Men stare lewdly at me as I walk through the city streets.  Yes, its true that maybe some of them are looking at my strange eastern garbs of lavender and violet that adorn my body.  However, I see enough staring at the curves to mark my female frame more so than an eye for fashion.  My garb does little to dissuade such onlookers though.  My violet top is simple, just fabric that holds my breasts in place to allow me to do my work, the side clasps of the top kept firm to keep anything from falling out.  My deep cleavage is evident as well as the rose tattoo marked onto the open skin of my left breast.  My bottoms were a matching pair of violet undergarments that covered my feminine areas below fully.  A lavender leather garment wraps about my lower back and abs, attached to it at the front and back a long flap of material fall down, covering the violet bottoms on either side though it mattered not to me when a wind blew in.  I had seen females wear less and I preferred to wear as little as possible so there was less to get in my way.  My footsteps were deafened by the long matching boots that I chose to wore, riding up just to where my thighs began.  Bandages were wrapped about my wrist and various other places, the white linings holding magical properties and not only protected the palm of my hands from wear after  using my swords or scaling a wall, but the enchantments wrapping by body in an invisible cocoon of armor that helped to deflect minor attacks that got past my guard, though those were few and far between.

My long, raven black hair falls in waves down my back and covers half my face, allowing only one of my strange violet eyes to became visible by others.  The looks, as Misery had always told me, seemed seductive and exotic, even if that wasn't the intent.  Before he, I had never thought a male would prove good enough for my attention, but it is he who has my head in a spell of confusion.  But despite whatever my feelings for him may be, I am not weak to them.  I am not so much a fool to lose my edge and jeopardize everything I've worked so hard to obtain!  I am a member of the Crimson Tear, a ninja and assassin organization that hires out our abilities for the right price.  Back when I was still a slave in a half-drow (Crinti) city in Dambrath, my dexterity and finesse caught a travelers eye, a half drow female who was famous for her eastern clothes imported from Kara Tur we had all surmised.  

Secretly she came to me, and slowly after seeing the unpolished skills beneath, began training me in secret while having me keep up my role as just as a slave.  My abilities grew very quickly and within only a few short weeks in training, I had made my first kill under her service.  Her service, however, belonged to the Crimson Tear, the same service I now belong to.  My skills only increased until eventually I came across the duelist, a full blooded drow, in our city.  I found myself in competition with him to certain marks and a rival guild.  In the end, I had killed my owner and fled the city with the drow.  I was allowed my leave by those in charge and would take missions when they came to me.  My skills had increased beyond my teacher's though and soon my blade became the highest prize to any who could afford it.  It was simple.  

I did not fail.

But perhaps I did fail by leaving the Crimson Tear, for word has reached me of assassinations against the guild leaders.  The Crimson Tears had been thrown into pandemonium and dismantled to protect the remaining leaders and members until the killer/killers were brought to their deaths.  And so they sent for me, the Rose as they call me in their guild due to my marking.  I am charged with the task of finding the assassins and striking them down to restore the honor of our clan.

I will not fail.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

“I think ye be a bit lost their lass.  Mayhaps ye took the wrong road but this not be the city for ya.” The bordering-on-drunk barrel chested human leered down at the jewel that was Velrose.  His head shaved though the stubble of the cut was growing in dark in areas on his head while others betrayed the balding horseshoe shape the hairline took.  An unkept black goatee framed his mouth with the stench of old ale lingering within its hairs as he pushed his face near hers for inspection.

“Be in the wrong place, but ye be a pretty lass.  What say I show ya around a bit.  Lata' we can take a stroll to my lodgings.  I have a bit of time before our ship sets sail again.” he said, grinning through darkened teeth between shades of black, yellow, and brown.

“Not interested.” came Velrose's response, remaining calm as she took a step to her side so she could continue on her way.  This was the city of Purl, a pirate's haven and a place where all those looking to run seem to go.  It was also the place where Velrose had traced the killer's trail.  To think that such a person or group that could kill members of her clan could live in such a detested hole was unthinkable.  Perhaps the killer found the best place to hide as a killer was amidst a gathering of them.  Searching for a suspicious character here would indeed bring about far too many dead ends.  

“Now dun be rude there lil' one.  Ya  elves just can't appreciate a real man when ya see one.  Always forced to settle with the skinny and scraggly ones of ya own race.  Why not test the waters with something more powerful.” he boasted, stepping in front of her once again to bar her way.  

The sun was fast setting off in the horizon though the beautiful scene of the sun's dying light shadowing against the waves of the ocean was lost amidst the broken buildings and large frames of the ships docked in port.  Even so, as the night approached, the shadows crept over everything nearby.  So the assassin simply took a single step back into a shadow, only to have the darkness seemingly reach out and swallow her.  It took the man some time to come to a full understanding that his catch had just escaped.  Ah well, there were other wenches in need of his attention, even if they did not know it themselves!  As he stumbled off around a corner to patron another tavern, Azaelyn moved swiftly within the cloak of shadow, her body never touching another's as she made her progress through the crowded districts.  There was no law here, no ruler.  This was a city ruled by the strong and where the weak had no place.  A city where you had to be ruthless to survive.  She would track down her clan's killer and kindly relieve them of their head.  After all, it was the least she could do for all the dishonor this person, or group of people, had dealt to her.  

She would was trained in the arts and ways of the ninja and soon all wrongs would be set right with murder.  Hell, sometimes two wrongs did make a right.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

“Who bought the poison?” she asked again, her voice keeping its unnerving edge of complete calm.  The half orc merchant still lay on his back, one of Velrose's black blades pressed idly against his throat.  He looked out with his terror filled eyes once again to his fellow business partner at the left side of the room, and then allowed his gaze to move to the right side of the building where the other half of him still lay, fresh blood flowing like a gentle dark spring looking for the greater river to join amidst so as not to die out.  This merchant knew well enough that he might continue this dark river with his own life if he angered this woman.  “If I tell you, she'll kill me!”  he choked out, his teeth unable to help but clatter together as he shook with fear.  He wasn't ready to die yet!

“She'll kill you later.  I'll kill you now,” she stated simply, her violet eyes boring down into the ugly yellow orbs of this creature's.  “But it was a female then.  You have less than a minute to tell me everything.  Should you fail in this task and bore me, I shall kill you to alleviate this boredom.  If you tell me everything you know, I just might stay my blades for a while longer.”  

The merchant knew elves were supposed to have such soft and melodic tones to them, but this female ... this raven haired agent of death held no such sing-song hold to her voice.  No, everything was spoken so simply and matter-of-factly with her.  What was more, he knew she was not bluffing.  This assassin would kill him just as she did his comrade.  He had no desire to see such a fate befall him.  Besides, if this elf could kill the other woman, then he might survive the whole ordeal yet!

“Al..alright!!  Her name was Vivyan or at least that was the name she gave me.  A human woman in her early thirties I would wager who dressed much like a sailor might aboard one of the vessels here.” he said, hoping to catch her interest.

“A sailor on one of these vessels in port?  You mean a pirate then?” she asked, her expression showing no indication if she was intrigued.

He nodded and couldn't help but swallow hard.  “Aye ... a pirate lass.  She had long blonde hair kept back in a tight braid.  Carried a cutlass on her, she did, and a might fine weapon if I had ever saw one.  She seemed to always have a giant chip on her shoulder over Umberlee know's what.  Still, she came to me for some powerful poisons and drugs.  Said she was going after a guild of assassins but didn't tell me why or anything.  Last I heard, she was staying out by the docks in an abandoned fishing shed.  Nothing in there but broken boats and old fishing tools.  No one ever knew why she stayed there, but given this type of city, none of us rightly cared either.  That girl was a fighter, she was.  Could take down anyone who stepped across her.  One of the finest swords I've ever seen.  The most dangerous person I know!!!”

Velrose's eyes narrowed slightly and she couldn't help but smirk.  “No, kind merchant.  The most dangerous person is the one that kills you.”  With that, her second blade came across out of nowhere and effortlessly lopped the head from the merchants shoulders.  This was a blood debt to pay, and all those who had taken part in it would pay for their roles.  A pirate then?  What the hell did this Vivyan have to gain from her movement against her clan?  It didn't make sense, but she knew there was only one way to find out.  The night was beginning to end and so she decided to wait until the next evening to start her search for this rogue pirate.  Darkness was her ally and with it, the pair would strike down this infidel.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

The next night Azaelyn found herself having little trouble navigating to the boat house.  Finding a loose wallboard in the broken down old shack that hung on the outskirts of the city, really only the ocean itself a neighbor to the building, Velrose found the evidence that someone did indeed live here though whoever that person was did not seem to be around.  That was fine.  She was a ninja and master of her craft.  One of the first points she had learned was patience.  And so, she allowed herself to become cloaked within the shadows, becoming one being with her twin ninja-to in hand, waiting for her prey to show up.  

The moon elf didn't have to wait long before the door was lazily pushed open revealing the figure standing in the doorway.  A human female, somewhere in her early thirties, had her blonde hair pulled back into a long tight braid that hung down to her waist, tied in various places with makeshift black bows.  Her trousers were tight brown leathers with a matching vest and a white, long sleeved undershirt beneath with the buttons down just enough to begin to show a hint of her cleavage.  Eyes the color of the sea seemed to glance around the shack for a moment before shutting the door behind her.  She was a pretty enough little thing, Velrose noted, but nothing too remarkable.  Was this indeed her?  She would have to question this person in full before dispatching them to the after life.

“I see you found the back way in.” the female said with a bit of amusement in her tone.  Azaelyn's eyes went a bit wide.  Did she see her?  Impossible!  Her skills and melding with her surroundings were quickly becoming legendary and never would she believe this person holding the keen senses of picking up on her location.

“The wallboard was loose on purpose.  I left loose enough to allow a glimpse at the patch of dried grass outside the cabin.  You closed it fully behind you to hide that glimpse” the female continued, pulling forth her cutlass in one smooth and steady movement.  Dammit!  She was right, Azaelyn screamed inside her mind as she looked back to the wallboard.  No matter, she still had the shadows on her side in this matter.  That was until this female spoke a command word and suddenly the shack lit up like a brilliant sun in the middle of the room, destroying all the shadows within its light and revealing the ninja's position.  The elf narrowed her eyes hatefully on the human, their eyes locking for a long moment with neither of them moving.

“You're with that one clan, the Crimson Tear, are you not?” the pirate asked as she twirled her cutlass within her hand easily.  “I knew eventually they would send someone after me.  But not just anyone ... no ... they would send their BEST!!  So tell me my pretty elven lass ... are you the best?”

Azaelyn couldn't help but smile a bit at this female's words.  “You would only wish for the best among our clan if you were truly so bored with life.  You admit to the assassinations of my clan members and leaders then.  I could not begin to understand why you would do something so foolish unless you truly are wishing for death.”

The pirate narrowed her own eyes defiantly.  “I had come to them once long ago to be taken in and trained in your ways.  I had swore myself to do whatever it is the Crimson Tear asked of me.  But they turned me away!  My skills were grand and my abilities growing by the day, but your leaders were too blind to see this!  They were too blind to what true talent and strength were!  And so I had decided that after I had grown strong enough to show them that if they were to be so weak and blind sighted to pass up on the opportunity to recruit me, that I would simply destroy them with the power they refused to take in.”

Azaelyn couldn't believe this woman's words.  “You did all of this for some petty and childish revenge?  It is no wonder they turned you away.  Surely you lack the mind set for one who would learn their arts of ninjitsu.”

“Are ninja's above revenge then?” she spat back, venom rising in her voice.

“Over such small things as what you have told me, yes.  Or at least our clan is above such things.” she replied evenly, her blades out in front of her and ready for the attack.

“What clan?  I've killed so many that its amazing you could even call it that anymore.  Hell, the rest of you went into hiding like the cowards you were.  I shall show you what it is to fight and work for TRUE power!” Vivyan shot back before she sprang forward, rushing at the ninja.

The cutlass slashed out hard for her stomach, one of Azaelyn's ninja-to meeting the sword half way, blades clashing and preventing its course.  Her second sword shot forward, trying to skewer the woman only to find that she had stepped back just out of reach.  The pirate's sword came back across again towards the elf's right leg, Azaelyn pushing the attack down after pushing her own swords together in an X, pinning the sword down.  Before Azaelyn knew it though, she had somehow managed to work her slender curved blade from the pin, Vivyan's arm moving amazingly fast and slashing back out towards the assassin's throat.  No such easy kill would be hers though as Azaelyn leapt back quickly just out of range of the attack.  

Vivyan's attacks were similar to Misery's in a few ways, though her defense was not nearly as unpredictable as the duelist's and her attacks a bit more wild.  Still, they shared a few key elements that Azaelyn found familiar and could use to gain ground against.  Azaelyn's primary role was within the shadows, but as this woman was beginning to understand, the elf's skill the her blades were also truly amazing.  No matter, Vivyan thought.  She had her own techniques to deal with Azaelyn's type.  She came on strong against the ninja, her cutlass whipping this way and that in a flurry of confusing and quick attack routines.  Suddenly, Azaelyn found her blades drawn tight together and with a flick of the pirate's wrist, launched both of her weapons from her hands and caused them to clatter against the other side of the shack behind a half-repaired dingy near the doorway.  Vivyan grinned triumphantly at Velrose, bringing her cutlass against her pale elven throat.

“Even your best cannot stand up against me.  May you all burn in hell ...” she cursed as she pushed her weapon forward meaning to push it through her throat.  She instead,  saw a brief flash of blue energy and the now empty space where the moon elf had been standing.  She spun around quickly to see that somehow she had managed to appear by the boat with her weapons.  Azaelyn pulled out a scroll and read it quickly.  As she finished the last arcane words, solid darkness filled the room.  

And then there was silence.  The deathly eerie silence that one could sit and listen to their own heartbeat. Vivyan wanted to rush to the door but knew the assassin could still be near there.  She also thought about the back wallboard but surely the ninja would expect that escape.  Which way!?  She cursed herself silently for nailing up the one window to this place.  That would have at least given her better odds.

“You're going to die,” came the dark whisper in her ear, the voice so close that she could feel the warm breath upon it.  The woman spun quickly slashing out to try and connect with something ... anything!!  The only thing that did  was cause her sword to knock over a glass bottle and shatter on the ground.  Good, she thought!  Maybe the elf would step on the shards to get close enough and give away her position!  

“And for what?” came the whisper again, the warm breath still to the point that she could feel its warmth.  She spun around again, her blade twirling and connecting with a barrel  and then a post.  Run, she thought to herself!  Run!  She couldn't move though ... she knew the ninja was near.  It would leave too much of an opening.  Why was it so dark!  The moon was full this evening ... why wasn't there at least a little light filtering in?  

“... good-bye.” came the last heated whisper.  

“Where are you!?!” Vivyan shouted, the fear gripping her too strongly.

She understood it a moment too late.  The warm breath but no sounds of glass being pressed or any of her strikes causing a stir.  She was hanging upside down from one of the rafters above ...

So it would end like this, she thought to herself.  Surely not the way she would have thought.  The lights came back on in the room and the pirate looked a bit confused as she looked up to see a headless body standing perfectly still.  Oh ... that was her body ...

... and she was quite dead it seemed ...