<div class="floatright">(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i131/spartanxp/3e24ce7958503bf80b9966485019b7905c1.jpg)<br/>Alisandra Starfire (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=247519.msg12255192#msg12255192)</div>One of the minor blessings that Alisandra had to deal with was that she was already accustomed to hard labor.  While the work was demeaning, sometimes even disgusting, she could manage it and await a good chance to make an escape.  She just had to keep her true skills a secret, since they'd no doubt put her to work making weapons and armor once they discover she has a talent for it.<br/><br/>Her task for yesterday was simple: she was supposed to smash rocks, but not given any tools for it.  This, at least, was where the basics of her skills came into play: she could use one bigger rock to smash another.  It wasn't worth wasting the breath of why she had to do this, only hoping in her heart that the ability would somehow be used against evil.<br/><br/>All she really wanted was a hot bath, the chance to soothe her aching muscles, but that desire actively hurt in her heart when she knew she wouldn't receive it.  She couldn't even comb the grime out of her hair.  At least, along the way, she could offer a smile to the halfling man who had sort of become a friend: Serrin.<br/><br/>Except...he wasn't at his post.  She only barely spotted him in the corner, slumped and lifeless.  "Serrin!"  Without thinking, she ran to him, putting hands to his shoulders.  He felt cold; how long had he been just lying there?<br/><br/>She barely even noticed as the guard yanked her off, now carrying her to work.  Without her friend, who was she going to make jokes with?  He always said she was luckier, because her Darkvision let her sense the goings-on around this place, yet clearly he was because he didn't have to see everything.<br/><br/>It almost didn't even feel real.  There was precious little goodness in this place, and she couldn't imagine doing with less.<br/><br/>All in all, just another day down here...