TS - Day 08 - Bisanthium.

[Darth Vegeta]

Valerios cursed something in High Imperial, calling on some Wargod to smite the entire Tower. One of the animals lunged forth but he moved forth and jumped onto the ladder and climbed fast, the tiger only just missing as it tried to claw him. Getting onto the platform he looked down. They circled around. He saw here and there a few armours, spears, sword... . There had been some who had fallen or most likely even ran forth. One could make it... in theory but it would be hard.
He sighed than muttered something. He was glad he was armed though. Shield on back, he grabbed the ropes. It was hard... it burned and hurt like hell. With his heavy armour, he moved forth only slowly. Looking down a moment, he saw the Tigers and Lions roaring, tracking him.
It took him four minutes to get to the other side and when he got on the other platform, he collapsed on all fours... his arms seemed stretched and on fire.
Gasping, he finally moved forth after a moment of rest, heading out before one of the tigers or lions got to him. Ascending the stairs, he left and moved to the other floor.
"How many more of these things is there?" he wondered as he moved onto the next floor. Passing through an armoury, he left all standing on display, he was already well armed and to take more might hinder him to much in taking some of the tests.
Using the new set of stairs, he moved upwards a level and entered another room... .

 

[cassandra1]

Between Valerios and the stairs to the next level, there was a hole in the floor leading straight down to the lions and tigers below. Across the width of the hole were wooden boards with metal poles stuck through the middle (something like a giant abacus), creating a series of platforms that could be used to cross the hole. However, if anyone were to step on one of those boards, it would turn over due to that person's weight and drop him to the big cats. The trick was to jump on each platform and land as close to the center as possible, so that the person could distribute his weight evenly, and then jump to the next platform with the same precision.

 

[Darth Vegeta]

Valerios sighed. This would be difficult. He began to jump. First one went well, second too but than he missed. It came down just as he jumped to the next.
The platform he just left moved down. A second more and he'd been a goner. At the hands of the fall or the cats.
Waiting a while he moved to the next. Jumping from side to side, he took his time. Only twenty minutes later he was at the other side, his heart still beating. He looked back.
"Who the hell things off these things? A great man isn't made from his ability to jump around" he said. "But his character, intellect... his..." he made an irritated "Arghhh" before heading forth.
It was getting harder and tougher and he wasn't all that good at acrobacy certainly not with this outfit. He wondered if he'd be tested in other ways.
Frankly he was certain off it.
Moving to the next level, he prepared to face the next ordeal. When he'd get to the Mistress of the Tower... she'd be in for it!

 

[cassandra1]

The next level did not feature any jumping or climbing. Compared to the previous two rooms, this one was more of a test of speed or intelligence, depending on how the person wanted to get past it. It was a long room with round holes lining the walls on both sides. When Valerios entered, a portcullis dropped from the ceiling preventing him from backtracking.

Just in front of where he stood, there was a pressure plate with a pair of footprints on it. Not as a decoration, but a hint that the plate was meant to be stepped on or at least had something placed on it to hold it down. Immediately after the portcullis descended, bloodied spears shot in and out of the holes in the walls, with barely a second between each thrust. Pressing on the pressure plate, perhaps through experimentation, would stop the spears, but they would start moving again as soon as the plate was released.

 

[Darth Vegeta]

OOC: you're really good at this my dear 🙂

IC:
Valerios quickly stepped on the plate. The spears stopped. He looked further more similar plates. He'd have to move fast from plate to plate before the spears would have the time to extend enought to kill him.
Jumping forward he landed on the next floortile. Placing his feet quickly into the correct position on the markings. The spears had only moved a bit more but there was a long way to go.
Hopping forth, he moved across the room like this. But as he proceeded some time for the spears passed each time. He was nearing the end but the Spears were dangerously close. Moving to the second last tile, he stopped and some of the spears scratched his skin already, creating a small pricking cut in his bare arms. He frowned.
He jumped again. And immediately jumped forth. A scratch ran across his leg as he landed in safety. Trickles off blood rolled over his skin. He sighed. "Mars be praised" he murmured and than he moved up the stairs to the next level.
He stopped on the next floor catching his breath when recuperated, he opened the doors. When all this was over he'd make the Mistress and all her handmaidens pay... .

 

[cassandra1]

(Ooc: Thanks. 🙂)

IC:
As soon as Valerios entered this level, the floor began to rise steadily. Above it was a high ceiling full of spikes and the limp bodies of people who were unsuccessful in surviving this trap. The stairs to the next level lay straight ahead, with no obstacles in the way. It was a straightforward challenge that required Valerios to simply run towards the opposite end of the room, but he would have to move as fast as he could before the floor rises past the exit doorway, leaving him with no way out except up to the spikes.

 

[Darth Vegeta]

(OOC: np - hugs)

IC:

Valerios took a deep breath, as the floor was loweringat and passable he dashed forth... .
He moved as fast as he could and finally jumped forth. He landed on his back badly bruised. "Ugh..." his old wound was aching again.
"I'm so going to make them all pay..." he muttered. Getting up, he wiped off the dust and moved to the next level.
'How many levels are there in this blasted thing? And what madman made this? I mean... come on! How many techs are needed to keep it going' he muttered mentally to himself.
He reached another door which he opened.
What he next saw made him swallow a moment. Well that was unexpected...

 

[cassandra1]

Another rectangular room, this time with a swimming pool and no way to get around it. The water was quite deep, about five metres at least, and the bottom was filled with spikes. At first glance, it seemed like a simple task of swimming across the pool, but a closer look at the water and the ground near it showed Valerios what really made this a challenge; there were full and partial suits of armour lying around. Those who decided to swim with their armour on sank to the bottom where they were impaled on the spikes.

In other words, Valerios must abandon his armour from this point onward. Only his weapon could be carried, along with any clothes he wore underneath the armour.

 

[Darth Vegeta]

Valerios muttered something about life sucking and began to undress.
His strong legs were mostly bare except for the sandals and reinforced leg protectors which he had to remove.
He then took off the armour, shield and helmet.
Only wristgauntlets, tunic and Imperial sandals on he moved forth, still wearing the belt with his gladius and dagger.
He swum across and got out on the other side. He frowned, drippingwet, he moved to the stairs, he could get a cold here.
He moved up the stairs.
He reached the next floor... .

 

[cassandra1]

Fortunately, the next room should warm him up. The entire floor was covered with blackened steel grating, flames shooting up from them at regular intervals. Visibility was poor due to the black smoke, but the stairs to the next level could be seen from where Valerios was standing. Getting there would involve observing the patterns of the flames, how long the intervals were between each time they shot upwards and at what point would a safe route present itself.

To make things more difficult, an extra mechanism was added to each grating. If anyone were to step on any section of it, it would give him less than a second to get out of the way before it dropped to the fiery pit below. Getting off the grating would allow it to rise back to the same height as the rest of the floor.

 

[Darth Vegeta]

"You have to be kidding me!" Valerios said.
"This is insane" he said as he threw a pebble and saw the results.
He frowned and looked around.
Observing the flares there was at moments path revealed but it was going to be tough.
Dashing forth, he jumped forth landing just in time on a 'resting' stone in the center of the room. Around him flares of fire sprouted.
He wiped off the sweat from his forehead and waited, finally performing a last run. Just as he reached the end of the room, a flame only just missed him, sprouting up behind him.
He pulled a sour face and sweating, moved into the cooler corridor with the circular stairway.
He moved to the next floor... .

 

[cassandra1]

The next floor was yet another rectangular room, this time with no traps. Instead, Valerios found himself face to face with twenty of Lady Shawn's female guards, all dressed in the same armour but carrying wooden swords and blunt staves. They formed a human wall in front of the red carpeted stairs leading to the next level. If Valerios had been counting, this was the ninth floor (not including the dungeon) so up ahead would be the top floor, the throne room that would ostensibly mark the end of the test.

"You have come this far. Congratulations, but now we will personally test your abilities in combat." one of the women said, "This will not be a fight to the death, as you can tell from our wooden weapons. Choose a weapon of your own from that rack..." She pointed at a rack next to the wall, which held blunt wooden swords, clubs, staves and other non-lethal weapons. "You must fight past us. We will yield when you set foot on the carpeted steps. If we manage to subdue you, we have no choice but to kill you. Also, be warned that if you draw your real sword and attempt to slay any of us, we will in turn bring out the sharpened steel and kill you."

The handmaidens prepared themselves, trying not to underestimate an opponent who might very well be extremely fatigued after the challenges he just passed. If this nobleman was lucky, he might make it to the mistress' throne room in one piece, without any more surprises in store for him there.

 

[Darth Vegeta]

Ninth Floor

Valerios took in what he saw. Twenty women, most armed with polearms. Staffs and some with a club. He frowned. Walking to the rack, he checked the weapons. He knew how to use spears but those were thrusting weapons. Using a staff to work decently for one... well he decided to skip on it. Same for the club. He took a sword. Aaah these he knew well.
In the Legion one trained with wooden replicas 10x heavier than the real thing. This was a featherweight. Short range though.
He took a wooden sword and a wooden shield from the rack and turned to face them.
Twenty armed women bent on stopping him.
Than again could be worse... .
They could be armed from the start.
Well the best defence was the offence. Time to put all that military training to use.
Slowly he advanced until he stood between two cupboards meaning there was somewhat less space to his sides to slip by.
Taking on a reglementary pose he came to a standstill.
He needed to thin their numbers a bit before going for the carpet.
He was surprised to see that the beautiful commander of the guard wasn't around. Probably at the side of her lady, he assumed.
When he got out of this floor... if he got out of this floor... he'd make them pay.
Suddenly the handmaidens attacked. Blocking their attacks with his shield. He used small methodical thrusts with his blade, driving his blade with great force against their stomachs.
It allowed him to defend himself easily, not leave too many openings and thrust many times without loosing too much energy.
Several handmaidens fell onto the floor but finally some started to get in hits. His right shoulder which was not entirely covered, his left shin, bruises all in all but as more blows descended they would mount to much. Suddenly he moved forth as one handmaiden fell down and several moved back and one caught the fallen maiden. A small hole in their wall appearing he moved forth swiping his shield against the maidens he passed and hitting the head of an oncoming handmaiden. "For Mars!" he roared. They reacted fast though. Five threw their poles hitting his back and one landed between his legs, tripping him, he fell.
He slammed his sword at the legs of three who advanced, sending two falling from pain. He had dropped his shield and moved forth. Five had remained in the back of the room to guard the final part. Behind him the maidens rushed forth and were gaining on the weakened Valerios. He'd need to take risks or they'd just jump him and kill him by sheer weight of numbers.
He roared enraged as he reached the five, hit in the head, blood came from his lips as enraged he slammed fist and sword into them like an animal. He took the blows furiously as he had little to loose and no need to save energies... he hoped.
He struck, punched and finally... rammed past the five who bruised and battered had given way, he simply fell onto the carpet near the end of the room.
"Bah..." he muttered "I'm getting sick and tired of this place".
He got up and he slammed an approaching maiden in the face, enraged still by their blows and the pain they had caused. He dropped his sword.
"I move on... if any off you pop up... you die" he said menacingly. His body felt a mangled mess. So many bruises and aches across his body.
With one hand he wiped off the blood from his lips and ascended the final stairs.
He entered the throneroom... .

 

[cassandra1]

The throne room was in stark contrast to the rest of the tower. The floor was made of white marble, and a long red carpet led from the entrance doors to the throne where the mistress of the tower sat. Along the sides of the room were stone pillars decorated with various weapons and shields. Valerios had entered through one of two doors; the second door led to nine levels of the same traps he got through, allowing two people to take the test at the same time.

A line of handmaidens, armoured and armed with real weapons, stood between Valerios and Lady Shawn, who looked pleased when she saw that the handsome nobleman had survived her deadly traps. Andrea stood next to her throne, smiling as well. "Well done, Valerios. I expected no less from you." The mistress said, "You are truly a warrior of great skill. No doubt you are exhausted from the test, so let us get you some new clothes, wash your armour, and show you the way to the bedroom..."

Suddenly, the other door burst open. Someone else had passed the test and entered the throne room.

(Ooc: Darth, do you want to describe Valerios' final opponent yourself?)

 

[Darth Vegeta]

OOC: Np my dear.

IC:

Valerios turned around. The man was huge. He was bleeding also and had burns. Like him, the huge man had not had it easy either.
He was tall, strongshouldered and massive compared to Valerios who was no tiny man.
A northerner by nature this men wether Imperialized or not was impressive to behold. He held a long sword in one hand. His outfit was that of a mercenary off the kind frequently enlisted by the Legions to enlarge their forces with expendable or specialized units. The 'barbarian' had scars on his strong arms and long brown hair. He had a short but rather well trimmed beard and moustache. His eyes fell lustfully on the mistress of the Tower and the Commander of the guard than spitefully on Valerios.
Valerios stood in a semi-defensive pose unsure what to expect.
His body ached and he felt sticky with blood and sweat.

 

[cassandra1]

"Oh, this should be fun. It seems we have two men who passed the test. Two mighty warriors, your bodies battered and bleeding but not your spirits. Both of you appear to be equally qualified for the position I offer you, but only one of you may earn a place by my side." Lady Shawn said, "Fortunately, I have a solution to this situation: a duel to the death, right here in my throne room. Use whatever weapons you are carrying. Do not hold back. Show me how much you want me."

The handmaidens surrounded the two men, holding up their shiny steel shields to form a ring around the combatants.

 

[Darth Vegeta]

"Want you?" Valerios frowned. "Why you..." he said irritated.
The huge barbarian chuckled "Fine than the price is mine!" he laughed "Cowardly little man" Valerios turned around again to face the barbarian giant of a man.
"I know your kind. Big mouth, noblemen who run around waving tiny little swords you 'civilized' men think so high off... but you're all spineless" he said.
Valerios rose an eyebrow than he smiled "You seem to be under the impression i WASN'T going to kill you" he said. He looked defiantly in the eyes of the barbarian "And clearly... you have never fought a real Imperial or you're just plain stupid..." he said "Or you wouldn't be speaking such nonsense against me" he said.
It should be clear to any warrior worth the term that he had seen his share of battle seeing all the old scars on his arms too and the way he stood and held his sword.
Yes this was a powerful man who had probably slain many men... but he didn't seem quite bright either. In fact the barbarian seemed surprised he had dared to talk back so boldly.
"Enough talk little man..."
"Why does it hurt your brain if i use more than three-words per sentence?" Valerios smiled lightly.
The Barbarian ripped of the remains of his upper tunic and twirled his sword in a futile gesture, waisting energy. Such intimidation only worked on recruits.
Clacking the flat of his gladius against the side of his shield he prepared to face his foe.
The barbarian attacked with fierce blows fighting as most of his kind. Fiercely and with skill but little discipline.
In a normal battle their kind would be at a disadvantage as the combined discipline off several legionaries forming formation and working as a group could easily hold off many times their number in this type of giants but he was alone and underarmed. And he was man enough to realize size of muscle and weight of mass was the advantage his foe had. And though not very bright his strikes indicated experience and courage.
Blocking the blows with his shield, his forward thrusts were evaded twice and for the rest he found no chance to strike with his gladius.
The barbarian struck again and again, he fell back, the shield splintered and the barbarian grinned striking now with two hands on the grip of his blade but Valerios rolled asside and the blade landed on the floor, chipping away some stone.
The mediumsized blade of the Gladius struck the lower leg off his foe but due to his movement he just gave it a deep gash. Moving away he got up quickly.
His foe was far from mortally wounded but the enraged roar of the barbarian indicated this was far from over.
The enemy bled and moved slower but swung with strong strikes still, having a longer reach than Valerios.
The Gladius was a sword made for the swift kill though one used it to parry and occassionally slash it was thrusting weapon foremost and meant to be used preferably in combination with tactics and shield. Now the huge sword off his foe was an advantage with his shield gone. Stupid wooden replacement! If he hadn't lost his real shield... .
He backed away and circled around his foe... .
"You're going to die little man!" the barbarian smiled confidently.
"Everyone dies eventually barbarian scum."
The man pulled an angered face in reaction.
"But seeing how you swing that butcherknife around it won't be today. You sure you are a warrior? You seem to be trying to chop wood instead of kill"
"You dare mock me! You are nothing" he said.
Face cold and stern, he smiled lightly playing his psychological game "You're bleeding... and you're weak" he said. "Unskilled".
The man stopped his strikes a moment.
True the man was slower than him even more so with his legwound but his strength gave his strikes speed and he was clearly smart enough to use the length of his sword to his advantage.
"..." the men faced off suddenly.
Valerios didn't want to go into his reach until after he landed a blow so he could strike fast. And the barbarian didn't want to take the risk, doubting his own skill slightly as his foe seemed so confident.
Valerios suddenly smiled as he remembered his dagger.
He took a small step forth and instinctively the barbarian struck.
He had been waiting for this moment. Moving asside he struck but the barbarian moved away, his side getting cut. He drew his dagger and planned to strike from the other side but than it happened... .
His fist hit Valerios in the face and bloodynosed Valerios fell onto his back.
It had felt like a hammer slamming him. Dazed he had let go of his Gladius and lay there seemingly defenceless.
The barbarian rose up his sword to strike but than Valerios instinctively kicked upwards... foot in the man's groin. The pain broke his motion and Valerios struck fast, thrusting the dagger into the man's belly. He twisted it and pulled it back, striking immediately at the throat just to be sure. The man fell back, like a rock... and didn't move again. Blood flowing out of his neck and stomach.
Valerios got up slowy, grabbing his gladius and breathing heavily prepared to face whatever came next... .

 

[cassandra1]

The handmaidens were silent as they stared at the two doors. Would there be any more candidates stepping in to face Valerios? Apparently not. Valerios was the first to pass the mistress' test, and everyone in the throne room was amazed. The limp body of the barbarian was dragged through one of the doors by the arms, leaving a trail of blood that began from the spot where he was killed. Valerios was still surrounded by handmaidens; they feared that he would attempt to strike at their mistress once his final obstacle had been dealt with.

One of the ladies tried to take his sword from his firm grip. Not a forceful grab, but rather a gentle tug of the sword's hilt quietly prompting him to let go of his weapon (it's up to him whether he releases it or not). Lady Shawn started walking towards him, with Andrea following closely. "You have won. I will be happy to make you my first male bodyguard. As I mentioned before, your duties are to protect me when there are intruders, and to pleasure me when there are no intruders." She stopped a few feet out of Valerios' reach, to see if he would attack or agree to serve her. "Hmph. I imagined you would be more excited about this. After all, whether you are a noble or a commoner, you are still a man. Everyone experiences lust, but young men like yourself give in to it more easily."

"Ladies, show him the way to the bath and tend to those wounds."

 

[Darth Vegeta]

Valerios didn't let go. In fact he looked wearily at the handmaidens remembering all too well that they could be rather dangerous.
Eye to eye he had to admit that the Mistress was a beautiful woman. Where Rachel was warm and her present urged him to yearn for an embrace and affection... this woman had a different kind of presence, cold and icy beauty, sleek and arousing. The kind of beauty that invoked lust and perversion instead.
She had something hypnotic about her and even the stubborn Imperial lowered his sword entirely even if wearily he couldn't let go off it.
He needed her anyway and lack of food and sleep combined with the numbness and surfacing aches drained the anger and need for direct vengance. He allowed them to lead him away but he didn't answer the mistress.

The female Commander walked up front and for a moment he gazed at her 'derriere'. She had a shapely walk and a powerful build. The kind of woman a soldier gladly would spent the night with in between marches. And fight alongside with the next day. Even if female warriors remained a rarity for the most part. Ironic... the effect she had was off yet another kind.
Rachel inspired love and affection, this woman inspired respect and dependability in him and the third... inspired more... decadent things.
He frowned as he was led in the commander gave instructions and the following two days he was pampered by the handmaidens.
Cleaning and scrubbing him, he looked like a nobleman again. Their reaction to his body was once again dependant on the handmaiden. Some looked 'interested' in a pretty obvious way, others were weary of the scarred man, others simply curious or amused and others indifferent.
He drank much wine but never enough to be drunk, he didn't want to be caught offguard as usual. He drank a bit too much wine like many noblemen, it was a commonspread vice that too much wine and too little water was drunk. It was why regardless of his musculature and stamine he still had a slight tummy.
Well bandaged and extremely well fed, he was clad in a fine tunic and though he requested new weapons he received none. He held onto his dagger and Gladius wearily. And held it with him or near him at all times.
One time a handmaiden had tried to take them but she'd failed.
Pampered he was but he still was a prisoner of sorts.
The handmaidens purposely began to walk around provocatively. Scantily clad in their silverish armours or more casual light silk dresses. Barefooted or sandaled.
They smiled, called him lord as befitted his status but Maximos Valerios remained most weary. Arousing as they were he knew something was up.
And in the back of his head the image of Rachel lingered even among all this beauty.
The mistress had been right, he was still young and her offer was tempting though lacking in all honor. It was below him.
But for now he'd play the game until he got what he wanted or an opportunity he desired arose. Until than he'd recover his strength, observe and... enjoy himself.
He slept well and the next morning he sat at a table staring at excellent wine from the region he came from. The same province... which he was not sure wether to deem accident or not.
He wore the sword and dagger as without he knew he would feel completely naked.
Which he practically was. The tunic was fine and well but all in all he wasn't wearing much.

 

[cassandra1]

At the opposite end of the table, Lady Shawn poured herself a glass of the same wine, swirling it and taking little sips. Valerios' refusal to remove his weapons was a sign that he would not fully trust her and her handmaidens yet. Despite the peaceful tranquility he had been offered, despite being surrounded by seductive women who cared for him, he might be remembering that the handmaidens could in fact be capable warriors when they had to. And evidently, no matter how much pampering he received, Valerios remained as highly skilled as he was before. It would not be wise to force him into submission. He must be tempted into doing so.

Still holding the glass of wine, Shawn got up from her chair and started walking towards her new bodyguard. She pulled out a chair to his left and sat down. Her eyes were on Valerios' blades for a moment, then looked into his eyes. "Would you care for a drink? Only the finest wine for everyone who resides in the tower. I want you to enjoy your stay here... Lord Valerios."

She poured him a glass from the bottle in front of him, keeping an eye on his reactions.

 

[Darth Vegeta]

He eyed her from the corner of the eye. She could have had his food and drink drugged but that would not be a wise move he assumed. And poisoning was absurd since it would mean her work had been for naught.
"This tower is absurd in design. So many good warriors dead on their way to the top and for what?" he said. "Not to mention a waste of money" he said.
Valerios eyed her "As for my 'stay'. A golden cage is still a cage nonetheless" he said "Until i have reason to think otherwise i'm viewing this as hostile territory" he said though in a way it was absurd. There were times he could have gutted the women or forced his will on her she rather blatantly was unguarded at times though he noticed it worried the Commander and her handmaidens. He liked her boldness though. For all her wicked ways she was at least a woman with some heart and stomach.
"But i'll play your game for now" he said "There are worse situations to be in" his eyes became slids and blurred a moment as he remembered a few situations that still clouded his soul.
He'd seen things, butcheries and horrors one should never behold.
His enemy was beautiful and wanted to bed with him and most likely use him for a scheme. His usual enemies either were hairy smelly barbarians bent on killing him and putting his head on a spike. Or some Eastern chariotriding noble who wanted to run him over. Or worse some assassin or scheming politician back home having a vendetta with his family... .
"In any case I want to track down Rachel... you want me to stick around and play 'toy'" he said "That put's us at odds i'd say".

 

[cassandra1]

"A waste of money? Clearly, we may both be of noble blood but our lives turned out very differently." Lady Shawn glared at him in response. Her way of life, which is rarely seen from a woman of her status, must be new to Valerios. "Just as you have trained most of your life to be a fighter, taught the ways of the warrior and the discipline that is required from you, I spent most of my life exploiting the feelings of lust. I don't know how many men have already been struck down by your blade, but I use my skills to give pleasure, not pain. Some say it is shameful and perverse, yet I consider it a gift that not many share."

She stood up, taking another sip from her wine glass. Andrea walked up from behind Valerios and sat on the edge of the table. "As for why I am forcing you to stay, that is purely due to my need for a man in the tower." Shawn continued, "Not just for pleasure, but to protect me from intruders. Andrea needs someone to help lead the army of handmaidens if there is a seige, which is why I designed this tower. To separate the weak from the strong."

"As for Rachel, you don't have to worry about her. I have spies in all the major cities, searching for whatever information I want them to search for. She cannot stay hidden for long. If it makes you happy, I will send them to look for her... just to see why you think she is better than me."

 

[Darth Vegeta]

He rose an eyebrow. Her words made sense from a perspective.
"Agreed" he said. He had no proof she'd do it. But he had little to loose.
He put down his emptied cup.

 

[cassandra1]

Ooc: Before I go on, would you prefer if the wine is drugged or not?

 

[Darth Vegeta]

OOC: your call. I was just making a statement of his thoughts. Didn't even think she'd do that but she can if it's in her character to do so. Your call.