Dealing with the Azeds had come to its conclusion. Tulani's replacements were brought to the hidden entrance, and the changelings provided them with all the knowledge needed to take over the tower as their stand ins. The Sphynx then led the strange family to where they could get passage on an airship heading to Zahirinee.
The next family on Tulani's trouble-maker list were the Antenoras, led by Lord Ugolino. The family was notorious for inter-familial assassinations, and Ugolino had held his post by vigorously practicing that tradition. He had no heir though (either to avoid the eventual power grab from one or due to other reasons) making his brothers his greatest foes. They generally seemed to die of 'accidents' during hunting expeditions into the Streets Below.
It's been a bit of a trek, but Nikky needed a guide, and Francis was the one most familiar with this area, since he was born here. "Used to be more of us here," he explained. "Lots left if they could, others got caught in the hunts. A few families recently went missing, so there may be another hunt gearing up."
"Well, dat be de last hunt iffin it be true. Last t'ing dey want t' do is catch me. I gots connections," Nikky cackles, grinning like the usual madwoman that she is. Nothing much fazes her, that is for sure, not even possible doom. "I hope yer family hasn' been affected?"
"Oh, we ran after the last purge by the Yodhgorphat," Francis says. "The old ones, I mean. They thought Skreeks spread disease, so this area got burned a lot."
"Eh, sorry 'bout day. It won' happen anymore," Nikky notes to Francis.
The young Skreek scrambles over a large chunk of fallen masonry, and waves Nikky to follow. "We're near were the last family went poof."
Nikky, nimble as she is crazy, scurries up the rubble and hops from peak to peak, showing off. She balances on her toes up high, peering about.
Francis points to a door made from tilted bits of roadway. "That was their scrape, see?" he says, the points to a pile of cloth and rags nearby. "An' dere clothes! When the prey-squad comes, they always leave the clothes and stuff behind."
"Do dey kill dem? Or jus' take em away nekkid?" Nikky asks as she scurries down the rubble and heads over to the pile of clothing. The clothing ... it gets a serious 'snufflin' as she roots about in it, looking for clues.
There are primitive knives and other nick-knacks, including just shiny stones on cords that might have been jewelry. "Don't tink dey kill 'em.. because who would they hunt then? They always lets the strongest ones 'free', so the nobbies can hunt them down." He gestures upwards. With all of the causeways collapsed, this area has a large, unobstructed area for flying. "An anyone that help the prey, they get killed. When you hear the huntin' horn, it means you best turn your backs."
"Eh, only iffin you don't intend t' also get caught, yannow," Nikky points out as she examines the poorly made knife. She actually does bundle the clothing up in case it can be returned to the former owners later. "Disgustin' hobby, dis. Gotta stop."
"It's a nob thing, they all crazy," Francis points out. "Inbreeding, I bet! My third older brother got it on with one of my sisters and the baby had a really weird head and was never right."
Nikky looks over her shoulder at Francis. "Eh, no all nobles and such are crazy. I met de Barsunala guy before yannow. Pretty nice guy, surprisin' really, given 'is job," she comments, "As fer yer brother ..... he need ta keep it in his pants on only in dos unrelated."
"Wait, that guy is a nob?" Francis asks. "I thought he was.. like.. a Super-Yodh?"
"Y' don' consider someone who is a child of a Goddess nobility?" Nikky points out.
"That's religion though," Francis says. "Gotta be a rule about it. Can't be divinity and nobility! That's just.. contra-logical."
"I tell 'im ya want t' debate dat wit him sometime, okey?" Nikky suggests, grinning widely.
"What's to debate?" Francis asks, and points to the tower. "Nobs own towers. They're the 'landed gentry' or sumtin. But it's owning stuff that makes them nobs. If you're jus.. noble but not a landlord.. yeh aint a noble, right? Nobles don't have to be noble. Noble folks don't get to be nobility."
"Eh, I say de only true nobles are dos dat perform noble actions. People wit monet but no class is jus a thug," Nikky counters and waves her hand.
"Well, the nobs hire thugs," Francis notes. "Being a thug is watcha-call upwardly mobile down here. But.. you really gonna go out and get captured? What do I do?"
"Migh! I dunno yet. Gotta get inside dere tower and dat be one sure way t' do it," Nikky admits. "As for you ... vell, keep an eye out. An we should explore more, see if anyone else is missin'"
"Six folks I've heard of," Francis says. "This and another family, closer in." He points towards the tower. There's a commotion in the air.. but it's a rain of garbage from the upper levels.
"Lets go see de other missin family place," Nikky suggests as she scurries about to avoid the rain of trash from above.
Along the way, Francis nabs a mostly intact potato, albeit a squishy one. "I know we eat better at the Temple, but old habits, eh?" he says as an excuse. The next site shows a bit more evidence of violence. The hovel was half-buried, and covered in a tarp of some kind. It's all torn apart now, with everything scattered over a small area. "These'n musta put up a fight," Francis notes, and starts sniffing around.
Nikky does as well, starting with pulling the tarp back. She unfortunately expects to find a couple bodies within the remains of the house. "Dis no look good," she has to concede.
There's some blood, but not a lot. And some of it is Eeee (as Nikky is very good at determine differences in blood for obvious reasons). There are some broken weapons, including a broken pole with a choke-loop at one end, usually used for catching animals.
"Musta not been a lot of hunters if these tree put up a fight," Francis guesses. He picks up a pair of homemade pants, and compares them against himself. "Big fella. They like the strong ones."
Nikky picks up the remains of the pole and skews up 'er face. "Dey really consider us jus' animals, eh?" she remarks, showing the remains of the device to Francis. "Looks like a bad fight."
"I bet they get rewards for bringing in good 'uns," Francis says. "They like to grab whole families. I tink it's so the parents will do whatever the nobs want."
"Yah, vell, children make good leverage," Nikky has to agree. "So, t'ink I should let meself get caught? T'ink dey voul even vant me?"
"O'course dey'd want you," Francis says, and gestures up and down at Nikky. "You're like da healthiest Skreek girl ever. Prolly stronger than me, tha's for sure."
Nikky goes over and picks Francis up several times! "Yah, prolly," the girl cackles and waggles 'er brow. "Coul be stupidly dangerous t' get caught, tho. But ... me bein on de inside coul let in some friends later."
"They'll strip you down 'fore taking you," Francis notes. "You won' be able to hide a weapon."
"No even inside me?" Nikky asks.
The young Skreek gapes at that suggestion. "How?" he asks.
"Tightly packed in something soft and inserted in either orifice," Nikky says quite bluntly. "Tho, I don' really need a weapon, I be sneaky."
Nikky then makes a face. "Er, do dese nobles rape dere captives?" she asks.
"I dunno.." Francis admits. "I mean, dey hunt them for sport. Prolly? I mean, you're really.. uh.. tempting.. you know?"
Nikky makes a face. "Vell, I kin deal vit it iffin dey try," the skreek comments and shrugs.
"Does that mean you ain't gonna just seduce them?" Francis asks.
"Depends! Can't know vhat to do until I be in dere," Nikky points out.
Nikky goes back to rooting through what remains and hmms. "I can't make it easy fer dem. I gots to lead dem on a good chase, I t'ink," the skreek remarks.
"I guess I go hide then?" Francis asks. "I dunno if they check back at the same places or not. But if you run I bet dey chase you for sure."
"Yah, basically keep watch an report back t' Tulani wha happens, 'kay? I reward yas later," Nikky says as she waggles her brow suggestively.
The boy's whiskers nearly curl at the promise. "Oh! Don't get yerself messed up then, Nikky! So don't like.. struggle too hard. I go to high ground.. maybe if you make a big noise or something they'll find ya?"
Nikky peers about. "Hm, noise. Oh! Yah, I kin do dat. I kin fake a fall and makes lots of clatter," the skreek tells the other. She gives the boy a thumbs up, grinning, "It be all good. I be sneaky."
Francis darts in to steal a kiss, then dashes off towards the edge of the rubble field, where it's possible to get up higher and have a good view.
"Ah rattty ol girl, ya be crazy for considering dis. Ya really are," Nikky remarks to herself in one voice. Then she switches to another voice and adds, "But it gonna be so much fun!" The skreek starts climbing upward herself, looking about for a pile of loose debris to jump down into safely. Should make lots of noise if it works an she doesn't hurt herself.
There are plenty of slopes of rubble.. anything that stays standing will eventually accumulate a beach of garbage and debris, after all. Some have relatively large items, like chunks of buildings, while other have smaller things, like bones and exploded melons and shards of glass. Of course, just dropping something heavy would make a lot of noise from then ensuing trash-alanch.
Except Nikky is not one to ever do something the easy way. Besides, it might also make her look like she is at a disadvantage to this. So ... a smile creeps across her face. "Time t' make meself livestock fer some loopy noble," the skreek cackles to herself. She peers about, finding a pile that doesn't have what looks like glass it in and jumps! "Whee!" goes the skreek.
She hits butt-first, and starts sliding. There's a growing wake of junk following her, so of course she gets half-buried when she finally comes to a stop. It's the sort of thing a child or a drunk adult might do. And it does cause a lot of noise.
"Woo!" goes Nikky as she goes sliding! It is just like winter and butt-sledding down a hill! Granted afterward doesn't require digging yourself out from under heavy stuff. "Yah, dat vas fun. Crazy, but fun," she mutters to herself as she surfaces.
It takes a while to fully free herself from the junk, and by then there are two shadows standing nearby. Each of the Eeees is dressed entirely in black, and carries one of those capture poles. "Wow, you must be pretty clumsy," the nearer one says.
Nikky tilts her head as she considers the two 'shadows' "Or I jus be havin' some fun," the skreek counters as she gets to her feet. "An wha' about you boys, hmm?" she asks, hands on her hips.
"We like to have fun too," Shadow One says. "You look like fun," Shadow Two offers. Then they start coming closer, the loops on the ends of their poles widening for capture.
"Ooo, do you now?" Nikky coos as she crouches down ... then leaps backwards away from the men. She tries to use her feet to kick debris into their faces as she goes! "And lo, de chase is on!" the skreek thinks.
"Hey!" the men complains, having to dodge kicked up garbage. Nikky can feel the sonar pings as well, as the two bats take to the air. Probably making sure she's alone and it isn't some kind of ambush.
Nikky actually drops down to all fours; it makes scurrying and climbing so much easier after all. The skreek darts through the debris and rubble, zig-zagging about. Over and under fallen pillars in fact. "Can' make it too easy; don' want to seem like I want t' be caught," the skreek thinks.
The bats respond by.. going higher? There are plenty of spots to get out of their view, but it's hard to keep from making any noise. And it soon becomes clear that the first two hunters are calling in reinforcements.
"/Hah, good. Dis be workin!/" Nikky thinks to herself as she darts onward, pausing under one of the fallen pillars to catch her breath. "/Goo t'ing ya don gamble, girl," she mutters to herself.
Two more join in, and all four are circling inward towards Nikky's position. There are enough echoes coming off large chunks of stone to make it hard to hide.
Nikky catches her breath, eyes narrowed. She crouches down ... then darts out from her hiding spot, heading north now! Ten feet out, she cuts right!
Having four pursuers means one always is ahead of Nikky in one direction. He squeaks out to the other, and the circle moves to re-center one where Nikky is now. But they aren't dropping and trying to catch her yet. Maybe they're hoping to tire her out.. or else testing her stamina.
Nikky has impressive stamina, honestly. Her movements int he rubble are erratic and fast as she darts from pile to pile, even vaulting off one to a stable pile of debris elsewhere. "Persistent buggers, dem. Dey won' like it so much if Scourge hunts dem," she thinks.
Now the pursuers seem to be getting more active. Nikky might actually make it out of the hunting area and into the cluttered-with-causeways and support arches part of the undercity. They all fly on ahead to cut her off and try to force her back into the open air area.
And Nikky bolts for the 'exit'! She has to make it look like she wants to escape. If they corner her there, well, they'll gloat.
And they do intercept her! They know all the escape routes pretty well. Nikky actually misses the one hiding behind a pillar, until her foot gets snagged by his noose as she passes. Then the others descend on her!
Nikky sqwarks! She goes down, but she is not out! She rolls over and over, trying to yank the pole out of the captor's arms! If one gets close, well, she tries to bite!
Clearly, this is the reason for the poles. They keep the captors away from Nikky's teeth. A single Eeee isn't strong enough to really force her down though. The one holding her foot keeps a good grip, since he's not trying to completely restrain the Skreek.. just slow her down enough for the others to get a loop around something vital. While biting at one bat that deliberately comes in closer, Nikky loses her right hand to one of the nooses.
"She's stronger than she looks," the one holding Nikky's foot captive calls out.
And Nikky tries to tank the pole close so she can bite through the cord! "Dey play for keeps. Gonna haf some rope burns from dis," the skreek thinks.
The cord is pretty tough.. and was also a lure. Now the upper part of the Skreek's muzzle is snared! The Eeee immediately tries to pull Nikky's head back. "Gah, Jank!" another complains. "How we get one around her neck now?"
"Mprh!" goes Nikky and she thrashes her head about, trying to off balance the one holding her jaw as her head goes backward.
"Don't just stand there!" 'Jank' calls to the fourth member, who then dashes in and punches Nikky right in the throat!
Nikky gacks! That hurt! But then she knew this probably would; and she has had worse. It does, however cause her to drop down to her knees and start ciughing violently. "Eehehe, ow" thinks the skreek, "I guess they believe it..."
The gives Jank the opportunity to loosen his loop enough to get out of Nikky's mouth and around her neck. After that, it's much easier to try and force the Skreek flat to the ground by tightening the noose as needed. "We got you, so stop making this a pain," he says.
"Go bugger a rhugrhat," Nikky growls out n a slurred and scratchy voice thanks to the blow to her neck. She may be down on the ground and starting to flatten, but she's still thrashing to try and dislodge their grip!
Feet are added to Nikky's back, and someone grabs her feet. This is needed so the other two can get both of Nikky's hands in their loops. There's no way to stop her tail though.
Whapwhapwhap! goes Nikky's tail against those now standing on her back! "Yah, brave, took alla yas to even barely 'old me!" the skreek growls.
She's certainly not making any points with the man holding her feet. The other do get her hands together behind her back though, and bind them with a separate cord. Now someone is free to grapple her tail while her feet are trussed up next. "Stop struggling, or I'll have your feet tied to your neck so you choke yourself if you try to move. It ain't pleasant, I promise!"
Growling, Nikky finally does still herself, even her thrashing tail. "'ope I didn' overdo it," the rat thinks. She would have done the same even if she knew she had, honestly; she cannot go quietly.
With her limbs trussed up, the Skreek is rolled over. Then tail-slapped Eeee pulls out a knife, sort of lets the sight of it linger.. and then goes about cutting off Nikky's clothes and searching her for weapons.
"Glad dos weren't my good clothes," Nikky has to think while she's pealed like a piece of fruit down to her fur. For the moment, she is still behaving. She is even being quiet.
"You learning," Jank says. "We don't wanna gag you." Now the poles are used again, this time on the other end, where there are hooks. Nikky is rolled over again, and the hooks catch her bindings. Then all four of the Eeee together lift her up into the air and head for the tower. "They gonna love you," Jank assures her.
"An you kin take yer opinions of me an shove em between yer cheeks," Nikky growls at them as she is hoisted up into the air! She's smark enough to not thrash at this point; she wouldn't survive the fall.
"Yeah, you'll be the belle of the ball for sure," Jank laughs. The trips isn't long, but dangling face-down does give Nikky a good view of the ground. It really is a maze.. some of it clearly rearranged to make it more of one. There are flooded areas, areas full of broken glass, and number of other hazards. And then it's gone as they reach a platform on the tower and lower her to the floor.
"It is like a demented amusement park down dere. Dese people are bastards. I quickly losing any mercy," Nikky thinks as she finds herself back on the ground, so to speak, and more or less face down. "I really 'ope dis wasn' a bad idea now."
Her feet are unbound, but the choke-rope is still around her neck when they pull her up to her feet. They force-march her into the tower, and Jank calls out, "Otto! Hey, Otto! We got one for you!"
"You wouln' be so brave iffin you let me out o' dese ropes," Nikky growls to them as she is marked forward and into the tower.
"We know how to deal with rabid beasts," Jank claims. As they go deeper, it's clear that this is a dungeon level. The only way in or out seems to be the platform they came in on, which opens into a vestibule next to a long corridor. Barred doors are seen along both sides. Finally someone answers the call, and a big form limps into view. It's a Skreek.. a big one.. who was clearly beaten to within an inch of his life at some point. His face is a mess, his left arm looks like it was broken and healed without being properly set, and he limps from a severely twisted left ankle. He's also naked, save for a cord around his neck with several keys dangling from it. "Otto, take this one and keep her tied up, she's a fighter."
"Y' do? Den why are you still walking about?" Nikky counters to Jank. "Dey shoulda put you down long ago." The larger rat catches her attention quickly. "/Hmm, wonder if he be de one from the ruins below. He be a mess. We coul' fix dat back in de temple," the female skreek thinks. "/Dey use him as de jailor?/"
Otto grunts something and holds out his good hand... and Jank just hands over the pole that has the choke-hold on Nikky's neck. For the Eeees, that seems to be the end of it. "C'mon guys, let's report in. This one is definitely gonna get us a bonus!" Jank boasts, and he and the others walk out and fly away, presumably to a higher section of the tower.
And on his way out, Nikky hets in one more parting shot with her tail, right across the Eeee's butt! That's going to leave a mark. Her head swings around, eyes focusing on Otto. "Why ya helpin' dese bastards?" she asks the other rat.
The big Skreek gives Nikky a sad look.. which may be his permanent expression, given the broken nature of his face, and tugs her down the corridor. "Prize," he mumbles.
Feeling sorry for the large Skreek, Nikky follows along without any of the fuss she gave the Eeee. "Dere has t' be a way out of dis fer all of us," she notes as she walks.
"Jump," Otto suggests. Since it's at least a sixty foot drop from the platform though, it hardly seems like a valid option. The come do a door, and Otto fumbles a key with his less functional arm until he gets the door open. Inside is a cell, with shackles on the wall and a pile of straw for a bed.. and the luxury of a bucket for anything else. "Got name?" the man asks. He probably had to relearn how to talk at all, given the off-center jaw.
"Oh, jump canna be de only option," Nikky says with conviction as she peers into the cell. Spotting the shackles ... well, she'll likely be sporting those soon enough given the recommendation of the Eee. "Yah, I gots a name. Nikky de Tail dey call me," she tells Otto. "You be Otto. I listen."
"I listen," Otto says. "Only on left though." He moves Nicky up face first against the wall, then uses his tail to drag one of the shackles over. It goes around the woman's ankle, and then the choker comes off. "I untie yer hands," he says before doing anything. "Be good?"
Nikky still behaves, even though she could likely overpower him. "Yah, I be good. I don bear you any ill vill," she promises. The only movement she does is to shake her shackled foot. "Was dis really necessary?" she asks.
"I dunno," Otto says as he works to untie the cords. "You make impression on goons. Shackle means someone might come see you. You a prime pick."
"Gonna get any clothes? I feel a bit on display 'ere," Nikky remarks a bit dryly while she watches for her hands to be freed. "Least dey didn' stick some silly collar on me."
The cord finally comes loose, and Otto steps back. "No clothes. Animals don't get clothes, see? Can't look at us and see people. Would spoil it. Too bad you're pretty."
Nikky turns around and puts her arms over her chest. "So, I be considered an animal now am I? Do you t'ink dat?" she asks the other skreek.
"No, but I no count," Otto says. "I was prey once. But won. Hurt one of them. Now I here. My reward and punishment. No one wins anymore."
"Sorry, no mad at you," Nikky notes and rubs her forehead for a moment. "How many others are dere?" she asks and arppoaches him slowly so as to not be threatening. She even places her hands on his chest and notes, "An I t'ink vou count."
"Dere.. six now," Otto says. "One good choice. One maybe. Kinda scrawny. You not from Rat Town, are you? Too healthy."
"Visitor, ended up down 'ere," Nikky admits. "I usually travel by bein a ship's 'hore," she adds and shrugs. "Got stuck here tho."
"No a virgin then, prolly for best," Otto says. "When time comes, don' cry or beg. The Lord likes that best. Disappoint him."
Nikky's brow arches. "Dey gonna make me service dem?" she asks, then makes a face.
"No..." Otto says, sounding a bit uncertain. "Don't worry 'bout it. I bring you food and water later. They bring it down from up top and I hand it out. Get yelled at lots. You pretty kind to me."
Nikky does actually slide her hands down to cup the larger rat a bit ... lower. "Good, cuz I woul' prefer t' service vou," she actually offers; always the tail it seems. "Y' be nice t' me an ya no try anything; helpful."
"Uh?" Otto blurts in surprise. "Me? I ugliest man in world. Don' even know if it still works.."
"Wan me t' find out?" Nikky actually offers.
The man seems torn. "Yes.." he finally says, a bit uncertainly.
And so ... Nikky kneels down right before the man. It is a good idea to be on good terms with the jailor, after all. First she has to test to see if things still work and ... that requires very gentle and very playful fingers to tease and tickle things. "You no dat ugly. I see much worse," she notes.
After an iffy start, things do indeed start to wake up, much to Otto's surprise. That might also have been one of the places he was beaten, after all.
And it helps Nikky is an expert at this. When she is satisfied with how things are shaping up ... the Skreek leans in and gets her tongue and mouth involved. She figures this will help cement a 'friendship' of a sort. Plus this way it won't look like she was recently enjoyed in case the Lord decides he wishes to do ... something. "I swear in dis form I am Inala's puppet," she thinks.
Otto seems paralyzed. Maybe he didn't get much attention before his run in with the Antenoras. In any case, he doesn't move, as if afraid everything would come to a screeching halt if he did. He does sort of vibrate a bit though, and shuffle his feet, and make little vocalizations.
And feeling sorry for him, Nikky is very thorough ... and slow. She draws things out by sensing just when it might end and backing off for a little bit until things calm down. So, minute after minute passes by while the shackled skreek entertains her jailor. She finally seems satisfied he has been tortured enough because she's no longer backing off as he gets more excited.
The man moans and shudders. He doesn't produce much, but at least there isn't any blood. It's still enough to makes his legs give out though.
Nikky makes sure he doesn't make a mess; that would be unpleasant to explain later. Plus, in skreek form skreek 'flavor' is her favorite anyway. She leans back quickly as the man's legs buckle. Her hands come up as she tries to grab on and keep him upright. "Heh, sorry," she apologizes quickly.
Otto awkwardly hugs Nikky.. and seems to be crying.
Nikky's head tilts. "Y' okay?" she asks the large skreek and rubs his back gently.
"Sorry," the big Skreek says. "I not feel like man for long time now."
Nikky leans back and taps his nose likely. "Vou are. Vou jus' gotta haf some faith. See, I believe still dat I be able t' escape dis place. So, I still grin an I still fight," she tells Otto. "Iffin I make it out, I no leave you behin'. I know peoples vho might be able to fix ya."
"I not welcome out there after serving the hunters, am I?" Otto asks.
"Pfft, you haf no choice, righ? I vouch for yas," Nikky promises.
"They'll promise you things," Otto says. "You can't trust them."
Nikky tilts her head. "Oh? Like wha?" she asks.
"That they'll let you go if you reach the goal," Otto says.
"Vell, wha happen iffin I do reach it?" Nikky asks.
"I reached it," Otto says, and then points to his face.
"Yah, s'wha I thought," Nikky says and scowls. "I keep dat in mind. Anyt'ing else dey promise?"
"The young girls, if they pretty, they promise lots if they don't reach finish," Otto says. "The Lord.. has certain tastes. They offered me stuff too, if I took out one of the hunters.. only hurt him though."
Nikky's brow arches. "Will dis Lord be visitin' me soon?" she inquires. "I assume dat is vhen such offers are made."
"Someone will come," Otto promises. "Could be anyone. Depends on who bribes goons the most this week."
Nikky smirks. "I bet dey order you t' muzzle me before de person arrives. I tried t' bite," she notes, "If dey do, dat be okay, I let yas."
"Your chain won't reach to the door. They usually jus' stand stand next to it," Otto says. "Pretend to be cooperative. You don't got family here to threaten, so they might just beat you."
Nikky taps the side of her head. "Ey, I be on pirate ships before, I know how t' survive, no worries," the rat promises. "S'how I stay in such good shape."
"Very good shape," Otto agrees. "You should use it. You are better looking than most that end up here."
Nikky nods a bit at that. "I intend to," she agrees just before reaching over and tapping his nose again. "An you no look as bad as vou t'ink you do. Anyway, y' prolly have duties and I may as well get some rest so I can face me new ... eh, owners."
"I will bring you dinner later," Otto promises, and looks guilty when he closes and locks the door.. even though Nikky can't actually reach the door. There's a viewing slit that lets in some light at least.
"Y' already gave me a snack," Nikky cackles to herself as the bit skreek leaves. Now that she's alone in her cell, she gets back to her feet and sighs. "Yer in it now, girl. Shouldn't change while de cuff is on, so gots to see dis through." The skreek then twitches and eyes the bucket, frowning. "Gots to pee, too," she admits to herself. Oh well, at least she's alone so no one will see her have to do something that degrading ... in a bucket.
Eventually boredom takes over. There's no telling when dinner is served (and how she'll deal with it anyway), so napping is natural. The door opens some time later though, and there's clearly more than one person involved.
Nikky is sitting naked on her pile of hay, knees draws up a bit. Her right eye opens as she hears the door creak, vision focusing on the opening door. "Come t' let me go?" the skreek remarks a bit dryly.
"That depends," a cultured-sounding voice answers. The door opens, and a guard enters carrying a fancy chair. This is set next to the doorway, and then a well dressed Eeee enters and sits.
Nikky tries to judge the distance and the length of her chain. "Depends on vha, exactly?" she inquires as her other eye opens and she sits a bit more upright. As she shifts around a bit in her hay, her legs and tail fall just so to show off, well, everything.
"You are a good runner," the Eeee says. "Strong, clever.. a fighter. And you're female and pretty. You don't have to end up like the others, if you cooperate."
Nikky slips to her side and props her head up on her palm, elbow braced on the floor. "I don' eh? Vha do I get if I cooperate? An vha is it you vant?" she inquires.
"Do you know about Lord Ugolino, who leads this clan?" the man asks.
"Canna say dat I do," Nikky admits, her tail flicking up and over her hips.
The Eeee leans forward a bit and steeples his fingers. "He is.. an ineffective leader. Too caught up in his little fetishes. But he is canny, and seldom lets his guard down. But with your help, he could be brought down."
"Oh? An how vou I do dat?" Nikky asks, eyes dropping to slits. "Vou plannin' t' replace 'em?"
"There are more suitable men for the position," the Eeee notes. "As for how.. Lord Ugolino suffers from a certain condition. You could say that he is incredibly insecure. In order to become aroused, he requires his paramour to beg for her life. Preferably a virgin, so that she has nobody to compare him too. He promises them many things.. but always kills them afterwards, so they cannot judge him or spread rumors of his lack of prowess."
Nikky frowns at that. "Vha a lovely person," she says in hints of sardonic tones. "He won' like me, den. I no virgin," the rat remarks. "So, dat his fetish? Rather a sad one."
"You are certainly more mature than his chosen ideal," the man agrees. "However, you are also stronger. And I suspect, less easily broken. A challenge. Someone who would goad him.. taunt him into action."
Nikky chuckles lightly at that. "Ah see you be talkin' t' de Eeee dat grabbed me. I bet dat one ... Jank, dat is butt still hurts from de swat I gave 'im," she remarks as she rolls onto her stomach now, legs arching up and over her butt now. "It take more den vou got here t' break me."
"But you can fake it, can't you?" the man asks. "At the proper time. He won't be able to resist you then."
"Oh, of course i can fake it. I usually have to w' Eeee," Nikky remarks as her muzzle skews up into a smirk.
"Then perhaps we can make a deal?" the man asks. "I will see to it that you have the means to end the Lord when he takes you.. and when you do, I will grant you your freedom.. and a substantial cash award as well."
"Possibly. How kin I know I kin trust vou? Vou exactly are vou, hmm?" Nikky inquires as her legs bob alternately over her butt. "Or vou do vou represent?"
"It is best for everyone if you do not know my name," the man says, "but you may call me Geryon for convenience. As for trust.. what would it take?"
"Y'see I travel wit' pirates before," Nikky notes, "So I leaned t' be a bit wary. As for how I can trust vou? I dunno. Vha can vou offer?"
"Well.. I don't know what I can offer," Geryon claims. "If you don't take the deal.. well, you'll die in the hunt, of course. To me it seems like an obvious choice. Why not give me a suggestion?"
"I suppose clothes be out of de question?" Nikky says with a smirk. "But as vou say, it don seem like I haf much of a choice, either vay."
"Covering you up would be such a waste though," Geryon claims, smirking right back. "You seem pretty comfortable without them. How about.. well.. that shackle, perhaps?"
Nikky lifts her foot. "Vou vould really let me walk free without some other sort of restraint on me?" she inquires.
"Well, there's still the door," Geryon says, and leans forward even more. "And tell me.. aren't you interested? To stalk the hunter? It should be exciting.."
"Didn' say I wasn," Nikky admits, "More jus thinkin' it might look suspicious iffin I am unshackled. Dey might suspect somet'ing, right? Much as I don' like dis t'ing, if I am to succeed no sure I can ask for it to be removed."
"Well, my offering surely counts for something, though?" Geryon asks. "What is your favorite food then?"
"Or ... y coul give me a key to it so I coul remove it when I wish and put it back when needed," Nikky suggests.
Alptraum pages, "Hm, I forgot, I wanted to make Nicora slime-drippy again." to you.
"Ah, you are clever," Geryon notes. "I think I've chosen well. A key then." He snaps his fingers, and a moment later the guard places the small key in his hand. He then tosses it to Nicorina.
You page, "Voluntarily (as in, she does it herself) or forced on her by Gorphat?" to Alptraum.
Nikky catches the key in an outstretched hand. She twirls it between her fingers. "Okey, I vill accept your offered deal," the skreek agrees. She then spits in her palm and extends her hand to the seated Eeee. Question is, is he brave enough to shake hers.
Alptraum pages, "Hmmmm. Both is possible. What would cause Gorphat to force it upon her?" to you.
You page, "Not much that I can think of, since she's already proved herself and Gorphat has 'released' her. Although not from all of her blessings. It'd have to balanced by an Inala blessing. Otherwise there's sure to be a way for Nicora to bring back on herself." to Alptraum.
Geryon gets up, and does approach to take the offered hand.. he even takes off his glove first.
Alptraum pages, "I see a Yodhgorphat just having really nasty sexual organs so that they cannot be be easily tempted by Inala." to you.
Nikky clasps the Eeee's hand in hers and shakes. "Genoh," she says in typical sky island slang. She also waggles her brow.
Alptraum pages, "And yes, I am sure Nicora could find a way to just do it to herself probably." to you.
Alptraum whispers, "Not sure it would require the possessed eggs." to you.
"The hunt begins tomorrow," Geryon tells her. "When you are finally caught, the Lord will want you tied down. I'll see to it that the cords on your hands are weakened. Can you kill an Eeee with your bare hands?"
Alptraum pages, "And inala's blessing of always being the perfect fit didn't extend to Nicora, right? That would have been something counterable." to you.
"Easily," Nikky says a bit darkly and draws her hand back.
"Good, since planting a weapon would be tricky and clearly set up ahead of time," Geryon asks. "The more natural the murder, the better."
"True enough, dat," Nikky has to agree. "'Ow many are in de hunt tomorrow? Jus me?"
Alptraum pages, "Hm, could just be fun to have Nicora do it to herself as a ritual. Magic practice!" to you.
"Just you, to keep it simple," Geryon says. "You are not part of a family, so there is no reason to put you with another who might sacrifice themselves. Besides, from what Jank says, none of the others could keep up with you. You need to be able to give a hard enough chase that you can taunt the Lord, after all."
You page, "Curse practice." to Alptraum.
Alptraum pages, "Yes, which also means she could remove if if needed." to you.
Nikky rolls her shoulders and nods. "Goo, don' have t' worry about others gettin' in the way or trouble," the skreek admits as she rolls back onto her side. "Dere anyt'ing else vou vish t' ask of me?"
Alptraum pages, "Curse of the festering worms, or somesuch." to you.
"That should be enough," Geryon notes. "I'll have a sizeable meal sent down, so you have plenty of energy."
Nikky twitches. She'll probably have to shadow devour the food to pretend to eat it or the like. Or try to eat some. She will make due somehow. "Vill anyone else be visitin'?" she asks.
"Hopefully not," Geryon says. "Jank works for me. Nobody else should know about you until the beginning of the hunt."
"'E a jerk," Nikky remarks a bit dryly, "But dat is good t' know. Looks like t'morrow vill be interestin'."
"Is there anything you more you wish to ask me?" Geryon asks.
"Vell, vou won' tell me vho you represent," Nikky points out. "So, no at de moment. If I t'ink of anyt'ing I ask de Otto fellow to fetch yahs."
This causes one of Geryon's eyebrows to rise up. "Ah, yes, Otto the Overseer," he finally says. "I had forgotten his name for a moment. Until tomorrow then, my dear." He gives a bow, and leaves. The guard takes the chair a moment later, and then Otto looks in on Nikky. "You alright?" he asks.
"Yah, I am. Dey try to get me to agree to a deal," Nikky says, Vou vere right. Y'happen t' know the name of that guy? He said he was Geryon."
"I don't know him," Otto admits. "He sometimes is in the hunts."
"Who often takes parts in dese hunts?" Nikky asks as she sits back up, then pats the floor beside her in invitation.
Otto comes in and sits. "Different people. Always the Lord. Sometimes guests, other Outer Nobles. Mostly the family here. Sometimes there are accidents. Especially to people the Lord doesn't take a liking to."
"I been asked to help ... deal wit' de Lord," Nikky remarks, "After I let em rape me or somet'ing like day."
"Dey want you to kill him when he does it, then," Otto says. "The little girls never manage it. They get scared."
"Dis Lord canna be dat impressive," Nikky remarks dryly. "Promise me freedom iffin I do it. I don believe em."
"No, dey not let you go," Otto says. "If you kill Lord, they gots to kill you or it clear they arranged it all."
"Yah, figured dat much. Tell me about dis Lord?" Nikky requests.
"Kinda getting long in the tooth, decadent.. a bit flabby," Otto says. "Dresses very.. loud. Center of attention."
"Soun' like an easy mark, honestly," Nikky admits and shrugs. "I figure out some way t' survive."
"Don' suppose you got a gang laying in wait?" Otto asks.
"Unfortunately no, but I be tricky," Nikky claims and thumps her chest with her fist.
"There may be stuff you can find to make a weapon," Otto says. "Dey try to keep you running so you not have time."
"Anyt'ing can be a weapon iffin you creative about it. Glass makes a good knife, for example," Nikky notes as she leans back against the wall. "'Ow many haf dey killed?" she asks.
"Dunno," Otto says. "It a tradition. So.. go back generations? Mebbe a few hundred folk, I guess."
Nikky growls a bit at that. "Vell, it gonna stop. Vou see," she says.
"You gonna take out whole family?" Otto asks with a grin.
Alptraum pages, "What will be done with the new queen horrib in the temple, if anything?" to you.
Nikky barks a laugh. "Dat would be a miracle, vouln' it?" she says, "But stranger t'ings haf happend in dis town lately."
"I dun't hear much news, cept what the new captures say. When they not crying or cursing, so.. not much," Otto notes. "What happenin?"
"Vell, I heard one tower ... some of de family melted an others vere carried off by monsters," Nikky explains. "Pretty gruesome; Eeee puddles. Rumor was dey offended de Gods."
"How dey do that?" Otto asks. "Didn't know the gods coul' be offended."
"'eard dey were eatin' children for fun or something like dat," Nikky says and shrugs. "Couldn't really ask a puddle."
"Tink dey strike down the Antenoras?" Otto asks. "Or do dey care about Skreeks? Not our gods."
"Dunno. I canna speak for de Gods," Nikky admits and drapes her arm around Otto. "I jus have faith that somehow dis vill vork out."
Otto rocks his feet back and forth. "I miss you," he says. "You be gone one way or other. Why come back if you escape?"
"T' get vou out an help you to one of the hospitals that have started up. Mebbe dey kin fix vou," Nikky points out. "Learned from an Eeee of all peoples once dat iffin someone helps you, you should in turn help another an pass it on. 'e saved me, so I help save vou."
"Who can I help?" Otto asks.
"I dunno. Jus if the opportunity presents itself, vou shoul'," Nikky says with a small shrug.
"Can I help you den?" Otta asks.
Nikky's ears perk a bit. "How dat?" she asks.
"I can bring you more straw.. better bucket.. uh.. more sex?" Otto offers.
Nikky laughs a bit at that. "Mebbe after dinner," she suggests, then yawns a bit. "I should get a bit more sleep before then so I can think on how t' handle de hunt."
"I can bring you out to the platform later," Otto offers. "You can see the maze. Plot yer route mebbe.."
Nikky hms. "Ah, yeah, dat vould be good," she says. "And find a place to hide and shift to gettem as Scourge," she thinks.
"I let you rest now den, dinner soon," Otto says, and gets up. "I go check on others. Give them good news - they not gonna be hunted this time."
"Yah, I bet dey glad it be some foreigner dis time," Nikky remarks. She knows how people get when their survival is at stake ... let someone they don't know go die.
"I tell them you brave," Otto says, and closes the door behind him.
"An crazy. Dis coul' go very badly iffin I don time t'ings right. I no immportal and dis body can be hurt," Nikky mutters to herself and curls up to get some rest. "But, gots seven peoples here to save, plus dis horrible family to remove. Gotta wonder who Geryon is too, an who 'e serves. Bah. Never simple."