Fantasy Realms of Nymserine: Main Thread [[CLOSED]]

[BugDozer73]

Roland nearly lost his head as a chunk of wood flew back at him at blinding speeds. In a last minute duck, Roland hit the ground hard, the wood barrage whipping overhead and sending Charlotte flying. He lifted up and called her name in distress, but saw her shake it off with some effort and let out a sigh of relief. Roland stood and turned to see the bandits rage forward and form a wall of steel, bristling with spears and a woman walking out before them.

She was bold, average height, with eyes brimming with resolve. Her hair was pale under the moonlight, and she wore bright colored garments, easily distinguishable from the other bandits. Beyond her physical appearance, there was a powerful magical aura emanating from her presence, and Roland knew she was in charge.

Az was gone, with Pyrrhus out trying to find her. Charlotte was struggling to get back on her feet. The little fairy was most likely dancing in the trees, leaving only himself and Verity behind him. He could feel his options being sucked out to sea. There was no way he could slice his way through that shield wall, and the mage before him seemed to be able to take any direct magic and toss it right back at him. More and more he mulled with the idea of summoning some lightning, but he had never touched that power before, and was eager to not send out a calling card to anyone hunting Demi-gods. No, there was still one way forward.

"We have a front door you know," Kezine said, walking slowly through the rubble with her staff over her shoulder. "Why don't you come back after you've learned some manners?"

Roland looked back at Verity with a small smile budding on his face, and he winked at her, hoping she knew him well enough to know what to do when the panic happened.

"Sorry.." He said, raising to his full height. "Let me try knocking."

He closed his eyes and began to mutter, his body floating gently six feet into the air.

"Ita tivel kra-agan cuul sunari ven draa!"

The air around Roland began to compress, and his eyes opened gleaming with an emerald brilliance. A light formed around him, happing itself into a giant, see through green glowing octopus, with Roland floating in its head, controlling its body with his own. Roland turned to the wall and raised his hand, and a giant green tentacle came crashing down on the shield wall, crushing several bandits and sending some nearby flying away from the crash.

 

[Melon Bomb]

No sooner than Charlotte had recollected her thoughts, another light pierced through the darkness - it was just one thing after another, and when that light finally materialized, she knew she was out of her league. A little disappointed, she retreated further back and masked herself behind the shrubbery. Better play it safe this time, it was entirely possible that even Adrian might not be able to contest this kind of power. . .

Kezine stepped back, skirting the boundary of the devastating blow. Needless to say, from the look on her face you could that this wasn't exactly what she was expecting.

Charlotte blinked between the two sides as the stakes grew increasingly more absurd. It wasn't the craziest thing she'd seen, admittedly, but if this becomes a regular thing it might surpass it in no time. Then, Kezine did something rather strange - she held her staff horizontally, almost like. . .

Then, it clicked.

That's not a staff.

There was a flicker and suddenly a blade of absurd length flashed out of its sheath - it was expelled with such force that the simple act of drawing it caused the earth around her to tremble, and the following arc of razor wind that blasted outward dwarfed the circumference of the clearing. Charlotte's eyes widened as the tree providing her cover was nearly split in two - had she been standing, she would've been dead on the spot. Upon closer inspection, it looked like the surviving bandits had instantly dropped prone on the ground. They were already well-acquainted with this maneuver, by the looks of it.

That can't be good.

 

[Purize]

That same feeling sang through the air, like a hum of energy accumulating in one spot. This time, Verity was prepared for it and crossed her arms in front of her in the shape of an X, creating a shield of mana around her. It was up just in time for the demolished wooden fence to be thrown back in their faces, and it its wake stood the mage. Verity could feel her presence like a pulse, a special signature that all magic users had. Generally it was dormant until they used their powers and mana hung like residue in the air around them, but with others you could tell just by looking at them. Power clung to their skin and permeated the space around them. From the earlier blasts of mana, Verity could already tell they were in way over their heads, but now, face to face....

Roland turned to wink at Verity and she was momentarily confused by the almost sudden and clearly misplaced gesture. She wasn't sure by he meant by it, but what he did next stunned her even more. His body lifted into the air like he was possessed and he gleamed with a brilliance of jade and emerald colors before taking the form of a massive, awe-inspiring, breath-taking...... octopus...? Was that what that was?

Verity ran several feet from Roland as he took the beast's form and watched as destruction ensued, his tentacles crashing down over the unfortunate wall of bandits that surrounded their leader. The woman held her staff out in front of her and pulled it apart. For a moment, Verity thought she managed to break it somehow, until she saw the glint of metal under the moonlight. It was a sword. She unsheathed it and all hell broke loose. The earth tremored and a wave of air blasted in a wide radius from the mage. Verity saw the surviving bandits drop to the ground and Verity followed their led out of instinct, hugging the earth a little too hard as she dropped. There were sounds of things crashing and falling, trees she guessed, and she saw stars as she got to her feet again. She cleared her head, willing herself to stay focused as she walked towards the woman.

She stopped just a few feet away from her, her sword shining at her side, as sleek and silver as her hair, which shown like razors drifting in the soft wind. "You're blocking the main road to Aeredale." Verity spoke to the woman, her chin high. "Why?"

 

[BugDozer73]

Roland stumbled and braces against the force of the magic force, leaning back and groaning loudly. In a moment the power passed, and Roland opened his eyes and continued his work fighting off the bandits, who had risen and were now working hard to bring him down. Rows of spear jotted outwards at him, as faces both cruel and terrified looked upwards. Several cross bow bolts passed harmlessly through his umbra, and with a roar, he sweat aside several more men. There was slight panic as the rest of the men and women tore around Roland, stabbin and slicing and trying to avoid the storm of green magic tentacles.

 

[Melon Bomb]

With every strike the earth billowed into dust, and the night air was awash with the bitter taste of the sea. Like a tempest's fury, each swipe and pound of the tendrils beat like a drum, crashing as deadly waves against the shore of hapless survivors. Most of their number was too afraid to fight, and too afraid to turn their backs - the resulting state of frozen panic left them wide open, mercilessly pulverized by the tentacles. The more experienced bandits wisely backed away and turned tail, shouldering past Kezine in hopes of escaping with their lives. Even the rangers beyond the walls had all but vanished, dead or in hiding.

Kezine stared fearlessly into the face of the towering creature, sheath in one hand and sword in the other. Then, to the woman before her, who approached with strength and with dignity.

"I guess you could call it an open letter," she smirked, idly turning and rotating her sword about, her eyes following the gleam as she spoke. Slowly pacing to and fro, she continued, "There's a certain someone I've been trying to get in touch with for some time now. . . a crush of mine, you could say. Couldn't find him for the life of me. So, I thought if I raised a bit of hell he'd have no trouble finding me. The road to Aeredale - I mean, really. Doesn't get more conspicuous than this, don't you think?"

She cast her glance back to the elf.

"But you came instead. For the bounty, right?" Kezine brushed her hair behind her ear and gave a half-hearted shrug. "Adventurers these days. Can't really catch a break, can I?"

 

[Purize]

Verity smiled cordially at the woman and almost laughed at the surmountable efforts she'd pulled together to get this special person's attention. It was almost admirable. Almost.

"Well my friends were certainly excited on getting a little coin bonus... it's not everyday you come across such a large bounty after all..." She stabbed her sword into the ground and leaned casually on the hilt. "However, I'm more concerned by the fact that we need to get to Aeredale... it's a shame that you've block the only main and safe way to the capital city. So how about we strike a deal like civil women of similar arts? You dismantle your camp to let travelers pass, and we go on our merry way, and in return you and your remaining forces can relocate and not have to sit in some stinking prison, or lay six feet underground." Verity's ice blue eyes met the mage's with a cool gaze. "The choice is yours, milady."

Melon Bomb

 

[BugDozer73]

At the fleeing of the rest of the bandits, Roland closed his eyes and began to sink back to the earth, the green tentacled horror fading away into the night, until Roland’s feet landed on the earth. He sighed, wiping sweat from his brow from concentrating, and he smiled at Verity who was standing next to the... mage?

“Verity..... are we taking her prisoner?”

He looked at the woman confused, wondering where they would contain her, and why they would waste money on feeding her. Not to mention with the magic display from earlier he wasn’t entirely sure that they COULD contain her.

 

[SilverFlight]

Pyrrhus hadn't heard the fight boil down into a discussion. He had only scene the incredible feats of magic and he nearly hit a tree as he looked on instead of where he was running.
Jolted back to his task he pressed on, cantering a wide arc about the bandit camp to come the other side of it. There archers were preparing more shots, each on a small platform fixed to one of the only bits of wall still standing. Pyrrhus took a breath and galloped straight for the gap between the platforms. With their backs to him they couldn't see the sailing leap be took, blades out. One soldier was low enough that he caught Pyrrhus' blade in the stomach, the other platform was higher and Pyrrhus wounded in that shoulder. He slashes the ropes holding the wood beams in place and the platform toppled, taking the bandit with it. Once inside the camp Pyrrhus went about causing as much disruption in their backline as he could.
They would have to deal with him before anyone could raise another bow to his team.
Melon Bomb Purize BugDozer73 Zazz

 

[Melon Bomb]

Kezine repeated the elf's gesture, thrusting her sword into the grass and resting her weight on it with a sly grin - in part to mock her confidence and the self-assured delivery of her words. Badass one-liners and cool poses were her thing, not some runaway fugitive who was too afraid to show her face in public.

"You're awfully cocky for a pampered brat," she said, narrowing her lids. "Verity."

Her hands still on the pommel, she leaned her body back and stifled a laugh as she shook her head.

"Sorry. I'm joking, I don't know your life. But, I will tell you this: I have my own reasons for doing this." Kezine's eyes became softer, now disparate to the wanted princess's steeled gaze. "Believe me, I've considered my options. None of them are very good, I'll give you that, but I'll take what I can get." It was nothing new, really. She'd risked her life fighting for bottom-of-the-barrel scraps in the past, and now, twenty years later, it was still the same shit. She'd be ashamed of herself, if she could feel such a thing.

"I don't care where the bandits go. But I'm staying here, and if that means we're going to have to draw then by all-"

Kezine suddenly cut herself off and spun around to deflect an arrow with her sheath. The second, however, found its mark in her chest. She could only stagger back a few steps before her legs buckled and she dropped to her knees, gasping for breath as she clutched the stem of the arrow. Through her wavering vision, she saw figures approaching from the side.

Bertrand quickly dropped his bow and quiver and held his hands up as a sign that they were unarmed. The remaining handful of bandits were on his trail, equally empty-handed.

"She doesn't speak for us," the scout leader said hastily, slowly making their way to the group as he watched their expressions with fretful eyes. "We've all seen enough murder for one night, haven't we? We surrender, we'll clear the camp immediately. Just let us go and we will be on our way."

 

[Zazz]

There was a yet another burst of mana from the bandit leader and once again, Azaria's perch was compromised. She swore as the branch she had herself seated on broke right off, splintering with the rest of the tree. Once again, she crashed to the ground. She seethed in outrage. That was it. She had had enough of this wretched mage. Shakily, the assassin pushed herself up from the shredded tree limb, wincing when her head started to spin yet again. The ground tilted under her limping, but still, she pushed forward. Blood trickled from the side of her face; she wiped it on her sleeve, hissing at the slivers caught in her skin. Bloody mage.

Passing Charlotte, Azaria pushed forward with a murderous sort of determination in her deathly sharp green eyes. In her fists were her twin daggers, one with a red jewel and the other green. Revenge. She would slit her throat if it was the last thing she did.

But when she reached the camp, Kezine's own scout leader pulled the string of his bow and let loose an arrow, burying it in his leader's chest.

"Bloody fools." And then everything went black.

 

[SilverFlight]

It took a moment for Pyrrhus to realize the fighting had actually stopped. One by one the bandits raised their hands in surrender. Pyrrhus drew off, considering them for a moment. Before long he had marched the remainder of the bandits forward into the battlezone, weaponless, with their hands on their heads.
"We're not really just going to let a pack of thieves and murderers go free are we?"
He inquired with a raised eyebrow. His blades were still trained on the backs of his captives, he looked to Roland and Verity for their choice.
As the adrenaline began to die pain flared up in his shoulder, he tried his best not to show it. A ribbon of crimson streamed from the arrow wound in his shoulder down the side of his torso and began to matt the hair on his equine chest. He was not in the best shape to scrap with another ten men.

Purize BugDozer73

 

[Lekiel]

The flickering light of a torch weaved in and out among the tall trees, the amber glow casting dancing shadows as the undergrowth rustled with activity. The sound of hounds barking and whimpering could be heard, interspersed by muttered curses and shouts.

"RIM! COG! NOG! GET BACK HERE YOU COWARDLY BEASTS!" Boland the bandit houndmaster shouted, trying to reign in his hounds. He signaled with a sweep of his hand to Bob the bandit who had helped him chase the hounds.

"You go round the other side, we'll hem them in. They might stop when they see you!" The sight of the silver haired woman's magic had spooked the canines, but even then Boland fully expected the dogs to have stopped their senseless barking by now.... no, something is up. They're not normally like this... gotta be caref-

Boland burst through a brush and came upon a clearing. Bob was stood in front of him, obscuring his view of what lay beyond. Boland cocked his head quizzically, as he halted his pounding feet and tentatively stepped round to see what had caught his comrade's attention. The sound of crickets chirping in the forest brought a heady din into the already explosive - literally - night. Wait... crickets?? Unbidden, the fine hairs on the nape of his neck tingled as Boland realized that the hounds were no longer barking. It was at that moment that he drew alongside Bob. His jaw dropped at the sight before him.

"Man na`alya nurruroa!" Her voice was light and chirpy, childlike even. It reminded him of the cheery call of a nightbird. Those seemingly out-of-place occurrences, where everything seemed like it should be dark and haunting, until one stumbled upon an unexpected brightness. She was small, her face obscured by a deep blue cloak as she reached down to rub the belly of Cog and Nog, letting out a tinkling giggle. Rim lay to another side, tongue panting as he looked at the diminutive figure with adoring eyes. "Valin lle yonyo!-"

"Rim! To me boy! BOY!" Boland made a clucking noise, trying to get the lead hound's attention. Rim merely glanced in his direction, but casually looked away. Boland stared at his hounds incredulously, before he turned his attention to the petite girl. He immediately surmised that the girl was somehow related to the bunch of adventurers that had attacked their camp. But even if she was not... no one should ever dare take his hounds away from him. They were his to command! Nudging Bob, Boland drew his scimitar and advanced menacingly upon the girl. As he drew almost within reach, the girl suddenly stood to her feet. Her hood fell away revealing long brown hair, with two stubby horns poking out of her head. Her face was young and pixie-like. Yet to say she was but a child did not seem to fit quite right. Her dark irises were unfathomable, but she held her ground as the two approached her; then a frown crossed her pretty face.

"Have you seen my kitty, Finwinne?" The girl asked. The unorthodox question caught Boland off-guard, causing him to hesitate. The girl was staring right at him, a worried look on her face. TOKTOKTOKTOK! A peculiar knocking sound reverberated from somewhere behind Boland, but before he could turn to look, he saw the girl's eyes shift to watch something over his shoulder. Then Bob screamed, an utterly terrifying shriek of terror that froze Boland's blood to the marrow. Spinning with a whirl of his blade, he came face to face with a giant gaping maw of sharpened teeth.

"O shi-"

, . ; ` ' ~ * ~ ' ` ; . , . ; ` ' ~ * ~ ' ` ; . , . ; ` ' ~ * ~ ' ` ; . ​

AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeee... The shrieking wail echoed from within the darkness of the trees, barely loud enough for the back most bandits to hear. They looked over their backscos' they're the backmost bandits uneasily as they strode forwards into the remnants of their camp, hands up in surrender; shadowing their leader Bertrand.

All of a sudden, a dark looming shadow appeared beside them followed by the deep rumble of a savage beast. They turned in fright as a dark figure nearly twice the size of a fully grown grizzly stalked into the clearing. Long saber-like teeth glinted in the light of torches as smooth powerful muscles rippled along the flanks of the beast. Striding along beside it, was a petite girl.

"I'm... I- uhh- I thought the dogs could be of help, so I went after them." Fernwe twiddled her thumbs nervously when she caught sight of her companions. Then she glanced around the clearing and noted the lack of armed bandits. "I uhh... guess you guys didn't need my help? Heh... heh..." Fernwe's eyes shifted nervously again, eager to find something to do. Most of her group appeared cut and bruised, but all were still standing save for one. "Adamine's burp, is she alright?" The halfling cast the gathering one last surreptitious glance before hurrying over to the sprawled Azaria. She examined the halfelf with a once over before reaching into a pouch by her side. Pulling out a wad of bunch up herbs, Fernwe spat into the dried up leavesTO THE SOUND OF 'EWWWS' AND 'URGHSS' AND 'IM GONNA HURL' OF NEARBY BANDITS and attempted to stuff the bitter herbs into the halfelf's mouth. "Here, eat this, it'll get you on your feet at least!"

I say attempted, cause well... you can always wake up and reject that 'medicine' XDDD

TRANSLATIONS:-
Man na`alya nurruroa! = Whack the potatoes you rounded strawberries! Who am I kidding? Its gibberish lol! Or maybe I'm just lazy... haha...
Valin lle yonyo! = You're such a gewd boi!

 

[Purize]

Verity flinched from her confident facade when the woman turned abruptly, deflecting one arrow just to take another to the chest. Verity’s hand clenched into fists as she fought the urge to run over and help the fallen mage... but it was probably too late for her. A traitor leading traitors was a dangerous occupation. She had half a mind to tell the others to clean out the rest of the bandits... but she knew she’d seen enough bloodshed for one day.

Azaria stumbled into the camp, daggers unsheathed before she collapsed. Verity went to her and put her hand around the elf and looked to Pyrrhus. “They have surrendered, Pyrrhus. Besides, you and Azaria are injured...” She eyed the nasty wounds on the Centaurs shoulder, stomach and flanks. “Let them dismantle the camp and run off to live another day. Maybe they’ll think twice about their life choices before resorting to this again. “She directed her glare to the man who killed the mage and his few followers.

“Move out, and hope I never see you again.” Just to make herself perfectly clear, mana swirled around her ominously, like blue smoke that rose into the still night... a beacon of warning.

 

[SilverFlight]

As if released from a spell Pyrrhus sheathed his swords and his shoulders slumped. The bandits under his guard scurried away as he walked through them. He eyed the giant cat warily as he started toward Azaira.
"Ooooh, that's a tikitooth?...I like it."
He didn't put much more thought into the gigantic beast however (though, perhaps he should have) but instead knelt at the fallen halfling's side to administer a bit more healing magic in assistance to Fernwe's herbs. The faint glow of the spell as it flowed through him cast a warm light in the grass, illuminating his pained and battle-worn features.
"Come on," he encouraged softly, "Wake up, come back to us."
When he was satisfied she was stable he turned to the others.
"I'm sure the lady assassin and I are not the only ones who sustained injuries. Who else requires healing?"
The magic worked slowly, and the worse the injury the more energy required to set it healing. He certainly wasn't able to restore people to fighting condition in an instant, but by morning most of the hurts would be just aching memories.

Only when he had administered healing as his team needed would he turn his attention to the broken crossbow bolt still embedded in his shoulder.

Lekiel Purize Zazz BugDozer73

 

[Melon Bomb]

"Can you heal her?"

Charlotte emerged from the shade, battered and bruised and quite clearly in needing of some healing herself. Throwing her arm around Kezine, she shouldered the dying woman's dead weight, hoisting her up the best she could as she struggled to walk her over to the tree. The arrow was in deep, but not quite through the heart - still, it was as fatal as wounds come. . . if left untreated. Magic alone likely won't be enough to save her, but it might be enough to stabilize her condition. There were very talented doctors in the inner city, she just had to buy her the time to get there.

"I run a guild in Aeredale - a strong one. This is going to sound a bit crazy, but I could really use someone with her talents right now. She's dangerous, sure, but I don't think she's a bad person." She gently rested Kezine's body against the trunk, who was still skipping between the lines of consciousness. Her breaths became ragged and slow, if they were going to make a decision they would have to do it soon.

Charlotte swallowed nervously, looking to Pyrrhus and Fernwe with pleading eyes.

"But it's up to you. I can only ask so much of you, who I've only met today - I will leave her fate in your hands."

 

[BugDozer73]

Roland watched as she turned to deflect an arrow: he watched as the second entered her body like hot butter: and he watched as she fell to the ground, eyes shut, blood draining across Adamine's skin. Azaria had crawled into the light, drawing attention from the others, who all rushed to her side. She lost consciousness quickly and both the fairy and centaur set about healing her. Though he felt as if he should be happy about her state, he drew no joy from watching her lay so lifeless before him. Roland turned to the remaining bandits, including the one that had turned on his own. Roland glared at the man: if he had learned anything under Greuwn, it was that loyalty... was everything. Roland stepped forward and with out hesitation drew his blade and drove it through the mans chest. His eyes staired a Roland with shock, and he fell to his knees, and then to the ground, devoid of life. Roland staired at his corpse for a moment, and he turned to the remaining bandits who stood paralyzed.

"Leave. If we catch you plundering a road again you will end up like your friend." Roland words seemed to unshackle their feet, and they turned and chased after Pyrrhus's captives, leaving the field empty except for the group, now stopping to address the wounded. Pyrrhus called for anyone else who was hurt, and Roland felt the sting of the long gash on his arm, but said nothing. No doubt it would have to be stitched later, but there were more pressing matters to attend to. Roland crossed over to Charlotte, who now cradled the dying mage in her arms. Her skin was pail, like snow, and her breath was short and ragged, with the arrow shaft sticking out awkwardly from her left chest. He knelt and looked at Charlotte, then at the mage. She was powerful, no doubt: There battle had proved that. That and she had both respect and loyalty to her warriors. Roland let his hand slip into his coat and reach for a specific vial amongst several others. He drew out the small glass container, barley 2 inches long, filled with a single drop of a glowing golden liquid.

"It is a pheonix tear.. I have been saving it for an emergency.... but.." Roland felt a bit of hesitation. The struggle he had gone through to get that tear made it very hard to part with, but Charlottes eyes begged him. He gripped the arrow shaft firmly, and ripped it free from her chest. The blood began to pour out of the hole, which Roland put pressure on with his hand. He tilted the vial and let the golden tear drop slip between her blue lips. Her body began to glow brightly, and a warmth like a hearth fire spread outwards from her form, until in moments, the bleeding stopped and her breath slipped back into her lungs. Her eyes fluttered open and she was alive once more.

Roland smiled half heartily at Charlotte and stood to address the others. "We need to set up camp soon, and address all other wounds."

 

[SilverFlight]

Pyrrhus paused as he turned to look who it was Charlotte had in her arms. His heart sank. His eyes darted quickly to Verity and Roland, trying to glean their thoughts on the matter.
"This is the woman who has likely killed many innocent people...I can try...but, I've never healed a wound so grievous before. I'm...not sure what it will do to me." Suddenly he was more anxious now than he had been before or even during the battle. Fighting he knew, but he had very rarely taxed his magical abilities. Something in him felt vulnerable as he stared into the unknown, the expression found its way to his eyes.
Before he could steel his thoughts however Roland stepped forward and drew something out: a small vial.
Pyrrhus' eyes widened. "How on earth did you get a phoenix tear?" He was in complete awe.
He could only look on as the miracle of the tiny droplet worked its way through the mage's body, sealing her wounds and restoring her life force.
The centaur gritted his teeth against the pain and rose, already the bruises on his flanks protesting.
"I'd say we already have most of a good camp right over there." He gestured with a motion of his head to the bandit camp, some of the tents still stood, and even the fire was still smouldering.
"Master Stormblade. Phoenix tears? Water magic? There certainly is more to you than meets the eye. Come, let us make use of that fire, the light will help me see to that arm of yours. I would also like to ask you a few questions if you'll permit me."
With that said he gently lifted Azaria off the ground where she lay and carried her to a soft place by the fire. Building the flames again took next to no time and Pyrrhus had also retrieved some of the cleanest bedding from the standing tents and set it about the fire for his companions to sit on. He lay Azaria upon a roll to recover and prepared a pot with fresh water to boil over the flames.
Only then did he ease his haunches down himself and breathe deeply. The fight was over.

Melon Bomb BugDozer73 Purize Zazz Lekiel

 

[Melon Bomb]

Charlotte nodded back, a silent agitation stewing in her mind. Things didn't always go as planned, she knew this - making Kezine indebted to her wasn't a viable option anymore, she'd just have to improvise. She would go as far as to say that it was her specialty, if only for the fact that she was consistently forced into such positions. Her thoughts aside for now, the centaur raised a fair point - just who was this man? Likely the most dangerous person present, if nothing else. And the elf. . . 'Verity,' the bandit leader had said. Things were shaping up to be very interesting.

Anyway. The fight was a wrap. Serious mode over.

She clapped her hands together and took in a deep breath, exhaling loudly.

"Well! Today was just full of surprises, wasn't it? I actually have something I need to care of real quick, and when I come back. . ." Charlotte pointed to Roland and returned his smile warmly, "You are going to tell us aaallll about that little phoenix tear, ya hear?" With that, she waved goodbye and vanished into the treeline, a spray of loose leaves flowering behind in her wake. A few seconds later, her head popped back up through the brush. "And the octopus thing too, don't forget that!" Charlotte disappeared again.

In Roland's arms, Kezine hacked and wheezed back to life as the searing pain rushed back through her body.

"The hell. . . are you doing?" she groaned, the vague conversations beginning to clear up in her mind. She shoved Roland away and tried to stand, only to drop back onto her rear. Kezine pressed a hand to her forehead, giving herself a few moments of composure before speaking again. "Wasting something so valuable on someone like me. . . you an idiot by any chance?" Her eyes scanned the terrain, looking for her weapon undoubtedly strewn about in the chaos.

There it is.

She faced back to the pirate, sizing him up now that she was able to get a good look.

"So what's the catch? Fixin' for a sword arm? Or just tryin' to be a hero, playing the white knight for a damsel in distress?" Kezine shrugged weakly. "Sorry to break it to you, but the centaur's right. Everything that happened here - I had it coming to me. Save your charity for people who deserve it."

 

[BugDozer73]

Roland looked over at Verity when Pyrrhus mentioned questioning his identity, a flash of pleading panic crossing his expression, but then Charlotte demanded an answer before disappearing into the trees. And then she woke up, and did a very good job of making Roland regret his choice of reviving her. He had overplayed his hand, and now his relatively new secret was in the spot light of everyones attention. When she pushed him off, Roland let her go with no struggle, not bothering to help her back up. He saved her, but he didn't have to like her. Respect was somewhere in the grey.

"I don't need a sword arm, as you can see-" Roland gestured over at the carnage that was the previous "fortress" of bandits. "-and you are hardly a damsel. But we can both agree with Pyrrhus: You did have it coming." Roland stood back on his feet and turned around, heading for the make shift camp Pyrrhus was throwing together. "You should be thanking fire hair: She was the one who wanted you alive." And with that he walked off, making his way to the centaurs side, shooting a sideways glance at the unconscious half elf. "She going to be ok?" He asked Pyrrhus, not sure if he was hoping for a yes or a no.

 

[SilverFlight]

Pyrrhus watched Roland sit down, glancing at Azaria with a soft expression. "She should be find, just needs a little rest is all. Now..." Pyrrhus held out a hand. "Arm, let's see it."
His tone didn't really leave room for much argument and he summoned the magical energy he needed to heal the gash.
"There aren't many men I have seen who can wield that much power without collapsing." He began, making sure to keep his tone free from judgement. It was an observation.
"...The tentacles are new." Pyrrhus had traveled widely, and seen a great many things he could never have imagined...what he had witnessed that night however was by far the strangest.
He left the conversation open, leaving Roland to provide whatever explanation he saw fit.
BugDozer73

 

[BugDozer73]

Roland sighed, relinquishing his arm to the horse man to work his nature magic, and winced at the mention of his ability. "Oh that? Thats nothing, no stranger than you or I, sir." Roland lifted up his other hand and let magic swell within him, glowing green vapors rising from his hands in a small display. The magic released not only green light but the scent of the sea, as well as its warm breeze. It was a quiet comfort to Roland, and he let his heart wander, if only for a moment, back to the surf.

"Just a bit of merfolk magic I picked up from my years on the sea. My captain... my.. father... he took me around the world, and showed me many things, including the merfolk wizards of the greater depths. I spent years with them, learning there magic's so that I could be closer to Thasia, and my home." Roland beamed at the horseman, letting the half truth fuel a confident smile, hoping it would be enough to stave off any further curiosities into Roland's identity.

 

[SilverFlight]

"No stranger indeed?" The centaur looked a little skeptical, but he accepted the answer without pressing. He folded the spell into Roland's skin and the flesh slowly began to close, the bleeding staunched. It would take time, but should be not much more than a scar by morning.
"Its sounds like you were close with your father." Pyrrhus gave the flames a wistful smile. "I'd..I'd give quite a lot to have known mine."
A short pause then Pyrrhus said "I've never met the merfolk. What are they like?"
BugDozer73

 

[BugDozer73]

Roland winced only a little as his flesh mended, and rolled his shoulder, feeling the skin rejuvenate. At the thought of his father, Roland felt a wistfulness, and in his mind he saw the bearded face of greuwn's warm smile, and his scars and experience flying outwards like flaming arrows. He might never know his real father, but Greuwn had filled those boots as 'bout as well as anyone could have ever hoped to. Roland thought back to all the time Roland spent training, with magic, with blades, with combat, trading, how to speak like a gentleman, how to dance, how to stitch a sail: Things that for Roland were a part of his soul. Thasia had led them to each other, and now Roland felt emotions for his mother. Things were always so complicated, and he gave Pyrrhus a look of sympathy that was clear that he understood the pain of not knowing the truth.

Roland thought back to his time with the Merfolk, his lessons with Keeroko, one of the high priests of Thasia.

"Well... they are kind... and wise, for the most part. I spoke with the mages, who are al devout worshipers of Thasia. Unlike other wizards, the merfolk people practice their magic in order to exist closer to their god." Images of grand temples and the flourishing city of old Meletus, now submerged flashed through his head.

"The merfolk are very proud, and love music. I know a few merfolk songs myself. They are very different from the southern Merfolk." Roland smiled at Pyrrhus, genuinely enjoying opening up the less vulnerable parts of his past. "What about you? You never knew your father right? What about your mother? What was she like? Do you miss the plains at all?"

 

[Purize]

The fight was over and the dust began to settle. Verity hated the idea of repurposing the camp as their own for the night, not knowing how she would get any sleep among the carnage... but it was a reasonable idea. The camp was perfectly functional until they came along, they might as well use the remains of it. As her teammates dispersed to make themselves at home, Verity picked up the remains of her cloak and stuffed it into her travel bag to fix later. Then she began to walk back towards Kezine, her crumpled form still sprawled on the ground. She couldn't believe that Roland has used such a valuable resource on someone he didn't know... or like for that matter. It made her blood boil that the bandit leader chose to be so ungrateful towards him with her second chance... but waste not want not, she supposed.

Pyrrhus and Roland went off to tend to the fire... suspicions of her pirate companion running high. She met his worried eyes with sympathy, but whatever he did or didn't say was up to him, and she would back him up on whatever story he chose to tell. Verity gingerly seated herself on the ground next to the mage. She had several scratches and bruises from the chunks of ice, but none of them were severe enough to bother anyone about them. She was more than capable of patching herself up the good old-fashion way. "I don't know about you, but normally people in this sort of situation would say 'Thank you.'" She leaned back on her arms, pressing her palms into the cool earth, and crossed her legs. "I may be a 'privileged brat' but at least the bastards taught me manors..." She gave the woman next to her a side-ways smirk, playing off the complaint she made earlier about not using the 'front door.'
Melon Bomb BugDozer73 SilverFlight

 

[SilverFlight]

"You know merfolk songs?" That peeked the centaur's interest. "I should like to hear them, but perhaps when less of our team members are bleeding."
That reminded him of his shoulder, as if he needed one beyond the throbbing pain. he made a face as he assessed the damage, debating on how best to remove the shaft.
When Roland asked about his mother he smiled down at the ground, an exhausted but happy smile.
"Alyan is one of the most cunning, fiercest warriors I have ever known. She ah, isn't the most nurturing, but she taught me the art of combat, and a good many other things. Oddly enough, it was an old human mage that taught me healing. My mother didn't really approve. Heh, nor did she approve of me leaving our village...she...doesn't approve of much."
He met Roland's eyes for a moment. "I do miss the plains, but something keeps pulling me away from them. I don't think I'll be satisfied until I've seen the entire world. What about you? What made you leave home?"

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