Carantathraiel

ℭαrα's Uniquely Titled Art Gαllery

Æthelrün the Witch
Small homage to the great Odin.
Created for Elder Scroll roleplay.

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Wanderers

Ysaryn made no further attempt to get closer to the girl, putting her hands on her hips to study for now. Narda's words of encouragement made Lyta raise her head, her eyes red with tears she was too exhausted to produce. Her eyes swept around the room when Narda gestured and mentioned her pathetic life, her expression cracking before she hid her face again, cradling her head in her arms.
"No!" Lyta shot her head back up when Narda hinted that she'd meet the Empress. "I can't! I'll ..." She looked around at the pieces of her room that were scattered across the floor. If she hurt the Empress, she'd be executed.

Her gaze, instead, fell on Daryll as he approached, kerchief in hand. Lyta clearly wasn't sure about the gesture, nor his words about this not being a punishment. They wanted to take her away. Even if they promised a home, to help.
Ysaryn, reading the hesitation, unfolded her arms. "I am magic." She offered, waiting until Lyta's eyes shifted to her. "I can move from place to place in instant. May I show you?"
When Lyta nodded, Ysaryn smiled and vanished, drawing a gasp from Lyta, the girl tucking herself back into the corner. "How-" She began to ask, when Ysaryn reappeared, holding a brilliant flower in her hand. Lyta let out a squeak, and the shards on the flor rolled lazily, but not violently. Ysaryn grinned and stepped beside Daryll, kneeling to show the flower to Lyta.
A blue peony. The sweet aroma challenging the reek of fear and sweat in the room. "World is beautiful. But you have to leave room to see it, yes?"

Lyta's expression softened, her eyebrows twisting upward in concern. Her gaze went back to Daryll. His words that they were here to help, that he didn't believe in fate but that somehow they were meant to be here to find her. And the Narda, who said she needed to learn to control whatever was wrong with her.
And the elf, who showed her controlled magic.

"If I want to come home?" She wondered, looking between them.
Ysaryn arched an eyebrow, wondering why anyone would want to return to this. Leaving the flower on the floor before Lyta, Ysaryn stood and wandered back toward Narda. The indifference in her posture made Lyta tense again. "No!" She said shifting enough to unfold herself from the corner. "I'll ... I'll go. But... please." She looked to Daryll, kneeling in front of the flower, but yet to reach for the kerchief he offered. "Promise me you're not going to lock me up."

---

She came back empty handed. Ruli squeezed his fist, feeling the metal of her Ring bite into his skin. Empty handed. Envy was gone. Lost. Taken by the vindictive goddess who had always hated them. "I shouldn't have let him come." Ruli muttered to the ground beneath his knees. Should have known it would be a mistake. To bring Envy here, where he couldn't see, couldn't defend himself.
What could Envy have done? If she had decided to take Ruli instead, what would he have done? Nothing. Nothing could be done.
"I'm not leaving." Ruli admitted, the ache in his chest growing, weighting him down. He extended his arm, palm turned upward to offer her her Ring. "Take it, and go."

Wanderers

Ysaryn tilted her head, listening to the girl within the room as Narda spoke. She hadn't moved from wherever she'd placed herself, but her breathing hadn't calmed, either. A sniffle. What could have been her hands running over her face, by the sudden but temporary muffling of her breathing.
It was Daryll's words that made her hold her breath. Ysaryn tilted her head the other way, making sure the girl was still in the room. But she exhaled noisily, sniffling again.

"It's not safe." Lyta said, far more quietly. "I-I'm not safe."
"We are to take you to safety." Ysaryn reminded her, glancing to Narda. "Narda and Daryll will-"
"No!" Lyta shouted again. "I'm not safe f-for you."
That gave Ysaryn a pause. Her feet planted, she turned to eye the girl's mother and step-father questioningly.
The latter of the two nodded, gesturing to his wife's face. "She hurt her mother."
"She didn't mean it!" Lorraine hissed at her spouse, her dark brown eyes staring up the stairs at the trio that spoke to her only child. "You can't take her over an accident!"

Ignoring the mother's arguing, Ysaryn turned back toward the door. "Lyta?" She called, and she heard a foot scrape against the wooden floor. Like the girl was drawing herself into a corner. "We fight many things. Elf with teeth of shark. Mutant man-dog. Dragon." She glanced to Daryll and shrugged, as if to say 'she won't know that's a lie', before she stepped toward the door, her hand on the knob. "We are not afraid of you. You will not harm us. Okay? We are to come in? Just to make sure you are safe? I know you bleed."
Silence met her. Lyta didn't move, didn't answer. Still breathed, at least. So Ysaryn turned the knob, finding it unlocked, and pushed the door open.

The room was a mess. The window panes were cracked, broken glass, feather, and ceramic covered the floor. The bed was whole, but the mattress askew and partly on the floor, the blankets and pillows in tatters, mingling with what could have been an entire closet on the floor.
And Lyta.
She was tucked into the wall, her small frame tucked as far into the corner as she could get. Her hair was ragged and knotted, her clothing -a plain maroon tunic and tan trousers- were stained in sweat. Her face, half hidden behind her hands, betrayed that she hadn't slept in days, and that she'd been crying. So pale, her large brown eyes wide as she stared at them.
The source of the blood was her foot; having stepped on one of the many broken shards that covered her room, Lyta's left a trail around the room. Every place she'd set her left foot was marked in a smudge of drying blood.

Ysaryn put on what she hoped wouldn't be a terrifying smile for an already terrifying girl who had never seen an elf before. "I am Ysaryn." She greeted, stepping inside.
But the moment she moved, Lyta flinched. "Don't come any-"
Many of the shards on the floor shifted, shooting outward with Lyta as the center point. She screamed as Ysaryn raised her arms to shield her face, twisting to put her back to the onslaught of assailants. It was quick, the pieces falling quickly and lifelessly to the floor once they'd bounced off the wall or the three visitors. Lyta buried her face, sobbing. "I'm sorry..." She choked.
"Whoa." Ysaryn said, unfolding her arms and facing the girl again.

---

Nothing answered.

No voice.

No music.

No rolling, desert dunes.

Nothing.

Until, in Kire's mind, a world gate appeared.
Not quite like the one created by the Gemini and the Empress, but more precise. Ethereal, almost. It opened across the sky, visible through the trees, its mouth pointing downward toward the earth.
From it, poured a dragon.

It was as if it was made of glass, or being looked upon through a reflection. Its image wavered and warped as it dove from the gate and into the sky, its long body twisting and arching as it took in the new surroundings. Its wings sent an inaudible boom through the air as it worked to stay airborne. Its long, reptilian body glittered brilliantly, up until the last scales on its tail. The dragon turned coarse, soaring away and into the empty sky before it was gone from sight. The gate began to close, slowly and gently, without a sound. But before it could close completely, a flare of light fell.

From where the gate, now closed and vanished, the ball of holy, dazzling light fell at a speed dangerously faster than the dragon had soared. Straight towards the earth, until it shifted its shape. Like the dragon had used his wings to fly, so, too, did the flare produce its own. Fiery wings spread, slowing its descent, though it still struggled, like a juvenile bird falling from the nest before it was ready.
As it drew close to the earth, the ground rose to meet it, cradling the falling star to soften its landing, turning itself to a soft, shifting sand that grew until the surrounding area became nothing but an endless sea of golden sands. As the ground settled, the star resting, a wind blew outward, meeting Kire with a breath of hot air that smelled of fire and scorched earth, before the vision left her.

Wanderers

The moment Narda said they were free to go inside, the elf didn't hesitate. She strolled toward the door and pushed it open noisily, one hand on her weapon. They were met with a flustered looking woman with pale brown hair, which was disheveled and sloppily held back in a bun. Her face bore the remnants of a bruise, the yellow-tinged skin around her eyes nearly healed.

"Lyta?" Ysaryn asked, hoping not, but making no assumptions.
"You're here for here?" the woman demanded to know. "But the Madam sent word tha-"
"Lorraine!" the husband came inside after them, running his hands over his balding head to smooth the failing hairs back. "They're the Crown."
Lorraine frowned, looking over Ysaryn curiously before she noticed Narda and Daryll.
"The Crown?" Suddenly, her expression shifted from skepticism to fear. "Why? What has she done?"
"We are to take her." Ysaryn repeated, hand on her blade. "Take us to her."

Though she still looked reluctant, Lorraine turned and led them through the house, up a set of stairs that creaked. As they met the landing, Ysaryn tilted her head. "Ooh." She cooed, grinning wickedly. She could smell it. This Lyta girl's fear and anxiety. While she couldn't scent magic in the same way Kire could, she could smell that something was very different about her. Her seat reeked of it.
"Open." She demanded of Lorraine, pointing to the door.

"No!"
The shout came from within. Ysaryn turned her head to glance at Daryll and Narda, one eyebrow arched.
"I'm not going! You can't mak-Ah!" She'd shouted, and something thumped against the wall. Ysaryn heard the girl move, further from the door, could hear her erratic breathing. "Go away!"
"Something is wrong." Ysaryn said to Narda. "I can smell blood. Not much, but is present." Her brow was furrowed as she listened. Lyta was breathing unevenly, her voice seemed strained. "She is afraid."

---

Ruli barely registered any of it. Barely heard the villagers speaking. Was vaguely aware that Kire set her sword down in front of him. Was aware he'd reached up automatically to take her Ring from her when she removed it from her finger. He heard her promise to bring him back, but the words seemed empty.

He couldn't sense anything. Wondered if she could follow Envy's trail. Tobacco and flowers. That's what she'd said his essence smelled of. But if she couldn't?
Ruli's brain shut down, feeling out the harshest of possibilities. If she couldn't find him. If he was lost. He couldn't begin to hope that she would succeed.

Wanderers

The moment Daryll nodded, Ysaryn whipped her head back around, standing taller. "Yes. We take her. Bring her to us." She ignored Narda as the giantess shook the ever-tired looking male, her eyes trained on the man, who only seemed to hesitate. When he made no move to go inside, Ysaryn leered at the mayor. "You are chief of man, yes? Order it. Narda chief of you. She order you." She snapped her fingers, her other hand lowering to one of her twin blades.
"No!" The man by the house shouted, raising his arms. "No, I mean, I c-can't."
Ysaryn raised her eyebrow at him, waiting.
"Sh-she..." He looked to the mayor for a moment, then back. "She won't let any one into her room. Any of us near her. My wife..." He gestured toward the house. "She tried. Lyta struck her."
The elf's eyes narrowed. "I like this girl." She muttered softly, glancing to Narda. "We are to fetch, yes?"

---

Ruli ran until his legs burned. The desert surrounded him, and there was so much sand. He was out of practice, running on sand. Always out of practice. Out of shape. He hated himself for it. Loathed that he'd gotten comfortable and soft, and now, Envy was gone. Missing. After they'd managed to find a new home. After the Kartaian had stepped until sunlight, willingly, for the first time in years. Charmed or not, Ruli had been so proud. "Envy!" He called again, switching dialects. "Enlor'lei!" He hollered, calling him by his birth name. "It's me. Please. Say something. Anything!"
"Ruli!"
Ruli whirled, hearing it across the sand. But it wasn't Envy's voice. Just Kire's. Ruli felt anger flare, for her part in Envy's being here. But even that flickered out fast. She'd offered repeatedly to come alone. They'd insisted. Envy had volunteered.
"Give him back!" He shouted again, whirling. "I want him back! Give him back!"

In a blink, the desert faded, and Ruli was covered in shade provided by towering trees, the reek of bark and vine filling his nose, taking place of the arid sand. And fire.
Before he could swear, flames roared towards him, and Ruli dropped to the ground with a painful thud, covering his head as fire swam above him. He only chanced a look when the heat faded, spotting people. Amrians. They wore the same sort of looks many in Ziad had worn when Akuma and Ikegai tore the city apart. Vacant. Enthralled.
"I'm looking for an elf. A blue man." He corrected, not sure anyone here would know what an elf looked like without actually seeing one first. But a blue man, that was noticeable. "Please!"
"This is holy ground." One of the figures said towards him, not at him.
The fuck did that mean? Ruli snarled. Solaralai. "I want my friend."
"You must leave."
He could lie. Say he was Solaralai's blood. She was from his world. Ruli considered it. Honestly considered it. Would claim to be one of them if it got Envy back.

Kire's name called him again, far closer than before, and Ruli moved on instinct. He spun, rushing away from the villagers, feeling fire roar again, the heat growing against his back and neck. He tore through the trees, weaving, until he all but ran into Kire and, the moment he could reach her, he dragged them both into the shadows.

He dropped her when they were back where they started, turning to stare into the woods. "I didn't find him." Ruli's voice broke at the confess. "I can't find him. I can't-" He bent his knees and squatted, burying his head against his hands, his eyes tight.

Wanderers

The man's eyes widened slightly at the mayor's information, and then at Narda's axe as she thumbed it. Ysaryn could smell the fear spilling off him; such a foul scent that she twitched her nose and exhaled. "Uh. Sh-she..." He stammered. "People who c-can ... care f-for her. Her ... "
He looked to Daryll as he questioned the girl's name. "N-not my daughter. But yes. My wife's girl." Ysaryn inhaled again, the coughed. The noise made the man jump, his beady eyes wandering her curiously, taking in her details. Her swords, her ears, the strange colour of her eyes. And when she grinned, those teeth! He took a step back. "She needs uh ... uh ... a specialist."

Ysaryn wasn't sure what this word meant here in this context. 'Specialist'. But the manor in which he said it made her skin crawl. "You are to give her up?" She questioned sharply, brow furrowing. That horrible scent met her nostrils again. "Good. We are to take her. Yes?" She asked, looking around to Daryll.

---

"First sign. We promise." Ruli agreed with a nod.
Envy, hearing the two, inhaled, determined. "I want to court Narda properly." He confessed suddenly. Ruli chuckled. "I'll need pointers."
"Not now, Envy." Ruli said gently. "When we're back. We'll see about wooing your woman."
Envy squeezed his hands, squared his shoulders, and stepped with Ruli as they moved into the woods.

It was warm as the desert fell around them again. Ruli welcomed it despite its strange origin, his skin welcoming the arid heat like an old friend. To his right, he heard Gavin offer his eyes to Envy, and while he didn't hear any sort of answer from the elf in return, he felt Envy shift as they walked.

Then the singing started. Ruli furrowed his brow and suddenly remembered this morning, when he'd been woken before the sun had risen by the same sound. It was like a lullaby, but slower. More somber.
A dirge.
He remembered sitting up for hours, which explained the soreness of his back, and hated that he hadn't been laying down beside Kire, who had joined him because she needed him for comfort. Was she annoyed that he hadn't slept? Why didn't he feel more tired? Nothing around him made sense. He could still feel Envy and Kire's hands in his own, but couldn't see him. It wasn't quite the same as the empty blackness of the shadows. Somehow, it was bright. Warm. As if he were standing in the middle of a sandstorm. But no sand ate at his skin. No wind howled.

"Gavin!?" He heard Envy shout, and the yank as the Kartaian moved suddenly. Ruli shouted back, grasping for the elf, yanking hard enough on Kire's arm to yank her near off her feet. His fingers wrapped around a bony wrist, and he pulled. "Back!" He shouted to Kire. He hoped she, at least, could see. Or that Gavin could, on Envy's other side.

Only, when they retreated and the fog fell from around Ruli's mind, the music going quiet again-
Envy was gone.

Gavin's wrist was in his grasp, the Kartaian no where to be found. Not even his footprints in the dirt leading out. Only in. "Envy?" Ruli shouted, dropping both Gavin and Kire to spin around, looking back toward the forest. "Envy!?"
Raising his arms, he ran his fingers through his hair and turned on Gavin. "What did you do!?" He snarled, eyes wide in panic. "Envy!" He shouted again, pacing a few feet one way, than the other, wanting to go back into the forest to find his friend.

Maybe he panicked and left. Ruli couldn't breathe. He inhaled and vanished, appearing inside Narda's home, circling, rushing outside and into the garden, looking for any sign. Then to the Tower. Anywhere Envy would know to Walk to. Would he know to walk through the gate? Or how to find it? Ruli bolted through the Tower, almost leaping through the gate. No Envy there, either. No where in the tunnels. Back through the gate, to the camp, shouting for his friend, before he went back to where he'd left Kire and Gavin. "Envy!" He shouted, voice echoing against the unnatural trees.
He's got to be in here. Ruli stared at the woods, breathing hard, pulse racing, then started running for them.

Wanderers

Ysaryn looked skeptical about Narda's sleeping. If she and Ed had been under the same roof, sleep wouldn't even be an option. But Envy seemed far more a prude than Ysaryn or Ed. Narda was a hard read.

As they wandered in, the elf kept quiet, her eyes roaming, taking in the bizarre scene. Everyone seemed to be struggling to stay awake. To do their errands. Even the guards. Ysaryn raised an eyebrow at them. Her father would have had them punished for such laziness if they were part of their clan.
As Narda snarled at their inquiries and put them in their place, the elf smirked. Well enough. The guards nearly fell over themselves to make up for their mistake.

As they made their way to the mayors, Ysaryn's gait was smaller, to keep pace with the sluggish others of her group, but also to observe. Whatever it was, it was clear everyone was claimed by it. Disease? No, it wouldn't have been so quick to claim Narda and Daryll. And why didn't it touch her?
Magic? She was magic, the other two were not. Perhaps it was why she was uneffective.

Hearing the mayor answer the door dragger her attention forward, and she leered at him indifferently, her jeweled eyes bright in the sun. After the brief exchange, they were allowed in, and Narda introduced them. It wasn't her own, but Daryll's that made the elf turn her head and grin. "Worman... what?" She asked, the word impossible on her tongue. Chuckling softly, she poured herself into a seat, crossed her long legs, and watched the mayor with an unrelenting gaze. Slowly, her foot waved in the air, impatient and restless.

"Narda?" Ysaryn leaned toward the giantess. "What is this word? 'Queer'?" As the giantess explained that it meant strange, Ysaryn frowned and looked back around to the mayor. 'Strange' was no reason to suspect a person of a plague.
Before the tea was even properly served, they were on their feet again and leaving, Ysaryn giving the mayor's wife a piercing look before she was out of view.
They may not have elves and not yet know what to think of one, but may as well keep them on their feet.

The house was ... well, honestly, Ysaryn felt almost at home, It didn't differ much from the shacks and tents they'd dwelled in in Cordon. It seemed impossibly close to collapsing, but somehow still erect. There were wilting shrubs in the front, a moss covered boulder, and the windows were dim with grime.
Ysaryn's eyes searched it, definitely feeling something from within, but couldn't quite name it.

The boulder moved, revealing itself to be a round man in grey and green clothing. Ysaryn narrowed her eyes at him, wondering if he dressed in such a way on purpose. To hide.
"Mayor." The man said. He was balding, his brown hair thin, the weak caterpillar of a moustache on his upper lip looked as though it would flee in the next breeze. His dark eyes roamed the visitors, namely the elf. "I thought you wouldn't take her?" He asked, looking from Ysaryn to Daryll, clearly making an assumption as to who they were.

---

Ruli only grinned. "They did. I agree, it might be best to leave it be until we understand it more." He glanced back to Envy, who seemed to be considering what it would take to decide where that line rested. "It might be better to risk ourselves if it meant shielding the citizens long enough to get them away."
Envy inhaled, clearly disagreeing. "We will not be risking ourselves. We take no step without certainty here."
"With the exception of blindly wandering in." Ruli pointed out.
The Kartaian frowned, unable to argue.

"Fat chance." Ruli said to Kire, as Envy opened his mouth to scold such a thought. Envy fell quiet again, glad he didn't had to worry about Kire running off.
Even wearing his charm, Envy felt his skin crawl beneath the sunlight, his hand tight around Ruli's forearm as they appeared where Kire led them. He didn't let the younger man go, and Ruli didn't shake him off, knowing the elf needed guidance. And it gave him an idea. "Gavin, grab Envy's arm. Kire," Ruli said, reaching for her hand again. "Let's see her pry us apart, then." He pulled her arm gently, bringing her closer. "You don't get to hire us and then ditch us." Ruli chided, his eyes roaming her face. You're stuck with us now."

Wanderers

Ysaryn took a moment to collect herself, not entirely as used to dragging people along with her as Ruli was, let alone someone the size of Narda.
Not that she'd be dumb enough to mention that unless Narda or Daryll asked.

She felt a slight chill, though not enough to warrant a tug of her clothing to keep herself warm. And when Narda asked about the sleepiness, she turned toward the two, curious. "You are not having slept?" She said, wondering what sort of night the giantess had had with Envy. The tired looking male was always that. Tired.

Wondering if maybe she should have volunteered to go with Kire, and leave Ruli with these two, Ysaryn listened to the description of the girl, and raised an eyebrow. He was about as useful as a grain of sand in this trek, wasn't he? "Come to me." Ysaryn sighed, stalking passed the two and along the street, her head held high. "You nap can wait."

---

Ruli chuckled at Kire's immediate question, while Envy merely blinked slowly. "No gentleman tells." The Kartaian insisted firmly.

It seemed to be all he was willing to say on the matter, so Ruli, his face hidden behind his coffee, listened as the women discussed their plans. Back into the forest. His pale eyes shifted to Gavin, wondering if he'd let his eagerness show. "How will we know if we have to ward the whole forest?" He asked, still watching Gavin, to see what the lad would decide.

Wanderers

Ruli broke into his breakfast while Kire amd Myka spoke, nodding as Narda claimed Ysaryn for the journey to the ... whatever Daryll was dragging them. Which left him to assist Kire, and possibly taking the far-too-eager Gavin toward the forest. Which he was sure Envy would be annoyed about.
"Envy," Ruli said, suddenly reminded. "Are you going back into the village with us? If we step into the forest, would you want to accompany us?"
Envy gave a bleary blink. "I suppose." He said, then his brow furrowed. "I don't know, actually. I'd rather none of you go into the forest. I'd rather not go myself, but I find I am curious."
Ruli shrugged, going back to his meal, watching Ysaryn finish her plate clean, drain her cup, and then rise to her feet. "Am I to take?" She asked, looking to Ruli, then to Kire. "Who knows where I'm taking them?"

When the location was taken, and shared with the dark elf, Ysaryn held Narda and Darll's hands and vanished.

Wanderers

"Envyyyy." Ruli sang as he strolled into the room offered to the large elf.

A deep growl answered him.
With the curtains drawn, it was quite dark in the chamber, but he was still buried beneath the blankets to shield himself from any rebellious rays that found their way in.
"Come on, sleepy head. You woman awaits. And there will be food."
Envy's responsive growl was somewhat less threatening, but still very reluctant.
"You know whats going to happen, don't you?" Ruli wondered, pulling the blankets back to reveal the elf. The Kartaian's sharp teeth were bared as he curled on his side, shying away from the cool air. "We're going to question Narda about all the juicy and moist details of last night. Without you there to tell us to shut up." He saw the pink-hued colour of Envy's eyes as the elf leered sleepily. Ruli bent down, propping himself on his knees. "All of us, Envy. Me. Gavin. Kire. Myka."
The elf groggily shook his head, slowly rousing. He mumbled something Ruli couldn't understand, as the elf had his face pressed to the mattress. "That-a-boy." Ruli straightened, earning another growl.

Ruli arrived in the inn with the others, grinning impishly. Envy stood behind him, his eyes barely open, his mouth set in a way that clearly said he was holding back a serious of inappropriate words in every language he knew. Gently, Ruli helped to guide him to a seat before taking his own. "Oh, he was real deep in there. In the bed." Ruli answered mockingly, grinning at Gavin as Envy snarled softly.

"Worship?" Ruli asked, glancing along at Kire. "As in, of Solaralai?" He wrinkled his nose. "They don't even know her. Why bother?" He looked toward Envy, but the Kartaian was still struggling to wake. So he switched his attention to Ysaryn, who was inhaling coffee despite her cheeks being full of the sausage that had been on her plate seconds before.
"Do you need help there?" Ysaryn asked, looking to Daryll. "Having someone of magic incline ... in ... ability may be of use." She said, tucking some of her loose hair behind her pointed ear.