Ascending Legends

[BookWyrm]

Dayn took a deep breath, steadying himself for what he was about to say. "I'm........I'm a lycanthrope." Dayn scooted back into his seat some and stared at the floor, waiting for some kind of judgement. "A uh.......a werewolf, if that makes more sense." He looked up at Matthias, switching to Kalie as he tried to read their expression.

 

[Dragongal]

Both Kalie and Matthias looked at him for a few seconds while Theodas sat a bit awkwardly, not sure where to look.. "Is... is this a joke?" "No, I can vouch for him... it is not a joke. Both of them have assured me that he's no danger, though." Kalie and Matthias sat in silence for a nother few moments, trying to process this information, both of them rather shell-shocked. "Um... Ok, tell us exactly what that means you can do...? Or can't do...."

 

[BookWyrm]

"I know it sounds crazy. I get that. I'd have thought it was a joke as well." At their question Dayn shrugged slightly, scratching the back of his head nervously. He didn't know exactly how to explain it. No one had ever asked him to before, but then again he hadn't come out and told anyone else before. "Would...." Do I really want to say this?, "Would it just be better to show you?" Dayn looked at Matthias, trying his best not to seem off putting or offensive. Theodas was there to vouch for him, but even he hadn't seen what Dayn could really do.

 

[Dragongal]

Matthias looked to Kalie and Theodas, then nodded. "More for proof than anything." "If you can control it, of course...."

 

[BookWyrm]

"I can," Dayn replied as he stood up, "other wise I wouldn't have suggested it. I guess I'll be back in a second, I just need to borrow a spare room. Just know that I won't be able to speak, but not matter what you see remember that it is me." After being shown to a room Dayn took off his belt, boots, and clothing, laying them all neatly out before closing his eyes and shifting. The sensation was familiar and honestly welcomed. Within a few seconds he walked back into the main room and stood, letting the others look him over as he awaited their reactions, or judgement.

 

[Dragongal]

All three of them jumped out of their chairs. "High Ones!" "Gods damn...." "I thought you'd be smaller....." Theodas cleared his throat and said, "I think that's proved it.... Matthias, Kalie, both he and Arryn have assured me that he has full control in this state. So, he'd really be a valuable asset... as long as nobody else found out."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn casually walked forward and sat down in front of Matthias and Kalie. Of course by sitting down he was still close to being eye to eye with Matthias in his chair. His ears laid back slightly as he tried to convey a less intimidating look. I wish Arryn was here, she could at least tell them what I'm thinking.

 

[Dragongal]

Kalie slowly reached out and gently petted Dayn's head. "Well, this is something I've never worked with...." "So, he can just do this... whenever he likes? Huh... There has to be a drawback in there somewhere." "Besides everyone wishing to kill him, you mean?" "Well... yeah. Honestly, if I hadn't known him, but I saw a wolf this size, I'd probably try to hunt it. If I'd believed the rumors that lycanthropes exist, I'd probably hve hunted him down. But this all seems kind of harmless...."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn licked Kalie's hand almost on instinct, only to stop, his tongue hanging out as he thought about the notion. That was weird. He pulled his tongue back into his mouth before looking around, trying to ignore the fact that he just licked the hand of someone he wasn't all that familiar with. In his defense he was used to Arryn doing things such as scratching behind his ears, so it was a common reaction between the two of them. Drawbacks, right. Dayn stood up and plodded back into the room before shifting and getting dressed again. He walked back into the room with the others. "Silver is a large draw back. As you can see I don't keep any on my person, that is for a good reason." Dayn sat down in his chair again. "Well, I feel very awkward and exposed right now. So, any questions? Concerns?"

 

[Dragongal]

All three were silent for a bit. Finally Matthias said, "I think in brutal honesty we're still processing it... we'll let you know when we think of something."





Arryn had again woken up to agony, barely able to even stay conscious as she lay curled up on her side. Lenza was making another potion for the pain but in the mean time Arryn was miserable. "I-I want Dayn... but I... don't want him seeing me... like this." "Arryn, he's hunting the poisoner down, he should know exactly what the poison was." "He'll... just worry more. He can't do... anything, I don't want him going after someone in pure... anger... gods, dammit...." Lenza finished the potion, giving it to Arryn, leaving her curled up and panting, though the pain was starting to ease a bit. Lenza pulled a blanket over her, knowing she probably felt cold - which she did.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn gave a short sigh. "At least none of you have threatened to kill me yet, so we're good as far as that goes." Dayn had been feeling anxious ever since he left Arryn earlier, though the whole revealing his secret to the others kind of trumped it for a while. But now that he was less worried about being killed Dayn felt his connection to Arryn flair up again. He began tapping his foot, slowly picking up the pace before he scratched at his growing beard nervously. He felt anxious, subconsciously realizing Arryn wasn't doing well. He rubbed his face, shaking his head slightly, his foot tapping up and down all the while. He became twitchy, sort of nervous looking. Finally he realized what was going on and closed his eyes, a couple of tears sliding down his cheeks, though he wasn't losing his composure again.


"She's not doing to well.", he said at last. He crossed his arms over his knees before laying his chin on his arms. He knew he would probably need to explain that as well. "I have an empathetic connection with Arryn. It's another part of my lycanthropy. I can communicate with her telepathically, its only one way though, me to her. We're also connected emotionally, though it's her to me. Its not like with everyone else. I can sense emotion and attitude change in others, but with her it's instinctual, slightly precognition. I've noticed it when we sleep. She had a nightmare one night, and I woke because I felt her anxiety from it." He realized he had been rambling a bit. He sighed apologetically. "I just feel her discomfort, even from here."

 

[Dragongal]

"Maybe you should go to her." "She'd hate being caught in such vulnerability, love." "Or it would help her since it's him, her betrothed." "Or it'd make it worse for her pride." The two deliberated back and forth. Theodas just looked at Dayn and shrugged. "Do whatever you think you should do. We won't tell anyone about your lycanthropy, and in honesty I think they're still processing it."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn gave Theodas a faint smile. "I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about her, and about the fact that the one responsible for the poison is still out there." Dayn rubbed his temples as he tried to think through a plan, doing his best to put the other feelings out for now. "I know Arryn. If I'm feeling what I am I know she isn't doing well, and no doubt would want me there, but I also know that she is strong willed and worries about being vulnerable. She is in good hands, and even if I did go over there Mum would probably drive me out of the room with a cudgel." Dayn laughed slightly. He already had a love for the old woman, something he couldn't recall ever feeling towards Kara's mother.





"I know it is a bit of a shock for both of you that your best friend is marrying a wolf, but we can deal with that later. Right now the best thing we can do for Arryn is to track down the lead we got from Esclaire last night. But, I don't want to leave Mum and Arryn alone. I'd like someone to keep watch from here, if someone wouldn't mind."

 

[Dragongal]

"I hate this... idea..." "But you know it works." "Hate...it... so much!" "Understandably, but we need to get it out of you - your body isn't able to get rid of it, and I can't counter it. And I need to see if it's what we think it is." "Hate... it...." "Shush, and stop squirming." Lenza took a knife and made a small slit on Arryn's forearm, letting some blood out. What was unexpected was Arryn's cries of pain - her blood burned on her skin, every centimeter of skin her blood touched, felt like acid-soaked steel wool was grating against. This continued until Lenza filled a vial with her blood, then cleaned and bound the slit so no more blood got on her skin. Arryn laid there, panting, trying to catch her breath before the pain could come back.


"Well, one girl should always go with - you know that." "Some around here aren't quire fond of me.... However, I am good at discreet reconnaissance, and doing roof-runs, to keep an arrow on an enemy without them seeing." "It would look natural if I were with Kalie, like we were just out with Dayn. Very little suspicion raised. However, being seen armed might raise suspicion, or make certain people hide, so we couldn't be heavily armed and might be in a position to be hurt."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn nodded, understanding each perspective. He felt like he was back on the campaign again, which wasn't a pleasant thought at all. "Theodas, if you don't mind watching the house Kalie, Matthias, and I will-" Dayn stopped mid sentence, his eyes clenching shut as he grabbed his arm, which tensed up to the point that his veins and muscles bulged out against his skin. "GODS! SHIT!" He hadn't felt such pain in his life. It felt like his arm was burning. Dayn tried his best not to scream, but the pain brought tears streaking down his face nonetheless. Finally, though, the pain ended. Dayn gasped, trying to catch his breath. "Gods......Arryn..." The tears were now falling from pity instead of pain. He wiped his eyes before straightening up again, looking up to the others. "Sorry about that. Anyways, Theodas if you could watch the house, Kalie, Matthias, and I will search for the lead." Dayn stood up, looking like nothing had just happened, and undid his bastard sword from his belt before handing it to Theodas. "I won't be needing this for now."

 

[Dragongal]

Theodas took his weapon with a nod. Kalie and Matthias exchanged questioning glances, then tuned to Dayn. "Well, she said he was one of the newer ones in the village. Most of them live toward the markets, in the NorthEast corner." The two led Dayn through the village, avoiding main streets where possible, but overall staying casual. "We're looking for someone with blonde, short hair, not too tall, tan, no scars. This will be fun." "How do you want to look for him? Ask about him from the sources or walk around and hope?"

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn felt slightly odd walking through the village with Matthias and Kalie, but they proved to be good company and rather knowledgeable, so it wasn't too bad. "If I had his scent I could sniff him out, but since that is not the case we should probably find out who it is and what they do. I can pull the noble card if I must, but I don't want to if I don't have to."

 

[Dragongal]

"You were right." "Told you... so...." "You know what that means." "Naturally....""There's not much I can do. The bloodletting seemed to help." "Don't... even think... about it." "We'll have to do it eventually." "Not... the point."





"Alright, go with whatever Kalie says, alright?" Kalie walked ahead, looking around. She caught the attention of a food vendor, asking very politely and sweetly, "Hello, we're trying to help Dayn find an acquaintance of his who is supposed to live around here? Do you know him? Bit taller than Dayn, blonde, short hair, tan skin - " "Tan?" The old man asked with a smile. "That narrows it down if nothing else does. He comes by here some days, hasn't lived here long at all. I think he called himself O'Rourke."

 

[BookWyrm]

O'Rourke, that narrows it down nicely. "Well you wouldn't happen to know where I could find him, would you? I have important business dealings with him and they must be settled in a timely manner." Dayn flashed a gold coin at the vendor discreetly, emphasizing his point.

 

[Dragongal]

The vendor shrugged. "He lives in the Northeast corner like all the other newcomers, but that's it. Man doesn't talk much a'tall, but seems to have plenty of money. You might want to ask around down there." Kalie and Matthias exchanged glances, before nodding. They knew people who lived down that way.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn flipped the coin to the vendor, flashing a a discreetly fake smile before nodding and walking off. "Well, that was kind of helpful. What is important about this Northeast corner?"

 

[Dragongal]

"It's near a path that leads to a city in the central North, Logsliabh, Mountain's Hollow. Huge trade district for metals, ores, gems, wood, anything, really. So, when new people come here, they usually build their houses near that path - they like being able to see their way back, I guess." Kalie and Matthias led him to a section of newer houses. Matthias stopped them outside of one house and said, "Allow me," before walking into the building. He came out a few minutes later, saying, "He's in the house with a grey door, apparently. Dunno if he's home." Matthias led Kalie and Dayn down the street, before stopping in front of a house with a grey door. He walked up and knocked, to no answer. "Love?" Kalie walked over and bent down, pulling out a set of lockpicks before going at the lock. Less than half a minute later, there was a faint click, and she stood up, opening the door. She looked to Dayn. "Would you like to go first?"

 

[BookWyrm]

"With pleasure." Dayn passed over the door step and took a long sniff, letting his nose work out the smells. There wasn't much to be seen inside the house. It almost looked like a front, a facade. "It's empty." Dayn looked around for clothing or anything that he could use to pinpoint a smell. There was a desk in the room, and something on it caught Dayn's eye. He walked over and picked up the item, which turned out to be a folded grey cloak. He held it up to his face as he took a deep breath, only to have a startled look come over his face. He opened the cloak, noticing old blood around the hem. "This....was Arryn's. What the Hel is it doing here?"

 

[Dragongal]

Matthias walked over with a look of bewilderment on his face. He took the cloak from Dayn, holding it up to look at its length and color. "Gods above...." he whispered. He looked to Dayn and said, "When the banshees attacked the team, she lost her cloak in the church. When we dragged the corpses - and her - out of the church, we left the cloak on the ground - I figured I could go back for it. I never did. She used to wear this light grey all the time, it was her favorite, until her eyes silvered, then she couldn't stand it - it reminded her of her eyes too much, she said."





"So this man was involved in the trap... so... did he leave it here to taunt us?" "That or he wants to leave some kind of trail for us."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn's anger got the better of him, if only for a moment, causing a short shift. He snarled, his face taking on a more wolf-like appearance very quickly. "When I find this bastard.....", Dayn growled before he stopped, took a breath and calmed down before shifting back to normal. "Sorry. Anyways, that won't help now." Dayn looked at the cloak, carefully running his hands over the material like he had found some precious linen of silk. It may have been worthless, perhaps even hated by Arryn now, but this had been a part of her, something she enjoyed that had been taken from her. "I think I know where this is all leading back to, and if I'm right." Dayn looked up at Matthias and Kalie. "Before we go any further we need to think. Is there anything else that sticks out to you about that night? Any clues or anything that might have seemed insignificant at the time?"