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Search for the Beast
Topic Started: Dec 12 2012, 08:39 PM (1,089 Views)
Guenever
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Vitalli savored the moment with her scythe, caressing it slightly before she put it back into her back strap. She then looks up to the Serpha and begins to speak "I trust that you either have the things we will need to find food and water or have some on you? I am assuming there is some edible prey out there, be it root or less preferably, animal." Vitalli pauses, breathes in and says "Assuming that is all set, I suggest we head out. I want to find out if this beast is here as soon as I can. Though-- I am in no great rush for dying. I am hoping we might be able to study it enough to come out the victors ourselves, assuming this is the same creature I fear it to be. And even if it is not.. death is something that I would rather reverse then cause, even accidentally." at the end of her speech, she pauses, then says "And it is nice to meet you, Gurnashka. You will have to excuse my manners, I have had very little interaction with anything but animals for a very long time."
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Vinterblod
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Gurnashka nodded and placed her hand over a pouch that was attached to her belt. "Everything is taken care of, mi lady. We have supplies carried with us, if needed there are more than enough edible in the march. We know these lands inside and out, with me by your side you have nothing to worry about. You should take these, just in case we get separated." Gurnashka pulled up 2 small bottles with a dark green liquid inside, and a small pouch tied up with a strong knot. The vials were obviously for curing poison, while the small pouch gave away a rather horrendous smell. Vitalli could not figure out what it was though. "It is food." Gurnashka added as she saw the Asalin obviously eyeing the pouch a bit strangely.

"You do not need to excuse yourself, mi lady. Your manners are far greater than they have to be toward an ordinary warrior such as we." she said sincerely. They had both just met, but it was obvious that the Serpha saw herself as lower standing than the Asalin. On top of that she had said herself that she would follow her even into death. It was strange being put on a pedistal like that, especially when Vitalli had never been considered this high standing by anyone before. "Whenever you are ready to leave, mi lady."
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Guenever
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Vitalli nods. "Alright. I will take your word for it. You know the way better than I, lead the way to where the rumors are the strongest." It is clear that Vitalli is anxious to be on her way, and while she tries not to let it show, it might even be slightly obvious that she is uneasy surrounded by so many people, even ones of a more bestial nature. Vitalli hopes that this just comes across as being ready to leave and continue her quest.
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Vinterblod
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"As you wish mi lady, follow us." Gurnashka said as she took the lead walking out of the village and into the dangerous swampland. Vitalli could not recall where she had walked or how far she had come before she was put into the shaman's ilussion spell, but with the female Serpha on her side exploring, and of course leaving, the lands would become a much easier task. Vitalli kept her eyes on the more important though - finding the shadow creature.

"Stay close, there are many dangers lurking in the march, even for a Serpha. The land is treacherous in more than a few ways. Never let your senses fool you, mi lady." she continued a bit cryptically as they moved down the path. "We are traveling to Jharuns Drop, a holy place to all Serpha. Stories, legends and rumours all tell of terrible creatures living deep inside the caves. We don't want to discourage you, mi lady, however you must understand that what we might meet down there could possibly destroy us. Not only by flesh, but by mind as well." there was no fear nor worry in Gurnashka's voice, and it was apparent that she had looked Iris right in the eye more than once. She was certainly a true warrior who did not fear something like 'death'.
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Guenever
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Vitalli gives a short, curt, nod.

"I understand. I fear neither the destruction of my mind nor body. Either would be a learning experience in a way."

She gives a quick smirk at the last part, but the look in her eyes is dark. She has seen death before. She has been both tortured by it and has also enjoyed it. She knows her quest must eventually end with the death of her or the death of this beast, and she knows it is her path to toy with those that fall on her quest to accomplish this. She would experiment with the remains. Eventually, she would learn from it all. It is unlikely that she might ever raise her sister again, but even a specter of her former self would be progress.

Around this time, she realizes she had stopped, lost in her thoughts.

Clearing her throat, she begins to speak in a much more confident, commanding voice.

"I am ready for what lies ahead. Let's continue on."
Edited by Guenever, Dec 25 2012, 11:16 PM.
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Vinterblod
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Gurnashka nodded and smiled, still with her eyes focused straight forward. "We are not so different it seems, mi lady. However we are just a warrior, the only goal in life is to serve and die for those under command. You are revered as a queen here, it is strange to think that someone like you, a Fahrabuhr, would just brush of death and insanity like it was nothing." the serpha female did not quite understand that someone would waste their life when she herself could do it for her. She only knew the life of serving others, and someone as high as the king would never do such a thing even if their life depended on it.

"We are sorry, it was not meant to sound disrespectful, mi lady. We have just never seen someone of your class so eager to risk her life, not even if it is of importance. You could say it is certainly rare." she said quickly afterwards and then paused for a short bit. "May we ask what you will do once the creature is dead, mi lady?"
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Guenever
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"Well. Where I am from, I was just a simple part of a family. Not a queen. I was no more important than anyone else in my village. This monster killed them all. Every single member of that family, that community. I would risk anything to avenge them. But you are not being disrespectful. Only curious."

She pauses, thinking. The answer is clear, but she is not sure exactly how much of it she wishes to reveal to this young warrior.

"I am not sure what I shall do when it is dead. I have heard rumors that there may be ways to bring someone back, depending on how merciful Iris is. I might try to see if the rumors are true. It has been a long time since I have seen my dear sister..."

She looks off vacantly into the distance

"but I do not know for certain what I shall do once the beast is dead."
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The serpha listened with much interest at what the Asalin had to say. The path continued forward into a swamp forest, crooked trees growing up more densly than before. The path was overgrown with all sorts of vines and branches which the warrior quickly cut through with her sword. When the path was clear she stopped in her tracks and turned to Vitalli. "Revenge can sometimes be enough to fuel one for an entire lifetime, we know." she said and looked like she was hesitating. "However you are dwelling in powers that no living should ever dig too deep into. We are not here to school you, but be careful with what you wish, mi lady."

She turned away again before Vitalli could respond to what she had just said. "Don't look into the water while we pass through these woods of the march. Stay close and try to focus on my voice." she continued and passed through the cut down vines and branches that had been in their way.
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Guenever
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Vitalli arches her eyebrow ever so slightly. She was use to skepticism and distrust when she talked about the dead in such a way. But what she was not use to was the serpha's reaction. There was no hate, no distrust (at least none that Vitalli could pick up on), only a warning.

"I will be careful. If you don't mind me asking, why should I not look into the water's depths?"

As she said this, she made a point to concentrate on the serpha and heed her warnings.
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"In the waters of the woods lurk the most feared creatures of the march. Not feared for their strength, no, these creatures charm their victims and lure them into the depths where they are consumed and never heard from again. As long as you don't look nor listen their way you have nothing to be afraid of, mi lady." Gurnashka said still with her eyes focused straight forward, not even once looking where she placed her feet. It would have been too dangerous from what she had just told. The part about not listening to the lurking creatures' calls were easier said than done as Vitalli could hear the calm whisper every time either Gurnashka or herself stopped talking.

"When walking through here we sometime sing songs, share traveling tales and the like to drone out the soothing whispers of the lurkers. Do you have something of that kind to share, mi lady? We would be quite delighted to hear a tune or two by the noble fahrabuhr." she continued calmly. She was obviously not worried about the creatures that were trying to get them both every step they took.
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Guenever
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"Hmmm. I'm not much of a songstress, so I don't have anything to sing.. but maybe I can think of one of the old poems we use to read in my old home."

Vitalli pauses for the slightest of seconds, then begins to speak, slowly, as to make the poem last as long as possible.

"The forest blooms with spring time,
The summer brings life and love,
The autumn brings the fall,
Winter is the one most feared,
it brings change, death, and cold.
But these will bring the new rebirth,
the shift from old to new.
The winter is the best of all,
as long as we see it through."
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OOC


The Serpha listened closely to the Asalin's words. The tone of the poem was dark, but had a hint of hope in it. Gurnashka nodded a bit and smiled "Always nice to learn something new, thank you mi lady. The words of your people are without a doubt very beautiful. Makes me wonder about the old land..." she was of course refering to the kingdom of the plains, the land the Serpha had been driven away from by the humans so long ago. "We have never been there, but we have heard stories. Many do still hope to reclaim our land in the future, however we are doubtful." she paused for a bit, not exactly waiting for a response.
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Guenever
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Vitalli nods, then, realizing that the serpha is in front of her and cannot see such a movement, she begins to speak.

"I understand. I do not know what the future holds, but maybe you will see it one day. Hmmm. You said sometimes your people sing during this journey? I would love to hear one of your songs if you would oblige me."
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Gurnashka laughed and seemed rather amused by the Asalin's question. "We do not mean to be disrespectful, mi lady, but we are not a singer ourself." she said and quickly seemed to go back to her serious expression from before, as if she felt she had done wrong for laughing toward the Asalin. The serpha warrior shook her head and bit "No, the singing is for the female more important than someone like me. It is part of our tradition that the beautiful and respected sing, the less so fight and die for the others." she continued. There did not seem to be any sadness in her voice over what she had said though, she had probably accepted her life long ago even before they met.

Both of them went silent for a while. The whispers from the water below them grew stronger. Vitalli could suddenly make out separate words such as 'come', 'follow' and 'listen'. Gurnashka obviously noticed herself and soon opened her mouth to speak again. "... There might not be a problem with just one song though." she said and sounded a bit hesitating. "You have to excuse me, the words may escape me."

The serpha sang in a language that Vitalli could not really make out. It had some likeness with her own people's ancient, but also far from it. No doubt an ancient tongue of the serpha themselves that had only been kept alive through the art of singing. Strangely even if she did not understand a single word of the song the Asalin felt uplifted by the soothing melody. As soon as Gurnashka stopped she quickly added "We would appreciate if you did not mention this to anyone, mi lady. As I said, singing is not for a simple warrior as myself."

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Guenever
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Vitalli smiles. This is a true smile, there is no hidden meaning behind it. She knows what it is to do something that is frowned on by society. "I will not tell a soul. But thank you very much for singing it to me. It was beautiful."

she pauses

"How much longer is it till we get past the thing which keeps calling us? It seems like it has been a fair amount of time."

Vitalli thinks for a second, trying to come up with another topic to discuss to block out the siren's call

"So, I have heard that the humans were the ones who took your land from you before. But I will be honest, I am not one much for history. What exactly happened? How was it taken? I would be interested in the stories you have of it, if only to understand, and possibly pass the time."
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Gurnashka shook her head a bit as they made another turn through the woods. "How long we are trapped here is never clear. One does not simply pass through their domain. Ilussions of our marchland are powerful, for all we know we could walk here for days, weeks or what could feel like years." as she said that the serpha felt like it could have been a good thing to mention before entering the woods. However from what she had seen on the Asalin it was probably not something that would have stopped her at all. "There are ways that make the paths more clear though, something we serpha have been blessed with. Once we reach Jharun you will be enlightened as well."

She did not mention more of the illussions and what awaited them at Jharun's Drop and instead continued to answer the question about her people. "It was before my time. Our people once lived in the kingdom of humans, deep in the swamplands of the plains. However humans are not fond of what is different, and chase my ancestors until only few remain. What exactly happened we do not know, but the rage toward their kind still burns brightly."

The both of them came to a stop as they reached a gap in the road. Gurnashka stopped Vitalli with her hand and then proceeded to jump over the gap with ease. The jump was rather far from what the Asalin could tell. The serpha warrior reached out her hand "Jump, and we will catch you!" she said firmly.
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Guenever
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Vitalli ponders for a second, then speaks.

"You know, it would be really interesting to see if there is any record of the events, maybe not with your people, but possibly with the humans. Not that it would change much, but it might shed some light on the 'why' and 'how' of the matter. I wonder how different it would be from their perspective as well. But these are useless thoughts for the time being."

Vitalli looks down, then to Gurnashka, then down again, then says, with a slight note of worry in her voice, "Alright. I'm trusting you in this." and with that, she attempts to make the jump.
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And so Vitalli jumped. She could see Gurnashka in front of her reaching out to hand to catch hers. She did reach out to grab the reptilian lady's hand, but quickly realized she wasn't close enough to grab it. Everything went by fast, there was barely time to even react to what happened, and before the Asalin knew it she had fallen into the dangerous waters below. Gurnashka went down on her knees and tried to grab the women she had sworn to protect, but she had already been dragged deeper down that the Serpha could reach.

The whispers from the water were now clearer than ever, almost like they were next to her ear. "Don't be afraid, come with us..." the whispers said. The soothing sound of the whispers seemed to drag her closer, and as she opened her eyes under water she saw balls of light surrounding her. "We have what you are looking for..." they continued, pleading the Asalin to follow them deeper down into the depths of the water.
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The voices were very tempting, but the Asalin knew they would mean certain death. Vitalli swam with all of her might (though it was a skill she was not use to) to try to get to the nearest bank, trying to get back to Gurnashka. The Asalin gulped, then said "I think it is best we keep talking, while I find a way out of this.. do you have any rope or something like that? There must be some way out. Maybe a branch, or something sturdy that I might be able to pull myself up with? Uh.." she looks around, then it hits her.. "Maybe my Scythe if I can get closer! I could hold it by the base near the bladed end.. or maybe try climbing up it if I can get it stuck well enough in the side..." The Asalin looks around for a way out of her predicament "Do you see a way out?"
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The serpha was relieved when she saw the Asalin pop her head up from the water again. She was not lost just yet. Gurnashka nodded and quickly picked up a rope from one of her packs and threw one of the ends into the water. "Grab a hold of the other end! We'll drag you up, hurry!" she called out for Vitalli. She too had started to hear the whispers stronger now as the balls of light had come up from the waters and were harassing her too now. She tried to wave them off, but they simply scattered like smoke and re-appeared beside her ears again whispering in them gently. She focused on the task at hand though and would not let them stop her.

As soon as Vitalli took a firm grip on the rope the light creatures changed their tone from gentle and soothing to angry and threatening. They grabbed a hold of the necromancers clothes and tried to pull her down again, while they pulled at Gurnashka as well. "Where do you think you're going?!", "There is no escaping!", "Drown!" they were yelling in their high pitch voices.
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