Name: Kayal Dunaven
Age: 28
Race: Breton
Birthsign: The Lover
Appearance: Kayal has dark blue eyes with long brown hair that comes down to his shoulders but is usually pulled back behind his ears. He stands at 5' 11' and has a muscular build from large amounts of physical labor and training. Across his body he bears scars from his time as a slave the worst of which lay on his back were the twenty lashes are still clearly visible. He has a light stubble on his chin (but none on his upper lip).
Equipment: A steel longsword as his primary weapon, a imperial bow with two dozen arrows, a map of Tamriel, a steel dagger, a collection of potions ranging from healing to magicka. Kayal wears leather armor with a chain shirt over his chest and arms. He wears his chain shirt over his usual clothes and then a coat over his chain shirt. His coat is usually unbuttoned revealing his under clothing, the cloak continues down almost to his knees in the back and on the sides while in the front it goes a little past his hips before curving and going down almost to his knees. The cloak is white with black accents, his undershirt is white and his pants are a dark brown.
Skills: One hand, Archery, Destruction, Restoration, hand to hand, alteration and Medium armor.
Personality: Kayal is a curious case, he can be rambunctious and rowdy. But he can be serious, calm and collective when the situation calls for it. He is normally a fun loving man choosing to enjoy life to its fullest instead of worrying and stressing about things. He is strongly guided by his personal set of morals which can be selfish or selfless at times. There are times where he will go out of his way to help someone he encounters for little more then they asked nicely or he deemed they needed his help. Or there is times where he could rob you blind because you annoyed him. Due to this he can be rather unpredictable. Kayal holds a powerful distaste for both the Empire and the Aldemiri, as to why the distaste he does not say. He also has a powerful resentment for slavers and most other things against his morals. If one wishes to see him truly angry they must only blatantly do things against his morals.He is very protective over his friends and allies, he will normally go out of his way to assist them with little self regard. He is normally very reserved about his own past but there are ways to get him to talk.
Background: Kayal grew up in the town of Farrun. His mother and father both were both sailors by day running their own shipping business constantly under the threat of being bought out by the East Empire Trading company, but they had a track up their sleeves, one that would keep their business afloat even while the East Empire Trading Company tried to flood their vessel. By night they were smugglers, along with legally trade supplies they ran smuggled goods, dealing in weapons, spellbooks, drugs and even regrettably on rare occasions, people. His mother and father took no pride in what they had to do but they did it anything to ensure that their newborn baby and in turn their family would be able to live a good happy life.
Kayal at a young age took a liking in sailing his mother and father were unable to leave him behind on their voyages so they were forced to bring him along and homeschool their child. Both his mother and father were intelligent people and were able to give him a better education than most which was rather surprising. He spent his childhood on a vessel and loved every minute of it, every voyage was an adventure into the open seas. He imagined himself a captain of a powerful Imperial navy vessel, commanding his crew into battle against the enemies of the empire or even giant sea monsters, each time his commanding prowess would win them the battle with nothing more than a scratch on his boat and his crew. But even his playful edventures did little to brighten the grim work that his mother and father hid from him.
As Kayal grew older his time on the vessel became much less of playing and day dreaming and actually helping maintain the vessel, when he was old enough and even before his father began to instruct him in the ways of sailing, how to judge where you are going by the stars. Kayal was a natural sailor and by the age of 14 was sufficiently contributing to the maintenance and sailing of the ship. Both his mother and father were skilled fighters with the business they were in bloodshed became a common sight. Both his parents were skilled in alternation, his father was a very skilled swordsmen both from training and from experience and had skill in destruction magic. While his mother was very skilled in archery and restoration magic. Both of them taught him everything he knew and he showed exceptional skill. He worked hard to hone his skills and by the time he was 18 he was able to operate to the same effectiveness as his parents. Kayal’s distaste for slavers was clearly shown to his parents who would share guilty glances to each other when the topic came up. The older Kayal became the harder it became to hide him from his parents side dealings.
As time passed the East Empire Trading Company pushed harder and harder. His family was struggling to stay afloat even with their side smuggling. One day his mother and father accepted a risky mission with a hardy reward. They were to pick up a large amount of slaves from Dawnstar and deliver them to an undisclosed buyer in the city of Necrom in Morrowind. The payment was more than enough for them to live happily on, they were forced to accept accepted. They set sail the next day. The vessel made it to Dawnstar and picked up a supply of fish along with the slaves who would be picked up from a small dock a little ways from Dawnstar where a fake fisherman with a “late haul” would be waiting with a supply of fish and the slaves. kayal was told to hand the proper transactions with the “fisherman” while his parent got the “fish” onboard. The “fisherman” was to put up a bit of a fuss with the transaction and take extra long as to give them more then enough time to deal with the storing the slaves. The pickup went off without a hitch and they set sail again this time their hidden hold which they used to conceal their smuggled goods almost overflowing with slaves.
Half way through their journey Kayal got into an argument with his parents. They told him that when this shipment was done they were to retire and settle down and live their lives out happily, and that they had made enough money to do so. Kayal did not agree, he had always had a thirst for adventure and a love for sailing, he did not want to settle down sailing was the closest he could come to fulfilling his dream. The argument left him angered with his parents and he went below deck seeking to find sometime to think. Thats when he heard it. He was in the lower deck trying to cool his head when he heard a loudbang come from the back of the hold. He moved to back following the recurring sound of banging, he drew his sword expecting a possible stow away to be on board one that could be hostile. But what he was met with was something much different hidden below a collection of ropes and tarps was a trap door with several locks. Periodically the trap do would jolt as something banged into it and he could hear something on the other side.
Slowly with his sword ready he unlocked the hatch and stepped back just in time for it to burst open. The first thing he noticed was the horrendous smell and heat from the hidden hold, then he heard gasps from within the trap door and slowly a fur covered hand reached out from the trap door a khajiit pulled himself from the hold the khajiit had cuffs with a broken chains hanging from them around his wrists and his feet were chained together, he wore rags for clothes and look sickly as though he hadn’t eaten in days. There was a metal band wrapped around his chest that had a chain going from it down into the hold, another chain went from the one bounding his rags back into the hold. He climbed up and met eyes with the young Kayal Dunaven. The horror apparent in the Khajiits face as he realized his escape attempt led him right to one of his captors. The Khajiit got to his knees and began begging for his life, saying he wasn't trying to hurt them he just wanted to get them some food and begged not to be hurt. Kayal was stunned, who were these people what were they doing in his families ship, then it hit him like a club from a giant. These were slaves.
The following series of questions directed toward the Khajiit only proved this to be true. Kayal promised he would not harm the Khajiit or any of them, that he would do the exact opposite. He explained he had no idea of his families slave dealing and that he would help them get their freedom, as an act of good will he gave the Khajiit a loaf of bread and began to collect more. As the Khajiit ate the loaf of bread he grabbed several more and a collection of fruits and moved to the trapdoor. The smell only seemed to worsen the closer to the hold and the heat did too. As he reached the trapdoor what he saw appalled him. Dozens of people filled the hold that went along the entire bottom of the ship. People were piled almost to the roof soe had small bunks they barely fit in while others were forced to literally pile upon each other. There was no room to walk without stepping on someone that would likely have another person below him. They wore rags and they were chained together in groups to help prevent escape and keep them grouped for selling.
Rage filled Kayal and it took everything he had not to crush the loafs of bread in his rage. He dispersed the food he had and then freed the khajiit by breaking the chains with tools he found in the hold. He told the Khajiit to make sure everyone got some food and water and that he would be back. Kayals rage for his mother and father reached a fever pitch as he ascended back up to the top deck and then into their quarterdeck where his families rooms were located. He barged in to see his mother and father still eating dinner. His father greeted him and asked if he had cooled his head, a question that only bothered him more. He glared at the monsters that he had called parents, at these things that had raised him but had ruined and sold people lives into slavery. his right hand rested on his sword's hilt and in his left he held the chains of the Khajiit he had freed. His mother and fathers gaze fell to the chains then back to their sons face which held a fire in his eyes. Before they could make their plea of innocence the was a terrible sound of wood cracking and a loud crash as a large rock tore through the roof and the floor embedding itself somewhere within the ship.
Their vessel was designed to be extremely fast and maneuverable, something they used to outrun any hostile looking ships and how they managed to keep themselves out of trouble for so long, but now in their celebration and distraction they had practically sailed right into the trap that had been laid for them. Their ship was easily overrun by the three pursuit vessels. The holds were emptied and they were captured brought out to the main deck and tied to the mast.
They had been tricked and lied to from the beginning, the man who had given them this mission, an Imperial by the name of Alistair had set the entire plan up, they were given a route to follow and would sail right into this trap. Kayla's mother and father were outraged at the betrayal, but Kayal was outraged at them. But even in his rage he was not prepared to see what he saw next. Both his mother and fathers throats were slit and the boat set ablaze. He was chained and his clothes removed he was given tattered rags and was thrown into the hold with the slaves, he had been sold into slavery. The next few days were like nothing Kayal had ever been through. He was given little food and little water, the sights he witnessed and the conditions he endured only furthered the break him and affirm his belief that no one deserved to suffer through this.
He witnessed people starve to death or die from thirst he witnessed people die from means he could not even explain. The bodies would be left for several days before the crew would come down and dispose of them. None of the crew members bothered to check for a pulse they just went for the ones that seemed lifeless or were pointed out and then took them up deck moments later there would be a loud splash heard outside of the ship. Kayal’s plan formed, it was risky and it could go wrong with a simple mistake but it had to be done. He convinced the others he was chained to, a older male Nord by the name of Iska, a female Bosmer by the name Zana, a male Khajiit by the name of Husar and another bosmer female by the name Lin. All of them were to wait until another death came and then they were supposed to pretend to be dead as well. The other slaves would point them out and say they had not moved in days. When the crew came they payed no mind and took the group with them. Before they reached the top deck they acted. These guards were used to people who had lost the will to fight people that had been broken and were willless and we not prepared when the people they were literally dragging to the top returned from the dead and overran them. Kayal was able to spring up and strangle one of them while the others charged the other two guard. As Kayal finished strangling the guard and got the key and undid his bounds he turned to see one of the guards plunge his sword through the gut of Lin, one of the Bosmers and saw the Khajiit laying headless upon the ground. Iska and Zana would be greatly inhibited by the literal dead weight and would stand no chance.
With sword in hand Kayal charged the last two remaining guards, with the help of Iska, and Zana they managed to slay the guards. But before they could make it back to the hold to free the others they were overrun. The others had heard the fighting and rushed to help but were too late to help their crewmates. They took the three escapees and dragged them to the upper deck. There the captain thought of a proper punishment for them, which came in the form of twenty lashes. Kayal was to be the first to be lashed they tied his hands around the mast and then began to punishment. The first crack broke through the ear followed by searing pain shooting from his back, then another the searing pain coursed from his back and he yelled in pain then another and another and another. What felt like hours but was only fit into ten minutes. Then the next lashing came this one was the Nord the first two lashes he did not cry out but by the third his resolve had broken, the Bosmer girl was last. She was young probably just hitting adulthood in Bosmer years, likely equaling something similar to Kayals age. By the time her turn came she was trembling and crying silently. Even in his drowsy wounded state Kayal was filled with rage as the first lash tore into her back by the end of it he was almost unable to hold himself back, he went to rush towards the captain but was met with the hilt of a sword bashed against his skull. He collapsed to the ground unconscious when he awoke he was in the lower hull of the ship chained both to more slaves and to a pillar. The voyage lasted 4 weeks more weeks. The remainder of the journey was the hardest it had ever been, it took all that he had to keep his wounds from getting infected by the poor conditions. He was left with the regret of everything, he had helped all these people get here he and his damned parents it was his fault they were here. He hated himself and his parent s for what they did, and now he had left two people to their deaths and two more to a terrible punishment. The second day Iska grew sick, he had refused any healing Kayal offered telling him the focus on himself and Zana something Kayal wished he had ignored. He watch the older Nord wither away before his eyes until finally the Nord passed away.
It had been his fault, if he hadn’t led them in that act of rebellion then he wouldn’t have grown sick, if he hadn’t of fought back then none of them would have been killed. If he had found out sooner none of them would be in this position. He hated himself, maybe more than he hated his parents. His self loathing continued for the rest of his journey. The crew members did not retrieve the body, forcing Kayal to constantly be reminded with his failure and what he had done the smell grew horrendous and Kayal was barely able to keep his stomach many of the others were not able to. By the end of the first week Zana grew sick, but Kayal would not let her die like Iska did. He stopped spending any magicka on himself and put everything into helping Zana, he even relinquished most little food he was given to her so she could keep her strength up and fight the infection. Soon Kayal began to grow weak, malnourished by the lack of food. Five days after she had grown ill Zana began to improve and Kayal began to eat the all of the meager food rations given to him. By the end of the second week the voyage ended, but it was not where he expected it to.
They had arrived at a villa off the coast of the Summerset Isle, on a small island near a city by the name of Firsthold. The High Elf had purchased every last one of the slaves including Kayal and Zana. They were sought to by doctors and given just enough so they would not die. Kayal was the worst of the two but he survived. Kayal served the elven lord living in self loathing and protecting Zana with his life for four years. The two had grown close over the years, Kayal protected Zana as best he could and she helped him deal with his self loathing telling him it was out of his control and he tried the best he could to help them. The other slaves respected Kayal and Zana for what they tried to do on the boat but as the years passed that faded and he thought of freedom faded from their minds this well guarded secluded Elven villa seemed to be their tombs.. That was until the end of the fourth year. It started in the night, a loud crash that tore Kayal from his sleep. He smelt fire nearby and he heard screams. He tried to open his door but as always it was locked. He banged on it for what felt like hours until it opened revealing Zana who had a panicked look in her eyes and burns across her skin. The red glow of flames illuminated the room and smoked covered the ceiling. He inquired to her what was going on and she said she had no idea but they had to get out of here. He did not argue instead he followed her as she led him through the slave quarters. Bodies littered the floors and flames ate away at the ceiling walls and the floor. He heard screams as unlucky slaves burned alive in their rooms unable to escape the flames.
As they left the slave quarters Kayal asked how she escaped her room she informed him the the fire had weakened one of the walls of her room and it collapsed she was able to make it through the flames with some burns and made it into the hallway she went directly to his room after that. Soon the sound of fighting began to become apparent as they got closer to the main part of the villa. Many parts of the building were still ablaze but not half as bad as the slave quarters. All across the villa slaves fought guards in a bloody battle. The slaves had the advantage of numbers but the guards had the advantage of skill and equipment. Kayal was able to get his hands on a elven longsword and Zana two daggers, Kayal had learned that she was very skilled with light weapons and was light on her feet something that would prove very helpful in this fight. They made their way to the nearest exit fighting any guards that got in their way. The main entrance was engulfed in flames and covered by fire. They had to fight their way through the villa till they came to the back entrance which would lead them to the guest house and closer to the water. The two who had grouped with a contingent of slaves that only followed them for their skill and for they had little idea what was going on and where to go and Kayal seemed to have an idea of where to go.
He led the small band to the guest house. The path ran through trees but he knew was still enclosed by walls, only the back door of the guest house was exposed. It led to a small patio that had a path that led to the beach. Once they reached the guest house they were met with a group of guards that had secured the guest house. Battle ensued, the guards were out numbered. They cut down dozens of slaves who charged in a swarm at the guards but for each one that died two more replaced him. Kayal watched a dozen people were butchered to kill four guards and then a dozen more to kill four more. As their numbers began to dwindle more made their way to the guest house from the main building bolstering their force. They managed to fight their way through the guest house to the patio where they were met with the Lords personal guards and the lord himself. On the beach sat a small boat that seemed better named a life raft then a actual boat. It could hold seven people at the most and had one small sail coming from the center with a set of paddle on the side. With the help of the slaves Kayal fought the elite guards who were easily able to cut down wave after wave of the slaves. Kayal and Zana suffered multiple lacerations but were some of the lucky few to survive. By the end of the brutal fight four slaves stood where the five personal guards had. Dozens of slave corpses surrounded them. There on the beach the Lord struggled to get the small vessel of the shore, but before he could get in he was thrown to the ground by Kayal. All of Kayal raged boiled over as he struck the Lord with the butt of his sword over and over bloodying his face and shattering his teeth. He did not stop bashing until the body of the lord fell limp. His face was mangled and broken Then Kayal stood and turned to the ship with the help of Zana and the other slaves they got the small boat out to sea and set sail.
It took sometime before the group reached the shores of the Summerset Isle once there they made their way to the nearest town. The two other slaves were a male Imperial by the name of Zeek and a female Dunmer by the name of Sall. Once near the town Zeek revealed to them that he had been able to acquire some gold from the body of the lord before they escaped, it was more then enough to purchase new clothes and passage back to the mainland of Tamriel. They wanted to spend as little time as possible in the Summerset isle. They purchased food, clothes, water and passage back to the mainland. The next few days the group barely left each others company. All of them were still coming to terms with their new found freedom. It was not until he laid eyes on the open seas through more than the small barred window of the slaver ship that kayal felt free again.
When they set foot on the mainland in the city of Anvil on the southern coast of Cyrodiil the group went their separate ways, save for Zana and Kayal. Both of them had lost their families to the slavers, Zana lost hers when she was captured he father was killed her mother sent away and her brother sister and herself all sent to different areas. She was unsure if any of them were still alive. Kayal had only one idea in mind. The pair made their way to his old home in Farrun. After a long journey home the pair arrived. Having gone through countless dangerous situations, be them bandits or wild animals they were finally somewhere safe. Kayals family business had been bought by the East Empire Trading Company in their absence. The small store, warehouse and dock had been turned into a extension on their commercial port.
Kayal led Zana to his old home, he found it unchanged, everything the same as he left it. He showed Zana to the guest room and told her to get some rest while he made some food, to which she accepted happily. Most of the food had gone bad and he was forced to go purchase a new supply with the funds his family had stored at the house. It was hard for him to take the money for he knew how this money was acquired it was slave money and it stirred old emotions Zana had helped him overcome. But he had no other choice he gave money to every poor person he found in town hoping to wash away some of the figurative stains on the money but did little to make himself feel better. Along with the supply of food he purchased a new set of weapons for himself he purchased a Steel longsword and for Zana a pair of steel short swords. The pair had been forced to sell their weapons when they reached Skyrim so they could buy food and water for the remainder of their journey. After returning home he gives Zana her now weapons and goes about making the meal, though the entire time his mind is on the future. What will he do now that he was free. A few months ago he was sure he would have died serving that lord in that villa now he was free again. When he was finished he and Zana ate their fill. Night was fast approaching and the two settled in for the first restful night in four years. But Kayal could not get himself to sleep. Whenever he dozed nightmares of everything he had been through jolted him from his sleep. He found himself restless and his mind wandering. But he was broken from his thoughts when a knocked came from his door, he stood and opened it to see Zana standing before him. Her slender silhouette barely visible in the shadows. She told him she could not get to sleep and asked if she could join him. He accepted deciding to withhold that he was too.
The two shared the bed and were able to fall asleep soundly. When they awoke Kayal was sure of what he wanted. After their breakfast he told her of his plan. He did not want to own a store, or any sort of business he wanted adventure. He offered for Zanna to join him and she took little time to think accepting his offer. Together the pair bought the needed supplies including some armor and other survival gear. Kayal decided to keep the house incase they ever needed a place to stay in Farrun and set off into the world. Traveling all about Tamriel making a living doing whatever it took to get buy. Using their skill in fighting and outside to get by. For six years they ventured across Tamriel but the call of the sea was never far from kayals ears, he always felt more at home at sea, he felt free. He felt himself more at home when he slept near the sea. Periodically throughout the night he would be plagued by nightmares of his past but he was always able to get to sleep either on his home or with help from Zana. Finally the pair found their way to Leyawiin where Kayal and Zana have chosen to take their stay as they decide what to do next.
