Esperia

Olthain, Gamers, Trackstar, ChaoticDeath3

Vierrynne was sleeping on Slythe's back as the black gryphon was flying at a slow cruising speed. The large beast was tired as well, they'd been running from Berg'inyon from Brilig's watchtowers in the Kaacien confederacy to the grand forest in the neutral territory of Nillestra. They'd been flying for a total of 28 hours now, and the young Drow female was exhausted. Berg'inyon's sabercat was fast, but flying over mountains had its advantages and the duo was able to get away from him. Slythe was constantly scanning the trees below for signs of their hunter, but he was already long gone.

Eventually he stopped paying attention to finding Berg'inyon and started searching for a place to land. The Gryphon started slowly spiraling down to a really small clearing. He spread his wings to slow their descent and touched down as softly as possible as to not wake Vierrynne. She managed to get her master off her back without waking her, and just when she was about to lie down as well was when it happened.

On both her flanks, harpoons came flying out from the forest and flew over them. The harpoons coming from her left carried a net, and the harpoons from the right grabbed onto the ends of the net, eventually pinning the net over both Slythe and Vierrynne. The young drow lady suddenly awoke and looked around her in fear as she recognized the trap's design - this was Drow made.
A couple Drow on Raptors came out of the forest, grinning.
"What do we have here? A Drow and a Gryphon?" one asked.
"But I thought Gryphons weren't allowed to leave the capital?" another asked with a grin.
"They aren't," a third replied. "These must be fugitives..."
Vierrynne recieved a knock on the head and everything blacked out while she heard Slythe screeching.

Vierrynne got carried deep into the bowels of the earth, all the way through the upperdark caves and into the underdark. She was thrown into a cell, which consisted of a dark cave closed off by a heavy metal door. She was still knocked out as she hit the ground, and rolled off the small slope close to the door before finally lying still.

Griffon stepped off the small boat onto the beach of this strange land. The boat that brought him here slipped away across the sea. Thankfully the crew wasn't all that shadie, although he paid a higher price for that. He had no stolen items, not that he had that much. In his backpack he carried some dried meats, an extra waterskin, a journal, dip pen and inkwell, and some unleavened bread along with other camping essentials.

He looked around and breathed in the salty air, smelt like adventure! He took a waterskin from his side and took a sip before putting it back. He then proceeded to walk up the beach towards the hills. It was a peaceful, though kind of dreary, day. The light misting of the grey clouds overhead cooled off the temperature to near perfect. The roaring of the waves and shuddering of the trees in the wind were the only noises he heard. Well they were.

Griffon heard a noise to his left, then his right a few seconds after. He couldn't tell what the noises were exactly, but they sounded like the movement of people, or animals. His right hand fell across the handle of the cutlass hanging in its sheath on his left side. He had just started to unsheath it when he heard a whistling noise.

The young story teller looked to his right where the noise was and saw a net fast approaching with harpoons. He tried to dodge it but was caught and wrapped up in it. He struggled and fell over. Still struggling, Griffon saw a dark skinned being looming over him. Blackness coated the world when a solid object struck his head.

He was in and out of blackness, just enough to feel where he was for a few seconds, maybe hear a few noises. The ride was none to pleasent, and the beasts screeched way to much. Then finally he was dropped somewhere hard, he heard the creaking of a metal door, probably prison, although he didn't register it at the time. He groaned as he started to find his wareabouts. Everything was so blurry.

Avery was working her way down her hunting tree to go collect her game she had just hit. With her dagger in her mouth and her bow across her back she made it down the tree. When she started for her game she heard unusual noises from all directions. Get out of there Parker she heard her dads voice in her head like she normally does in weird situations. She looked around for an easy tree to climb and found one! She hurried to it and started to climb.

When she was about half way up the tree she saw them. The dark mysterious creatures she had been avoiding for weeks. She had seen them take multiple captive and refused to go down without a fight.

She pulled out her bow and hit one right in between the eyes! Yes! I've got this! she thought and right then she lost her footing and slid down the tree. She had lost focus. Something that her dad told her never to do. She pulled the dagger from her mouth as fast as she could once she hit the ground but it wasnt good enough there was a net around her and the figures we getting closer. When it reached her the last thing she saw was its eyes look at her. Then it all went black.

The next thing she new she was inside in some sort of stone chamber. He hasn't realized it yet but she had lost the upper hand.

Shae had been put in the prison cell a day before the rest. She had been in her Roc form when she had been caught. She had been asleep when the others had been tossed in so she had been startled awake. She went over to Vierrynne first and began to make sure she was alright. Shae hoped the Drow didn't need medical attention since the ones who had put Shae in here had made her lose her pouch of herbs. Shae looked around at the others as well with her emerald green eyes. None of them seemed hurt either which made her sigh in relief. She brushed her greenish white hair away from her face before looking at the Drow female." Hey, wake up." Shae gently shook the Drow.

It took some more time for Vierrynne to wake up, but eventually the gentle nudging by Shaelyn caused her to open her eyes. Drow eyes were used to the darkness in the tunnels deep below the surface, so she adapted quickly. There were no lights whatsoever, but the young girl didn't need them. It was only then that she saw the female that was leaning over her. She wasn't Drow, so she didn't immediately crawl away from her. She was getting more and more terrified at her surroundings, however, which seemed oddly familiar to her.

Then she started remembering what happened. Running from Berg'inyon, falling asleep on Slythe's back, then waking up under the nets, only to be knocked out again. And now they were here - in a cell obviously meant for some purpose. The few cells made by Drow were single-person ones, whereas this one was meant to hold a large number of people. Looking around, she quickly spotted both other newcomers, still dazed. Hidden more in the dark sat at least twenty other humanoids from all races just staring at them. Some of them scared, others simply uncertain. Vierrynne turned back to Shaelyn. "I'm fine, thanks." she replied. had she not seen that she was a Drow? If she had, didn't she wonder why Vierrynne was in here? Many questions spun through her head, and she couldn't find an answer to any of them.

Griffon moaned as his head throbbed. He leaned up on his arm and shook his head. Big mistake, the headache became worst when he did this so he quickly halted the action. He looked about but his eyes had not grown acustomed to the dark setting yet, so he created a small blue ball of light with his free hand and looked around.

What a strange place, he thought. "Uh... Hello everyone..." He looked around at all the faces. "Why is the party in a jail cell?" He grunted as he sat up and crossed his legs. He coughed at the stench of the prison. "I take that back, why is everyone in a sewer?"

Avery saw a bright blue light through her closed eyelids and started to awake. She tried to sit up but her head was pounding. She moaned "where am I?" Barely audible. She moved her hand up to her head and found the bump. Feeling it she remembered slightly what had happened and how she had lost focus. Now to figure out where I am...she thought and tried to sit up again. This time she was successful and started to be aware of her surroundings. Some random guy was going on about jails and sewers. She noticed the smell. He was right. She followed the dim glow of the light and realized that there were many people in what seems to be this cell, all together. Why are we here and what do they want with us? she felt around for her bow and couldn't find it. She felt so insecure and so lonely now!

Shaelyn looked around at the others. At least their okay. Shae never really minded what kind of creatures they were since she was different as well. Her eyes turned from emerald green into a gold, the color of a hawk's. She looked around, able to see in the dark." I would help you guys with your headaches but I don't have my herbal pouch with me."

Griffon waved it away. "My headache is fine, it'll go away soon enough." He looked at everyone around him. He figured they were probably in worst condition than he, seeing as they were all awake and therefore probably in there longer. "You guys all look like crap!" He pointed to a rag tag duo in the corner, "especially you two! So uh... does anyone know why we are in here? Last thing I was doing was ariving on a new continent and then was ambushed by some... drow?" His eyes were scanning the group as he talked light heartedly to everyone, this man with the light had high spirits. Then his eyes fell upon the actual dro. "Woah! You do exist!" He had a grin. "I've only heard stories of you guys! Is it drow that attacked me? How many of you are there? Are you all evil? Do you speak the same language as me." He was talking a mile a minute despite his recent head wound. "This will make a great story!!"

Avery rubbed her head again. My headache is not going to get any better with him talking like that She thought. She moved slowly to the center where he sat so that she could see who he was talking to. Everyone looked so sad and at a loss of hope that she stopped being annoyed by this fellow. If we want to get out of here we need spirits like him "Hi" She stuck her hand out to him "I'm Avery, how long have you been here" she asked curious to learn more about this stranger and why he didn't feel trapped. She acknowledged the female with the gold eyes, "thanks for offering but I think my headache will go away soon" she still had so many questions and had to make friends to get the answers. Especially if they were going to be in here awhile.

Vierrynne almost felt under assault by this far too enthusiastic stranger. Didn't he know what situation they were in, what danger they were in? She just let him keep talking for a while until that one question that almost caused her to explode. Are you all evil? Vierrynne shot upright and glared at the man. "NOT ALL OF US ARE LIKE THAT!" she almost screamed at him. She breathed heavily, the sudden outburst of rage caused her to tremble. She then looked around and realized that everyone was looking at her. The faint whispers shared by those who were there longer had suddenly stopped as they looked at the captive Drow girl. Her face flushed slightly red, and she slumped back, leaning into one of the natural pillars that kept the cave from collapsing and turning her head away from the others.

Shae flinched a little when the Drow female screamed." Hey, take it easy. I don't think Drows are all the same." She said gently and softly, trying to calm the Drow. She glanced at the others staring, making them look away from her golden piercing eyes. She turned back to the Drow female.

The enthusiastic speaker stopped for a moment after he was yelled at. "I didn't mean to be offensive, I was just curious ma'am." He gave a sheepish 'I'm sorry' smile to the drow. He then asked in a semi-cautious tone, "So is that a yes then? That you speak our language?" He smiled, then lost it. "Now I am serious, why are we all in here? It's not my first time in jail, a story for another time, but it is my first time in jail without knowing why."

Vierrynne answered his first question with a nod. "I speak the common tongue, yes. But not many of my kin do." she replied. "I was forced to learn it on the run, to keep myself safe and in good company... For as far as that is to be found in this world."

To his second question, her face turned back to him. She hadn't stopped averting her eyes before, but now her deep yellow eyes - an unusual colour for a drow - looked at him. Oh she knew what this was. She'd realized the moment she realized none of them knew why they were kept here.
"Ulu jivven'drend mina" she replied in her own tongue, her eyes dark with the thoughts running through them. "We are their entertainment." she then said in the common tongue.

This didn't help Griffon at all. "What kind of entertainment? I'm an entertainer, a story teller actually! They wouldn't have to lock me up for a story though, I would have anyways." he paused to take a breath. "So what entertainment do you mean?" Griffon was oblivious to the threat he was under, part of this was because he was still a little dizzy from his head blow, the other was sheer curiosity. The blue light glowed softly on his young face. He wasn't meant for jail, he wasn't the type. For his sake he would learn fast or get out fast.

Avery sat there and listened to the one with high hopes. I've never seen anyone so enthusiastic while in jail! she decided that it was because he was young and hasn't seen much death. She realized that everyone else was lost in despair and was not even hearing the conversation that was going on. She went to the one with the calm voice and say there to feel safer. AveRy followed her gaze and also looked at the drow. "So what's your story. What makes you different than the others" she said in a voice that didn't sound accusing. "I mean like, why don't you want to be with them?"

Vierrynne looked away. She tried to find the words and automatically went back to her native Drow tongue.
"Nibeless d'aphyon." However she quickly realized none of them would understand her. She took a deep breath and looked back at the others. "Nibeless d'aphyon, or games of death in the common tongue. They happen once a year in the far reaches of the Drow realm, where they're still in use. Drow warriors capture unfortunate bypassers who don't belong to them, and set them up to fight eachother until only one remains standing."
Vierrynne shivered all over. During her youth, she had been far away from the barbaric habits of the far reaches of the realm, but she had heard of them.

Shae smiled." Udos ph'gladiators. We are gladiators" She was gifted in many tongues." We must escape soon or we all may end up dead. I cannot escape because they have me fight in a cage. Even if we manage to survive for a long time, they will not allow you to live." Shae looked around at the others.

Avery let that sink in a moment. "Well, we cant just sit here and wait to die. Giving up is going to do us no good. I don't know what we should do or how we can accomplish it but accepting death is not one of the options." She looked around waiting to see if anyone had any ideas.

Griffon let thought into his previously-all-speech-head. He remained quiet while the others started to talk about it, finally letting his voice rest. With this he thought. He knew how to fight. He wasn't a master, but with his cutlass he could fair pretty well against most aponents. He let the glow of his light slip away into the dark void that came to reclaim the jail cell that it had lost. The quick change of lighting didn't leave eyes time to adjust so it was pitch black for a bit.

Griffon felt like this was a dream in this black haven of despair. He had been in jail, but it was for a silly reason and he had gotten off scott free. This was different and it was finally sinking in. The story teller wished he had his pipe with him, this would have been one of the rare times he smoked.

He sighed and wondered if it was still raining outside. It might as well have been.