Scouring ancient ruins for treasure had its fair share of appeals. To start with the most obvious one, there was a chance to come upon treasure. That is, assuming the ruins are off road and hidden, unknown or deemed to dangerous to venture into by most people. Said criteria certainly applied to the ruins Elissa was currently venturing into. The underground cave was gigantic, as if it had once been home to an entire town. The strange purple light lying in the air was alluring almost more so than frightening, tying into the second appeal of rummaging ancient ruins: The mystery, the sense of adventure, the thrill of discovery. The third appeal, particularly relevant for thieves and other types of scoundrels, was the lack of guards and other people of the law or do-gooders who just couldn’t help but get in the way. That’s how most would have put it. Elissa on the other than would have disagreed. To her, taking down guards, do-gooders or rivals, subduing, silencing and taunting them before making off with her loot was at least half the joy of her profession. In ruins there tended to be naught but a need for care for traps, be they remnants of the past or of the present or simply the possibility of falling down some dig due to a lack of care. Going up against human opponents was just so much more rewarding.

As such most would have felt annoyance, fear or anger when finding that, seemingly by mere chance, the ruin they were scouring already had another visitor. Elissa however felt a jolt of excitement. Amidst the ruins, within a circle of pillars on what once might have been a tower stood a woman. She was eyeing something in front of her, back turned towards Elissa. The thief watched her step as she quietly and carefully made her way over. At one point she turned around and Elissa just barely managed to hide behind a wall before being spotted. The other woman had black hair, fair skin and by the looks of her outfit a certain confidence to herself. The fact that she not only found this place, but dared to venture into it meant that she had to be taken seriously. At least to a certain extend. Not to where testing her newest tool would have been deemed too much of a risk to the thief.

Once close enough, Elissa held the tiny blowpipe to her mouth and aimed carefully. The dart was so tiny that most would barely even feel it. But the poison it was drenched in would quickly lead to a temporary paralysis, allowing enough time to either sneak past or further secure an opponent. The dark haired woman felt it immediately, pulled the dart out of her buttock, turned around, a dagger already in her hand.

Elissa who no longer had a reason to stay hidden openly walked towards her, a smirk on her lips. “Hey, honey! A beautiful day to go ruin scouring, isn’t it?”

The poison had already began taking effect so that no answer came. The woman dropped the dagger and fell to the stone floor, unable to move or speak.
“A useful tool indeed”, Elissa commented and held the blowpipe in front of her captive’s face. “All I needed to take you down.”
The woman could to nothing but stare back at her.

Elissa went on to frisk her for weapons, letting her hands wander around her captive’s arms, legs and waist. She found no fewer than four hidden daggers, all shaped in a way she hadn’t seen before. “How naughty”, she commented as she threw them off the cliff. “Now to make sure you stay docile once the poison’s effects reside.” She took some rope from her belt and flipped her captive over onto her stomach. The arms were tied securely behind the back, the legs were pulled together at the ankles and below the knees. “And since you seem to greatly enjoy being the listener while I remain the talker...” The rag found its way into the mouth and some tape its way around it just before the poison began to lose its power.

“I know, darling, I know. The floor must be uncomfortable. Come, I’ll help you up.” She pulled the woman upwards and pushed her against a stone altar, making her sit down on it. Then the thief sat next to her and put an arm around her shoulders as if they were best friends. “Since you still don’t seem particularly talkative, allow me to introduce myself: I am Elissa, the girl now in control of your fate. And you are... well, some bitch who just got defeated. Don’t you think walking around with your thighs revealed like that is a bit too daring, by the way? Well, regardless, I really have to thank you, you know? You made this little expedition of mine so much more enjoyable. I really should repay you.”

“Hey, what would you say about me fetching a rune-gag, coming back here with some extra restraints, trussing you up nice and tight and leaving you right where you are? Who knows how long it will take until someone else comes along down here? And who knows what they will do with you? A heroic prince who might free you... Or a shady figure who will sell you on the slave market? Perhaps something else entirely? One can never be sure.”

The woman’s glare made Elissa laugh. “Seems like you disapprove. It is settled then: That’s what we’ll do. But first, let me take a closer look at what you found here. It’s not like I came to this place exclusively to defeat and humiliate you, did I now? Though it was a rather nice distraction, I have to say.” She let go of her captive and proceeded to inspect the chest in the middle of the ruin.