Post by Rio on Jul 20, 2010 5:41:58 GMT -8
Name:
Nickname(s):[/color]
Age:[/color]
Date of Birth:[/color]
Sexuality: [/color]
Blood:[/color]
Abilities:[/color]
Loyalty:[/color]
Status/Occupation:[/color]
Appearance:[/color]
Personality:[/color]
History:[/color]
Since that time when Rio was five, he has been taken in under Regis Smithe's care. "Care" being slave. Regis was an infamous slavesmaster and formiddable opponent known for his variety of daemon slaves, a feat that none has been able to do as well as the hundreds of slaves that he has, for household, hunting for pleasure or simple entertainment. His best known trade were battle-slaves, a popular thing within Litharia's black market. Battle-slaves were usually elementals and golems, very rarely animal-related daemons, usually considered to be weak by most.
Ever since little Rio has remembered, he has had the black collar around his neck and he has always slept in a cage on top of two other cages and as a child, he had enough space to curl up and sit with his head bent. He has always had to run twenty kilometers and when his feline grace kicked in and drove him further than the rest of the older group, he was always whipped around the legs and tripped. If he stayed down for too long, he was whipped an extra two times. He never minded, he thought this was the way of life. The boy licked his wounds and never complained. He never spoke or complained even when he had to eat moldy scraps. He impressed the masters with his natural skill for aim and grace. Little Rio was even proud of becoming an assasin.
"You will call me Master." Regis told the boy that he had just freshened up. Gone was the overly huge shirt that he had been clothed in. Now he wore a pair of breeches. He wore a fresh black collar that suited him, bringing out the feral light of his eyes and the intelligent look that he held as he sat on the floor like a beast, mismatched eyes toned towards the huge man that stood before him. The boy seemed not to notice the chain that connected his collar to the man's hand, fingers wound tightly around the shiny silver metal.
The quiet answer came after a long moment. "Yes." It seemed as if the boy was slow to comprehend this, but under Regis's trained eyes, he could see that the boy Rio was analyzing him.
"Your name will be Echo." He said, staring down into the fearless eyes. It infuriated him to think that this boy Rio could stare back like this after he had seen the cruel nature in that he had murdered his family. The only thing that refrained him from killing the boy was the price that Regis knew that he'd fetch.
"Yes." The answer came after the same pause.
"This is your new home. Come." Regis said shortly, spinning around and jerking the chain after him. He wasn't going to kill the boy but he wasn't going to give him an easy time.
"Yes." The answer was the exact same monotone answer with the exact same pause, even though he stumbled and had to trot to keep up with the speedy pace set for him. This boy was a hardy one.
At that time, he was the only animal daemon. He noticed that he was the only one with a black collar around his neck--the others had them around their wrists or their ankles. Not only that, but he noticed that he was the only one with a chain connected to the collar and the only one that the Master took out for walks, as if he was a pet. Rio--or Echo as he was known back then, never minded. He was naive back then, completely oblivious. He was the Master's pet. He did not get beaten by the Master, but he was ill-treated by the training-masters and other battleslaves, or "Echos".
"Come." Rio's head turned at the sound, ears flicking attentively towards the speaker. He knew immediately that it was Master. He was unsure what the Master wanted now, but he had no reason to complain.
The Master walked towards him, the fine-link chain in his hand. He stopped at Rio's cage and looked in. The boy was directly at eye-level. It was two years since the boy had been captured and he had changed in no way, perhaps a little taller but not too much. He opened the cage door and stepped back, allowing the boy to jump down, letting a little admiration and pride slip into his eyes as the boy landed without a sound and immediately looked up, awaiting instructions. He had grown very fond of the mammalian daemon. He clipped the chain on and like a shadow, the boy drifted to his left side. It was already custom for him. But tonight was a special one. Regis had need for his skill. He could see the other cadets eyeing the mammalian daemon, some with pity some with cold distaste, all to the daemon's uncaring behavior.
Without warning, Regis struck up a pace. He did not know whether to be pleased that the mammalian daemon was prepared or angry about that. After that year, he still hadn't forgotten the boy's true name, Rio. This boy, Echo as he was known to all the others, was reknown for his uncanny skill with the recurve bow. And he didn't brag either. Not something that was unusual. From what he knew, the battleslaves never conversed in the presence of the training-masters.
The boy followed him silently, retrieving the recurve bow and quiver of dozen when he was led to the weapons room. He was unsure if it should have been natural, but since there was nothing else to do, it must have been obvious. He needed to calm down. The boy wouldn't dare try anything.
Moments later they were in the carriage. The boy sat beside him quietly, never moving. The most he did was flick his ears to catch some sound inaudible to himself, rather like a beast. He asked no questions, seeming to have complete confidence in Regis. How often did the boy speak anyways?
"Echo." The boy turned his head, eyes holding a question. Regis noted that he was healed of any punishment that was inflicted on him, but he needed a shirt. "Back me up. Fell any enemies that come upon us." He ordered.
"Yes." He replied with a blink of his eyes. Regis turned to the seat in front of him, reaching into a back and pulling out a white linen shirt. He held it in front of the boy who stared at it quizzically.
"Put it on." He told the boy. Echo probably never remembered having a shirt on before. Nevertheless, he took the shirt and put it on, leaving it sitting on his shoulders. Regis blinked. He didn't know how to button it up. Either that, or he needed an instruction. "Button it up." The boy stared at him blankly. With a sigh, Regis reached over to button up the first button. While he brushed against the boy's skin, he realized just how much muscle the slim figure held. "Like that." He explained. Echo nodded, presumably his thanks and proceeded to do the same, albeit clumsily. They were going to be there soon.
Regis smiled; it was time to show off his masterpiece, his true power. Then people would learn to fear him.
Red... it was all red. The whole place was red. Echo did not know whether to be happy or afraid. He looked to the Master to see his expression. The Master had a light vibrant glint in his eyes. It was a glint that he had never seen before. He didn't know what it was, but the Master wasn't angry. That was good. That was very good. He was already done picking every single one of his dozen arrows, cleaned them of blood and taken care of the bow. Echo disliked the white thing that the Master had made him wear and he did not know why the Master had let him go. There was no home here, this wasn't somewhere he knew, what was it then? The metallic tang of blood filled his nose. It did not bother him; he had smelled it so muck before, seen it so much before, but never this much.
"Come here, Echo."
Echo turned. It was the Master. He picked his way over to Master's side, winding through the blood, keeping his eyes on the tall figure as if he was afraid that the Master should disappear. His mouth was twisted funnily, corners turning upwards. He stopped in front of the Master, wondering what the Master wanted to do when he bent down and put his mouth to his ear.
"Listen here Echo, I want you to find anyone alive in this land and bring them back to me. You are the only one whose nose is strong enough for that. Understand?"
"Yes." He replied as the Master looked him in the eye. The Master's mouth did that funny quirk again and he ruffled Echo's hair. He half-closed his eyes and purred. He loved that movement, it made him feel happy and want to please Master. He wanted more but he knew that he had a job to do. Master did not like it when he hesitated. The blood was blanketing his smell; he needed to get out.
What was that? Echo paused. The area was woody and he was distracted easily. Strangely distracted by unfamiliar smells. This wasn't an unfamiliar smell; it wasn't any of the beasts that lived within and he could pick up some sound from his left a breaking noise that stopped and started. He started towards it, slipping through the shadows and finding the sound louder. The bow and quiver were too heavy to let him move freely so he shrugged them off, marking the tree that he left them at. He had heard this sound before. It was someone sobbing. But why? No one had punished her. She had dark skin and bright red hair. She was alone and more or less unhurt, curled into a ball by herself. It didn't make sense to him, it made him want to comfort her. Unsure on how to deal with the situation, he brushed against a nearby bush, red eyes filled with fear turned to him; she was older than him by a couple of years. Once catching sight of him, she seemed to relax. Her cheeks were stained by some kind of liquid that wasn't blood. She reached out to him. He automatically dropped down to her level. She seemed delirious and she latched herself onto him; her touch was warm, very warm. She was murmuring something to him but he couldn't understand anything. Her words were warped, strange to his ears, but what he did know was that she needed his comfort. That was the animal part of him.
Somewhere in his mind, he knew that this girl was what Master was looking for, but the way she was now, there was no way he could bring her back. She would go to sleep soon--hopefully.
For the next few years, Echo found himself rising through the ranks of the battleslaves, besting each one of a different year group in both close-combat and long-ranged attacks, eventually rising up high enough to the group four years older than himself. At that time, he was nine and he had never stopped thinking of the fire elemental that the Master had told him to find. Now he had grown bigger but the cage that he made his home in had enough room for him to curl up on the floor to sleep and to sit up with his head bowed. It seemed that it never got any bigger. The collar around his neck was still there, although the Master hadn't took him out as often as before; only for raids and conquering other territories, but as time passes, something unexpected happens.
Since then, Echo had been having visits from Claudia and to his surprise, found his loyalty wavering. It was hard not to be won over by the fire elemental's touch and her soft voice. He never did speak much, but her question about his name still bugged him. Did he have another name that he didn't know about? Probably. Maybe.
It went on like this for months, until two years passed and he was eleven. That was the time when the word of the two's constant interaction reached the Master's ears. At first he was ignorant to it, but as his training-masters kept complaining about the growing strength of the daemon, he had to do something. This would also be the boy's assessment of progress. He was ascending the ranks with delectable progress and he was already a beacon of fear in the daemon world, said to be the most skilled with long-ranged weapons and the deadliest under Regis's reign. Regis himself thought so too, unlike many of the other battleslaves, Rio was the one that had already come with no fear of blood. He let this go on for another two years until the traditional time for assessment--thirteen.
He had defied the Master. He could tell that it was a grave thing to do. The area was silent and he remembered Claudia's shock, the tears that streamed from her face as she begged him silently to take it back. He wouldn't, he couldn't. He knew what was coming, but he didn't have any regrets. He was strong enough to beat the Master and if he wasn't, Echo didn't mind dying for Claudia. He knew that the Master was proud and arrogant, he knew that he wanted the duel to be publicized and he knew that they both had reputations. Echo never lost a fight. Ever. He wasn't planning on losing this one either.
From where he was crouched on the ground, he regarded the Master in the open ring. He wasn't allowed his bow here, but he had kept his arrows. He wasn't strong enough to throw them, but they could be of some use. He knew that Claudia was watching and he knew that a lot of unfamiliar daemons were regarding the match as well. Echo was unwilling to move. He knew that the Master would first, as he did before. His ears were pricked, alert to the slightest movement of the man before him. Once he had let his attention slip, resulting in the gash on his side. Shallow, but painful due to the rugged edges.
So far, he hadn't been able to land much of a blow on the Master; his daggerwork wasn't the best. He was starting to think that they could become stone statues when the Master moved in. He held the blade up, ready to swing down upon him, but Echo had been slightly expecting this; it was a trademark move. He sprang parallel to the ground, following the movement with a sweep of his leg. Normally he wouldn't have been able to sway the Master, but now he was off-balanced. Echo stabbed the blade into the Master's calf, making the bigger man snarl and swing wildly at him. It almost got him. Almost.
He could tell that the Master's movements were impaired and he was enraged the way he was swinging wildly at him. Inwardly he smiled; this was nothing but the fight of a fool. He could win this if the Master kept it up and thankfully he did. Around the ring they went, Echo leading as the Master followed blindly, enraged by the small, rapid darts that he had risked, mainly to his torso now, receiving a few more slashes in return. This was fun, actually fun in a sadistic way. This was child's play, the way a cat played with his food.
Rio, having killed the Master, was rather disconcerted. It felt like his whole life had been turned upside down as it was. He felt alone. He didn't know where Claudia was, but he did know that all the slaves under the Master had fled. Even the training-masters had fled. What could he do now? Claudia was gone, maybe she had left him because she was disgusted by what he was. Maybe.
Getting used to his new name, Rio's next goal was to find Claudia. On and on he had defeated challengers, some enraged by him, some wanting revenge, but all he had accepted challenges, be it to the death, first blood or third blood. He traveled Dreamland in hopeless search, freeing those that were enslaved out of guilt and dueling those that disagreed with him until he was fourteen. As he turned fourteen, no more challengers arose. Instead he seemed to be treated with respect of a kind.
He was the strongest daemon fighter.[/blockquote]
Roleplay Sample:[/color]
Rio de Esfera Oro
Nickname(s):[/color]
Rio, Echo, Slave (past)
Age:[/color]
15
Date of Birth:[/color]
22nd of September
Sexuality: [/color]
Bisexual
Blood:[/color]
Golden Cat Mammalian
Abilities:[/color]
Stealth
Loyalty:[/color]
Daemon Lord Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar
Status/Occupation:[/color]
Strongest Fighter, Wanderer/Free-Lance mercenary
Appearance:[/color]
Taking after the color of the asian golden cat, Rio's hair is a vibrant, dark-golden, almost brownish color, tipped with dark brown towards the end. Atop his head sticks two tufted ears, a shade darker than his hair color and with tufted tips, rather like a lynx. All around, his hair is smooth like a cat's pelt and also rather long, covering his right eye at all times. He has no need to cut his hair, which like an animal's pelt, grows and falls out to fit the weather, saving him the trouble of getting a haircut.
As a mammalian daemon, Rio is tall, standing about 5'6 and lean and sharp, having being whipped into shape--literally. His complexion is slightly tanned, giving him the same, albeit lighter quality as the golden sheen of his hair. His fingers are long and one would find the claws on each finger and toe completely sharpened and fine toned--if you're lucky you might find the tree that he's decided to hone them on. From his past life, his figure might seem a little too thin to be healthy and as powerful as he really is and even though he is free, Rio has never gotten used to eating much, resulting in his ever-thin figure with lightning-quick reflexes. He is always graceful and everything about him would seem smooth, from the way he blinks to the way he swings a dagger on to meet a rapier, even his clothes simple as they are seem to carry the same fluidity within them.
Though Rio does not sport a tail, it does not hinder his balance or leaping skills in anyway, neither do the specially fitted quiver and recurve bow that he carries with him--or the dagger strapped to his belt. Whenever possible, Rio will shrug off his shirt, finding it uncomfortable and movement-restricting. This however, seems not to be the case with his breeches and boots, two items (besides the weapons) that he is accustomed to having at all times in the presence of others. On his torso (not something that he is proud of showing off) are scars, crossing onto each other, always long and not always so thin. These whip-scars cross all over his body, even on his face, though those are not as prominent. The other thing about Rio is the black collar around his neck. It is tight and close fitting and he has not figured out to take it off yet, believing that it is the thing that strengthens him. The collar is weather and sabotage proof but will not choke him.
The most startling part about the mammalian daemon are his eyes. The left one, the ever-visible one, is a clear blue color, reflecting the light at times, making it seem red and rather ghost-like to the unsuspecting traveler. Rio is rather undaunted by this, as trained to do so. He believes that it is a natural thing, seeing other feline animals have the same glint if their eyes were ever blue, but the reason for his unwillingness to uncover his right eye lies within the color and the memories. It is true that both his eyes are slightly slanted and feline, but the fact that his right eye is a dark amber unsettles him. Being the cautious person that he is, he doesn't like the stares that he gets when his eye is being observe and along with that, the fact that it is useless does no wonders. Rio is blind in one eye as a result of a punishment that went a little too far and took it out. He can not see with that eye but has no problem with it; having already learned to aim with one eye. The fact that he is blind will not occur to most people if his eye was ever uncovered. Only the keenest of the keenest could see through the blank expression that both eyes hold.
Personality:[/color]
Calm, collected and very rarely unsettled. Rio is a mellow person, gentle for a daemon and somewhat sensitive, although he will rarely, if ever let his true feelings show to another person. He does not like to see another being abused or enslaved and will always save one from another that seems to abuse or enslave another. If he is unable to stop this process, he will often feel haunted and disgruntled, even resulting in a nightmare if he finds the time to sleep.
He will never speak out of his turn. Heck, he wouldn't even speak at all if he could, although he does feel obliged to converse with the daemon lord and his deputy, but his version of "converse" is very different from most of ours. As an adviser, one could say he is stony and perhaps rather inexperienced for his young age--doesn't make him any less bloodthirsty though. Rio has no problem with seeing blood. He will not kill everything in his way but he does not kill for mere survival. Rather than talking to one who insults him, he would rather draw the bow and take a shot. If not, he'd swing the dagger which never misses its mark with a hand to guide it. Lesson: Never insult Rio unless you have a deathwish. He is a mercenary that is not to be dealt with under any circumstances.
History:[/color]
[/center]"Get them!" The voice snarled loudly.
"Leave them, you son of a bitch!" Another growled back defiantly. One could tell immediately that the voice was weary and hurt, though one could not mistake the anger and will that stood fast within.
A howl of laughter rang out through the quiet chaos within the territory, mighty and arrogant, confident without ends. He knew that he would win--he was the stronger with the dozen men that he had and even against the mammalian daemon. The mammalian daemon who owed him and could not pay back. well, he wanted the land and that was what he was getting. "Get out of the way, fucking loser. This land is mine now. Everything of yours is mine now..."
Black eyes burning with malice fell onto a figure, older than a mere babe but not old enough to be a child. A toddler. What struck him were the eyes, blue and amber, not fearful as the man cowering in front of him in what seemed like a protective stance, but calm and calculating, fearless. It struck him, got him interested.
"No! You can not have the child!" The man screamed. The black eyes turned towards him lazily. He was of no importance, he was as good as dead, no matter how wild he was. His girl was dead and his land was gone. "You can't have Rio!"
Rio... that was a fine name. The daemon watched as the child's eyes turned attentively at the mention of his name. His ears were pointed in the direction of the mammalian daemon that was his father--an unworthy father to have lost to him, Regis the Great. What good could the child be with him. "Oh? Is that so?" Regis jammed the heel of his boot into the man's collar bone, snapping it and drawing an agonized scream. He watched the child's reaction--nothing. Not even a widening of the eyes. That child, Rio was a fine one. The daemon could see the potential within.
"I forbid you!" The man was still alive, albeit gasping for life. His last breath was soon. Regis took a step to the child, only to find his progress halted by the feeble arms of the man. "I...forbid... you!" He gasped out through rivulets of blood.
Regis's lip curled and from his jacket, he draw a blade with wicked, jagged ends. His men were paying attention now, but he was too occupied to care. His attention was on the child. He forced the blade down into the chest of the mammalian daemon, snapping the ribs of Malcolm De Esfera Oro, breaking through the ribs and all the way into the floor. The man screamed his last breath, but the child did but merely blink. This was the boy he wanted.
"Take the boy. He will make a worthy addition." Regis strolled out, blade dripping with hot blood. He let out a howl of triumph. He had a very potential cadet, a new slave, a new Echo. His men would bind the child, though he hadn't brought the real slave-taking tools. It was enough. He was happy.
Since that time when Rio was five, he has been taken in under Regis Smithe's care. "Care" being slave. Regis was an infamous slavesmaster and formiddable opponent known for his variety of daemon slaves, a feat that none has been able to do as well as the hundreds of slaves that he has, for household, hunting for pleasure or simple entertainment. His best known trade were battle-slaves, a popular thing within Litharia's black market. Battle-slaves were usually elementals and golems, very rarely animal-related daemons, usually considered to be weak by most.
Ever since little Rio has remembered, he has had the black collar around his neck and he has always slept in a cage on top of two other cages and as a child, he had enough space to curl up and sit with his head bent. He has always had to run twenty kilometers and when his feline grace kicked in and drove him further than the rest of the older group, he was always whipped around the legs and tripped. If he stayed down for too long, he was whipped an extra two times. He never minded, he thought this was the way of life. The boy licked his wounds and never complained. He never spoke or complained even when he had to eat moldy scraps. He impressed the masters with his natural skill for aim and grace. Little Rio was even proud of becoming an assasin.
"You will call me Master." Regis told the boy that he had just freshened up. Gone was the overly huge shirt that he had been clothed in. Now he wore a pair of breeches. He wore a fresh black collar that suited him, bringing out the feral light of his eyes and the intelligent look that he held as he sat on the floor like a beast, mismatched eyes toned towards the huge man that stood before him. The boy seemed not to notice the chain that connected his collar to the man's hand, fingers wound tightly around the shiny silver metal.
The quiet answer came after a long moment. "Yes." It seemed as if the boy was slow to comprehend this, but under Regis's trained eyes, he could see that the boy Rio was analyzing him.
"Your name will be Echo." He said, staring down into the fearless eyes. It infuriated him to think that this boy Rio could stare back like this after he had seen the cruel nature in that he had murdered his family. The only thing that refrained him from killing the boy was the price that Regis knew that he'd fetch.
"Yes." The answer came after the same pause.
"This is your new home. Come." Regis said shortly, spinning around and jerking the chain after him. He wasn't going to kill the boy but he wasn't going to give him an easy time.
"Yes." The answer was the exact same monotone answer with the exact same pause, even though he stumbled and had to trot to keep up with the speedy pace set for him. This boy was a hardy one.
At that time, he was the only animal daemon. He noticed that he was the only one with a black collar around his neck--the others had them around their wrists or their ankles. Not only that, but he noticed that he was the only one with a chain connected to the collar and the only one that the Master took out for walks, as if he was a pet. Rio--or Echo as he was known back then, never minded. He was naive back then, completely oblivious. He was the Master's pet. He did not get beaten by the Master, but he was ill-treated by the training-masters and other battleslaves, or "Echos".
"Come." Rio's head turned at the sound, ears flicking attentively towards the speaker. He knew immediately that it was Master. He was unsure what the Master wanted now, but he had no reason to complain.
The Master walked towards him, the fine-link chain in his hand. He stopped at Rio's cage and looked in. The boy was directly at eye-level. It was two years since the boy had been captured and he had changed in no way, perhaps a little taller but not too much. He opened the cage door and stepped back, allowing the boy to jump down, letting a little admiration and pride slip into his eyes as the boy landed without a sound and immediately looked up, awaiting instructions. He had grown very fond of the mammalian daemon. He clipped the chain on and like a shadow, the boy drifted to his left side. It was already custom for him. But tonight was a special one. Regis had need for his skill. He could see the other cadets eyeing the mammalian daemon, some with pity some with cold distaste, all to the daemon's uncaring behavior.
Without warning, Regis struck up a pace. He did not know whether to be pleased that the mammalian daemon was prepared or angry about that. After that year, he still hadn't forgotten the boy's true name, Rio. This boy, Echo as he was known to all the others, was reknown for his uncanny skill with the recurve bow. And he didn't brag either. Not something that was unusual. From what he knew, the battleslaves never conversed in the presence of the training-masters.
The boy followed him silently, retrieving the recurve bow and quiver of dozen when he was led to the weapons room. He was unsure if it should have been natural, but since there was nothing else to do, it must have been obvious. He needed to calm down. The boy wouldn't dare try anything.
Moments later they were in the carriage. The boy sat beside him quietly, never moving. The most he did was flick his ears to catch some sound inaudible to himself, rather like a beast. He asked no questions, seeming to have complete confidence in Regis. How often did the boy speak anyways?
"Echo." The boy turned his head, eyes holding a question. Regis noted that he was healed of any punishment that was inflicted on him, but he needed a shirt. "Back me up. Fell any enemies that come upon us." He ordered.
"Yes." He replied with a blink of his eyes. Regis turned to the seat in front of him, reaching into a back and pulling out a white linen shirt. He held it in front of the boy who stared at it quizzically.
"Put it on." He told the boy. Echo probably never remembered having a shirt on before. Nevertheless, he took the shirt and put it on, leaving it sitting on his shoulders. Regis blinked. He didn't know how to button it up. Either that, or he needed an instruction. "Button it up." The boy stared at him blankly. With a sigh, Regis reached over to button up the first button. While he brushed against the boy's skin, he realized just how much muscle the slim figure held. "Like that." He explained. Echo nodded, presumably his thanks and proceeded to do the same, albeit clumsily. They were going to be there soon.
Regis smiled; it was time to show off his masterpiece, his true power. Then people would learn to fear him.
Red... it was all red. The whole place was red. Echo did not know whether to be happy or afraid. He looked to the Master to see his expression. The Master had a light vibrant glint in his eyes. It was a glint that he had never seen before. He didn't know what it was, but the Master wasn't angry. That was good. That was very good. He was already done picking every single one of his dozen arrows, cleaned them of blood and taken care of the bow. Echo disliked the white thing that the Master had made him wear and he did not know why the Master had let him go. There was no home here, this wasn't somewhere he knew, what was it then? The metallic tang of blood filled his nose. It did not bother him; he had smelled it so muck before, seen it so much before, but never this much.
"Come here, Echo."
Echo turned. It was the Master. He picked his way over to Master's side, winding through the blood, keeping his eyes on the tall figure as if he was afraid that the Master should disappear. His mouth was twisted funnily, corners turning upwards. He stopped in front of the Master, wondering what the Master wanted to do when he bent down and put his mouth to his ear.
"Listen here Echo, I want you to find anyone alive in this land and bring them back to me. You are the only one whose nose is strong enough for that. Understand?"
"Yes." He replied as the Master looked him in the eye. The Master's mouth did that funny quirk again and he ruffled Echo's hair. He half-closed his eyes and purred. He loved that movement, it made him feel happy and want to please Master. He wanted more but he knew that he had a job to do. Master did not like it when he hesitated. The blood was blanketing his smell; he needed to get out.
What was that? Echo paused. The area was woody and he was distracted easily. Strangely distracted by unfamiliar smells. This wasn't an unfamiliar smell; it wasn't any of the beasts that lived within and he could pick up some sound from his left a breaking noise that stopped and started. He started towards it, slipping through the shadows and finding the sound louder. The bow and quiver were too heavy to let him move freely so he shrugged them off, marking the tree that he left them at. He had heard this sound before. It was someone sobbing. But why? No one had punished her. She had dark skin and bright red hair. She was alone and more or less unhurt, curled into a ball by herself. It didn't make sense to him, it made him want to comfort her. Unsure on how to deal with the situation, he brushed against a nearby bush, red eyes filled with fear turned to him; she was older than him by a couple of years. Once catching sight of him, she seemed to relax. Her cheeks were stained by some kind of liquid that wasn't blood. She reached out to him. He automatically dropped down to her level. She seemed delirious and she latched herself onto him; her touch was warm, very warm. She was murmuring something to him but he couldn't understand anything. Her words were warped, strange to his ears, but what he did know was that she needed his comfort. That was the animal part of him.
Somewhere in his mind, he knew that this girl was what Master was looking for, but the way she was now, there was no way he could bring her back. She would go to sleep soon--hopefully.
Regis was getting impatient, Ri-Echo wasn't back yet. He usually didn't take long, not this long at least. What was keeping him? A look at the men around him raiding the house proved that they were restless as he was, but he didn't think that they had much interest in the child. On the contrary, they probably resented him. Regis allowed himself a grim smile; Rio was exceeding expectations. He would have to move Echo to a higher class now. Perhaps close-quarter fighting.
Just when he was about to go find the boy himself, the cat-eared figure made its way through the doorway, a figure in his arms bigger than him but he had no problem with her. Must have been the archery training, he thought. Echo brought the girl to him, a question in his eyes again. Was he pleased?
Regis looked at the girl. Even in sleep, her expression was stony and defiant and she looked like she could put up a good fight, a worthy slave. Not for battle, but perhaps the kitchens where she could learn from the human cooks. Yes, he was pleased, very pleased. He smiled at the boy, gesturing for one of his men to take the girl from him. "Let's go Echo, you've done well." He told the boy, clipping on the chain and walking from the newly conquered territory.
Just when he was about to go find the boy himself, the cat-eared figure made its way through the doorway, a figure in his arms bigger than him but he had no problem with her. Must have been the archery training, he thought. Echo brought the girl to him, a question in his eyes again. Was he pleased?
Regis looked at the girl. Even in sleep, her expression was stony and defiant and she looked like she could put up a good fight, a worthy slave. Not for battle, but perhaps the kitchens where she could learn from the human cooks. Yes, he was pleased, very pleased. He smiled at the boy, gesturing for one of his men to take the girl from him. "Let's go Echo, you've done well." He told the boy, clipping on the chain and walking from the newly conquered territory.
For the next few years, Echo found himself rising through the ranks of the battleslaves, besting each one of a different year group in both close-combat and long-ranged attacks, eventually rising up high enough to the group four years older than himself. At that time, he was nine and he had never stopped thinking of the fire elemental that the Master had told him to find. Now he had grown bigger but the cage that he made his home in had enough room for him to curl up on the floor to sleep and to sit up with his head bowed. It seemed that it never got any bigger. The collar around his neck was still there, although the Master hadn't took him out as often as before; only for raids and conquering other territories, but as time passes, something unexpected happens.
The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth as he licked the wounds. They were almost gone now. Somehow, he had manage to deeply upset a training-master, resulting in the many cuts that he had suffered with the ragged-edged whip. He blinked his right eye hopefully, that was the one area that he hadn't been able to reach and the one that hurt most. As of now, he could not see anything and didn't think he would be able to see anything again. Although Echo deeply resented this, he knew that he could do nothing about it. He just had to train harder. Losing an eye wasn't going to hinder his progress; he was just fine even without it. It might be a little troublesome at first, but nothing that he couldn't overcome. Something that he couldn't afford not to overcome.
The mammalian daemon's ears shot upwards as the door opened. It was dinner. Dinnertime even when he wasn't hungry. He had learned to go on with little food and today's training had been nothing. He looked out curiously at the door, wondering who it was today. Was it the nice lady that always scratched him behind the ears or the lady that snarled at him and forced him to shrink back as she shoved the food to him? It was neither. Echo's brain couldn't quite comprehend the figure that he was seeing. Black skin, red hair, rather short, female. The girl that he had found for Master. He hadn't seen her for these years and a part of him couldn't help but notice that she was well. No whip-marks or anything. Also, she seemed disturbed as she pushed each plate to the other battleslaves. He was the last to be fed as he was the newest. He didn't complain; better something than nothing.
He watched the girl as she went about her rounds, shrinking back a little to give her some space as he could see that she didn't seem comfortable. But when she looked up at him, it was hard not to stare. "It's... you." She said.
Echo did not know how to reply, so he flicked his ears and blinked. The fire elemental seemed undaunted. Leaning in a little closer, she added, "It's me, Claudia, do you remember?" She asked, pushing a hand through the bars. He could see that her eyes were on his neck, on the collar around his neck. He was the only one who had one; he knew that much. He had his eye on her hand, he remembered the warmth and how she stroked his hair that once... Echo came forwards, lowering his head to her reach, slitting his eyes and purring as the fire elemental-Claudia-scratched him behind the ears. It made him want more of it and he was glad that she didn't stop. He shifted into a more comfortable position, curling up and keeping his eye on her.
"You're... hurt." She stated quietly. She wasn't comfortable with the wounds that seemed to be half healed. The other battleslaves had scars and wounds too, but knowing this boy... it just made her squeamish to think that he was being treated like this and he had no problems with it. Also, his hair was nice and soft and she could tell that he liked it--just like a cat. "What's your name?" She asked him. She didn't know what to call him and was curious to know.
"Echo." Wasn't that what all the battleslaves were called?
"Don't you have another name? Like my name's Claudia." She pointed to herself. The boy thought for a moment before shaking his head. Claudia was sure that he had another name, he probably didn't remember it. But why? Why did he not mind having an identity? It was rather unsettling. She sighed. It might be a little troublesome, but she could deal with it. Eyes falling onto his empty cage, she withdrew her hand. Echo's head shot up immediately, eyes full of protest. Claudia smiled ruefully, "I have to get back, I'm sorry." and with that, she pushed him a plate of food, hurrying out, feeling his eyes on her at every moment.
[/center]The mammalian daemon's ears shot upwards as the door opened. It was dinner. Dinnertime even when he wasn't hungry. He had learned to go on with little food and today's training had been nothing. He looked out curiously at the door, wondering who it was today. Was it the nice lady that always scratched him behind the ears or the lady that snarled at him and forced him to shrink back as she shoved the food to him? It was neither. Echo's brain couldn't quite comprehend the figure that he was seeing. Black skin, red hair, rather short, female. The girl that he had found for Master. He hadn't seen her for these years and a part of him couldn't help but notice that she was well. No whip-marks or anything. Also, she seemed disturbed as she pushed each plate to the other battleslaves. He was the last to be fed as he was the newest. He didn't complain; better something than nothing.
He watched the girl as she went about her rounds, shrinking back a little to give her some space as he could see that she didn't seem comfortable. But when she looked up at him, it was hard not to stare. "It's... you." She said.
Echo did not know how to reply, so he flicked his ears and blinked. The fire elemental seemed undaunted. Leaning in a little closer, she added, "It's me, Claudia, do you remember?" She asked, pushing a hand through the bars. He could see that her eyes were on his neck, on the collar around his neck. He was the only one who had one; he knew that much. He had his eye on her hand, he remembered the warmth and how she stroked his hair that once... Echo came forwards, lowering his head to her reach, slitting his eyes and purring as the fire elemental-Claudia-scratched him behind the ears. It made him want more of it and he was glad that she didn't stop. He shifted into a more comfortable position, curling up and keeping his eye on her.
"You're... hurt." She stated quietly. She wasn't comfortable with the wounds that seemed to be half healed. The other battleslaves had scars and wounds too, but knowing this boy... it just made her squeamish to think that he was being treated like this and he had no problems with it. Also, his hair was nice and soft and she could tell that he liked it--just like a cat. "What's your name?" She asked him. She didn't know what to call him and was curious to know.
"Echo." Wasn't that what all the battleslaves were called?
"Don't you have another name? Like my name's Claudia." She pointed to herself. The boy thought for a moment before shaking his head. Claudia was sure that he had another name, he probably didn't remember it. But why? Why did he not mind having an identity? It was rather unsettling. She sighed. It might be a little troublesome, but she could deal with it. Eyes falling onto his empty cage, she withdrew her hand. Echo's head shot up immediately, eyes full of protest. Claudia smiled ruefully, "I have to get back, I'm sorry." and with that, she pushed him a plate of food, hurrying out, feeling his eyes on her at every moment.
Since then, Echo had been having visits from Claudia and to his surprise, found his loyalty wavering. It was hard not to be won over by the fire elemental's touch and her soft voice. He never did speak much, but her question about his name still bugged him. Did he have another name that he didn't know about? Probably. Maybe.
Echo stared at the thing that Claudia had handed him. It was golden brown and had darker brown spots all over. He looked at her; he did not know what this was.
"It's a cookie." She told him. "You eat it." She said. "Eat." Being used to follow instructions, Echo took a hesitant bite, eyes widening briefly at the sweet, slightly unfamiliar taste. He had tasted this once before, a long time, so long that he could barely remember it.
"Do you like it?" Claudia asked. Echo nodded happily. He loved it. "I'll bring you one tomorrow." And with that, she was gone again.
[/center]"It's a cookie." She told him. "You eat it." She said. "Eat." Being used to follow instructions, Echo took a hesitant bite, eyes widening briefly at the sweet, slightly unfamiliar taste. He had tasted this once before, a long time, so long that he could barely remember it.
"Do you like it?" Claudia asked. Echo nodded happily. He loved it. "I'll bring you one tomorrow." And with that, she was gone again.
It went on like this for months, until two years passed and he was eleven. That was the time when the word of the two's constant interaction reached the Master's ears. At first he was ignorant to it, but as his training-masters kept complaining about the growing strength of the daemon, he had to do something. This would also be the boy's assessment of progress. He was ascending the ranks with delectable progress and he was already a beacon of fear in the daemon world, said to be the most skilled with long-ranged weapons and the deadliest under Regis's reign. Regis himself thought so too, unlike many of the other battleslaves, Rio was the one that had already come with no fear of blood. He let this go on for another two years until the traditional time for assessment--thirteen.
The battlefield here was now cleaned up of anything that might have shown that this was where the battleslaves practiced. After all, it was a special occasion; the assessment time. The assessments determined the progress of a slave as pitted against a training-master. Echo had no qualms about it. He was good enough to beat any of them. It wasn't hard to figure out that they were sore about his progress.
"Come here, Echo."
Echo recognized the voice as the Masters and turned to look at him, bounding over to his side and wondering what he wanted. Was it his turn to be assessed? The Master led him to a separate ring, secluded from the rest, save a few of the high-training-masters. He blinked, catching sight of a familiar shock of red hair; what was Claudia doing here?
"Echo, I want you to kill the girl." The Master told him.
Echo could see that Claudia's eyes widened in a silent, desperate plea. The Master wanted him to kill Claudia... Claudia who he... loved? The word popped into his head at the moment. He had somehow held a feeling to Claudia, one that he didn't know, but perhaps it was the way that she had scratched him behind the ears and the cookies that she had brought for him that prompted him. She was gentle and if he killed her...
He could never bear the guilt.
So for the first time that he ever said the word to the Master, he did it.
"No."
[/i]"Come here, Echo."
Echo recognized the voice as the Masters and turned to look at him, bounding over to his side and wondering what he wanted. Was it his turn to be assessed? The Master led him to a separate ring, secluded from the rest, save a few of the high-training-masters. He blinked, catching sight of a familiar shock of red hair; what was Claudia doing here?
"Echo, I want you to kill the girl." The Master told him.
Echo could see that Claudia's eyes widened in a silent, desperate plea. The Master wanted him to kill Claudia... Claudia who he... loved? The word popped into his head at the moment. He had somehow held a feeling to Claudia, one that he didn't know, but perhaps it was the way that she had scratched him behind the ears and the cookies that she had brought for him that prompted him. She was gentle and if he killed her...
He could never bear the guilt.
So for the first time that he ever said the word to the Master, he did it.
"No."
He had defied the Master. He could tell that it was a grave thing to do. The area was silent and he remembered Claudia's shock, the tears that streamed from her face as she begged him silently to take it back. He wouldn't, he couldn't. He knew what was coming, but he didn't have any regrets. He was strong enough to beat the Master and if he wasn't, Echo didn't mind dying for Claudia. He knew that the Master was proud and arrogant, he knew that he wanted the duel to be publicized and he knew that they both had reputations. Echo never lost a fight. Ever. He wasn't planning on losing this one either.
From where he was crouched on the ground, he regarded the Master in the open ring. He wasn't allowed his bow here, but he had kept his arrows. He wasn't strong enough to throw them, but they could be of some use. He knew that Claudia was watching and he knew that a lot of unfamiliar daemons were regarding the match as well. Echo was unwilling to move. He knew that the Master would first, as he did before. His ears were pricked, alert to the slightest movement of the man before him. Once he had let his attention slip, resulting in the gash on his side. Shallow, but painful due to the rugged edges.
So far, he hadn't been able to land much of a blow on the Master; his daggerwork wasn't the best. He was starting to think that they could become stone statues when the Master moved in. He held the blade up, ready to swing down upon him, but Echo had been slightly expecting this; it was a trademark move. He sprang parallel to the ground, following the movement with a sweep of his leg. Normally he wouldn't have been able to sway the Master, but now he was off-balanced. Echo stabbed the blade into the Master's calf, making the bigger man snarl and swing wildly at him. It almost got him. Almost.
He could tell that the Master's movements were impaired and he was enraged the way he was swinging wildly at him. Inwardly he smiled; this was nothing but the fight of a fool. He could win this if the Master kept it up and thankfully he did. Around the ring they went, Echo leading as the Master followed blindly, enraged by the small, rapid darts that he had risked, mainly to his torso now, receiving a few more slashes in return. This was fun, actually fun in a sadistic way. This was child's play, the way a cat played with his food.
Echo danced out of the way of yet another cut. It wasn't strong, but the mammalian daemon didn't want to take any more chances. He was already tiring and it was time to finish it off, but the Master was so focused on him that it was hard. What could he do? Maybe he should give up...
No. Not after the way that he had defied the Master for Claudia. Claudia who had asked him questions about his life, made him think, made him wonder.
"Don't you have another name? Like my name's Claudia."
His name... his true name. The Master, the first memory he had was of the Master when he was five... what about the ones before? He wanted to know his name. It would make Claudia happy. That was good, he should make Claudia happy.
The Master struck down at him again, but instead of moving, he whipped up his own dagger, grunting at the force that the Master exerted on him. He took the chance. The Master didn't expect him to do this and now he was off-balanced. Echo flicked the Master's dagger away with an easy movement, following up with a kick to his chest to take him to the ground. The Master was defenseless, he had lost.
The dagger... Echo picked up the Master's dagger from where it lay. The edges were red from his blood, his and the Master's blood. He put it to the man's chest.
"Echo, let me up." The Master said to him. The light of command flashed through his eyes, almost making him do so, but remembering Claudia, he pressed it harder. "Don't you remember what I taught you? It was because of me that you got this far!" He hissed. Taught him? What had he been taught.
"I want to know my true name." He told the Master quietly, prodding him with the dagger.
"Echo!" Echo pressed harder. He wanted to know. He was drawing blood. "Rio..."
Echo's eyes widened as images flashed before him. The Master and another mammalian daemon like him. He had two blue eyes and looked older. Who was that?
He pressed the dagger in harder. "Rio... Rio de Esfera Oro!"
He heard the crunch of bones breaking, a dying scream as the Master plunged the blade into the mammalian daemon's chest, breaking all the bones and piercing his heart. That daemon... that daemon was his father. The father that he never remembered. He heard hiself let out a strange noise, like a mix between a gasp and a sob. He remembered the taste of cookies that his mother had made, how his father had played with and doted on him. All taken away by the Master.
Suddenly, he knew that the Master needed to pay; he had taken his parents, Claudia's parents, countless others. He needed to pay.
"You taught me... never show compassion..."
"Rio, let me up!" The Master gasped out, struggling feebly. Echo flinched. The sound of his name... his father had screamed it in vain as the Master killed him. He plunged the dagger into the Master's chest, hearing the snap of breaking bones and the Master's scream.
"Good bye, Master."
His life ended with his own blade. What better death could there be?Rio sighed, letting go of the dagger and dropping to his knees. He felt numb, he could feel the awe of the crowd. It hurt... the realization hurt. He wanted to die, he felt sick.
[/center]No. Not after the way that he had defied the Master for Claudia. Claudia who had asked him questions about his life, made him think, made him wonder.
"Don't you have another name? Like my name's Claudia."
His name... his true name. The Master, the first memory he had was of the Master when he was five... what about the ones before? He wanted to know his name. It would make Claudia happy. That was good, he should make Claudia happy.
The Master struck down at him again, but instead of moving, he whipped up his own dagger, grunting at the force that the Master exerted on him. He took the chance. The Master didn't expect him to do this and now he was off-balanced. Echo flicked the Master's dagger away with an easy movement, following up with a kick to his chest to take him to the ground. The Master was defenseless, he had lost.
The dagger... Echo picked up the Master's dagger from where it lay. The edges were red from his blood, his and the Master's blood. He put it to the man's chest.
"Echo, let me up." The Master said to him. The light of command flashed through his eyes, almost making him do so, but remembering Claudia, he pressed it harder. "Don't you remember what I taught you? It was because of me that you got this far!" He hissed. Taught him? What had he been taught.
"I want to know my true name." He told the Master quietly, prodding him with the dagger.
"Echo!" Echo pressed harder. He wanted to know. He was drawing blood. "Rio..."
Echo's eyes widened as images flashed before him. The Master and another mammalian daemon like him. He had two blue eyes and looked older. Who was that?
He pressed the dagger in harder. "Rio... Rio de Esfera Oro!"
He heard the crunch of bones breaking, a dying scream as the Master plunged the blade into the mammalian daemon's chest, breaking all the bones and piercing his heart. That daemon... that daemon was his father. The father that he never remembered. He heard hiself let out a strange noise, like a mix between a gasp and a sob. He remembered the taste of cookies that his mother had made, how his father had played with and doted on him. All taken away by the Master.
Suddenly, he knew that the Master needed to pay; he had taken his parents, Claudia's parents, countless others. He needed to pay.
"You taught me... never show compassion..."
"Rio, let me up!" The Master gasped out, struggling feebly. Echo flinched. The sound of his name... his father had screamed it in vain as the Master killed him. He plunged the dagger into the Master's chest, hearing the snap of breaking bones and the Master's scream.
"Good bye, Master."
His life ended with his own blade. What better death could there be?Rio sighed, letting go of the dagger and dropping to his knees. He felt numb, he could feel the awe of the crowd. It hurt... the realization hurt. He wanted to die, he felt sick.
Rio, having killed the Master, was rather disconcerted. It felt like his whole life had been turned upside down as it was. He felt alone. He didn't know where Claudia was, but he did know that all the slaves under the Master had fled. Even the training-masters had fled. What could he do now? Claudia was gone, maybe she had left him because she was disgusted by what he was. Maybe.
Getting used to his new name, Rio's next goal was to find Claudia. On and on he had defeated challengers, some enraged by him, some wanting revenge, but all he had accepted challenges, be it to the death, first blood or third blood. He traveled Dreamland in hopeless search, freeing those that were enslaved out of guilt and dueling those that disagreed with him until he was fourteen. As he turned fourteen, no more challengers arose. Instead he seemed to be treated with respect of a kind.
He was the strongest daemon fighter.[/blockquote]
Roleplay Sample:[/color]
Thankfullly it was night here in Litharia. The mammalian daemon was very uncomfortable with the light. He had never had problems like this in Dreamland, but now that he had achieved his title of Strongest Fighter, he saw no need to stay in Dreamland.[/size][/color][/font]
Besides, he was curious about Litharia, the place that he had been told about and never been to. It was a beautiful place by nature, but its inhabitants, especially the humans seemed to dislike the shifters and fae and daemons like him. Not that he couldn't deal with it, but it made him slightly uncomfortable. He had already killed dozens that couldn't stand him and even retrieved quivers of arrows that he had taken from them. They weren't his usual weight and flew a little less, but still functioned well enough for him. He wasn't too fussy about all these things.
But here in the forest, he couldn't deny that it was peaceful. It reminded him of Dreamland, with exotic beasts that he had not noticed anywhere else in Litharia. He had even hunted a few for food. They did not taste the best, but he had kept their skins.
