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|| Player Information ||
Name: Ardruna
Personal Journal: N/A
Time zone: CST
Contact: email: ardruna@gmail.com; AIM: Mirisa Erato
Current Characters: Prince Edgar
|| Character Information ||
Fandom: Dragon Age
Name: Isabela
It is worth noting that “Isabela” is not her birth name, but rather a pseudonym she adopted around the time she began her adventuring career, bestowed upon her as a joke of sorts by the first captain with whom she signed on. Naishe, the name her parents gave her, has long been left behind her, as she finds her chosen name much more suitable—not to mention, her reputation hinges on it. She does not use a surname, whether it be the one she was born to, nor that of her late husband. At this point, though, she's considering taking on a new name, not entirely sure that she's "Isabela" any longer.
Canon Point: Post the finale of "Those Who Speak" Volume 3.
History: Isabela's Wiki page!
The following assumptions are to be made as part of Isabela's history:
-Alistair became King of Ferelden
-Isabela was in a friendly relationship with Hawke (as opposed to a rivalry)
-Isabela returned with the Qunari artifact, and Hawke dueled the arishok rather than turn her over
-Isabela was allowed to keep Castillon's ship at the end of the “No Rest For the Wicked” quest
Personality: Isabela has been called the Queen of the Eastern Seas and the sharpest blade in Llomerryn. She has long played the part of the swashbuckling rogue, as pirate and smuggler, and is the scourge of two coastlines, four nations, and countless tavern floors. She's equally skilled with dagger and insult, and it's hard to know which cuts more deeply. Her reputation is far-flung in Thedas, and she is desired as much as she is feared--which is quite a lot on both counts.
She values fun, freedom, being on the winning side, and otherwise getting ahead of everyone else. In her own words, “sailors only care about a very small number of very specific things: The sea, strong drink, and booty... both kinds." She appreciates a wit as quick and dry as her own, responds well to sarcasm and flirtation, has a bawdy sense of humor (as in, she can hardly go more than a sentence without making some kind of sexual innuendo), and has little patience for fools, or preachy, prudish, and/or meddling types. Early impressions are important to Isabela, and they will often dictate how any given relationship with her will develop. A simple off-the-cuff remark might amuse a friendly Isabela, but the exact same line delivered by someone of whom she’s less than fond might only exacerbate a growing rivalry.
There is no honor among thieves, a fact that Isabela knows and expects of other low-life types, and she gives about as much as she expects to get. She is very honest about her dishonesty, speaking perfectly frankly and unashamedly about cheating in a game of cards (“I win because I cheat, Kitten. I thought that was obvious.”) or her many sexual dalliances, and has few qualms about taking advantage of, cheating, or killing people she feels are just as petty, selfish and greedy as she can be. She is willing to do whatever it takes to come out on top, and if that means unscrupulously tipping the odds in her favor, then so be it. Danger doesn’t worry her much—the greater the risks, the greater the rewards, as far as she’s concerned, and it only makes the prospect that much more entertaining for her. When things don’t go her way as planned, she can be quite resourceful and does what she can to make the best for herself out of any given situation, and all with her typical devil-may-care good humour. A win is a win, in her book, whether that means making someone fall at her feet or on her blade. This is not to say that she is entirely unethical, however. Isabela will only use or act against people she feels deserves it, and the exploitation of the innocent will not sit well with her. She once got herself into a scrape when she discovered the cargo she was helping smuggle was Ferelden refugees being taken to be sold as slaves, and she chose to free them all rather than deliver them. It was while working to get out of said scrape that Isabela first met Hawke and sought help in dealing with Castillon and his underlings.
When it comes to relationships, Isabela generally only considers them either business or pleasure (or, frequently, a combination of both). She much prefers to outright hire someone to do something for her with some kind of pre-contracted agreement, or have a clear expectation of job and payment both if someone hires her, rather than just relying on favors or someone’s goodwill. She generally doesn’t do something for nothing, and gets rather disgusted with other people who do. Isabela figures that the past is the past and a person’s business is their own, thus prying or butting into personal decisions, especially those of strangers, is a quick way to annoy her. The one exception to this seems to be teasing other people or asking details about their sex lives. Isabela has a considerable sexual appetite, certainly knows her way around a whorehouse (one in Denerim being where she met the Warden, as well as where she first crossed paths with Anders), and is not particularly discriminating in her choices of partners--men, women, makes little enough difference to her, as long as she gets orgasms out of the deal. She gets rejected as often as not, and so tends to cast her proverbial net widely. She has a broad network of paramours and low-life business associates all over Thedas, and if they’re some kind of pirate or criminal scum, chances are good that Isabela’s either worked with them or slept with them at some point or another. She does have some standards, though, when blurring the line between business and pleasure could negatively impact her position. For instance, she generally would never allow the men serving in her crew to lay a hand on her so long as she as captain. When it comes to genuine intimacy (be it friendly or romantic), though, Isabela tries to avoid it. It's less that she's afraid of falling for someone and getting hurt in the process than it is her being afraid of inadvertently hurting someone else who doesn't deserve it. When she was young, her mother sold her into a forced marriage for a goat and a handful of coin. Isabela was not fond of her husband Luis, an associate of the Antivan Crows and captain of The Siren’s Call, referring to him as a “greasy bastard” who considered her his plaything, even to the point of making her “entertain” his friends. It’s little wonder, then, that she had no qualms about being unfaithful to him, and at one point took up with a handsome elf assassin by the name of Zevran Arainai, who just so happened to have been hired to kill Isabela’s husband by one of his enemies--she claims to have "thanked him profusely" for freeing her from her marriage. Upon her husband’s death, Isabela inherited (some might say "stole") his ship, and named herself captain, thus beginning to earn her own reputation for piracy. Some claim that Isabela was the one to hire Zevran to kill Luis, but she insists upon her innocence on that part. Isabela has only ever loved one man, whose name she refuses to reveal but says she loved shortly after becoming a widow. She ended up breaking his heart in the end after she panicked and fled from his marriage proposal, and so finds love vastly overrated. Hawke was one of few to become a true friend to Isabela by defending her against the Qunari after she stole their precious relic. Hawke and the closest companions of that entourage are among very few people to claim any form of loyalty from Isabela, as it took many years to earn the pirate queen's trust--something she does not easily give, despite her cavalier frankness. The proverb "If you love something, set it free; if it returns to you, it'll be yours forever, but if not, it was never yours to begin with" is quite appropriate for Isabela. Once her trust has been duly earned, she won't turn her back or desert a friend unless given reason to do so (usually by either betrayal or trying to chain her down).
Isabela does not like to be confined in any way, be it literally or metaphorically. Small, narrow enclosed spaces make her nervous, and she chafes under any imposed rules and restrictions. It's one of the reasons why she prefers to seek out seedy and lawless places to live and socialize rather than anywhere fancy or refined--people living in places like those might as well be wearing a target for Isabela to pick on them. She always makes sure she has an exit whenever possible, regardless of whether or not it might be dangerous, but otherwise she wants to be able to do whatever she likes, however and whenever she chooses. Rarely does she stay in any one place for long, and it’s one thing when she decides to be there, and quite another when she’s forced to be there.
Some of her more amusing quotes also include:
"Sailing is like sex. If you do it wrong, you will get sick... but do it right, and there's no feeling in the world like it."
"Ah, the Blooming Rose. Where people come... then go."
"And then Isabela went to the Chantry, and saw that it was...boring. Canticle of Isabela, stanza one, verse one."
"You smell that? Smells like repression, doesn't it?" (spoken upon entering the Kirkwall chantry)
"Hmm... apostate prostitutes? ...Apos-titutes! *Laughs*"
"Our mistakes make us who we are."
"Really? We're going to just waltz in here and fight dozens of blood mages? Ourselves? All right. I'm game."
"Ah, the Hanged Man. Sometimes you want to be where everybody knows your name."
"A warehouse? I don't like being led around. Unless leashes are involved. And they're not."
"Coming in here of my own free will feels wrong. Like diddling a sister." (said upon entering the guard barracks in Kirkwall)
"Your death toll is approaching natural disasters."
"I like big boats, I cannot lie."
"A sneer on your lip, but want in your eye."
"I'm sorry, I don't speak never-gets-sex-again."
"If we kill them, we get their stuff!"
"Why must it always be ancient horrors? Why can't it be fabulous treasure once in a while?"
"Aveline, if you shove your thumb up his ass, I win."
"I like duels. It's what I do. And if I win, he'll be dead. Problem solved!”
"Wait. I’m helping the Qunari recover some priceless artifact? Oh, the irony."
"Stealing Qunari relics from Orlesians… Why do I feel like I’ve been here before?"
"Oh, shit... literally."
"Please, Martin. You wouldn't know honest if I tied you up and spanked you with it."
Also, an example of Isabela in action.
Skills | Powers: Being human, Isabela has no supernatural abilities.
Isabela is a duelist, meaning she has superb skill with knives, daggers and short swords, and prefers to use finesse and speed rather than brute strength when she fights. She relies on form, stance and dirty tricks, keeping her opponents off balance, predicting her opponents' moves and simply not being where expected when they strike, and using pinpoint accuracy to hit vitals when her blades connect. Most of the time, she wields dual blades, though she is not innately ambidextrous.
As a rogue and pirate-smuggler, she is skilled in things like stealth, picking locks, nicking and hiding stolen goods, gambling (and cheating so the odds are well within her favor), spinning lies, wiggling out of tight spots, drinking other people under the table, and other similar standard-fantasy-rogue skills. She also has a great deal of experience in using her feminine charms to get what she wants.
She is an experienced sailor and knows how to command and run a ship, as well as steer through currents, weather storms, navigate using stars, compasses and maps, minimize seasickness and land-sickness, and has all the other maritime nautical skills that would be expected of a long-time deckhand at sea (tying knots, splicing ropes, running rigging, etc.).
She is equipped with her fully-upgraded “armor,” as well as the “Lady's Choice” ring, “Pearl” and “Badge of the Felicisima Armada” amulets, and a good half dozen or so daggers, including the Dagger of the Four Winds.
First Person Sample: [Accidental video]
[The feed appears to have gotten switched on while she's attempting to shove the tablet down the front of what passes for a dress on her, so it fairly quickly becomes too dark to see much of anything clearly, but not before there's a flash of her face from the underside of her chin, followed by the sight of a most-impressive set of bare breasts pressed up against the screen. You're welcome, red-blooded straight males and similarly-appreciative females. A woman's voice with a slight exotic accent can be heard, despite the somewhat muffled effect of where the tablet has been placed.]
...damn. So much for getting anything useful out of him.
All right. I don't know where I am, I don't have my ship, and I'm hungover as hell. ...I've dealt with worse before, but why must it always be darkness and gloom? Would it kill someone to throw in some good, old-fashioned fabulous treasure every now and again? [a sigh, causing the tablet to shift position a little bit as her chest heaves melodramatically] ...either way, I suppose that'll teach me not to challenge half a dwarven carta to a drinking contest.
Speaking of, I wonder how much I can get for that... thing they gave me. It ought to at least be worth a good, stiff drink, right? Only one way to find out...
Third Person Sample: Isabela was calmly nursing her drink at the bar of the Hanged Man when she noticed the man sidling up beside her—and not in the good way.
“You owe us, Isabela,” he hissed in her ear.
“Well, Lucky, I'll tell you what,” she said, barely deigning to look at him, “Since the information you gave me was worth nothing...” She topped off her mug and took a swig. “...that's what I'll pay you.” The pirate queen poured more into her mug, but as she was raising it to take another drink, Lucky's hand slammed hers back down onto the bar, earning a glare from her.
“Me and my boys will get our money's worth, bitch,” Lucky growled. Isabela rolled her eyes before looking at him, her expression full of mock-sympathy.
“Oh, you poor, sweet thing,” she cooed, moving almost as if to kiss him.
Instead, quick as a flash, she gripped his wrist there on the bar, and with her other hand knocked a blow to Lucky's head so hard that his face slammed into the bar countertop. He dropped to the ground, dazed, as one of his men rushed at her, grappling her from behind so that her arms were pinned behind her back—or so he thought. She jabbed an elbow into his solar plexus, making him groan and double over in pain, releasing her. Isabela barely ducked the third man, coming at her with an empty bottle, which missed her and shattered in a spray of glass when it hit the bar. Standing back up, she slugged him across the chin with a right hook, making him stagger backward. Gripping his arm, she kneed the third man in the stomach, and landed a few more solid punches to his face until he dropped to the tavern floor.
A triumphant smirk on her face, she turned back to the bar to see Lucky lurching back to his feet and drawing a sword from a scabbard on his back. Isabela was quicker, and had her dagger pointed at the soft pale skin of his throat before he even got his sword all the way out. He stopped, not daring to move, the sword still raised uselessly over his head.
“Tell me, Lucky,” Isabela asked in a casually menacing tone, reaching for the other dagger still sheathed on her back, “is this worth dying for?” Lucky wisely backed off as his men pulled themselves back to their feet, still groaning in pain. As the three of them scrambled toward the door, Isabela knocked back a long, deep draught out of her waiting mug.
“I didn't think so,” she chuckled to herself.
Name: Ardruna
Personal Journal: N/A
Time zone: CST
Contact: email: ardruna@gmail.com; AIM: Mirisa Erato
Current Characters: Prince Edgar
|| Character Information ||
Fandom: Dragon Age
Name: Isabela
It is worth noting that “Isabela” is not her birth name, but rather a pseudonym she adopted around the time she began her adventuring career, bestowed upon her as a joke of sorts by the first captain with whom she signed on. Naishe, the name her parents gave her, has long been left behind her, as she finds her chosen name much more suitable—not to mention, her reputation hinges on it. She does not use a surname, whether it be the one she was born to, nor that of her late husband. At this point, though, she's considering taking on a new name, not entirely sure that she's "Isabela" any longer.
Canon Point: Post the finale of "Those Who Speak" Volume 3.
History: Isabela's Wiki page!
The following assumptions are to be made as part of Isabela's history:
-Alistair became King of Ferelden
-Isabela was in a friendly relationship with Hawke (as opposed to a rivalry)
-Isabela returned with the Qunari artifact, and Hawke dueled the arishok rather than turn her over
-Isabela was allowed to keep Castillon's ship at the end of the “No Rest For the Wicked” quest
Personality: Isabela has been called the Queen of the Eastern Seas and the sharpest blade in Llomerryn. She has long played the part of the swashbuckling rogue, as pirate and smuggler, and is the scourge of two coastlines, four nations, and countless tavern floors. She's equally skilled with dagger and insult, and it's hard to know which cuts more deeply. Her reputation is far-flung in Thedas, and she is desired as much as she is feared--which is quite a lot on both counts.
She values fun, freedom, being on the winning side, and otherwise getting ahead of everyone else. In her own words, “sailors only care about a very small number of very specific things: The sea, strong drink, and booty... both kinds." She appreciates a wit as quick and dry as her own, responds well to sarcasm and flirtation, has a bawdy sense of humor (as in, she can hardly go more than a sentence without making some kind of sexual innuendo), and has little patience for fools, or preachy, prudish, and/or meddling types. Early impressions are important to Isabela, and they will often dictate how any given relationship with her will develop. A simple off-the-cuff remark might amuse a friendly Isabela, but the exact same line delivered by someone of whom she’s less than fond might only exacerbate a growing rivalry.
There is no honor among thieves, a fact that Isabela knows and expects of other low-life types, and she gives about as much as she expects to get. She is very honest about her dishonesty, speaking perfectly frankly and unashamedly about cheating in a game of cards (“I win because I cheat, Kitten. I thought that was obvious.”) or her many sexual dalliances, and has few qualms about taking advantage of, cheating, or killing people she feels are just as petty, selfish and greedy as she can be. She is willing to do whatever it takes to come out on top, and if that means unscrupulously tipping the odds in her favor, then so be it. Danger doesn’t worry her much—the greater the risks, the greater the rewards, as far as she’s concerned, and it only makes the prospect that much more entertaining for her. When things don’t go her way as planned, she can be quite resourceful and does what she can to make the best for herself out of any given situation, and all with her typical devil-may-care good humour. A win is a win, in her book, whether that means making someone fall at her feet or on her blade. This is not to say that she is entirely unethical, however. Isabela will only use or act against people she feels deserves it, and the exploitation of the innocent will not sit well with her. She once got herself into a scrape when she discovered the cargo she was helping smuggle was Ferelden refugees being taken to be sold as slaves, and she chose to free them all rather than deliver them. It was while working to get out of said scrape that Isabela first met Hawke and sought help in dealing with Castillon and his underlings.
When it comes to relationships, Isabela generally only considers them either business or pleasure (or, frequently, a combination of both). She much prefers to outright hire someone to do something for her with some kind of pre-contracted agreement, or have a clear expectation of job and payment both if someone hires her, rather than just relying on favors or someone’s goodwill. She generally doesn’t do something for nothing, and gets rather disgusted with other people who do. Isabela figures that the past is the past and a person’s business is their own, thus prying or butting into personal decisions, especially those of strangers, is a quick way to annoy her. The one exception to this seems to be teasing other people or asking details about their sex lives. Isabela has a considerable sexual appetite, certainly knows her way around a whorehouse (one in Denerim being where she met the Warden, as well as where she first crossed paths with Anders), and is not particularly discriminating in her choices of partners--men, women, makes little enough difference to her, as long as she gets orgasms out of the deal. She gets rejected as often as not, and so tends to cast her proverbial net widely. She has a broad network of paramours and low-life business associates all over Thedas, and if they’re some kind of pirate or criminal scum, chances are good that Isabela’s either worked with them or slept with them at some point or another. She does have some standards, though, when blurring the line between business and pleasure could negatively impact her position. For instance, she generally would never allow the men serving in her crew to lay a hand on her so long as she as captain. When it comes to genuine intimacy (be it friendly or romantic), though, Isabela tries to avoid it. It's less that she's afraid of falling for someone and getting hurt in the process than it is her being afraid of inadvertently hurting someone else who doesn't deserve it. When she was young, her mother sold her into a forced marriage for a goat and a handful of coin. Isabela was not fond of her husband Luis, an associate of the Antivan Crows and captain of The Siren’s Call, referring to him as a “greasy bastard” who considered her his plaything, even to the point of making her “entertain” his friends. It’s little wonder, then, that she had no qualms about being unfaithful to him, and at one point took up with a handsome elf assassin by the name of Zevran Arainai, who just so happened to have been hired to kill Isabela’s husband by one of his enemies--she claims to have "thanked him profusely" for freeing her from her marriage. Upon her husband’s death, Isabela inherited (some might say "stole") his ship, and named herself captain, thus beginning to earn her own reputation for piracy. Some claim that Isabela was the one to hire Zevran to kill Luis, but she insists upon her innocence on that part. Isabela has only ever loved one man, whose name she refuses to reveal but says she loved shortly after becoming a widow. She ended up breaking his heart in the end after she panicked and fled from his marriage proposal, and so finds love vastly overrated. Hawke was one of few to become a true friend to Isabela by defending her against the Qunari after she stole their precious relic. Hawke and the closest companions of that entourage are among very few people to claim any form of loyalty from Isabela, as it took many years to earn the pirate queen's trust--something she does not easily give, despite her cavalier frankness. The proverb "If you love something, set it free; if it returns to you, it'll be yours forever, but if not, it was never yours to begin with" is quite appropriate for Isabela. Once her trust has been duly earned, she won't turn her back or desert a friend unless given reason to do so (usually by either betrayal or trying to chain her down).
Isabela does not like to be confined in any way, be it literally or metaphorically. Small, narrow enclosed spaces make her nervous, and she chafes under any imposed rules and restrictions. It's one of the reasons why she prefers to seek out seedy and lawless places to live and socialize rather than anywhere fancy or refined--people living in places like those might as well be wearing a target for Isabela to pick on them. She always makes sure she has an exit whenever possible, regardless of whether or not it might be dangerous, but otherwise she wants to be able to do whatever she likes, however and whenever she chooses. Rarely does she stay in any one place for long, and it’s one thing when she decides to be there, and quite another when she’s forced to be there.
Some of her more amusing quotes also include:
"Sailing is like sex. If you do it wrong, you will get sick... but do it right, and there's no feeling in the world like it."
"Ah, the Blooming Rose. Where people come... then go."
"And then Isabela went to the Chantry, and saw that it was...boring. Canticle of Isabela, stanza one, verse one."
"You smell that? Smells like repression, doesn't it?" (spoken upon entering the Kirkwall chantry)
"Hmm... apostate prostitutes? ...Apos-titutes! *Laughs*"
"Our mistakes make us who we are."
"Really? We're going to just waltz in here and fight dozens of blood mages? Ourselves? All right. I'm game."
"Ah, the Hanged Man. Sometimes you want to be where everybody knows your name."
"A warehouse? I don't like being led around. Unless leashes are involved. And they're not."
"Coming in here of my own free will feels wrong. Like diddling a sister." (said upon entering the guard barracks in Kirkwall)
"Your death toll is approaching natural disasters."
"I like big boats, I cannot lie."
"A sneer on your lip, but want in your eye."
"I'm sorry, I don't speak never-gets-sex-again."
"If we kill them, we get their stuff!"
"Why must it always be ancient horrors? Why can't it be fabulous treasure once in a while?"
"Aveline, if you shove your thumb up his ass, I win."
"I like duels. It's what I do. And if I win, he'll be dead. Problem solved!”
"Wait. I’m helping the Qunari recover some priceless artifact? Oh, the irony."
"Stealing Qunari relics from Orlesians… Why do I feel like I’ve been here before?"
"Oh, shit... literally."
"Please, Martin. You wouldn't know honest if I tied you up and spanked you with it."
Also, an example of Isabela in action.
Skills | Powers: Being human, Isabela has no supernatural abilities.
Isabela is a duelist, meaning she has superb skill with knives, daggers and short swords, and prefers to use finesse and speed rather than brute strength when she fights. She relies on form, stance and dirty tricks, keeping her opponents off balance, predicting her opponents' moves and simply not being where expected when they strike, and using pinpoint accuracy to hit vitals when her blades connect. Most of the time, she wields dual blades, though she is not innately ambidextrous.
As a rogue and pirate-smuggler, she is skilled in things like stealth, picking locks, nicking and hiding stolen goods, gambling (and cheating so the odds are well within her favor), spinning lies, wiggling out of tight spots, drinking other people under the table, and other similar standard-fantasy-rogue skills. She also has a great deal of experience in using her feminine charms to get what she wants.
She is an experienced sailor and knows how to command and run a ship, as well as steer through currents, weather storms, navigate using stars, compasses and maps, minimize seasickness and land-sickness, and has all the other maritime nautical skills that would be expected of a long-time deckhand at sea (tying knots, splicing ropes, running rigging, etc.).
She is equipped with her fully-upgraded “armor,” as well as the “Lady's Choice” ring, “Pearl” and “Badge of the Felicisima Armada” amulets, and a good half dozen or so daggers, including the Dagger of the Four Winds.
First Person Sample: [Accidental video]
[The feed appears to have gotten switched on while she's attempting to shove the tablet down the front of what passes for a dress on her, so it fairly quickly becomes too dark to see much of anything clearly, but not before there's a flash of her face from the underside of her chin, followed by the sight of a most-impressive set of bare breasts pressed up against the screen. You're welcome, red-blooded straight males and similarly-appreciative females. A woman's voice with a slight exotic accent can be heard, despite the somewhat muffled effect of where the tablet has been placed.]
...damn. So much for getting anything useful out of him.
All right. I don't know where I am, I don't have my ship, and I'm hungover as hell. ...I've dealt with worse before, but why must it always be darkness and gloom? Would it kill someone to throw in some good, old-fashioned fabulous treasure every now and again? [a sigh, causing the tablet to shift position a little bit as her chest heaves melodramatically] ...either way, I suppose that'll teach me not to challenge half a dwarven carta to a drinking contest.
Speaking of, I wonder how much I can get for that... thing they gave me. It ought to at least be worth a good, stiff drink, right? Only one way to find out...
Third Person Sample: Isabela was calmly nursing her drink at the bar of the Hanged Man when she noticed the man sidling up beside her—and not in the good way.
“You owe us, Isabela,” he hissed in her ear.
“Well, Lucky, I'll tell you what,” she said, barely deigning to look at him, “Since the information you gave me was worth nothing...” She topped off her mug and took a swig. “...that's what I'll pay you.” The pirate queen poured more into her mug, but as she was raising it to take another drink, Lucky's hand slammed hers back down onto the bar, earning a glare from her.
“Me and my boys will get our money's worth, bitch,” Lucky growled. Isabela rolled her eyes before looking at him, her expression full of mock-sympathy.
“Oh, you poor, sweet thing,” she cooed, moving almost as if to kiss him.
Instead, quick as a flash, she gripped his wrist there on the bar, and with her other hand knocked a blow to Lucky's head so hard that his face slammed into the bar countertop. He dropped to the ground, dazed, as one of his men rushed at her, grappling her from behind so that her arms were pinned behind her back—or so he thought. She jabbed an elbow into his solar plexus, making him groan and double over in pain, releasing her. Isabela barely ducked the third man, coming at her with an empty bottle, which missed her and shattered in a spray of glass when it hit the bar. Standing back up, she slugged him across the chin with a right hook, making him stagger backward. Gripping his arm, she kneed the third man in the stomach, and landed a few more solid punches to his face until he dropped to the tavern floor.
A triumphant smirk on her face, she turned back to the bar to see Lucky lurching back to his feet and drawing a sword from a scabbard on his back. Isabela was quicker, and had her dagger pointed at the soft pale skin of his throat before he even got his sword all the way out. He stopped, not daring to move, the sword still raised uselessly over his head.
“Tell me, Lucky,” Isabela asked in a casually menacing tone, reaching for the other dagger still sheathed on her back, “is this worth dying for?” Lucky wisely backed off as his men pulled themselves back to their feet, still groaning in pain. As the three of them scrambled toward the door, Isabela knocked back a long, deep draught out of her waiting mug.
“I didn't think so,” she chuckled to herself.
