Fantasy Farewell to Kings: Temple of Hyxia

[Jodyguru]

“She’s a bounty hunter! She’s captured me, an innocent citizen of Paladina!” Aida called out to them. She still had her blindfold on.
The ranting seemed to go unnoticed, which only frustrated the dhampiress

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Ivsal laughed. "Rheitz? The Toccash are warriors but not bounty hunters. Besides, Rheitz is not strong enough to hold such an occupation!" He patted the goat girl's head. "You must join us!" Tobesi smiled.

"Tobesi, isn't that the woman who killed off those fiend wolves?" Ivsal nudged his wife, pointing at Aida. "You are our savior! Our herds would not have been safe without you." Ivsal rushed to the dhampiress and bowed elegantly. "We must honor you with a feast!"

Rheitz gawked. "I-I-Uncle! I don't think that's a good idea..." Ivsal laughed. "What? Our tribe has been needing a reason to celebrate for a long time. Go get your friends!"

 

[Jodyguru]

Rhietz ran back to camp and found the silver violin laying by a smoldering log. There was rustling and noises coming from the hidden cave.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

"W-where is everyone?" She frowned, glancing down at the violin. "Enius, Tobias? Winston?" Her head turned to the noise, her brow furrowing in confusion. There were strange noises coming from the hidden cave and she crept her way forward. "H-hello?" Her hands lifted up to reach the curtain.

 

[Jodyguru]

Peering inside, was total darkness. The noises were of exhales and giggling, followed by an “ouch” that sounded like Lautrec’s voice.

Einus grabbed the ram girl and tugged her away. “No peeping” he said.
Seeing the new people standing near camp, he moved to get between them and the dhampiress.
“Hello, I’m Einus, and I would be the bounty hunter. Taking her to the station tomorrow morning. Can’t trust these bat people at night. She is a killer at heart.”
“He sounds like he’s in love.” Aida mused, trying to mess with him.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Rheitz frowned at Enius, confused. "I-what are they doing?". Ivsal stomped his hoof. "You shall do no such thing. Bounty or not, this woman saved our herd. We would like to welcome her, as well as your friends-" he lifted his eyebrow a bit at a particularly loud sound from the smaller cave, "-to a feast." Tobesi giggled at the noise. "What on earth is so funny?" Rheitz mused. "Where are Lautrec and Delilah?! She's not being mean to him again, is she?"

 

[Jodyguru]

Einus laughed. “No, I think they’re getting along alright.”
Tobias laughed as well.
“We’d love to join you for a feast. Best to travel there tonight.”
“I shall help prepare the feast with you.” Tobias said.
“We ain’t got time for a feast, and this bitch tried to kill my boss.” Winston said. “I don’t want her anywhere near me!”

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Ivsal frowned, sizing Winston up. "If you dare, we can fight here and now. Let us see who is truly right."

"Uncle, he was kidding!" Rheitz forced out a giggle, grabbing her uncle's arm. She pulled him along with her aunt. "You guys pack up! The map should lead you to the toll gate. I'll meet you there!"

 

[Jodyguru]

They tried to take the chains off of Aida, but once they fell, magically wrapped around her again.
“It’s not going to let her go unless Lautrec says so.” Tobias said.
”Well, go get this Lautrec fellow!” Ivsal said.
“He’s.. busy right now.” Einus responded.
“Goat Bollocks” Ivsal said.

Lautrec sat up. He was sweat and panting.
“You hear that?” Lautrec asked. Someone was demanding to see the dhampir. He wanted to close his eyes and fall asleep.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Delilah sighed leaning against his chest as she moved a few bits of his hair behind his ear. "Think they know what we're doing?" she eyed the curtain, letting out a small laugh. "Nevermind. They'll figure it out from all the bruises."

 

[Jodyguru]

“I don’t care if they know.” He kissed her neck, drawing on her skin with his fang. He was such a tease.
“Get dressed or stay. I’m gonna see what they want.” He threw some leggings on and stepped outside.
The skinny paleblood showed himself. He saw people trying to unchain his sister.
“Let her go.” Lautrec said. Winston looked over, just glad to have him here.
“She’s dangerous, and I will fight to keep her prisoner.“ he locked eyes with Ivsal. The sight of this creature made the goatman shrink.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Delilah managed to put her clothes back on fast enough before a fight broke out. Pushing the curtain aside, she stepped out, wiping a strand of sweaty hair from her forehead.
"Ah. Ithmora Ivsal! Friend, please understand that Lautrec has the best interests in mind. We have faced many fights with this woman and wish to remain the victors." she bowed low as a greeting.
Ivsal nodded. "I was inviting you to a feast. My niece is apparently traveling with you and as this woman has protected our herds, we are grateful."
He eyed the strange marks on her neck, before turning to face the whole group. "Please pack up quickly. I shall lead you to the toll gate."

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec took the girl under his careful watch, but also had his eyes on Delilah’s behind.
“If she took payment already for the work, there’s no need to celebrate her.” Lautrec said. “Yesterday she may have been a hero, but today she’s a criminal.”

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Ivsal glared at the dhampir. "Xoxae, who is this rude man? Is he asking for a fight?!" he stomped his hoof twice, as if calling some sort of strange ritual. Delilah laughed, shaking her head. "Despite how much passion this man has," she glanced at Lautrec, giving him a wink, "-he is not looking for a fight Ivsal. He respects your position. He only fears for your safety."

Ivsal nodded, though he still gave Lautrec a cautious look. "This man clearly doesn't know that she called a pack of wolves away from our herds. They have been plaguing us for months and have cost us many of our young."

Delilah nodded. "I see. We shall come to your feast then, though we must ask to keep her in chains." She bowed her head to the faun before standing upright. Ivsal frowned at the marks on her neck. "Xoxae, there are bruises on your neck. I have some salve, if you would like to heal them quickly."

Delilah let out a chuckle. "I'd like to keep these Ivsal. They remind me of....my position." Ivsal frowned, but questioned her no more.

"Come. We must reach the gate!"

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec gave Delilah a sly smile. “We’ll follow you, then.” He grabbed the dhampir girl and moved her towards the horse. Aida punched Lautrec as hard as she could in between his legs. He barely grunted, and shoved her along.
They got on their horses and travelled through the night with the goat people of Red Desert.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Ivsal and Delilah chatted as the group rode down the road. Enius, Tobias, and Winston rode back with Lautrec as the Red Queen and Rheitz's uncle rode in front.

"So, how were things in that cave?" Enius grinned, tipping the brim of his hat to hide his smug smile. Tobias blushed, looking away as if he were disconnected from the conversation.

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec coughed and looked up ahead, watching everything with his perfect darkvision.
“I’d rather not say.” He said softly. “But I know that won’t satisfy you. I’ll just say that she’s a wildcat.” He chuckled.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Enius laughed, though rather roughly. Tobias blushed even harder. Aida frowned, "What's wrong with him?". Winston rolled his eyes. "The kid's still a virgin. He's embarrassed whenever someone talks about it." Enius glanced at Winston. "You might as well be one yourself." Winston turned red, "H-hey! Shut up! I've done it like...twice." Enius laughed, "And...?" Winston scowled, "Oh shut up. You better not hurt our boss dhampir, or we'll screw you over real good."

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec exhaled and looked towards the men.
“On my knighthood, I will not harm her, at least, not more than she asks.” He smirked and rode up ahead to see Delilah again.
”The guys are asking about us. Who wants to tell Rhietz?” He asked her. Another question he thought of, but didn’t ask, was what the two of them were now.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

"Tell her that you marked me up so much that even a stranger could tell that we had sex?" she touched her neck which was covered in small bruises and a few teeth marks. After a minute, she turned to face the road.
"You should. She trusts you the most right now. My choking you has made me look rather dangerous in her eyes."

 

[Jodyguru]

He nodded, and handed her his scarf to cover her love bites.
“Yes, mi amoré.” He said in his devilishly sweet voice and rode off to ride alongside Rhietz.
“I can’t wait to see her freak out.” Aida said. Lautrec knocked her in the head to knock her out.
“Hello Rhi.” He said as he approached on his horse.
“So you know that problem I had? Taken care of. Turns out, I have more to like about Delilah than I realized. You could say we... buried the casket.”

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

"You're just saying that so that I don't get mad anymore," Rhietz muttered, clearly missing the point of his statement, "She hurt you. How could you like her? I mean, I liked her, but she strangled my friend!"

Delilah watched, trying to suppress a laugh.

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec sighed. “No, I mean I like her a lot. You know, a lot?” He pointed with his eyes downward. He hoped she’d figure it out. The noises they made in the cave should’ve told her enough, but she was famously dense.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

"Sure. Keep trying, it's not gonna work. Anyway, what were you doing in that cave with her? She wasn't hurting you, right?" she turned away from him before she could catch his gesture, studying the night sky.

 

[Jodyguru]

“Well, kinda. It’s what we enjoy doing.” He saw her looking at the sky.
“We had sex.” He coughed, speaking quickly. At this point he wished Aida had blew his brains out on that mountain.