From the Nowhere

LadyRavyn · Veteran Member

From the Nowhere

az_galantra · Head honcho 1

A slow smile crept across Conor's mouth as he double checked the numbers in the ledger resting on the table before him next to a glass of aged brandy. According to those neatly written numbers, the racetrack he opened a mere 3 miles outside of Bizmar was proving to be a financial success.

People packed the racetrack each night since the grand opening a month ago, every one of them eager to gamble away hard earned money in hopes of hitting the jackpot and making a fortune. The odds of that happening weren't good at all, but that didn't stop anyone from betting.

Conor knew that some folks became addicted to gambling and ended up losing their home, family, and dignity because of it. Knowing he helped feed such addictions made him feel guilty at times, but the guilt wasn't enough to keep him awake nights. If I didn't do it, someone else would. That thought justified things for him.

As he reached for his glass of brandy, he caught sight of a woman slowly making her way to a table near the musician playing on the slightly raised stage. His eyes squinted against the dimly lit, smoke filled room, hoping to see her better. He felt his curiosity rising once he spotted what appeared to be a tattoo on one side of her face. Now that's intriguing. He loved intrigue because it kept him from getting bored.

After taking a quick sip of his drink, he glanced at the two burly bodyguards sitting across from him at the table. "Have either of you ever seen that woman in the city?"

Wade and Trent turned their attention to the table Conor indicated, both shaking their heads a moment later. Wade bit back a sigh when he noticed the gleam in the reddish eyes of his boss. It was the same gleam he always got when he became interested in a woman. Wade shared a knowing look with Trent. They were well aware of Conor's reputation as a rich playboy and wondered if his charm would win him a new conquest this day.

Conor's eyes returned to the woman, a frown crossing his face when he saw the meager meal she was about to consume. Bread and water should only be served to those poor unfortunates rotting away in jail cells.

Quickly, he called a waitress over and nodded toward the woman he had his sights on while he spoke. "Deliver a fresh fruit and cheese tray to her along with a bottle of your finest wine. Tell her that the meal is a gift from me and that I hope she enjoys it."

"Yes, Mr. Castel." The waitress smiled at the handsome, young crimelord before hurrying off to ready his order for the woman.

LadyRavyn · Veteran Member

Aya enjoyed the salty-sweet taste of the rich butter as it melted on her tongue her momentary lapse in concentration was interrupted by the appearance of the bar maid; the soft clink of the platter as it was set on the table drawing her sightless eyes upwards. "What is this if I may ask?" The fingers of her tattoo'd hand ran above the platter feeling the cold that rose off of them like an aura.

"A gift from that man over there." The maid indicated Conor with a glance and Aya who had followed her voice simply laughed, softly and musically.

"I hate to ask, but I'm going to have to get you to point him out. I cannot rightly thank him if I do not know who he is." Reluctantly the waitress pointed to Conor through the crowd and Aya reached up, tracing with the back of her hand; the length of the pretty young woman's arm from elbow to finger tip. "Thank you and I apologize if that made you uncomfortable." Aya spoke her eyes still looking in the direction of the mysterious man while her ears strove to pick up any distinct noises in that direction.

The waitress said something that was barely audible even to someone with Aya's ears to which Aya politely smiled as she frantically tried to recall anything that might possibly help her in this situation. Nervously she brushed a strand of hair back behind her pointed ear, took two slow, deep breaths and rose, barely seeming to notice as a bit of the sheer white overwrap fell a bit to expose the pale grey leather beneath.

Her mind firmly made up however; Aya placed on soft soled boot in front of the other, oblivious to the glances that were cast in her direction. Her steps were silent and purposeful and she moved with a lithe grace that bespoke some sort of formal training. The noise of the tavern faded to the background leaving her alone in relative silence as she focused her hearing on the table she was headed to.

When a touch broke her concentration she could not keep the pain of the sudden on rush from darkening her pale blue eyes if only a shade. Standing a few short feet from Conor a single hand trailed it's way up her thigh, it was gone before most would have even noticed it, but it seems that was all it took. She stood stock still barely even breathing as she tried to regain her bearings in the large and loud room. She rested the marked side of her face against her elegantly carved staff while standing closely enough that if Conor chose to look carefully he would see that the tattoos that seem to run from the tip of her pointed ear all the way down to her hand are raised, actually being inked scars.

az_galantra · Head honcho 1

Conor returned his attention to the ledger after the waitress left his table. A smile played upon his lips again, lighting up his reddish eyes; the odd color was quite common in the Rydan race.

The racetrack is a success. Father will be impressed with these numbers.

Unlike his siblings, Conor spent a lot of time trying to impress the man who'd adopted them. Donaldash Castel happened to be a very powerful crimelord. Some believed he controlled the entire city of Bizmar, but that was merely an illusion helped along by all the officials on the crimelord's payroll. In truth, Donal's control extended only over the south east side of the city.

When Conor took over the business a year ago, he started to expand their territory, angering rival crimelords and crimelord wannabes. So far, he hadn't encountered any major problems but his father advised him to be prepared for the possibility of a turf war if he continued to open new business establishments throughout the city.

When Wade nudged him, Conor tore his eyes away from the ledger and looked up to find the intriguing woman standing a few feet away from his table with her face resting against a staff she gripped in one hand. The young crimelord shot to his feet, arriving at her side a moment later. His eyes widened a bit when he caught sight of her pointed ears and the inked scars that served to pique his curiosity further.

"I'd be honored if you joined me at my table." He spoke softly as his eyes roamed along her face. "I'm Conor Castel and the two men with me are my bodyguards, Wade and Trent." Calmly, he waited to see if she would introduce herself and follow him to the table.

LadyRavyn · Veteran Member

Sightless eyes moved with momentary suspicion to the man who moved so abruptly to her side. A soft smile graced her face as he spoke, his voice was strong, authoritative, confident, and yet some how something more.

"I am..." her brow furrowed for a short moment as if she were having trouble recalling. "Aya..." and again a look of confusion, this one only for a split second. "Windtalker. It is a pleasure Mr. Castel."

Her head tilted a bit, the cachophany had covered the other two men's approach well and so she simply spoke to the air. "Wade and Trent, again a pleasure." Were it not obvious that she could not see them one would think she wasn't bothering to truly acknowledge their presence.

She glanced back at the waiting Conor. "And with regards to joining you...I think I'd like that." Again a genuine smile lit up her face however; it faded just as quickly as she turned most of her attention towards the sound of someone opening the main door. After she seemingly ascertained that there was no threat she looked back at Conor with a raised brow. "Forgive me...new place and all. Shall we then? I've likely interrupted something and I'd hate to keep you from whatever it was."

az_galantra · Head honcho 1

Aya... Conor rolled the name around in his mind, liking the sound of it. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Aya." He gave her a smile before escorting her to his table. Once they were seated, Conor summoned the waitress and instructed her to retrieve Aya's food from the table she recently vacated.

Wade and Trent quietly studied the woman sitting across from them next to their boss. A look of wariness filled their eyes. They were paid not to trust anyone. She could be one of Belald's spies, Wade thought as he sipped his java. Belald controlled the southwest section of the city and was a main rival of the Castel family. Belald hadn't caused any problems yet but that could change at any moment.

Conor was oblivious to the caution displayed by his guards because Aya consumed his attention. He noted the confusion in her pale blue eyes and how her head turned slightly at each new sound, as if she were listening intently. It suddenly dawned on him that she might be blind but refrained from asking her straight out since he didn't want to come across as rude.

The waitress arrived and set the fresh fruit and cheese plate before Aya. She gave Conor a huge smile then scurried off to wait on another table. The crimelord was handsome, AND a great tipper. She thought it a shame he didn't frequent the New Dawn Tavern more often.

Conor leaned back in his chair, moistening his mouth with a sip of brandy before he spoke, his eyes riveted on Aya's face. "What's a pretty lady like you doing in a place like this? Are you on your way to the city of Bizmar? If so, I can give you a lift once you finish your meal. My carriage is parked outside."

While awaiting Aya's reply, he closed the ledger then slipped it into a leather satchel. He had to drop it off at his accountant's office before he could get on with conducting any more business today.

CasualFriday · Veteran Member

((Ooc: This is a little graphic >> Blood and guts wise))

"Andu-falah-dor!" ((ooc: 'Let balance be restored'))

The fierce battle cry of her commander sent her heart pounding, blood coursing like fire through her veins. She began to move as one with her sisters-at-arms, legs pounding and muscles tightening all at once. Warsong Gulch was filled with orcs of every shape and size and, apparently, several warlocks. She approached the first line of the Horde defense, lifted her shield, and impacted with a female orc, sending the obviously weaker woman the ground. The apparently inexperienced warrior dropped her sword and Silo struck, one quick stab into the chest. She braced her boot against the orc's rib cage and jerked her sword free of bone and flesh.

Barely having time to catch her breath, she looked up just in time to see a much larger, male orc barreling at her, club held aloft. Having no time to ready an attack, she braced herself and lifted her shield. His blow sent her skidding back into the dirt and nearly toppled her. He would have won had he not made the mistake of lifting his weapon again. Silo took advantage of his error and dove for him, her sword arcing outward in a long sweep, spilling blood and gore to the ground at the orc's feet. He toppled froward, mace swinging dangerously in his desperate and useless attempts to stay upright. She dove to the side and cut him again across the back, this blow the one to send him to twitch and groan in the dirt of the gulch.

Behind her, she heard a sickening squelch, and she turned in time to see a fellow Kaldorei's shoulder being split by the axe of another female orc. It was too late to aid her fellow soldier but not too late to avenge her. As the orc tried to remove her axe from the clenching body of the other night elf, Silo's sword find the monster's neck and relieved the body of the head.

Just as she was about to move into battle again, she felt a hard blow from behind. Dark energy crackled about her as she fell, writhing on the ground, a scream of pain ripping from her throat. Her vision went red with pain and rage and, by some miracle, she managed to push herself to her knees in time to see the warlock. She stumbled to her feet in spite of his Agony spell and began to run toward him just as she readied a shadow bolt. Before he could cast, the edge of her shield made contact with his jaw, his head snapping back with a crunch.

That nuisance gone, she dragged herself away from the melee and collapsed, having just enough presence of mind to meld herself with the shadows. She trembled all over as the pain rippled through her body again and again, her muscles clenching and jerking. Finally, the spell began to fade, and she found herself able to move again. Just as she stood, her shadowmeld fading, a resounding blow hit her from behind, sending her helmet flying and herself sprawling on the ground. Dazed, she simply lay where she was, staring at her skidding helmet. Finally, she rolled to her back and lifted her sword, just in time to block the punch of a stone elemental.

She blinked in confusion at the beast, wondering how in the seven hells a such a demon had made its way onto the battle ground when she heard the cackle of what could only be a Sindorei -- a blood elf. She leapt to her feet and sliced at the elemental's leather bracers, reducing him to rubble, and turned to face the cackling female. She gritted her teeth and began to move toward the mage, every fibre of her being tense with utter hatred. "Sindorei! Bandu Thoribas!" ((ooc: Blood elf! Prepare to fight!))

She could see the blood elf's hands and lips moving and flames gathering around her cruel hands. She had only seconds to reach the blood elf and stop her casting before the world would erupt in fire. She was an arm's length away from the witch when suddenly, the fire dispelled. Her eyes widened, and the mage's lips twitched into a smirk. That was the last thing she saw before the abyss opened beneath her, and she began to fall...

What felt like an eternity later (but couldn't have been more than a few seconds), Silo landed. She hit the ground face-first and simply lay there, unmoving, not even sure she was alive. After a moment, she lifted her head and then groand at the pain the movement sent through her body.

"Alright... alright... just..." She gritted her teeth and pushed herself into a sitting position, her muscles screaming in protest. "What in the name of Elune?" She stared at the daylit sky as if demanding answers, but when none came, she sighed and began to take in her surroundings. She was first aware of the fact that she could hear no battle nor see any sign of battle. The second was that she was definitely not in the Gulch, and she did not recognize any of the plantlife around her.

With a roar of rage, she stood, hurling her shield toward a nearby tree. It split the wood and stuck where it landed, trembling with the force. "That bitch! Where the hell am I?" Immediatley, she regretted the action, as she suddenly became aware that she had sprained her ankle. She pressed her gloved hands to her face with a groan and stood there for several minutes before finally dropping her arms to the side. "This won't do. I've got to find people... And pray to Elune the Horde don't find me!"

She made her stiff way toward the tree and, after several attempts and much grunting, pulled her shield free of its new sheath. The shield was hooked on her back and her sword sheathed, and then she was on her way.

It was not long before she spied what looked to be a tavern in the distance. Tired and limping from the soreness in her left ankle, she made her way toward it. At last she reached the door, not having the presence of mind to notice that she was covered in dirt, had twigs and leaves in her hair or that blood was trickling down the side of her face from a head wound. This same blood was beginning to stain her stark white hair.

In this horrid state, she pushed open the tavern door and made her way weakly to a table.

-- Edited by CasualFriday at 12:22, 2007-09-24

LadyRavyn · Veteran Member

Aya reveled in a momentary sense of comfort before it was replaced by concern. What if this is...Them?! She didn't know who 'they' were, but as far back as she could remember her movements had been fueled by concern about where 'they' might be. Two weeks of fear were all she could remember the rest a gossamer curtain that sometimes seemed ready to give way to the memories that hid behind it.

For a moment she chased the ghost of the memory, all the while hearing and filing away his question but cold dread, with fingers of ice traced its way up her spine each time she seemed about to grasp the memory. Faintly she heard a door open and unbeknownst to her gripped her staff even tighter.

With a voice colored by distraction she spoke, a slice of cheese forgotten in its trek to her mouth. "I thought I smelled a city nearby. It had been my plans to travel there when I was done here but I would hate to put you out, I feel I have already taken advantage of your kindness." The scent of blood tainted the soft aroma of humanity and Aya froze.

"Someone seems to be hurt." She spoke with a voice that was somewhat indifferent, "I wonder what happened?" Her voice held a hint of curiosity as she glanced towards the door partially hoping thatthis particular intrusion into her space was them perhaps they would fall over dead after suffering much agony. The cold visciousness of her own feelings surprised her slightly as she adjusted her staff just slightly.

It was a move that most would not notice, but there were those who shared her space for whom combat was as natural as breathing, the defense prepartion was sloppy; the clumsy move an insult to the well-trained eye, the soft scraping of the staff against the plank floor an affront to the practiced ear, necessity had obviously been her teacher, but at least it did not look to a casual observer like she was preparing to have to defend herself.

*/*YAY edity goodness, but I found a way to make that last paragraph just plain feel better...you know how that goes. *\*

-- Edited by LadyRavyn at 19:59, 2007-09-24

az_galantra · Head honcho 1

Conor couldn't help staring at Aya while she ate. She continued to intrigue him because she was different. Many of the women he came in contact with liked to flirt with him and some fled as soon as they found out he was a crimelord. But all of them had one thing in common; they loved to talk about themselves whereas Aya appeared reserved. She seemed somewhat hesitant to speak up for fear of attracting attention to herself.

Is someone after her? The thought made him frown. It wasn't usual for a woman to hide out from an abusive ex-lover or husband. Although he didn't want to get between a lover's squabble, he knew he would defend Aya if he were present and someone tried to assault her.

"I thought I smelled a city nearby," Aya said. "It had been my plans to travel there when I was done here but I would hate to put you out, I feel I have already taken advantage of your kindness."

Conor shook his head. "You wouldn't be putting me out at all. I live in Bizmar. I was on my way back to the city from a racetrack a couple miles away and decided to stop at this tavern for a drink. I'd be more than happy to recommend the nicer inns within Bizmar if you've never been there before."

Gasps sounding from some nearby customers drew his attention to the door. His eyes widened at the sight of a bloodied and battered woman limping toward a table. "Yes, someone is hurt," he said to Aya, before glancing at his bodyguards.

Wade and Trent jumped to their feet, hands close to the hilts of their swords. If the woman had gotten attacked outside, the culprits might still be lurking around and that meant they had to be prepared to protect their boss.

Trent kept his eyes on the door while Wade walked over to the table where the injured woman sat. "Who did this to you?" he asked, his eyes on the blood trickling down from the side of her face.

************

"It's nice to meet you, Emanuel." Lyla smiled as she watched him unwrap a bundle he'd dropped on the floor.

"What could I get for this?" Emanuel asked, showing her several coins he claimed to have gotten from a friend.

"A silver coin will buy you today's special of vegetable stew," Lyla told him. "It comes with a small loaf of fresh baked bread, a mug of mead or ale, and a brownie for dessert."

Her jaw fell open when she caught sight of the injured woman staggering into the inn. "Dear lord and lady! That woman is bleeding! She might need medical attention."

Lyla grabbed a clean, wet towel off the tray of another passing waitress and carried it to the woman's table. She eyed up Wade then handed the towel to the woman. "That's for the blood on your face. It'll might help keep it from swelling too."

She turned away from the woman and raised her voice to be heard above the din of the chatty customers. "Is there a healer present or anyone with some healer skills?" If not, I'll have to bandage her up as best as I can then send her off to Bizmar to seek out a healer.

************

Conor knew he could probably take care of any minor injuries the woman had with the use of his Rydan powers, but since he wasn't trained as a psionic healer it would take a lot out of him. And then he'd end up extremely weary, and want to sleep for several hours. I can't sleep now because I have too much business to take care of.

He stared at the battered woman while finishing off his brandy. She didn't look that badly injured. He couldn't help admire the sheathed sword he saw lying against the woman's thigh. She appears to be a warrior.

"What the..." Conor's eyes widened when he caught sight of Emanuel because he never saw anyone like him before around Bizmar.

CasualFriday · Veteran Member

Somehow, Silo didn't seem to notice that the gasps were directed at her. She sat down heavily in a wooden chair and stared blankly at the table for a moment, trying to get her thoughts together and figure out where that damnable mage warped her. The elf was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't notice the man approaching until he was upon her. She scrambled for her sword, it taking a moment for her to realize he was merely asking a question.

She stared at him blankly as if not understanding, then said slowly. "They're not here. It was... a mage... And... I fell." She stared at him with wide eyes for a moment before turning her head to take in the rest of the bar, just in time to see some sort of strange... cat thing. She looked at the creature with huge eyes.. "...what..."

When a woman approaches her with a towel and pressed it into her hands, she just blinked up at her. After a moment she lifted a gloved hand to her temple, then withdrew it to see. "Oh." She began gently mopping up the bloody spot with the towel, her face a mask of confusion. "...where is this place? I was in battle at Warsong, in Ashenvale. A mage I fought must have teleported me here. What city is this near?"

Kotabear · Veteran Member

"A silver coin will buy you today's special of vegetable stew," Lyla told him. "It comes with a small loaf of fresh baked bread, a mug of mead or ale, and a brownie for dessert."

Emanuel hid a grimace at all the vegetables mentioned with no sound of meat and politely nodded instead. He slid the coin toward her, "Maybe just a piece of fish and some water? And a little bowl of cream if the coin is enou-"

His request was interrupted by Lyla's exclaiming, "Dear lord and lady! That woman is bleeding! She might need medical attention."

He just nodded and flitted his wings to get enough lift so he could get onto the nearest unoccupied table. He watched the goings on in silence, wings fluttering idly. Just as he was contemplating Lyla's request for a healer and whether or not his magic would even work in this strange new world, he seemed to realize that all eyes other than Lyla were beginning to focus on him.

"Em.... Hi." Nervously, he waved a small hand and his wings began to flutter more slowly, as though prepared to lift him at any moment. Standing at barely over two feet tall, he knew he'd be little match for these giants if they chose to come after him, whether for capture or for kill, so instead he tried to look as completely harmless as he could. His camping pack was still on the floor beneath the window, so it's not as though he had his sword handy to begin with as it was wrapped up within his blanket.

iGoddess · Head honcho 2

From Elsewhere, just as Nowhere as Here...

LadyRavyn · Veteran Member

RE: From the Nowhere

iGoddess · Head honcho 2

[OOC: Just re-posting this from Fyre's post in the "Clumsy Morning" thread, since Azzy had already consolidated both threads into this one. :) ]

Fyre removes the hood of her tattered cloak and let it lay on her back, she then swepted a few pieces of her black and white hair out of her face and her purple eyes darted around the room. She stopped and stared at the odd people in the tavern.

She stopped at watched the little creature with the wings, she tilted her head to one side watching the creature because she had never seen anyone so small before.

Her eyes then moved over to the gentleman whom she over heard as Connor, and watched him a few minutes as he talked with the other female.

Fyre then got up from her table unhooked the tatter cloak and removed it from her shoulders and smoothed out the black and Red dress and walked up to the bar. The dress made a soft rustling sound as she walked.

She stopped a few feet from the bar and tryed to find an open spot. Once she spotted one she moved up to it letting her hands slide over the wood of the bar, she let out a small breath as it was the first soild non-moving thing she has touched since she came into this strange world.

She then turned around and rested her back againest the bar and crossed her arms over her chest and looked around the tavern again. She watched the goings-ons of the tavern from her spot, and wondered what each person was like.

-- Edited by iGoddess at 23:08, 2007-09-25

az_galantra · Head honcho 1

Jareth Knox cringed when he heard Lyla call out for a healer. As he sipped his drink, his eyes slowly panned the common room, hoping someone would answer the barmaid's call. When no one came forth, he sighed deeply.

Why me, he thought. Can't I sit down and get drunk without any damned interruptions? Reluctantly, he grabbed his little black medical bag off the bar, but not before draining the dark-amber liquid. He didn't believe in letting a good glass of Bourbon go to waste.

Slowly, he made his way across the common room, ignoring everyone around the table except for the injured woman, his senses heightened as his dark grey eyes ran over her. Jareth was a psychic healer and could tell what ailed a person simply by concentrating on them hard enough.

"The gash on your forehead is minor," he said in a bored voice. "It's nothing a little antiseptic and a bandage won't cure." He dragged a chair over and sat down in front of Silo. "And your ankle is sprained so I'll have to tape it up...or I could heal it right away but that'll cost you a drink." Of course he was kidding but it was hard to tell with Jareth since he had such a dry sense of humor that went over everyone's head most of the time.

He opened his medical bag and got to work, starting with the cut on Silo's forehead. Within minutes he had it cleaned and bandaged. "I'm not getting fresh so don't go slapping my face." With that said, he lifted her injured leg and rested it on his lap before he held his hands over the sprain and focused his power. Silo felt a warm sensation for a moment then the pain disappeared.

"You're as good as new," he said while lowering her now healed leg to the floor. His eyes left Silo and swept over the pretty woman and her child as well as the winged cat-like creature before he called out for Lyla to bring him a drink.

(ooc: em, this is jasper from the old board, but i changed his name to jareth since i see that emanuel has a dog named jasper. :D )

az_galantra · Head honcho 1

Lyla breathed a sigh of relief when a healer finally appeared to take care of the woman's injuries. She smiled at the antics of the cute, little girl then hurried off to the kitchen to get some fish for Emanuel.

Wade loosened his grip on his sword hilt after hearing what Silo had to say. "From what you've said, I think the mage that attacked you threw you into some kind of portal and you ended up here."

He backed away from the table once the healer arrived. After a quick glance at Trent still hovering over Conor and his woman friend, he made his way outside to have a look around in case anyone with evil intent followed Silo through that portal.

**********

A smile tickled Conor's lips as he watched the little girl hug the cat-like creature. He liked kids. Hell, he was a kid once himself! He really loved seeing kids smile since his memories of living in an orphanage weren't very pleasant. A few years ago, his adopted father had a new orphanage built on the southeast side, and Conor made it a point to visit the place often. In fact, he was in charge of throwing the yearly Solstice party for the children there, waiting to be adopted.

He managed to procure himself a fresh drink while continuing to watch the proceedings at the table holding the injured woman. When he saw Wade glance at Trent, he knew there wasn't any imminent danger and visibly relaxed.

A frown crossed his face after he heard Aya mumble something about a mage. Before he could ask her about that though, a loud cawing noise attracted his attention. With wide eyes, he stared at the raven that swooped down from the rafters to join Aya.

"Does your friend have a name?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

-- Edited by az_galantra at 10:21, 2007-09-26

CasualFriday · Veteran Member

((ooc: I think it's my turn >>))

Silo winced at the sound of a healer being called for, it being a sound she rarely had to hear for her own benefit. After centuries of careful training, she let a fledgling mage teleport her to Elune knows where. On top of that, she allowed herself to become separated from the other Sentinels, which was the only way the mage had a chance. She pulled off one mail glove and tossed it to the table with a loud, jingling thump before lifting the now free hand to her eyes to rub them, shutting off their eerie glow for the moment. Her fingers deftly traced the scar running down the right side of her face, and she sighed heavily.

The commotion on the other end of the room briefly drew her attention, and she couldn't help but lift an eyebrow and smile slightly at the sight of the little girl trying to squeeze the cat... thing... to death, partly because the child was cute and partly because this proved the harmlessness of Mr. Cat.

As Jareth approached, she was immediately struck by his obvious lack of enthusiasm to be there. What kind of healer becomes a healer if he doesn't want to heal? All the same, he seemed to be resigning himself to her aid, and for that she gave him a grateful smile.

She chuckled dryly at what she hoped was a joke about buying him a drink. "...sure, if you can wait for it to be brewed. I'm without coin at the moment. Don't carry any onto the field with me... The Horde are all too glad to relieve one of it." At least these people spoke common... She sat patiently while the man attended to the cut on her head, reaching up to gently finger the bandages when he was done. Her bright eyes scanned the room now with a fighter's paranoia, realizing that, in her state, she could have been cut down within seconds.

She smirked when he assured her of his noble intentions with the handling of her leg. "...my ankle wouldn't be the most embarrassing part of me I've injured, so you've my leave to touch it." She tilted her head back and regarded the cieling patiently as he worked, sighing a bit at the feel of healing warmth spreading up her shin. "I don't imagine it's the oddest thing you've ever had to heal either."

Her eyes flickered to the crying child for a moment before she leaned in to gently tap Jareth's shoulder. "Where am I? I'm here at the expense of an enemy mage's power, and I really must find my way back to the Sentinels so I can pay her for the trip."

-- Edited by CasualFriday at 10:03, 2007-09-26

-- Edited by CasualFriday at 10:03, 2007-09-26

Fyre PureBlood · Veteran Member

Fyre watched the camotion from the bar. She smiled and giggled to herself and the child and the cat creature, who she found very interesting.

Fyre perked up when she felt the healer's energy pulsing. "an psychic healer." she thought to herself, "I thought they were extint" she mumbled as she held out her hand and traced her fingers over the energy.

Fyre then turned around again and faced bar and leaned againest it setting her elbows on the wood, and leaning on it and lefting one of her feet up off the floor, and looked behind the bar, and then she looked around for the barmaid "excuse me." she said looking around for Lyla.

As she waited for Lyla she reached into a little black sachel that hung from a belt and pulled out two small silver coins. She looked at them. "I wonder if these will be any good here?" she muttered to herself. She signed and set the two coins on the bar and looked for Lyla again.

As she waiting for Lyla she looked down at the two coins and began sliding them around on the bartop making them spin in perfect cirlces.

LadyRavyn · Veteran Member

Aya smiled a genuine warm smile that seemed to light up her eyes. As she spoke she twirled a small metal disk in her hand, colored ribbons danced behind it on what were at this angle the 'left' and 'right' sides. Each movement of ehr long slender fingers caused the tattoos on that hand to glint softly at the edges where the deep black met red scar tissue in a perfect pencil thin outline. She seemed completely oblivious to the walking curiosity that she was. "His name is Windtalker and may I warn you now sir he's an insatiable thief..." A tell tale flutter brought her hand to his leg. "Don't you dare." This time she was serious, the soft hissing had caught her ear as surely as it caught his eye. She glanced in the direction with a quirked brow.

Even I know better, is she begging to be robbed or just looking for attention? Another possiblity sprang to mind just as she spoke.

"Sounds like it's getting fairly crowded in here, seems that would place it nearing dusk?" Perhaps she thinks she can stand alone against however many people might choose to unceremoniously seperate her from her money?Interested in distracting Windtalker; Aya flipped a metallic disk into the air, small cheap ribbons dangled off the ring shaped item. He meanwhile took off to 'steal' his item and hide with it.

Aya followed the sound of his wings a moment just to make sure he'd caught his toy with an amused smile on his face. She leaned slightly towards Conor as she spoke. "Several hours from now he'll forget where he got it and bring his 'prize' back to show off."

Unbeknownst to Aya however; Windtalker had been 're-distracted' by the spinning metal, he tilted his head and watched them as they spun.

-- Edited by LadyRavyn at 23:12, 2007-09-26

Fyre PureBlood · Veteran Member

Fyre continued to make the two silver coin dance in their circles, as she did this she began to hum. The tune in her head started out slow and then picked up so the dancing coins picked up and spun faster.

Fyre looked down at the two dancing coins she put her hands over the coins and she danced her finger between the coins her finger weaving in between them.

She did this for a few minutes and then looked up again and looked for the barmaid, she was getting thrusty and a little hungery, she then realized that she had not eaten in a couple of days.

She moved her hand away from the coins and they both just dropped on the counter, Fyre again put her elbows on the bar top and leaned over the couter and looked around.

Kotabear · Veteran Member

(ooc: sorry for the delay folks. It wasn't a very emanuel friendly day today.)

Emanuel stood nervously under the gaze of several patrons for what seemed, to him, an eternity before he found himself, quite suddenly, in the grasp of a smaller giant than the rest, being manhandled much like a beloved stuffed animal. "ACK! Wha-," a short grunt finished his sentence as the child gave a particularly emphatic squeeze about his midsection.

"Mommy, I want it!" the little giant cried happily as she whorled about causing Emanuel to be quite glad he hadn't yet eaten. He tried to wriggle free, but to little avail until the lovely, much bigger giant leaned down to help him free himeslf from the steel trap that masqueraded as this particularly exuberant youth. Were it not for the more immediate concern of avoiding being crushed like so many wine grapes, he might have been a bit more insulted at being referred to as an 'it', but for now, the feel of gentle crackling in his somewhat fragile wings had his full attention and so the accidental insult went unnoticed and the child left unreproved.

"No, honey, give it to Mum. Can't you see? You're hurting him," the larger giant argued. Within seconds, one of the deceptively strong little arms was removed from around Emanuels midsection and he came crashing to the ground, bum first, for the second time that day. Emanuel, luckily for the child, had always had a weak spot for children and, recognizing this 'little giant' as one such child, was well aware that she'd meant no real harm, despite whatever pain might have been resonating through his wings and back to argue otherwise.

"I'm sorry for that," said the lady-giant. "Taylie sometimes can't help herself. She's always loved anything with fur, fangs, or feathers. Did she hurt you?" She turned to Taylie and brought the girl close. "Say 'sorry' to the...the-" She realized she had absolutely no idea what this little creature was. She'd never heard anything like it in her village, or on the farm. She looked back at the cat-thing. "I'm very sorry, but...what are you?"

"It's.... It's quite alright," he said, once the breath found it's way back into his lungs. He stayed there on the ground and twisted himself in an odd manner that only a cat might truly understand in order to look over and carefully straighten his wings. Wincing, he caught the tiny bit of semi-transparent film that made up the majority of his dragonfly-like wings in one black-furred hand. He shook his head and set the bit carefully next to himself.

Before he could reply, the child began to whimper, "I n-never ha-have any-" she sniffled, "toys!" And as the child broke into something of a tearful frenzy, Emanuel's pain over his physical wounds gave way to a sympathetic pain for the 'little giant'.

"It's okay, baby," the lady-giant murmured. "It'll get better. Mum promises..."

Emanuel heaved a deep inward sigh and stood up, careful not to step on the bits of wing film that drifted to the floor from his cracked and crinkled wings. He tried to speak above the child's cries.

"Please, don't cry, kitten." In a hopeful tone, he added, "I.... I have a dog outdoors that I believe might enjoy meeting you later. Would that make you smile again? I'd like to see you smile, again, little one.... Little Taylie." Cautiously, he reached up and placed a soft, furred hand on the child's arm, his own physical pains forgotten. He'd always hated to see a child cry.

az_galantra · Head honcho 1

Wade walked around the quaint tavern, his eyes open for any signs of trouble. As an extra precaution, he checked Conor's carriage but found nothing unusual. Two years ago, Donald Castel opened the door of his carriage and came face to face with a rattlesnake curled on the seat. Quick thinking by a bodyguard had saved the crimelord from getting bit. The experience taught them to be a little more wary at all times.

Once finished with the carriage, Wade glanced at the nearby dirt road leading to the city of Bizmar. He saw a couple of merchant wagons and a few folks on horseback slowly making their way to the city. Nothing out of the ordinary there, he thought.

Satisfied that the area was free from any threat to his boss, Wade entered the tavern and joined Trent. The two men sat down across from Conor and Aya. Wade kept his eyes on the raven while Trent found himself watching the woman spinning coins at the bar.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Conor's eyebrows shot up when Aya warned him that her raven was a thief. "Really? I'll have to hide all my worldly possessions then."

He chuckled while watching the bird take off after the disc Aya tossed into the air. Windtalker snatched it up a moment later. "Your friend is quite talented." Conor frowned when he heard a buzzing in his pocket. He pulled out the small communication mirror and flipped up the cover to see his accountant's face in the glass.

"I know I'm late, Lyle," Conor said, before the other man could get a word in. "I'm leaving in a few minutes and will be there shortly."

After sliding the mirror into his pocket he faced Aya. "It's late afternoon and I still have quite a bit of business to finish up. Are you going to rent a room here, or would you like a lift to an inn in the city?"

Either way, Conor would know where to find her. He liked the thought of seeking her out later this evening when he was ready to relax after a long day of running around.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lyla was on her way to Emanuel when she heard the little girl whimpering about not having any toys. What a little cutie pie! It's a shame she's so sad. I wish I had a toy to give her. That gave Lyla an idea. She hurried back into the kitchen.

A few minutes later, Lyla arrived at the table. She smiled at Wren then set down a plate full of brownies in front of her. "Those are for you and your ... daughter? sister?... and the little girl. They're on the house. Please enjoy them."

It wasn't a toy, but chocolaty treats almost always brought a smile to a kid's face. "And this is for you." She handed Emanuel a plate of fresh salmon. "Eat up before it gets cold."

She left him with a smile before hurrying back to the bar, her eyes falling upon the spinning coins. "What can I get for you?" she asked, stepping up to the woman fiddling with the coins. The hairs on the back of her arms stood up when she saw a raven eyeing them up. "What's that big bird doing in here?" she mumbled, a hint of fear in her voice.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Since Lyla was pretty busy at the moment, Mave delivered Jareth's drink. The barmaid found it a little easier to smile now that over 2 years had passed since her sister Marna was brutally murdered in the tavern during a raid by thugs sent by the old crimelord, Tegol Denair. I'm glad that bastard is dead! May he rot in hell. "Will there be anything else?"

Jareth handed the barmaid some coins then nodded at Silo. "Yeah, bring this feisty warrior a tall glass of brandy." He watched Mave rush off to get the drink before he turned his eyes to Silo. "The strong liquor will help ease any pain you might be feeling."

The healer took a sip from the glass of bourbon in his hand. "You're at an inn called The New Dawn Tavern. It's about a mile outside of the city of Bizmar." He saw the confused look on her face. "This is the world of Variance." He let that sink in while lighting a cigarette.

Mave returned and placed the drink on the table by Silo. "Flag me down if you need anything else." She scurried off again to tend to some rowdy customers at a table near the door.

Jareth blew a couple of smoke rings in the air before his eyes came to rest on Silo again. "So, what's your name, warrior woman?" He gave her a half grin. "I'm Jareth Knox, healer extraordinaire." He took another sip of bourbon. "And what the hell are those Sentinels you mentioned? I've never heard of them."

Fyre PureBlood · Veteran Member

Fyre turned around and looked at Lyla, "Do you have any Kiria berry wine here?" she asked. "Dont dont worry about the raven, i know that he is probably eyeing my coins, he wont come near me. Anyways what do you have to eat around here?" she asked.

Fyre picked up the coins off the bartop and held them out to Lyla "what can these get me around here?" and opened her hand to show the two silver coins. "i have seen 6 full moons since I have been in this world, and I dont know the monitary system yet, as a matter of fact i dont know much of this country." she said with a sigh.

Fyre looked over the tavern again and sighed, she missed her home, she missed her family.

LadyRavyn · Veteran Member

Aya smiled a bit. "I think I'll come into the city with you if it won't cause you to be any later than I already have." A sharp whistle caught Windtalker's and he dropped from the rafters to land lightly on her shoulder the disk still firmly in beak.

*/* Sorry so short but we are just making an exit.*\*

-- Edited by LadyRavyn at 05:34, 2007-09-28

CasualFriday · Veteran Member

"Bring this feisty warrior a tall glass of brandy." The 'feisty warrior' in question couldn't help but chuckle at the hilarity of someone calling her feisty. She was typically very calm and slow to anger, and she was fairly certain the circumstances involving her injury were a good excuse for a bit of an attitude. "The strong liquor will help ease any pain you might be feeling." She smiled at Jareth and gave him a nod.

"Of course. I appreciate your kindness, healer." She leaned back in her chair and listened to the information Jareth gave her, lifting a curious brow when he mentioned they were near 'Bizmar'. Before she could ask exactly where and what Bizmar was, Jareth then made a joke. "Variance?" She frowned a bit, unable to see what was so funny about that, unless he was having a lark with her. "Ah, and where exactly in Azeroth is this 'World of Variance'?"

She lifted her drink to her lips and took a slow sip as he reassured her this was not Azeroth, giving a nod to their server. After hearing this, she took another, longer drink. "...Variance, eh?" The information was too big to process all at once. She wasn't entirely sure how to react to it, so she merely let it stew.

Her eyes followed the man's skillful smoke rings on their journey toward the cieling, watching as they spread out and slowly dissappeared. She focused on him again when he asked her name. "Silo Lunara... Er... Moondance, that is. Ishnu-alah, Jareth." A frown crossed her face when he said he'd never heard of the Sentinels. "Only one of the best trained and most feared armies in Azer..." She remembered that, according to him, they were not in Azeroth.

With that, it struck her -- if this was not Azeroth, the Sentinels did not exist. For that matter, no one she ever knew in all her life existed, including what little family she had remaining after The Sundering. Beautiful Darnassus was gone, the Druids who maintained it nothing more than a memory. Her eyes trailed to the floor and her shoulders slumped as the weight of this realization came to her. "So this isn't 'my world'. There are no other Kaldorei."

She leaned back in her chair again and looked up at the ceiling, trying to wrap her mind around the idea of being the only one of her kind in an entire world. And then she realized how very strange she must look to these people, who had never seen a creature like her. She would look as odd to them as the little cat-fellow seemed to her. And for all she knew, that cat-fellow was commonplace in this world. Of course, having lived through the Sundering, she had technically already witness the loss of her world. Perhaps that would prepare her for that.

Something occured to her, and she turned dangerous, blazing eyes on Jareth. "...if this isn't Azeroth, how came you to speak Common?"

-- Edited by CasualFriday at 19:23, 2007-09-27

Fyre PureBlood · Veteran Member

Fyre looked at Silo. "this isnt my world either, I too am a stranger in this strange land." she said. "I came here through some sort of portal that was in my garden back in Aquarius, was out walking and admiring the Kiria berry bushes, and then the next step I took i ended up in this World called Variance." she sighed and leaned back againest the bar.

Fyre looked back at Lyla and smiled weakly. "There are no other Dagwans here." she made it more of a statement than an question. Fyre pushed a piece of her multicolored hair behind her ear and sat down on the stool near by.

She looked over the tavern again looking at each person in the room and gave them each a weak smile.

az_galantra · Head honcho 1

Lyla shook her head. "Sorry, I've never heard of Kiria wine." A thoughtful look came over her face. "You might like Moonglow wine. It's made by elves and imported from Avanti Island. We have Edenberry wine too but that stuff is really expensive!"

She turned away from Fyre, pulled out the bottle of Moonglow wine, and poured a glassful. "Here you go." Along with the wine she handed Fyre a menu. "Today's specials are vegetable stew and spicy pepper sausage with pan fried potatoes."

Her eyes went to the coins in Frye's hand. "We accept platinum, gold, silver, bronze, and copper coins as well as gems." Lyla felt bad for Fyre and Silo when she heard they fell through portals from other worlds. It must be awful for them to be without friends and family.

"So, what would you like to order?" Lyla smiled at Fyre, hoping to lift her spirits. "After I bring your food could you tell me more about Dagwans and your home world?" Lyla had always had the desire to travel to unusual places and loved hearing stories about such places.

**********

"Let's be off then." Conor eyed the raven sitting on Aya's shoulder as he got to his feet. Not wanting to upset the bird, he carefully set his hand on the small of Aya's back, leading her out the door to his carriage. His bodyguards followed closely behind.

Wade opened the carriage door and followed Conor and Aya inside, taking a seat across from them. He stared out the window, once again watching for any signs of trouble. Trent climbed into the driver's seat and soon they were on their way, heading down the dirt road to the city of Bizmar.

Conor turned slightly to face Aya sitting beside him. "I'll get you a room at an inn I own. It's called the Sleeping Snake. I'll have my manager, Rico take care of you. He'll see to it that you get one of the better rooms with a private bathroom so you can enjoy a nice soak. I plan to eat dinner at the Sleeping Snake tonight and would love for you to join me."

He smiled at Aya. "I should finish up with today's business in a couple of hours, so I'll see you there then. I'll meet you down in the common room. Have a drink while you wait. I recommend the Edenberry wine."

When the carriage finally came to a stop, Conor climbed out first then helped Aya out. He escorted her into the inn and spoke to Rico before leaving her in his care. "I'll see you soon." Conor gave her a quick bow then hurried back to his carriage and was on the way to his accountant's office.

Rico got a key from a metal box behind the bar before addressing Aya. "Room 7. It has a sunken tub and a shower as well as a double bed. Do you have any luggage you want carried up?"

He glanced at a table full of young guys placing bets on tonight's matches at the Fight club since they were starting to get a bit loud, then he turned his attention back to Aya and waited to see if she needed any help getting to her room.

(ooc: I had some extra time this morning so I managed to get this post done. Will get to the others sooner or later. :D )

LadyRavyn · Veteran Member

Aya rose with Conor and found herself enjoying his hand on her back, he seemed confident and sure of his lead, not like many people the first time they lead the blind who either walk too fast or too slow however, she had to wonder how long it would be before he decided he was annoyed with his charge.

In the carriage Aya relaxed some, the ride was smooth and the seats more comfortable than what she'd found in the inn. When she heard him discuss all he'd intended to pay for she just sort of smiled and held up a hand. "I would love that, however; you must promise me one finally thing; I insist upon getting to know my benefactor tonight."

Aya stood a moment getting used to the new sounds, scents and flavors of the new inn. Some boys somewhere were discussing betting...on something, a deep toned bell sounded somewhere behind her and it took less than a second for her to realized that she was the only one who heard that. "Bet high on blue?" She didn't know what was blue, but it should garner them a few extra copper.

"No thank you, I travel light." For a moment she glared at the bird who tried to take the key first for her and then from her. "Unless you've got a nice cage for my precocious friend here." She smiled a bit in the hopes of easing any concern he might have about the bird. "He'll likely leave soon, but before he does is there any way I could get you to guide me to my room when you have a spare moment? In the meantime however; a drink would be nice, if it will allow you to get a moment to breathe between dealing with people. Mr. Castel suggested the Edenberry wine."

Fyre PureBlood · Veteran Member

Fyre smiled at Lyla "Thank you" she said taking the glass of Moonglow and taking a sip. Fyre removed the glass from her lips and smiled. She then held the glass up to a candle and spun the glass around making the liquid dance in the candlelight. "This is ver good the....el..ves..." she studdered with the word "Did a wonderful job." What kind of meat do you have in house?" she asked as she slid her last three sliver coins over to Lyla.

Fyre than sat down and looked into the glass of wine and sighed "Aquarius..the land where the sky and the Ocean are the same color and the grass is not green but a blue-green." she said spining the glass of wine. As she did this an image of a sky, a flat grass land appeared. "Everywhere you looked there was some kind of little village or farm land, and on a hill stands a tall seafoam green castle..that was my home..." she said and picked up the glass and took a sip again.

Fyre sighed again "Dagwan, we are a special kind, from the abyss of the Underworld, I met my now decesed husband and then ruler of Aquarius when I was out wandering the upperworld and I met him a tavern." she said playing with her hair "we are half dragon and half demon, we have the ablilty to shapeshift." she said running her one hand over her knee. "There is a away to tell the coloration of a Dagwan, look at their knees when they are in their two-legged form. I am actully the last of my coloration."

(occ hopefully you can follow that :D )

az_galantra · Head honcho 1

Jareth could almost see Silo's mind working as she sipped her drink. The poor girl certainly had a lot to process.

"Variance, eh?" she asked.

All Jareth could do was nod. "Hey, falling through a portal and landing on a strange world is bad, but look at the bright side. At least you ended up here instead of in the dark forest to the south of this inn. That place is filled with vile creatures. Here you only have to contend with drunkards, maybe an odd cat-like being or silly gnome, and a flaky healer." He chuckled. "All in all, that's not so bad."

He quieted down and enjoyed more of his drink while listening to what Silo had to say about the Sentinels. They sounded like war-loving people. Perhaps they were similar to the Aysealar giants who won the nation of Loris away from the government of Rhudma after many long years of fierce battles. The two things the Aysealars loved most were sailing and fighting. Jareth thought they were too stupid to rule a nation, and that could explain why the king of the Aysealars had so many humans and half elves advising him.

"So this isn't my world," Silo said. "There are no other Kaldorei."

Kaldorei must be her race, Jareth thought. That would explain her unusual glowing eyes and white hair, not to mention her height. Not many women in this world were over 6 feet tall.

He bit down on the cigarette between his lips while puzzling over Silo's question. After exhaling some smoke he met Silo's strange eyes. "The common tongue is the most popular language on Variance. Maybe our common is actually different from the common spoken on your world of Azeroth, but once you fell through that portal the magic of this world kicked in and allowed you to understand our language." He shrugged. "Sorry I can't offer you a better explanation."

A yawn escaped him. He didn't get much sleep last night since he got called in to help out with an emergency at the Southport Hospice. When he finally got out of there it was time for him to head out to Cooper's farm to tend to Grandpa Cooper who was losing his battle against old age. The man, who reached 80 on his last birthing day, had fallen off a ladder a month later and his health had been going downhill ever since.

Jareth had decided to stop at the New Dawn Tavern for a couple of drinks before heading to The Warehouse where he offered his healer services for free to the abandoned children and homeless folks that took shelter there. Thinking of the place gave him an idea.

Once he snuffed out his cigarette, he faced Silo. "Look, I know you're broke, don't have any place to go, and don't know a single soul on this world. I'm on my way to a place in the city that we lovingly call, The Warehouse since that's what it is; an abandoned warehouse. The people there can give you free food and shelter. You can come with me if you want. There are carriages parked out back, waiting to take people to the city. Or we can walk if you like but it's about a 4 mile trip from here to the Warehouse."

He glanced at the bar when he recalled hearing Fyre tell Silo that she wasn't from this world either. "Maybe we should ask her to come along too. How about it?"

iGoddess · Head honcho 2

Children. Ah, children...

CasualFriday · Veteran Member

RE: From the Nowhere

LadyRavyn · Veteran Member

((OOC: Moved mine and Conor's latest comments into the 'streets of bizmar' section under the topic title "On to the Sleeping Snake Inn" to make our divergence easier to follow.))

CasualFriday · Veteran Member

The dragon had been walking through the dark forest for days, pausing only for occasional meals, water and now and then to rest her legs. She had not slept because she was not yet tired. She only seemed to get tired every few days, but the she would need to sleep for quite some time in order to recover. She found it was easier to just sleep whenever she could, but these past few days, the scent drew her nearer.

Two days earlier, she had paused at a river to drink her fill, usually a task that took at least half an hour (not that she tracked time the same way a human would). When she had finally finished and found a soft place to lie as she allowed the gallons taken in to digest, the scent hit her. Strong and familiar, but what it was, she couldn't say. If she hadn't been sluggish from her drinking, she would have stood right then and made her way toward that scent.

It awoke that odd part of her again. That part that spoke 'words' and remembered hazy images of a life long past. As soon as she was able, she lumbered to her feet and began to walk again. She was a clumsy animal on all fours, and she longed to stretch her wings. But though she knew she was capable of flight, she would be unable to do so until she was in a clear area. The trees all around left her no room to spread her wings and gain the lift needed for a safe take off. Aside from that, she knew by instinct that she would likely not gain the canopy of the forest.

She paused a moment and lifted her head, sniffing the air with surprisingly quiet intakes of breath for her massive size. The scent was ahead of her, and with her keen eye sight, she could make out some sort of... She paused and snorted, unsure of what to call that thing. Building. House. Inn. She tilted her head and listened to that strange inner voice that kept speaking to her, its words a language she could not understand, and yet at the same time, grasped completely.

Her jaws opened slowly and she tried to form the noise 'Inn' as she could hear it in her mind. All that came out was a low, plaintive growl. She closed her jaws again with a snap of her fangs, shaking her large head in frustration. A yawn suddenly raked her body, causing her to stretch her long neck upward and forcing her jaws open, a bit of fire coiling just beyond her lips as she released the air off the yawn. She would need to sleep soon, but she was certain she could sleep where that scent was. It was a safe scent, a scent that reminded her of large, easy meals and affection.

She blinked her yellow eyes slowly and licked her scaly lips before continuing on toward the inn. As she went closer, she began to crouch and duck her head, some instinct driving her into a submissive pose. Her tail slithered in the grass behind her thick, muscular haunches as she went along. The scent was growing stronger, and soon it was masking other odors. There was a 'word' for that scent, an image associated with it as well, but as intelligent as she was, she could not make herself remember it.

Finally, she was behind the building, crouching in the darkness of the trees beyond its back yard. She smelled horses, and they could smell her as well. They began to whicker and panic, and then she heard the voices. Voices like the one she heard within her mind, only deeper and outside of her head. She tilted that massive head to the side and listened. The noise started a coo deep in her chest and slowly worked its way out of her mouth. She nosed the ground affectionately and suddenly ached for... What? Contact? She knew of other dragons, though she had seen none since she awoke in the forest. All she could imagine was another dragon rubbing its nose against her own, but it was different. Her nose wanted to be... petted?

She rose to all fours and sniffed the air again before inching a little closer. The horses she smelled began to scream. The scream pierced her skull, and she roared, rearing back and shaking her head from side to side. Something about the sound terrified her.

Suddenly she was on her... knees? Hands... pressed to her... ears. She squeezed her yellow eyes shut and felt with those... hands... at her face and shoulders. Something wet was coming out of her eyes, and they burned. The dragon hated the feeling, and so she roared again, but all that would come out was a very un-dragon-like, broken sob.

The girl curled into a ball on the ground, naked and crying, her long, black hair fanning out beneath her head on the grass. She sobbed and shook her head, hands roughly scrubbing at her face as she tried desperately to understand what was happening to her.

-- Edited by CasualFriday at 08:14, 2007-10-02

Fyre PureBlood · Veteran Member

As Fyre sat at the bar drinking the moonglow she perked up when she smelled a familiar scent. "Here?" she said. She then sat the glass on the bar and walked to the door, she put her hand on the door knob and pushed the door open. Fyre walked outside and the around the building.

Fyre looked into the forest, and then she heard crying and looked to the ground. she quickly knelt down next to the crying form and smoothed back the black hair and she snapped her fingers and a blanket appeared in her hand and she covered up the girl.

Fyre then picked up the girl with littel effort and walked back around to the front of the tavern and walked in. "Lyla." she said, "can i get some water over here?" she said looking down at the bundle in her arms.

Fyre looked around the tavern to see if there was a place that she could lay the girl down, and then she remembered the table that she first when she came in. She then walked over to the table and laid her down on the table top. she then grabbed her tattered cloak and bundled up and put under the girl's head, and then sat down and tried to calm the girl down.

Jareth_Knox · Psychic healer

Lyla was fascinated by the way Fyre made an image of a landscape appear. She must be a mage. Since it was rare for the spellcasters of the Mage Guide in Bizmar to come all the way out to the New Dawn Tavern, she figured Fyre wasn't a member of the guild. Maybe she's on her way to visit someone in the city.

Lyla spilled a little of the ale she started pouring for a customer when she heard Fyre say she was half dragon and half demon. Her eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets as she lifted her head to stare at Fyre. So, she's what a half dragon, half demon looks like? For some reason Lyla thought such a combination would look very sinister, but Fyre didn't frighten her at all and that was a good thing.

Before she could say anything, Silo spoke up from a nearby table, asking Fyre if she would like to go to the city with her and Jareth. Apparently, Fyre didn't hear her because, suddenly, she bolted out of the tavern. Lyla shrugged then continued to pour the ale. She was getting quite used to customers popping in and out of the tavern.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Jareth chuckled at the look in Silo's eyes. Obviously, the warrior woman wasn't accustomed to getting help from strangers. Some people simply couldn't get their mind around the generosity of others and had a hard time accepting charity. That made sense though since a lot of the folks who rushed to offer assistance expected some kind of payback. Jareth wasn't like that. Although he acted like he didn't give a damn, and sarcasm tended to pour from his mouth, he really cared about people. He often performed his healing services for free and that's what caused a major riff between him and his father.

"Stop wasting your time and talent on poor people or you're the one who will end up poor." Whenever his father's words rang in his mind, he felt his anger rise. Dear old dad was rich thanks to the winery business started by his grandfather. He spent his money on a lavish lifestyle and snubbed his nose at those less fortunate. When Jareth was old enough he rebelled against his cold-hearted father and left home. Eventually, he ended up in Bizmar and soon got involved with the guys at, The Warehouse, who tried their best to aid the homeless and abandoned children.

Jareth finished his drink while waiting for Fyre to answer Silo's question but instead of responding, the woman ran out of the inn. "Something must have drawn her attention."

It didn't take long to see what it was since Fyre returned a moment later carrying a girl wrapped in a blanket. Jareth watched her lay the girl on a table then turned to Silo. "Since I seem to be the only healer around, I suppose I should see if my services are needed."

He walked to the table, placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, and then scanned her from head to toe with his psychic power. "There doesn't seem to be anything physically wrong with her."

After a quick glance at Fyre and Silo his eyes fell to the girl again. He spoke in what he hoped was a gentle, reassuring voice. "You are in the New Dawn Tavern, and you're safe here. Can you tell us your name and what happened to you?"

Lyla handed Fyre the glass of water she requested then hurried off because she had too many customers to take care of and couldn't let curiosity get the better of her again.

CasualFriday · Veteran Member

Silo looked mildly affronted when the odd woman went darting out of the bar. Her keen, elven ears pricked up at the sound of horses screaching, and a chill ran down her spine. "What in Elune's name--" The door burst open again, and Fyre returned baring a strange burden.

She stood to get a better look at the creature, a slight looking girl who couldn't have been older than 17. She nodded absently as Jareth said he had to go help, then, knowing she would only get in the way, sat down and picked up her drink again to finish it off, ears pricked slightly to eavesdrop on the goings on around her.

***

Darya's crying calmed when she felt someone wrap her in warmth and then lift her. One pale arm crept around the neck of her rescuer, and her sobs quieted to whimpers. Her eyes widened a bit as she was swept into the inn. She listened to the woman carrying her speak, but the only word that made sense to her was water.

She blinked away tears as she was rested on a tabletop, staring into Fyre's strangely calming eyes. She reached a hand out toward her, but snatched it back when she saw another person approaching. She sniffed the air but found she could smell only the fire and some sort of food. Her strong senses were dampened in her human form.

She flinched a bit when the... man... rested his hand on her shoulder, but when he didn't seem to want to do her any harm, she turned her attention back to Fyre. "There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with her." The deep voice captured her attention again, and she stared up at Jareth with wide eyes.

"You are in the New Dawn Tavern, and you're safe here. Can you tell us your name and what happened to you?"

Darya's wide, yellow eyes just stared blankly back at him. Her jaw began to work and after a moment, she said in a husky voice, "D-Da... Dawn?" Suddenly, for a brief moment, her eyes became completely clear and the confused look left her features. All too quickly it was gone. She pressed a hand to her head and shook it, grimacing in concentration. "Dawn. Ma... Man?" She looked back at Jareth questioningly, then sat up bolt quick.

Thankfully the blanket stayed up in spite of her enthusiastic movements, or the world would have been privy to her secrets. A hand darted out to grab Jareth's wrist, and she pulled his hand closer for inspection. A frown worked across her lips as she studied his fingers, tugging them and stretching them. "Man." She pushed a hand through her tangled hair to get it away from her face, then huffed loudly and looked around the inn, childlike frustation evident on her features. She held Jareth's hand in her vice like grip for a moment longer before letting it drop.

-- Edited by CasualFriday at 15:24, 2007-10-03

Kotabear · Veteran Member

((OOC: No worries, iGoddess. You see how long it took me to come 'round to posting. So very sorry for the wait.))

Emanuel smiled his catty smile, whiskers twitching happily when the little girl seemed so excited.

"And what do we call you?" he heard her ask. With a chuckle he bent down and began collecting the bits of wing film carefully. He responded over his shoulder as he did so.

"Name's Emanuel. I'm a.... well, it seems in this strange place, I'm a one of a kind."

Emanuel smiled up at Lyla gratefully when she brought the plate of salmon and said a few strange words that could only have been words of thanks from his tone and the overjoyed glimmer in his eyes.

He carefully set the bundle of wing film on the plate with the salmon and then seemed to suddenly remember something that set his eyes wide and his tail bushy. He darted back to the place where he'd left his things and took a hurried inventory of everything. Heaving a huge sigh of relief, he collected it all back up and hefted it onto his shoulder before returning to his plate of salmon.
He dropped the bag under the table against one of the legs, and then knelt next to his plate.

"Sorry about that." He said to Wren regarding his sudden dart to his things. Emanuel then began crushing the wing film into a fine powder, mixing it with a tiny bit of the oil from the salmon until it was a translucent glob of paste taking up a small bit of space on his plate.

"I'm sorry, but can I ask you a small favor?" Emanuel spoke up at Wren and looked up to meet her eyes. "This paste, here, I need to spread it onto my wings so that they can heal properly, but my wings don't bend like bird wings or bat wings, so it's very difficult for me to do for myself, and I'm apt to permanently damage them if I try. Could you help me, Wren? I'd be ever grateful."

Fyre PureBlood · Veteran Member

"Thank you Lyla" Fyre said taking the glass of water from her.

Fyre watched the girl as she looked around confused. She smiled at her when she looked up are her,Fyres eyes bled to their red coloring giving the girl some hint that she was safe and letting the girl know that she was with someone of her kind, and showing her that she ment no harm to her.

Fyre said a few gutteral words to help calm the girl down, she figured that if they girl was anything like herself she would understand.
(OCC dragon speak: its ok be calm the human doesnt want to hurt you)

Fyre gently put her hand on Dawn's back to help steady her as she sat up. Again Fyre spoke to Dawn and held out the glass of water, and pulled the blanket up around her shoulders a little bit more.

Fyre swept a few more of her sliver hair back behind her ear. The sliver was the price she paid for using her magic, outside her homeland, and watched Dawn carefully.

Jareth_Knox · Psychic healer

Jareth studied the girl closely. Perhaps she had hit her head and that caused the disorientation she was plagued with at the moment. It was also possible that she had recently gone through a very traumatic experience and her subconscious now suppressed the unbearable memories.

Although Jareth wasn't known for having a cheerful bedside manner, he gave the girl a warm smile when she squeezed his hand before loosening her grip and pulling away. After she revealed her name he mentally went over the list of missing people tacked up on a corkboard at the Southport Hospice. He didn't recall seeing the name Dawn on the list. Maybe she only recently ran away from home to escape an abusive relative. Or she could have been a part of a caravan that had been attacked on the road, somehow escaping and eventually making her way to the tavern. Any questions he had would have to wait until Dawn could think clearly again. What she really needed now was plenty of rest.

He glanced at Silo before his eyes ran over Fyre and then Dawn. Obviously, the three women had little or no money at all. They needed food and shelter, and Jareth knew The Warehouse would provide them with both, free of charge. Hopefully, they would make a donation to the place in the future once they were on their feet and earning wages.

Jareth watched Fyre adjust the blanket across Dawn's shoulders then cleared his throat to gain their attention. "I'm about to hop in one of those carriages waiting around outside and head to the city. Would any of you like to come with me? I can take you to a place where you'll get a good meal and a cot to sleep on...and it won't cost you anything."

-----------------

(OOC: I've added information about the Warehouse in the sticky post above titled, "About the city of Bizmar," and also in the "Variance" Forum. Hopefully, this will aid in making the story flow better. biggrin )

Fyre PureBlood · Veteran Member

Fyre looked at Jareth and tilts her head to the side. "something caught you attention?" Fyre purred, and turned her attention back to Dawn. She ran her hand over Dawn's arms feeling for any possible injuries.

Fyre looked over her shoulder. "This is a strange area to me, i would be happy to travel with you. I am anxious to learn more about this Variance." she said.

(OOC: Sorry that some of my post are kind of short sometimes, my imagnation is just a little short sometimes.)

Jareth_Knox · Psychic healer

OOC: Since Darya's writer dropped out, I'm going to pick things up with Jareth and Fyre meeting for the first time. aww

--------------------------
IC:

"I have seen 6 full moons since I have been in this world, and I don't know the monetary system yet, as a matter of fact I don't know much of this country."

Jareth overheard the woman sitting at the bar talking to Lyla and turned in his chair to face her. It sounds like she might be from one of those alternate worlds Sirius is always talking about. He knew his friend would love to meet her and find out all about her home world.

His cleared his throat to get Frye's attention. "Would you like to join me for dinner?"

Lyla leaned in and whispered to Frye. "Don't worry, he's safe. He's a healer who works in the city and he comes in here a lot."

Fyre PureBlood · Veteran Member

Fyre turns around on her stool and looks at the man talking to her and smiles. She turns around and looks at Lyla and give her a look of "are you sure?" and then gets up and walks over to where Jareth is sitting and smiles. "Thank you, it is nice to meet another friendly face here in this strange place called Varience." she said smiling and smoothing out the unseen wrinkles in her tattered dress and sweeping a few strands of her black and sliver hair behind her pointed ears.

She then pulls the chair that was across from Jarth, smooth her dress under her and sits down and folds her hands in her lap. She then looks at Jarth and smiles again her purple eyes sparkling a little bit.

(OCC thanks this should will be fun)

Jareth_Knox · Psychic healer

Jareth ordered another drink from Lyla before turning his attention to the woman sitting across from him. When he noticed her pointed ears, he figured she must be an elf. It seemed logical that the same races that made up Variance might populate an alternate world. Or she could be some race I've never heard of.

A hint of a smile caressed his lips after he took a sip of the drink Lyla delivered. Good bourbon never failed to brighten his usual gloomy mood. "I overheard you say that you came from another world." He met Fyre's eyes briefly before he began searching his pockets for a cigarette.

"By the way, I'm Jareth Knox. I live in the nearby city of Bizmar and am employed as a healer." He slipped the somewhat bent and battered cigarette between his lips, lighting it from the candle on the table. He sighed in contentment after taking a deep drag and exhaling the smoke towards the ceiling.

"What's your name?" he asked as he opened the menu sitting on the table. "And what's the name of the world you come from? I'd like to hear more about it if you're in the mood to talk."

Fyre PureBlood · Veteran Member

Fyre smiled at Jareth."You may call me Fyre, though my given name is Fyre PureBlood." she said "I am not an Elf if you are wondering, I am what is called a Dagwan, I am half demon and half dragon." she said with a bit smile. "I am from a land called Aquarius where i ruled with my now passed on husband, but I was born in the Underworld."

Fyre looked at the back of the menu, reached into the small little purse, and sighed. She then folded her hands on the table and looked out the window.
"Do my eyes bother you so that you will not look at me?" She asked with a bit of sorrow to her voice. "I have noticed that not many people will look me in the eyes because they are such a strange color." she said fiddling.

She then looked over at the table that she first came to and noticed that her cloak was still laying there. So she held out her hand and snapped her fingers and the cloak dissappeared from the table and appeared in her hand, and as soon as the cloak appears Fyre fell foward a little bit and a few more silver hairs appeared. She then took a deep breath and sat up straight. "Lyla may i have some water please." she said.

Jareth_Knox · Psychic healer

Jareth's eyes widened when Fyre admitted to being half demon and half dragon. That sounded like a very dangerous combination, yet his female companion seemed to be more of a friendly soul than a ferocious predator.

"Aquarius?" He thought long and hard but couldn't recall ever hearing about such a world. "It's a shame my friend Sirius isn't here. He has a fascination for alternate worlds. He'd probably keep you up all night long with questions."

Jareth quickly shook his head at Fyre's question. "No, your eyes don't bother me at all. I think they're lovely and unique." He saw Fyre's cloak disappear from the table and reappear in her hand. "Impressive. I guess that means you're able to work magic. I've met a few top-notch spellcasters from the Mage Guild in the city and found them to be quite snobbish. You don't seem to be anything like them." He took a pull off his cigarette when Lyla appeared at the table and set down a glass of water for Fyre.

"Flag me down when you're ready to order." Lyla gave them a smile before returning to the bar.

I wonder if she's stuck here on Variance or if she knows of a way to return to her home world. Before he could ask Fyre, a petite girl with very blonde hair and violet eyes strode up to the table and sat down.

"Howdy, Doc," she said, while waving the smoke from his cigarette away from her face. "How about buying me a drink? You owe me for helping you bandage up that kid the other day."

Jareth chuckled. "Fyre, this is Tia."

A warm smile lit up Tia's violet eyes when she turned to face Fyre. "Nice to meet you. I'm sorry for intruding on your date, but when I saw Doc here I couldn't resist coming over to say hello."

Jareth pulled the cigarette from his mouth. "It's not a date. We just met. Fyre hasn't been in Loris very long."

Tia frowned. "Aw, that's a shame! You know what they say...all work and no play makes Doc a very dull boy."

Jareth rolled his eyes before gaining Lyla's attention, requesting a glass of wine for Tia and refill on his bourbon.

Tia turned back to Fyre. "Have you been to the city of Bizmar yet? If not, I can show you around. I've been here for a couple of years and know it like the back of my hand."

Jareth crushed out his cigarette. "We were about to have dinner. Afterwards, I was going to invite her to go with me to the Warehouse."

Tia grinned. "Awesome. Since you're buying Doc, I'll have dinner with you and then accompany you both to the Warehouse. I can pick up the scarf I left there on my last visit." She thanked Lyla for the wine she delivered before rushing on to order. "I'll have catfish with a salad and some fresh bread."

She nudged Fyre. "They have excellent catfish here. You should try it if you like fish. The pasta is pretty good too. I've eaten in just about all the inns around here so I pretty much know what food is best at each place." She sipped her wine then continued. "The steak here is okay. I've only had it once because I'm not a big red meat eater."

Jareth gave Fyre an apologetic look. He'd forgotten how talkative Tia could be.

Fyre PureBlood · Veteran Member

"Aquaris is small but a beautiful country, you can see the entire country from the tallest spire of the castle the sky is of a ocean blue, and the lands are fertile, and lovely to look at. There are little villages dotted around the landscape." She said holding out her hand and a small orb appered and mist of red,blue, yellow, and green began to swrill inside and images of a sky and little villages appeared in the mists.

Fyre made the orb disappear and looked at Lyla "thank you." she said with a weak smile, and took the glass and siped the water, not realizing that her companion was being generous and offering to pay for her meal.

Fyre noticed the girl walking over to them, and just watched her. Fyre nearly choked on her water and stared at the girl in horor as she addressed Jarth in such a manner, he was a Magic user, and therefore he was to be addressed in such a better manner. So she set the water down and wiped the corners of her mouth with the hood of her cloak.

"I have not." Fyre said to the girl. "I have only seen 6 full moons in this land." Fyre continued and then looked to Jarth as way of peleading with him to quiet the girl. Fyre then looked up as Lyla "I will take one of your steaks and just cook it enough that it is seared on the outside, but still red in the middle, and whatever else you put with it." she smiled at both Jarth and Lyla.

Fyre smiled at Jarth and took another sip of her water.

iGoddess · Head honcho 2

Wren put her chin in her hand and just watched the little fellow as he sorted himself until he was comfortable, mixing the bits of his wing her daughter had crumbled. It was fascinating, in its own way, how careful he was and handled the damaged bits as if they were still more precious than gold.

When he asked her to help him spread the paste on his wings, she was a bit disconcerted. Helping midwife the newborns on the farm was one thing, and even the occasional bump, scratch, and cut from the farmhands was all right. But this was a bit outside her experience.

"Um..." She tried to smile, but she felt the corners of her mouth quiver a bit. "Well, y'see, I'm not, um...not sure how I would do that--"

"Fingerpaint!" Taylie laughed, a milk moustache glistening on her upper lip. "Like fingerpaint, Mommy! See?" She got up from her seat and hopped over to Emmanuel. Without waiting for his permission or even asking, she plunged a finger into the pasty goo and began dabbing it everywhere she saw a hole in his wings. She was laughing as she did it, smearing little designs and swirly lines with what was left over, but by the time she was finished she'd used up all the paste. Then she patted him on the head. "Cute kitty!"

Wren was beet red by the time her daughter settled herself back on the bench. A better mother wouldn't have this problem and would be able to control the girl and rein in some of that impulsiveness. But Wren just didn't have the heart. Her daughter had her own struggles, she knew, and there was nothing she wanted more than to give her daughter as much joy and freedom now as she possibly could. Such days for Taylie would only be a memory all too soon. She knew that, too.

"I hope she didn't hurt you," she said to Emmanuel by way of apology. "She likes painting and making things almost as much as she likes animals." She took a look around the room, hoping that no one was glaring at her daughter's exuberance or scowling at her, mentally scorning her for being such a poor mother. "So tell me, Emmanuel, if you really are from somewhere else, what was it like there? Do you miss your home?" She gave a wistful sigh. "Sometimes I miss my home. The farm was good to us."

Kotabear · Veteran Member

Emanuel jumped a little when the little girl hopped over to him. He laughed as she did exactly what he needed, despite her complete lack of understanding for what was really going on.

"She's adorable." He said as Taylie worked her artful magic on his wings. Even before the child's bottom had met the bench, the goo was beginning to solidify and strengthen his wings again. "No, no hurt at all. She actually had quite the right idea." He sat down crosslegged next to his plate of food and began to pull bits of the fish apart and chew on them. Between bites, he spoke.

"My home? It was very different. Either everything was smaller there, than here, or I shrank when I came through the portal. I haven't figured which." He chuckled and his ears backed against his skull as he shook his head in amusement. His tail twitched contentedly behind him, as he continued.

"We have lush forests and very little desert. Although, the desert Lynoan are a sight to behold. Great golden cats, most of them smaller and leaner than my own clan and FAST! Holy Felinius, are those desert Lyns fast!" He took a big bite of the salmon and savored the flavor a moment before continuing his swift chatter.

"It's a nice place, my home. Melsinai, it's called. We have a lot of the same creatures, there, but also some very different ones. Like, we have dogs, like my Jasper, but not near so big. And we don't ride anything like those big.... 'Horses' are they?" He shrugs a little, "No, our mounts are feathered and scaled, and kind of like a mix between your cats, dogs and .... Chickens? You'd probably think them quite strange, but I was rather fond of them. Jasper's quite the friendly fellow, though. Such a mess when I found 'im...." his words trailed off as he seemed to decide it was time to take a breath and eat rather than inundate the poor woman with his ramblings.

"So," he started around a mouth full of salmon, "Why'd you leave your farm?"

-- Edited by Kotabear at 20:02, 2007-10-31

Jareth_Knox · Psychic healer

After Lyla hurried off to the kitchen to fill their orders, Tia started talking again, her eyes on Fyre. "Only 6 full moons? Wow, you really haven't been here very long at all." She tapped her chin, momentarily lost in thought.

"I have a great idea!" Tia's sudden enthusiasm showed in her eyes. "Let's plan a shopping day for tomorrow. Just us girls! I'll take you to the main bazaar located smack dab in the center of the city. We'll have a lot of fun!"

Jareth frowned. "The bazaar can be a dangerous place for a couple of women. It's usually filled with vile thieves and cutthroats."

Tia's finger came up to jab Jareth in his arm. "Hey! Not ALL thieves are vile. Some are really sweet and adorable." She smiled and playfully batted her eyelashes at the healer before facing Fyre again. "So? Do we have a shopping date for tomorrow, Fyre?"

Just then Lyla appeared with a large tray in her hands and began setting plates of food on the table.