Gor ~ Markeplace District: House of Aurelius & Stadium of Blades
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Vlexia on 10-04-2017, 03:50:51</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Gor ~ Markeplace District: House of Aurelius &amp; Stadium of Blades</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Vlexia</strong> on <strong>10-04-2017, 03:50:51</strong>
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				<div align="center">(http://alray.ps/ar/thumb.php?src=uploads/images/Minfo-141130063251shBz.jpg&amp;w=1000&amp;zc=1)</div><br><div align="center">~House of Aurelius is a Slave House that specializes in the rental, buying and selling of slave dancers, as well the training of High Caste and Barbaric Girls. <br><br>The stadium is an arena for gladiatorial combat in Ar, located over a pasang away from the Tallux Theater. These combats are often to the death it Honor spars also occur. They most often involve criminals and poor mercenaries, prizes of gold, slaves, and amnesty offered. The Stadium is sometimes flooded for sea fights, the water filled with marine predators. The tarn races are more popular though and usually have different crowds in attendance. Beneath the stands are numerous holding areas for animals, criminals and other combatants. For the upcoming festival, this is where combat competitions will take place.~</div>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Gor ~ Markeplace District: House of Aurelius &amp; Stadium of Blades</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jazra</strong> on <strong>12-04-2017, 01:54:46</strong>
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				Character: Adria Larentia<br>Location:&nbsp; In the market area just south of the Stadium of Blades<br>Concerning: Working as a Leatherworker <br><br>Living in Ar, beyond the reach of her father-in-law, Adria had found work in an eight-by-twelve dirt-floored, semi-enclosed leatherworker’s shop South of the Arena. The show-owner, Pavius the Cripple, had known her husband. Providing his once-upon-a-time friend’s wife a few feet of dirt floor to practice her craft was his way of repaying an old debt. The unspoken understanding was that any income she made crafting detailed, beautifully designed leather armor would go to Pavius. It was an understanding she was more than happy to accept. Adria’s income would come for practicing her true craft. <br><br>Sweat dripped from her brow as she sat working leather with an awl, her form concealed under her intricate robes of concealment and three veils. Her blue eye was covered by a leather patch. When a woman has one blue eye and one brown eyes, it made sense to disguise that trait. She remembered the first day she had taken up shop. A tall warrior and two of his comrades had entered the shop, overpowering Pavius and Adria as they looked down at the two working and detailing leather.<br><br>“Who’s the woman?” The warrior had asked. <br><br>Pavius had firmly grasped the wooden cane he used to pull himself to his feet. “A free-woman under my protection.”<br><br>The warrior and his friends had grinned, but not laughed. Pavius had the use of only one leg and was near sixty. The idea of him protecting the woman working in his shop was mildly ludicrous. But she was a free woman and entitled to respect. Plus, the three assumed the woman under those veils was likely around the same age as Pavius and ugly to boot.<br><br>“Sorry for my rudeness friend. I’ve some work for you.” The lead warrior pulled out a leather cord that held copper coins with a hole through them. Pavius and he began to dicker over what he would pay for the repair and replacement of several of his older armor pieces.<br><br>Adria’s unpatched brown eye carefully marked where the warrior tucked away his coins after Pavius and he concluded their bargain, but she knew she would not rob this man. Her sojourn in Ar would be short indeed if she made a practice of robbing the customers of Pavius. Plus, it would be a betrayal of her friend who risked his life to give her a place in this city whose homestone was not her own. <br><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Gor ~ Markeplace District: House of Aurelius &amp; Stadium of Blades</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Supias</strong> on <strong>14-04-2017, 01:49:45</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy199/Supias/a420e1ca-edf1-4c42-9fdc-7cb06089357c.jpg)</div><br>Character:&nbsp; Kahrumour Volundar (Kahru)<br>Location:&nbsp; Outside the gates, and then South of the Arena<br>Concerning:&nbsp; Entering Ar, and finding the lower arena pens. <br><br>Bathed in a blood red glow, the first of the three moons had risen over the hazy horizon.&nbsp; Somewhere a city was burning.&nbsp; Kahru stretched up in the dark kaiila’s saddle, lifting the horn to his lips and giving a quick two pulsing signal to the group behind him.&nbsp; He moved the swift beast with a squeeze of his thigh and kick of his heel rather than any reigns as he unsheathed the longsword from his back.&nbsp; Something wasn’t right.&nbsp; He could feel it. <br><br>Scanning the darkening field, his unusual golden eyes searched for whatever it was that had set him on alert.&nbsp; He had learned to trust those instincts wither upon the hunt or upon the battlefield.&nbsp; &nbsp;He set the beast to a fast canter to the left of the caravan and between whatever it was that had set him to worry. The kaiila might have been one of the fastest beasts without wings, but the draft tharlarion would not stand a chance.&nbsp; However strong they might be, they lacked a speed that a cavalry of high tharlarion and their raiding riders would find too irresistible to pass up.<br><br>Kahru’s dark kaiila raced pass the bulk of the caravan yelling back to the head cart to keep the group together and moving as quickly as possible without allowing for stragglers.&nbsp; If they had to, they were to circle and defend. The dirt under the kaiila shredded under the sharp claws of the beast as it ate up the field heading towards the back two carts of the caravan; Kahru’s own cargo.&nbsp; A sharp protesting bellow bounced Kahru in his saddle as the kaiila neared the cages enough for Kahru to lean in and release the latches.&nbsp; Inside the sleen had already picked up on something and sensing Kahru’s mood they hissed back a warning to the kaiila to stay out of their way.&nbsp; It was time to hunt. <br><br>Kahru’s free hand with drew the long whip from his belt and gave a shrill whistled to the sleen to begin the search.&nbsp; One last glance to the group behind him.&nbsp; His responsibility.&nbsp; If a single hair was harmed upon this trip it would be because he had let them down. All other guards were to stay and protect the Free Women and Men and then the beasts and slaves.&nbsp; &nbsp; Beyond the front of the line Kahru could make out the outline of the protective towers of Ar and atop the turrets a flag remained drifting in the breeze.&nbsp; They could make it.&nbsp; He had to make sure they would make it.&nbsp; <br><br>“HURTA!” He called and raced out in the direction of his sleen.&nbsp; The lean beasts were low to the ground, fast, and practically invisible in this light.&nbsp; And they were deadly.&nbsp; Many a sleen trainer had lost their lives to the very beasts they handled.&nbsp; That made the Man to command them had to be stupid or crazy.&nbsp; Kahru guessed he was a little of both as he leaned forward standing in the saddle, the shift in his weight and the kick of his heel telling the kaiila where to go as he kept up a steady low whistle to sleen to keep track and give them directions. Then all was silent.&nbsp; Even the clawing pads of the kaiila became quiet and slowed as the group neared a ridge where a cloud of dust billowed into the twilight. <br><br>There!&nbsp; Riding along the lower winding ridge, a group of six riders in pursuit. In pursuit of…?&nbsp; Upon the curve a cart rattled along as fast as the poor panting draft tharlarion could go.&nbsp; They were toying with it.&nbsp; The lead of the pack held out a lance even now, pulling back the curtain of the back of the wagon.&nbsp; A second of the raiders now joined the first, cracking a whip and laughing.&nbsp; Damn.&nbsp; He caught her.&nbsp; The raider pulled back on the reigns of the tharlarion.&nbsp; From the back of the wagon a slender slave shot out of the wagon with the force of the stop.&nbsp; She would be lucky if she were not dead from the impact.&nbsp; Then again, perhaps she would be lucky if she were. <br><br>Kahru didn’t debate longer. His Caravan had plenty of guards to take on the other four raiders without him should the old gods decide it, but he wouldn’t stand idle with bastards like that about.&nbsp; He guided the swift kaiila down the steep incline to come up behind them.&nbsp; <br><br>As the lead raider stopped and dismounted to inspect the slave, a second moved to join the man.&nbsp; A shrill whistle startled the roosting birds in the hedges as the kaiila barreled between the two men.&nbsp; Kahru’s sword swirling in a circle as he struck beast or Man, he didn’t care.&nbsp; From all around the scent of musk filled air, the only warning that the sleen were attacking.&nbsp; A marveling twenty-foot leap into the air, the beasts easily dismount the men.&nbsp; Kahru dismounted among his beasts, his golden eyes flashing in the heat of the last rays of the setting sun as he stalked the man, still fumbling with the tethering whip, now unsure if he should drop it or draw his sword.&nbsp; Amid the harrowing screams of the fallen raider the other men scattered, save for their leader upon the ground at Kahru’s feet, and disappeared into the night.&nbsp; “I am Kahru of Anango.”&nbsp; The rolling tembre of danger was there in his voice as Kahru’s steps quickened and even the sleen looked up from their meals to make sure it was not directed towards them.&nbsp; <br><br>CRACK!<br><br>The sound of the whip.&nbsp; One ihn the man was standing and the next he would have felt the squeeze and yank of the whip and then the crack of his head hitting the ground, just as he had done to the slave had moments ago. It was a fitting justice, Kahru thought.&nbsp; The splitting ring in the head would likely have left a daze much longer than the bloody oozing wound Kahru’s sword had left the man with.&nbsp; Kahru hoped he had prepared for death before the raid.&nbsp; <br>Scooping up the slut he tossed her upon the back of his kaiila.&nbsp; He didn’t bother with untying her.&nbsp; It was up to the gods or priest kings or whatever she believed in wither she would live or die but he would give her the best shot.&nbsp; Mounting the kaiila he set out at a run, the sleen flanking out behind him as he raced towards the gates and towards the physicians tower.&nbsp; <br><br><div align="center"><strong>~*~*~*~*~</strong></div><br>Days had passed since Kahru had passed through the great gates of Ar with his caravan of beasts and Women and Men, all having dispersed through the labyrinth of streets to celebrate and barter until the end of the festivals.&nbsp; The slave had been settled well with the physician and it looked as though perhaps she would live, though her Master in the cart was proving more difficult to find.&nbsp; The sleen were restless as they passed their cages within Kahru’s personal wagon, and a large portion of his payment had been given to him upon the safe passage to the great city.&nbsp; <br><br>His hand rested upon the pommel of sword, the other upon a scroll that protruded upwards from a brace along the thick dark leather belt upon Kahru’s hips.&nbsp; He’d been to the library, but all of the cartographers were enjoying the festivities.&nbsp; Kahru wasn’t much for celebration, but he found himself wandering towards the Stadium of Blades, moving away from the entrance and the gathering of tourists and towards the holding pens.&nbsp; As he did so he passed beside many a poor merchant, some nothing more than a barker with his wears upon old, if well swept carpets. <br><br>It was among these carpet markers that Kahru found himself facing the little leather shop.&nbsp; &nbsp;“Is this the way towards the lower holding pens of the arena?”&nbsp; He asked the elder man and his busy assistant.&nbsp; 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Gor ~ Markeplace District: House of Aurelius &amp; Stadium of Blades</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jazra</strong> on <strong>14-04-2017, 23:36:52</strong>
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				Character: Adria Larentia<br>Location:&nbsp; In the market area just south of the Stadium of Blades<br>Concerning: Trying to Get Kahru's Attention <br><br>Adria remembered days past when she and her husband Sand would stay up late into the evening joking and talking with Kahru, while drinking Raki, an alcoholic drink similar in taste to Pagar-Sa-Tarna, but made from the dregs of grape leaves after they’d been pressed to make wine. She grinned. She’d often fall asleep with her head in her husband’s laugh while the men shared stories. Alcohol wasn’t her strong suit. The reason those thoughts had surfaced like autumn leaves whipped up by a winter wind was the unexpected presence of Kahru outside Pavius’s leather shop. Hidden by her veil, her grin spread over her face like happy news. It had been so brutally hot in the shot, she’d had to step outside of the oppressively hot shop into the slightly tempered heat of the outdoors.<br><br>When she exited into the sunlight, she saw him staring at her shop. Could he know she was here? Or was this unexpected fortune simply the unexpected and capricious will of the Gods? She slid forward, reaching into her robes. Feeling the hilt of one of her dagger’s she shifted to a hidden pocket and pulled out a well-worn leather bag with two blue stones capping off the thread used to tighten it. It contained a collection of silver coins that Kahru had insisted she take … just in case. He had given her the coins after her husband disappeared, but before her father-in-law started to attack her character to other members of the thieves’ guild and spread vicious rumors about her having something to do with the disappearance of her husband. She’d been too depressed at that time to do anything really.<br><br>Adria’s first mischievous thought was to pretend to pick-pocket Kahru, but actually putting the bag on his person with the coins that he had given her. Sanity told her this would be a mistake. She smiled again. It would be a good way to lose a hand, she thought. Kahru was swift to defend himself. Instead, she took the bag out and held it in the palm of her hand. It was warm from her body. Tossing the bag high in the air, it tumbled over and over, the blue stones put their by Kahur himself when she showed him how to make a simple leather bag tumbled end over end. Sunlight glinted off the stones and then the bag thudded back into her hand where she tossed it back and forth a few times, the coins inside jingling. He wouldn’t recognize her in her veils and robes, she thought. But he might recognize the coin filled bag he had given her.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Gor ~ Markeplace District: House of Aurelius &amp; Stadium of Blades</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Supias</strong> on <strong>15-04-2017, 17:50:26</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy199/Supias/a420e1ca-edf1-4c42-9fdc-7cb06089357c.jpg)</div><br>Character:&nbsp; Kahrumour Volundar (Kahru)<br>Location:&nbsp; &nbsp;South of the Arena<br>Concerning: Catching up with Adria<br><br>Dust and sweat and mire clung to every surface and crevice in this part of the market, but Kahru felt more at home here than he did in the higher, more secure levels of Ar anymore. His odd golden eyes watched the older leather maker as Pavius hitched a thumb over his shoulder in a vague sort of direction, more to get the stranger to move on and stop clogging up the almost fresh air that struggled to get into the little shop.&nbsp; Kahru nodded his head and mumbled a, “Safe paths,” to the stranger as he ducked back out of the little shack, only to be confronted with the Free Woman who had stepped outside for air.&nbsp; <br><br>Barely giving her a glance Kahru moved to step around her until the metallic rattle and click click of two blue stones jumped into the air.&nbsp; Cobalt obsidian stones to be exact.&nbsp; His attention shot to his left were the leather pouch had been flung and then towards the woman who tossed it back and forth.&nbsp; One more fling of the bag, and it never touched her hand again as his hand sailed to intercept the pouch.&nbsp; He glanced at it only for an ihn before his right hand rushed in to grip her upper arm tightly and force her into the back gully behind the leather shop.&nbsp; <br><br>Merchants and shoppers all suddenly had other places to be, other business to consume attentions as Kahru pocketed the pouch and lifted his left hand towards menacingly towards the stranger’s neck as he commanded, “WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS?”&nbsp; <br><br>No sooner had he barked the question than his eyes filtered through the veils and took in the dark eye and the patch that covered what he knew to be blue.&nbsp; His brow furrowed with confusion as his gaze shifted back and forth between the patch and the brown eye staring back at him as his hands eased and then pulled from her completely as his hand raked through his hair.&nbsp; Sorrow and relief and concern all raced past his expressive features as his hand half lifted to touch the arm he had just bruised, only to pull back once more to be shoved into his pocket.&nbsp; <br><br>“What are you doing here, Adria?&nbsp; Are you-”&nbsp; Kahru stepped back as he looked about the dismal market for another familiar face, suddenly filled with hope to see his old friend,&nbsp; “Sand?” but none of the barkers upon their rugs looked towards him in a familiar kind of manner.&nbsp; None of the merchants looked at him at all as they continued to attempt to ignore the shadowy man.&nbsp; Kahru’s gaze turned back to Adria’s somewhat pained as he realized if Sand were not with her, there was likely no hope to ever see his friend again.&nbsp; <br><br>“Walk with me?” Kahru asked as he stepped to the side and would wander down the sloping sandstone hill to even darker alley ways of the Glorious Ar.&nbsp; Here the cobble stone rode was little more than packed dust and manure and the streets were not wide for a draft tharlarion let alone a cart.&nbsp; His elbow hitched to offer it to the Free Lady as his steps took him towards the entrance under the arena.&nbsp; “Keep this,” Kahru said as he handed her the pouch once more and then stepped inside the dark underbelly of the holding pens.&nbsp; <br><br>Torch light filtered through the dirt cloud that hung within the pens.&nbsp; Larls and thelarions, tarsk, sleen, and kailiauk all paced their iron cages, or lay defeatedly awaiting their fate.&nbsp; Men and slaves were here as well, though at present, none had cared about the two that had entered and all too far away to listen to their conversation.&nbsp; “What has happened to pull you from Port Kar?”
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				Title: <strong>Re: Gor ~ Markeplace District: House of Aurelius &amp; Stadium of Blades</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jazra</strong> on <strong>16-04-2017, 18:55:15</strong>
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				<strong>Character: Adria Larentia<br>Location: South of the Arena<br>Concerning: Conversation with Kahru</strong><br><br>Until this moment, Adria hadn’t realized how exciting playing games with dangerous men. She would never cheat on her husband assuming he lived. And Sand respected Kahru, considered him a friend. So, he was off limits. But when he grabbed her upper arm and pushed her back into the alley, wicked thoughts of being collared, branded, forced to her knees. They sent a rush through her so powerful, she had to literally force back the rising flood of erotic imagery that flashed through her mind. <br><br>It helped that Kahru’s words and expression brought Sand back to her mind and guilt for feeling like a woman about to be taken by a man flickered through her. What right did she have to be excited by a man’s touch when she was a married woman. She nodded as Kahru recognized her and said huskily, “Yes, I’ll walk with you.” <br><br>She took the pouch and though he couldn’t see through her veils, her smiled was filled with affection and respect for this man who had been her husband’s friend. This man who had been their protector. “Thank you.” Then she explained about how Sand had been sent on a mysterious mission by his father and never returned. Kahru would know that Sand’s sense of honor had often conflicted with his genial guild master father who would easily cut a man’s throat and then give alms to his widow and express his condolences. “I fear Sand’s father had something to do with his disappearance. They fought terribly before that mission and now Sand’s younger brother, Cobalt, is being groomed to take over the guild eventually. <br><br>She shrugged. “My father-in-law never directly attacked me. But he praised my beauty often when in his cups and you know what that can do to men. He also hinted ever so subtly that I was unfaithful to Sand and perhaps had something to do with his disappearance.” Her eyes filled with pain. She wanted to protest that she had never been faithful, but even with Kahru, she could not bear to defend her honor, honor that her husband would have died to defend. “I had to leave Port Kar, I feel like I exist now only to find whether Sand lives."<br><br><br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Gor ~ Markeplace District: House of Aurelius &amp; Stadium of Blades</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Supias</strong> on <strong>21-04-2017, 23:01:57</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy199/Supias/a420e1ca-edf1-4c42-9fdc-7cb06089357c.jpg)</div><br>Character:&nbsp; Kahrumour Volundar (Kahru)<br>Location:&nbsp; &nbsp;South of the Arena<br>Concerning: Catching up with Adria<br><br>Slipping a supportive hand to the small of Adria’s back, Kahru lead them into the stifling air of the holding pins.&nbsp; Ever since his own forced time behind the bars of cells such as these, he had always had an unhealthy compulsion to slip below and see who or what awaited their inevitable demise.&nbsp; It was a ghost that ever haunted him, just like the need for kanda.&nbsp; More beasts than men this day.&nbsp; His hand tightened as he subtly veered Adria towards the center of the aisle and placed himself between the outreaching arms, desperate for anything, particularly one more grope and feel before the games were to begin.&nbsp; <br><br>He shouldn’t have brought her here, Kahru thought to himself.&nbsp; It was no place to bring a Free Woman, but he reminded himself this was Adria, Sand’s Adria, a woman well accustomed to the most vial of Kar conditions.&nbsp; She could take care of herself if she needed to, still his golden eyes would glance towards her veiled face, apologetically as another caged convict threw himself upon the bars and flung vulgar suggestions about his cock and her leaving her veil on. <br>&nbsp;<br>Kahru and Adria nearly passed when he snapped back around and clutched the front of the man’s shirt slamming the convict once, twice, and one last time up against he iron bars of his cage, articulating each crash with his words.&nbsp; “Watch. Your. Tongue.”&nbsp; The sudden ferocity of the attack left the convict dazed and set the beasts to frenzy as Kahru pull the working knife from his belt and gripped the man’s chin in a vice grip about his jaw, forcing him to scream.&nbsp; <br><br>“Apologize to the Lady or stand by your words,” Kahru barked to the man.&nbsp; Whither the criminal was too stunned, stupid or slow, no words were fast enough for Kahru who plunged the knife into his mouth before cutting out the offending muscle and flinging it into a nearby tarsk cage.&nbsp; <br><br>He had come here looking for a particular person, and save that, a particular brand, but none of the men or slaves appeared to have whatever it was Kahru was looking for, and he would guide Adria away from the oppressive underbelly of the Arena.&nbsp; “I should not have brought you here Adria.”&nbsp; He said as they stepped back out into the light and headed back up the hill once more.&nbsp; He had cleaned the blade upon the leather of his pants before placing the knife back where it belonged.&nbsp; A black line stained there hinting that perhaps this had not been the first time he leaned on violence to take care of such matters.&nbsp; <br><br>It was a side of the Kahru that he was certain Adria had rarely seen.&nbsp; By the time Sand had invited Kahru to meet his wife, Kahru had enough of a reputation that the violence that was an everyday occurrence in the Port rarely happened to take place wherever they went, at least not in the daylight.&nbsp; Sand and he had always been careful not to talk about the more dangerous ventures they had found themselves in, not wanting Adria to worry.&nbsp; <br><br>Outside, Kahru stopped to tug at his coat jacket and pull one of the precious roots from the inside pocket of his coat, three left, he had to get more, and brought the hollowed-out root to his lips, before bringing the firebox out of his pocket and flicking the striker against the flint.&nbsp; Had he been in another part of the city the smell of the smoke would have brought him more attention than he would have liked, but in these parts, it was simply another part of life.&nbsp; Kahru’s head began to clear and the blood that had been pounding in his ears began to slow despite the clinically intended purposes of the drug.&nbsp; It did still have the added effect of alerting his attentions and strengthening his movements, but it no longer caused him any lack of sleep. <br><br>Golden eyes lit up like the end of the root through the cloud of smoke as he looked over Adria with a mixture of contemplation and hesitation.&nbsp; “How about we head over one of the bakeries.&nbsp; You can bring your tanning work, and I’ll bring my fletch work.&nbsp; We can break some bread and drink some ale or what have you and perhaps we can find out something more about how to go about looking for Sand. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Gor ~ Markeplace District: House of Aurelius &amp; Stadium of Blades</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jazra</strong> on <strong>22-04-2017, 19:15:23</strong>
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				Character:&nbsp; Adria<br>Location:&nbsp; &nbsp;South of the Arena<br>Concerning: Walking with Kahru<br><br>The warmth of Kahru’s protective hand on her lower back felt good. Adria valued her freedom and reputation. But since Sand had vanished, she’d felt lost. Always, she’d had a protector, a man she could rely on to keep her safe and stand between her and the world and any insults that might be thrown her way. She grinned. It didn’t mean that she hadn’t been Sand’s strong right arm, helping him execute amazing thefts. Standing behind him when he needed her. It was just Adria felt most comfortable when she had a loving, protective man who cared about her to help her navigate the dangerous, often crude world in which she lived. <br><br>It was as her small feet followed slightly behind Kahur, making a game of stepping into the footprints that he left behind, that she heard yet another insult about what lay behind her veil, beneath her robes. The sudden violence as Kahru reacted shocked her out of her reverie and caused her to bite back a gasp as Kahru defended her honor like he was her kinsman and not just her husband’s friend. Since Sand had vanished, she had endured so many unanswered insults. <br><br>As Kahur demanded an apology, Adria stood straighter, behind Kahru, and held her head high. She waited and neither smiled nor cringed when Kahru exacted a price for the slow-to-apologize man. In the aftermath, Adria stood proudly without commend and then nodded.<br><br>When he asked if she would follow him to the bakeries, Adria nodded. “Yes shaqiq. I’d like that.” The term shaqiq was a powerful one that girls would sometimes bestow on men they respected. It meant brother in her community, but a very special kind of brother. It was her way of acknowledging that she had to protect her reputation as a free woman now, because it would reflect on Kahru if she did something inappropriate. It said, this is my brother who may guide me and who I will obey, because his honor is an umbrella that stands over me.” There was nothing sexual about it. And of course, Kahru had no obligation to her unless he chose to accept the role of her protector until Sand returned. He would return. He couldn't be dead.&nbsp; <br><br>Shaking off those dark thoughts, she laughed, a silver happy tone. It was perhaps her first happy laugh since Sand disappeared. “I would love to break bread and drink ale with you.” Her eyes held faint concern for him as she saw the drug hit him, but she would never criticize him.<br>
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