Gammelheim and Akayli

[Zoichan]

Entrance to the Keep of Myran Dammel
  You are at the entrance of a building with the eeriness that prickles 
your skin.  Howls of intense pain fill the air as the winds seem to blow 
with a renewed vigor.  There is an ancient presence about.  It is a 
presence of insurmountable evil that can be felt in the atmosphere around 
you.  Tall black pillars lie in front of the structure and seem to mock 
your existence. 

[Exits: north south]
     An IMPORTANT sign is here.
Akayli the Silent Bystander, Timid Keeper of Dark Secrets is here.

Akayli yells 'Help someone is attacking me!'
Your acid blast MANGLES Akayli!
Akayli is mortally wounded!!

Gammelheim says in a soft, throaty whisper, 'They have decided to make a show
of things.'

Gammelheim whispers in a harsh, raspy tone, 'And for that, I am sorry.'

Gammelheim says in a soft, throaty whisper, 'But know this. I will kill them for what
they've done. And it will not be clean, or quick. They will suffer.'

Gammelheim runs a long, slender finger down your cheek, shaking his head slowly.
'Oh. They will pay.'

Gammelheim sighs.

Akayli yells 'AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!!'
You slice off Akayli's head and place it in a bag.
Akayli's headless body twitches violently.
Akayli is DEAD!!
[SYNDICATE]: 'Gammelheim has claimed a bounty!'
You have gained 85 skulls in service of SYNDICATE.
[SYNDICATE]: '500 skulls have been directed to our coffers from Akayli's bounty.'
You have gained 2000 skulls in service of SYNDICATE.
You've received 440000 gold, 0 items from the bounty and 0 items from the corpse.
You stop eavesdropping on Akayli.

Akayli said 'Next time'

'I am sorry, for what it is worth.' Gammelheim shakes his head, muttering angrily
under his breath.

Akayli said 'Let me have some warning so I can at least -attempt- to learn to fight.'

Akayli said 'Even at my best, we both know I am no competition for you.'

Gammelheim inclines his head, his gaze still distant. 'As you wish.'

Akayli smiles tightly, dipping her head, 'Thank you.  It is what it is though.'

Akayli said 'I take it that they were not pleased with your note.'

Growling softly, Gammelheim slams a fist into a nearby pillar of stone. 'Yes,' he
snarls through gritted teeth. A stream of red courses down his now-injured hand.
'It is what it is.'

Moving silently, Akayli reaches for that injured hand, shaking her head slowly, 'No
point in the anger.  Especially as it may be.  Tell me, how much was my bounty
this time?' smirking lightly.

Still staring off over your head, obviously unconcerned with the blood flowing
freely from what is very likely a broken hand, Gammelheim mutters. 'Five hundred
thousand.'

Gammelheim adds softly, the faintest of smirks crossing his face. 'AND twenty-five
hundred skulls.'

Turning his attention to Akayli at least, Gammelheim shakes his head irritably. 'At
least they know how to make a proper statement.'

'Five hun....' Akayli squeaks, stammering, 'Twenty five ... they ensured that you -had-
to take the bounty did they not?'  Her hand is warm, as she takes your in her own,
'Let me tend this?'

Akayli lifts her gaze to you, eyes sparkling with mirth, 'Was I in the top?  You so
should of told me...' obviously not overly concerned at this point.

'Yes, they did,' Gammelheim's eyes narrow, and his glower is dark and brooding; yet
he allows you to take his hand without complaint. 'And yes, you were.'

Gammelheim says in a soft, throaty whisper, 'Not in the top. THE top. Higher than
Aegreus. Higher than Krawtor. Higher than anyone, by a whole order of magnitude.
Worth ten, maybe twenty of any other price.'

'Oh, wow' Akayli says, cheeks flushing brightly as she looks over at your hand,
bending to draw bandages from her backpack, 'You know, good thing I kept extra
from that day you hurt my finger...' moving to bandage his hand gently.

Gammelheim frowns, wincing slightly but otherwise ignoring his injury. He speaks
softly as he looks into the distance. 'Yes, they certainly do know how to make a
statement. And now I shall have to make one in return.'

'Why not just leave it be?  You would ruin and alliance over something so paltry as ...'
there is a moments pause before Akayli whispers, 'Me?'

Gammelheim turns and reaches out with his uninjured hand to cup Akayli's chin,
gently. His gaze meets yours. 'There is something I need you to make happen. I do
not care how. Use Saphiella, if you wish.'

Akayli said 'What is that?'

'I meant what I said to them,' Gammelheim snarls roughly, his grip on your chin
tightening a bit but not so much as to be painful. Then he relaxes, and his grasp
loosens.

Gammelheim shakes his head. 'There are rules, to my Family and my work. Rules
that even they cannot escape.'

'Tell me of them?  Help me understand what I am missing and what I am obviously
caught in the middle of?' Akayli asks, lifting her hand to settle it atop yours, 'Please?'

His eyes cold, Gammelheim whispers harshly, 'An allied individual may have a price
placed upon their head. As a courtesy, we allow them to buy out their bounty, for
coin or crown.'

'But the books are sacrosanct, and their appearances even more so. Thus, such an
individual may not buy out their bounty if they are at the top,' Gammelheim
continues, his voice emotionless, as if reciting.

'After all,' his eyes twinkle with a faint shadow of amusement as Gammelheim laughs
darkly. 'What good placing a price if it can be paid off? Our reputation would be in
tatters.'

Akayli said 'Mmm.. you know.'

Lowering his eyes to meet yours once more, Gammelheim concludes softly. 'And
that is what I need you to do. I need them at the top of that board. All of them.'

Gammelheim whispers in a harsh, raspy tone, 'Aska. Sarindel. Bhirkaan. All of them.'

Akayli sighs and shakes her head slowly, 'You know you will make it worse for me
in the end.. escalating like this.  Let me talk to Bhirkaan at least.'

Akayli said 'I will not ask another to do something that should come from me.'

'These men,' Gammelheim shakes his head, his voice softening as he looses his
grip from your chin and turns away slightly. 'You do not know them. You do not
know what they are capable of.'

Akayli crosses her arms over her chest, just watching for now, 'You would be
surprised what I do know Gammelheim.'

'That price was placed on a whim, for amusement. The highest price that's been
made and collected in centuries,' Gammelheim's tone is quiet, his face stony. 'On
a whim.'

Soft laughter falls quietly from her lips, 'And you know what?' Akayli moves silently,
almost dancing to stand in front of you once again, 'It is ... oh... amusing that one
so tiny as me is making them go to such lengths.'

Chuckling softly, Gammelheim shakes his head. 'Ever full of surprises, scribe.' The
word is different than in the past. Almost... affectionate. Pleasant.

'Gammelheim' Akayli says seriously once more, 'You cannot protect me' lifting one
hand to lightly touch your cheek, 'Do not make it so you have more than you can
handle' before moving back to hoist her backpack off the ground.

'I can handle it,' Gammelheim growls softly. 'I will handle it. One way or another.'

Gammelheim whispers, nearly soundlessly. 'If I have to burn their whole Fortress
to the ground, I will handle it.'

Slender shoulders shrug, pulling her backpack higher onto her, 'You are strong.
I know you can' Akayli tilts her head slightly for a moment, thoughtful, 'But can I?'

Exhaling slowly, Gammelheim shakes his head. 'Fine. Speak with Bhirkaan. Try
your way.'

'But should he fail to deal with the situation adequately,' Gammelheim's eyes glint
with that same dangerous light as before. 'Then another will. And there will be
nothing left to threaten you by the time I'm through.'

On impulse perhaps, Akayli steps up to lightly kiss the side of your cheek, 'Ok'
before heading home with gentle laughter, 'I will get hold of you when it is done.'

*She attempts to recall in the keep lol*

Akayli said 'Mmm, that is why...'

Akayli falls down laughing.

Gammelheim chuckles politely.

'North,' Gammelheim gestures with his ruined hand.