Bandit Queen

TESRP blog containing one (beautiful, witty, awe inspiring) Bosmeri bandit. Will contain foul language. For those who need it, I'll be tagging any post with foul language (most of them) with #faencussin

[faenthil]

Extortion

[snake-and-heretic-blog]

Ioannes carefully didn’t pay any attention to the movement behind the Bosmer. It wasn’t necessary, though he was cautiously aware. 

He also didn’t even remotely expect her to actually uphold any part of this deal, life of his horse included, but being cooperative and professional was clearly the best way to keep hold of the vague chance that she might. He nodded wordlessly in response. 

It could have gone worse.

He didn’t wait for permission to move to unbridle the horse and slap her lightly on the haunch, making it clear that she was allowed to proceed to the side of the road and graze, which she did, benignly. Not even the vaguest hint of temptation to flee. He turned back, allowing the other to call the shots. “Where?”

[faenthil]

"Where tha fuck d'ya think? Right here. Hate ta break it to ya, kid, but I ain't takin you nowhere." Faenthil's smile widened, revealing more teeth. "So just sit tight. Th' shit yer gonna enchant'll be here quick enough."

She let her eyes wander to the boy's horse when he slapped it, idly wondering if he was trying to accomplish what that spoilt penniless lord-whore had done. How far did he expect a nag like that to run? But no, the creature just ambled towards the nearest patch of grass and munched like its life wasn't on the line. Faenthil snorted. Just like its master, then.

Her prediction was right enough- before long, Am-Eutei approached the two again, carrying a large rough sack that looked like it might have once been used to hold grain. It looked a moderate size in her arms- but she was a Naga. 

[faenthil]

whistles innocently about absence ))

[faenthil]

Extortion

[snake-and-heretic-blog]

It probably wasn’t worth it to explain that the only enchantments he was really decent at were the typical academic ones (though really, what other kinds were there) since the chance of her either understanding or caring about the implications of that was low. But he knew an inevitable deal when he saw one, and he rattled off those academic enchantments, curtly, making stark eye contact the entire time. “Fire, ice, shock. Physical skill protections and enhancements including weapon and armor strengthening, magical and mental skills, same, and the more involved spells up to median-length waterbreathing and voluntary activated enchantments like drains, locks, spell activations, and eavesdropping.”

[faenthil]

He was right, she wouldn't care for the details. Or understand them. In fact, she might have laughed at him if he'd tried to explain it.

Instead, she grinned at him. Direct eye contact, no fear tells, just plain, up front dealmaking. This kid was surpassing her expectations and then some- Faenthil was beginning to think she really would spare his horse in exchange for these services.

She flicked a quick gesture behind her while the elf spoke. A shadow- Am-Eutei- detached from the surrounding rock and disappeared into the scrubby trees beyond them, heading towards their stash of goods a little ways off. Faenthil wouldn't bring Ioannes to her camp to enchant things.. she didn't like anyone, even skinny scarred up elf boys, knowing where she slept. But she could bring goods to him.

"I like you, kid. Sensible. None a this run away like a ninny or fight bullshit. Tell ya what- enchant what I give you, an' I'll let ya on yer way. Grubby rags 'n everythin."

[faenthil]

Extortion

[snake-and-heretic-blog]

Given that the animal was his best and only means of transportation, he immediately shook off any idea that attempting to preserve his ownership of her might be a stupid idea. But what did he have, really, basically nothing. She’d dropped everything he did have in the dirt and frankly he couldn’t blame her, that was about what it was worth. Fighting was a plausible option; he could certainly conjure more than enough entities of one kind or another to keep many people busy, but at this kind of proximity and without the resources of bodies or armor it might be the worse one in the end. 

When he eventually spoke, it was just as slowly and tonelessly as everything he’d said before, though he was actively, carefully letting magicka pool in his hands. It might have been natural, just the weight of gravity. It was just a precaution, anyway, though what he was about to suggest was something of a last-ditch effort, and only brought about by the thought of what the goal of his final destination was in the first place. “I’m sure that you make a certain amount of profit from sales of obtained objects. I feel sure that you could make a decent measure more, if those objects which you had on hand were enchanted.”

[faenthil]

Now, at last, she was interested. Faenthil glanced away from the horse, back towards the Altmer boy. She might, even, be grinning a bit.

"Might be that yer right." She rested her hands on her hips, casually, touching the hilts of her swords with the outermost fingers. "There's some as pay more fer enchanted shit. What do ya have on offer then, skinny? I know some a you magey types only like ta work in one par-ti-cu-lar kinda magic, and I ain't got fences what like heaps of only one kinda enchantment."

[faenthil]

Extortion

[snake-and-heretic-blog]

He tried not to make too much of a face when she dropped the bag in the dirt. He watched her, flatly, as she passed judgement on the contents of the other, and placed a cautionary hand on the old mare’s neck as soon as she mentioned her. The horse wasn’t much, but it was the first one that hadn’t tried its damnedest to kick him into oblivion or eat his hair, she had cost most of what he’d gleaned from getting rid of the movable contents of the Markarth house, and he was loath to admit that he might have some attachment to her. Enough, even, to spark mildly through his overwhelming apathy about what was happening. “I don’t recommend it, really.”

[faenthil]

She cast him a derisive glance. 

"And what're you gonna do ta stop me?" Purposefully, Faenthil dropped the second back onto the dirt at her feet. She didn't even need to make a signal for her girls to pick up on- they'd heard the words. They would be ready if the skinny elf made trouble.

"Better, what're you gonna offer me ta spare th' beast?"

[faenthil]

Extortion

[snake-and-heretic-blog]

Ioannes didn’t respond to her question, whether it was rhetorical or not, and unconsciously passed a hand across his scarred face instead, a gesture that was starting to become habitual. 

"So determined to show me that I am within your power that you can’t pick it up yourself?" He handed her the second bag, which was even less full than the first.

[faenthil]

"Yes." As if to prove her point, and mostly because Ioannes had drawn attention to it, Faenthil drops both the book and the bag straight onto the road instead of handing them back. It was childish, but Faenthil had never been the first person to claim maturity. She was, in fact, the last.

The second back received the same treatment as the first. Faenthil muttered to herself as she went through it. Terrible food- is that mold? Probably. More ratty clothes. Pathetic.

"I guess I could take th' beast." She said at last, eyeing the horse apathetically. "Probably could make a decent meal fer the girls fer a couple days. Too old to sell, though."

[faenthil]

Extortion

[snake-and-heretic-blog]

Ioannes almost laughed a little bit at the implication that he had money on him or needed scrolls, but wisely bit his lip and dismounted from the horse, ungracefully. She stood, patiently, very still, twitching her docked tail, apparently unphased by all this. 

He unbuckled the flat, half-empty bags from the sides of the saddle and held one out to the Bosmer, casually, almost as if they knew one another. All she would find was a few extra threadbare articles of clothing and articles of literature useless to anyone who didn’t have a background in the deep intricacies of conjuration. He set the other leather bag down on the road and crossed his arms, waiting for her verdict on the first.

[faenthil]

One eye on the Altmer and his horse, Faenthil rooted through the bag. She held up one of the tunics disdainfully. 

"What'd ya do, fart on a Jarl and trip his sister? Even them poor men on the roads have better clothes than these. And-" She dropped the shirt back into the bag, grasping one of the books instead. She squinted at it, suspiciously. Con something. Was that magic, or some weird hobby? Didn't matter.

"Worthless but ta feed a fire. Gimme the other."

[faenthil]

whispers I'm baaaack

[faenthil]

Extortion

[snake-and-heretic-blog]

"Oh." He said. He meant to sound surprised or alarmed or something else appropriate, but it came out very flat. His luck couldn’t have held anyway. Oh. 

Fortunately (or possibly extremely unfortunately) he found himself in a position with very little that could actually be considered “of worth”, though he wasn’t certain of what her definition of that was. He supposed he could just try to heel the horse into a gallop and leave, but she’d be a fool if she didn’t have others surrounding the area, and she didn’t look like a fool. 

"So, what then," He finally said, after studying the cracked horn of the saddle in front of him for a while, waiting for her to define worth or demand he get off the poor old horse or something. Jitters stirred under his hood and eventually poked his naked head out, intrigued by the presence of a new voice, and Ioannes gently pushed him back into hiding. Just in case the cat was one of the things that fell under the obscure "of worth" label.

[faenthil]

She deflated a little, in the absence of the usual fearful or angry response. Even defiance was something to feed off of for a proper robbing.

Not to be deterred, Faenthil forged on, tossing her head carelessly. "So: Empty yer bags. I'll be takin coin, metals, you know. Shiny things. Scrolls, too. Yer one a them Altmer- magicy type, right? Whatever's worth tradin." 

She eyes him again. Snorts in disgust. "Way yer dressed, ya ain't gonna be worth  much ransom, so don't get comfy." Disappointing. Altmer who spoke all fancy like he was were usually better dressed. Worth feeding until someone came to pay for their freedom. Or, remembering the buxom Altmer from before, had the money for their freedom on hand already.

The rat thing that peeked out was a bit unusual. But probably not worth much to anyone but animal collectors, who were hard to track down anyway. And usually weird. Faenthil didn't like dealing with them.

[faenthil]

Extortion

[snake-and-heretic-blog]

Oh, no.

It would have been ridiculous to expect this entire ordeal to go well, considering his luck so far. But if it had to go poorly, it could have at least gone poorly in some other direction. Bears and wolves at least had the benefit of not requiring logic and reasoning.

He heeled the weary horse to a short halt, warily alert. high on the old mare’s tall back. She wasn’t alone. Nobody would be that stupid. But then again, did he really look like a promising target? There was the horse, but beyond that his second-hand clothes and cloak were threadbare, boots flat and worn, face and hands cold-chapped. The horse’s tack was frayed, at best. But for all he knew, travelers here always dressed poorly to deter just this sort of thing.

"Hello, Bosmer."

[faenthil]

"What a way to greet your friends. Didn't yer mum teach ya manners?" Faenthil tsked at the young mer- he had to be young, with a face so unwary. She glanced over his kit with a critical eye while she spoke. Patched. Threadbare. Dusty. Poor pickings, really. If she'd seen him before she stepped out, Faenthil might have even let him pass.

But that's neither here nor there. It'd be bad for business if she just let him by, now. She can't be seen as having anything that could be interpreted as good will.

"I," She said, splaying her hand on her chest dramatically. "Am Faenthil. I'll be relieving you of anything of worth, today."

[firaequis-deactivated20141009]

anonymously leave a rumor about my character in my inbox

[varlaeus-deactivated20140216]

faenthil started following you

[varlaeus-deactivated20140216]

[He laughs again.]

You think I mean to seduce you? You misunderstand, queen. I don’t care if I end up fucking you or killing you. Either way, you’ll understand what it means to submit.

[faenthil]

What, it ain't tha same thing? [smirks]

[laughs outright] Submit? I ain't done that a day in my life, an there's been a number a them. You got yer work cut out fer ya, muscles. 

[varlaeus-deactivated20140216]

faenthil started following you

[varlaeus-deactivated20140216]

Zu’u los nid joor, jud.  Kopraan los, nuz Zu’u los dovah.

I could shout you apartbefore you had a chance.

[faenthil]

Ya tryna impress me with yer foreign babble? Listen kid, I've had full blooded Bretons doin their best ta seduce me outta robbin 'em. It ain't gonna work.

[varlaeus-deactivated20140216]

faenthil started following you

[varlaeus-deactivated20140216]

[He laughs.] I’m not an ordinary man.

[faenthil]

That's what they all say, muscles.

[varlaeus-deactivated20140216]

faenthil started following you

[varlaeus-deactivated20140216]

Weakness, indeed.

I wouldn’t bite off more than you could chew.

[faenthil]

I can chew anythin just fine. It's you who should be watchin how much trouble ya tear off fer yerself, muscles.

Then again, I'm too big a challenge fer most men.

[varlaeus-deactivated20140216]

faenthil started following you

[varlaeus-deactivated20140216]

Not much on me that your kind would consider valuable. 

I don’t recommend trying to dance with me, queen… Unless you care for a proper fucking.

[faenthil]

I normally go fer shorter men. Weakness passed down from my mum, y'know.

[grins sharply] But I could make an exception fer you, if I thought ya could keep up with me.

[justiciardeathknell]

faenthil started following you

All he wanted was a moment to himself, to take in the grand nature of this new land. Rather collect some herbs for research. He hated being out in this cold weather. Having run into someone was even worse.

 Aendir rolled his eyes. Not the best welcoming comity in Skyrim. The travesty done to her ears (not to mention her hair) was enough to tell Aendir she, most likely, wasn’t the average women patron of these parts. A feral womer what more could he ask for.

"By the eight," he groaned, "I hope theres something can pardon you with. Something that isn’t my coin purse." He muttered the last part, quick to jump to conclusions.  Because thats exactly what he needed right now. Not that any time was better, or appropriate, to be robbed. Aendir crossed his arms, still quite sure of his take on the situation at hand. 

[faenthil]

Faenthil raised her eyebrows, momentarily caught by surprise. This was a forthright one indeed. Bound to either make her job very easy, or very difficult. She folded her arms over her chest, not yet concerned with projecting a deadly impression, glancing the Altmer up and down. 

"I dunno. How big's yer purse, goldie? Judgin by the poncey way ya talk, it's big enough ta concern myself with."