Hanging Pawn
80th trial of Vhalar, arc 715
The compressed earth stifled the glorious, slow, threatening "clomp" of their approaching boots. But the widening corridor of wide-eyed, cringing citizens went far to replace this lost aspect of intimidating pride that the two Queens' Guard wore like armor. Just the knowledge of who these two men were was sufficient to safeguard their safety against any but an absolutely suicidal maniac. And unless this maniac possessed incredible skills in either magic or ranged weaponry, their prowess with blades would have him diced for the slaves' evening meal in bare ticks.
But there were none presently abiding in Rhakros possessed of such madness. And these men, as well as the rest of their company, would have been aware of any that were. Humans they were, nearly giants in stature at 7' 2". Their armor a burnished bronze, bordered by tatted fur to give the effect of insectoid fuzz where it rose beneath the plates. Their helms shaped to imitate the design of wasps, right down to the mandible fangs that would inject a venom if so desired. The spherical eye covers formed of a steel mesh just tight enough to prevent those without from tracking their eye movements, but allowing them to see out from within.
The tatted fur smoothed and extended beyond to drape into a lush cape, dyed and cut to inspire the impression of resting wings. The hafts of twin javelins jutting from behind their shoulders added to this effect. Their limbs were embellished with armor fittings to resemble the sort of stiff, carapace spikes found on the joints of many insects' legs. An elbow thrown back at an attacker to their rear could transfix him upon the equivalent of three or four stilettos. But these were not the spindly-looking limbs of insects beneath these fittings. These were men of brutish strength, smoothed with the agile practices of many arts of unarmed combat; their muscles oiled and gleaming where they could be seen, dark teak in color, only slightly lighter than their ebon eyes.
These men were of the Queen's Guard; Lisirra's elite; and they were to be feared.
Multiple straps criss-crossing their attire to affect the look of insect-like color bands were actually bandoleers of throwing weapons of both blade and vial variety; the chemistry within of the deadliest compounds the Immortal of Pestilence had yet contrived. Their use to be without regard for innocent bystanders, for all residents of Rhakros were to have been long since building resistances to them. And visitors were assumed to know the risk of entering Lisirra's city. 'Was that not the purpose of devotion to Lisirra? To show your appreciation for the wisdom of a lifetime spent developing an immunity to the tactics that would be employed against her enemies?'
When these men left their positions in the Chamber of Audience, it was to retrieve someone at her whim. Any that were unaware of some way that they might have pleased her had to consider the possibility that they had DIS-pleased her; and that was perilous, not just for them, but for family and friends as well. But it was only citizens that knew this. Visitors though, might have come to guess it by the consistent wake of relieved sighs coming from the throats of all that were bypassed by this pair.
Ultimately, they came to the inn serving the visiting populace of the south side of Rhakros. A hush struck down all conversation and turned all eyes to the pair as they entered, now reveling in the crisp, reverberating "clack" of their boots on the hardwood floor. They stopped and scanned the room, their eyes quickly finding their target, their voices low and soft, yet carrying the power to level cities.
"You...avriel...you are called to audience with "Her Radiance". You may leave your dealings as they stand. Any that exploit your absence will be punished to your satisfaction." One took a backward step to the doorway, while the other stepped forward and to the side, awaiting the compliance of the avriel that would make the return trip between them.
The compressed earth stifled the glorious, slow, threatening "clomp" of their approaching boots. But the widening corridor of wide-eyed, cringing citizens went far to replace this lost aspect of intimidating pride that the two Queens' Guard wore like armor. Just the knowledge of who these two men were was sufficient to safeguard their safety against any but an absolutely suicidal maniac. And unless this maniac possessed incredible skills in either magic or ranged weaponry, their prowess with blades would have him diced for the slaves' evening meal in bare ticks.
But there were none presently abiding in Rhakros possessed of such madness. And these men, as well as the rest of their company, would have been aware of any that were. Humans they were, nearly giants in stature at 7' 2". Their armor a burnished bronze, bordered by tatted fur to give the effect of insectoid fuzz where it rose beneath the plates. Their helms shaped to imitate the design of wasps, right down to the mandible fangs that would inject a venom if so desired. The spherical eye covers formed of a steel mesh just tight enough to prevent those without from tracking their eye movements, but allowing them to see out from within.
The tatted fur smoothed and extended beyond to drape into a lush cape, dyed and cut to inspire the impression of resting wings. The hafts of twin javelins jutting from behind their shoulders added to this effect. Their limbs were embellished with armor fittings to resemble the sort of stiff, carapace spikes found on the joints of many insects' legs. An elbow thrown back at an attacker to their rear could transfix him upon the equivalent of three or four stilettos. But these were not the spindly-looking limbs of insects beneath these fittings. These were men of brutish strength, smoothed with the agile practices of many arts of unarmed combat; their muscles oiled and gleaming where they could be seen, dark teak in color, only slightly lighter than their ebon eyes.
These men were of the Queen's Guard; Lisirra's elite; and they were to be feared.
Multiple straps criss-crossing their attire to affect the look of insect-like color bands were actually bandoleers of throwing weapons of both blade and vial variety; the chemistry within of the deadliest compounds the Immortal of Pestilence had yet contrived. Their use to be without regard for innocent bystanders, for all residents of Rhakros were to have been long since building resistances to them. And visitors were assumed to know the risk of entering Lisirra's city. 'Was that not the purpose of devotion to Lisirra? To show your appreciation for the wisdom of a lifetime spent developing an immunity to the tactics that would be employed against her enemies?'
When these men left their positions in the Chamber of Audience, it was to retrieve someone at her whim. Any that were unaware of some way that they might have pleased her had to consider the possibility that they had DIS-pleased her; and that was perilous, not just for them, but for family and friends as well. But it was only citizens that knew this. Visitors though, might have come to guess it by the consistent wake of relieved sighs coming from the throats of all that were bypassed by this pair.
Ultimately, they came to the inn serving the visiting populace of the south side of Rhakros. A hush struck down all conversation and turned all eyes to the pair as they entered, now reveling in the crisp, reverberating "clack" of their boots on the hardwood floor. They stopped and scanned the room, their eyes quickly finding their target, their voices low and soft, yet carrying the power to level cities.
"You...avriel...you are called to audience with "Her Radiance". You may leave your dealings as they stand. Any that exploit your absence will be punished to your satisfaction." One took a backward step to the doorway, while the other stepped forward and to the side, awaiting the compliance of the avriel that would make the return trip between them.
