Fantasy Tales of Ristafel

[Darksoul180]

A thud hitting the ground the Priest, who was not easily annoyed, started to grow to want to look away from this man. Only causing havoc where he treads. Gustav stood, his wight off kilter as he regained his balance, and got used to standing again. He brushed off his robe, and his smile fell to a frown as he saw what was happening.


"Now Sir strong man, or barrel man if you prefer. I do wish that you stop all this pestering. I appreciate the lift out of the tavern, but i do not appreciate the harsh words, or the dropping, and the wedgie was just truly demoralizing."





Gustav toke a stand in front of the large man between him and the monk. Looking up to him. Clearly the priest was out matched, but he would not stand down. He believed his Goddess would protect him. If not, then he was meant to die.


"If you wish to have meat, then you can have meat, but eat an animal who does not have an owner, nor a future. Many many animal live in the woods outside of town, whom die every day. This creature has a future, and a love! Please stand down Sir!"





The Priest said, looking straight up at the man who had just dropped him.

 

[Nautilus]

"Actually, I was not meaning to kill him. I only wished to demonstrate for Ajax-buddy what this woman had told me earlier, which was that this animal was in fact a well-trained beast of burden. I am... unsure of what qualifies as well-trained in this country, I will admit."





Having cleared that up, he turned his attention from the foreigners. If they wished to fight it out among themselves, that was their business. He realized, now, that Aryenn had said something in the commotion that he hadn't quite quite heard.


"Excuse me, miss?", Hadi patted the deer-like thing that was not entirely a deer on the head as he looked over to Aryenn, "Were you not whispering something earlier? I fear I was unable to make out what you had been trying to say."

 

[The Velveteen Rabbit]

The large buck released his stance on the monk by backing up and pulling his sharp antlers out from the dirt. He stood in front Ayrenn, having calmed down a bit after that outburst. The side of his head leaned against her stomach as he glared at each human with glowing green eyes. Ayrenn reached a hand out to help Vallen up, but Kyubi stopped her. Slowly, she pet his white pelt in hope to calm him more. His breath became more steady, and his muscles began to relax. He was no longer staring at the others, but closing his eyes.


"I promise he's not usually this way." She reassured Lily, a pleading look in her eyes.


Ayrenn glanced over to Vallen as soon as he unsheathed his weapon. Taking a few steps forward, the Etherborn placed a hand on his arm and lowered it gently. She met his gaze with a worried look on her face.


The white deer, who had been calm before, was now restless as Hachi brought his strange steed over. Ayrenn clicked her tongue, and Kyubi approached her. She glanced over to Hadi, shaking her head.


"It's nothing. Just nonsense I assure you."

 

[DrBones]

Beltway watched the proceedings with vested interest, but was still stuck with Crawley and Laria due to his current engagements. I will have to express my judgement as soon as I get a chance. To talk of stealing someone's property like that... ridiculous! I shall have to settle for merely voicing my opinions. And voice them he did. Beltway called out to the gathered crowd, attempting to provide an ultimatum.


"If the beast's owner shall accept no price, 'tis folly to ask for one! Bring thee to a butcher's shop, 'tis a better deal for a greater amount of succulent meats!"

 

[Zerohex]

Ajax smiled a big, toothy grin that would've looked right at home in the face of a serial killer. "Nice toy kid, but I'm not about to listen to someone who runs errands for pussy. That was your reward for giving Amazon Lily an egg, right? If a pet does what it wants instead of listening to its owner it's a shitty pet and shouldn't be outside. You gotta break animals in, show them who the boss is". Ajax dropped into a slight, barely noticeable crouch, though his arms were still relaxed and hanging from his sides. "Be happy to show you how if you've got the balls to step up, kid".


Before he could take things further, however, two things happened. A guy riding a giant insect arrived and offered him some honey and the priest picked himself off the floor and spouted some dumb stuff. Ajax just could not stop staring at the priest. He was dumbstruck by his words and just kind of...grabbed the honey jar with his left hand without even looking at the man offering it or his ride. He muttered some vague words of thanks and just let his arm go limp while still holding on to the jar, always looking at the priest right in the eyes, his own right eyebrow cocked high.


"Are you...wasn't all life precious like a second ago? And having no owner means an animal has no future? You don't know shit about nature. Get the fuck outta my face, this ain't about food this is about a shitty animal that thinks it can attack people and not pay the price".

 

[Darksoul180]

"All life is precious, and all life has a use, and some animals are created to be eaten, and some are created to be friends! If i believed what you think me to believe i would not have any food now would I? My Goddess makes animals to be kept as pets, as protectors, and as meals! I also think it wrong of you to think you should break an animal in whose owner is someone you do not know. she does not want this, the animal dows not want this. The only person who wants this is you, and maybe that stranger lady. Now again sir, i ask you to stand down, and leave the animal alone!"





The priest continued to lecture. He did not expect the man to understand, but he was making an effort to explain. Taking a book out of his satchel, the one coated in dreamstone. His favorite of his holy books. He watched the man's movements, so if he decided to react in anger the Priest would be prepared to back away from any kind of simple punch or kick.

 

[Boomrocker]

A potential altercation! This would not do! As the priest was speaking, El Saldo slid up next to him and, giving the gigantic hunk of a man a once-over glance, murmured "A word, padre?" into the priest's ear. "It regards grave matters that you would probably dub religious, yes? Come, let us chat. Before this man decides to turn you into gazpacho."


Here's hoping the priest would be willing to be taken aside for a quiet conversation. This, coming from a man who's volume control has two settings: silent and eleven.

 

[The Velveteen Rabbit]

Ayrenn's eyes lowered to the dirt road at Ajax's words. Kyubi stood close to her, glaring at each face. Her eyebrows furrowed into a deep frown; a sorrowful one. The golden Etherborn backed up a few steps from Vallen and the others.


"I-I'm sorry... If this is how'll I'll be treated, this journey isn't right for me or my companion." She forced a bow to the large man and the others to hide her upset facial expression.


"... Please excuse me. Come, Kyubi..." She whispered, weaving around the group with the huge white deer in tow. He flashed a glare behind him before following obediently, his head bobbing up and down. She proceeded further down the street, disappearing among the townsfolk and into the marketplace.

 

[DergTheDergon]

Vallen tensed up, just about to strike, when Hachi, Gustav and beltaway all intervened at once. That very second, he felt something grip his arm. It was Ayrenn. She moved between him and and Ajax, staring into his eyes worriedly. He lost all will to fight right there, it was af if just Ayrenn's touch ridded him of anger. As he calmed, he noticed the heartrendingly sad expression on Ayrenn's face. He listened to her words, and stood stunned for a while. Making up his mind rather quickly, he grabbed his chakram, fastened it to his belt, looked over the others, and began to following Ayrenn quickly, desperate not to lose her. He finally caught up, breathing heavily, still in pain. He gently grabbed her arm from behind and quietly said "If you're not going, neither am I." He turned to face her, staring into her eyes sadly, intense blue beaming from them, as well as his chest. "Wherever you're headed, can I come along? I understand if not, but please... I feel as though I should stay with you..." His tone was pained and desperate.

 

[Darksoul180]

Gustav decides to back down from the man. Knowing he would lose the fight. The lady and the deer ran off, and his actions were no longer needed. He smiled to the new man, asking him for a conversation.


"Why yes! I am a travailing nature loving Priest of the great Goddess Crea! I would love to discuss religion with you!"





The Priest was over joyed, someone was talking his language, as he put his book away, still watching the large man for an attack, he walked aside with the new man to have an aside.

 

[Zerohex]

Funny how things worked, but Ajax was even more ticked off at this woman running away rather than facing up to him and was not quite pleased with this victory. Only cowards run rather than defend their beliefs and a victory over a coward isn't worth jack. "And who the hell is doing anything to you?! Take responsability and face your problem instead of running like a coward! Prove me wrong, stand up for yourself and your beast rather than hide behind it and your manservant, grow a pair! The world belongs to the strong! That is the way of nature!" he screamed at her as he wildly flailed his arms in frustration, still holding to the honey jar he barely remembered taking. He didn't want any kind of shitty easy win handed to him.

 

[Nautilus]

Hadi stood there, dumbstruck, as the woman and her deer-like thing that was not entirely a deer left without answering a single one of his questions. It was strange; he had done his level best to be as polite and pleasant as possible, and still the woman ignored him, and then left, giving some half-hearted excuse that didn't really make much sense at all. Hadi sniffed himself. Did he smell? Was that why these foreigners did not acknowledge him?

 

[CallSign]

As Ayrenn began to leave, Lily decided to be the voice of inspiration, having been moved by her determination to keep Kyubi. She grabbed the Etherborn's hand to stop her, moving to get in front of the gold-haired girl. "I don't know who you are, but if you give up so easily, what's the point in trying? No journey is ever right for someone who gives up - you have to fight to succeed! Just show Ajax you have determination and he'll accept you as a friend.


"And you," Lily turned to the monk, "you're a real mystery. Stealing a look at my nethers, getting attention from the green girl, and being so moved by this girl's distress - are you just looking for a quick companion of the day? What are you, some sort of cheap bard?" Lily spoke from her experience with many cheap bards.

 

[Boomrocker]

"Come, my good man," El Saldo said to the priest as he led him away from the very dangerous man. "I am El Saldo de Marad, and I come from a monastery in the mountains," he explained, his thick accent and rolling Rs definitely marking him as foreign. "Tell me, my good man, what do you know of the Disciples of Marad, or the god Marad himself?"


His initial goal had succeeded. The priest was not getting turned into gazpacho today.

 

[DergTheDergon]

Vallen was visibly shocked and ashamed by Lily's words. "No... you see, during my training which I just completed not too long ago, which had been my life till then, i was not allowed relationships with women. Many of the events of this morning seemed to have caused my hormones to control my actions, as they have not been allowed to run rampant till recently. I apologize for these actions but.... I beleive I only truly have feelings for Ayrenn here... I am unsure, I have no experience in these things.

 

[Darksoul180]

The Priest was surprised! Being asked about such a pagan god. Maybe this was why Crea sent him to the tavern today! Not to join a logn adventure, but to talk to this man! The Priest was used to this kind of interaction, but normally people whom believed in pagan religions were a lot less kind. A conversation debating religion was about to commence, and Gustav was filled with enjoyment!


"Ah! A fellow religious man I see! However to your disappointment i do not know much of the god Marad. I am always open minded to learning, although, i now must ask you a question. How much do you know of Crea, the Goddess of Creation and all things around us?"





Gustav said and at the end of his sentence letting out a slight chuckle. He had been knocked out, dropped, and had many interruptions and violence today, but now he was finally doing what he loved. Talking religion!

 

[The Velveteen Rabbit]

"I didn't give up."


Ayrenn muttered angrily under her breath. She glanced upwards at the Dragonkin in front of her, eyes glowing threateningly. Her fists were clenched, showing an angry side of her no one has ever seen.


"No journey is meant for someone who treats their companions that way. I'll give him respect, when he respects me." She snarled taking a step forward. Kyubi froze for a moment at the sound of her voice.


"Besides, why would I EVER want to be friends with that pathetic beast?"


Her eyes clenched shut, and she turned her head to the side. Ayrenn parted her lips, and let out a sigh. Her anger disappeared, and was replaced with regret.


"I-I'm sorry. Just leave me be..." She whispered, particularly to Lily. Kyubi stared at the ground in silence. Ayrenn turned to Vallen, a regretful look on her face.


"You are welcome to travel with me. I trust you..." She murmured while flicking her cloak over her head. It concealed her golden eyes. Her gem heart was glowing brightly with a honey colored aura around it. Without saying another word, Ayrenn removed her hand from Lily's and weaved around the Dragonkin. Kyubi followed beside her like an obedient dog.

 

[CallSign]

Aryenn found Lily's grip become uncomfortably tight as she tried to escape. The Dragonkin was not ready to let the subject drop, especially not after seeing that face. "Ah, but you see, powerful friends are good to have in a pinch." Lily grinned, showing two sets of fangs. Her eyes had become slitted and sparkled with excitement. "Trussst me, ssshow him that faccccce you jusssst made and tell him to back down. He lovessss ssstrengt [hard t sound]." It was clear Lily didn't intend to release Aryenn until she agreed.

 

[Boomrocker]

"Crea? You mean the church doubling as an army? Nonononono, my good friend," El Saldo disagreed. Politely, of course. Religious discourse was a wonderful experience and he didn't want to mess this up. "Crea is a concept, which is true of all gods, but the followers worry me. Faith does not seek, my friend. Faith is sought."


El Saldo put an arm around the priest, and with his free hand, did a wide sweeping gesture to the sky above and in front of them.


"Marad teaches us that there is beauty and balance in all things, but it is up to us to find it. For are we truly alive if we cannot make our own choices? No, of course we are not. The followers of Marad, and the Disciples of Marad live life to the full and seek true beauty and balance. It is a very subjective thing, yes?"


El Saldo paused, and then his words fell into a lower, more conspiratorial tone. "Marad also teaches us that when presented with big men who will turn us into paste, the true approach is not to provoke. Wise words, yes?" he quipped, giving the priest a quick poke in the arm as though to remind him.

 

[The Velveteen Rabbit]

That look in Lily's eyes. Her teeth. The way her voice had changed. She was urging Ayrenn forward with gasoline. Slowly, her gem heart began to glow bright like a candle that had been relit. Ayrenn's teeth gritted together at the thought of that beast. His harsh words replayed in her mind, over and over again like a tape recorder.


"Fine..." Was all the golden Etherborn muttered before removing her hands from Lily's tight grasp (sorry for that. I'm just trying to reenact the scene..). Ayrenn whipped around in a quick movement and walked towards Ajax, her eyes glowing fiercely. Without a word between them, she clenched her fist, reared it back, and threw a punch straight at his face. A shock of pain rippled through her arm and down her shoulder. Ayrenn had to hold back the gasp she felt in her throat. But instead, she grimaced in anger.


"You call me a damned coward? How dare you... You deserve to burn in the darkest fires for what you have said to me." She snarled fiercely, nothing but pure anger in her tone. Her gem heart continued to glow brighter in color.


"You are the coward, and you are weak. Not strong. To say such things to someone you don't know shows weakness. And that's the first impression I got of you. A weak, PATHETIC man." Ayrenn hissed, trying to contain herself now. Her hand throbbed painfully with each heartbeat.

 

[Darksoul180]

Although they had differing beliefs, Gustav was already starting to like this man. Although, he knew that he must teach this man the truth!


"Ah yes, the idea of most religions is truly powerful! I can see you area great man El Saldo, a man of faith, and a man of kindness!"





The Priest throw his arm around El Saldo, so they both had arms around each-other, then he also motioned to the sky.


"Although, this is all created by Crea, the Goddess of dreams!"





Gustav exclaimed, and lowered his arm and gestured toward the ground and everyone and everything around them.


"And theses are all the dreams and nightmares of her mind. We are all part of a great idea, and we area ll created to have free will, and to enjoy ourselves. And more importantly, live our own dreams! It is amazing! A dream with in a dream, and in a way, through Crea, we are all our own gods, the gods of our own dreams! Seeking them, creating them, or destroying them!"





The Priest was starting to talk in such a way that his grin was wider than ever before. His feelings leading the conversation that he has had many times before, with many other pagan believers.

 

[ComradeSenpai]

Hachi's head turned away from where he was play wrestling with Kyouko, the hornet's mandibles playfully wrapped around his shoulder. He watched as the archer from earlier ran up and angrily threw a punch at the brawler's face. This was no doubt a slight of anger and outrage. It seemed as if these people were either peasants unused to offering challenges in a polite manner, or if they were of class, lacked any form of honor.


"...Shall I write up a contract for a duel? It will only take a minute, and should solve whatever problem you have quickly." he offered.

 

[CallSign]

Lily watched Ayrenn stride up to Ajax with a wide, toothy smile, glad to have sparked determination in the girl. Her smile was wiped clean off her face when Ayrenn lifted a fist and brought it to Ajax's face. Lily reached down to her thigh, which still ached from her first meeting with the man. One could heal the body, but memories take time to fade. Too bad Lily wasn't smart enough to warn the Etherborn about picking a fight.


A loud rumbling emanated from Lily's stomach, reminding all nearby that she was hungry and didn't have a human appetite. In fact, an animal unaware of Lily's disposition might find the sound of a dragon's belly to be frightening in a primal sense. After all, few predators could compare to the massive flying beasts.

 

[Boomrocker]

"I see. And if Crea were to wake up?" El Saldo asked, a big smile lifting the corners of his drooping moustache. As he was most definitely the hugging sort of man, he did not let the priest go. "Is that not a fearful thought?" he whispered conspiratorially. "What would happen? Why is there such mystery, my friend? It disturbs me so!"


He fished about in a pocket and removed the holy symbol of his order. It was a small, cylindrial thing, with a rectangular section and a notch cut out where the rectangle joined the cylinder. "This is the symbol of the Disciples of Marad. It is a magical item, capable of alerting all around that Marad's benevolent gaze is upon them. For Marad has no time for sleep, not when the world possesses so much beauty to behold."

 

[ComradeSenpai]

Hachi's head turned once again, this time towards a different, rumbly grumbly target.


"Miss? Are you hungry?" he asked, producing yet another jar of honey.


"I have plenty of honey. It should fill you up nicely." he said, walking over to hand the jar of golden, sticky liquid to Lily.