[IC] Spells in the Dark: The Shadow Queen (18+ For dark and suggestive themes)

[Dark Light]

Kill the Spyder

_{Concerning:@WeepingLiberty@Rune_Alchemist@Dark Light}

Arden

Arden gratefully accepted the gifts, his mind instantly wandering to all the alternative purposes he could use them for. He examined each item intently in hopes of uncovering some secret of their source.
The protective parchment interested him most even though the potion would prove beyond valuable in his circumstances.
He had little place to put them so was forced to simply hold them carefully.

Nymphadora's comment about secrecy brought a faint smile to Arden's face. He didn't have a reply instead giving an agreeing nod before turning to look at Celia.
He was getting... strange...vibes from her.

[Bright_Ops]

Draco Russ

Currently: In Seren's Folly (Outside)

Interacting:[@Who knows right now]

While his new ward and adoptive son were busy getting to know each other (even if it was only so that the former could help the latter deal with his little... problem), Draco himself had kept a sharp eye on the proceedings to ensure that this wasn't just some kind of ploy (alongside keeping an eye on some of the other hunters in the area in order to prevent anyone from getting any... ideas).

Instincts older then some of the people present caused him to look away from the scene in front of him and towards the Witches Paradise, his hand ignoring his pistol for the moment (largely due to the fact that he hadn't reloaded it from his last shot yet) and instead seeking out a weapon that had been by his side decade after decade. Saw-cleaver at the ready, Draco glanced back at the kids that he was watching over for a moment before sighing as he was forced to make a decision. "I'll be back in a moment... Keep an eye out and try not to get yourselves killed." His warning given, he stalked towards the Witches Paradise with purpose in his stride.

Before he could reach the inn, he witnessed the potion seller who had been... opportunistic (*cough* stupid enough *cough*) to try flogging her wares in the middle of an active battle with supernatural creatures... that was currently flying away on a broomstick with what appeared to be a crossbow bolt stuck in her thigh. He doubted that he would have the time to reload his pistol and take a shot before she was out of effective range...

Trusting that the situation in Witches Paradise would stabilise itself now that the witch was gone, Draco turned to walk back and rejoin the witch and adoptive son that he had left behind.

[Bishop]

The boy was perched atop the castle, admiring his handiwork from a high vantage point. It was a skill of every blood shaman from his tribe to be able to see blood from afar and through any object. But because he left prematurely, without completing his training on how to use the skills, he uses a blood stone to channel the ability. The stone helps to focus and channel his ability, something he can't do in his state.

And so he sat on the roof, and watched from above the circle of blood he had drawn around the castle grounds. The countless runes, also made of blood, spread throughout the trees and ground. Now depending on how many sacrifices one was willing to make in order to activate the cursive barrier, an intruder could get from a mild heart attack to a brain stroke. Countless days of nonstop preparations had finally come to an end, wand now for the easy part, getting human sacrifices. He would have to ask for the help of one of the witches inside the castle. Literally any witch had more fighting prowess than him.
That's when he noticed a wisp approaching him. Guess he had more work to do. They were professional slave drivers.

Climbing back down he entered the hallway, passed the monster while nodding his head to the witches present and then he arrived before the misstresses, his knee buckled has he came before Mirai and Rose. Kneeling on one knee, he spoke:"Wha..what do you require of me, mistress?"

[@everyone who knows where I am and where they are]

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Celia Mockett~

@WeepingLiberty@Dark Light

Celia stopped walking, as if studying the paper and walking at the same time would be too arduous of a task for her. She stared at it blankly for a few moments, quickly shoving it unceremoniously into her robes. Well, she'd use it but she wasn't too keen on it. She wasn't too keen on using magic at all, really, but she'd do it if she had too. The...creature got restless the more magic she used. She yawned, eyes drifting over to the vial, somewhat jealous. She wanted one. She could use the extra energy.

"...I'm hungry. Can we hurry up? I want food already." It seemed that Celia was at least motivated by the prospect of getting something to eat, even if the other two weren't entirely aware of what exactly she meant by that. She started walking again, though not for long before stopping near Arden. She turned her head towards him, noticing him staring at her again. Her dull grey eyes fixated on the male witch, blankly staring back.

"You smell funny." Without even giving him time to ponder what that could possibly mean, she started walking again. Ugh, she wanted this to be over with.

~Phoebe Longhurst~

@13org@Deos Morran

Now that the immediate threat had been taken care of, and the annoyance known as Nox had basically been told to shove off Phoebe had another important bit of business to take care of. Someone had the audacity to use magic right in front of a group of hunters. She had only let it slide because they didn't seem hostile, and there were more pressing concerns to attend to but now? Well, she was a hunter, and a hunter hunts. That's what they do, even if they don't want too.

She marched towards the odd creature, shoving roughly past a few hunters on the way. A few seemed less than impressed with her behavior especially since they were still trying to clean up a bit after the fight but it mattered not to her. She had one thing and one thing only on her mind. There was a witch among them - not only that, some sort of odd creature from the looks of it, and Phoebe didn't know anything about them. That was everything bad one could have when dealing with any sort of magical entity.

Her crossbow was in her left hand, and her right was poised to already pull one of her remaining firebombs from her belt should the witch try anything.

"You there, creature." Her voice was firm, and mildly hostile though not overly so. "I will go ahead and thank you for your help, but as a hunter and an agent of God I can not overlook your presence here. And while I would not like this situation to escalate more. Us hunters are a bit tired after these events. However," Her crossbow was raised towards Shai, eyes studying her with obvious scrutiny. "You will remove yourself from Serens folly, or I will do it with force"

Honestly speaking, anyone that had helped them Phoebe was willing to give a chance. However, her duty to both God and the Bastille saw to it that even if she didn't like it, she had a duty to do to keep normal, innocent men and women away from dangerous creatures such as witches and...whatever this thing was. If she had met the creature under any other circumstances as this, she might be inclined to at least be willing to hear her out, but this was suspicious anyway you looked at it and Phoebe wasn't keen on letting a potentially dangerous creature anywhere near some place she had been sent to to protect.

---

Tools

Firebomb x2
Holy water x2
Throwing knives x15
Nets x4
Bolts x10
Lavender and Wolfsbane

[13org]

Emmerich Jaeger

Interacting with:@WeepingLiberty

As Emmerich walked to the tavern, a familiar voice called his name, one he was longing to hear again.

"Emmerich was it, do you have a moment?"

"My brother wouldn't quit hounding me unless I came to talk to you. So I just wanted to extend my thanks for your assistance earlier."

"Of kourse i do, fräu Avalon. In fakt, I vas also searchink for you." he said with a smile.

"I... I believe zat you must be very konfused now, after seeink zat... side... of mine. I'm sorry about my indelicate behavior. Vell... Its not like i enjoyed zee dance, because i didn't, i mean i did enjoy zee dance but only because of zee killing or zee fighting but zee dance itself... beink vis you." He said, stumbling on his own words, blushing and being silent after it.

After an awkward silence, he regained his composure.
"If you decide to see me again, don't be konfused or alarmed. I promise I vill tell you mein sekrets." he quoted the phrase he said to her earlier. "I'm glad zat you came. And as i promissed, i vill tell you my story, if you desire to hear it, zat is." he said, looking to the night sky.

"I vas a scholar. I alvays loved knowledge. Especially sings i couldn't understand and science couldn't explain such as magic and supernatural phenomenon. Zese sings in particular interested me a lot. I found zem inkredibly interestink and intriguink. Sanks to zat kuriosity, I've decided to hide myself in a kave to observe a magik ritual from a powerful and vell known coven zat used zat place for rituals. Maybe trying to explain it using zee science.... I vas a fool... And soon learned zat some sings vere not for human eyes to see... I don't remember exactly vat i saw on zee ozer side of zee portal zee witches opened, but i felt true horror and fear. Until now, whenever i sink about it i feel somesing clawing at zee back of my mind..." he said in a serious tone. His eyes and expression appeared disturbed as he talked about the ritual.

"I couldn't handle zee sight and passed out. After zat, somesink woke up. Somesink zat, at zat time i sought zat it vasnt me. I could only vatch, impotent as it proceeded to kill an apprentice witch who vas left behind. I could see myself tearing her flesh apart vith my own hands... Zee blood splattering on my body as i did so with a terrible smile and an horrible laughter. As i tore her flesh and ripped her bones apart of her body, i could feel somesink deep inside me. Zee smell of blood, zee flesh and zee bones... I started to feel pleasure... It vasn't like zee pleasure vee feel ven drinkink a good wine, it vas somesink far more... primal."

"Ven i woke up again, i saw zee flesh, all zee blood and zee unrecognizable remnants of zat young witch... Near my i saw zat mask... zat terrible mask and zis sword i carry. Both made of zee bones of zee poor witch. At zat time, knew zat whatever zat think vas... it vas now part of me." he said, his eyes emotionless, he kept looking to the night sky, just like he was trying to lose himself in it and forget everything.

"Zee time passed. Zee first times zat i vatched my ozer side's cruelty i felt bad but at zee same time i felt strangely... happy. It vas a truly terrifying feelink at first. Zee problem is zat i stopped caring about vat i did. It vas good, it felt good. Zee sweet smell of blood in zee air, its taste in my mous as i bathed in it, zee flesh... zose sings talked to a more primal side of me, and i started caring only for zee pleasure of killing, not even feeling guilty anymore ven zee ozer side of me got out. I started to sink more and more like him, even vithout zee mask. I vas unable to feel anysink ozer zan zee pleasure of killing and torturing."

"Zat vas when all began. Vithout being able to stay too long in zee same place due to zee beast's hunger and zee rumors zat followed me i lived travelling. Looking for somesink, anysink zat could help me to balance my inner beast and my own self. Each day zat passed zee beast grew restless, it needed blood, I needed blood. It didn't matter how much i tried to supress it, it alvays kame out, and when it did... vell... you saw vat happens."

"Getting rid of it? You surely must be askink why i haven't got rid of him aren't you? Vell... if it vas possible i vould already have done, but as much as i tried to run or hide the fakt, zis beast is not only inside me... it IS me. But ven i met you, even as a beast i felt somesink." he said, looking directly to Avalon's eyes.

"After a long time, i vas able to feel somesink. As vee danced, i felt my heart palpitate, a strange varm feeling. Being near you vas better zan zee pleasure of killing or torturing. Zee vay you looked at me, not afraid by zee beast, but vith curiosity... I think i have fallen in..." he suddenly stopped talking. You could see he was about to say something, but he started to blush heavily and stopped looking at her, looking to the ground instead.

"Vith you, frau Avalon, i don't feel broken anymore. Zee beast calms down and i feel like i could... somehow be whole again, take both parts of my broken soul and conciliate zem, both zee beast and myself. You give me hope mein fräulein." he said with a heartwarming smile, looking at her again.

"I vish ve kould dance again, but a proper dance vis a proper musik. No blood, no enemies, no fight, just you and me. Maybe drink a good wine... " he said to her, obviously daydreaming.

"But i'm being very indelikate again, am i not? I'm sorry Frau Avalon. I don't know why but i feel safe near you. I feel like you are someone vis i could entrust all my sekrets and open my heart vis."

"I'm sorry by all zis... You probably don't vant to know about my ramblings and yet i just started to tell you my story visout you even asking anysink about it. I'm deeply sorry." he said with a deep bow, apologizing himself.

---

Shai

Interacting with:@Superboy@TheDoctor@Dark Light@Noxx@Deos Morran@Ellion@shagranoz@WeepingLiberty@Fetzen@Bright_Ops@Bright_Ops

"I think it might be a good idea for me to stick with you for the time being..." the other hunter said, standing protectively near Shai.

"Thank you... I appreciate. Although i wish it wasn't necessary, i know the danger i am by being near Seren's Folly." she said looking down, a little disappointed and sad with the situation "I don't know why, but i expected it would be different... But it was foolish of me to think so..." she said.

Concentrating again on the task of siphoning the hunter's magic out of him, she continued doing so. The heat ward she conjured with her cards should help her to protect her skin from the heat. It was a delicate job. She couldn't do it too fast because it would be dangerous to the hunter. She didn't know what was happening inside him, so she needed to be very careful with that strange magic that dwelled inside the man.

"I'll be back in a moment... Keep an eye out and try not to get yourselves killed." the other hunter said, heading to the tavern.

Although Shai was feeling safer for having someone near her, she knew that he probably had more pressing matters to attend to, so she just continued her work, hoping no one tried to attack her.

As she continued siphoning the man's magic she kept asking herself what was that thing inside him. She had never saw or felt such thing. Its magic was clearly not that man's own... It was filled with rage and hatred... It seemed to exist only to destroy...
Until she found out what was that thing and what was happening with that man, she would only be able to siphon his magic little by little.

"You there, creature." An hostile voice called Shai. While the hostility clearly startled her, she needed to be very concentrated due to the delicate procedure and tried her best to keep calm.

"I will go ahead and thank you for your help, but as a hunter and an agent of God I can not overlook your presence here. And while I would not like this situation to escalate more. Us hunters are a bit tired after these events. However,"
"You will remove yourself from Serens folly, or I will do it with force" The hostile woman said, pointing her crossbow to Shai's direction. Fighting herself to keep concentrated on the siphoning, she responded:

"I-i was only trying to help... If it wasn't for me, there would certainly be more casualties."
"The barrier i did was the only thing protecting the town while you were fighting. The orb that illuminated the battlefield was the thing responsible for your bodies feeling lighter and you moving faster than you normally would. What am i doing right now is a very delicate procedure and i need every tiny bit of concentration i can in order to help this man." she said. Althought you could perceive some notes on her monotone voice showing that she was afraid by the woman's hostility, you could clearly perceive that she was fighting to keep herself calm and concentrated.

"I'm helping you all, protecting you and even healing your wounded. I don't think that threatening me is the most honourable way of being grateful. Once i finish helping this hunter," she said with a pause, emphasizing the word hunter as best as she could without losing her concentration "I will get out of here. Don't worry. I'm already used to being reje-"
While she was talking, Shai was caught by surprise as a surge of magic erupted from the man in her direction. With a cry of pain, she felt the energy hitting her. A searing heat and pain came with the magic, pure hate and rage flowed from the man directly to her.
Thanks to the ward she put between the two, she was not burned with the heat, but the danger wasn't the heat itself... Shai is very sensible to magic and its flow due to her unique connection with the flow of magic itself.
Only being near black magic or other magic with similar "negative" nature were enough to make her very wary and tense. Absorbing them, especially when she wasn't prepared, not having even a minor ward to protect her against them was an entirely different thing.

She let out a cry of pain, falling unconscious over the man.
To anyone it would be very strange to see her in pain without having suffered any type of wound. But for those with knowledge of magic and how seers felt it differently from others, knew that she was experiencing a strong mental shock. The strong and negative aura that magic passed was too strong for someone who was already sensible to the nature of magic to handle without protection.

As she fell unconscious, the orb started hovering over her head, emitting a mild blue light with the cards and the dices spinning slowly around it.

[Dark Light]

@Ellion@Fetzen@WeepingLiberty

Kyzler the cursed hunter

---

(@ the Tavern )

---

"YOU LET HER GET AWAY!"

Kyzler screams furiously at the room, his face growing red. His accusatory evil gaze jumping from patron to patron. "and you, you useless fat mutt!" he shouts getting right up close in a drunk mans face. "I should hang you for your incompetences."
The man in question was one she made a fool of.

Ky left the dumbfound drunk and moved on pushing into a large man standing in his way, walking through him instead of around. Without remorse he returned towards his corner, still cursing with rage the so called hunters and the famous tavern along the way.
His mood was beyond foul, there was only two things he hated more than witches and one of them was a witch getting away.
His heart was still pounding in his chest, fresh with adrenalin from the short fight. He had come so close, yet his efforts were in vain. His grenades wasted for nothing.

As much as he used everyone else as an outlet for his rage, he held a large portion of disappointment for himself. Slamming his hands out on his work bench, leaning forward he took a deep breath. His eyes fell to the dead gnome lifeless on his table. In a flash the rage he tried to suppress resurfaced and his arm whipped around, blade in hand, he violently and repeatedly plunged it into the creatures chest creating a squelching spray of blood as he exerted all his pent up aggression.

With a groan as his attacks slow and arm tires he eventually stops. With the back of his bloody knife hand he smears the blood across his forehead as he wipes away the built up sweat. A sigh of relief sweeps his face and a playful warm grin takes his lips.
"So seems the wicked feels it ca' just stroll around this town freely. Gnomes and witches alike giving no respect to tha hunters."
He then pushes the mutilated body off the table to hit the floor with a heavy thud.
"Any of ya actually serious about sorting this problem come take a seat."
Ky pulls out a pipe from a strap on his chest and focuses on that instead of the room as he takes a seat and kicks his feet up onto the table puffing away.
"Beanstalk! So what was that count?

[Noxx]

Samantha

&

Hyestia

Loss of vision, control and overall loss of cognitive thought as Samantha fell through the trees breaking tree branches causing an overall ruckus, she wasn’t even conscious when she landed, her broom being made of magic was still intact but having hit the ground just as hard it wasn’t about to go anywhere anytime soon. Under normal circumstances, if this forest had actual life in it other than snakes she’d have been eaten if these were normal snakes she’d have at least been bitten and killed on the spot, however, as fortune would have it this wasn’t a regular forest nor were these normal snakes. Another disturbance in the forest, today was turning out to be the worst and the fact it was winter made it all the worse, pinching the bridge between her eyes the ancient creature made her way to the crash site and sighed shaking her head.

“Well, she didn’t come here by choice nor are there hunters after her, well kid you’re already doing better than those two brats who came here earlier,” she commented grabbing the poor child by her shirt, flinging her over her shoulder, making sure not to forget to get her broom “A witch riding a broom, how classical” she mused fading away into the lush forest foliage.

It took some time before Samantha regained consciousness looking down at the wound she received in the tavern, her entire upper thigh was covered in some type of green goo, it was soothing somehow and it seemed to react to the extreme heat of the area around her, speaking of which where was she. Obviously, she as laying in someone’s bed in an unknown home, the last thing she remembered was crashing into a tree the rest was all black. Slowly the young witch got to her feet finding it hard to stand being that she got cut up in her landing and her wound wasn’t healed completely, but that didn’t stop her from walking around the home itself picking up and inspecting different objects. If she weren’t so injured, she’d attempt to stuff these things in her pockets as quick as possible, but she’d have to come back for that.

“Finally, up are you?” a voice asked as Hissy walked into the room exerting a heavy pressure

“Did you save me?” Samantha asked

“Well, I did pick up your half dead ass after you smacked face first into my home” Hissy explained walking over to her cabinet, pulling out a couple of needles and glasses with plastic coverings “You had an interesting poison swimming around that body of yours, it took me longer than average to create a cure and even now its taking a while to fix you up” Hissy continued to speak filling up the syringe with the fluid patting the chair next to her for Samantha to sit down in.

“Um, yea a hunter decided to use me a target practice,” Samantha confirmed sitting in the chair wincing when she was injected with more of the cure

“Well, you’re alive, so consider yourself lucky I found you,” she hissed, taking the syringe from her shoulder dropping it in a bucket of liquid to purify it.

“Are you a witch?” Samantha asked, causing Hyestia to chuckle

“Something like that,” she replied taking a long sigh “As I've said I don’t get out much so that poison was something completely new to me so it’ll take time for you to be up and ready to do your regular activities” Hyestia continued to explain.

“Wait, so you’re telling me that you synthesized a cure from a poison that you’ve only just discovered existed today?!” Sam shouted with astonishment

“I’m very old and very smart girl, you don’t get to be my age without learning quick,” Hissy said turning around to face her patient who was crouched down on the floor in a bow

“Teach me”

[Fetzen]

I'm Beanstalk, not a witness of attempted suicide!

~~~ At the tavern ~~~
_{Mainly interacting with @Dark Light}

Jared had been sitting at the bar, innocently giving away his coins for something he had hoped would help him soften the negative impact of what had happened earlier this day when suddenly... all hell broke loose. It occured behind his back, but the loud sound of it made him spout the liquor in his mouth all over the place in front of him. Yet, having turned around on his stool, the sight of what happened made him think that Abigail probably would have other things to worry about than removing some sticky substance littering the table.

Like, for example, the entire mess caused by the rapid chain of events he had missed before turning around. The last thing Jared was able to see was some kind of woman - apparently a witch, given that he simply couldn't imagine any hunter pulling of such a show just for some conflict with one of his colleagues and that there were some other things around here hardly explainable without magic - limping out of massively damaged tavern and leaving on a flying broomstick.

Now that really had the quality to deteriorate the man's already severely impaired mood even more. He just had wanted to get himself drunk and an individual which should immediately be subjected to applicated darwinism (reason: too stupid to live) had utterly destroyed it. How many other hunters were around here who just had wanted to enjoy their victory over the gnome assault and have a good time ?

Yet... there was something else around here. Something that didn't match the smell of holy water, wolfsbane, lavender or alcohol. In fact one couldn't deny a striking similarity with the stench of eviscerated entrails, though there was a certain spicy note in it that indicated that it were non-human ent...

"Beanstalk!"

Given that there was noone else coming even close to eight feet, Jared immediately felt addressed by the callout. It came from a familiar direction, but the sight given when facing it was so ugly that he had turn away twice before finally being able to permanently look at it. Jared pulled up the facemask again as far as he could, the thing now almost reaching his eyes.

Glass of broken vials scrunched under his feet as he approached Ky. Needless to say that he didn't take the direct way, but one riddled with evasive maneuvers around whatever 'soft' materials and reddish liquids were lying on the floor. Luckily his hands were still covered in the leather gloves, so he could allow to brace himself at the table as he leaned over it, looking down at the other man.

"Zero. I think the count is zero. I've not yet beaten up any blithering idiots who were told to stop what they are still doing today. Though, admittedly, I'd still prefer leaving that witch to your elaborate handiwork than preventing you from continuing it with that gnome. Have I made myself clear ?"

[Ellion]

Payout and Bed Time

"I never met a witch that actually road a broom and was told that it was rather foolish," said Abby, picking up a stray mug that had been knocked over in the ruckus and cleaning it with a rag. "I was also told that it lead to blisters on the...well, I shan't say where," The was a calmness to her voice that seemed quiet unnaturally given the circumstance. "But it supposedly makes sex a lot less fun,"

She turned to the unharmed barrel, filling the cup with ale and placing in front of the tall man who was now sitting with the mess maker of a boy. "On the house, just this once for poor service," she said. Turning to the messy boy. "Clean it up, before you do anything else.

Turning back to the mess she said "Marcus, door first, then pop down to the Miller's and see if that not stupid daughter needs a bit of money to come help you clean this up," Glancing out the window. "It can perhaps wait till morn, the girl not the door,"

_{@Dark Light@Fetzen@WeepingLiberty}

[Deos Morran]

Lusius Mathand

@13org@Rune_Alchemist

Lusius was too hampered in his fight against the Burning Man to take part in the conversation between the dragon lady and Phoebe. Yet through his fight he was able to hear what was being said and while it didn't upset him particularly, he knew that Shai was helping him. He could feel the magic leaving him slowly and with what he saw it could be none other than Shai. Things took a strong turn when he felt the Burning Man unleash the flood gates of rage at her. The sudden action took Lusius by surprise preventing him from doing anything to stop it.

However, once he was recovered and he felt Shai leaning on him he grabbed her, making sure to not let her fall down or come to any more harm. It was then with Shai in his arms he turned his head to Phoebe, "I'll take care of it. As you can tell it won't be able to leave town now. I'll drag it into the woods so we won't have to worry about it anymore." He made sure to say 'it' to show Phoebe his sympathy for her view, just to avoid more conflict. He was still weakened from his internal battle and Shai was quiet literally unconscious, so while he knew she was an angel in disguise, Phoebe clearly didn't know that or want to accept that.

Reaching down he scooped Shai up in his arm, craddling her body close to his chest so that her head was pressed against his coated pectoral, so that way she wouldn't be lolling her head around. From there he started to walk off, heading away from the scene of the battle, the other hunters, and the town, taking her into the woods.

It was a bit of a trek and with the added weight of Shai Lusius was delayed in his destination, but he dutifully carried her through the tick, devouring woods to a small shack nestled comfortably in a small glade. The cabin looked... quaint. It wasn't anything to brag about, but it was well made and while it was small in side, it felt homely and comforting. A woodsman's stump lay outside, next to it up a few steps to a porch that had a shelter made over it to prevent rain and snow from ruining the large pile of firewood, ready for the stove as well as keeping the front door free of obstacles. A few shuttered windows dotted the exterior letting the owner close up his home should the weather get bad. A cobble stone chimney was built into the side of the wooden structure, yet no smoke billowed from it.

Upon heading to the door Lusius gently reached for the handle moving the thick, heavy wooden door open with a bit of effort to avoid disturbing the resting Shai. Upon entering inside Lusius revealed what was a rather gathered home. He had momentos from his hunts and life, yet no monster parts or trophies taken from witches. Instead it was mostly simple things like coins, stones, or even small pictures depicting those who joined him on his various adventures. Similarly in the common room was a place for one to hang their coats and boots to avoid growing stale from the cold dampness of the outside world. As well there was two chairs, beautifully crafted from what appeared to be fine wood and around said wood was a stuffed fabric to make sitting in them much more comfortable. Both were positioned in front of a cold fireplace at the base of the stone chimney.

Moving out of that room he took the sleeping Shai up some stairs that were tucked down a small hallway that led to what appeared to be a closet and a small storeroom. Though once they were up the stairs to the single room of the second floor it would be revealed that this is where Lusius both slept and maintained his studies. A desk was placed off of the landing to give plenty of room for navigating around. On it stood a few papers, some with notes, others to be written on later and a few candles to light his work in the night. Next to that was a series of bookcases and shelves, some filled fit to burst with books and other lined with more curios and oddities that he collected over his years and hunts some even looking magical in design. On the far end of the room was a rather large bed for one person to sleep on by himself and next to it a nightstand which also held a candle as well as a few books for some midnight reading.

Walking over to the bed Lusius laid Shai down on it, looking her over to make sure she was still ok and that she had no knew developing wounds. Once he was sure she was fine he took her hat and set it on the nightstand. With that he made the choice that she'd need to stay both dry and warm to better aid her rest he started to undress her, making DAMN SURE that he wasn't doing anything he shouldn't, trying to remove only the worst bits which only included her outer robes. Anything underneath he refused to touch or even look at less he be embarrassed about it later. Then with her damp and cold robes aside, hung up on a rack to dry he stretched his fur blankets over her, making sure she was nestled on his bed before be made his leave back downstairs.

Upon reaching the common room he started to build a fire, kindling it before igniting the flames to start warming the rather chilly cabin. With the cobbled stone running about the front wall it would start to grow comfortably warm fast. Yet there was more work to do and Lusius knew that there was more firewood to chop.

Heading to the door frame he hung up his thick traveling coat to leave onto his elegant winter clothes on to shield with from the frigid air. At that point he went outside, picking up his splitting ax and going to work, turning logs into chunks, and chunks into firewood.

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Phoebe Longhurst~

@13org@Deos Morran

What happened next, Phoebe was completely unprepared for. Phoebe wasn't entirely sure what happened, but one could rarely understand invisible forces of the devil. It was dangerous to even attempt such a thing, aside from being blasphemy. As Shai cried out in pain and reeled backwards the inquisitor instinctively recoiled as well, her crossbow remaining firmly locked on Shai, just in case as her right immediately went for one of her knives. After a few seconds of nothing happening, Phoebe lowered her guard.

This presented Phoebe with a rather difficult dilemma. The creatures words, she felt had been true even if she didn't entirely believe them. Plus, she earnestly did seem as though she wanted to help. Being a hunter for nine years, you started to pick up on things. Especially things from witches, and how they used ploys like this to garner sympathy. Make hunters lower their guards. She knew, really, in any other scenario she wouldn't think twice about doing something such as letting her live in this situation.

But her crossbow hesitated. It was an act she wasn't entirely used too.

"I'll take care of it. As you can tell it won't be able to leave town now. I'll drag it into the woods so we won't have to worry about it anymore."

"Hm-what?" For a split second, Phoebe wasn't entirely sure what she should do. This was not a situation she was used too. "W-wait? You intend to take it?" Phoebe watched him leave, contemplating what she should do as Lusius walked off. Duty, or forgo it and let a potential witch go free? She shook her head, latching her crossbow to her side and sliding the knife back to wherever it was kept in her armor. The man said nothing about disposing of it, only taking it to the woods.

"...Ugh, Lord, please don't let me regret this." She walked off after Lusius silently. He was already a bit of a ways away, but it wasn't hard for a hunter to track prey that wasn't attempting to hide themselves. She said nothing, though, only watched for signs of trickery when he arrived at what appeared to be his home. It wasn't until he came back out, did Phoebe decide it was best to approach.

"You either didn't know I was following you, or you didn't care and didn't try to lose me." Phoebe said, walking up. "Hm. Quite a quaint little place you have here, isn't it? Perfect hiding spot for a witch or her thrall. Close enough to town, but still rather secluded. I hope you are not the latter, then?" She let her words hang in the air for a moment, though quickly cut off any reply that he might have had. "I will be perfectly honest with you. Personally speaking, all creatures such as her should not be allowed to walk on Gods Earth and if it wasn't for its obvious help earlier, I would have already taken those...whatever they are she has, as a trophy to bring back to the Bastille. I don't trust that thing, and I do not think its continued existence will ever bring anything good."

She fixed Lusius with a serious look, frowning slightly as she folded her arms across her chest.

"Even my personal prejudice aside, as an inquisitor of the Bastille, I can not simply let such an unknown creature knowingly stay close to town." She looked to the ground, seeming to hesitate with her words as if she was still attempting to come to a decision about something. "So, my hands are a bit tied. I would like to leave without any harsh words between us. You seem like a decent hunter. Skilled, at least somewhat. It would be a shame for us to come to blows since it could harm a potential alliance in the future. So I will ask you as bluntly as I can. You are not under any sort of...influence from the creature? It indeed, will be gone by midday tomorrow through whatever methods you deem appropriate?"

She asked for a number of reason. It wouldn't be the first time some witch cast some...spell on a hunter to beguile them into working for them, even against their will. Whatever doubts she may have had, hopefully he would say yes, and follow through on making sure she was gone.

---

Tools

Firebomb x2
Holy water x2
Throwing knives x15
Nets x4
Bolts x10
Lavender and Wolfsbane

[Deos Morran]

Lusius Mathand

@Rune_Alchemist

While Lusius left his home, he caught sight of the familiar face of the Inquisitor. Of course he knew somebody was on his tail, but given who he'd been talking to and how he wasn't attacked nor was he approached during his trek it wasn't hard to guess by who. Regardless of who it was he continued on his woodcutting path, taking his ax and swinging away to create more firewood. Meanwhile she saw fit to speak to him, lecture him, and of course ask to see if he was enthralled by the dragon woman. Being said Lusius could understand why. One of the favorite tricks of witches was to seduce, beguile, and of course make thralls out of others to enslave them.

"I knew you were there. I just didn't care that you were following me. Thank you for your compliment of my home, I worked hard to build it." Said Lusius, answering her first bit before she said her rest. "Are you're right it would make the perfect hiding spot. That's why I picked it so far out of town. I wouldn't want to hurt anybody by accident."

At this stage Phoebe started to berate Shai's type and again Lusius understood. Her kind, the magical and monstrous kind were a threat to humanity and their way of life. That's why there were hunters, that's why Lusius WAS a hunter. "I understand, I don't trust her either. I'm clearly not as fervent as you, but I disagree with it's existence bringing more harm. At least in the immediate future. Nor will I promise that she will be gone. She has something I want and I intend to get it."

That was when her big question came out, 'are you corrupted.' Of course he knew it was coming. After all it was only natural, he probably acted like he was aligned to the dragon girl, even if he wasn't. "I assure you I am under my own mind." Lusius started, assuring Phoebe that he was unaffected by Shai. But when she was done talking he continued, pulling his ax up high and sinking it into the stump, planting it firmly. At that stage he left the ax behind and approached Phoebe, rolling up his left sleeve to reveal his pure silver bracer that was locked onto his forearm. "Do you want to know why I wear this?" He asked, though his question was almost rhetorical as he just continued to say, "I wear it to keep me and everyone around me save, but also to remind me who the real monsters are. That there are creatures in this world that must be destroyed lest what happened to my home happen to other's homes. I am not turned. I am a hunter in the service of mankind, wishing to see the monsters of our world gone so that humanity, pure humanity, can finally live in peace. I hope that's enough to convince you I'm on your side. I don't want to make an enemy of you, we're fighting the same battle after all." From there Lusius turned away from Phoebe and picked the ax back up, yanking it free from the stump and placing another piece of fire wood on teh stump to spilt.

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Phoebe Longhurst~

@13org@Deos Morran

"I understand, I don't trust her either. I'm clearly not as fervent as you, but I disagree with it's existence bringing more harm. At least in the immediate future. Nor will I promise that she will be gone. She has something I want and I intend to get it."

Regret.

That was the only thing she felt. She had tried, really. Tried to tell him as bluntly as possible without breaking any of her oaths or ideals, if she was not here tomorrow then she would cease any attempt to hunt the creature, whatever it was. Fervent? Certainly, she had been called that many times. Fervent could describe the entire Bastille - but rarely ever to an extreme point. Certainly some were overzealous in their pursuits, but such people often led short lives and hunters. One had to remain skeptical, even towards what they were hunting on the off chance they were wrong about the target, as rare as it might be.

As Lusius continued to speak, she said nothing. Merely stared at him with the same stern frown she had been the entire time. A silver bracelet? Proof he was a hunter. He was a hunter, certainly, but there was no way she could really know for certain that his mind was his own, was there?

...she might have to kill another innocent, mightn't she? That thought was always one that plagued her mind, ever since the first time she had done it. That was the only thing she could do here, wasn't it? She had long since learned that if you received an order you didn't like, you had two options. Resign, or go through with it regardless. Her hands fell to her side as he finished speaking. She hadn't been listening, really. Something about his home and not wanting anything to end up like it again. It was nothing but the meaningless voice of a possible beguiled hunter.

She shoved such thoughts out of her head. It wasn't getting her anywhere. A hunter hunted.

"...I see." She replied. The inquisitor turned around, taking a few slow steps away from the house to put a bit of distance between her and Lusius. Not much, but enough to make her feel more comfortable.

As he seemingly went back to chopping wood, Pheobe's hands went for the final two firebombs she had. There would be no more convincing. She had tried, really, but she couldn't think of anyway to go about this. The threat of something happening was just too great. She turned back to face him.

"It is good, really. You seem like a good sort...When I was young, my parents were killed by witches. I almost was too. Sacrificed to summon some sort of demon." pulled the strings on both of them, and in one swift motion tossed both of them towards the house. One towards the window in hopes of getting it inside, and one towards the opposite end of the house. Upon impact with their respective targets, bombs burst into flames. Unlike in the clearing where the burning fuel was mostly the gnomes and their bodies, the only fuel these would have, was the cabin. "So you'll understand why I'm doing this, then."

Her left hand immediately went to her crossbow, and her right poised to draw her sword in case he retaliated in some manner. A bolt had already been loaded in it and was ready to fire should she have need of it. As much as she didn't like the idea of possibly harming someone who wasn't a bad person...she could not let her own misgivings get in the way of the potential safety of others.

Tools

Holy water x2
Throwing knives x15
Nets x4
Bolts x10
Lavender and Wolfsbane

[Dark Light]

@Ellion@Fetzen

Kyzler the cursed hunter

---

(@ the Tavern )

---

"For gods sake boy! The air thin up there? Numbers matter. Ky snaps back, his tone harsh but the slight smirk in the corner of his mouth telling that he found something humorous.

He pauses to suck on his pipe, still kicking back with his feet up and chair balancing on two legs. He looked to the messy gnome that the hunter referred to. He had gone a bit overboard.

"Bigger fish my friend." he continues calmly without looking up. "Sure that one needs to die, and shamefully we all wear on our shoulders the souls of the deceased that she and her kind go on to take because of our failings."

He takes a pause staring into nothingness with a vacant gaze.

"But witches like her will come and go, mere dabs of dirt in the long pages of history.
No, killing her won't change the balance of things. The witch I hunt is leagues beyond her. The head of the snake, orchestra of the puppets, an encourager, grower and protector of witch kind. A coven leader."
Ky settles his chair and leans forward speaking in soft tones.

"I wish none other than to end the witch known as Rose, and will stop at nothing! Even gladly trading my life to that cause..."

"...Because that is a cause worth dying for, new generations of witches easy for the picking without the guiding mother. It would be the first step among many to taking our world back."

Ky's face is wrought with emotion and deep thought, he sits back and traces the lines of the holy cross against his chest as he looks out over the room.
His conviction had caught the ear of some of the other patrons who looked to him with a growing interest.

[Deos Morran]

Lusius Mathand

@Rune_Alchemist @13org

Lusius was busy chopping firewood, idly listening to Phoebe until she spoke of her parents being killed by witches and how she herself was almost killed by a demon. In truth their stories were close together and that made him have some sympathy for her. He could understand her pain and know what she was feeling, that need for revenge and why she wished to strike at the monsters of this world. Turning to face her, ready to speak with her about their similarities he watched as she reached for her firebombs, pulling the strings. As if dumbstruck he watched her wind back to throw the bombs and as if watching in slow motion he yelled out, "No! Don't!" Running at her to stop her, but it was too late and he watched as the firebombs were thrown over his head, watching in horror as the weapons were hurled at everything he had. Thankfully his windows were shuttered closed to help keep the heat of his fire in which made the firebomb aimed at his window strike and crash against the outside. Regardless that meant the fire washed over the front wall of his home. Again, thankfully the cobble stone chimney kept a portion of the fires away but even then that didn't mean his home was safe. As the second crashed down also on the front of his house, but against the far end of the wall he turned around, throwing the ax away so that he could charge full speed into his home, calling out back to Phoebe, "You fucking whore!"

Ripping open the door he ran inside, grabbing his coat off of the rack he started to pad out the fires, smothering them with his thick and heavy winter coat trying to save his entire life. It was in this moment he was grateful that he made him house flame retardant, planning for his condition should he have another episode. Of course that didn't mean he was safe immediately, but it gave him time. Continuing to wash out the flames he knew he had to do something more to save not only his home but also Shai. Running to the kitchen that was built off of the common room he drew his sword and after opening the cupboard to the water cistern he took a sword at it, letting a heavy clang of metal ring out through the house before taking another swing, and another, and finally on the fourth swing he cut through the metal to let the water spill out, washing through his kitchen and then his common room keeping the low flames out, but before he let it all wash away he grabbed a pail and scooped up a bucket full running over to the door where he began dumping bucket after bucket onto the flames that here licking up the side of his home.

Still progress was slow and despite his quick efforts to staunch the flames they were burning through the front side of his house. Yet still he didn't give up and in a quick moment he took a break from splashing water over the flames to sprint upstairs fearful for Shai's life at this point as the bed was near the front side of the house. Running over to her he reach down picking up the girl and carrying her away from the burning wall and downstairs quickly and running outside. With her safe and outside the building he charged back in, leaving her in the cold open air, but atleast she wasn't in a burning building.

It was at this point that Lusius started to get the flames under control, washing them with water and smothering them with his now ruined coat. With a few more tense minutes he finally had them all out, but at this stage the damage was already done. Almost the entire front wall of his home, including his porch, the roof over it and part of the second floor was burned through, leaving a giant hole in his home.

Taking a minute to himself he paced and fumed, furious with that whore Phoebe. Deep down inside he felt the Burning Man clawing at him, using Lusius' own rage to fuel and influence him. Once agian his skin started to sizzle and crackle, burning with rage and fury for that worthless bitch. She was going to pay and pay dearly... Convicted to end her life he gripped his silver bracelet firmly, unclasping it and turning around to chase after her, but that was when he saw her. Shai was lying there propped up against a tree both unconscious and naked. In that same moment he calmed, she calmed him and he knew that he had to take care of her as she took care of him. Even if she was the cause of this. Slowly he reclasped his brace and the Burning Man was furious! He was so close to escaping, ready to charge into the world and ravage it, burning, destroying, razing, but now! Now he was contained once again. Yet the Burning Man had another plan... the seed of hate was planted... now it needed to be tended so that whent eh time was right, he'd be unleashed onto the world once again.

Lusius went over to Shai, gingerly reaching down to pick her back up, craddling her in his arms once more he took her back inside the now cold building. Even the fire in the fireplace had gone out, leaving them without a heat source, but he'd make due. For now he was just glad that he didn't lose everything... or lose Shai. Taking her back upstairs he was happy to see that while he had a hole in the lower wall, near the bed, the bed remained unburnt. Putting Shai back on the bed and tucking her in once more. Then he went back outside, turning around to look at the damage. In truth it wasn't that bad. His common room was destroyed, his porch was just gone, his wall had a gaping hole in it, his firewood store was present but either so charred or just ashen that it wouldn't be useful. Thankfully his stone fireplace was undamaged, coated in ash, but undamaged. Regardless he paced for a minute before yelling as loud as he could, "Fuck!" Letting his word echo around the forest before he settled down, regaining his composure and returning to his burnt home. He'd have to get started on the repairs soon if it was to be fixed up by the time the first Winter snows start to fall. Picking back up his ax he figured now would be a good time to start removing the charred wood. Heading back down the hallway to his storeroom he picked his saw, hammer, pry bar, and the ax from outside. With his tools in hand he went back to his ruined common room sitting down on a black and charred piece of what was once a beautifully crafted rocking chair. Hanging his head trying to manage his grief. He couldn't help but think of how his last home perished and how his new home, all his worldly possessions, and the last vestige he had that he could call his home was just burned. True he spared some of it, but even then to see a repeat of the fires that are capable to level his home was not something he ever wanted to see again. Work could wait a few hours, for now Lusius just wanted to grieve.

[WeepingLiberty]

Marcus

~~~

The man's eyes snapped to the man in the back as he sensed a shift in the air, the kind one learned to pick up on around armed drunkards. Instinct on the mark, Marcus shoved one of the nearby patrons back so that they'd be clear of the man's attack on the girl while he himself ducked back behind the counter to stand between Abby and the danger. Just as the man had predicted, the girl causing the trouble was a witch, conjuring winds that attempted to rip the very structure away... A feat easier said than done considering the effort the town put into their anti-hexes. Ultimately the woman ended up retreating which left behind a rather irked hunter who decided his anger was better directed at the creature he had been torturing moments before he flipped around.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Marcus groaned at the image before him. It was a lot of work, work no doubt about to be pushed on to him by the ever charming Abigail. He listened with a grain of amusement to the elder woman's comments about the broom riding witch, not all that surprised at her words by this point. Usually he would have some sort of witty or flirty retort to throw her way, but with all of the work he knew to be done, the extra energy just wasn't in him.

Marcus scratched the back of his head surveying the damage as Abby finally got around to addressing him, giving him the orders he knew to be coming... Though there was an extra tag on he was not quite expecting. "Yeah, waiting until morning might be for the best... After what happened last time, I doubt he'd appreciate me knocking on his door at this hour for his daughter." He chuckled remembering the unfortunate misunderstanding that arose between him and the Millers man. Turning to the group, hey eyed each on in turn with a stern look. "If any of you muscle heads give Abby any more trouble tonight, you'll find yourself as the new replacement for the door. Understand?" He growled before ducking into the back to collect some supplies to fix the door. In all, it shouldn't take him more that a couple of hours to fix it... But that was assuming their wasn't any significant damage to the frame or door itself. Sighing heavily, Marcus mentally prepared himself for the annoyance before him.

@Ellion@Dark Light@Fetzen[@Dudes In Tavern]

---

Avalon

~~~

Well, the last thing she had been expecting when she approached the odd man was a recount of his entire life's story... However she would have been lying if she claimed disinterest. The tale he told was intense to say the least, and Avalon had no idea whether she should be frightened or sorrowful by it; she settled for a mixture of the two. After all, how could one process so much information at once? She had a hard time believing that the man standing before her had, at one point in time, been a scholar having always pictured them as spineless idiots hiding behind hunters for protection. This man was a warrior, albeit a slightly barbaric one, but he fought like a hunter... He was driven to being a hunter because of whatever it was that he had seen during that ritual. Morbid curiosity pushed her to seek more information about the ritual itself, however she knew it to be in poor taste and thus held her tongue.

Her body tensed as his eyes locked on with hers, his voice filling the space around them as if it were the very air itself. "After a long time, I vas able to feel somesink. As vee danced, I felt my heart palpitate, a strange varm feeling. Being near you bas better zan zee pleasure of killing or toruring. Zee vay you looked at me, not afraid by zee beast, but with curiosity... I think I have fallen in..." Silence ensued as Emmerich ceased speaking, yet she found herself unable to look away even once he had. Even as he began rambling on again, Ava couldn't easily tear herself away from the words that had almost been said. Next she knew it, he was bowing before her in apology snapping her out of her daze. Immediately her face was three shades brighter, spinning around to face the complete opposite direction from Emmerich as she attempted, poorly, to steady her voice.

"Ha, you're hardly the first beast I've encountered. Did you think Leo was always this well behaved? Y-you couldn't scare me if you tried." An image flashed through her mind, Emmerich's words ringing in her ear as if reminding her of what had been uttered... As if she could forget. A small smile curved her lips, the kind that radiated warmth behind the eyes. It wasn't an expression worn often by the warrior woman, and had Kyrso seen it he would never have let her live it down.

Slowly turning back around, Avalon finally faced Emmerich once again, hints of the smile still left in her features. "All my life I was trained to be a hunter. Fighting, killing; it's in my blood and really all I know... I guess what I'm trying to say-" She mumbled, eyes focused on nothing in particular as they glanced sideways. "-is that learning how to dance for real might be fun."

@13org

Kyrso

The goofball contemplated waiting around for Avalon to finish talking to the stranger however it seemed that he had quite a lot to say. Chuckling, Kyrso dusted himself off and called Leo to attention. Making their way through the town, Kyrso traded their kills for the money and spent the rest of the time wandering around a bit. It was the first time the small group had ever been to Seren's Folly before, having heard about it from other hunters along their travels. It was said to be at the base of a mountain containing the ruins of a witch held keep, once belonging to one of the most well known covens to ever walk the Earth. Granted it had been quite some time since anyone had noted any activity from the Bloodrose Coven, but many a hunter seemed to think there was some kind of storm coming.

Kyrso never put much stock in the stories, as it really wasn't of much interest to him. He was here simply to look after his sister. If she wanted to pursue the idea he wasn't going to stop her... But he wasn't exactly going to encourage her either. Deciding to return back to the tavern from before, he was astonished to see it in such a state. Some how he had completely missed the commotion caused by a witch within the confines of the town. Scratching the back of his head, he ducked inside curiously, leaving Leo to wait outside patiently. "I feel like I've missed out on the party. I take it the target escaped." He chuckled, sinking down at the bar gratefully. "Hey, just let me know if you need any help with that. Seems like I'll be here for a little while longer." He offered to the barkeep.

@Ellion@Dark Light@Fetzen[@The Rest Of The Tavern]

---

Nymphadora

~~~

Nymphadora sighed, this was going to be an interesting time indeed. Suddenly she stopped moving altogether, the echoes of her footsteps fading into nothing. Holding her hand up, she motioned for the group to be silent... Not that it would be very hard for Ceilia as she'd noticed. There was something just beyond their current position, the view blocked by the curved staircase that would lead them down to their final destination. Whatever creature was down there, she wasn't particularly thrilled to encounter it. Pulling out a couple of bottles, she held two yellow in her left hand and one light blueish solution in her right.

Shaking the blue liquid gently, the bottle began to softly glow. Holding it out in front of her, Nymphadora began walking once again, though this time a lot more carefully than she had before. Silently she made her way down the stair case which opened up at the bottom into a massive hall. How such a structure could fit without being noticed was beyond her, but it was certainly the least of her worries. The cavernous space before them was near pitch black, the soft light from her makeshift lamp only enough to light the small space around the trio.

The only sounds she could make out was a disembodied dripping sound and the light breaths being taken from herself as well as her companions. For a moment she almost considered the possibility that Rose had been messing with them, sending them off on some wild goose chase... But she could sense it. Somewhere in the room, somewhere close by.

Jumping into action, Nymphadora grabbed Arden by the shoulder and yanked him out of the way as a large object slammed down where he was standing, seemingly out of nowhere. Springing to life from the motion in the room, torches began lighting up the space to reveal the hideous creature they had come for. Somewhat a spider, some bit a centipede, the creature had no eyes but certainly a mouth large enough to devour the group without issue.

"What magnificence! Did a witch really create you? The design could use a fair bit of tweaking but incredible all the same. The sheer size... " Nymphadora couldn't help but be slightly amazed at the creature. Such magical prowess was beyond anything their small gathering of witches could conjure... It was true, olden magic. How much of it was original design and how much was just the allowed time to grow was unknown but it didn't matter much to her. That's when she noticed it, the source of the dripping sound. Falling from the monster's mouth was a green tinted liquid that sizzled when it hit the ground. "And venom, how extraordinary." She carried on, having to scurry out of the way of another jab from one of its long legs. "Such a shame to have to dispose of it." Nymphadora sighed, stuffing the blue bottle away to palm a yellow one into each hand. "Alright then, who's ready to get to work?"

@Rune_Alchemist@Dark Light

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Phoebe Longhurst~

@13org@Deos Morran

"You fucking whore!"

She gazed dispassionately at the soon to be burning house, watching as Lusius rushed inside in an attempt to smother the flames. She was confident that he wouldn't be able to put it out. Or at least, if he did she would be long gone with no knowledge of it.

"If you have the devils luck and are able to make it out of there alive," She called out, though whether he heard her or not was up for debate. "Make sure I never see her in Seren's Folly again, or I will be forced to kill her with my own hands." She turned to leave, heading back to Seren's follow with a grim frown. "And I'd really rather not..." Quietly, she made her way back to Seren's Folly, not looking back towards the burning home.

It didn't take the inquisitor long to reach the outskirts of the city. She briefly entertained the thought of going to the bar, but drinking wasn't particularly her style. Besides, she had a report to write up and send back to the Bastille...not to mention let the priest know she had returned. So she walked by the tavern, back to the church. Once inside, she headed upstairs to her lodging.

Sleep wasn't something that came easily, that night.

~Celia Mockett~

@WeepingLiberty@Dark Light

Celia followed Nymphadora down the stairwell, silent steps carrying her behind Arden. There was definitely something down there. She could smell it. A horrid smell that made her somewhat sick. Whatever it was, it reeked of magic and the spirit grew restless. It wanted it gone. She could hear it. The dripping of liquid, a putrid, venomous smell? Venom? Of course, she didn't tell her so called allies this. They'd find out soon enough and she would simply waste her breath with explaining. Still, she was curious. What horrible abomination lurked at the bottom?

As they reached the pitch black hall, Celia's eyes couldn't make out much but the smell was stronger here. Something was definitely there, shifting in the blackness, but before she could ponder a large object came flying towards Arden. The there was light. Celia recoiled back from the sudden light of the torches - she had never particularly done well near fire. If anything, she was downright terrified of it, especially if it just showed up out of nowhere. At least they were just torches used for light. Focusing her senses back on the creature instead of the flames, Celia gave it as passive of a look as she gave anything else. She only had two, very important questions about the creature.

Was it delicious? Could she eat it?

"...not me." Celia replied to Nymphadora's question. Not that she really had much of a choice in the matter at the moment. She brought one of her wrists up to her mouth. She needed something to work with, after all, and she had plenty of blood to spare. Teeth tore into her wrist, ripping a gash in it as she armed herself to the best of her current ability. The sweet, intoxicating substance filled her mouth as the sweet smell of her blood started filling the room.

She hoped this would be over relatively quickly or things might get...troublesome.

[13org]

Emmerich Jaeger

"-is that learning how to dance for real might be fun."

Upon hearing those words and looking at that shy, almost imperceptible smile the expression she made, the sweet way she turned away from him, Emmerich let out a bright smile.
"I'm... so very glad to hear zis." he said with the most heartwarming smile you ever saw.
"Avalon..." he started to say putting his hand over his heart.
It was a weird feeling for him. A warm feeling in his heart whenever she was nearby. The wish of protecting and taking care of her. Right now, that woman's smile was everything in the world for him.
"Avalon I... I sink I fell in love vis you." he said, his hand gripping his heart as he looked to her eyes. His expression emanated happiness, the most sincere and pure joy.
"It may not be as romantik as I wanted, or as much as you deserve, but vould you accept accompanying zis foolish irremediable romantic on a dinner?" he asked, extending his hand. "Zey said zee food at zee tavern is very good, and zey have some nice drinks too." he said looking at her.
"As you may have realized... I'm not zat experienced vis relationships... But I vould like to know more about you." he said, trying to hide his nervousness, rather unsuccessfully.
"Erm... Could I ask one more thing of you?" he asked, nervously
"If you let me, I vould like to stay by your side... I vanted zat zis moment, zis happiness zat I am feeling to last forever, or at least until vee need to fight again, vis I vould gladly do it by your side."

@WeepingLiberty

---

Shai

Shai awoke with the smell of freshly burnt wood with a gasp.
Breathing heavily, she looked around, still wary about the smell and the feeling of fury and rage she felt after what happened in the town. Judging by the sounds and the calmness, they were a good deal far away from it.
She didn't know who saved her, but it was kind enough to tuck her comfortably in a bed, although she was naked.
If this person wanted to hurt her, they would had a lot of time to do it. The fact that she was still alive was more than enough to trust this person.
Getting up from the bed and using the blankets from the bed to hide her nudity, she began to walk around the house, looking at the destruction the fire caused. She wasn't sure what was the cause of the fire, but it destroyed quite a bit of the once beautiful house.
Getting to the common room, or what was left of it, she met the man she was helping at the town. With a set of tools near him, he was sitting down on the charred remnants of a chair. His expression was one of extreme sadness, the expression of someone who lost everything and had no hope left.
"Thank you... For saving me." Shai said, breaking the silence.
"I'm... sorry for what happened to your house. I don't know what happened, but don't be like that... please. I can help you to fix it. Maybe it will turn out to be better than it was before." she said, trying to cheer up the man.
"My name is Shai by the way. I don't believe we had the chance to introduce ourselves after everything that happened back at the town." she said stopping speaking for a while.
Looking around the destroyed common room she saw the remnants of trophies, photos, and an entire life, now destroyed by the fire.
After an awkward silence, she turned back to the man.
"I can't say I know the feeling of losing my possessions and memories... because I never had a place I could call "home" for too long, always moving around. But one thing that I learned from this is that although losing things or leaving them behind is painful, its the only way so we can build new things, be they good or bad. Maybe you could even find more happiness upon losing everything than you ever had before." she said with a soothing voice.
"I know its painful, but if you think like that, its not that bad." she smiled to him. "We have a lot of work to do, if you let me help you, of course... I can even cook something for you if you get hungry, or help you with my magic..."
It was sure an... exotic view. A hybrid girl, standing there only with blankets hiding her body, her ears and tail standing out like a sore thumb as the later moved around behind her, slowly coiling around her legs as to hide her body and prevent the wind from making the blanket fly away. Although it was very weird, the thing that drew most attention was the girl's sweet smile.

@Deos Morran

[Deos Morran]

Lusius Mathand

@13org

Lusius was busy moping and hoenstly just feeling horrible about this whole thing. Not that he did anything wrong, btu what had come of it. Maybe that was the worst part too... He only wanted to do good and in his eyes he still did, yet fate and others would deem punishments for him that he didn't deserve. Even with what he saved and still had left it hurt. Why should he be punished for his good deeds? Unless it was a punishment given to him for what he was... Sure Phoebe didn't know but some other force may and it could be striking at him, hurting him.

That was when he heard Shai walk gingerly up behind him, speaking in her soft tones to him. She really did have a beautiful and calming voice, but even that wasn't enough to pull him up from this rut. After all this was her fault just as it was his. In fact if he didn't bring her to his home then that crazy bitch wouldn't have attacked it. At that moment he wanted to reel around and throw all of these misfortunes on her. Rising to his feet he said in an angry tone, "You want to know what happened! You happened! That crazy bitch Phoebe came here for you and did this to kill you!" With those hurtful words said he turned away from her putting a hand on his forehead and pacing around, not wanting to even look at her. Yet as she continued to speak he knew this wasn't her fault... not at all. She couldn't help who she was and she helped him, not only that she helped save Seren's Folly. It was himself that made the mistakes, hurting Shai and making her vulnerable when she was helping him, leading Phoebe to his home, not killing Phoebe when he had the chance...

In that moment he turned to her, "I'm sorry. This isn't your fault. You are not to blame for any of this." Then came the awkward silence, leaving the opened house dead for words until Shai spoke up again, talking about losing possessions and how losing the past may be able to bring a brighter future. In fact that was something he'd never thought about. All his life he let his past haunt and torture him, but he'd never be able to let it go, not even now. He wanted to, but he couldn't do it... not alone. That was when she offered her help. Not with letting go of his past, but with his home, help rebuilding what he lost so that he could move forward instead of wallowing in self pity.

Letting out a pained sigh he walked towards Shai, trying to keep his eyes from drifting anywhere they shouldn't, but her warm smile made his task much easier. She was beautiful, even with a tail... "I would... I uh... I would very much like your help." He confessed, glad to have her on his side, "But uh... Maybe we should find you some clothes first..." He continued awkwardly trying not to come off as a pervert over the whole... being naked thing.

[Bright_Ops]

Draco Russ

Currently: Outside Seren's Folly

Interacting: @Deos Morran@Rune_Alchemist@13org

Stalking through the forest outside of Seren's Folly at speed, Draco's eyes narrowed as his mind raced with horrible possibilities.

The moment he had returned to where Lusius and the dragon tailed witch had been and seen them both gone he knew something was up; The fact that the fire using zealot was missing as well only worsened his suspicions. Asking around the few people that remained to find out what had taken place, the old hunter felt a sense of worry in his core as he hoped he would arrive at the home of his adoptive son in time. While it had been a few years since he had made the walk to Lusius's home, it was a poor hunter who couldn't follow the recent trails created by humans passing through the woods.

It was only when he came to the edge of the clearing that a cold knife stabbed itself into his heart. He couldn't smell the smoke but he could see it rising from the burnt remains of a building that he had helped up make some time ago... The hole where the front door used to be proved insightful as it showed Lusius and the dragon tailed witch both alive and well... through she seemed to be wearing a new dress for some reason.

Keeping an eye out for the source of the fire, Draco approached the two kids... and finally noticed that the dragon witch was using blankets to cover up the fact that she was nude.

After an awkward moment of silence, Draco did the only thing he could think of to do in this situation; Embarrass his boy in front of the cute girl. "You know, I was worried that a zealot was going to burn the house down... I can see now that it was really you blushing at the sight of a pretty girl Lusius."