BZPRPG - Eastside Zakaz

[oncertainty]

IC: Qorl - The Rift

As the Skakdi stood, to all appearances lost in thought, Qorl shifted his weight on the balls of his feet and set his jaw. One way or another he was getting out of here, which was a good place to start. Senses under siege, the Skakdi had said, which would go some way to explaining Qorl's earlier bout of mania.

On 2/20/2023 at 10:23 PM, Perp said:

“No,” he said at last, “but I know the way out. We’ll take it from there.”

Qorl nodded, now in thought himself. He didn't like it, but he couldn't stay here, and telling the Skakdi why he'd prefer not to show his face was a gamble. He'd have to count on anyone who was tracking him not looking for a Skakdi and a Lesterin travelling together, and not bothering to come and check who that Lesterin was. It wasn't too risky: Qorl knew how he would be perceived, a lone Lesterin travelling with a lone Skakdi. He was going to look more or less like a slave. He wasn't in Zarrava or Khy:Barr anymore, it was the rare Lesterin who wasn't in chains. And the Lesterin looking for him, being the sort of free Lesterin traders who managed to scrape out a living so long as they didn't bother the Skakdi, wouldn't be willing to follow him into a Skakdi settlement at all. So that was where he had to go, then. It would be a nest of vipers, to be sure, but at least there he had a chance.

He swallowed, an operation that felt almost pleasant now that he had finally gotten something to drink, and gave a single nod to the Skakdi.

"Fair enough. Lead the way."

Still, he had questions.

"If not to a camp, though, where are we going?"

OOC: @Perp

[Perp]

IC: Shavrakk - The Rift

Slowly, deliberately, Shavrakk settled the revolver back into its holster. Notably, however, his hand did not leave the grip afterwards. He had plenty of confidence in his quick-draw, for sure – but you took whatever insurance you could in an uncertain situation. With his other hand, in a much less threatening manner, waved casually for the Lesterin to follow. He took his first few steps backwards, not wanting to take his eyes off the other figure.

“If camp is not suitable after we make our ascent, then we will trek to Irnakk’s Tooth.”

No matter what circumstances presented themselves, Shavrakk would determine that camping for the evening was not going to happen. Camping implied rest, and neither of them were going to get any, suspicious of each other as they were. Both would pretend to sleep, and neither would actually do so. It would be fruitless. In the Tooth, still hours away by foot, at the very least they could find lodging, and were marginally less likely to end up having their throat slit in the early hours of the morning.

Either way, there would have to be a lot of questions asked and answered before either of them got any shut-eye.

OOC: @oncertainty

[oncertainty]

IC: Qorl - The Rift

With the Skakdi's gesture, Qorl began to walk. Not meeting his watching gaze, Qorl instead looked forward and past his shoulder, tracing the path of the Rift as it twisted and curved upwards to the surface. He set his jaw.

Irnakk's Tooth was what they called it now, but Qorl had heard that it belonged to his people once. At least, that was what the Skakdi said. As always, they took pride in standing on the bones of the Lesterin, so whether it really ever was Kvere was a question Qorl was in no position to answer. Still, they said there was Lesterin architecture there. How would he react, when he saw that again? What styles did his ancient forefathers favour, and what did their handiwork look like now after so many generations of Skakdi rule? It was a tempting proposition, in a way. If, of course, he could ignore the obvious.

"None of my people go free in Irnakk's Tooth, to my knowledge. How do you propose to bring me inside?"

He looked the Skakdi in the eyes now, the corners of his mouth turning downwards inadvertently. He spoke with a certain malice, though not directed towards the Skakdi himself in specific.

"I'll go nowhere in chains."

OOC: @Perp

[Perp]

IC: Shavrakk - The Rift

For a brief moment, Shavrakk wondered if he had blown it - an instant of nervous fear down his spine as the Lesterin’s tone changed. He really should’ve expected some pushback, considering his appraisal of the other fellow’s motivation for taking a detour through the rift. There was a common thread among the grand majority of Lesterin on the mainland. What greater motivator to run far, far away, and keep running, than that?

But he didn’t stop walking. He was still following the Skakdi out of the Rift. The moment of fear had passed, and a quick calculus followed. It was unwise to assume continued compliance. The chance that the Lesterin could simply shake him the moment they passed out of the Rift was suddenly much greater. To refuse the outstretched arm of someone untrustworthy when you were drowning was stubborn, foolish insistence on suicide. This stranger was clearly neither. The situation was still a volatile one, and wouldn’t guarantee success, but there was only one thing Shavrakk could do, and one place they could go, unaccosted.

Both his hands shot up, palms out towards the other in the universal “calm down” gesture.

“Hey – relax. There’s a hostel on the outskirts I’ve visited from time to time. The owner will look the other way, for a price.”

Walking backward was making him uncomfortable. He wasn’t keen on keeping his eyes in one direction for long. He slowed his pace as to walk astride the Lesterin, giving the path ahead a cursory scan, ensuring his newfound travelling companion never left his peripheral vision.

OOC: @oncertainty

[oncertainty]

IC: Qorl - The Rift

The Skakdi turned to walk in parallel with him, and Qorl took advantage of the relative privacy, allowing his brow to briefly furrow. He almost asked why he already knew a place that it was safe for Lesterin to go near Irnakk's tooth, but thought better of it. This was all turning out to be better luck than he had had in ages, and he didn't want to do anything to jeopardize that. Of course, the Skakdi had an angle here too: information, from what Qorl could gather. Fine then, he could give him that gladly.

Qorl eyed the Skakdi for a moment, estimating his honesty, then sighed, "Alright, I can accept that. A hostel will do."

He still had to be careful, of course, but as long as the Skakdi was trying to keep him docile it meant he wanted him alive. Better than everyone who was looking for him. He reached a hand out towards the Skakdi, offering the canteen back. He said nothing.

Qorl could see that they were both playing the same game right now. For their own reasons, they each needed to keep the other around. He was trying to keep Qorl calm, but Qorl had to do something like the same. His move.

OOC: @Perp