RP:Darinth joins the assassins guild and gets to wear make-up too

Setting

The shadowy den 27 Oct 2011 Cozy, well hidden and brimming with supplies of all kinds, what more could those of the shadowy professions ask for? Cases of daggers line one wall, while various tools of the trade line another: garrotes, nooses, picks, and small vials of who knows what all neatly stacked within. Mockingly, all cases are locked tight, the openings requiring some skill not readily available to the uniformed wanderer. From out of the shadows steps a cloaked figure that greets you without words, but instead with complex hand gestures.

A masked man enters

Darinth slips into the den and casts a look around, this is where the one known as Mouse had told him to meet them. The Drow's face is hidden by a mask, that combined with his upraised hood completely concealed his race from any that might be watching.

Staiwen is also cloaked, a hood pulled over his head, though some of his face is visible. He was making notes about the previous applicant in a battered old, bloodstained book. The master assassin greets the masked newcomer with a polite nod and asks,"Are you the one known as The Shade? The Mouse has asked me to conduct your interview and tests."

Darinth inclines his head respectfully, "I am." He responds, his voice though speaking the surface tongue still carried a trace of Underdark accent.

Staiwen nods again and writes another word or two. A quiet scratching sound can be heard from somewhere behind the master assassin. "Please begin by telling me a little about the knowledge, skills and experiences you have that you feel may make you suitable to join our organisation?" The scratching sound does not go unnoticed by the drow, his keen ears detecting it easily. Looking in the direction the sound came from the D'Artes House Assassin utilizes his infravision to surreptitiously look for the noises source, while delivering his answer. "I am adept at stealth, infiltration, poison, and dealing death." He responds the young drow would normally be concerned with delivering his expertise with another but this atmosphere seemed only appropriate. "It is to be expected of the House Assassin of a drow house." he continues, wisely not sharing the house to which he belonged.

A couple of rats are scratching behind the skirting board

The drow's infravision will reveal nothing more than a couple of rats somewhere behind the skirting board making the scritching noise "Tell me have you any experience of liquidating people protected by many bodyguards, or getting information from those loathe to part with it?" The robed assassion regards the interviewee appraisingly perhaps assessing the way he stands since he can surely see nothing of the man's features, then adds."By means of the fine art of torture or otherwise."

Darinth crosses his arms pulling his piwafwi cloak a bit tighter around him one hand resting near a dagger at his hip and the other close enough to draw the dagger hidden at his wrist should the need arise. Noting the rats Darinth reverts his gaze back to the normal spectrum. "Does getting into an altar of the Spider Goddess, avoiding guards, killing the priestesses, and leaving again with none the wiser count?" he remarks, a hint of sarcasm playing in his voice, "Torture isn't really my thing, I rely on either intimidation or listening when I can't be seen to discern that which I wish to know."

Darinth ooc: Sorry, bit of a smart aleck.

Rowen ooc That's ok hun.

A test of interrogation techniques

Staiwen betrays no reaction to the young drow's arrogant comments, merely making a few notes. "I see. That concludes the interview, and we can move right on to the first test. It should be interesting for you given your dislike of the pain-inducing arts. We have been employed by a consortium of merchants employed in the slave trade. A few weeks ago a number of pieces of their property escaped. Then recently one, an elf girl was re-captured. She is next door. Your task is to find out from her where the other escapees are hiding from their owners." The man once more regards the drow appraisingly. "Though if you really do find interrogation, even without torture very distastful, I can arrange an alternative test. It is not guild policy to force anybody to carry out such tasks against their will."

Darinth smiles behind his mask, "I will do what I can." He answers with a bow, turning on his heel to head towards where the girl is being kept.

The next room is a very well equipped torture chamber, there are fresh bloodstains on the floor from the last applicant's test, the elf girl is sat in a cage off to one side, she is blindfolded and her arms are tied behind her back. Staiwen wordlessly hands Darinth the key to the cage.

Darinth poses as a rescuer

Darinth steps forward and removes the girl's blinfold, using the key to enter the cage. Dropping to a knee he speaks softly in the elvish tongue, "Don't be afraid, I was sent to help you." he lies smoothly, his voice barely above a whisper. The assassin is thankful that his race is hidden by cloak and mask. Secretly where only the elf girl can see he makes the sign of Cyris, god of freedom.

The girl is shaking as she hears the cage being unlocked and footsteps approach her, she sighs with relief on hearing his words but is a little cautious, nonetheless, not yet convinced he is a friend, the elf nevertheless pretends to to believe in his sincerity. "Quickly, untie me, get me out of here, I think they plan to torture me."

Then throws a dagger at his examiner

Darinth nods, "Indeed they do." He answers, allowing a bit of truth to be shared to make any lies a bit harder to detect. He drops one of his hands to the side, signing in simple sign language, not expecting Staiwen to be able to interpret Drow Hand Sign, 'Play along' he warns. Unsheathing a dagger he smoothly cuts the bonds and rising smoothly he turns and flicks the dagger in the direction of the Master Assassin, knowing full well that the man would be able to dodge it easily, or pretend to get hit by it his choice.

The master assassin reads the common thieves sign language, and is ready, dodging the knife, he does indeed pretend to have been hit deliberatly falling in a pool of blood left by Jerica's work earlier in the day. Staiwen decides to make a point of praising this applicant to The Mouse. Few would be members actually throw a dagger at him during their test, he likes this fellows style.

Darinth takes the elf girl's hand, "Where can we meet the others?" he asks hurriedly, "They wouldn't tell me, understandably so, they promised you would tell me after I freed you." Spinning away quickly he walks over to the collapsed master and pretends to check his vitals, "Faint but still there, didn't want to kill him if I didn't have to." he mutters to himself, sounding somewhat sad at his actions. Turning back to the girl, "Someone will most likely come to check soon, wouldn't be surprised if some guards were already on there way, possibly even right outside."

The elf is not completely taken in yet

The girl is cautious, "Lets just get out of here, to anywhere safe first...then I'll see." Staiwen moves his hand in the same sign language the drow used earlier. "You want I should have you both 'captured' give you a few bruises and lock you in the cage with her? Maybe she'll trust you then. Please use the word 'safety' aloud if you agree with my plan.' Best not to risk you signing when she is paying you attention trying to decide if she can trust you.'

Darinth notes the assassin's gesture, the man thinks like a drow he applauds mentally, "Agreed," he says reaching for his mask.With a thought he activates the last vestiges of magic that resides within the house insignia of his birth. Tapping into one of the abilities his matron had blessed it with. As he removes the mask he reveals the skin and hair color as that of a normal surface elf, the insignia crumbles away but no matter he still had the D'Artes insignia hidden on his person. "Your safety is first priority." he responds in elvish, making the conscious effort to hide his accent and surprisingly succeeding.

A mock fight

Staiwen is still playing the part of one seriously wounded. He groans as if in pain and reaches up to touch an amulet around his neck, a loud siren noise sounds. This is all for show for the elf girls benefit. Two guards in another adjoining room have been watching the entire interview and test using a magical spyglass. Following sign language instructions from Staiwen, they rush in. One quickly overpowers the frail female elf, while the second grapples with Darinth whispering. "Let's make this look good." He swings a punch for the seemingly elven male's face.

Darinth fights back a smile as he twists, causing the fist to only catch him a glancing blow. The drow turned elf snaps his hand up and grabs the 'attackers' wrist twisting it slightly, enough to where it looked painful he levels a punch of his own at the man's face.

Is it a triple bluff? An elaborate Mouse-trap?

The assassin who is staging a mock fight with Darinth actully allows himself to be hit, and grunts as if it had hurt a great deal more than it did. The first guard now has his knife at the females elf's throat. "Surrender pointy ears or your pretty friend here dies! Lie down on the floor face down." Whether or not Darinth will put himself in such a vunerable position is perhaps a test of whether he feels he can trust the brotherhood of assassins he seeks to join. Is it perhaps all some elaborate triple bluff designed to ensure that -he- becomes their prisoner?

Darinth grimaces, that thought does indeed race through his mind but he instead levels a glare at the guard. "Let the girl go." he says dropping to his knees. The drow keeps a look of pride and anger on his face, refusing to lie down, they would have to make him, which he was expecting. He holds his hands wide his gaze straying to the female, a look of apology on his face. "Please, let her go. She's innocent."

I'll pay him back a thousandfold

The guard who was 'fighting' with Darinth laughs "Let her go, no, no she has an upcoming appointment in the torture chamber she can't be allowed to miss such an opportunity. You might say it's to die for." He fakes a cruel kick to the kneeling man's kidneys missing by a fraction of an inch, but from the females point of view that will not be obvious. Staiwen speaks quietly, as if weak from lack of blood. "Take him to the main torture chamber. I want to find out who sent him, not to mention make him suffer for my wounds, I'll pay him back a thousandfold. Lock our other guest,"Here he gestures dismissively at the female. "Back in her cage. If he survives what I have planned, she may have someone to share it with, won't that be sweet? Two little treehugging elves all cosy together."

Darinth plays off the kick in his kidney with perfection, letting out a gasp of pain and dropping to the floor, "I'll kill you if you hurt her an innocent like her." he swears, his green gaze moving to Staiwen. As he is dragged away he casts one more glance at the woman, silently swearing to save her.

Staiwen grins at the applicant as they reach the next room, reaching out a hand to help Darinth to his feet. Speaking quietly he says "Well done, if we speak in whispers even an elf won't be able to hear us next door, but in a short while I think you should start emitting the odd convincing sounding scream of agony, and defiant yell. I'll get ready with some make-up to make you look like we have beaten you to within an inch of your life."

Darinth shares the grin, "Yes sir." he whispers rising to his feet with the master's aid, before letting out a fake laugh that seems as if it was intended to cover fear, pitched to be just percebtible in the other room followed by a challenge to his 'captors'. "Passing this test so far?" he asks quietly, with a cocked eyebrow and a soft chuckle.

Staiwen replies just as quietly. "It really would be unproffessional of me to comment on an individual applicant's test while still in progess sir, but I will say I like you, I like you a lot. Can you remove your shirt? I'll fake marks of torture all over your back for her to cry tears over, make it look as if you have been whipped and branded with hot irons, if you can scream accordingly please." The Master Assassin gets out his enchanted make-up kit.

Darinth wears make-up

Darinth bites back smile, "Very true sir." he replies softly pulling his shirt over his head and dropping it along with his piwafwi and weapons in a corner. Taking a deep breath he lets out a blood-curdling pain filled scream, his raising in the underdark had helped perfect this act. He stands stock still allowing the master to paint on the marks, letting out a cry of pain or loud whimper every now and again, to sweeten the deal he causes tears to spring to his eyes.

The surface elf prisoner caged in the next room listens with a mixture of horror, pity for her fellow elf being tormented, guilt that she had doubted him and terror that they will soon torture her just as brutally, her own tears are real. The master assassin takes about half an hour working on the man's back, then a few minutes adding the odd bruise to his canvas' face."I don't want to make your face too battered, we want her hero to look handsome for our dear little elf now."

Darinth nods, and with each new addition to the master's work the assassin shift's his body to compensate for the 'injury' "I think we're ready." he says slurring his words as if he were slightly disoriented, his expression somewhat vacant and tear streaked, with just a hint of defiance in his eyes.

Sharing a cage with the surface elf

Staiwen instructs the guards "Throw him into the cage, and tell the elf she is to be tortured to death tomorrow, she'll be more likely to tell our friend here where he can find safety with the other esaped slaves if she thinks she will be unable to show him herself, and the dread of dying might mayhap affect her judgement."

Darinth lets himself be tossed into the cage landing heavily, groaning in pain. His tear filled eyes turn to the girl, "I'm sorry," he says hoarsly, throat raw from so much screaming, "I'll get us out of here."

The guard laughs at Darinth. "Your lady friend is never getting out of here, she is to be tortured to death tomorrow, as an example to any other slaves who might decide to risk escaping." He spits in the she-elfs face, then on Darinth's prone form. "Sweet dreams." The cage locks loudly and the two are left alone.

The drow looks beaten, exhausted, closs to passing out

Darinth struggles up into a seated position, making sure to turn in a way that reveals his 'scars' to the elf. The drow looks beaten, exhausted, and close to passing out unable to meet the elven woman's eyes a look of failure on his face and deep sorrow in his eyes.

The womans gasps, fear of what she believes to be her impending agonising death driven from her mind momentarily by sympathy for the terrible pain this man has suffered, is still suffering. She sits beside him, gently stroking his hair in an attempt to offer comfort. "I may be sentenced to die tomorrow, but I am sure one day you will manage to escape, you are so brave." The she-elf pauses realising something. "I..I don't even know your name."

Darinth relaxes into the woman's carress. "I'll figure out a way to save us both." he promises her, though he allows his eyes to show the fact that he doesn't fully believe his words any more than she probably will, "My name is Arciere," he says, giving her the name of the only surface elf he was ever on decent terms with, "If I was to be locked in a cell with anyone I'm thankful it's someone as kind-hearted as you." he answers, allowing a smile and look of comfort to drift across his face.

The drow finds out what he needs to know

The woman continues to gently carress her hero, her tears dripping onto his hair. She then leans down and whispers to him. "If...if I die and -when- you escape meet up with my friends, they are hiding out in the abandoned chaos laboratory in the Dark Forest near Vailkrin. I am Rhieth."

Darinth smiles, "Rhieth," he says softly, "I'll figure out a way to get you out of here." He promises, his gaze scans the room, waiting for Staiwen to make some move, he got his information now hopefully he can come up with a clever way to get Dar out of here without causing the elf to become suspicious.

ooc note for future rp - Assume they come take Darinth away 'For more torture' fake some more screams next door.They don't kill Rhieth, were just pyschologically torturing her with the threat. In a few days, there can be a fake rescue where both are 'rescued' ...One trusting elf plaything who thinks he is a hero for Darinth ...Poor Rhieth."