Uldartre academy (IC, Semi-open)

[New Cinoth]

Lucis scratched his head, What to do with the time...... Oh nevermind... They seem to be here! Lucis turned and looked at the guard and Camelia, That's what they though would be best...... Well, maybe half robes are a custom. Lucis took the offered leash, "What? Am I supposed to keep her on a leash?" No... I'll have to get rid of the collar as soon as possible. I'll just need a microchip. That way I won't have to haul her everywhere. Lucis walked forewards and began to examine her, poking her in the forehead, arms, and back, "She seems healthy and responsive. That's a good sign!" He nodded to her, " Well then nice to meet you, Camelia. I'm Lucis and I'll be your sponsor. And before you ask, yes I'm human." He turned abruptly, "Come along, I've got to see if Liam approves....." Lucis bgan to walk back to Liam, Hopefully he won't spot any signs of mistreatment....

[Vakolic]

Camilia's well-trained mind flicked through the possible plans. It was obvious that she needed to get out of this sticky predicament, however she wasn't sure how at the moment in time.
Her possibilities did increase substancially though as the guard removed her handcuffs, and she was able to bat away one of the machines prodding fingers. "Are you looking for something?" she spat, her strong Russian accent easily noticable. "I've no broken bones, if that's what you are looking for."

She followed as the thing dragged on the leash that the accursed guards had put on her neck and which, she noticed, it had been handed the keys too.

What? The thing was showing her off to its friends now? she thought.
Standing defiantly tall, she said mockingly "What do you need me for anyway. Can't you create a lot of little robotic creatures to do your work, or are a few of your circuits too rusty for that."

[New Cinoth]

Luics laughed, "Snippity little pet aren't you?" He sighed, "I could create as many robots as I wanted but I needed something made of flesh since I lack the materials. And the reason I need you is because I'd rather survive with the least damage possible, so I got you to act as a guardian, shield, or whatever you want to call it." He stopped, looking back at her, "I was planning on removing that collar of yours and eventually giving you free reign as long as you came when needed."But then again, what's to stop you from attacking me? So I'll just make sure that if you do your head will explode. Doesn't that sound nice?" Lucis laughed, genuinely pleased at his little plan. "So first things first, I find Liam and he makes sure you are okay. Then, we get you a gun, and finally we remove your chains. I belive that is more than fair considering your previous "uses" in your span of being a pet." Lucis turned and continued walking, although at a slower rate.

[Vakolic]

Camelia was incredulous, and couldn't help laughing.
"Lucis...if someone's firing a gun, I'll be leeping out the way first. You see, I'd also like to survive with as little damage as possible, it's a basic human instinct."

Liam had overheard Lucis and Camelia's conversation, if that's what it could be called and shouted back. "No, it doesn't sound nice at all, it sounds illegal. I like quoting acts for this type of thing so, here goes. Anti-abuse act 2003 clearly forbids the insersion of any unremovable object designed to cause serious harm in a slave, child, animal or other dependent. Painful electric shocks are fine, head explosions aren't."

[New Cinoth]

Well, isn't she a bundle of joy.... Hmmm..."As long as you kill the person who's shooting it doesn't really matter if you can doge it or not. Although I can live through quite a bit, but sustained fire will put a strain on me, so That's where you come in." He looked over at Liam, "Nice of you to drop in."He sighed, "I thought you said they had obediance training? This one seems a little sinipity, or maybe it's broken.... Any remocmendations on how to recifiy it? I could try my own ways.... But that might leave some interesting side affects." He paused, "well, if I'm not allowed to use explosives how about an extremely painful shock sent directly through the spinal column and into the brain? This is to stop her from shooting me, other than that I care little what she decides to do in her free time."

[Vakolic]

"Yeah, that should be fine. Obedience training? That's for foreigners. Vakolicci can't be broken, that just won't work. If you tried it you'd probably wake up wondering where that arm went and...oh, I'm sure I had 2 kidneys before. But a powerful electric shock should do it. How do you plan on setting it off before you get shot?"
"Oh don't worry, I won't be shooting you. I much prefer explosives, much more fun and you can take out the whole building at the same time," Camelia butted in.
"You got a ruder one than usual though," Liam said.
Not afraid of anything, Camelia couldn't help herself. "You're good aren't you. Calling people rude when talking about them in the same room? That's nice and polite."

((ooc: Jinny and Seth...))

[New Cinoth]

OOC: I applaud you good sir!

Lucis tapped his maks, thinking. "So they aren't meant to be this rude..... I'm sure if we removed her tounge she would be much nicer." Lucis laughed, and looked down at the key that he had. "why would I want a key if she's just gonna take it and attempt to kill me?" He looked Liam, 'I'm sure I can break nearly anything... I just need the proper tools and a bit of wiring." He laughed as he looked over at Camelia, "Listen, if you are nice then I'll be nice. If you are bad I'll remove your legs" luics's tone changed from rather light-hearted to threatening in a heartbeat. "Now I would like to treat you with respect but you will have to treat me the same way." He turned to Liam, 'Do you know anywhere that they sell cattle prods? I have a feeling that's the most I caan do without permanantly damaging her."

[BettaMin]

Osman eyed the child 'Will' up and down. Strange... He didn't want to scare the child, so he drew his robes around his elephant tusk sheath, hiding the Kilij quickly. He watched as Lucis chose his slave, patiently, hoping he would keep in mind the advice he had given. Still, he picked the assassin. He waited, absorbing all he could from her gait, and her retorts. Rebellious... Sarcastic...Trained in Close Quarters Combat...And very observant. He would have to watch Lucis's back, at least until she was broken. No matter what Liam says, anybody can be broken. Its just HOW you break them. As usual, he tried to maintain a cynical view of the slave, observing her as an object. But he could not help but feel there was something interesting about her...

He snapped out of it. This kind of thought leads only to pity and self hatred. So instead, he spoke up.

"An Assassin? Pity. I would've gone with a more untrained one, so I could train it myself. Besides. I wouldn't want to have a trained assassin with every reason to want to kill me breathing down my neck every day." said Osman. "Anyways, we should go to the Weapons Market. I'm itching to see if they have released any new Kalashnikov products. And Liam! Where is your nearest mosque? I must go pray soon!"

[Alarya]

Will chewed on the inside of his cheek once again, watching as the process of ownership for the young slave girl went underway. Young William watched with keen interest as his fellow classmates once again drove on their conversation. This realization alone both shocked and impressed the young Alaryan boy. Would the slaves that they purchased be wandering around the academy?

He had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he hadn't heard the questions directed toward him, and his purpose of attending the academy by the one who had addressed himself as Lucis. Will opened his mouth but then shut it again realizing that the point was moot. They probably had even forgotten that they had asked. But it was for the best.

To explain the entire reasoning of his being at the academy instead of his home country would probably take far too long and he didn't want to talk about why he wasn't with his family anyway. Instead the young boy pretended he hadn't heard the questions, as if he were too fixated on the slave process to answer the questions directed at him. Staying silent, until he heard them discussing the treatment of the new slave....or was she an assassin? Truth be told, Will was unsure.

He hoped silently to himself that there would be others at the academy his own age or at least someone that he could carry on a conversation with. So far, everyone he had met that claimed to be from the academy were a bit intimidating for the eleven-soon to be twelve year old. The young boy had been so confident when choosing to come to the Academy, instead of his mother's choice for him. He had assured her that everything would be fine and he would learn more much more at Uldartre than back home at The School of Mab of all places. Will had gone so far as to assure her that he would fit in no problem wherever he went. At the time he had been confident. Now, he wasn't so sure.

"The weapons market?" Will asked, the words of the one with oddly colored robes snapping him out of his thoughts. "They let weapons at the school?"

[New Cinoth]

Maybe threatening her isn't the way to proceed.... After all assassins are used to being in danger.Lucis shook his head,'Don't look at me! It was Liam's choice." He shrugged, "Not that it matters. For all her rudeness and pride I'm sure she'll come around and be happy and nice." He nodded happily as he looked back at her, "And she hasn't tried to kill anyone yet, so that's a plus!" He looked over at Will, "Hey... You never answered my question of who are you. It'd be nice to know your name at least." he paused, "come to think of it I walked off.... Sorry about that, it was very rude of me."

[BettaMin]

Osman peered at Will from under his turban, looking down into his eyes.
"Uldarte's police can't protect you everywhere. While it is good to keep a weather eye on the horizon, expecting good, it is always good to have a gun strapped to your side in case a knife comes to your back."

Osman worried he had scared the child. So he slapped him on the back, and gave him a few words of assurance.
"But don't worry. There will always be one of us here to protect you."

Osman shifted his robes to reveal his belt. In it were several slots, designed for holding pistol magazines and daggers. At the moment, only a small Yatagan Dagger was hanging from his belt. It was a light thing, smaller than the average size. It had a metal hilt, now blackened with use. The hilt had traces of its former glory, with the sheen of gold struggling for air through the coat of dirt and soot. The strange hilt pommel, characteristic of the Yatagan, and the lack of a hand guard made it stand out as strange, compared to the average dagger. It was sheathed in an ivory tusk, painted black and coated with faded gold scripture from the Holy Book. Osman pulled out the dagger slightly, revealing its blade. It was immensely bright, polished well and very sharp. He tested his thumb against the edge, which immediately left blood on the blade as he yanked his finger away. He sheathed it.

Osman got on one knee, looking again at the child. He unhooked the scabbard from his belt, and tossed it to Will.
"Take this. It's served with me for most of my life. It's a bit... dented, but it should do for you. Use it wisely." said Osman, attempting a smile

[Woodstovia]

Vladim had been standing silently mostly just listening and thinking however his mind seemed to wander, while he was thinking about whether or not he had seen a summer hotter than 4 degrees in Woodstovia he suddenly begun to focus back on the conversation. The robot had bought a slave it seemed although it seemed strange that he had kept the collar on Vladim would've thought he would take it off, the foreigner was talking about buying a gun which scared Vladim immensely and the young boy was staring at the foreigner. His slave was still shocked that he had been sold Vladim guessed because he was still staring at the floor, not wanting to look up, maybe he was scared?

[Alarya]

For the first time since meeting the odd group, the side's of the young boy's mouth perked into something similar to a smile. He looked over at Lucis giving him a curt bow of his head.

"I'm Will," He said with a groan as he moved his shoulder carefully trying to get it back in place. "William Martin. Of the Kingdom of Alarya."

He was going to say more of course, things along the lines of 'It's nice to meet you kind sir. Thank you for your concern, but please don't worry about manners in my presence. I just want to get to the academy in peace.' before his eyes traveled to the one with the many robes; just as he revealed his belt of many weapons. The boy's mouth fell open agape, never having seen so many weapons on a lone belt.

Of course, he had seen such things in the armory, but never had the young boy been allowed to touch. Even in the presence of Sir Alexander was he not allowed to simply pick up a weapon of his choosing and store it on his person. The mere thought of having so many lethal weapons on a belt was quite astonishing for the young boy. Only to be further flabbergasted as the young man before him handed him one of the knives.

"I--" the young boy said taking the blade with a mixed curiosity of awe and nervousness. "Thank you, milord. I don't really need it. I mean, I've used a longsword under the supervision of my cousin, Alex. But I really wouldn't know what to do with a weapon outside a training arena. I should really give this back to you. You might need it, I wouldn't want to inconvenience you."

Although his words made it sound as if he did not want the weapon at all, the boy's actions said otherwise. He held it in his hands as if it was some sort of mesmerizing and magical object, his fingers gently dancing over the detailed hilt in awe as he admired the gold scripture of the sheath, his lips silently reading the faded words that were etched upon it.

[BettaMin]

Osman smiled, watching the boy. "It is a gift." he said, quietly, his voice seeming strained... He stared at the blade for a second, as if saying goodbye for a final time. Then he quickly stood up, and grabbed a white and gold polishing cloth from his pocket. Then he noticed something... The boy was.... reading it.
Osman tossed the polishing cloth to the child.
"You can read Arabic?" he asked. Osman was surprised. A foreigner was able to read symbols most likely strange to him. This child must be very smart.

[New Cinoth]

Lucis nodded, "Ah... Nice to meet you." He watched Osman give the child a knife, Hmmm... Handing out blades like they are candy, this won't end well.. Lucis turned back towards Will, "Are you from a feudal land? You sound like it, especially after you said "milord". It doesn't really matter, but I was just curious." He turned suddenly to Osman, "Arabic?! Are you by any chance Muslim?" He broke out into laughter, "Andreas won't be happy about this one.... No, not in the slightest!"

[Alarya]

As the cloth came sailing through the air, the boy caught it. He smiled at the robed figure widely--the first time he had done so since meeting the group. His pale blue eyes were bright and shining as he nodded his head earnestly.

"Yes," He said to the robed figure, trying not to sound too proud--although his chest puffed out just a bit. "At least for the most part. I can also read a little Syriac. Mother has some really old books in the library and that is how I learned the basics."

The boy's eyebrow arched ever so slightly toward Lucis as he let out a loud and boisterous laugh. Fear had gripped him for only a moment but had subsided almost instantly. How could he have known that the word "milord" was different? He used it everyday. If that made Alarya a feudal country...then perhaps. But only those of noble linage used such proper terminology. Not a normal kid, yes he would have to be more careful. Will cursed at himself internally as he watched the man throw back his head as he laughed again.

"Who is Andreas?"

[New Cinoth]

Lucis looked down at the kid, "What's wrong? Is your country a feudal system or is it something else?" He sighed, "I just assumed since you were using the word milord you were either high in the food chain or pretty low. One or the other really." Lucis laughed, "Tht's right youdidn't meet the rest of our little group! Andreas isn't with us but he's a super-devoted Christian. He's also fr to morally upright, but he's not really a bad guy." He paused, "You wouldn't by any chance be augmented would you?"

[BettaMin]

"I'm guessing there is no mosques here. I have heard no prayer call."said Osman, unfolding what looked like a thick square of cloth. Thecloth unfolded, creating a prayer mat, decorated in Arabic Script. He walked off to a corner, placed the rug, and kneeled.
"Let me know when you are done browsing!" he said.
He produced a small pouch of water and quickly washed his hands and feet, amazingly without removing a single garment. Then he poured a little through the corner of his mask.
He then took out a compass, and shifted himself and his mat until he was facing a mental mihrab.
And he began to lower his head to the ground, muttering the words of the Salah.
(Thats it for me tonight.)

[Alarya]

"I'm not sure what you mean really," Will said finally with a sigh, smirking a bit at Lucius for his slight cheek. "Alarya is a feudal kingdom...or at least I suppose it is. I've actually never really thought about it. I mean, it's always just been home you know? I never really thought to give it that specific classification. But it must be, because it meets all the requirements now that I think about it. And it's very much real. I'm not augmented in any sense of the word, trust me."

It was a good thing that the young boy was okay at thinking on his feet, or he would have been a blubbering fool yet again. It helped that he was feeling a bit more comfortable, at least with two members of the strange group. But what about the others? This Andreas character sounded a bit like his sister, or at least the morally upright part, so perhaps a friendship could be forged there as well--either that or they could become the darkest of enemies.

"Where are you from?" He said to Lucis with a slight nod toward the praying cloaked figure, "And him for that matter? Why are you all here looking at slaves? Is that common in this area? Will I be expected to get one as well? Are there a lot of them at the school?"

He was asking so many questions, the young boy knew. But it would be better, the young boy reasoned to himself if he were to try to change the subject. Lucis, he could already tell was the sort of gentleman that liked to pry into other people's business. Not to be rude of course, but to rather get to know who they were. Or at least this was the impression he gave to William. As happy as it made the young boy to know that someone in this strange and foreign land was interested enough to ask questions, there were some that Will just couldn't answer. At least not yet.

[New Cinoth]

"So it is feudal.... I understand that you haven't thought much on it. Home is home no matter what you call it." He's a clever kid, I'll give him that. If I had to put money on it I'd say he's somewhere up there in society. He sighed, "It's a shame that you aren't augmented. I figured you would be since your parents sent you here at such a young age." Lucis paused, "I'm not sure about Osman, but I know it is some kind of desert. As for me I'm from New Cinoth. It's more or less one giant jungle with a bunch of canyons, craters, and other holes." He began to laugh, "I guess it makes sense since a single Canyon Lizard can eat a bus." Lucis laughed, "Slavery is practiced here as is just about everything but augmentation apparently. I prefer to think of them as pets and not slaves." Lucis looked at Will, "Curious aren't you? That's a very good trait. You don't have to get one and I didn't see any at school. I got one because I need a helper, I'm not that strong so I desire protection, and I don't have the parts to build something better." Lucis paused, "Tell me something; do your people have factories, airplanes, subways, guns, and robots?"

[Alarya]

"We may be feudal but we're also quite modern. We have factories, airplanes, subways and guns--all but robots actually. We couldn't be a functioning society without them in all honesty. It's the traditions we keep, the things at our very core that make us feudal and is the thing that gives us the sense of who we are."

Will shrugged, knowing that he was sounding far wiser than most kids his age. But it was the truth and no amount of skitting around it would make that change. Every Alaryan child was taught this, that while the traditions and way they lived was medieval for the most part, made them who they were. For that, the young boy was proud.

It relieved him a lot to know that he was not expected to have a slave. Truth be told, Will had no idea what he would even do with one and the knowledge that it was not a requirement made him feel much better about the situation. In fact, the fear that Will had felt upon finding himself alone in a strange land with no idea where to go was almost gone completely. These people, although odd he would have to admit gave him a sense of comfort. His eyes once again flit toward the man called Osman curiously, his fingers gently dancing upon the blade again. He seemed like an interesting fellow, and had been so kind. Will wondered to himself if such a thing was common among his people, as he did look rather fearsome from afar. His mother would have been appalled had he mentioned the thought of someone being a certian way just because of appearance. He frowned for a moment in shame, not liking how he was instantly stereotyping as he looked back up at Lucis, his mouth agape as his description of his home replayed in his mind, as if someone had turned on a switch in his made.

"A bus?!" He cried in both horror and sheer awe, "Are you serious? How big do they get?"

[New Cinoth]

Lucis nodded, "I see. So your people have modern technology. It's good to have tradition but sometimes it has to be broken. If that wasn't true then cyborgs wouldn't exist." Lucis shrugged, "You mean you've never see one? You are one lucky child." He paused thinking, "Hmm considering many of the pits that our cities are in used to be nests they an get massive, but I think the largest ever recorded was estimated to be able to swallow an entire freighter easily. When it died it curled up in a weird shape and that became our one and only mountain." He laughed, "Surely your people have some variant or something?" He's never seen a Canyon Lizard.... Well if he ever comes to New Cinoth he'll be in for a shock. Lucis laughed, "They don't come into old nests so that's why most of our cities are underground. Also, what is your homeland like? I don't think I've heard of Alarya."

[Alarya]

"Well," Will thought for a moment, sitting atop of his large bag as he did so. "We have dragons, but that's it. They don't get very big of course and most of them live deep within the forests far away from Nydia, the capital where I live. I've only seen one or two in my life and there were Keepers around to keep an eye on them."

He laughed out loud as he imagined what he saw as a Canyon Lizard in his mind curling up like a dog beside a fireplace and then hardening like stone until it eventually turned into a large lizard-dog like mountain. It sounded incredible, but something told Will in his gut that he would never want to cross paths with such a creature, as interesting as the Canyon Lizard sounded. Will was silent for a moment as the cries of another slave being sold echoed in the air around him. The boy shuddered for only a moment a look of uneasiness and unfamiliarity crossing his features, before turning back to Lucis completely at ease once more in the next instant.

"I'm not surprised that you haven't heard of it," The young boy said with a slight smile. "Alarya isn't that small really, but we've tended to keep to ourselves for the most part, only interacting with a select few countries. We don't know much about the countries that we don't interact with, but our Queen is looking to change that."

At the mention of the Queen, Will frowned slightly. His eyebrows etched together for a brief moment as he let out what sounded like a sad sigh before he continued with a shrug. "Other than that, Alarya is full of dense forests, large mountains, fast moving rivers and rolling green hills but I don't ever really get to go out to the countryside because my parents are too busy to make the train ride unless it's for special occasion. It's not as exciting as New Cinoth sounds, but it's what I have."

He was silent for another moment, deep in his own thoughts as he stared down at his hands gently twiddling his thumbs. Thoughts of home running through his head. Despite him not saying much about Alarya, it rather surprised Will to realize how homesick he already felt by just talking about it. He pushed the feeling behind him, ignoring the slight twist in his stomach as he looked up again at Lucis, his eyebrow raised only slightly. "What brought you to Uldrate?"

[Vakolic]

The group at the slave market had obviously conducted a major sin that day, as they atracted Jean-luc Gordavris.
Jean-luc hadn't got a group so he figured that Liam, who had the largest, could really do with a little help. Besides, Liam in a slave market could start a major political discussion if he wasn't watched.

"Ah, do we have some new arrivals? My name is Jean-luc Gordavris, I'm also from the uldartre academy."
He surveyed the small group before something jumped out at him what? What did Lucis need with anything flesh and blood. "Lucis, why do you need a slave? I thought you'd do a lot of your own work yourself. And you do know that those collars are only meant for transport, don't you?"

"Nice of you to put in an appearance Jean-luc, we're going to a firearms store now."
"Which firearms store?"
"Marschen is good isn't it. I'm not really that big on guns, apart from the fact that I own about 8 and know what's good for what situations and how to asemble it."
He removed a bulky sub machine gun from his coat. Despite any intelligent concerns telling her not to, Camelia made a grab for the gun.
"Don't worry," Liam said. "You can have it," before handing it over. "It's a custom long-firing zh-91. They're possibly the best you can buy. Do what you need too with it."

For once, Camelia was too dumbstruck to speak. Was this rather upper-class boy actually providing her with a highly deadly weapon? The final blow came when he opened his pocket. "Take some ammo as well. You'll be needing it."

Jean-luc too was surprised. "Liam," he said. "That's someone elses property, and you're giving it a gun? I thought you were responsible enough not to do that."

[Vakolic]

Blacksen heard the tone in Andreas' voice and laughed. "Are you sure you're not from around here? Of course we're allowed to own slaves. You're in one of the hubs of the international slave trade. Everyone who has some sort of wealth owns the people who don't. It's the way of life here."

Andreas hadn't noticed his tone and was surprised that Blacksen had figured out his interest in owning slaves. "Actually, my mother was a foreign resident before she married my father. That's why she wanted me to see the world outside of the Kingdom. I don't know where her family came from. She's never told me that. We don't have any slaves in the Kingdom, but the Church has never condemned the practice and the Bible does say that slaves should obey their masters."

"So, do you want to go to a slave market then?" Blacksen asked. "You'll find a good choice their, it's where everyone else has gone."