Salara Lacerta
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Login name: orangetree
Calimport.
Rich in flavours, spices, and of people. Bagains to be sought in every city, in every alley an even more interesting bargain. Like any civilised society, there are those that collect what is owed to them. You can pay others to keep these people away from you, just be sure you pay them too. The same trick doesn't really work a second time.
Ashlan Frian, accepted the girl as "payment". The spell he placed on her had made her sleep… he smiled briefly, looking over her form. She was young, and innocent... almost helpless. The strange cloth that was the fashion in calim had fallen, revealing an interesting bonus...
"Elven taint", the thayan mage grumbled staring at the deformities. Still he was drawn to the half blood in an almost artistic fashion. It was rare to have something like this in Thay... and in fact, probably illegal.
He ran a finger along the tips of her ear, she stirred at the touch. "Oh yes my dear... I will find you a most interesting placement..."
"Where am I?" The girl asked in the foreign tongue. She was suddenly paralysed, her body would not move. A glowing aura surrounded her, as she was snared by the red mages magic.
"lesson one. You speak in common. You belong to me girl, and I shall now name you. You will answer to Salara."
The girl started to speak in common. "Wh- Wheres my father?"
"Your father... is dead my dear. So sorry, but as they say even in your lands that is business. You are my compensation."
She stared at him. "No! I-" She felt herself weakened, even her own body was too heavy to lift.. she fell to the ground.
"Notice, I have not struck you once... Nor will I. I do not need to. You are in my power... I have never tested my spells against one with elven blood, and you will be most satisfying"
A bracelet appeared on her arm, with a strange symbol and insignia. Sal stared at it, with horror.
"This shows you are my property. You will be well treated, of course... However, given your.. blood, I'm going to have to make sure you are worth the trouble. I shall be writing a formal application for your need in our Thaumagicary research... Oh I can just imagine them wanting a taste of your blood." He flashed a grin.
"What ever my father owes you he can pay it. hes got money.. if not him my uncle, my-"
"Oh... no.. no my dear" Ashlan shook his head. Your family is bankrupt. I can see now why your father wasted so much coin in trying to provide you with a permanent illusion.You are not the most flattering example of a crossbred. "He grabbed her ear, Sal whimpered under the painful grasp... he then quickly let go. "But you knew that already. Follow."
Sal got up, she noticed she was dressed in rags. she was lead into a room, filled with other slaves. They all seemed to line in an order, as if an army in rags.
"This is Sal. Nobody is to touch her. The penalty shall be auction." The varied group visibly stiffened. "Now my dear... welcome to your new home. You will serve me well.. I can tell. Who knows? You might even grow to love it... oh, as a token of good will, I shall leave you with some modesty" He passed a red veil to her. "I rather not have less informed people knowing I have an elf blood in service, until things are properly in order. If I find you cause me trouble, I will do what is required to remove that trouble. We are clear?"
Sal gave a meek nod.
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Reviewed, XP pending
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"My dear Salara" smiled Ashlan. The thayan mage regarded her impassively as he sat on his dinning table. A dish of rice was laid on fine china.
Salara looked at the food a moment, the smell of spice kindled that sense of home in her.
"How long have you been with me Sal?"
Sal paused wondering if this was a trick question. Her first instinct was to shrug, but that would be taken as a sign of indifference; an insult to her master. "Half the month before the New Moon" She said.
"I'm afraid not… its been closer to four months."
Sal paused again, not daring to contradict but at the same time wanting to know the truth.
"It is.. perhaps a side effect of the magics we have done to you. You have not progressed within expectations" Disappointment radiated from him. "We employ spells in your sleep. I believe its easier to bare at such a time. But its effecting your perceptions of time"
Salara said nothing.
"Sit, eat with me."
Again Salara wondered if this was trickery... but a command was a command. For now she will accept.
"Genuine Koppah spice. One of the finest things in the otherwise barbaric outland. I trust, the treatments have not put you in too much discomfort?"
"... I feel strange. Different. What is being done to me?"
He ignored the question for the moment. "Your first mission is tomorrow my dear. A simple mission... I do not wish to hurt one I have placed a great deal of expense upon."
"My family have unknown riches, none of this was necessary." Salara pressed. She had to get out of this nightmare!
The red mage paused, regarding her. "How little, you know your own family... perhaps being the misbegotten half breed, they kept you in the dark."
"You can not spread slander as that of my family. They loved me as I them. I am one with the sands that made-"
"Yes yes, but you are also more..." He grinned. "Please, continue to eat. I promised you would be treated well... none of my others have caused you any trouble I hope?"
"No" she lied.
He sighed, then beckoned another servent. "Tea, for two." He commanded, the young maid. The maid left, not before flashing an icy stare at Sal.
Sal met the stare neutrally. She did not know what game this mage was playing. Was he trying to make her distant to the others? Why was she being treated... almost pleasantly?
The thayan spoke silently as they were left alone in her home language. "You are being molded my dear. My eyes and ears, I would not pluck them nor make myself deaf."
Salara knew the saying.
"Please, remove your veil for me..."
Odd... this did not seem a command... or was it? She carefully removed her veil, the thayan mage seemed to stare at her with silent fascination.
Ashlan took her intoxicated by the alieness. The slanted eyes, the pointed ears, the strange face, and powerful red lips... He got up, and turned away. "Finish the tea, and sleep well. Your first true test begins at the noon sun. For the moment... you must not fear. My power will protect you against likely harm... but there will be moments you will be alone. Use this as your learning experience."
Salara was left alone, suddenly self conscious of being a slave on a dining table. She felt the need to get up and leave, but then the tea was brought in. In automatic fashion as if she was back among the splendors of Calim she took the tea and sipped.
Tomorrow at noon... "what is my purpose here?"
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Salara was in agony. She had spent a mere five minutes on the array, the magics coursed through her. She was suddenly unable to stand, and fell on her hands. An idle thought of what was happening to her passed by, but for some reason she could not hear anything beyond the pentagram. The two mages seemed to be conversing.
"She seems in pain" Said Ashlan.
"Discomfort is anticipated" Shasi replied. He quickly adjusted a control lever.
"This contraption… seems of gnome design"
"Only in the principles. Thayan magic is at the heart of it all." Shasi was rather quick to point out. "I have learned a great deal of the creation of hybrids."
"What have you found out?" Ashlan looked over his papers with some intrigue.
"Only perhaps the greatest secret faerun has ever known. The knowledge of jenetiks and synergy. The secrets of how a half elf is actually created in conception" he paused, with self gratification.
"Is any of this actually important?" Ashlan feigned uninterested.
"I have isolated what I term synergistic energies. They are present in mostly equal quantities of her body, and I believe a component in elves. It might even be the divine energy of nature itself."
"Your evidence is not conclusive. Mearly subjective."
"Weather I'm right or not, her existence is not in dispute. Without this energy her existence is not possible. She would simply disintegrate as dust. A half human. It is the synergistic energy that bind everything together. Look!" he pointed to a diagram. "it is in slightly higher quantities among the vestigial non-functioning organs. Perhaps to prevent rejection. The heart, this.. spleen like organ, along the ears, the brain matter, Her womb even."
"It means nothing. This energy has been detected among many races, human and non-human."
"I know this energy can be manipulated. I can mold her into the perfect agent for you. I will use this energy to perform permanent transmutations. She will be faster, quicker, agile, stronger! The venom will be incorporated into her..."
"Venom?"
"Part magical, part alchemical derived mostly from the snakemen and the Yuan-Ti. My other subjects did not survive it, but with this array and her energies it can work. A pity we could not secure more from her family."
"Remember... I want her alive and well."
"It will not fail. She will not even know."
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"You will be my agent Salira" Ashlan stated.
"What… do you mean?" Sal wasn't sure how things had been this entire month. At first she was cooking, then she was cleaning... but now, this?
"Its simply my dear. We have enclaves opening in many regions. Often however, we need to ensure there is some.. security in mind. You will scout them for me. Remove any traps. You are the one with the most potential out of all I have.
"I don't understand. I know nothing of being a scout. I never did that. I'm an artist!"
"Must I remind you not to raise your voice woman. Now where was I, ah yes. You will be given a thorough examination by our physicians... they will teach you to use your body properly."
"Excuse me?"
"You do not walk as an elf, I have seen them.. they move with grace beyond that of humans. But if you mention I said this, I will slay you on the spot."
She cringed. He has never actually killed a slave in her stay yet, but she had a feeling it was not beyond him. Oddly, he never spoke to any other slave as candidly as to her.
"You will need this extra grace... and perhaps more. There are many dungeons, and lost treasures I must collect. However, you do have a choice. Do this and your contract with me terminates a great deal sooner... only 100 years instead of 200. I can leave you cleaning the privy for my grandson."
"F-fine. I'll do it." She reluctantly agreed.
"You won't be disappointed my dear. The Physician will see you tomorrow in the afternoon. You have free reign within my home until then."
Ashlan was extremely excited. He was about to make a great deal of coin. This physician had claimed a major breakthrough, and if it was so his slave was about to become worth ten times the mere novelty she was.
"You have the hybrid?"
"Yes Shasi. She is being prepared now"
Shasi was a strong mage in his own right. He created the special stone that kept Ashlan's slave to his beckon and call. But this was an entire league on its own.
"I do not want her harmed, you understand." Ashlan warned.
"My friend, I have far more at stake then you. I will be able to provide an enchantment to empower our soldiers..." He lowered his voice. "We might just become the major power in thay."
"Enthusiasm is good, results are better. I have agreed only because you will provide me the coin... if she should die however, I expect to be reimbursed."
"This halfbreed is hardly worth-"
"It is of worth, at this moment to you. I will have your entire assets if she dies."
Shasi seemed to pause, taken very aback. Then he smiled. "Ashlan... have you developed some kind of feeling for-" he felt the magical hand grab his neck. He gasped for breath.
"Words of power come in many forms... the right words can change the future... the wrong words can end it..."
Shasi gasped again as he felt the grip tighten but then let it fell. He coughed and struggled to regain his breath. "The.. treatment.. wont.. fail. I promise.. I have perfected it. I swear it! Her elven ancestry will protect her from the side effects. I-"
"It better. I want it so she doesn't even notice anything different about her."
"I have.. the right to give her a name as well.. do I not?" Shasi quickly spoke.
"Of course.. that was part of the deal. What will it be?"
It could be only one. "Lacerta".
The word was spoken like a spell, and Salara Lacerta suddenly awoke. She did not feel any different then she had before... but this was the only name she could recall.
