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V . .ᴀ . .s . .ɪ . . . . ʟ. . ʟ. . ɪ. . A
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20th level Archwitch
"How about this: I kill you, and you get to be my minion later!"
Ms Ravenwinter
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A metallic clatter marked the final deathrattle of the incursion, an inert blade crashing to the wet stone at Solglia's feet. Yvah turned quick in her stance, snapping her gaze all around the room until it was clear to her that the hostility had passed. Her chest caved slightly as she sighed with relief. Nearly everyone stood, but to her side lay the bleeding body of a deathly pale elf. Another sacrifice for these aquatic cultists, it seemed. It almost looked as if they had came too late and done too little to save him, given a tense moment where she watched if his slowing breath would cease even after the bandages. They didn't, thankfully, and kicked back into full action again after another of the slated sacrifices poured a magically shimmering poultice down his gullet.
Again, Yvah turned, this time to Araerys. The bard seemed in dire straits indeed. With some effort, Yvah bounded over the tainted river, feet and palms planting on either side of the ruined corpse of the lesser dragonkin. Standing straight, with a flick of her tail, she wiped the grime of the floor off of her hands. Instead of a look of minor disgust at the mess of the place, she look concerned at Ary. Leaning from side to side, her eyes easily catching the torchlight as they flick around over the half-elf’s form, she inspects the extent of the damage. “Are you going to be well?”
Araerys, so very relieved that the fight was finally finished, resheathed her rapier in order to place her hands over her knees and double over as exhaustion finally sank into her body. While definitely better off than the unconscious fellow who looked to be a new member of their party, the bard was very much looking forward to a rest of any sort. She watched as a few of her party members tended to the male’s health, only tearing her squinted eyes away from them as Yvah approached. “Ah, yes, I think?” she replied, straightening up from her half-crouch to as best a standstill as she could. “Better ‘n that guy, fer sure. But a bit of a sit down wouldn’t be unwelcome.” She nodded her head at the feline in turn: “Are you doin’ okay?”
“I can still…” Yvah started to cough, covering her mouth to hack into her hand. A couple small spots of red dotted her palm when she pulled it away. She sighed, some grief tinging her belaboured exhalation. It seemed she wasn’t so used to seeing blood on her hands anymore. Looking back to Araerys, with some disappointment in her voice, she said, “I can still fight.”
The bard’s eyebrows furrowed together in concern, assuming that what she saw in her hand was not a pleasant sight. Her reply urged an involuntary scoff and a dismissive wave of Ary’s hand, though the half-elf did take a quick scan of their surroundings for any further signs of danger. It seemed they were in the clear for the time being, but these sewers had already proved nasty at every turn, and it wouldn’t do well to let the guards down just yet. Still, she said, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, there. Just get yer breath back.”
Given a moment to breathe, Yvah set out within this main antechamber. Pacing around the walls, searching for things of interest, she eventually made her way to one of the twin ceremonial pillars. Examining the column that the pale elf was bound to, Yvah found little of note, but could tell that something must’ve been important there. She just didn’t know what to look for. “Ay!” she called, “If either of you acolytes wants to take a look, I think there should be something here!”
Ary made her way over, wincing a little at the wound in her side now that the majority of the adrenaline had worn off, and took a peek at the throne. After a few moments of poking at it, it came to her attention that the seat could be lifted. “It looks like I can open this,” she said to Yvah, reaching out to do just that.
The cat monk turned from her examination of the ceremonial pillar toward the sound of Ary’s voice. Yvah had seen the throne there before, but didn’t think of it as much other than a fancy chair until the bard started prying at the seat. She trotted over, pulling her tools from her billowing clothes, and knelt before the throne. With a handpick, she start pulling up at any structure of the thing until she saw movement. Cautiously, she held the secret compartment open just enough to slide the pick inside, and felt around for any mechanism that could be a trap. All she found were the hinges at the back, and she pulled the seat open freely.
Yvah had only seen some teasing glints within the forbidden storage, but as the hinges made their dim squeal in protest of her plundering her eyes sparkled nearly as much of the fistfuls of gems inside. Stacks of coin all in a neat pile to a side, with vials and dusty parchments to its flank, and gems of many sorts and colors dotted atop it all. The thieving feline seemed almost giddy compared to the gloom cast over her throughout this cathedral delve. Furred fingers made quick work stashing the jewels in the same pouch as the others, similarly making no attempts to hide it. However, the coinage was in a rather heavy abundance, and she wasn’t inclined to carry it all with her.
Yvah turned within her crouch toward the party and waved her arm as the other held the distended cloth pouch aloft. “We just found the tithe, boys and girls!”
>Religion of 10 to examine the pillars
>Help action to Araerys, resulting in an Investigation of 14 on the throne.
>Short rest Hit Dice roll yields +6 to hp.
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______________________________________________________________________________________ A. . ɴ. . ɴ ' . ʟ. . ᴇ. . ᴀ. . H ...Ellenara turned, watching once more as the mountains slowly gobbled up the lonesome star. She felt almost like she needed to bid farewell, as if watching an old friend pass through the threshold of her home. Within her wistful trance, she still listened, merely letting the words meet her ear rather than seek them out. But she pulled herself from it as the others became audibly more curious of something.
Before many of the introductions had been made, this young Duchess had offered them a small stash of magical artefacts essentially on a platter. Some were even quite precious, dangerous, and possibly ancient beyond even Ellenara's time. The wizened elf silently recounted the days when such items would have to be hunted down amidst the lair of a fearsome drake many times beyond a young adventurer's stature, or plucked from the stiff, rotting hand of a slumbering undead lord within its own sarcophagus. Such treasures must have such stories to tell, and carry the invisible stain of the blood spilled for their purchase.
And now, these items were offered as easily as swords among candy. How far-flung those days seemed, after countless more had aged their memory to only the barest recognition.
And yet, like toys, they were being accepted by children far too eager to ascertain their properties. It was clear that they had not bid themselves with as much caution as they might give the objects of their curiosity. Elle could see within the twinkle of the halfling's eyes that the cards in particular must've been as of much grave importance as Ada had hinted at, despite the vocalized ignorance of some of the others. She hadn't recognized them herself, as they seemed to be a stack of illusionary trifles that she had seen in action once upon a time, but she knew not to trust her memory always, as it often failed her.
Ellenara stepped forward, making her presence known before the Duchess was to hand over the cards. "My name is Ellenara Ann'leah," she spoke broadly to the group before focusing her attention to Ada, "Now, I may only be an old goat myself, but you seem to know me as Seeker. So, may I ask something of you, Miss?" Despite her rather youthful appearance, which was certainly more pronounced than a few within their party, she still referred to herself as elderly. Which, given her elven heritage, might even seem believable. "I know that I must be speaking amongst incredibly capable warriors and mystics, but if these cards are as extreme as you warn, would it perhaps be best to leave it within the hands of someone who you know will have the measured judgement necessary to wield such a thing?" she said, nodding over to the greyed human from whom Ada had received a gift.
As the girl pondered this, Elle stepped forward once again to sift through the little trinkets handed over to the group. She pulled at one that stuck out among the others, one that shone with a dull, golden radiance within the dying sunlight. After clipping the device to her knife-edged ear, she bowed humbly toward her host. "And, if you don't mind terribly, may you show us to this grand library of yours? I haven't had a good read in ages."
*slaps the desk* I'm in.
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______________________________________________________________________________________ A. . ɴ. . ɴ ' . ʟ. . ᴇ. . ᴀ. . H. ..As the gathering of disparate heroes and hunters drew nearer to the Seat, the ever shining sun poured further over the horizon. Elle imagined if it might cascade over the other side like a radiant waterfall while she stared up at the iridescent sky as it was fading slowly into redder and bluer hues. She watched as the clouds, such gargantuan wisps of churning water and air, provided a vivid contrast of color reflecting off of the light at a harsher angle than the atmospheric canopy above them. And as the intrepid few among them strolled through the outermost wall of the keep, Elle gawked at how the shadows cast by the mountain-laden edge of her vision stretched outward into the sky like a veil only partially obscuring their view to the heavens. She felt some sort of conflict in the deepening twilight, for as the distance between her and the sweet sun's kiss grew, the view became even more enchanting.
It had truly been far too long since she had last been out in the sun.
The human, whose name she hadn't yet been exposed to, whose age must certainly be drawing near to a tenth of her own, gave a reply. She didn't seem quite so enthralled by the sunset that she was distracted, especially with the elven ease to her stride, but she did pause for a moment. It was a joke of course, the wit was not lost on her, but she wasn't quite up to date with Mevrosan rule to understand it fully. She smiled then, despite herself, as she pulled her eyes from the deep violet sea above to the wizened man with perhaps too steady a step for a cane. "If we are, then this is as great a time as any, maybe."
Before too long thereafter, they came upon the sprawling courtyard of the Seat's far larger demesne. Greeting them were elves, with unfamiliar faces, both holding themselves in a high regard and seemingly quite young. Although, Elle did indeed seem just as young. The girl was introduced as the Duchess, or not quite so any longer, and this seemed strange to Elle given that she believed Eduardo and Isabella Mavros to still be the heads of the duchy. Her brother, however, neglected to introduce himself in his haste. Given that she seemed to have stepped down from her position, it'd be easy to assume that the unnamed boy was slated for the Dukeship. Ada, on the other hand, seemed quite pondering. Very sharp. She even remembered as much of the White Dragons as Elle did, which was impressive given the druid's own experiences with the fiends.
This herald of Valkur was certainly a dramatic celestial. Elle always imagined they were, given how mighty and elevated their masters liked to present themselves as. The appearance of the messenger was marked initially by clouds billowing out and darkening as they spread over the sky, only for crashes of thunder to punctuate the being's entrance and exit. 'Impressive' wouldn't be Elle's first word to describe it, though that may just be her time-worn bias speaking for her. What especially did not improve her opinion of the creature was the frustrating vagueness of direction. The thing may as well have pointed in a direction and said 'go'.
But a dragon, one as territorial as this, no less, consorting with the very brutes they so often wage wars with? There had to be some conspiracy, a secret behind it all, something to explain this. It had to be dangerous. There had to be wondrous curios and fabulous riches. Oh, how the excitement already built. She felt nearly as young as she appeared just running through the impending adventure in her head.
"I believe," she spoke up, stepping forward, "I will help in heading North. It will be far beyond freezing if we have to break into an ice drake's lair," her open palm raised beside her as sparks congealed into a sweltering orb that bobbed gently over her fingertips harmlessly, "And I can break it." With a spin of her wrist, the scintillating flame puffed into spoke, and she was left subtly smiling to herself. "I do have ways of observing from afar, but I will need to know where to look. Do you think your library might have an answer to that, Miss Ada?"
It had truly been far too long since she had last been out in the sun.
The human, whose name she hadn't yet been exposed to, whose age must certainly be drawing near to a tenth of her own, gave a reply. She didn't seem quite so enthralled by the sunset that she was distracted, especially with the elven ease to her stride, but she did pause for a moment. It was a joke of course, the wit was not lost on her, but she wasn't quite up to date with Mevrosan rule to understand it fully. She smiled then, despite herself, as she pulled her eyes from the deep violet sea above to the wizened man with perhaps too steady a step for a cane. "If we are, then this is as great a time as any, maybe."
Before too long thereafter, they came upon the sprawling courtyard of the Seat's far larger demesne. Greeting them were elves, with unfamiliar faces, both holding themselves in a high regard and seemingly quite young. Although, Elle did indeed seem just as young. The girl was introduced as the Duchess, or not quite so any longer, and this seemed strange to Elle given that she believed Eduardo and Isabella Mavros to still be the heads of the duchy. Her brother, however, neglected to introduce himself in his haste. Given that she seemed to have stepped down from her position, it'd be easy to assume that the unnamed boy was slated for the Dukeship. Ada, on the other hand, seemed quite pondering. Very sharp. She even remembered as much of the White Dragons as Elle did, which was impressive given the druid's own experiences with the fiends.
This herald of Valkur was certainly a dramatic celestial. Elle always imagined they were, given how mighty and elevated their masters liked to present themselves as. The appearance of the messenger was marked initially by clouds billowing out and darkening as they spread over the sky, only for crashes of thunder to punctuate the being's entrance and exit. 'Impressive' wouldn't be Elle's first word to describe it, though that may just be her time-worn bias speaking for her. What especially did not improve her opinion of the creature was the frustrating vagueness of direction. The thing may as well have pointed in a direction and said 'go'.
But a dragon, one as territorial as this, no less, consorting with the very brutes they so often wage wars with? There had to be some conspiracy, a secret behind it all, something to explain this. It had to be dangerous. There had to be wondrous curios and fabulous riches. Oh, how the excitement already built. She felt nearly as young as she appeared just running through the impending adventure in her head.
"I believe," she spoke up, stepping forward, "I will help in heading North. It will be far beyond freezing if we have to break into an ice drake's lair," her open palm raised beside her as sparks congealed into a sweltering orb that bobbed gently over her fingertips harmlessly, "And I can break it." With a spin of her wrist, the scintillating flame puffed into spoke, and she was left subtly smiling to herself. "I do have ways of observing from afar, but I will need to know where to look. Do you think your library might have an answer to that, Miss Ada?"
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______________________________________________________________________________________ ❀ ~ N a t s u m i
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E n c h a n t i n g G e i s h a
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...and JBRam2002
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The woman turned towards Natsumi and narrowed her eyes. "I would hardly call you my competition," she replied. "I am Kiang Zhen, and I have been bound to serve the Ruby Phoenix Tournament’s Emissary and the church of Abadar. I will not be fighting." Kiang glanced down at the compatriots Natsumi had entered with and shook her head. "I heard how you were allowed into this tournament. Killed an oni, didn't you? Never stopped to ask it why it was there, or tried to find some other solution. No, Oni-Slayer, there was no reason to. Be it known that you will have to do much more than that to garner my favor."
Natsumi's face straightened somewhat by the woman's words, eyes dimming with clear remorse. After depositing his utensils to the bowl before him, he set his meal aside to rest upon the railing to show his respect for her offense. "I appologize that my reputation precedes me, Ms Zhen," he said with a more somber, yet no less cordial, tone, "But I must confess that I had nothing to do with any Oni's death. I tried speaking with her, to gain some sort of accord with her, but..." he trailed off, looking past the woman he spoke to as if to break himself from choking up, "She was in such pain, such anger... The team saw her and deemed her a threat, and there was nothing I could do." He looked back to Kiang, seeming to hold back tears at the memory. "She was so powerful, yet so misunderstood."
Kiang studied the man's face for a moment, but her thoughts were veiled for the moment. Finally, she shook her head and turned away. "You mean to tell me that you are declaring that you were not part of the achievement that granted you passage to the Tournament? As an agent of the Emissary, I am bound to tell him of such incongruities." She leaned in closer to Natsumi and smiled, her black teeth glistening. "Falsified entry? Should be enough to ensure you and your group never participate in this or any other Ruby Phoenix Tournament. Or you can admit that you helped slay the Oni, that you watched in glee as the blood bubbled from her throat, and prove yourself a murderer, coward, and liar."
Natsumi cocked a brow at the scarlet woman. Not only was that quite the leap, but she seemed quite happy to extort him and his allies. It almost seemed like an invitation, really. A passport to a cruel yet tantalizing game of chance and social maneuvering. And for his first move, he took a risk. "But why would you do that to a friend, Kiang?" he said with honey dripping from his words, bowing over as a subtle flourish of his hand organized arcana into a form of Domination. But to no effect. He hesitated a moment, eyes glancing over to the uniformed men below who began to mobilize in their direction. And then he remembered. "Oh, fuck..."
He stood straight with a spring in his step, retrieving his bowl with a wave of his hand as he circled the ubralmouthed woman. "Especially when you have such an opportunity on your hands!" he beamed with an almost supernatural confidence and bravado, "Why, you might just have Tian Xia's most luxurious enchanter at your beck and call. Someone able to talk their way into any social gathering and ensorcell even the most shrewd people of power. Just think of how much even five days of this service could offer you."
Kiang Zhen crossed her arms and watched as a half dozen monks began to approach. the stairs. "Such an opportunity," she replied with no small amount of sarcasm. "I have no need of your services, nor any desire to interact with you beyond what I must. I am a Kuwa Oni, bound to serve the Emissary. If I were not so bound, I would have killed you already." The monks approached with concern, but Kiang raised her hand to stop them. "This fine gentleman was just leaving," she replied, holding his gaze steady with her own. Please ensure that you do not disturb me again, great Oni-Slayer."
Well, that exchange was regrettable. The first new person he met since visiting the island and she was this hostile to him? Sure, he was here because he killed one of her kind, but it could've been his fault. What did he say that was so wrong? And during this spiral of insecurity, he noticed the discerning look in her eye, as if she were staring directly into his mind. And there was a subtle glint of arcana, barely noticeable, behind those fiery red eyes. He smirked a little, having seemingly figured her out, and consciously flooded his mind with overtly confident thoughts.
With bowl in hand, he hopped gracefully onto the railing, feet pivoting to a well-balanced position. Turning toward Kiang, he bowed toward her, leg stretching backward to maintain his position, and bowl slowly drifting out of his grip to float beside him. "It was certainly a pleasure, Ms. Zhen." After a farewell flourish of his wrist, he spun upon his toes and started a prance around the shop upon the railing. This until he came upon a familiar face, and dismounted beside the young Risha, twirling in the air before he found gentle footing on the floor beside her. His bowl fell upon his open hand as he leaned back against the railing as if his acrobatics were truly of no effort. "How goes it, Risha? Come across any interesting tales so far?" In his silence that followed, he one again drew in some of his noodles with a slurp loud enough to show his appreciation for the meal.
Natsumi's face straightened somewhat by the woman's words, eyes dimming with clear remorse. After depositing his utensils to the bowl before him, he set his meal aside to rest upon the railing to show his respect for her offense. "I appologize that my reputation precedes me, Ms Zhen," he said with a more somber, yet no less cordial, tone, "But I must confess that I had nothing to do with any Oni's death. I tried speaking with her, to gain some sort of accord with her, but..." he trailed off, looking past the woman he spoke to as if to break himself from choking up, "She was in such pain, such anger... The team saw her and deemed her a threat, and there was nothing I could do." He looked back to Kiang, seeming to hold back tears at the memory. "She was so powerful, yet so misunderstood."
Kiang studied the man's face for a moment, but her thoughts were veiled for the moment. Finally, she shook her head and turned away. "You mean to tell me that you are declaring that you were not part of the achievement that granted you passage to the Tournament? As an agent of the Emissary, I am bound to tell him of such incongruities." She leaned in closer to Natsumi and smiled, her black teeth glistening. "Falsified entry? Should be enough to ensure you and your group never participate in this or any other Ruby Phoenix Tournament. Or you can admit that you helped slay the Oni, that you watched in glee as the blood bubbled from her throat, and prove yourself a murderer, coward, and liar."
Natsumi cocked a brow at the scarlet woman. Not only was that quite the leap, but she seemed quite happy to extort him and his allies. It almost seemed like an invitation, really. A passport to a cruel yet tantalizing game of chance and social maneuvering. And for his first move, he took a risk. "But why would you do that to a friend, Kiang?" he said with honey dripping from his words, bowing over as a subtle flourish of his hand organized arcana into a form of Domination. But to no effect. He hesitated a moment, eyes glancing over to the uniformed men below who began to mobilize in their direction. And then he remembered. "Oh, fuck..."
He stood straight with a spring in his step, retrieving his bowl with a wave of his hand as he circled the ubralmouthed woman. "Especially when you have such an opportunity on your hands!" he beamed with an almost supernatural confidence and bravado, "Why, you might just have Tian Xia's most luxurious enchanter at your beck and call. Someone able to talk their way into any social gathering and ensorcell even the most shrewd people of power. Just think of how much even five days of this service could offer you."
Kiang Zhen crossed her arms and watched as a half dozen monks began to approach. the stairs. "Such an opportunity," she replied with no small amount of sarcasm. "I have no need of your services, nor any desire to interact with you beyond what I must. I am a Kuwa Oni, bound to serve the Emissary. If I were not so bound, I would have killed you already." The monks approached with concern, but Kiang raised her hand to stop them. "This fine gentleman was just leaving," she replied, holding his gaze steady with her own. Please ensure that you do not disturb me again, great Oni-Slayer."
Well, that exchange was regrettable. The first new person he met since visiting the island and she was this hostile to him? Sure, he was here because he killed one of her kind, but it could've been his fault. What did he say that was so wrong? And during this spiral of insecurity, he noticed the discerning look in her eye, as if she were staring directly into his mind. And there was a subtle glint of arcana, barely noticeable, behind those fiery red eyes. He smirked a little, having seemingly figured her out, and consciously flooded his mind with overtly confident thoughts.
With bowl in hand, he hopped gracefully onto the railing, feet pivoting to a well-balanced position. Turning toward Kiang, he bowed toward her, leg stretching backward to maintain his position, and bowl slowly drifting out of his grip to float beside him. "It was certainly a pleasure, Ms. Zhen." After a farewell flourish of his wrist, he spun upon his toes and started a prance around the shop upon the railing. This until he came upon a familiar face, and dismounted beside the young Risha, twirling in the air before he found gentle footing on the floor beside her. His bowl fell upon his open hand as he leaned back against the railing as if his acrobatics were truly of no effort. "How goes it, Risha? Come across any interesting tales so far?" In his silence that followed, he one again drew in some of his noodles with a slurp loud enough to show his appreciation for the meal.
E . .ʟ . .ʟ . .ᴇ . .ɴ . .ᴀ . .ʀ . .A A. . ɴ. . ɴ ' . ʟ. . ᴇ. . ᴀ. . H ...
______________________________________________________________________________________ A. . ɴ. . ɴ ' . ʟ. . ᴇ. . ᴀ. . H ..."But... you can't just leave the Hallowgrove!"
Elle's eyebrows pinched together at this. The boy was getting presumptuous. "And why can't I, Ainslen?" She crossed her arms, her slender form seeming stern as her gaze pierced his.
"I..." he gulped, caught off-balance, "The village needs you, Seeker."
He was just like his grandfather. So sure of himself, yet so easily pushed off his guard. Even though he had already grown to adulthood, he still reminded Elle of the day she caught that scamp picking away at her garden. She nearly sent the vines after the boy to scare him off, if it weren't for him offering her a flower from the nearby glade his family had claimed. That was a century ago, now. With any luck, Ainslen might even grow to be as compassionate as the man before him. Elle knew he had it within him.
Her stance lightened some, an arm unfolding from the other and fingers gently clasping at his shoulder. "No, you don't," her tone softened some, "Because you'll be their Seeker."
He looked to his shoulder, her hand resting upon it with reassurance, then back to her with a quizzical look. "But why? I ca--"
"Yes, you can," she interrupted, "They don't need as much guidance as you think, child." Her arm retracted, palms coming together in front of her with interlocking fingers.
Ainslen deflated a little, knowing not to question his Seeker's wisdom. "What is it that they need, Seeker?"
Her palms pushed away from each other, the spark of a flame ushering from between her fingers until they bore a small, primal flame. "Faith. Something that you have much more of than I, Seeker," she hissed the final word, having never approved of such a title for herself in the first place. The idly roiling ball of flame rested within her grip, and the heat drew close to him as she offered it.
His hands seemed to jitter just slightly as he cupped underneath the flame, taking it for his own. It pulsated some, distressed by the change of hands, but as radiant light twinkled at his fingertips, the fire grew docile. "Thank you, See--" he stopped himself, "Ellenara."
She gave a hint of a smile as he acknowledged the exchange of title. "If you've learned anything from me, it should be that all becomes well in time." Elle recited such words of reassurance, but he could tell that she didn't fully believe it.
He nodded solemnly in understanding. Tension released as he exhaled, visibly relaxing. "And when will you be leaving, then?"
"Before dusk. The deadline is tomorrow. You'll have to say my goodbyes to the village for me."
He seemed disheartened then, but maintained some resolve. "You can't do it yourself?"
She cocked a brow at him, "Do you have any idea how many things you must pack when you're my age? Besides, it'd just break my heart to have to give the little ones my farewell."
"I think they, most of all, would deserve at least some brief parting words before you vanish," he said grimly.
She gave a bit of an indignant pout, but ultimately conceded that he was right. "Fine, go gather them while I collect my things."
Ainslen set off with a respectful bow. After only an hour or so he returned to her cottage doorstep with nearly the entire town at his back. Protest all he might, he's a skilled organizer. The sight of all of them made her sob. She'd been there for their whole lives, many since their and their parents' births, and then she had to go. And whether or not she was ready to pass, should this quest become her last, she wasn't ready to tell all of those familiar faces that she might be headed to her demise. Not even Ainslen, the most devout and capable of her students, would know of the potential finality of this parting.
Finally, as she pulled open a portal into the side of the largest tree in Hallowgrove, she left behind a single flower. Ultimately returning her gift to the glade.
Elle's eyebrows pinched together at this. The boy was getting presumptuous. "And why can't I, Ainslen?" She crossed her arms, her slender form seeming stern as her gaze pierced his.
"I..." he gulped, caught off-balance, "The village needs you, Seeker."
He was just like his grandfather. So sure of himself, yet so easily pushed off his guard. Even though he had already grown to adulthood, he still reminded Elle of the day she caught that scamp picking away at her garden. She nearly sent the vines after the boy to scare him off, if it weren't for him offering her a flower from the nearby glade his family had claimed. That was a century ago, now. With any luck, Ainslen might even grow to be as compassionate as the man before him. Elle knew he had it within him.
Her stance lightened some, an arm unfolding from the other and fingers gently clasping at his shoulder. "No, you don't," her tone softened some, "Because you'll be their Seeker."
He looked to his shoulder, her hand resting upon it with reassurance, then back to her with a quizzical look. "But why? I ca--"
"Yes, you can," she interrupted, "They don't need as much guidance as you think, child." Her arm retracted, palms coming together in front of her with interlocking fingers.
Ainslen deflated a little, knowing not to question his Seeker's wisdom. "What is it that they need, Seeker?"
Her palms pushed away from each other, the spark of a flame ushering from between her fingers until they bore a small, primal flame. "Faith. Something that you have much more of than I, Seeker," she hissed the final word, having never approved of such a title for herself in the first place. The idly roiling ball of flame rested within her grip, and the heat drew close to him as she offered it.
His hands seemed to jitter just slightly as he cupped underneath the flame, taking it for his own. It pulsated some, distressed by the change of hands, but as radiant light twinkled at his fingertips, the fire grew docile. "Thank you, See--" he stopped himself, "Ellenara."
She gave a hint of a smile as he acknowledged the exchange of title. "If you've learned anything from me, it should be that all becomes well in time." Elle recited such words of reassurance, but he could tell that she didn't fully believe it.
He nodded solemnly in understanding. Tension released as he exhaled, visibly relaxing. "And when will you be leaving, then?"
"Before dusk. The deadline is tomorrow. You'll have to say my goodbyes to the village for me."
He seemed disheartened then, but maintained some resolve. "You can't do it yourself?"
She cocked a brow at him, "Do you have any idea how many things you must pack when you're my age? Besides, it'd just break my heart to have to give the little ones my farewell."
"I think they, most of all, would deserve at least some brief parting words before you vanish," he said grimly.
She gave a bit of an indignant pout, but ultimately conceded that he was right. "Fine, go gather them while I collect my things."
Ainslen set off with a respectful bow. After only an hour or so he returned to her cottage doorstep with nearly the entire town at his back. Protest all he might, he's a skilled organizer. The sight of all of them made her sob. She'd been there for their whole lives, many since their and their parents' births, and then she had to go. And whether or not she was ready to pass, should this quest become her last, she wasn't ready to tell all of those familiar faces that she might be headed to her demise. Not even Ainslen, the most devout and capable of her students, would know of the potential finality of this parting.
Finally, as she pulled open a portal into the side of the largest tree in Hallowgrove, she left behind a single flower. Ultimately returning her gift to the glade.
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Elle hadn't tasted the seaside air in her lungs in literal ages. The cool breeze lapping at warm air was just as refreshing as it was soothing. The bustle of city life was much more intense than the meager activity of her village, but she was able to easily find quiet rest within the wooded mountains nearby. Finding makeshift lodging becomes much simpler when you can shift into the form of a beast more suited to such environs.
In the morning she found the city itself to be quite stunning. She had wondered if her village would've enjoyed visiting Mavros, but found that they were much less comfortable with buildings than she was. The vast vistas reminded her of the heavily populated provinces she'd travel to with her adventuring companions. Such reminiscence seemed fitting for the calling she found herself drawn to then.
The meeting wasn't to be had until sundown, and so Elle took it upon herself to absorb some of the sights about the city. The winds felt freeing under eagle's wings as she swooped over congested streets. The rooftops provided a playful challenge as her feline paws leaped from building to building. And the shops below produced such bittersweet brews that delighted her elven senses.
Elle had chances to act friendly with several young people during her little journey. She arm wrestled a burly tavern patron as a bear, earning a pint of wine after her victory. One child she found in an alley she was traversing as a cat seemed lost, and she offered them an eagle-ride back home. Along the steep shore she spoke to a school of fish about how to best avoid the gulls just after instructing the gulls on proper diving tactics. It felt good to be outside.
As the sky started to tint violet, Elle headed along the roads toward the summit Seat. Raven feathers took to the dimming skies as she soared overhead. It wasn't long until she spotted a cluster of variously armed and armored folk strolling down the main thoroughfare. Banking low, she followed them along the sidelines for a time within her inconspicuous form.
She noticed the twin riders first as they started to converse. The masked one seemed to be kind despite how she was clearly armed to tooth and nail. The horserider seemed almost exhausted, though not physically, as if the years had eroded his tenacity. She had not noticed the avid cutpurse until he was called out by the group's elder. That one carried himself unassumingly, but it looked as if his age had treated him quite well.
She dipped aside in the air, gliding in beside their number until she was near enough to the cobbled path that she shifted to her true form and immediately found a walking pace next to them. Looking them all over from the more personal vantage, she chuckled to herself. "A ragtag bunch of misfits, I see. How fitting!"
Elle found herself put together with a new gang.
In the morning she found the city itself to be quite stunning. She had wondered if her village would've enjoyed visiting Mavros, but found that they were much less comfortable with buildings than she was. The vast vistas reminded her of the heavily populated provinces she'd travel to with her adventuring companions. Such reminiscence seemed fitting for the calling she found herself drawn to then.
The meeting wasn't to be had until sundown, and so Elle took it upon herself to absorb some of the sights about the city. The winds felt freeing under eagle's wings as she swooped over congested streets. The rooftops provided a playful challenge as her feline paws leaped from building to building. And the shops below produced such bittersweet brews that delighted her elven senses.
Elle had chances to act friendly with several young people during her little journey. She arm wrestled a burly tavern patron as a bear, earning a pint of wine after her victory. One child she found in an alley she was traversing as a cat seemed lost, and she offered them an eagle-ride back home. Along the steep shore she spoke to a school of fish about how to best avoid the gulls just after instructing the gulls on proper diving tactics. It felt good to be outside.
As the sky started to tint violet, Elle headed along the roads toward the summit Seat. Raven feathers took to the dimming skies as she soared overhead. It wasn't long until she spotted a cluster of variously armed and armored folk strolling down the main thoroughfare. Banking low, she followed them along the sidelines for a time within her inconspicuous form.
She noticed the twin riders first as they started to converse. The masked one seemed to be kind despite how she was clearly armed to tooth and nail. The horserider seemed almost exhausted, though not physically, as if the years had eroded his tenacity. She had not noticed the avid cutpurse until he was called out by the group's elder. That one carried himself unassumingly, but it looked as if his age had treated him quite well.
She dipped aside in the air, gliding in beside their number until she was near enough to the cobbled path that she shifted to her true form and immediately found a walking pace next to them. Looking them all over from the more personal vantage, she chuckled to herself. "A ragtag bunch of misfits, I see. How fitting!"
Elle found herself put together with a new gang.
Demonstrating that the header thing will collapse on itself if you keep running your mouth for several lines of text. And it is really annoying and constraining because I would like to make it look small and use it for normal dialogue for use of the font but it doesn't play well with itself or with normal text.
Only happens if you sub or sup a header x.x
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20th level Druid of the Moon
"Adventurers: Individually, and collectively, fumbling our way through existence."
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E n c h a n t i n g G e i s h a
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As the ship slowed into the dock, the anticipation of the welcoming crowd became more readily apparent. The feeling of excitement washed over the travelers at the chorus of adulation. Natsumi waved to the townsfolk as he stepped onto the landing. Blossom petals brushed gently against his face and nestled themselves in his luxurious silver hair. His eyes seemed to brighten at the praise as he put on a tried and true smile.
"You do love the attention, don't you, dear?" The words slithered into his mind in a husky whisper.
"Why I'm just putting up a friendly face for the team is all," he retorted internally, his tone mimicking that of a child feigning innocence while wrist-deep in the cookie jar. His gleaming expression didn't flinch at the private exchange. Wading through the crowd, the party was led into the ever-so-recently mentioned noodle house. While he didn't find himself as famished as the young dragonkin, a free meal would certainly be well appreciated after their time at travel.
As the noodles were served to him within the establishment, a point of his finger caused an invisible force to scoop the bowl and lift it to him. He bowed graciously as he took the chopsticks by hand from his server and soon set off. He spotted a woman of interesting tone of skin, nearly that of scarlet, leaning over the balcony above and made an approach. With sauntering steps, bowl hovering beside him, he made his way to the horned woman above. "I didn't know we'd such attractive competition," he said as he leaned his side to the railing beside her. He took in a long column of noodles in the silence between words.
"You do love the attention, don't you, dear?" The words slithered into his mind in a husky whisper.
"Why I'm just putting up a friendly face for the team is all," he retorted internally, his tone mimicking that of a child feigning innocence while wrist-deep in the cookie jar. His gleaming expression didn't flinch at the private exchange. Wading through the crowd, the party was led into the ever-so-recently mentioned noodle house. While he didn't find himself as famished as the young dragonkin, a free meal would certainly be well appreciated after their time at travel.
As the noodles were served to him within the establishment, a point of his finger caused an invisible force to scoop the bowl and lift it to him. He bowed graciously as he took the chopsticks by hand from his server and soon set off. He spotted a woman of interesting tone of skin, nearly that of scarlet, leaning over the balcony above and made an approach. With sauntering steps, bowl hovering beside him, he made his way to the horned woman above. "I didn't know we'd such attractive competition," he said as he leaned his side to the railing beside her. He took in a long column of noodles in the silence between words.
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