The Crows HQ (Open)

[claudio]

Antiva, a place famous for its wealth and charm, where in its capital lies the head quarter of the world’s most deadliest assassins, the Antivan Crows, one of seven guilds that is operational throughout Thedas. Run by a group of wealthy men and even by the royal family of Antiva itself, hidden deep underground from the eyes of the common folk, beneath the many whore houses that can be located all over the city, connected by tunnels. There young recruits whom are often bought from other families are trained by the more experienced assassins, where trails of thievery, poisoning and killing are put to the test, making everyone the ultimate assassin, where failure or a mistake is punished by death. There the secret plans are laid on the table and its debated and discussed between the most senior members, who decides whom to support and whom the target should be.

The headquarter of the Crows is a well preserved secret and only its most trusted members knows of it, as the newest members has to go through series of trails before even being allowed to see it. Every way down to the Crow head quarter is always watched by the business man above ground and is protected by various traps which would be triggered should anyone find their way down unwanted.

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The day had grown late and most of the crows had been sent out on missions decided by the senior members, now only Prince Claudio Valisti and a group of other assassins remained in the headquarter, either relaxing, training or discussing matters between themselves. In the deepest vaults of the head quarter, Prince Claudio stood with his back turned against the door, looking over a map of Thedas, thinking about some recent events. Even though he exposed his back for assassination attempts, he knew he could be safe in the secret place of the crows, especially in his own room where he often spent his time thinking about business and the future.

Today he was clad in his assassin robes, which was black and red, fitting a man such as him. It was a typical robe among the crows which signified his status among them, telling clearly that he was far superior than most of their members. Prince Claudio could among the Crows be seen as the head of their order, even though one had to speculate if he really was their true leader or if there was someone more higher ranked above him. In fact the reason why he was staying up late at night looking upon map was because he was thinking over the recent news he had received concerning the Mage-Templar War, a war that had caused the Crows some problem. However it was not the only reason why Claudio was awake, as it was also because he was waiting on a very dear friend.

[keri]

HQ was quiet, and it was strange to hear it so. Mostly there were others bustling around getting assignments and getting supplies to leave. Kieran had been asked here for a reason, she had been given orders and now she was here to report on them. She was dressed in her formal assassin robes. Black and deep green, the colors depicted her rank. Everyone wore black, but it was the color trim that set one apart. Someone in training would wear white, but she had worked her way up to one of the highest colors in the order. She was only one more color away from red, and only one wore the red.

The Prince of Antiva stood before her, and her breath caught for a moment. Though she had sworn many things to herself she couldn’t help but notice his looks. Claudio was a handsome man, and Kieran would need to be blind to not notice. Kieran dipped her head as she came close, looking at him with her midnight blue eyes through her thick lashes. Quickly she straightened up, her eyes fixed on the man before her.

”You asked for me?” In the Crow’s Claudio’s title as Prince meant nothing. Royalty was just a façade in Antiva. The Crows ran everything and they didn’t hand titles out. She showed proper respect but she wasn’t about to bow before him. In the Crows your heritage meant little. It was more looked at that Kieran was lethal and her being a elf mattered not at all.

[claudio]

"Hmm, yes I did." Claudio replied in a serious and a firm tone with an Antivan accent, ignoring Kieran as he kept his gaze focused on the map in front of him. He thought Kieran was late and he disliked people that were late, but in truth he was not that frusterated, he only simply wanted to remind her to not do it too often, even though he liked her. Being so close to such a beautiful Elven woman made a tension rise through Claudio`s body, but he remained calm and focused as he ever was. "You got the job?" Claudio continued and asked, wondering if she got the job to be Queen Lucretia`s personal guard and assassin.

The reason why he wanted her to get that job was because he wanted someone he trusted to hold a close eye on his little sister, for personal reason only he knew. Slowly he moved over to his chair that stood on the other side of the table and with his head held high he sat down, folding his hands as he laid them on a table, with a fixed look upon Kieran.

As he looked upon her he could not deny her beauty, but nor could he deny the fact that he should stay and act professional. Oh how her amazing eyes caught his attention, and her curves and her red hair, what a lovely woman and such a great assassin to have as a personal assistant he thought. With a smirk and a teasing look he watched her, though in silence he awaited her answer.

[keri]

"Hmm, yes I did." He was angry with her. She knew it was because she was a little late, but he had his own sister to blame for that. "You got the job?" Kieran nodded, her midnight blue eyes looking darker this late in the night. She pulled in a deep breath, not wanting to sound as irritated as she felt. The queen was a damned piece of work. ”Yes, I got the job. It is because of that job that I am late so I apologize for that. The Queen seems hesitant on allowing me to leave her side…” Her tone was pleasant, not showing that at this point Kieran wanted to smack the Queen. Sure she was a pleasant person but she was vapid, spoiled, and a little to touchy feely for Kieran’s tastes.

Her eyes followed Claudio as he took his place in the large chair. There was another that she could take if she wanted but until she was invited to do so she opted to stand. For once she felt tired, and oddly enough alone. It had been two years, and each passing moment felt duller than the last. Kieran would think she was over it and then it was like a knife to her heart. Matias’ death still plagued her, and time had given her one good thing. She was able to hide her true emotions. Right now her face looked reserved yet respectful as she waited for Claudio to speak again. He would need to know her rather well to see the pain in her eyes.

The pain however was inconsequential. Matias had broken the rules, and had paid the highest price. Kieran was lucky that her life hadn’t been taken because she had been with him now and then. She had truly known nothing about what he was doing and this is why she was spared.

[claudio]

"Ah I see, yes...I should have warned you about that, my sister can be a bit...demanding." Claudio replied in an Antivan accent as he smiled of the thought while he glanced back at Kieran, she sounded pleasant, but whether or not she really liked his sister he did not know. He knew at least he himself was a bit annoyed by her, as he thought their father had spoiled her far more than needed. Still she was precious to him and he wanted to keep his sister safe, which was one of the reasons why he wanted Kieran to get the job as her personal guard and assassin. Being a new crowned Queen of Antiva was no simple task and it would be dangerous, especially with so many power hungry nobles all over the place. His latest fear however was not the men of Antiva, but rather the foreign lords who would take advantage of the situation, which could cause a great deal of trouble and perhaps put his sister in grave danger.

As Claudio now sat in his chair, he moved to grab the mug of wine that stood on the edge of the table, and he filled his crystal glass half full as he wanted something to drink. Placing down the mug he took the glass and sipped it while his gaze remained on Kieran, seeing that there was something that was bothering her. He had known her for years now and he knew what she had been through, what her lover had done was unquestionable wrong and Claudio believed killing him had been the right thing to do. It was in fact Claudio who had put Kieran to kill her lover, such that he could witness her loyalty to the Crows or be marked a traitor as well. Gladly she had done what he had asked, and he knew there was no doubt where her loyality lied.

“Please sit down my dear.” Claudio spoke and asked her to sit down in the chair next to him, while he himself leaned back into own chair and sipped some more of his wine. “I am glad to hear you got the job, she will need protection and I trust you will keep her safe. I want to know her every move, where she goes, whom she meets, and if someone tries to trick her, you must tell me immediately and I will evaluate the situation, though should she be in grave danger I hope you will do what is necessary.” He said firmly as he hinted to that Kieran should kill anyone who tries to do his sister harm, discreetly of course without causing a scandal. With that said he placed his cup of wine down and stood up as he moved over to another small table close to wall on the left from where he was sitting, on it there was lots of bottles of wine and glasses, some which he took keen interest in when he was either bored or felt lonely. Filling another glass of wine, he went over to where Kieran sat and handed it over to her, wanting her to drink such that they could have a friendlier and a relaxed conversation. “Tell me Kieran, how are you these days? Is there anything I should know of…concerning you I mean?” Claudio asked curiously as he moved to sit down again, wondering how she felt.

[keri]

"Ah I see, yes...I should have warned you about that, my sister can be a bit...demanding." Kieran quirked a brow, was he kidding? He definitely should have warned her so that she would have known to be prepared for a touchy feely person who was a slave to her emotions. It wasn’t that Kieran didn’t like the woman but she wasn’t exactly fond of people touching her. A congratulatory handshake was one thing, but hugging and hand holding was not on her list of likes. Kieran watched as Claudio sat down in his chair, and filled his glass half full of a rich wine. Kieran could smell it from here and she knew it was one of those wines that warmed you from the inside out. Claudio’s gaze remained on her, and Kieran matched it with her midnight blue eyes. She never was one to back down from a staring contest.

“Please sit down my dear.” Kieran nodded politely, before taking the seat he had asked her to take. She sat like a proper lady other than the fact that she crossed her legs at the thigh like a woman in a brothel instead of at the ankle like a noblewoman would. Frankly it didn’t matter how she did it since she didn’t ever wear skirts. Even now she was in breeches but with her line of work that made more sense than some frilly thing that left her mobility impaired. “I am glad to hear you got the job, she will need protection and I trust you will keep her safe. I want to know her every move, where she goes, whom she meets, and if someone tries to trick her, you must tell me immediately and I will evaluate the situation, though should she be in grave danger I hope you will do what is necessary.” At this Kieran laughed softly, knowing a few pieces of information already.

”She has been meeting with Gespard de Chalons as of late and I am privy to believe that the meetings are more than friendly if you catch my drift.” Kieran wasn’t really happy to be the one to tell Claudio that his little sister was being less than pure, but he had said he wanted to know everything so here it was just for his ears. Her eyes looked over his features wondering how he would react. He was handsome, but Kieran wasn’t sure about him. He out ranked her on a million levels and his nobility made her inconsequential. Even if she were willing for love at this precise moment he would never look her way. Kieran took the wine and sipped it gently; she had been right, and the liquid fire made her draw in a relaxed breath. She had always been a sucker for a good wine. “Tell me Kieran, how are you these days? Is there anything I should know of…concerning you I mean?”

The elf thought a moment, reaching up to play with a tendril of hair that had fallen loose. Despite the fact that she wasn’t really a girly girl she did have a vanity when it came to her hair. It was a lovely strawberry blond, though in the dark it looked redder and the natural waves framed her face making the sharp angles on her cheeks soften. If it wasn’t for her hair she wouldn’t look as lovely as she did. ”I’m as well as I can be with all that my eyes have seen. Most would have broken after these past two years, but I am well and of sound mind. I am doing better than most to be truthful. Why do you worry so?”

[claudio]

Hearing that his sister already was seeing the Emperor of Orlais made Claudio worried, if he was in Antiva now trying to seduce his way to an agreement, then things could turn very bad. Claudio knew his sister was young and naive and she could easily be persuaded easily, by either gifts or charm, which he already knew Gespard was capable to provide. Hopefully if a new alliance with Orlais was made with the new Emperor it would also benefit Antiva, but if his sister was the one making the agreement it could have a greater advantage for Gespard. In the past Antiva had served Empress Celene faithfully, although now that she was gone things would certainly change.

For a moment Claudio entered a state of silence where his thoughts wandered around, thinking about what to do, before his focus turned back on Kieran who sipped the wine and continued to speak. Looking into her beautiful eyes made him feel warm and happy, as he felt lucky to have such a beautiful elf as his personal assassin, who he currently considered to be his apprentice. Maybe someday when Claudio would be gone, she would lead the Crows in his place. Oh she was very talented, he thought, and a perfect person to watch his sister Lucretia.

Leaning comfortably back into his chair, Claudio watched as Kieran played with a lock of her strawberry blond hair, which he thought was almost spell binding. Her gaze into his eyes almost made him speechless, but intensely he listened to what she said when she told about how she was feeling. It was important that she managed to stay focused on her missions; a Crow who was not focused could easily fail and die. With a kind smile Claudio replied in an Antivan accent, as he also was a bit worried for Kieran. “I`m glad to hear you are doing well, but the reason why I am asking this is because I fear for your health and safety. We both know that Mathias had to die, I`m just being certain that you don`t blow your chances to do well among the Crows.”

Again Claudio filled his glass of wine and took another sip, drinking almost all of it at once before he again spoke about his sister. “Hearing that my sister is being courted by this Gespard worries me, and I suggest we deal with the situation in a subtle manner. I will deny my sister to see this man and I will handle the business between Antiva and Orlais personally. We should leave for a visit tomorrow morning, but until then we should relax and enjoy the silence, don`t you agree?” He suggested charmingly as he gave Kieran a warm look, thinking that while they enjoyed the silence in the headquarter he would order the guards to watch over his sister this night.

[keri]

Oddly enough Kieran felt comfortable around Claudio. So many times she had heard other Crows complain about how difficult he was to talk to or to be around and it had always made her laugh slightly. He was rather easy to talk to and she was constantly put at ease by his presence. The again Kieran was around him more than most and it was about to be even more due to her being his sister’s personal bodyguard. She waited patiently for his answer still wishing he had left his previous question out of the conversation. “I`m glad to hear you are doing well, but the reason why I am asking this is because I fear for your health and safety. We both know that Mathias had to die, I`m just being certain that you don`t blow your chances to do well among the Crows.”

It had been long enough now that she no longer winced when she heard his name. No longer did she feel the need to fight back the tears that threatened to choke her. For a long time the memory of Matias would catch her and bring Kieran to her knees. No longer did it do that, two years had healed her almost as much as she would ever heal. ”I know that the Crows do nothing without reason. Matias chose his fate, and the crows had to choose how it would end. I am not stupid enough to throw my life away.”

“Hearing that my sister is being courted by this Gespard worries me, and I suggest we deal with the situation in a subtle manner. I will deny my sister to see this man and I will handle the business between Antiva and Orlais personally. We should leave for a visit tomorrow morning, but until then we should relax and enjoy the silence, don`t you agree?” Kieran drew in a deep breath thinking on that for a moment. She knew that telling Luci what to do wouldn’t be a good idea but it wasn’t her place to step into a family issue so she wasn’t about to say anything. A little relaxation sounded lovely and it was something she didn’t get often enough. Another drink was pulled from her glass as her lips turned upward due to the taste of fine wine. ”That sounds lovely to me, I take it you have something particular in mind no?”

[claudio]

"I`m glad to hear you have more wit`s than that man." Claudio said with a smile as he took another sip of wine, making himself comfortable in the chair he sat in as his gaze met Kieran again. When she asked the question about what he had in mind, he for a moment remained silent until he burst out in laughter; "Don`t all Antivans have something particular in mind?" He said laughing and then took another sip, drinking up his glass and placed it back on the table. Just as did he turned his focus more on Kieran and leaned closer over the table, reaching out to hold her hand while he carefully touched her cheek with the other hand. With gentle smile on his face, he admired her; her skin was so soft and she was so beautiful. He knew what she had been through and he knew she had endured a lot, but in truth Claudio had always had a secret crush on her, ever since they first had met.

With a look deep into her eyes, he whispered. “You must have been so lonely…” Then all of sudden he went in for the kiss, a kiss he hoped she would return. With his eyes closed he thought of what would happened if she rejected, but he took the chance and hoped for the best as he wanted someone to be with that night.