Alteria is a beautiful country off the coast of Tian, filled with many a mystery, and many denizens call it home. Many a race, many an odd species of creatures come prowling around, some with evil intentions and misdeeds. Though Alteria looks beautiful, it houses many dark and ancient secrets, some even involving old magics that have been discarded and long forgotten. Most of these magics should never be awakened on fear of the very destruction of the world itself. In-fact, any kind of magic is feared, not praised, hence it was outlawed, in castles and in walled off settlements around the land.

Any form of the use and death could very well serve you if you were to be caught. Dark evils are plotting everywhere, currently trying to release said magics and letting it free to tear up upon the very soil in which they even stand. Even the most peaceful creatures of the land are acting up, sometimes turning violent. Nowadays in Alteria, the once beautiful and peaceful country is slowly turning more and more violent and chaotic... even the shadows seem to move at night.

Elkko sat, leaned up against an old wooden building in a neighborhood full of old wooden buildings, looking up at a spire object from what appeared to be the middle of the city. The sun was out and as bright as ever, so bright, Elkko found it almost odd but today seemed like any other normal day for him, which was a day spent trying to con money off of the local denizens of the port city of Coven. He watched as an unobservant women walked slowly by him, leaning forward as she came close. He outreached his hand, sliding it into her pocket with a sly look. Before she even felt a thing, his hand was out with a light bag of coins, he opened it wide, only to see nothing but a few gold pieces.

"What an awful start." thought Elkko as he slipped the tiny amount of gold he retrieved into his thinly lined pockets. He looked unamused as he rose from his seated position, wrapping the hood of his brown robe around his face and headed off towards the spire which marked the center of Coven, where most of the business and transactions of many kinds went down.

Claudia sat at the edge of a large fountain in the midst of the city, quietly humming to herself and fiddling with the tuning knobs of her lute, searching for just the right sound. Twas a lovely day she thought. The sun's golden rays reflected off the rippling waters of the font, culminating in dazzling speckles of light dancing across the crystalline surface. In the open, children laughed and played while their parents were busy crowding the many market stalls and booths. From such booths, a delectable myriad of scents, fresh baked loaves of bread, exotic spices and herbs, savory, roasted meats and fish, and sweet strawberries and apples ripe from the orchard.

Such a lovely day indeed, and one that was perfect for music. Once she had found the right pitch she desired of her instrument, she cleared her throat and began to sing. Gracefully, her frail fingers danced across the strings of her lute, every note, every sound of her siren voice weaving a tapestry of a tale of brave heroes long past. Not long had a small crowd come to admire her work, some dropping coins into the floppy hat beside her feet. Each clink of the gold brought a smile to her face, yet Claudia resumed to play. Once she had finished her song, she stood and took a bow. The crowd applauded with thunderous joy. "One more!". They cried for.

"Ah, one more you say?" Jovially Claudia answered. "Why not!". And with a beaming grin, she took up her lute and played once more.

He paced himself slowly towards the center of the city, his ears tuned to a new sound, the sound of singing. Elkko made his way, closer to the city, only to see a crowd of people gathered around in a group. This was odd to him, having grown up here, he hadn't quite seen just a gathering put together before. Looking towards the sound, he squinted, scanning for the female voice in which he heard, only to just make it out through the sea of people standing around her. Elkko studied what seemed to be a bright and cheery women, well at least in comparison to his typically dull attitude. Suddenly a smirk and an idea dawned upon his face, she was giving him the perfect distraction in order for him to pick through some pockets, all these people grouped up, not paying any attention to their surroundings.

Through the sea of people, he stood directly besides them, a figure in a brown and hooded robe, acting like he was just another normal person listening to the musical spectacle. Elkko used the opportunity to quickly slip his hands in and out of any random citizen's pockets who looked like they would carry wealth with them. If anyone did notice such a movement, it was a quick one, his hands were in and out and filled with gold in mere seconds, he'd clearly been doing this most his life.

"What beautiful music, what a spectacle!" Elkko exclaimed to a nearby male of the human sort, acting like he didn't just rob him.

The male smiled back at Elkko, nodding in agreement. "A spectacle indeed!" He exclaimed in response, none the wiser to Elkko's misdeeds.

With her last song finished, Claudia bowed with a curtsey of her dress and a glowing smile upon her lips. The crowd cheered her on, tossing more coins into her hat and clapping their hands in rancorous applause. "Thank you! Ah, thank you good people of Coven!". She laughed stringing her lute over her shoulder. "You've been a lovely audience, and if you wish to hear more, please stop by the tavern tonight where I'll be playing. As for now, I bid you all a fond farewell and may the gods bless you!". And with that, Claudia gave another bow before picking up her hat and placing the gold she had made into her coin purse.

"Quite the killing I've made off these people.". She mused with a wry smirk. After the crowd had dispersed, she went along her merry way, but as she did so, she couldn't help but notice the strange fellow garbed in dirty brown rags skulking about. He was of a nefarious sort to her, perhaps a brigand she thought. Instinctively, her hand rested upon the hilt of her rapier as she looked at the man once then turned away, momentarily glancing over her shoulder.

Watching as she wrapped up her little musical performance, Elkko had a sly smirk on his face as well. His pockets were heavier and he had her to thank for it, sometimes even the God's seem to bless a poor soul with a fortunate opportunity now and then. Scanning the area once over as everyone dispersed he planted his eyes on the women yet again, noticing how she looked towards him ever so briefly. Elkko looked downwards at her hand, that was resting on the hilt of her rapier, scoffing a little under his hood. Was she really scared of him? She seemed to be at the very least weary, which Elkko couldn't blame her for, recently he did carry a bit of a menacing aura with him, though not on purpose.

Elkko called out to her, speaking outwards without a care in the world. "Don't think I don't notice that look, I've seen it a hundred times over, it's nothing new to me, are you scared of something?" He pulled back his hood, revealing his cold, greyish face.

"Lovely singing by the way, very well done." He complimented her, monotone in nature.

A warmth overcame Claudia when the hooded man spoke to her, her cheeks glowing a bright shade of pink. Perhaps she was too harsh to judge so quick she pondered, letting her hand fall from her rapier. "A woman can't be too careful now, can she?". Claudia replied with a sincere look to him. Quite amazed was she as well to discover the man was a Drow. "Forgive my rudeness earlier, my dear. It's just a force of habit when you frequent these large cities. You never know who or what is lurking behind the corner. Ah, but thank you for lovely compliment. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Maybe you would like to hear me perform again, tonight at the Gilded Tankard?"

"Not much different than anywhere else I suppose, as long as your the observant type and keep your eyes open, you should be alright." exclaimed the Drow, giving her a brief look over.

Elkko took silent notice of her sudden change of perception towards him, his eyebrows raised. He cleared his throat before proceeding to speak to her again. "It's nothing, I speak the truth is all, you do draw quite the crowd and... I do suppose I have the coins, my purse is much more fortunate tonight, the singing is quite pleasant, to the ears I mean." Elkko spoke to the women like he was some kind of nobleman or a higher class figure but he was little more than a street urchin.

"I'll stop by, should be quite the spectacle indeed." He added, sort of mimicking the male he had talked to and robbed so little ago.

For a street urchin, he had a rather charming persona Claudia thought, and quite the handsome face. She was indeed wrong to think he was a dastardly brigand. She had to wonder though how he had aquired so much wealth. Nevertheless, Claudia smiled and bid him farewell, but as she turned to go the other way, she stopped, turning around briefly. "Pray tell, Drow, what is your name?" She asked of him.

He gave her a brief farewell in response, giving her a very short smile as she began to walk away from him. Facing upwards, he studied the clouds surrounding the upper city sky before looking back down towards Claudia, who had asked him a sudden question over her shoulder.
Elkko thought on this for a moment, he supposed he could trust her with his name, after all, what harm could this women possibly do? "The name is Elkko, do tell if you don't mind me returning the question, whats yours?"

"Claudia." She returned with a soft smile. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Elkko. Oh and..." A rather cheeky grin formed across her lips. "Do be careful rummaging through people's pockets next time. You wouldn't want to get on the bad side of the town guards now. Fare thee well." She turned once more to leave, humming to herself as she strolled down the cobblestone road gracefully, her green shawl fluttering in the soft sea breeze.

Elkko, what a fascinating name to a fascinating Drow she thought. A scraggly pickpocket, yet a refined young man. As she tarried on down the street, she thought of him, who he was, where he had come from. She was hoping possibly tonight she would see him again.

How did she know? Elkko thought right as she said those trying words, his lips curling slightly in disbelief.

He had been doing this sort of thing all his life, how did she spot him? Stepping back, his eyes lowering briefly, he shot her a short farewell as she walked away, stunned. I've gotta be more careful was all he could think, as he headed back to the shantytown he called home, waiting for night to come around.

As night did strike eventually, Elkko made his way over to the Gilded Tankard, ordering himself a quick mug of Stone Cold Ale, a specialty ale at a slightly higher price. He never did care about saving up his money anyways, it's not like he was going to be able to leave this old shantytown anytime soon.

Nary an empty seat could be found at the tavern as night fell. The dock workers and merchants, done with their daily toil, had arrived for a hearty meal and an even heartier drink, as did many of the tavern's patrons. Tonight, however would be a special treat for them. For the first time in ages it seemed, a bard had graced their presence, and a beautiful one at that.

While tankards clinked, men laughed and chattered, and tavern wenches bustled here and there carrying trays of drinks and food, Claudia took to the small stage, a tad nervous yet striding with confidence. She took up her lute, going through the usual motion of tuning it. Then, she smiled, greeting the audience that had gathered. Amidst the crowd, her eyes skimmed until she noticed a familiar face among them. "So he's here after all.". Claudia mused, giving Elkko a Sly wink.

"Thank you and good evening patrons of the Gilded Tankard. Tonight, I Claudia shall play for you. I hope you are all doing well. So without further ado, I give you a ballad, a sweet song of love and affection. Enjoy."

And with that, she played. Her sweet, serene melody filled the air of the tavern, causing all noises to cease. The tavern as a whole fell captivated by her lulling voice and the tender notes she plucked upon her lute.

But alas... While many were there to hear this beautiful maiden's voice, in the back of the tavern there sat indifferent to Claudia's music a shadowed figure garbed in a black hooded cloak. His shifty eyes scanned the tavern left and right as quietly he sipped his head, intently gazing at the Drow sitting nearby him.

Elkko probably looked human in comparison to the Drow gazing upon him, after all he was as much a human as he was drow. At first he took no notice of the shadowed figure, his eyes looking upwards at Claudia as she sung, a very slight look of enjoyment was upon his face. He couldn't say he was quite as captivated as the others but the music and her voice did have a strange allure that he oddly found himself enjoying. Sipping his ale, he peered around the bar, with curiosity wondering if he could pull a fast one on anyone but he thought against it. For some reason he didn't much feel like causing trouble tonight.

Finally his eyes placed upon the shadowed figure glaring at him, he blinked shortly wondering what his problem was. Instead of saying something he turned his head back to focus on his drink and the music, figuring he had mistaken him for someone. The shadow figure was probably glaring at someone else he assumed, there was no reason for Elkko to be paranoid, very few knew his actual name in this port city, much less this tavern.

As the night went on, Claudia resumed to play. A medley of songs ranging from tender ballads to whimsical dancing melodies to heroic epics filled the tavern with such an atmosphere like no other. People danced, laughed, cried and sang along to the Bard's lovely music, but still the Drow did not budge....not yet. His eyes, red as blood, they seemed affixed upon the other Drow Elkko with a purpose, but whom the mysterious figure had his eyes on was not the scraggly half-blood, but instead...the man sitting next to him.

He was of a refined sort, the gentleman dressed in expensive attire, happily singing along and gulping his ale. One could only assume he was nobility, but to be drinking and merrymaking among the commoners was absurd. Even so, there was no denying the look of a nobleman.

While Claudia continued to work up the crowd, the Drow downed his last swallow of mead and rose from his chair, skulking towards the nobleman. As he approached, his black cloak billowed behind him as if a living shadow. The nobleman turned to look at him, a drunken, stupid smile upon his face.

"Uhhh...hullo there!" He said in a slurred voice. The Drow narrowed his eyes and whispered, "Lord Varen sends his regards.". Suddenly, there was the sound of steel being unsheathed, and then... terror.

The man fell to his knees choking and gasping for air, blood spilling from a grisly gash in his slender neck. The Drow then kicked him aside and darted towards the stage as the crowd exploded into grim hysteria.

"YE GODS! MURDER!"
"HE'S DEAD! THE PRINCE HAS BEEN SLAIN!
"HELP! SOMEONE DO SOMETHING! CALL THE GUARDS!"

Claudia froze, nearly dropping her lute from her hands. She reached for her rapier, but the Drow swept behind her too soon, grabbing her and drawing another dagger to her neck. He then snarled backing toward the window, "Any of you move and she dies!"

Suddenly the bar was in a lot more of an uproar, Elkko shocked to see as he sipped his drink to witness a murder right in front of his very eyes and in such a public place. Whoever this hired killer was or assassin or whatever he sure did things very publicly. Usually Elkko wouldn't have paid it no mind as long as the target intended wasn't him, why should he? But looking up to see the Drow bounce onto the stage and stick a dagger to Claudia's neck his eyes raised.

Checking over his options, he felt a strange sense of urgency, this poor women did not deserve to be dragged into... whatever was going on here. Clearing his throat once more, he spoke up and outwards, trying to keep a calm expression on his face and not one of worry or concern. "Release the women and be on your way... none of what you did concerns me, but you will not harm the lady, I repeat nobody here will stop you, just let the lady go."

He glared at everyone else around the room, sounding almost out of character as he spoke. However scared he was of the situation, he masked it, fear wasin't going to help him save this poor women from a dagger to the throat. He'd just hoped that this hired killer would let her go if it would mean he'd be allowed to leave.