Kain began to realize that he was in the darker part of town when the people slowly but surely seemed less and less friendly. His blade also seemed more and more friendly as he and Shain continued down the road as it head to the tavern. Kain could smell the alcohol and it was calling him, he smiled and drank in the smell. He realized that he had almost completely ignored Shain from the beginning of the walk. He turned and gave an awkward smile, to see if he was even there.

If he was, he would've heard Kain say, "We are headed towards a tavern. The Bloodseal tavern... it's in the dark corner of Taras and therefore we’ll be confusing them. They’ll expect us to go to the nicer tavern because it’s safer.” He looked, waiting to see if he was there, or if there was a response. “Hmmm…”

Kain was very dristaceted on the way toward the tavern. Shain didn't even think that he knew Shain was there. He observed the seting around them. This was a dreary place. Many people here had weapons openly displayed. Probably to ward off any pick-pockets or streat thugs. He himself was clutching the dagger under his cloak. He wasn't going to be stupid in a place like this. Looking along side the streat, Shain also saw prostitutes lining the walls. he got the occasional crooked finger and smooched lips. He eyed them doubtfully. Probably a bang them and rob them set up there. He wasn't interested. Ignoring them he turned back to Kain in time to catch the akward grin. Shain nodded to show he had seen.

"So. the Bloodseal Tavern. How did it get its name?" he asked as they turned a corner. He eyed a small ratlike man who had just gotten up from the wall and began following them. he slowly unsheathed the dagger and kept him in the corner of his eye. Turning back to Kain, he waited expectently.

Kain scowled at the question. How exactly did a dark tavern get it's name? The name of the place was quite dark for a tavern once, Kain took the time to think about it. Bloodseal tavern? Kain pondered this for a moment, continuing to walk, backwards at this point, because he was still looking at Shain. He stopped and then made the reply, “Well, I'm not sure exaclty. Maybe there was some bad blood behind the “beginnings” and after an arguement that went sour that's the name they gave it. I really don't know though.” Kain made a glance at his surroundings; it was such a dark place, “That's what it would seem like, anyway.”

Kain then noticed a ratlike man who followed them. Kain raised an eyebrow and smirked; it was so strange, the type of people that one could meet in the “dark side” of Taras. Kain eyed the man suspiciously and then took the time to speak to him, as he walked, “Do you see something interesting?” The man stopped walking, paused, pulled out a silver cup and shook it, “Would you spare some money, for a poor man?”

Kain glanced back and looked at Shain. Kain wasn't about to spare any money for this fool, but he wanted to see if Shain would. Maybe Shain had some money to give, maybe Shain wasn't as heartless as Kain. He smiled, Kain was far from heartless, but he definantly wasn't exactly the nicest person in the world. And it showed on his reation to the man...

Shain scowled at the man. he could tell the little rat had planned to mug them then run off with their gold. Well, he could play a little prank. taking out a special coin he had, he tossed it to the man. He grabbed it eagerly. It was a gold amrk, or so it seamed. Biting into it, the rat like man gave e squeal of pain as a tooth broke. It was a cleverly carved and painted rock. The man eyed Shain hatefuly; that is until he notised the poin of a dagger slightly potruding fom his cloak. The man gave a squeak of fright and ran. He looked at kain. "He wanted to rob us, so I gave him what he asked for. If he had tried, he would have lost more than one tooth." He smirked as they continued. He was not a very compasionate elf.

he saw that no one else had attempted to followed them after the mans example. The whores got worse however. After seeing his display of toughness, they probably supposed that he had money, but didn't give it freely. many came out t o atract his attention. He met a few that were completely shameless, flashing there breasts. He ignored them totaly. He did not have the tolerance for these whores right now.

Kain released a hardy laugh as Shain leant him the information about how the rat man would've tried to rob them. Kain smirked afterwards, letting Shain know that he felt that this assumption was correct. Kain felt that it was sort of test, to see what Shain would do; amazingly, Kain was surprised by the actions of Shain. He didn't really expect a trick on the “defenseless” man. Kain had been wrong; this wasn't the first time, and it was quite refreshing to be honest. Kain turned, continuing to walk towards the ever nearing Tavern, “It gets boring to be right, I suppose.” He said aloud, wondering if Shain would understand what he meant. Kain highly doubted it, but once again, he could be wrong.

Kains head turned sharply to the side and glared as another man screamed as if in agony. He rasied an eyebrow as the man fell and writhed, appearing to be in severe pain. Kain remained a steady pace, as he turned back around, completely ignoring the man, not saying anything. Kain had a feeling that there was more behind it that just a sickness or a stabbing. There was bad blood behind this... there always was in a part of town like this...

Shain looked at Kain from the corner of his eyes. He heard the comment of allways being right, and grinned a bit. He didn't know the actual direction of that comment, but he had an idea. Theyu walked a ways in silence, until someone screemed off to the side. looking in that direction, Shain saw a body lying face down in the mud. Shain frowned. He saw no apperant wound to cause the death. Looking a little bit closer, he saw a small dart sticking from the back of the mans neck. Shain sighed. For a second he had thought it to be a drow crosbow dart, but it did not have the looks of one. He looked to kain with a raised eyebrow. "On the contrary, this is a place that 'they' would most likely hide in. Don't worry though. the ones that attacked us were foolish and young. No normal drow would ever attak in daylight. They were probably the only ones in the city." At least Shain hoped so.

Looking ahead, he saw a tavern that had the looks of a rather dark and forboding place. Even with the people currently enetering and leaving at a not too shaby rate. "This the place?"

Kain continued his walk along the path, paying no more attention to the dead man that lay face down on the side of the dirt road. He approached the tavern that didn't seem to stick out in the dark part of this town. Kain scowled as he looked around, honestly hoping that Shain was wrong as he asked if this was the place. Unfortunantly, his question would be answered with a yes, for writting on a sign nearby, in red ink, read: The Bloodseal Tavern. Kain took the time to look at the outside of this tavern. Darkness seemed to raidiate from this place and evil prescence could be felt. Kain smirked and turned around, “This, my friend, would be the tavern, but I'm taking the sign's job away,” Kain pointed to the sign that signified that they were at the bloodseal...

Kain would wait before walking in, suggesting without speaking that Shain should go first. He wanted Shain to be first only to see if he would actually do it. Go in this dark and dank place; it would be like a home to him. Kain hated to stereotype so he was going to test Shain in different ways, and he planned this ever since they're first meeting in the Library.

((OOC: Sry, it's been so long... been doing some other stuff))

Shain nodded as they neared the sign over the door. He waited for Kain to continue onward, yet he had stopped. it seemed as if he wanted Shain to enter first. Eyeing kain warily, he slowly walked toward the door. It was once a grand red, but now paint flaked off in the wind. It truly looked shabby. Shain put a hand on his dagger as he entered. his eyes met an almost faamiliar sight. Ther tavern was buisy, or at least it was now. however, the group inside was dark, almost as if they were consumed by fear, hatred. and sorrow. Kain was right, this was the darker side of town. looking around, he motioned that it was ok. he was sure that that was not what Kain had in mind, but he could be polite in his own way.

picking a table in one of the corners, not as dark as normal for him, he wasn't going to take Chances here, he waved to one of the barmaids. As she approached with a false smile on her face he ordered an elven wine. Red if they had it. Her eyes widened slightly. "All we haves here, sir, is ale and liquir.' Shain pondered. No wine. That was a shame. "Do you have vodka?" he asked. "Yes sir." She answered. nodding that that would be his choice, he tossed her a gold mark. "Keep the extra." was all he said. He looked at kain for his order.

Kain watched as Shain walked into the Bloodseal tavern; he cocked his head to the side and continued in after him. He watched behind him and looked around as if to see if anyone was following them. All that was in sight was a shadow of a bird that passed overhead; in it's talons was a rolled up piece of paper. Kain ignored the sight but, as the bird flew down and dropped the letter into his hand, he opened it eagerly. He sighed and shook his head, quickly reading the letter. He then walked inside and followed Shain over to the table. As he ordered, Kain nodded and asked for a Sake, which was a liquior of a sort so, they were sure to have it. Kain sighed heavily and looked at Shain as he threw tossed the money. He hoped that the coin was enough to cover the whole amout, seeing as Kain didn't have any money.

Kain waited for a long time without saying anything. He looked at Shain and grinned evilly as he grabbed the edge of the table and threw it up. The sound caused the people in the tavern to scream, most of them hobbling away and falling over in surprise. The waitress that took orders turned around and glared at him and yelled, “What in the hells is wrong with you?” Kain stood up and drew his sword and looked at Shian, suggesting that he do the same. He looked down, letting his hair cover his face. He pulled a piece of paper, the letter, out of his pocket and smirked. “I believe this is yours... I'll read my favorite excerpt, 'Leave the halfblood alive, and kill the other.'” Kain tore the paper in half, “Well, kill me!”

Shain turned and looked around again as Kain entered. He thought he heard the flap of a bird and the slight rustle of paper. He looked back toward Kain, and saw what might be the edge of a letter. Shain's eyebrows rose, but he didn't say anything. From the looks of things, that gold mark was going to have to pay for kain's sake as well. Shain had heard of sake, it was arice wine, and horrible in Shain's opinnion. As their drinks came, Shain listened, or tried to, to the conversations around them. The treason he treid was that there were none. An odd place.

When their drinks arived, Shain took a long hard swig of vodka. He njoyed the firey burn as it entered his throaght. It was one of the few hard drinks that Shain enjoyed. He sat in silence for a while, untill kain suddenly decided to uppend the table. Shain looked at him in surprise, the maid bareley registering. that wqas until Kain pulled out a letter and read. Shain's eyes narrowed. What was this man doing with such a letter.

Shain's suspicion lasted umtil Kain called out for some one to kill him. It seemed that out of nowhere four assalants came, shrowded in heavy cloaks. Shain leapt to his feat, his dagger comming out. These people had swords. A good use this was going to be. he threw it strait into the chest of the nearest attacker. Summer-salting over him, he yanked it out and faced another. And his day hadstarted to look up.

Kain was born ready for fights like this. He grinned evilly and slid to the side, watching as Shain plunged a dagger into one of their foes. Kain was worried about Shain's fighting abilities with the dagger when fighting these assassins had swords and were probably trained to use them against daggers. They probably knew every little thing about Shain, because they had to fight him and keep him alive; however, they wouldn't know much about Kain's fighting style, because even if they had watched the battle at the arena, they wouldn't have seen much of him fighting the way he normally would, simply because he didn't get to fight that much with the Champloo skills. He spat on the ground and started to circle the three that were left, his blade pointed at them in an aggressive stance. He was planning on killing these fools and not defending himself because they were going to die so quick.

Kain rushed forward and from natural reflex, the nearest assassin drew back with the sword across his chest, he noticed that Kain didn't make an attack and he decided to make one of his own. He swung down, but completely missed Kain because he had slid underneath the attack and rolled off to the side, as he did, he slashed, cutting a vital artery in the assassin's leg. Kain smirked and rolled away from the assassins and looked at Shain, ”He'll bleed to death in a few minutes and if he doesn't get medical attention soon, he'll never walk right again...” Kain looked at the assassin in anger, ”You disgust me.” The assassin grunted and felt to his knee and then fell over, blood seeping quickly from the wound. Kain raised his sword in the same stance and started to circle the remaining assassins... Kain wanted this battle over, but not quickly, it was a fight that he wanted now, to satisfy his sudden taste for blood and death.

The bloodlust had risen in Shain. A wild look came to his eys. He watched as Kain hacked through one of the assassin's legs. That should hurt. Turning to the last two, he grinned the grin of a madman. Rushing forward, he raised his dagger to meet one of their blades. it was never wise to mach dagger on sword, but Shain didn't feel like being smart right now. If they wanted him alive, they better have the skill to keep themselves alive first. Strike for strike, he met the swords attacks. And he was not defending all the time. After only two minutes, his opponent was covered in many wounds. None dangerous alone, but the quntity nade them fatal if not treated. Shain had sustained wounds too, however. His right arm had been stabbed above the elbow. It hung loosly at his side. luckily he was not right handed.

Jumping backward as his apponent began to circle, he calledut to Shain. "Fun day, isn't it?" He luaghed maniacly. He was not mad, but he could see that it was cuasing a small bit of unease in the opponents. Uneaes was good. jumping back into the fray with only his dagger, he began to twirl it at mind blowing speeds. It want all over his body, never wounding himself, and still able to attack his opponent. it didn't show on his face, but it was all he could do to keep it up.

Suddenly he saw an oppening. Taking it, he reached into his inner power. His dagger birst out in flames. the moment of startlement and fear that flashed throu the attackers eyes was all Shain neede. he thrust into the other neck. "Bringing him close, he said "You need more practice. Learn to keep yourself alive." Persons eys glazed over. Luaghing he threw him down. Ripping back the hood, he saw it was another drow. Fools. Shain looked around to the sound of a fight behind him...

Kain spat and watched for a moment with intrest as Shain fought with the assassin. Things didn't look to good for the assassin as his arm was nearly severed. Kain grunted in anger and moved in on the last assasin watching him draw up in fear, Kain yelled out a short cry and slid to the side, only to be followed by his opponent. They bobbed back and forth, opposite of each other, in perfect alignment and Kain was surprised, this warrior had been trained to fight with samurai obviously. Kain didn't like this at all, there would be a lot of trouble if the man could copy every move that he made; however, eventually Shain would kill his opponent and be able to finish this one off, if it came to that. Kain rolled forward as the assassin jumped back and his sword sliced through air. Kain cursed his mistake and rolled to the left, dodging the counter attack that the assassin made. Kain rose to his feet and the assassin copied him, they both went into the stance of Battiojutsu, which made Kain grin. Both of their katana's had been sheathed and their hands were gripped tightly on the hilt that was slid about a half an inch out of the sheath.

Battiojutsu against battiojutsu always ended up with both of the contestants dead, and Kain knew that, surely this man knew it as well. But, this man was willing to sacrifice his life to kill Kain and Kain had that thought in the back of his mind as the assassin rushed forward, intent on cutting Kain in two, by drawing the sword from the sheath nearly 4 times as fast as normal. Kain grinned with triumphant and the next few moments seemed to be in a blur; Kain would draw his sword way early and before the assassin could respond, jump into the air and bring the blade beneath him, stabbing into his back. Kain released the blade and landed behind his now dead opponent. The sword stuck out directly from the now dead assassin's spine. Kain jerked the blade from it's prison and swung the blade, splattering blood on the floor and cleaning his blade.

He looked at Shain, “More of your friends, you've become rather popular.” He looked down and with a rather different tone, one that sounded like Kain was remembering, “A lot of people want you dead...”

Shain saw as Kain matched another in some sort of hand to hand combat. Watching, he observed as Kain quickly disposed of the other. He had heard the clang of metal before then. He supposed that they had been fighting with those odd curved blades, the katanas. Shain nodded absentmindedly at Kain's comment. "Yes, including a goddess. It's odd though. Pull back the hoods of all of them and you will find humans as well as drow. They ussualy do not work with rivvil." He had used the drow word for human. Not very commplimentary.

He looked over to Kain, then began to search the bodeis. Like the ones at the arena, thses had unfortunantley not been wearing their magick cloaks. Shain did find a fair amount of gold; at least on the humans. The drow did not have much use for gold from the surface. Stratening up, he realized that the people, or what was left of them, were silent and starring. At him. backing up to where Kain stood, he whisspered to his new ound companoin for this city. "I do not believe we are welcome here anymore. it migth be a good idea to leave."

(Rivvil is a real drow word. Just a fun fact :D )