CoyoteLovely

The Kindred

::flyby greetings for all::

The Magical Planet - Ecetopia - Open

Nakreyya stood as the conversation seemed to be drawing to a close, she was pleased the girl would be training. It would be good for her, considering the company she had decided to keep. Mentally, she assessed the group - she wasn't sure of Fionn's strengths yet - though he had a quiet presence about him, she would not be surprised if he used magic, or wielded a sword - or perhaps both. Elise appeared a capable fighter, that much was certain. Scarlett would likely learn a bit from each of the assembled, which may prove good for her in the long haul. TC... Nak was grateful she did not have much to take. His fingers were sticky - she recognized the type. However, he reminded her of Kalind from so long ago - a rogue, impish and brave... foolish, but pleasantly so. She could imagine they might become unlikely friends.

Nak dusted off her clothing, and set her notebook back in her pouch, "There is plenty more deer meat, whatever is not eaten tonight I will put out for drying tomorrow, to salvage for us to carry into the ruin. But do not let that stop you. I have two or three traps I have not checked that I will need to go break down before we leave. It is possible I have another animal to prepare for us. I fear that will take me some part of the evening - can we leave tomorrow?"

She moved to Anzu, who looked up at her as she approached him. He wasn't prepared for riding, but that was a small matter - she could do that in the morning. Nak operated on very little sleep - a side benefit of being an Elf. She ran her fingers over his fire mane, as though it were hair. It didn't burn her skin, but it felt warm, and licked at her flesh in a way she always thought of as pleasant. She wasn't sure if anyone else would agree.

Upon getting her answer about the leaving time, she nodded, and bowed lightly, "Then if you will excuse me, I shall go collect my things while there is still light." She reached up after speaking, and touched her eyepatch, scanning the area slowly before setting off to the North decisively.

@Silvan Haven @Lyla @LPRKN

The Magical Planet - Ecetopia - Open

Nak nodded once to Fionn as he spoke, at his reference to the education of Lords, a sort of smirk appeared on her features - but she didn't elaborate on it. There was no sense in dredging up her past. Certainly this group had not been to her world. She was little more than a stranger on the tides of a Nightmare.

That was - until Scarlett cheerfully interjected that she should then protect Nakreyya. The exchange between Scarlett and Elise made Nak chuckle softly, and she shook her head.

"Little One, I am not the person who needs protecting, or defending. I can walk in shadow, and I will survive. Your guardian is correct to caution you. If you cannot defend yourself, you cannot defend others. If you try to leap to action where you have no understanding..." Nakreyya spoke with slow, deliberate words -- but had to pause for a moment, as emotion welled in her voice. She took in and released a breath, and when she spoke again, it was with her same lilting calm. "People die in those situations, and it is not often easy to live with the consequences of what has come. If you wish to be a defender, I recommend that you ask Elise to teach you to fight. Until then, guard your own safety as though you were guarding the safety of those you care for."

@Lyla @Silvan Haven @LPRKN

The Magical Planet - Ecetopia - Open

"Wow, you've never heard of New Bastion? The First City? I'll tell ya lady, its a beautiful city just North of here. She's filled with anything you could ask for. Those cobble streets are ancient and there's a lot of secrets she don't want to give up. I know a few, I've been in and outta there for years. You should check it out one day, I bet ya, ya birds would go like hotcakes on the Trader's Terrace. Any of you folks climbed the steps there before?" TC said. Nak took notes swiftly, but once again left the notepad out once she was done. She had a feeling there'd be a great amount of information to be gleaned here, and she didn't want to miss out on it.

"This was well cooked, thank you.." Elise said to Nak. Nak inclined her head with a slightly smile to indicate her thanks for the compliment.

"I am... not from around here," Nak repeated, for TC's benefit. "Anzu and I only recently arrived. I am still catching my bearings." Nak knew it pointed her out as not being a part of the main group - but that didn't bother her.

"Aye, I've been there a couple times over the past year. Nice town. It's actually where we heard the information that led us out here. You know the old dwarven ruins a bit north of here? The ones nobody pokes around in because it's crawling with undead?" Fionn answered TC's question as well - and elaborated upon it. "The farmers from the surrounding area have been seeing odd stuff lately. The ruins are lighting up, undead are wandering past the commonly accepted boundaries. The rumors and stories get more fantastical and unbelievable the longer you listen. One thing is certain though, something is happening out there and we intend to find out what."

".. which is something you should know if you plan on coming along - don't blame you if you don't - but you'll need to keep an eye on Scarlett.. she, uh.." Elise started, then paused as she tried to find the right words. ".. has a habit of getting into a trouble.. with no way of defending herself."

"Don't even know why.. I just.. have strange urges to help people.." Scarlett said, in answer to Elise's warning. "Doesn't bother me any though, even if Miss Elise thinks I'll end up hurt.." She shot Nak a coy smile. Nak tilted her head to one side, somewhat surprised by the action - was she being flirted with by Scarlett?

Gods alive - I'm probably old enough to be her mother, even if she were an Elf. And yet, she is flirting with me as though I were still in my prime. Nak thought to herself.

"Wha- ..." Elise seemed taken back, but only for a second. "... oh. I'm sure Scarlett wouldn't mind the extra protection however.."

Nak glanced over to Elise momentarily, and then to Fionn and TC. She sat back on her heels a bit, kneeling before the fire still. Her expression was blank, completely inscrutable. She had traveled alone for a long time. Longer, perhaps, than any of them had even been alive. They spoke of Ruins and helping farmers - noble, in it's way, but Nak had long ago gotten out of being a hero. She'd lost the desire about the same time she'd lost her eye. Or perhaps it was better to say she buried it. She was just going through the motions these days - she didn't live anymore. She just survived.

She looked to Anzu, who was already staring back at her. He didn't speak, but she knew he understood. He wore no signs of displeasure - nor did he look particularly excited by whatever Nak might decide. It was up to her.

A part of her wanted to believe this would be 'good' for her. That she would find purpose again. That she could believe, and would regain a semblance of a life that didn't feel like she was simply running from her past. However - how she chose to live her life now had become instinct. No connections. No one to feel sorrow for if they were killed... Elise had inferred Nak could 'guard' Scarlett. But Nak knew that was folly... she couldn't keep anyone safe. As she thought about even the prospect of having 'friends' again, her mind's eye saw the wing of her tower. Covered in blood. In her memory she heard her own voice screaming as one of the guards pulled her back and away. Told her she didn't need to see more than she already had.

"I fear I am not much of a guardian," Nak admitted, never letting the memory show on her face. "Nor am I much of a Sorcerer. My skills are in silence, in mechanics, and in survival. In my day, I did used to delve ruins on my homeworld. I did it for fun, and for adventure, and to prove to myself that I could. It has served me well as a survivalist. Rope work, reading tracks, path finding - these are all skills that come in much handy in the wilds - no matter where you are. I believe this world will be safe enough for me. In light of that, if you believe you have need of my company - then all I ask in return is as much information as you could provide on the layout and politics of this place such that I do not find myself in a stockade by accident. I require no money from you. If you do not believe I will be of use, then you are all welcome to my fire as long as I am here, where I will share my kills as is custom - and we can part as friends."

@Lyla @Silvan Haven @LPRKN

The Magical Planet - Ecetopia - Open

Nakreyya inclined her head as her name was spoken by Fionn. She finished slicing a fair amount of meat, enough to feed the five of them easily (TC included), and reversed her grip on the knife in her hand. With a quick motion the knife was wiped clean against her pants, and slid home in the sheath at her back, she offered the plate around to her companions for each to eat if they desired.

Once all had something to eat, Nakreyya took a moment to retrieve her notebook once again, writing the names of locations down for later reference. Ecetopia, they had said. Fionn had specifically referred to the planet. That was uncommon - were these travelers also from other worlds? She had met some like her... well - she had met some that traveled, very few traveled through Nightmares to get to their next destination.

She wondered if Scarlett was correct that TC used magic - it seemed plausible, certainly. And magic was quite the efficient means of not needing near as much gear for survival. Nakreyya had always been jealous of the interesting magicks that Masreon and Luraleth were capable of accomplishing - back when they had all been friends, oh so many years ago.

There is no sense in dwelling upon the past, Nak... You are here now and here is where your mind should linger. She chided herself quietly.

"Is this New Bastion some market town or location of some reputation?" Nakreyya asked, directing her question quietly toward Elise and Scarlett, so as not to interrupt any flow of conversation between Fionn and TC. As she awaited an answer, she drew one of the strips of meat up for herself, and ate.

@Silvan Haven @Lyla @LPRKN

The Magical Planet - Ecetopia - Open

Nakreyya pulled out a notebook as Fionn answered her inquiry. He rattled off the names of the places as though she should recognize them. "The Gnarl Valley in the province of Brandmount. Which currently falls within the borders of Alanine Kingdom, settled upon the Horganla continent. Planet Ecetopia."

"Alyanine... Alanine..." Nak tested the word under her breath, trying to set it right with her accent. She wrote down all that he had told him, and calmly closed the notebook, but kept it in her hands.

She liked the trio. Scarlett was cheerful and optimistic, Elise was sharp eyed and competent, and Fionn had the air of a leader - with peace and grace. Nakreyya's shoulders had just started to relax when a song caught her ears. She turned her eyes toward the noise, her eyepatch whirring lightly, fighting to give her information. She saw the halfling before he made the clearing.

"Hey Yo, whadda we gotta ovah here. How you doin?" Oddly, the creature's speech patterns reminded her of the Goblins back home. She had little use for Goblins on a personal level, however - they were quite good with mechanica. Still, Nakreyya was a newcomer here - she could not be sure of the dangers, especially when Elise stiffened - even if she did relax a moment later.

"We are quite well, hard not to be on be on such a fine evening. How are you my good fellow?" Fionne answered, and Nak believed it best to let him. She reached behind her, and carefully put her chair underneath her table, finding the small bag of berries and fruits she had salvaged to share with the meat on the fire. She walked to the fire, reaching down to the water wheel and unhooking it from the spit.

She set the bag down, and reached behind her back to unsheath a knife, which she used to cut long, even strips from the now succulent deer meat, setting them on a plate nearby that she had laid out earlier for just this purpose.

@Lyla @Silvan Haven @LPRKN

The Magical Planet - Ecetopia - Open

@Lyla @Silvan Haven

Nakreyya rose as they accepted her invitation to share her fire. The man's voice was polite, with impish laughter. The woman with him was of the 'bodyguard' breed. Nak liked that stock - no nonsense, will let you know if they plan to stab you.

The freckled girl shrieked with delight as she selected one of the birds. She cradled it as though it were alive, and for that - Nak liked the freckled girl all the more. And then she had called Nak 'pretty', which made Nak laugh easily, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. The joy the girl exuded was pleasant - sweet without being cloying, and honest. She was first to Anzu's side - Nak was about to warn her not to touch Anzu (he did tend to bite) but as she started to run her hand over his coal black hair, the horse let out an uncommonly pleased noise, and permitted her to continue.

I will be damned, Nak thought to herself, shaking her head. That horse hates everyone...

"I believe introductions are in order if you're sharing your hunt. I am Elise Hartell. This is Fionn Harken, our captain and that is.." The woman indicated the cheerful girl. ".. Scarlett."

"Elise, Fionn, Scarlett," Nak repeated the names to commit them to memory. "It is my honor to meet you. I am Nakreyya Bloodivy, though I do realize that is a mouthful, please feel free to call me Nak." She inclined her head as she spoke, smiling lightly.

"Travel far?" Fionn asked. He had been inspecting her waterwheel spit mechanism. An entire group of people who were interested in mechanical creatures and things - how interesting. Nakeyya offered him a bit of a wry grin.

"You could say that. I am... new... here. If I may ask, can you tell me where 'here' is?" Nakreyya chanced a moment of showing her hand - the trio seemed like decent people, perhaps they could help while she was trying to sort out her bearings.

The Magical Planet - Ecetopia - Open

Nakreyya's unnaturally long ears perked at the sound of footsteps, a trio if she was counting right. Her hand came up to her face, and she flicked the eyepatch down to cover the disfigurement around her eye. Once the magic in her glass eye had seeped into the eyepatch enough, it could be heard making small whirring noises. As the trio of travelers approached Nakreyya leaned back in her seat, watching the more inquisitive of the women come to the table, leaning over her birds, and inspecting them.

Nakreyya was an angular woman, with sharp cheekbones, a sharp nose, and sharp eyes. Her features did very little to make her look friendly. The stoic expression she wore certainly didn't help there either. She did not believe these three meant her any harm - but looks, as ever, could be deceiving. She watched as a freckled human girl walked up to her table, delighting visibly in the small birds Nakreyya had been making.

"I like these," the girl said. She looked at Nakreyya then, and smiled. Nak wasn't much accustomed to that reaction from people. If her slightly haughty and icy demeanor didn't scare people away, then the scarring around her eye usually did the trick. "They are beautifully crafted. I don't know much about clockwork though... I think... but it looks like precise work... like you care a lot about your craft."

Nakreyya wasn't quite sure how to respond. Her good eye flicked from the young woman to the other two standing behind her. The other two were regarding her more carefully. She didn't sense suspicion or hostility, but regard all the same. Nakreyya was an unknown element. She inclined her head once to the trio, "Thank you for the compliment. My work is my life."

".. I hope we're not bothering you much though.. we've just been walking most of the day - off to explore dwarven ruins - but figured a rest might be in order.." The girl talked some more, and Nakreyya found one edge of her lips quirking upwards in a half sort of smile. The girl's cheer was somewhat infectious. Nakreyya appreciated her guileless honesty. Her interest was piqued at the interest of ruins. So far this place was shaping up to be a fine place to be; if these individuals were indicative of the normal person one could expect they were not afraid of magic, or her mechanica; they seemed to harbor no ill will toward elves; and there were ruins somewhere about. Nakreyya could not ask for more.

"You are welcome to a bird, child," she said. Her voice was tinged with a lilting accent. The girl had done her a service, after all - and it would be impolite to not honor that service, even if the girl had no idea she had gifted such a boon. "Take whichever you prefer, they are designed after the songbirds from my home city. And if you require rest, you may come to my fire. It's customary among the hunters of my people to offer their kills to travelers. Often a kill is too large for one, and meat goes to waste."

Nakreyya motioned with one hand toward the deer creature which was still spit roasting over the fire next to the creek. Nakreyya's nightmare horse, Anzu, let out a snort at the invitation. She glanced over at him, "You don't even like the cooked meat, so I don't know why you're complaining."

A hunter Nakreyya may have appeared, but there was something else to her as well. Her shoulders were too straight, her mannerisms too neatly executed. No matter how long she had traveled, and how far she was from home - her noble lineage was something she was unwilling to release. She carried herself in every way as though she were still a woman of title, a woman of wealth.

@Lyla @Silvan Haven

The Magical Planet - Ecetopia - Open

Nakreyya still wasn't sure where in the Gods' Great Names she was. She had arrived to this planet some several days ago through the nightmares of a sentient beast living in the wild. She'd made her way through a forest before finding a creek of fresh water that would do for her camp.

Some basic reconnaissance let her know that she was somewhat near to a township, and she was very close to a route commonly used by travelers. For the first few days she had camped further from the trail, but today she moved closer, setting up her tent, chair, and table. She arranged for her horse, Anzu, to have a place by the creek so he could drink if he needed - though she didn't need to tie him up. He seemed content to stay at her side of his own free will.

She had laid some basic hunting traps, one bearing fruit in the shape of a deer like creature similar to the ones she knew from back home. She had carved and blooded the beast, throwing the legs to Anzu uncooked, and setting the rest over a spit for herself. The spit was rigged to use the current of the creek to turn the rod, evenly cooking the beast over a long, low fire.

She would hunt a few more days before heading into town. She wanted to have local fauna to sell for whatever the local coinage was.

Once her tasks were complete, she bathed herself in the clean stream, and brushed her hair before sitting herself at her table to work. She was working on a handful of small mechanical birds to sell to the local town's children. Their reactions to the birds, and to her, would tell her much of what she needed to know. Two of the last places she'd visited were hostile toward elves, and a third had people who tried to burn her for using magic.

She sat at her table, her long ears attuned to any noises around her, and tinkered with the little wind up birds. They used no magic, and were easy enough to make. Working on them calmed her when she came to a new place.

She still wore her leather armor and daggers, as it was prudent to do so, but her hair was down and loose, softening her usually severe appearance. She also flipped the eyepatch over her right eye up and out of the way. The patch helped her depth perception, but was obnoxious when it came to fine detailed work. Any passerby folk would be able to see that her right eye had seemingly been carved out, and was replaced with a glass eye that was currently glowing with a faint violet mist.

Nakreyya, The Valheelinen Bloodivy

I figured she was just a normal horseback rider - she wouldn't have done anything to be special in it - but she is trained in the actual act of riding, and taking care of a horse. If you threw me at a horse, I'd stare at it somewhat blankly - so I wanted to call it out. But she can't do tricks or anything.