Three things are immediately apparent about Damianos: that he is extremely large (by which I mean tall and muscular, but yes, he is large in all ways), that he has a lot of scars (one on his shoulder, one near his stomach, and then a whole horrifying tapestry of them on his back), and that he is completely indifferent to the fact that he's naked.
That isn't to say he's happy with the situation. He'd much rather have some armor and a weapon. But he's not self conscious. He moves with a fighter's grace, eyes sharp and wary. Any new person who approaches he sizes up as a threat, and while he won't attack unless provoked, he won't let his guard down either. He's naked, not stupid.
Mostly, anyway. Anyone who appears in need of protecting, he'll protect as well as he can and as long as he can. Things being how they are here, that might not be long, but dammit, he'll try. Do him a favor and assure him later that you're all right. He doesn't need the extra guilt.
II
Damen's been a captive before. He spent months as a slave and learned the hard way that going along with the captors who have you outnumbered and overpowered is much smarter than fighting them. You might get your chance to run if you cooperate. You won't if they keep you chained.
So he fully intends to go with the soldiers without a fight. Right up until he hears the crack of the whip and his vision whites out.
The next few moments are marked with a lot of violence, but when Damen comes back into himself, he seems hardly aware of what just happened. What's clear is that several soldiers are on the ground, and several more have whips around him. On his neck, on both arms, around his waist, on one leg. The soldiers are shouting, pulling on the ropes, but Damen isn't struggling. Not anymore. He can't. It's frustrating as all hell.
Later, he'll learn that his rage and panic kept him moving even when the magic whip first connected with him. The soldiers don't know whether they needed the extra whips or if it was just a matter of timing and letting him burn out.
III
They aren't taking any chances, either way. They keep him tied up with at least one whip at all times, hands lashed together except when he needs to eat or bathe, and they keep him under heavy guard when that happens. When they move, he's lashed by his wrists or neck to keep moving behind the cart. From what he can see of other resistant prisoners, he doesn't need to be half this trussed up. He's been marked as a problem, and they're treating him as such. Great. At least it's nothing new. He can survive this. He survived Arles. How much worse could it be?
"I won't run away," he tells one of the guards as they bind his hands together again.
They give him a hard look. "We know. Because you can't."
He doesn't mind the army rations or the thin bedroll. He may be a king, but he's Akielon, and he's also been a soldier and a slave. He can make do without luxuries. He would very much like to not be tied up anymore, though.
When the guards aren't directly supervising him he trains himself to resist the power of the whip. It's slow going, especially as he can only do it when there's no guards paying attention but sometimes, sometimes he can break free, just for a moment.
A moment can be enough, though, if he picks the right one.
Damianos of Akielos | Captive Prince | Champion
Three things are immediately apparent about Damianos: that he is extremely large (by which I mean tall and muscular, but yes, he is large in all ways), that he has a lot of scars (one on his shoulder, one near his stomach, and then a whole horrifying tapestry of them on his back), and that he is completely indifferent to the fact that he's naked.
That isn't to say he's happy with the situation. He'd much rather have some armor and a weapon. But he's not self conscious. He moves with a fighter's grace, eyes sharp and wary. Any new person who approaches he sizes up as a threat, and while he won't attack unless provoked, he won't let his guard down either. He's naked, not stupid.
Mostly, anyway. Anyone who appears in need of protecting, he'll protect as well as he can and as long as he can. Things being how they are here, that might not be long, but dammit, he'll try. Do him a favor and assure him later that you're all right. He doesn't need the extra guilt.
II
Damen's been a captive before. He spent months as a slave and learned the hard way that going along with the captors who have you outnumbered and overpowered is much smarter than fighting them. You might get your chance to run if you cooperate. You won't if they keep you chained.
So he fully intends to go with the soldiers without a fight. Right up until he hears the crack of the whip and his vision whites out.
The next few moments are marked with a lot of violence, but when Damen comes back into himself, he seems hardly aware of what just happened. What's clear is that several soldiers are on the ground, and several more have whips around him. On his neck, on both arms, around his waist, on one leg. The soldiers are shouting, pulling on the ropes, but Damen isn't struggling. Not anymore. He can't. It's frustrating as all hell.
Later, he'll learn that his rage and panic kept him moving even when the magic whip first connected with him. The soldiers don't know whether they needed the extra whips or if it was just a matter of timing and letting him burn out.
III
They aren't taking any chances, either way. They keep him tied up with at least one whip at all times, hands lashed together except when he needs to eat or bathe, and they keep him under heavy guard when that happens. When they move, he's lashed by his wrists or neck to keep moving behind the cart. From what he can see of other resistant prisoners, he doesn't need to be half this trussed up. He's been marked as a problem, and they're treating him as such. Great. At least it's nothing new. He can survive this. He survived Arles. How much worse could it be?
"I won't run away," he tells one of the guards as they bind his hands together again.
They give him a hard look. "We know. Because you can't."
He doesn't mind the army rations or the thin bedroll. He may be a king, but he's Akielon, and he's also been a soldier and a slave. He can make do without luxuries. He would very much like to not be tied up anymore, though.
When the guards aren't directly supervising him he trains himself to resist the power of the whip. It's slow going, especially as he can only do it when there's no guards paying attention but sometimes, sometimes he can break free, just for a moment.
A moment can be enough, though, if he picks the right one.