Artemis
Archer
Aspiring Heroine
Posts: 16
Profession: Huntress
Affiliation: Sacae
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Starduster
|
Post by Artemis on Aug 5, 2016 10:29:21 GMT -6
Artemis lay still on her back, which was pressed against the cave's cool floor, beginning to wake from her slumber. Towards the back of the cave, a fire made up the night before was giving off its last few embers, drying Artemis' boots and shirt of yesterday's rain while Artemis herself had spent the night in her undergarments; long, thin socks, an under shirt and a simple thong. She didn't mind, however, as she enjoyed feeling nature's touch against her skin, and the area of the cave in which she had made her bed wasn't too rocky, allowing Artemis to sleep peacefully without being bothered by cuts and indents. Before opening her eyes, she stretched and contorted herself, arms spread wide past her head. Stretching in such a way always felt good to Artemis, especially while waking up.
Pulling off and casting aside her remaining clothes, Artemis dropped into the nearby rock pool and positioned herself directly under the mini waterfall which was coursing from a hole in the cave wall. As she washed, she looked around, admiring the cave itself. It wasn't big, only being a short tunnel boring into the bottom of the mountain face, but the combination of its V shape (which required one to do a sharp U-turn in order to get into Artemis' temporary living space) and built in features (such as the aforementioned rock pool and a small pit for a fire) gave Artemis everything she wanted for overnight accommodation.
After cleaning off all the dust and bugs and grit she had accumulated during her sleep and seeing how long she could hold her breath while curled up underwater, Artemis allowed herself to be dried by the fire before bundling up her clothes, grabbing her bow and quiver and, after poking her head around the corner to make sure no one was nearby, walked out of the cave before getting dressed on the grassy slope outside.
As she walked westwards towards the edge of Sacae, Artemis couldn't help but feel dissatisfied with her life. She had made a promise to her mentor on his dying breaths that she would become someone worthy of his great legacy, but despite all of the ravaging and warfare that was prevalent in the world right now, Artemis hadn't done anything that was even slightly heroic. It wasn't for lack of trying, but it seemed like all the heroes had packed up and left for another continent without asking Artemis if she wanted to help quash an insurgency, or overthrow a dictatorship. Still, she couldn't weigh on these matters for too long; there was breakfast to think about.
Scanning the horizon, Artemis tried to decide which meal would be most convenient. She didn't want anything too big for fear of leaving waste, and she also didn't want to spend most of her day flaying anything when she could just eat a quick bite and move on. In the end, Artemis replaced her bow on her back again and settled for fruit. It was a little disappointing that she wouldn't be getting her food through skill or a keen eye, but she needed to eat and couldn't afford to be fussy.
After satiating her appetite with a handful of sweet, dark berries, Artemis began to trek across the plains. She didn't know where she was going, only that she would tolerate finding naught but adventure at her destination.
|
|
|
Post by Alexander on Aug 5, 2016 20:30:55 GMT -6
Sacae was hot. The sun in Ilia was always bright and obnoxious. However the frigid wings and horrid cold kept them occupied. Here however, there was no snow. No biting winter winds. Just stagnant air and endless green. It made the heat feel sweltering. Already, Alexander was glistening with a faint veil of sweat along his figure despite being in nothing but a white thin tunic that was matted to his frame and mostly transparent from the fluid which matted his body and caused it to cling to his skin. It left his scared, toned torso entirely exposed through the lack of obscurity this now soaking wet shirt truly gave.
That was hardly what bothered him though. It was the fact that he had no way to cool down. This rolling waste of green was entirely..open. No heavy pine tree's to take refuge under. No mountainous outcrops to find for shelter. He was left to bake in the sun like a skewered rabbit roasting on a spit. Fernus at-least, was having a visibly easier time. The four legged monstrosity was roaming through the taller patches of grass with curiosity and prowling the grasslands with a hesitant inquisitive pattern to it. The lone mercenary knew however, that if past ancestors had managed to survive the rest of Elibe in the name of fame and fortune, so could he.
That was his goal after-all. To claim the highest peak of his family's fame. To become the single most renown mercenary in their long established lineage. He hoisted his pack slightly higher so his shoulders could support the burden of its weight with greater ease, before sliding a hand to the blade at his hip. He was still just as armed as he usually was. A long sword sheathed at his hip, and a hand-and-a-half sword sheathed between his pack and his back; daggers resting in small pouches and strapped to his lower calves to compound the other armaments. He couldn't be caught without a weapon, especially in an unknown place.
So he wandered. Traversing the rolling hills of horrible green tide like grassland, still un-used to the lack of pressure he had to place into each step when moving. Snow was tough to walk in. It hindered progress. It slowed one down and greatly taxed bodies that moved through it. This had left him with a fairly well developed structure of muscles within; if only because of how often he was out in the Ilian snowdrifts. His family's lands were within the mountains embrace in Ilia, and it was always colder and with more snow than most likely any point in all of Elibe. Trudging almost aimlessly, with the great timber wolf following close behind him, Alexander moved. Unlike his furry comrade however, he could not take a few moments to rest only to jog ahead on all fours and catch up at a moments notice. No, if he wanted to make solid time, he'd have to push on.
|
|
Artemis
Archer
Aspiring Heroine
Posts: 16
Profession: Huntress
Affiliation: Sacae
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Starduster
|
Post by Artemis on Aug 6, 2016 4:40:04 GMT -6
Finishing off the last of her berries, Artemis could feel the wind picking up. Windy days were Artemis' favourites. Because the plains of Sacae were so flat and vast, the winds could move through unobstructed,often at very high speeds. Artemis stretched out her arms and threw back her head, letting the wind rush between her fingers and legs and through her hair also, whipping it about this way and that. She let herself become one with the wind, as though it were speaking with her, beckoning her. She could feel a kind of power in the gusts; something not to be controlled, but to be respected. If you truly respect the wind on the plains of Sacae, it will respect you back. Some day, when you're strong enough, you may find that, if you have been faithful in the wind, and always trusted that wherever it blew was the right place to do so, then the wind may reward you with power and good fortune. At least, that's what Artemis had often heard while growing up in the orphanage.
After completing her ritual, Artemis pressed forward, the wind still blowing. She would've loved to stand there all day, but she knew she had to keep looking; no one ever found adventure by just standing around all day, and Artemis wouldn't either. In fact, she could already see hints of it on the distance; a man, maybe half a foot taller than the 5'3” Artemis, and much broader, especially at the shoulders. With him, a large white...dog? Wolf? Artemis couldn't be sure. The dog seemed content enough, stopping at times to rest before affectionately bounding back towards its master, but Artemis was worried about the man himself. He could easily handle himself in a fight, and Artemis couldn't allow that power to be used to cause harm to the villagers residing in the hamlet nearby; Until she could figure out his motives and character, Artemis would have to keep an eye on him. Squatting down into the tall grass before the man could glance her way, Artemis prepared for the hunt.
|
|
|
Post by Alexander on Aug 6, 2016 11:05:18 GMT -6
These lands had so many differences, that it put him on edge. The raven haired youth kept instinctively gripping the blade's hilt at his hip. Fingers tightly embracing it for a moment before footsteps became slow and hesitant. His ashen gaze diverting to sweep the landscape around him, before he'd release his blade and continue striding. Ilia had been fraught with wild animals that had to hunt all forms of prey, including humans, to survive the perpetual colds. This meant that all prey, had to be used to managing their own survival. Sacae was clearly different. He'd seen not one bear, or snow-cat, or wolf minus his own, since he'd arrived.
As he crested over the top of a hill, Alexander knelt down abruptly, dipping down as if vanishing from view beyond the hill side and gazing quietly ahead. Three deer, grazing in the distance. This..would make a far better supper than berries and roots and rabbit had. Which meant...it was time to hunt. The Ilian gazed to his pale hunting partner before nudging his head towards the Deer and quietly standing with his hand gripping the blade upon his waist in full. Now popping back into sight as he stood closer to the top of the hill as opposed to kneeling, the four legged carnivore instead went sprinting down the hill side and away from Alexander before cresting over another hill. Where as, Alex was used to the crunching of snow from each step he made in Ilia, Fernus seldom made noise. In these grassy lands he made far less, almost completely silent even at a full run. With his wolf vanishing into the distance, Alex lightly jogged off to the left with his gaze focused on the deer. Fernus had run Northwest.
Which meant for Alexander, the job was far more simple. Steps now much slowed once more as he moved to the NorthFeast of the small gathering of deer. He crouched atop the hill, and quietly unsheathed the longsword at his hip. The metal of the blade effortlessly sank slightly into the ground as he shifted some of his weight to it. Eyes tracking. Following. Quietly. When he hunted, Fernus kept a gaze ahead. Kept him safe. When Fernus hunted, he kept the wolf safe.
It was a largely believed notion, even if it was a misconception, that wolves had to hunt in packs. This was in actuality, seldom true. If the prey required assistance to handle, wolves could ask other wolves for help. Often however, when they hunted..their howls simply served to notify other wolves that they were doing just that, hunting. A warning, more than an invitation.
|
|
Artemis
Archer
Aspiring Heroine
Posts: 16
Profession: Huntress
Affiliation: Sacae
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Starduster
|
Post by Artemis on Aug 6, 2016 11:26:52 GMT -6
Maintaining her position in the tall grass, Artemis couldn't help but let out a silent sigh as she watched the man hunt. He was never going to catch anything at close range just standing out in the open like that. At least, not with a bow; he needed to find cover and surprise the prey, lest it see him coming and flee. Then again, his canine companion was nowhere to be seen...
Looking at the man up close, Artemis could see that he couldn't be much older than her. His skin didn't show any real signs of ageing, and the tall and muscular frame didn't hold much fat. Whatever method this man had used for training himself, it was obviously very effective.
Not wanting to blow her cover, Artemis crept silently through the blades of grass, crouched, but using her hands to balance herself, preventing her movements from becoming clumsy or noisy. As the tall grass ended, Artemis transferred herself to the nearby bushes. She could feel the branches scratching at her from all sides, but otherwise it was desirable cover. As she watched the stranger just some 10 metres away, Artemis could see he appeared to be waiting, seemingly for his partner to take action. He obviously knew nothing about hunting, but Artemis could see he was very coordinated.
So what's he doing here, anyway? His face, lean and sharp with a point nose, was both similar and different to those she had seen in Sacae. The way his tunic clung to his body showed by the sweat dripping off the man showed Artemis more than she would have liked to see, but also that he wasn't used to Sacae's climate. Artemis reasoned that, should the two of them come to blows, the man would be slowed down by the heat and, coupled with Artemis' evidently superior knowledge of the land, would give her a home field advantage.
|
|
|
Post by Alexander on Aug 6, 2016 12:03:33 GMT -6
Animals had a strong instinct. Instinct however, was not the same as intelligence. Where as Fernus and him had hunted together for years, understanding and working together, these Deer were likely simply bound to the same instinctive patterns. In Ilia, where dense forests choked vast reaches of space, the beasts often moved for open spaces. Any road, or path. They were faster in open sprints but slower when having to turn and maneuver. Here, he could apply the same logic.
The series of hills created a small valley. From the Northwest, the longest stretch of flat land was to the east. Directly towards the hill which lead to Alexander. He knew how wolves hunted. If he hadn't picked that up by now, he had no business belonging to the Orpheus family. Still, he remained crouched for a moment longer. Knee's stretching. Muscles running taught before becoming lax. His gaze drifted to the hill beyond as he saw the faintest stir of motion. Fingers tightening along the blade, he slowly drew it from the earthen crust he sat atop, and slowly began to back-pedal. The brush near him rested near the declining hillside, and would obscure his vision from the deer. He extended an elbow as he cocked his arm back. Longsword's hilt resting nestled securely between his index finger and thumb, with the guard along the sides of the hilt extending out beyond his fingers.
A common practice of his, when he'd run out of arrows on the hunt in Ilia, or such as in this case, when his hunting bow was not on his person. The length of the blade's weight which would've off-set a potential throw, was handled with his left hand's index and middle fingers lightly propping against the blade on either side without letting the edge of the cold iron weapon actually touch his flesh. He'd have reliable accuracy and force up to about fifteen feet. Now all he had to do was-
A loud howl rung out along the valley. Fernus'es cry echoing out for miles, and causing the three dear to raise their heads in fright. The exceptionally large snow wolf came sprinting down the hill towards them, and after a brief moment of their minds registering the danger, the chase began. Wolves weren't as fast as the large hoofed prey they often favored. This had to be substituted with cunning. Positioning. Often chasing their quarry into traps. Were they within Ilia, they'd likely have chased the deer into deep snow where they'd have been slowed, or even a river bank where unstable ice would spell out the beasts doom.
Here, they had to use the hills to their advantage. It was the only option ultimately, in such readily open plains land. The ground filled with the reverberations of the thundering hooves as the three deer grew closer. Still, he waited. Arm cocked back, right hand firmly hooking the hilt and blade guard between two fingers as he readied the throw. Timing with this method, was everything. The largest, a stag, among two doe, was already moving up the hill. Alexander's heart hammered steadily within his chest. The sweltering heat briefly cast aside despite the droplet of sweat trailing down his left temple, only to get lost within the black thriving stubble along his jaw. His mind entirely focused. Two motions. Two kills. If he didn't screw up.
That invisible threshold was passed, and Alexander saw the head of the stag part the top of the hill before he stood swiftly from a crouch and lurched forwards. His arm cocked back for one brief moment further than its resting state before launching the long-sword forwards. In moments it'd sunk through skin, muscle, sinew and bone. Square into the chest of the stag. The braying whine of the creature in shock, pain, and death, as it's heart was punctured, didn't yield enough time for the other two. He had to kill the stag first. Doe would follow the stag, relying on males for protection. However if he'd killed a doe first, he also risked being gored by what were often underestimated weapons.
Of the two does, the slowest to react was the one to the left of the stag. The one on the right had leapt into the air while cresting the hill. It didn't help him in the slightest, that the stag had almost collapsed atop him. However he had enough time, to incline his hand and reach for the bastard sword on his back and lunge to the side while unsheathing the blade into a strike directly against the slower of the two doe. Metal sliced against the creatures side and a thick burst of crimson globlets coated metal, as well as part of the boy's face while he injured the deer.
It also cried out, but unlike the stag it had not been mortally wounded. Verdite grass became stained with red as it sprinted off into the distance. Much slower however..and in vain. The large wolf that finally rushed over the hillside began to run down the doe. Alexander need't gaze onwards as it closed the gap. He turned back to the stag, with his second blade in hand as he approached it with a quiet pant. Not from fatigue, but adrenaline. He knelt close to the dead beast, which laid upon its right side. Then his eyes drifted to the antlers. Internally counting, it had 8 tips. 8 Prongs that could've been goring him.
The sudden series of shrill cries and disjointed snarls told him that Fernus had reached the doe. He averted his gaze back towards the hound, and slowly stood up, brushing the blood from his skin as best he could while he looked down the hill. A slightly confident expression slid upon his lips.
No roots or berries tonight. A nice change.
|
|
Artemis
Archer
Aspiring Heroine
Posts: 16
Profession: Huntress
Affiliation: Sacae
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Starduster
|
Post by Artemis on Aug 6, 2016 12:29:38 GMT -6
Artemis couldn't help but be surprised as all of this action unfolded before her eyes. Never would she have expected that this boy would have so readily thrown his sword at oncoming deer. It was damn near suicidal, but the boy's wild overconfidence had led him to victory. The execution was decidedly messier than had it been Artemis on the hunt, with blood staining the grass, the sword, the boy...
Still, she couldn't stay too long. To dawdle was to risk being spotted, and Artemis needed to find cover lest she be caught out. However, as she began to move along once more, Artemis felt something slithering at her ankle, likely a snake. Caught off guard, she stood up involuntarily before immediately falling over again, spread-eagled on her front, looking straight at the boy, who seemed equally startled.
Quickly turning on her back, Artemis was given just enough time to see the wolf in the tall grass where she had been moments ago, giving a cold, unfeeling stare which Artemis couldn't help but shiver in response to. For an animal that had so energetically been bounding around its master not half an hour ago, it evidently possessed a very steely side to its personality.
Realising she was boxed in, Artemis tilted her head back towards the wolf's owner to ensure he wasn't attempting a sneak attack from behind while Artemis was distracted. He still seemed very confused by the events which had occurred just a few seconds ago. "Um...hi." Artemis grinned sheepishly.
|
|
|
Post by Alexander on Aug 7, 2016 14:47:51 GMT -6
The sudden shrill shriek startled him, certainly. If nothing else because of the fact that it sounded nothing like a deer would. Combined with his unsettling pulse and adrenaline that raced through him, the boy was quick to flourish his blade and point it at this newly revealed threat. At the sight however, of another human, he lowered his weapon. Blood trickled quietly from his stubble covered jaw, and globlets still fell from the length of his blade. Alexander's ashen hued gaze leveled upon this odd girl that had fallen down before him. The boy took a few steps back quietly while he saw Fernus closing in on her.
His lips pursed together, and he clicked his tongue to the roof of his mouth once before whistling for his wolf. The large creature averting his gaze up to his Ilian master as heavy paws paddled along past her. Snowy white fur was heavily stained with crimson streaks and had a slightly pink hue to it. He was slow to circle past Artemis, and he kept a gaze on her even while he sat aside the mercenary. The quiet questions moving through his head as to her identity or reason for being there were silenced while he stepped back cautiously closer to the stag. He swept the blade's length along the grass on one side, before flipping it and brushing it along the other. Sanguine shades stained the grass once more as he adjusted the blade was slid back into it's sheath.
If she hadn't been in such a defenseless situation he wouldn't dare slide his blade back into its sheath. However he had his wolf at his side and she had no weapons drawn. If she made a move, he knew Fernus could be upon her before she had a chance. He hoped, that wouldn't be necessary. He frowned a bit, but turned his back to her as he began to extract the blade in the stag's chest, ignoring the quiet low rumbling as his wolf growled quietly towards the girl. Alexander's tone was almost flat, expressing the soft distrust he felt towards almost everyone he met.
"What're you doin' in a bush?"
|
|
Artemis
Archer
Aspiring Heroine
Posts: 16
Profession: Huntress
Affiliation: Sacae
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Starduster
|
Post by Artemis on Aug 7, 2016 15:16:36 GMT -6
Regaining what portion of her dignity she could, Artemis tried to read Alexander's face. His shock had disappeared now, replaced by general indifference to Artemis' existence. However, it was clear that he wasn't keen to trust her. Why should he be? Artemis was spying on him after all, but it was for good reason. For all Artemis knew this man could be plotting to decimate the Sacaen population within the week. Exaggeration? Maybe just a little, but Artemis couldn't afford to give this guy any ground either.
Still on her back, Artemis scowled back at the large, white wolf as it sat at its master's back. Scrunching up her smooth face and girlish features, she put true intent into her stare, showing the wolf that she would not hesitate to kill if it made one wrong move. Artemis knew hunting. She knew that, to ward off potential predators, you had to stare back. Show them that, no matter what they can do to you, you're just better. If this beast wasn't going to trust her, then fine, but she was going to make damn sure that it would respect her.
Flipping up into a kneeling position before fixing the skirt of her tunic, Artemis, satisfied that she had made clear her intentions to Fernus, now switched her eyes to Alexander. “I could ask you the same, y'know. What are you doing here in Sacae? You're obviously not Sacaen by the way your face looks, and if you've any plans about causing harm to the people here, my people, then you'd do better to rethink your agenda.” Artemis paused for a moment to let her words sink in, before adding. “And thanks for offering to help a lady up, you jerk.”
|
|
|
Post by Alexander on Aug 8, 2016 12:04:44 GMT -6
Something about her tone bothered him. No, not bothered. Annoyed. The hand-and-a-half sword inside the deer slid out with the fleshy groan of punctured muscle and bone and sinew. He released his boot from the deer and set it firmly, only to turn and gaze at the accusing Sacaen girl. Alexander's grip tightened on the blade slightly in distrust while he narrowed his gaze to examine her. Another series of twin bloodrops trickled from his stubble before falling down to hit the ground below, and his blade was slick with wet gore of the fallen stag. Fernus snarled louder, behind him, as the growing tension between the two in that brief moment climbed.
What was she supposed to be? The gate-keeper of Sacae? Alexander lifted his blade pointing it at her slightly before using it to gesture with by pointing it to the side and the endless verdite hills around them. His tone was slightly gravely and his discomfort in the warmer climate only further disgruntled him. "What am I doin' in Sacae? Ya' own it, do ya'? Decide who all enters? Shouldn't you be in Bulgar then, where undreds' of foreigners enter and leave daily? Or does a single stranger wandering the wilderness scare ya'?"
With blade raised, the wolf had started snarling further. Her attempting to match it's gaze only served to act like a challenge as large fangs glistening with blood and small chunks of meat from the freshly slain doe rested clamped in by lethal predatory teeth. The boy dismissed it however, a moment later as Alexander lowered his blade and trudged over to the side of the stag while lowering his sword to drag the flat of the blade along healthy Sacaen grass and further staining it a sanguine shade. He soon slid it into its sheath before gazing up at her with a less hostile, but still fairly blank expression.
"Aye, maybe where yer' from girls are coddled and taught how ta' skip among flowers. Where I'm from, offerin' ta' help a lady up is likely to have her break yer' jaw for thinkin' her weak enough ta' need it. "
His sisters were the first ones to come to mind. Then his cousins. Hells, his own mother was hardy enough that if they'd offered she probably would have wrung their head like a bell for even suggesting.
|
|
Artemis
Archer
Aspiring Heroine
Posts: 16
Profession: Huntress
Affiliation: Sacae
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Starduster
|
Post by Artemis on Aug 8, 2016 12:54:05 GMT -6
The nerve of this guy! Suggesting that she had lived a life of ease and coddling, he had no idea what life was like when Artemis was in the orphanage; while the children generally got along well, even the smallest disagreement between a few them would invariably turn into a free-for-all involving every last urchin. It wasn't strange to see Artemis with a black eye or a cut across her nose or chin from trying to defend either herself or her friends in one of the many fracases she had been dragged into.
“It's called being polite. Not that you would know anything about that, obviously.” In fact, Artemis wanted to launch herself on top of Alexander there and then and show him what she was made of, but she knew that Fernus would soon be on top of her, leading to a swift and humiliating defeat. She needed to bide her time and see if she needed to fight. If the time came, she would deal with Fernus first. A quick arrow between the eyes or to the neck would do the job just fine.
“And as for your other rude remark, no, I'm not trying to stop anyone from entering Sacae, but when people like you come calling with their big swords and their big beasts, disaster is usually not far be---”
Artemis was cut off by a loud crack in the distance. Looking in the direct of the noise, she could see smoke billowing up from the forest on the horizon to the north-west. Almost as if to say “I told you so”, Artemis got up, grabbed her bow, and began jogging over to the plume, stopping just once to shoot another stare at Fernus, daring him to follow her.
|
|
Eris Coulson
Soldier
"Sometimes goodbye is a second chance"
Posts: 106
Profession: Mercenary
Affiliation: Ambition
Affinity: Fire
Profile: Eris Coulson
OoC Alias: Tsunderis
|
Post by Eris Coulson on Aug 8, 2016 13:51:59 GMT -6
“Yer best bet is to head West lass. After all that just happened headin' North is probably not the best idea. I mean, how many Ilians have ye killed?”
The advice was smart. Bern wasn't an option, obviously. Ilia wasn't much better, since she was basically done for had she been caught at the border. That left...well, the rest of Elibe. And the best route to the rest of Elibe, from Bern, was either Lycia or Sacae. Why Eris had chosen the latter even she didn't know.
When she stopped to think about it, she didn't know much of anything anymore. Just that she was tired and hot.
Her feet ached from walking, more than her heart or her head, and her damned eye-patch itched so badly she was half-tempted to claw it off. Evidently it hadn't been the wisest choice to march through Sacae in her armour, but she knew nothing of the land or it's people. Her Father had called them base-born savages. Her Father called many people plenty of insults, so that didn't mean shite.
Eris was at least thankful the armour wasn't her old military gear. It had cost her a good chunk of her earnings from her service, but it was far more comfortable if a touch too warm under the Sacae sun. Black with gold trim, with a green tunic and brown slacks to match. It had come with a helmet, but Eris had tucked that away in the sack she lugged with her. That and her gold.
If Sacae had a bandit problem she was easy-pickings. Half-blind and alone. Better than Lycia and their weird monster problem...ah, she just remembered why she had opted for Sacae.
Eris snorted and blew a stray strand of hair out of her good eye. With luck she'd be able to take the eye-patch off within a week or two, but even if her eye worked the scar would never heal completely. She'd always have to remember how Cyrus...how she screwed everything up.
Her heart ached again. Eris hadn't missed her mother during the rebellion, but she sure did now. Had to be because she always thought she could go back at any time. Hah, how people take things for granted. If she ever showed her face back at the manor she was as good as dead. She had to hope the letter she sent would be enough, that her Fa...that the Baron didn't intercept it.
Eris stopped near a small hill, planting the flat end of her lance into the ground. She'd practically been using the thing as a walking stick. Sacae, so far, had been little else but plains, but there were hills scattered about. She reached into her sack and pulled out her water skin. Lukewarm from the heat, but better than nothing.
As Eris took a swig she squinted forward. She still hadn't completely adjusted to only using one eye yet, but she could swear she could make out a bit of commotion up ahead. Didn't look like a battle...then she heard a howl, a strange one. Not like any wolves or dogs she heard back in Bern. Was it some sort of Sacaen hunting dog?
Well, aside from her gold and her life, what did she have to lose?
Eris trekked forward, no doubt looking more hollow and fatigued than curious, and steadily approached a rather sweaty man, a ridiculously large wolf-like beast, and a woman who looked...different. Sacaen? Either way the two looked to be telling each other off. A lover's spat? Oh please...
Then she noticed the smoke. The Sacaen woman ran towards it, perhaps her village r hamlet r whatever the hell Sacaen's lived in was under attack? This...this was good. This was a chance for Eris to get in good with the locals.
Cursing under her breath she broke int a sprint. “Bow lady, wait!” She had t make sure the Sacaen KNEW she was helping, after all. Eris did spare a glance at the sweaty man and his stupidly massive hound, but she couldn't waste time chatting with him. From the sounds of it he didn't seem to be Sacaen anyway. Certainly didn't look it, he almost looked...
Well sh*t.
|
|
|
Post by Alexander on Aug 8, 2016 15:08:13 GMT -6
Was there some magic at work here? This girl had a talent unknown to him. Every time she opened her mouth, his irritation seemed to climb to heights never before seen. Was this how all Sacaen's acted? Gods, he'd heard they were a quiet lot. She kept yammerin' about the most trivial matters like he'd given her great slight. Was her skin so thin? Alexander rose from his kill to stand fully. At Five foot eleven inches, he was over half a foot taller than the girl. He was about to waste his breath on a retort when the crack drew both lots attentions. The boy wasn't as quick to, but the girl was already running down the hill towards it and pulling out her bow.
The young Ilian gazed towards Fernus, who was less interested in either now, and quietly sniffing at the stag they'd killed. The beast had his mind on the right priorities. Those two deer were not going to last forever. But..there was a chance that something genuine was going on within this forest that had taken ablaze. Because that was what he wanted to do, go closer to a source of heat. To most people it was probably average weather, but gods if he wasn't about to die. Snarling in annoyance, Alexander removed his back from his shoulders and let it fall next to the dead stag. He took his waterskin from the side pouch, and lifted it before thumbing the lid off. Sweet slightly chilled relief had quenched him moments later before he lifted it to indulged in a slightly cooler moment as the water swept down along his face and past both his chin and forehead. Crimson stains tainting the water that fell from his face as the blood was washed from him, before he lowered the waterskin and capped it. With his pack off him, he felt a bit lighter. He grunted in frustration. The girl was already jogging further away, and a second was shouting to her.
One hand clasped the blade at his hip, resting on the sheath as he began to walk down the hill. He wouldn't run. This wasn't his country and ultimately this wasn't his concern. However his curiosity was fairly prevalent. Fernus was quietly moving along side him, and Alexander spoke to his canine comrade as he gazed ahead with ashen eyes stained with annoyance.
"I swear ta' what ever gods are livin' above and below, I'll kill her if she points that bow at me. Bah..let's go boy, and see what this is."
|
|
Artemis
Archer
Aspiring Heroine
Posts: 16
Profession: Huntress
Affiliation: Sacae
Affinity: Wind
OoC Alias: Starduster
|
Post by Artemis on Aug 8, 2016 15:39:46 GMT -6
Artemis didn't look back to see whether Alexander and Fernus were following her. She was more focused on making sure that no one was in trouble from whatever was happened off in the forest. For all she knew it could be a forest fire, but she had to make sure. Then again, not many forest fires made cracking noises.
Then, Artemis heard a cry from behind her. “Bow lady, wait!” Normally, she would've turned around in a flash, eager to help with whatever problem her pursuer may have, but Alexander and Fernus had put her in a bad mood. Artemis whipped around in annoyance. “Oh for the love of---What the hell is it now?”
That's when she saw Eris; Her strawberry pigtails trailing behind her, an eye peeping out from underneath her fringe; She was very pretty and pleasing to look at. But this alone was not what impressed Artemis, rather it was the eyepatch Eris wore. Obviously this girl had been through some hard times, but she managed to carry herself in such a way that her natural beauty still shone through untarnished. As Eris reached Artemis and slowed to a stop, the latter could see that the former was more or less leaning on her lance for support. Artemis really hoped that Eris was just tired out from a long trek rather than having sustained crippling injuries while still young.
Eager to make better first impressions here after starting off on the wrong foot with Alexander and Fernus, Artemis was desperately thinking of how best to open up the conversation. “Say something nice, but don't be overbearing and don't make yourself look like an idiot.” She thought. “HiI'mArtemisyou'reabsoultelyadorablewhat'syoursecret?” She squeaked. “Crap.” Her inner voice groaned.
|
|
Eris Coulson
Soldier
"Sometimes goodbye is a second chance"
Posts: 106
Profession: Mercenary
Affiliation: Ambition
Affinity: Fire
Profile: Eris Coulson
OoC Alias: Tsunderis
|
Post by Eris Coulson on Aug 8, 2016 16:02:51 GMT -6
Thankfully the Sacaen lady didn't keep running after Eris called for her. Might have been the armour, the heat, or Eris' fatigue, but she could barely keep up after her. Had she kept on running Eris didn't doubt she'd have lost her to the trees...wait, trees? So Sacae actually had those, not just hills and flats and grass. If she had the luxury of time and energy she'd have snorted at her own mental note. She'd been doing that too much lately.
Focusing on her surroundings, Eris once again planted the flat of her lance onto the ground as she reached for her water-skin. While she drank the Sacaen turned 'round and shot her a look, an annoyed one at first, then it changed to something...friendlier? Sheepish? Strange, was it because of the eye-patch. Eris didn't care either way, wiping her mouth when she was finished taking a drink. The Sacaen said...something, she spoke too swiftly. Oh gods, was she going to be shite with the common tongue?
"Uh...got no clue what you said there. Breathe a bit before you speak next time." Eris stated bluntly, frowning a little bit. "I called you because I want to lend a hand. Could be a fire that-a-way, yeah? Is it all forest here or is some sort of village? What's the plan here?"
Before she could continue there was the faintest of rustling behind her. Was it the sweaty man and his insanely large dog? Right, couldn't forget about them. "And what about the wolfman back there? He coming to help or what?
She knew all these questions were just allowing whatever was on fire to burn faster, but she sure as hell wasn't going to run into a fire without a plan. Especially with nothing but strangers around her. There had to be some order, some structure, and if the Sacaen didn't take charge then Eris would have to. She couldn't afford to not care about this situation, especially if a village was there, otherwise the locals...or at least this woman, wouldn't help her out.
|
|