As promised, Otto snuck Nikky out onto the platform later to get the lay of the land. There were several starting areas, and several goals as well. Some paths had better cover, but also more traps or obstacles, while the ones with the least amount of obstruction were also the most exposed. Some of the covered areas could make for good ambush spots, where only one person at a time might fit. But holing up in one wouldn't be viable, Otto explained, because then they'd just release the hunting groks to drag the person out.
"Hm. Know what de area below was built on top of? I wunner if dere are tunnels below dat terrain coul' be used," Nikky remarks from the edge of the platform where she leans over and peers downward.
"Might be tunnels," Otto concedes. "Who know how deep it all is? Bu' tunnels prolly lead back to the tower, if'n they aint crushed or flooded."
"So, inffin I manage to kill dis Lord ... woul' dey den try t' kill me down dere, or drag me back here?" Nikky inquires.
"If de Lord wants you.. he might take you back up into the tower first," Otto notes. "He don't want anyone else to see him do it, y'know? If'n he doesn't take a shine to ya.. he might let the guards have you for a bit." Otto kneels down next to Nikky and pats her butt. "You gotta get the Lord's attention, make it personal. If'n you can trick or mess up one of his guards, or a guest, that gets you closer. Makes it that much better to break you or sumtin."
Nikky smirks. "So, iffin I show I am dangerous I am more interesting? He likes t' feel special breakin' someone dangerous, does 'e?" she asks.
Otto nods. "Makes him feel big and bad, I reckon," the big rat notes. "Instead of a pampered ponce."
"'Cept he has em all tied up when he tries t' break 'em, don' 'e? Hardly much of anyt'ing; anyone kin do dat," Nikky remarks, then spits off the side of the tower.
"I assume so.." Otto says, sounding uncertain. "Rumors are not tolerated. So nobody knows what happens, really. He'll also try to impress any guest he's brought along, unless it's a relative he's trying to get rid of."
"Know who 'e has as guests dis time?" Nikky asks.
"No," Otto replies, shaking his head. "Don't usually know until the start, when they do the big announcement."
"An dey gonna do dis all fer me. 'ow swee' o' dem," Nikky grumbles and taps her fingers on the tower.
"Well, was gonna be someone else before you impressed 'em," Otto points out. "You more fun to chase for them."
"So, vhich way did vou use vhen you almost won?" Nikky inquires.
"I used the shaded path," Otto says, pointing out his route through the path with the most cover.. and most traps. "Got messed up by some of the traps, but still got through. I'm big.. was strong then. Threw one of the squeakers into a spike pit. Mighta been Jank's pa. He seem to act like there something between us. If so, I got him his position."
"What kinna traps line it?" Nikky inquires as she peers at the covered path. It would allow for shadow usage if need be.
"Deadfalls, pits, spikes or glass under a layer of sand," Otto rattles off. "Some of the cover spots hide traps too. They don't kill you, just slow you down. Guards can't kill you either, but they can harrass and hit or claw you with their feet. Only the Lord or his guest can make a kill."
"Dey want you to at least be in sight of your goal," Otto points out. "Crueller that way."
"Yah yah, except my goal an what goals dey t'ink I have may no be de same," Nikky notes with a smirk. "But I kin play dere game."
"Jank got a burn for you, for some reason," Otto notes. "You get some knocks in him, yeah? He'll be after you. Make him best choice to take down if you can."
Nikky barks a laugh. "I handed him 'is butt and made him look like a right putz," she notes and waves her hand. "If he tangle wit' me dis time, I may no play so nice."
"Maybe you can play wi' him a bit," Otto suggests. "Lord gets off on that too, even if his own men getting the short end."
Nikky peers over at the other rat. "Play wit' him in wha way?" she asks.
"Hurt him, humiliate him, rile him up," Otto says. "Make him angry and reckless. Make the others laugh at him. That make you entertaining. Just like if Jank did the same to you, which is his and other guards jobs. Nobs don't see servants an' us as that diff'rent."
Nikky rubs her forehead. She has several ways she can do that, from making him stupidly aroused thanks to Inala, or psychotic, thanks to Blakat. Could come in handy. "Hmmm, I haf t' tink on dat. Know any of his major likes or dislikes?"
"Eh, he a guard," Otto say. "Gettin' drunk, having his way wi' people. Anything to escape, yeah? He'll come leer at da captives, tease the girls and boys.. but not do anything. Can't. Dat be like poaching. So.. simple stuff that make him feel good or make him not think."
"He hasn' come t' see me again. T'ink I scare 'im," Nikky remarks wryly.
"An oh, he like boys too?" Nikky asks. "Dat be interestin."
"He like people weaker den him," Otto says. "He can't be too picky, y'know? He not getting anyone wi' his charm or wits."
"Or looks," Nikky adds as she waves her hand again. "Prolly why he dun like me. I no weaker dan him."
"Tease him wi' that," Otto says, his lopsided face grinning a bit. "Try to make him break da rules. Or just make him mad. Not much for weapons down there.. maybe a stick or decent chunk of brick, or handful of sand and glass if you careful. He'll have clothes and armor that you won't, but you got no rules to play by."
"A weapon is only as good as de holder," Nikky points out. "Y'kin kill wit a quill. I figure out how t'deal with him."
"Try to look like you're having fun while doing it, if you can," Otto advises. "I probably not see you again after tonight, but glad I met you."
"Oh, you dun know dat. I kin be surprisin dat way," Nikky says with a teasing grin. "Or is it y' don' t'ink I make it?"
"I don't think you'd come back either way," Otto admits. "Even if you win somehow, and rescue us all.. it won't be you, but someone wi' wings. Or else a good long rope ladder."
"An y' don t'ink y' see me after? Eh, never know. Stranger t'ings happen after all," Nikky says, "An dere are lotsa people like me out dere. Well, not lots but a few. I no unique."
"I don't know what's out there anymore," Otto says. "Nothing but the dungeon anymore. People come and go, nobody wants to talk to me."
"No true. I talk to yas," Nikky points out.
"Yeah.. you different," Otto says, and reaches over to pinch Nikky as if to make sure she's real. "Guess I not crazy den!"
"Differen? An jus' how am I differen?" Nikky asks as she rubs the spot that was just pinched.
"You treat me like person," Otto says. "Like someone that.. feels. Not a monster or a slave or a jailer. You mus' be crazy."
"Eeeeh, suppose dat is possible," Nikky admits and waggles her hand. She stands back up and stretches a bit. "Seen all I can from 'ere. I jus gots t' be clever tomorrow."
Otto gets up as well, to lead Nikky back to her cell. "Anything else I can do fer you?" he asks.
Nikky rubs her chin. "A couple pints of beer and a harem o' sexy ratties?" she teases with a ear to ear grin.
"I got tepid water and a shabby knobby rat is all," Otto apologizes as he opens the cell door.
"Any'ting I kin do for you?" Nikky asks as she saunters into her cell.
"Well.." Otto says, looking shy. "I dun wanna tire you out or nuffin, you gots a big day tomorrow.."
Nikky snorts. "Up t' you. I be fine either way," the naked skreek comments as she saunters back to her cuff and secures it back around her own foot. She has to keep up appearances, after all.
Otto shuffles his feet.. and then joins Nikky in the cell. He does close the door for privacy though. "Could be me last chance.." he mutters.
"Pfft, y'need to smile more. Life is wha vou make of it," Nikky comments back in kind, then taps the skreek's chest. "So, vhacha vant?"
"I gots a choice?" the man asks. "I don't know much. I was too big back before, and then I was this.. so no real experience. You was my first."
"Eh? How kin I possibly be first?" Nikky asks, brow arched. "I don believe dat."
"Before I was caught.. I was wrong age and size," Otto explains. "Girls either too young, or older but too small. Not a lot of us out there at the time. The hunts were more frequent."
"Vell, any fantasies, den?" Nikky asks as she taps her chin.
"Uhh.. huh," Otto says, having to think. "There was this mean guard in my hunt, Matilda or something. She scratched me good. After my beating, I thought about catching her and.. uh.. you know. Didn't come to much, fantasy wise. I mean.. I don't think it was working at that point. Been over a year now."
"Vell, I can't exactly do dat little fantasy," Nikky remarks as she simply takes hold of the naked skreek by the delicates and starts to lightly massage.\
"Mmmf!" Otto grunts, and begins to wake up down there. It takes awhile still, and seems to have fits and starts.. but nothing is broken or bent oddly. "I.. can't move too good you know," he says. Given his badly healed leg and arm, there's no telling what was done to his back.
"Going to have to try and fix him later, move things back to the right spot since it is all still there," Nikky thinks to herself. "Vell, I kin do de same t'ing I did last time, or y' kin lie down on yer back."
"I'm not too big?" Otto asks, as he sits down, and then lies on his back.
"Ey, I've done a fnerf and rhain before," Nikky giggles as she slides herself right on top of the broken skreek. She then drops herself down and soon the big skreek becomes part of Nikky. And of course this makes Nikky cackle like a loon.
"Ooo, you gonna scare the other prisoners," Otto warns, but not too harshly. He looks very happy at the moment, and even tries to fondle Nikky with his good hand.
And since Otto is new at this, and a bit broken, she takes it slow and easy instead of the wild abandon the skreek might otherwise normally take. She even tries to tap into her aura abilities to make him feel it just a bit more; a slight push on the arousal and intensity. Certainly not a flood she might use on someone she doesn't like.
It's tricky, since Nikky wouldn't want Otto to fall in love or anything, but she does find just the right balance - ensuring that despite any damage or possible discomfort, it's going to be pretty fantastic for the big Skreek.
And Nikky drags it out for much longer than any mormal male ever lasts, you know, more than about thirty seconds. And when she finally decides to let it all end, she leans down and cackles softly in his ear, "Eehehehhehehe." Then it's a nudge to push things right over that edge.
Otto spasms. It almost looks painful for him, since he's crying a bit. But once it passes he hugs Nikky close.
"Y'okey down dere?" Nikky asks him while she is being hugged.
"Jes' happy," Otto sniffs. "Hope I not your last though."
"I t'ink vou may find lots of t'ings change after t'morrow. I have a sense about dese t'ings," Nikky claims and taps the skreek on the nose. "An jus' remember vha I said, iffin someone helps vou, pass it on an help someone too."
"I be ready to open the cells when time comes," Otto says, and smiles his lopsided smile.
Nikky eases herself off the large rat so that he can tend to his other duties. And ... so that she can rest. Can't plan ahead too much; she doesn't know how much cover she will have. But ... the aura influences will come in very handy.
The door bursts open in the morning, as Jank strides into the cell. "It's yer day to die, ratty," he announces. He's got his capture stick with him. "Now be a good girl and don't give me trouble, and maybe I put in a good starting zone, eh?"
"Yah, I mean, I be gigglin all de way 'ome when I see yas dangling on a pike," Nikky says with a smirk from ear to ear as she rises up. She rocks her head from side to side, causing her neck to pop a few times ... then even taps the draconic aura, just a little bit. to add an air of intimidation; weight; like humid and hot day. "I no playin' today. No like last time."
Jank's smile falters a bit. "I gotta use the cuffs on you or not?" he asks, a bit more serious. He also looks Nikky up and down. "Gotta get 'em to keep your whole hide, since if it's just the head people'd think you were all black."
"Oh, I be behavin' for now. I save de rest fer embarrasin' alla you out dere," Nikky claims. "An ya know, I heard dat before; talkin about makin' me skin into a rug or somethin'. Pity de last person dat threatened dat ended up vell ... I voul' vant to scare you. If vou afraid, it make fer a borin' chase."
The guard seems at a loss for words, then just says, "Put your hands out, wrists together."
"SUre, vhy no?" Nikky asks and presents her hands to the guard, wrists together "I migh as vell give you a prayer of a chance against me."
Jank slips the capture loop around Nikky's wrists and cinches it tight before moving in closer to unlock the ankle shackle. "No.. no funny business," he reminds her.
"Eh, I'm savin' all dat for out dere. I intend to have some fun," Nikky says. And true to her word, she holds still and doesn't try anything.
Once the shackles are undone, Jank uses the pole to lead Nikky out to the landing platform. It's still early, so not much light is getting through the upper levels, limiting things to a semi-twilight for now. "So.. how hard to you want it?" Jank asks, some of his belligerence returning. "You got good legs.. could run fast, I bet."
"I shoul' be askin' vou dat question. How hard do vou vant it?" Nikky counters, the skreek calm and collected as she walks along. "See, if vou vant a real challenge, start me some place with lots o' overhangs and hiding places."
"Hmmph, someone told you to put on a good show, eh?" Jank notes. "Fine, you asked for it!" He grabs Nikky around the waist, still leaving her wrists cinched together, but now the pole is left dangling. Then he carries her over to the edge of the platform, spreads his wings and steps off. He can't actually fly carrying Nikky's weight, but his wings let him glide downwards - right towards the starting area Nikky wanted.
"Yah, t'ought so," Nikky remarks as she's glided down from the tower. She finds this ... rather sad really. Alptraum could have carried her down and flown a short distance with her. "E' jus a bully. One little bit of standing up t' him and he cumples. Kinda sad, I almost feel sorry for him and vhat I might do t' him out dere. Den I remember how many prolly died here and I no feel so bad." she thinks.
Once they're on the ground, Jank grabs the pole again. "There's a yellow banner marking the goal," he tells her. "Get to that and you've won the hunt." He sounds like he's reciting from memory. Then a horn is sounded higher up along the tower, and Jank loosens the noose so Nikky can get her hands free. "That's the start!" he notes.
And Nikky leans right in until her nose almost touches Jank's. "Good t' know. I'll see vou again soon. I be lookin' specifically for vou," she says in a low whisper while pushing that draconic aura enough to keep him from pulling back or striking as she slips her hands out of the noose, then draws back. The skreek then drops the aura and smiles sweetly.
"You're.. crazy or something," Jank says, then grins when the aura drops. "Oh, I'll be getting my licks in, don't you worry!" And then he's flapping off to meet with the as-yet-unseen hunting party.
"Oh Blakat, dis is gonna be fun. Hehehe, I'm going to mess with them on a level that would make you proud," Nikky thinks. She may very well be crazy.
The shadows suddenly become a lot sharper, as some sort of flare is ignited high above. An amplified voice declares, "Behold, vermin! For you have the honor of being hunted by his Gloriousness, Lord Ugolino Antenora, and his honored guest the Lady Dimity bar Abbas!" There's no mistaking which one is Lord Ugolino, for he is dressed in the most gaudy and grotesque outfit that would still allow him to fly. So much purple! And sequins! And yellow, orange and green Zolk sashes. He's got on heels, a cape and his collar is starched into rigidity, rising up and framing his head like some demented flower. The woman next to him is quite a bit more understated, wearing practical leather while still holding a disdainful attitude.
"Yah, I sure see some vermin from down 'ere," Nikky calls up to the platform, heckling. "Gads, and what vermin wit' terrible taste! Purple, with sequins? Really? Ya look like the results on a barroom floor after a night of drinkin! At least yer Lady dere has some taste and style."
"Ah, a female with passion and courage!" Ugolino says in a disturbingly falsetto voice, even for an Eeee. Could he actually be a eunuch? "Flee, girl! Show your spirit, and it may elevate you to being almost a person!"
"Yah, maybe! But nothin' vill ever get vou dere," Nikky calls right back, smirking like a demon as she pops her neck again. The skreek then drops down to all fours and darts off like a madwoman in a zigzag as she heads for the first cover of sorts. The zigging is for time ... she's trying to bring aura sense forward now, to allow her to place where all the guards and such are...
As the odd sense spreads out like a cloud, it becomes clear that there are more than the hunters out there. Eeee are perched at high points throughout the area, all focused intently on Nikky. Possibly snipers, meant to make sure the Lord doesn't come to harm.
"Meh, I hate hunters who aren't willing t' risk demselves. I always had t face my prey as a vampire," Nikky thinks as she pinpoints the snipers one by one. Her main goal is to mess with the guards. Especially Jank; he's on her hit list for embarrassment.
The mixed auras give an odd look at things. Nikky can clearly pick out Jank's mind and location - along with his state of physical arousal. The same holds for the others.. and so far the Lord and his guest are a bit bored.
And Nikky focuses on Jank's feeling for the moment ... and starts pushing at his arousal. Enough to make it ... distracting. "Come one Lord of de Purple Nipple, join me down 'ere. I wanna play!" she calls up to the Lord as she darts. She also finds it interesting one of the Abbas clan is here! Probably the one to replace hin; the one her visitor represented.
The Lord does have jewelry over his nipples, as it happens. Jank starts to dive in towards Nikky, trying to catch her before she can get to the nearest cover. Or maybe he's trying to drive her towards something. He's clearly focused just on Nikky at the moment. "Gonna wear your tail for my belt, girl!" he threatens.
Nikky switches from arousal auras back to the draconic one ... and this time she pushes it a fair amount harder. She spins on her heals and stops, glaring up at the Eeee she is focusing it on. "Den prove it! Come down 'ere like a man an take it!" she challenges. Her hope, the aura she's forcing will stop him from doing just that and make him appear the coward.
The diving bat does suddenly stop, looking confused and upset. "You don't scare me!" he yells, while backflapping away from Nikky. This causes the Lord and his entourage a chuckle. "From his trouser bulge, I do believe he is afeared of the rat's ample bosom," Ugolino comments.
"'E jus know I gots bigger balls den him an I be a girl!" Nikky cackles as she darts off again. She changes course to the next possible hiding spot away from the one that Jenk was trying to drive her towards.
"Aughh!" Jank curses and pursues Nikky again. "I'll show you!" he growls. "And you'll like it!"
Nikky shimmies her tail at him as she darts about, cackling like a madwoman. The aura goes right back to the arousal one ... targeting Jenk again. It's a pain to fly when you're sporting things in your pants after all!
It's enough to force the man to the ground. "You can't hide from me, you.. witch.." Jank calls, and doesn't get very far before he's forced to take off his pants in order to move!
And Nikky dances about and as she heads for an overhand ... she isn't going to go under it, she is going to climb over it!
"What have you been feeding your men, Ugo?" Dimity has to ask after seeing the display.
"I 'tink yer leetle guard down 'ere could use some help, no?" Nikky calls out.
Jank lurches after Nikky, practically foaming at the mouth now. He gets back into the air to chase after the Skreek, who keeps going the wrong way.
"Oh my," Lord Ugolino says, and waves for one of the female guards to join the chase. "I shall have to check into it. I do hope he doesn't get carried away. Taking pleasure in the prey before the hunt ends is forbidden. I'd have to have him castrated."
And the arousal aura switches right back to the draconic one to keep Jenk at a safe distance. Now ... when the other guard gets close, why, maybe it's time for a little Blakat insanity and jealousy over possibly taking Nikky away from Jenk ... so that Jenk attacks the other guard!
The man is practically frothing from the conflicted feelings, and it doesn't take much to put him over the edge. "Hey! Back of Sarsa, she's mine!" Jank actually does head over to try and intercept the other guard!
And this gives Nikky time to try and clamber over the first overhand area instead of going under it ... to get to the next section! Should she make it to the top ... why she'll even blow a kiss to Lord Ugolino and Lady Dimty in passing!
"This is not how these things usually play out, is it?" Dimity asks her host. Lord Ugolino is licking his lips though. "Oh, more or less.. just not so much with the guards themselves. I do think Jank has gone mad though."
"Get out of my way Jank, you.." And then the two Eeee collide. Jank has the advantage of strength and madness though, and forces his colleague to the ground.
And ... Nikky switches back to arousal aura ... for both of the guards. Why, if they get into rutting ... two less guards to worry about, no?
There's much tearing of straps and cloth, as Jank and Sarsa abandon the chase for more carnal activity. "This really will not do," Ugolino notes. He also stops to watch however, along with Dimity. "The lower sorts do go at it with fervor, do they not?" the noblewoman notes. For the moment, Nikky is unobserved by the hunting party.. but it won't last long.
Satisfied she has at least amused the Rat quits zig-zagging so much and focuses on climbing the obstacles to reach the next area; she well remembers that going under them likely leads to traps, pits, glass, that sort of thing. She also has to slow down if she reaches the next area to check the ground and make sure it isn't full of shards or anything.
One of the other guards helpfully points out that Nikky is now over the 'wall' and into a new area, and Ugolino and Dimity break from watching the madly rutting guards to follow after her. "This one is bold and lucky," Ugolino notes, with a gleam in his eye. Nikky can feel a desire grow in him, that isn't like any natural one. It's beyond purple into black, aura-wise.
"Innnnteresting. Purple boy is quite mad ... and perverse!" Nikky thinks as she pauses in the new area to quick-scout the ground and look for areas that might look like pit traps.
There's plenty of rubble.. so the most likely places would have the least amount of rubble, out of necessity and to seem more attractive. There are some sandy patches, and the flare-light does cause a few telltale glimmers. There are also puddles that might hide glass spikes. But undercity folks learn fast not to trust stagnant pools of water.
And so Nikky sticks to the places where uneven rubble abounds; avoiding smooth spots or stagnant pools. "Okay, yah, I see. Rocky areas would be hard to trap, so stick to em!" she thinks.
They're also not particularly stable, so there's a lot of rock sliding out from under her as she moves. The Eeee catch up, and a fresh guard tries the tactic of simply knocking Nikky over, or otherwise trying to get her to stay in one spot long enough for her footing to be lost.
Nikky tries to duck under this guard when he tries to knock her over. She also tries to use the shadow to make her feet more sticky as she scrambles over the rocks! Not unlike good claws, really. Plus, she can't always use the aura or they might get suspicious.
"My, aren't you nimble," Ugolino remarks, coming in closer now. Unlike the guards, he does carry a weapon - thin sword. Dimity has a whip. The guard who missed overshoots a bit and has to recover, since he was planning on hitting something to absorb his momentum. From back over the rubble ridge, there's a cry of anger, and the sound of a struggle. Lovers' spat perhaps, now that the lust aura isn't being focused so strongly on Sarsa and Jank.
"Heheheheh," Nikky thinks to herself. She shifts her focus a bit to the Lord, just for a moment, to give a slight push of lust to the man. Slight, but enough to 'encourage' him. "I wonder if he'll hand me over to Dimity before he deals with me," she ponders as she continues her scurry across the rocky terrain towards the next overhang,.
There's a burst of speed form Ugolino then, as he takes the bait. "You shall be mine, vermin temptress!" he declares, causing Dimity to cast him an odd look and possibly hang back a little. The Lord sails ahead like some classical, but colorblind, vampire. "Bwuhahah!" he squeaks.
And then Nikky draws back the lust aura to pull lust from him and to make him feel ... less manly? Perhaps to see how he reacts to that.
Nikky then ... changes it a bit and tries to funnel the lust from the Lord to the Lady!
Ugolino gets.. angry? Dimity, however, laughs and increases her own speed of pursuit. Being an Abbas though, there's not telling what direction her lust compass normally points. Jank is also in view, looking particularly frustrated (as Sarsa almost certainly ended things before he could finish).
Nikky cackles as darts onward! She reverses the lust flow again to balance it between the Lord and Lady! She also shimmies her backside as she runs as a distraction as to why the feelings would change. Over the next overhang ... then onward towards the goal.
Everyone is converging on the same spot. There's the sash, the cackling madwoman and the trio of frustrated pursuers. It looks like Nikky will reach it first!
Nikky blows a raspberry and makes a concerted sprint for the sash! She's pretty certain something will takle her before it, so she prepares herself; pain is probably coming ... but she will endure. She has her own to share later, after all.
The aura has everything merge into a blob this close.. and sure enough, it's Jank that tackles her just short of the banner. It seems like he's about to rape her on the spot too, until his ear is nicked by Ugolino's sword. "Control yourself, guard, or I will see that you are castrated.. from the neck down. Hold the prey for me."
"Hah, like I be done yet!" Nikky growls ... and shows off how strong she is because she's lifting Jenk up on her back! It wouldn't look right if she just gave in right now, after all, she has to fight to the end to keep up the illusion.
That's when Dimity's whip snaps itself around Nikky's calves and pulls her feet out from under her. "Such fire!" Ugolino says. He presses the foil of his sword against Nikky's cheek, and says, "The hunt did not break you. So you have earned the right to be broken by me, personally." The man has a disturbing smile. "I think you may even be a slight challenge. How delicious.." Then he's all business again, commanding, "Have her bound and brought to my special chamber."
"You have no idea what you're getting into," Nikky challenges the Lord as she glares back at him over the thin blade. "And thus ... the cleansing begins," she thinks a bit darkly ... and looks forward to it.