THE SOLO QUESTER - Adora's Talk

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Dec 28, 2009, 4:09pm

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Topic: Adora's Talk (Read 6 times)

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Adora's Talk
« Thread Started on May 24, 2009, 8:33am »

Here is an incomplete conversation by Adora. I wrote this to get to know her and for others to know her. As stated, this is not finished...yet.

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I hate my life, but I’m too much of a coward to end it myself. Why, you ask? Oh sure, I’m a duke’s daughter, but trust me, it’s not what you think. I’m his daughter by blood but if he could figure out a way to sever that connection between us, I’m sure he would. For all intents and purposes I am a slave. He has trained me since childhood to spy on others and to steal and – occasionally – to assassinate.

Why don’t I run away? A fair question. For one thing, I am marked with his rune, meaning that whomever catches me trying to run can find out who I belong to by the rune. Second, it wouldn’t take long for someone to see me because my father – the duke – has connections everywhere. He rules his land with an iron fist. Just about everyone owes him something.

But don’t think I haven’t tried. Many times and I even got off this large island once. However, that brings me to my third point on why I don’t run away any more. He poisoned me when I was returned last time. How am I still alive? It’s a very slow acting poison and there is a delay antidote, but no cure. I have to take the delay antidote every third day or for the next three days, I am in increasing agony until sweet death claims me. I was forced to experience that pain up to the second active day and I was begging for the antidote. Father recorded those days for me.

Finally, though certainly not the least important, reason is the law. When a girl is a slave, they are considered a slave for life. Most slaves never make a successful escape and certainly none that belong to my father. But of those rare few that do manage it, they are usually left alone unless they are highly skilled or otherwise prized by their owner. If that’s the case, they will be hunted until they are found and darn whatever the local law is where the girl is living. She will be returned to her owner for punishment as he sees fit.

So now I’m a “good” girl and I do what I’m told. I’ve even learned to accept my life for the most part. At least my father usually doesn’t mind when I smart off to him when I’m angry – usually. But I’ve learned his signals also and have only pushed him beyond those limits on rare occasions. I still have the scars on my back from those times.

What does my father do, you ask? Oh! You mean when he’s not beating up on me or reminding me of my lesser status. Like I said, he rules with an iron fist, but it is in the proverbial velvet glove. Even I have to admit that Lord Luxovius is a handsome man, but being a powerful caster certainly doesn’t hurt either. But his main contribution is that he is a powerful merchant. He imports and exports many items, but his signature ware is the slaves. He is – as far as I know – the only Duke of whom they say, “Buy one of Lux’s slave and she will be loyal for life.” Luxovius is known for his harsh punishments and high standards.

Of course, everyone knows it’s not really Luxovius that punishes or trains his slave. It’s Flagg. That’s right, THE Flagg. He is the best slave trainer in the world. And if a slave gets too out of line – or if they it’s been a long time since her last training session – then they are given to Flagg for re-training and conditioning that helps them to remember the price for disobedience. For about 2 weeks after a girl – most slaves are female – returns from Flagg’s teachings, there is a haunted look in her eyes and she literally jumps when ordered to do something. <Shudder> I’ve gone through it enough myself to know it’s true.

You want to know more about my father? Why? <sigh> Very well. He likes comfort and luxury and he is always seen with some beautiful female hanging around him. Some he has charmed, but most hang around of their own free will. At least until they discover his true cold hearted nature. And he is very cruel. He loves to see people in pain and suffering. And he is used to getting his way. All that being said, he can also be very enchanting and captivating.

He always reminded me of a snake, beautiful and mysterious, but you’d better keep your distance. When I spy on people, it’s usually to get some information that he can use to blackmail them with. He has various methods of gaining cooperation, but usually he’ll try bribes or other gifts. If that doesn’t work, he’ll move onto blackmail. If they are still resistant – even after he has followed through with his blackmail threat – he will have them killed. Unless he really wants them to work for him. If that’s the case, then he’ll likely poison them with the same poison he used on me.

What about the poison? I don’t know much about it and have been forbidden to try to learn anything – for obvious reasons. But even so, I have been able to glean that it’s a mixture of divine and arcane magic. I also know that no one – as of yet – has been able to cast a spell to get rid of the poison from someone’s body. There are others who are poisoned, and some live at my father’s castle, but I’m sure there are others who only come to the castle when they are needed or to get their dose.

My mother? <Sigh> I don’t remember my mother. She was human though like father is. She disappeared when I was very young – about five I think. I think my father killed her – or had her killed – but of course I can’t prove that. It’s funny, but even though father is often with other women, I’ve never seen any of them pregnant. There could be some potion that keeps them from getting pregnant or maybe there’s just no sex. I don’t know.

Wait, that’s not true. Or at least not completely. My father did get one other female pregnant, but I have never met her. It was an elf and it was before father met my mother. From what I’ve heard, the elf – when she learned she was pregnant – immediately left and went back to her elven home to raise their half-elven child. Father didn’t find out she was gone until he returned home from whatever trip he was on. The elven lands are too well protected, magically, for even my father to penetrate. Of course, if he knew she was pregnant when she left, he probably would’ve looked much harder.

She gave birth to my half-sister Alia. Alia has made quite a name for herself. She is a member of The Council now. What’s that? The Council is a group of 7 casters that administer justice and punishment for crimes committed with magic. I’ve only seen her about five or six times myself. Most of those, I was on my knees in front of her hoping their punishment of me wasn’t going to be too harsh. I think she’s only been to father’s castle twice. Both times father had been entertaining a whole group of people.

I hate father’s parties. Mainly because I feel so out of place, but he makes me attend them anyway. I also hate them because in my father’s land – and in all places where slavery is allowed – it is considered hospitable for the host to offer his slaves for his guests’ entertainment while they stay. Depending on the guest and the impression that my father wants to make, he’ll either chose a slave for them or he’ll show them around and they will get their own choice. Some have even chosen me.

But now back to my sister. You’d think that since she is on the Council that she would be able to get me freed, but that’s where you’d be wrong. You see, Alia thinks that I must have done something worthy of being a slave. She doesn’t know our father like I know him. She only sees the mask he wears when trying to be charming and to impress. I’ve tried to tell her about it, but she only calls me foolish and that he really couldn’t be all that bad. Oh, she knows he is a bit harsh, but she can’t believe he’s as cruel as I make him out to be. I’ve given up trying to convince her.

There are a few bright spots in all of this though. I am married to a loving, powerful drow. He’s name is Mori. I see you are shocked. After all I’ve been telling you and now you are shocked? He is also a powerful caster and as cunning as – perhaps more so – my father. He loves me it’s true, but he also knows his duty to my father and will not put me first. It’s healthier for everyone. And my father trusts Mori quite a bit. He’s in charge of the day-to-day affairs of running my father’s castle that we call home.

I have also given birth to a healthy boy, who my father has chosen as his heir. I’m not happy about this, but what can I do? Father let me nurse him at least, but that was the only time I spent with him. Father insisted that the boy be raised his way and not be corrupted by me against him. At times, I can almost forget that I have a son.

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