--> Click Here for OOC and discuss this plot! <-- (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=21972.0)<br/><br/><strong>Characters:</strong><br/><br/><strong>Duncan &lt;############[oooo]D </strong>-  A skilled swordsman and mercenery for hire cursed with the powers of immortality. He appears to be no older than 30 but has walked this land for more than a century. Often a loner, and fiercely loyal the side that pays him the most, Duncan walks a thin line between good and the dammed but has managed to stay on the side of the 'Light" even through the "Silver Wars". A man with few words and many enemies, he roams the lands in search of a reason to explain the curse of never knowing death.<br/><br/><strong>Lady Gweneth  @}--,--'--- </strong>- An attractive and fiercely independent woman born into the high society of the Town of Talahentry, a small yet wealthy town known for it's many exports that are highly sort after. The upper class is dominated by merchants and trade ambassadors of the Lord Kilinos who rules the region with an iron hand. Lady Gwen, as she is known to the very few who dare call her that, lives by herself in a sprawling mansion almost fit for the town mayor. Money and power have always been in her family and now after the death of her father, she runs his many trade interests and other more lucrative businesses. She is 32 and turns heads where ever she goes. Her beauty is second only to her ambition.<br/><br/><strong>Valerie / "Crimson Shadow"  V^^^^V </strong>- A pure blood vampire born into the house "Rament Iramous" also known as the "Sisterhood of the Shadow" -  the assassin arm of the Lord Kilinos. No one would dare make that connection in public but every enemy of the Lord has suffered a hideous death and the only thing that remained was a dead corpose with two holes in their neck and a hint of the scented "Red Mist" that so many have come to fear more than death itself. Valerie is 24, skilled in arts of the 'Sisterhood" and have risen in their ranks to become #2 just behind Adelane the White.<br/><br/><strong>Aurora &lt;========[==o  </strong>- A female blacksmith, trained in the arts of the Ore. Often looked down upon by lesser men but the warriors who know her work respect her as an equal for her weapons are said to posses legendary abilities in dealing in and defending against certain death. Owner of the weapons store "Crimson Death" she hides a secret from all but those who are like her - those to whom death means nothing unless dealt by one of their own. Those like the one named Duncan.<br/><br/><br/><strong>The Plot:</strong><br/>After the death of her father, Lady Gweneth has almost doubled her family's fortunes and in the process has made many enemies -  most of them Men who think that Power and Wealth should be in the hands of a man and not a "foolish lass". Some of those Men have been allies of the Lord Kilinos since the "Silver Wars".<br/><br/>There is a gruesome ritual in this town that few acknowledge. The 13th night of the new moon is said to be night when fortune will shine on those who made a "Gesture" of blood. Although this ritual has been done behind closed doors, the "higher" the blood the higher the riches to be gotten. And as the 1st day of the new moon arrives, there is no higher blood than the Lady Gweneth's and that makes her the most sort after "gesture" in the eyes of Greed and Power. To spill her blood with a silver dagger and sprinkle the rest on the east wall of ones house would bring all of her wealth and good fortune to the house that made the "gesture" - Or so it is believed and so it has been done every year. To be the richest in Talahentry is certain death.<br/><br/>Lady Gweneth however does not care about such "rumors". But secretly fears for her life but cannot afford to show it or risk appearing weak in the eyes of her competitors and worse - Men. She has worked hard to build her empire of prosperity and she will fight even harder to hold onto it past the 13 dreaded days of the "Gesture". She has already enlisted the aid of many armed men but she knows all too well that any man or woman in town is just as likely to work for her enemies if they pay them enough to look away.<br/><br/>3 roads lead into Talahentry. And on one comes a rider with a cloak about her shoulders, 3 daggers about her person and Duty on her mind. Valerie has always known how to find her target and never has she had one be so easy to find. All she needs to do is ride up to the biggest house in town. And this mark will make her equal in Kills to Adelane and the youngest to ever attain the rank of "White" in her house.<br/><br/>At the end of another road a lone traveller stares at a parchment nailed to the wall of an Inn that tells of 100 gold coins for 13 days of work. He's heard whispers of the "gesture" and of a Lady who is willing to pay good money for just 2 weeks of work. Touching the small pouch makes the 2 silvers in it clank and his fingers trace the hilt of his sword. Sighing, he takes the reigns of his horse and slowly walks towards the House on the Hill. Money is short and 2 silvers will barely get him a room and some food for more than a day, let alone the ale he thirsts for or the company of a warm body next to him at night.<br/><br/>"How hard can 13 days be?" he mutters as he walks on.<br/><br/>... if only he knew....<br/>