• Closed • Flesh in the Sands

[Zelferan]

Zelferan nodded quietly as he was handed the piece of paper glancing at it only once before looking back up at Ravena. Then she handed him the piece of the puzzle he'd wanted for so very long. Upon being handed the badge he reached out for it almost reverently. As soon as it brushed his fingers he felt a chill, realizing exactly what this meant. A small smile was wreathed across his features as he clung to the badge, a blissful sigh just ever so slightly filtering out of his lips.

He listened obediently as she gave him a run down about the slaves. Having the tower slaves around would without a doubt make his coming projects easier. He'd have to be careful though. Perhaps he could test how well trained they were. See if any were particularly worthy of being a confidant. On the other hand, he could always go out and buy, or capture, one that would be worthy of his secrets. He guarded them well, it was best to find someone else who would show them the same tight lipped respect. Then he watched how she interacted with her own slaves. "Completely understandable. You don't share your favorite toys," he said with a small laugh. "You especially don't give other people the pleasure of breaking them." There was a jovial twilight that danced in his animal like green eyes, sparkling with a kind of understanding. Or at least what he thought was an understanding. So far, this woman seemed to have a distinct familiarity to his own personality. Considering that, he understood completely why she wouldn't want her toys touched.

"Though, I am curious, what is the case if a tower member decides to buy a slave for their own personal use? Would not have all the rights given to tower slaves? Perhaps they would need to be made official tower slaves instead of just the slave of one tower member to receive the rights, in which case they would just become the property of all the tower members. Which in hindsight would defeat the point of a personal slave. I heard that tower slaves are given far better rights than the average slave. I asked because I need something of a personal assistant and it would make things easier," he said. It was a question he had to bring up while he had the chance. After all, if he was to buy a slave he fully intended for her, and it would be a her, to have full protection one way or another. Perhaps that just wouldn't be the case for the moment. Maybe if he charmed Ravena enough, but the present was looking dim.

Zelferan paused for a moment at the question. "Indeed, I've heard about them. They aren't really well liked are they?" He chuckled slightly. "To be honest, these raiders interest me. They seem... fun," he cooed. A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes for only a moment before it was suppressed. Zelferan would need to start working on better self-control if he wanted to control others. "It might have been nice to play with them and see how much they're worth. Ah, but I never had anything to offer and gain their trust with and now as a tower member I don't believe it would be very proper to go and toy with them, would it?

[Basilisk]

Ravena smiled as Zelferan explained he understood why she didn't like her toys being touched. He had the general gist of it correct, though there were some points he got wrong. She didn't correct him, however, since his beliefs as to her reasons were the common reasons, and she preferred it that way. Best no one look to closely into her secrets, not that it would serve them well to do so.

"The personal slaves of tower members are given the same protections as a tower-owned slave, yes. After all, it does no good for them to be unprotected, it makes them less valuable than a tower slave and that's not what I want to create for those who serve me." she said, smiling as she spoke. "I expect a great deal of things from my people, but the rewards are equal to my expectations." she said, before leaning forward as he spoke about his feelings regarding the Rhakrii Raiders.

When he finished, she gave a cold, calculating smile. "Excellent. And you're wrong, actually. Going out to play with them is exactly what we want you to do." she said, before leaning back in her seat. Her expression changed again, this time entirely cold and closed off. After a moment, she spoke again. "But there is one thing. If we were to ask you to do something against the city of Nashaki, would you do it? Not against their laws, but I mean something that would weaken the city itself." she asked, her voice intent.

[Zelferan]

Zelferan nodded as he absorbed the information on what happened to slaves who were owned by tower members. That simplified things greatly, it meant that if he found the right target he could mold someone into the perfect assistant. It might be dangerous, but a wolf that was fed tended not to bite. Hopefully the same would ring true about people. Whoever this person he chose was, they'd get a lot of his trust and loyalty. In a way that was highly distressing. He hated to hand out his loyalty after everything that'd happened. But if he wanted to win this little game, he'd eventually need to hand it over to someone. And who better than a slave he could help to condition into being the perfect accomplice?

He thought a moment about the next question he was asked. He could answer honestly, or he could answer the way he thought she might want him to answer. The lines were blurred enough that not even he was sure which he was going with when he answered her, but he opened his mouth and answered none the less be it for the better or for the worse. "When I walked into this tower and said I wanted a job, I had no loyalty to this city. I owe it nothing for all the nothing it's given me and the plethora of horrible people I've met inside of it. When I entered this tower I was signing away my actions to the Tower for as long as our relationship remains mutually beneficial and no one wants me dead yet. I don't care if you order me to help the city or hurt it, I don't care if we cripple this city. It can be damned or saved for all I care. As long as it's your orders, I'll follow them if it means I land somewhere on top, far enough on top that I can get done what I set out to get done when I came back to this city," he said simply.

[Basilisk]

Ravena and her companion listened quietly as Zelferan explained where and why his loyalties lied, and after a moment, the pair of them grinned. "Well now, you're just about perfect for what we need." the brunette said. Ravena leaned back in her seat and let the brunette do the talking. "We need someone to make friends with the Rhakrii Raiders, find out what they're doing, where, and why. If you happen to come into conflict with Nashaki forces, well..." the brunette glanced at Ravena.

"Treat them as if they were a complete enemy." Ravena said, her tone harsh and cold. "Soldiers are expendable and the potential rewards from this mean that the loss of a few hundred, or even a few thousand, Nashaki soldiers is more than worth the risk. Especially for the stakes we play for." she said, an icy smile spreading across her lips. "Nashaki's bureaucratic leadership style has proven ineffective, at best. So...someone must take control, and I intend for that to be the Tower of Flesh." she said, smirking evilly as she said it. "Of course, with the Eternal Empire to our north and Athart to our south, maintaining true autonomy may be impossible, but as long as we have greater or equal power when the dust settles, then we have succeeded." she said, her tone showing how power hungry she was.

"Calm yourself, Ravena. He doesn't need a motivational speech." the brunette said, grinning slightly as she spoke. After a moment, she turned back to Zelferan. "So, you up for the job, Zelferan?" she asked, her tone showing genuine curiosity.

Words

[Zelferan]

Zelferan went completely silent as the woman explained her goals, his eyes shadowing over and his head tipping down. His eyes darted around as he began to think, as though looking through all the possibilities of what might happen. He tilted his head to the side slightly and muttered a small phrase, as if arguing with himself. The gears in his head were obviously turning as he contemplated what Ravena had told him. The moment however was gone as quickly as it arrived, the look of careful contemplation completely replaced. A smile slipped across his lips as he nodded his head slowly. Taking over all the city would certainly give a lot of power, power that he could glean if he played his cards right. It could catapult him years towards his ultimate goal if he was extra careful. But the question then came down to playing the cards on the board. Loyalties were something that one had to be careful when deciding upon. Betting on the wrong horse could easily leave you broke. But betting on too many could similarly leave you with nothing but a couple nels to your name. "Winning them over is going to require quite the precarious plan though." He mused as he thought about the distinct lack of information he had about the raiders. He didn't know anything about their boss, so he'd need to adapt to the man in question. He'd go in like he always did, with flair and confidence. If that didn't work then he'd drop the act and go to being brutally honest. He could even admit at least part of why he wanted power if it won him favor, just not the entire story.

Eventually he began to speak, starting to come up with this plan. "Yeah, I see how this can work. Caution will be tantamount to approaching a wild animal. It'll be an interesting job to say the least, surely I'll need to do whatever I can in order to win their trust. If all else fails I can offer myself as a spy within the tower and you can feed me lines that will keep them interested, but not do too much damage to ourselves. Who knows what kind of people these raiders are, they could ask impossible tasks of me as proof of loyalty. They may very well kill me," the man said, half way to himself and half way to Ravena. Mostly because some of his plots to win them over would involve a little help from her if she'd be willing to offer it. Best to tell her, it would be safer to have her in on the plan. When he thought of himself dying a giant, cold, emotionless smile took over his features. "This could be fun."

[Basilisk]

Ravena and the brunette watched as Zelferan pondered their words, neither woman speaking a word. When he finally spoke, accepting the job and speaking of his plans for infiltrating the Raiders, the two smiled. "Eddrick Brodon, their leader, has proven to be susceptible to gifts in the past. I don't mean purely material gifts, of course, but something that offers either personal satisfaction or something he can use will get into his good graces." she said, her tone relaxed.

Ravena nodded. "Those of us who crave power all have our own weaknesses." she said, giving Zelferan a piercing look as she spoke. That look was very clear, that she was warning the Lotharro to be aware of his own weaknesses. Then the blonde Naer leaned back in her chair. "Now then, as to something very important. Under no circumstances, unless you are with me, are you to give any sign that you have ever met my companion here." she said, gesturing at the brunette. "It is very important that you seem to have no connection with her, as it will be taken by many as an immediate sign of suspicion." she said, her tone serious.

Once Zelferan indicated his understanding, the two women nodded again. "Very well. Then I believe we are finished here for today." she said, gesturing to the paper she had given him when he had indicated his desire to take up residence in the Tower. "That will see that you are assigned several able bodied slaves to move your belongings into the tower." she said, before smiling at him. "And of course, tower slaves are available for any use at any time by Tower members, though they aren't allowed to leave the tower without dispensation. Welcome to the Tower of Flesh, Zelferan. I do hope you'll..enjoy yourself." she purred, before the slave girl from the first test led Zelferan to the door, signalling the end of the meeting.

[Basilisk]

Review

Words
EXP

Story: 5/5
Structure: 5/5
Collab: 5/5

KNOWLEDGE

Intimidation: Using your size to your advantage
Intimidation: Using your sadism to your advantage
Torture: Working with a companion to brand a slave
Torture: Only those without empathy rise to the top
Torture: Using a knife to gut a man alive
Blades: Using a knife on unarmed victim
Negotiation: Knowing when to be honest and when to toe the party line

HOUSING

Zelferan's new housing is roughly the same size as the old one. Owing to the terrible heat of the day, the underground chambers are kept very cool. Being underground, there are no windows to be had, but in place of them, the chamber is somewhat more nicely furnished than it would otherwise be, and is provided with some very heavy bedding to ward off the cool of the night. The chamber also a has a floor mat with some additional heavy bedding in case Zelferan has a slave staying the night with him, whether it be a personal slave or tower slave, and he doesn't want lesser beings in his bed.

NOTES

I enjoyed writing this! Sorry for how long it took on some of my replies, and let me know if I missed anything in the knowledges. I can't really think of anything that stand out to criticize, so enjoy your rewards!