lamp aloft and shed its glow across the room. It did little to combat the oppressing dark, he would need to open his windows or light some candles for that. He could see nothing, but he knew he wasn't alone. Another one, another one of those damn 'vigilantes' who thought they knew what was going on. "G-get out or I'm calling the guard!" His voice waffled in fear.

"Call them, I'm more than confident it'll only make the situation several times more dire." The voice replied in calm even tones, almost mockingly so. "Though if I were you, I'd stop making threats. It never really works out in the end, does it?"

"W-what do y-you want?" He stuttered, swinging the lantern back and forth as he took a few tenuous steps forward, trying to uncover the source of the voice. It was cute how he was trying, really/

"I'm not like those people out there, you see. I'm not a 'violent' man, and I'm not here to hurt you. No, what I'm here to do is... business. I couldn't give a rat's ass what you do with your wife, unlike those 'heroes' out there." The man couldn't see his air quotes, pity. The man was speechless, that was good since Zera couldn't stand the sound of his voice to begin with. "You see I'm here to get something from you, and I think you know what it is. Something small, something important, and something that clearly doesn't belong to you."

The man's eyes narrowed harshly. "Oh I see, you're nothing but a thief. Well you can forget about it."

"Oh, I'm sorry I may have given you the impression this was a negotiation. It's not. You see, I'm getting that thing and there's nothing you can do to stop me. The question is 'will you cooperate' or will you have to have some sense knocked into you by those madmen out there. Because... I'm afraid that unlike me, they are violent people. People who wouldn't hesitate to kill you at a moment's notice if, say, your wife was hurt again somehow. Or, heavens to betsy, your daughter. Yes yes, you could deny it all you want, the question is... would they believe you?"

"You're a monster."

"Says the man who beats his family. Somehow I don't feel too bad about myself right now." A wide toothy grin grew across the assassin's face, it seemed the two did exactly what he wanted them to. He knew he made the right choice. "Now you'll either give me the key, or you won't. I would, for the sake of your health, choose the first option. Wouldn't you?" Zera slowly came into the man's view, garbed in all black and with a wicked grin. He held his hand out, expectantly, with a cocked brow as he watched the gears turn in this little fatman's head.

"You'll regret this." The innkeeper spat in his face, but it didn't faze the man. He walked over to the wall of his office, and banged on a panel. It flipped over, revealing a small little cubby hole in which a key was hidden. He slammed the small bit of metal into the assassin's hand, his face twisted in anger and despair.

"I don't think I will. Pleasure doing business with you." He said with that mocking grin before opening the nearby window and climbing out of the room, flooding the room with light enough to hurt a man's eyes that had become accustomed to the dark. Just as so, the last thing he saw before he left was the innkeeper covering his eyes from the shine. So he did what any sane man would do, he laughed.

[Klain]

"Oh you wound me Lady Black...oh I quite like that. Lady Black you do wound me with your lack of trust but then again *sinister chuckle then in a deeper tone* people do find me...of putting. HAHAHAHA. My question is those can I earn your trust? If so how? Oh I know Mayhaps you need a companion. Oh that sounded dirty*giggle* but thats not what I meant by it. What I did mean was may I serve under you to aid in your duties as a scout until such point that you grow tired of me or I leave on my own after notifying you that Im am doing such. I expect no pay nor any other form of compensation, I will pay for my own food and board on the road. The only thing I gain from this is direction. Which lets face it. HAHAHAHA! I need desperately. These are the terms of the pact. Do you agree Lady Black?" He then rested his sword on his shoulder and his face returned to something passing for normal if not a little sad. "I understand that your a scout and I can act in accordance to the role of a scout. My...lets say joyful attitude only surfaces if there's a fight but even then it can be quelled so long as theirs not a person or beast swinging at me."

[Venessa Blackthorn]

Lifting up her brow again, she fought the urge to laugh hard at what he was saying. Lifting up a hand as if to stop him from speaking. She let out a long breath before she would answer his multiple questions. Sorrow lifted up her head and looked at Venessa as if saying something. "eah yeah, I know your hungry Sorrow. But back to you Swordman, you can earn my trust. You don't need to serve to earn. I'm not looking for a lacky to follow me around. I wouldn't be able to promise you Protection from some of the things I've seen and ran through. IF...and I'm stressing on the If part, if I decide to let you join me, you'll have to be propper since I'm part of a unit. Once your part of it, there's only three ways out of it. Die, Retire, or you start up a family. Now, I need to feed my Wyvern and myself. Either try to keep up, follow or stay here. up to you dirty minded Swordsman. Heeeyah!"

Sorrow expanded out her wings and bolted into the air. THe Rider pointed the wyvern towards what looked to be a butcher shop on the other side of the Village. Dust shot up into the air when she took off leaving Klain in the cloud. After a bit of flying, the Wyvern landed down. The butcher was about to close shop until he felt the brathing of the Wyvern on his kneck. "I'm guessing you got a hungry mount Rider?", "As well as a rider willing to pay for some raw meats. You sell anything else sir?"[/color] Looking back, the butcher would look up at Venessa and nods his head. Jumping off, she would follow him into the shop where she would ask for a heavy duffle sack.

Once given, she would begin to put in it loafes of bread, bottles of water, tomatoes, beans of different kinds and once she came up to the counter with the raw goods, she would eye them up. Then standing up straight she would simply say. "I want half of everything you have. Eggs, lampb, Veil, Venesin, beef, pork, cheese. Half of everything."[/color] The owner's eyes were wide since the bill was going to be large. Placing three heavy sacks full of goods, she would lay on the counter 200 in gold. The man was surprised that she was able to pa for everything that she pourchest. Nodding her head, she would take everything outside and begin to tie everything to her saddle. But before she would tie them all fully down, she would take out a giant hunk of beef and hand it to Sorrow who would snatch it right up and chew on it. Breaking a piece of bread, she would nibble on it for a bit.[/font]

[Klain]

"Was That a yes? Because I can't tell. Where she go? OOOOOOW! I Chase! I get to chase a woman for once." *giggle* Klain said as he watched the rider fly off. Klain sprinted after the rider weaveing through the streets. He quickly lost track of her thou and he get run wildly from street to street.

"HOLD! Who are You?" A guard said standing In the swordsmans way. "FOOT! WAHAHAHAHAHA!" The madman burst jumpkicking the man sending him straight to the ground. Klain slide to a stop and drew his sword, spinning around he gave a small giggle and smiled widely. The guard didn't get up, Klain fell into a deep sorrow as he walked over and checked the mans pulse. "Good. Not dead just weak. What disappointment. I don't have time to get you into fighting shape." "Hey you! What are you doing?" Klain rose up and gave a slow chuckle as his smile returned. OH Im just taking a run. *giggle* Care to join?" Klain said sprinting off again.


Klain lost the second guard much to his dismay by the time he made it to the edge of town near the buchershop."OH looks I found Lady Black."

[Venessa Blackthorn]

She was leaning against her mount eating some more of the bread. She had fed Sorrow a piece of venison this time. It was happily munching away. She heard the commotion going on that Klain had started up. As he drew closer to her, a few guards came running around the corner. Shaking her head, she was already disappointed with the mercenary. Pushing herself off, she slid her lance off her back as she was now beside him looking at the guards. Lifting up her free hand that had the piece of bread in it, the guards was now face to face with her. Her voice was cold as she began to talk. "Whats going on here?"

With swords and lances at the ready, the one pointed at the mad swordsman that was beside her and said, "Out of the way little lady! We got a bone to pick with this thug! If you don't move out of the way, then we will throw the both of you behind bars, after we beat you do..." Her lance quickly came up to the guards throat, the tip ready to pierce the skin. The wyvern rider wasn't pleased at how she was being talked to. The three other guards lifted their weapons and heard her say. "I said it once, and now I'm going to tell you damn guards a second time. I'm a Lt. in the Etrurian Military, if you dare want to strike us down, then you better be faster then me because you will not be telling your tales to your families if you do such. Make your choice now." The guards got a cold shiver down their spines as her Wyvern came up behind her and stood up fully with it's wings unfolded. THe site to them was menacing as one spoke up, "We are sorry me' lady, it won't hapen again. I-is h-he with you?" They would only see her nod her head as her lance came down. Making many apologizes, they left without anymore trouble for the rest of the night.

Sliding her lance back into it's sheath again, she would only pass by Klain. Venessa gave the feeling to him that she wasn't pleased at how he was acting. His odds were slowly going down to a trickle. 'If he wants to go with me, then he better start behaving or I'll run him through myself.' She thought to herself as she patted her wyvern and said to it. "Easy Sorrow, easy. Everything is fine now girl."