Aaron Winsett
Sage
Seeker of Knowledge
Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed.
Posts: 419
Sacae Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 2
Profession: Student of Magic
OoC Alias: Feldsky
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Post by Aaron Winsett on Jun 21, 2011 20:17:30 GMT -6
Aaron had left Bern, and headed direct for Etruria. This had led him into the mountains on the northern border of Lycia. Weariness had become a part of his being as he forged ahead through the rocks. Scrapes and pains plagued him constantly, but he endured it. Despite the strain of the path, it was quicker than going out of his way would have been. That would have involved a whole loop to the south through all those Lycian cities.... Then slipping through Ostia's ruins. No. This would be quicker.
It still had left the mage bedraggled, hungry and cold, though. He'd managed to cook some sort of creature the night before, which had saved some of his dwindling rations, but that wasn't always an option.
The magic user struggled as a few rocks shifted under his feet, causing him to stumble for a moment. The rock faces on either side of him bounced echoes back at him as he steadied himself. It had been up and down ever since he'd entered these hills, and that made it difficult to judge distance traveled. Now wasn't the time to stop, though.
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Saffra
Dragon
The Winged Girl
Posts: 169
Lycia Fame: -1
Profession: Ill Omen
Affinity: Fire
Dragon Element: Ice
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Post by Saffra on Jun 21, 2011 21:01:14 GMT -6
Saffra was never really in one place at a given time, it would seem. She was...fickle. She enjoyed people's company for a time, but then would disappear and be led off somewhere else. The world was a large place, and though she had seen practically everything here, in one age or another, there was still things to see. She was old, older than most, but the way these creatures were, always advancing, and never slowing, it was remarkable.
The dragon had been following Aaron only recently, having seen him by chance as he was walking along the mountain, and instead of coming to him, she waited for him along one of the ledges around a small bend. As he stumbled into view, Saffra gave a small whistle as the rock audible bounced down the ledge.
"Careful, child, your magic would not save you from a plunge at this height."
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Aaron Winsett
Sage
Seeker of Knowledge
Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed.
Posts: 419
Sacae Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 2
Profession: Student of Magic
OoC Alias: Feldsky
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Post by Aaron Winsett on Jun 21, 2011 21:59:18 GMT -6
A whistle and a voice rang out over the edge of the cliffs as the mage wandered around the corner.
"Careful, child, your magic would not save you from a plunge at this height."
Aaron looked up, puzzled. The voice, he'd heard it before. Someone had called him child before. This wasn't a member of the church, or an elder of a village though. This was from something far more recent in his memories.
Ahead, he spotted her. It was Saffra. The Dragoness who'd... visited them on the ship to Bern. Ah.... What incredible creatures.
"Saffra.... This is an unexpected surprise. Interesting to make your acquaintance again." The mage's face was confused, but not disturbed. There was even a hint of excitement and pleasure at seeing her again, despite the situation with Lilith at hand.
Besides. One always did well to stay on the good side of a dragon, or so the stories said....
"Wandering as before?" What would bring a dragon to these mountains, anyway?
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Saffra
Dragon
The Winged Girl
Posts: 169
Lycia Fame: -1
Profession: Ill Omen
Affinity: Fire
Dragon Element: Ice
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Post by Saffra on Jun 21, 2011 22:08:42 GMT -6
A smile split her lips as she slowly got up from the...somewhat comfortable place she had been seated. Humming gently, she waited till he had caught up to her, but in the meanwhile, she peeked over the edge, going to its very ledge, and looking down. She did not suffer from vertigo much like she had when she was a child, an interesting past for a dragon who was afraid to fly. Walking along the edge, she made a small...almost giggle.
"If you had said you were expecting me, I would have been just as wary as you are with my sudden arrival...don't think much into it, Aaron. This whole continent is my home. No laws bind me, and I may go where I please. Freedom is a beautiful thing~"
With another laugh, she totally got off tangent, but she shrugged her shoulders all the same.
"For the most part. I'm nosy, I like to see what goes on in the world. Ilia is gripped with struggles of its own, I witnessed a battle before coming here...two dragons within their ranks. I didn't stay around to watch long, though the presence of such young dragons intrigued me."
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Aaron Winsett
Sage
Seeker of Knowledge
Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed.
Posts: 419
Sacae Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 2
Profession: Student of Magic
OoC Alias: Feldsky
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Post by Aaron Winsett on Jun 21, 2011 23:42:05 GMT -6
Aaron came up even with Saffra, her violet hair catching in mountain breeze. He pulled his own braid, quite long now, loose from where it was catching on his cloak, and settled in at a soft pace beside her.
Aaron waited her out as she spoke. Illia embroiled in war? A battle with two dragons.... What was going on?
The mage had learned his manners before, when he'd burst straight in and started asking question on the boat. He might be a straight forward questioner of sorts, but he knew that Saffra would appreciate taking her time in speaking, rather than the full onslought that Aaron had given her on the boat. Perhaps she'd help him, as she had before.
"Dragons in Illia, you say? It sounds of myth or fiction stories to me. I can understand why that would be intruiging to you.... I hope nothing ill befalls them." The mage truly meant what he said. Despite the fear and horrors in the stories most recounted, he preferred to think of the stories of peace before the scouring. It was a time where both species had shared the land. Someday, he hoped that people would be ready for such a time again.
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Xavier
Troubadour
BANNED
Posts: 69
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Post by Xavier on Jun 22, 2011 18:28:50 GMT -6
Xavier led Ralph on. He had been following the mage on the path for quite a few days already. And then, the mage had gone up into the mountains. They had not even passed any city along the way, so Xavier had not eaten for those few days. He had had some water though, and had refilled his water at some of the rivers he had passed by, so he wouldn't be dying of thirst at anytime. Being starved had left a bit of an impact on Xavier, though, but he endured it, all for the sake of eventually reaching Etruria and learning what he needed to learn about the arcane arts. However, Xavier knew that if he did not venture into a city to stock up on food supplies soon, he would not be able to take the hunger much longer.
Xavier led Ralph further up. The going was more treachorous, especially for Ralph's hooved legs. The ground was littered with lots of small rocks that rolled easily, making it easy to fall off the mountain. The mage had also slowed his pace, so even though no footprints would be left on the mountain area, Xavier would be able to follow him easily.
Then, Xavier saw the mage almost slip, as well as meeting some woman who had wings on her back warning him. The both of them had then started a conversation with each other. This slowed their pace even more, so Xavier decided that it would be best to walk, rather than ride on Ralph, as Ralph's pace would be too fast.
As the winged woman turned round looked down the mountainside, Xavier led Ralph behind a large rock and hid himself there, making sure that she had turned back before he started following again. Unfortunately, Xavier, being hungry and slightly weak on his feet, slipped on some of the small rocks on the ground, and as the rocks started to roll, making him lose his balance, he let out a loud scream/shout that echoed round the mountainside.
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Saffra
Dragon
The Winged Girl
Posts: 169
Lycia Fame: -1
Profession: Ill Omen
Affinity: Fire
Dragon Element: Ice
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Post by Saffra on Jun 22, 2011 20:41:32 GMT -6
Aaron's reaction to hearing of dragons was a little interesting for her. He cared more for their lives than the lives of the men, or even of the interest of the fight in general. Saffra saw things differently. Sure, she sensed a small kinship for those of her kind, but those who decided to side with humans and their wars had no excuse for what befalls them. Their choice, their fault if they get injured.
"In a way, I sort of wish something ill befalls them. They are young, they have to know sorrow if they wish to aid in human wars."
Saffra was very nonchalant in the way she talked at the moment. In a way, she was worried, but if tragedy befalls them, then that may show them that they were not as invincible as they thought they were, and to know what it is like to be stronger, while having some pity for the men they killed with such power.
Unlike her, she had not been paying attention to her surroundings, and was unaware that she had been followed this whole time. The only time she knew, was by the time that scream of a man echoed behind her, and immediately, her wings stretched out, as if ready to take flight, but seeing the man start to fall, she drew on the energy of the dragonstone between her breasts, and with inhuman speed, she rushed to him.
The dragoness in human form got to him as his body started to go over the edge. And as he did, her hand reached out, and grabbed his garbs, and held him before he went out totally over the edge. She kept him from falling by drawing on her strength through the dragonestone that glimmered with her hidden power. She didn’t waste time, and instead, pulled him back over, but she was not very kind about it, and was a bit rough. Staring the Troubadour down, Saffra inadvertently licked her lips.
“Are you following us, boy?”
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Aaron Winsett
Sage
Seeker of Knowledge
Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed.
Posts: 419
Sacae Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 2
Profession: Student of Magic
OoC Alias: Feldsky
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Post by Aaron Winsett on Jun 22, 2011 23:14:23 GMT -6
Aaron wasn't quite sure he understood what she meant about them "having to know sorrow." It was a feeling he wasn't used to. He'd have to devote some more thought to it later.
What was that?! A bloodcurdling scream rippled through the canyon, as Aaron turned. Saffra was down there already, somehow, he'd hardly had time to see what was going on before she'd grabbed... Xavier?! By the Way! What was he doing here?!
"Xavier! I said I was going alone!" Aaron's face was ablaze with anger. The unexpected surprise, alongside the fact that he'd all but ordered the lad to stay behind only served to reignite the tension in the sage. "How long have you been foll- never mind. I guess I already have that answer."
The green haired man finally made it down to where Saffra was, and crossed his arms, but made no moves to ask Saffra to release him. Blood and Ashes! This was going to effect the rest of the trip in some way. He knew it.
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Xavier
Troubadour
BANNED
Posts: 69
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Post by Xavier on Jun 22, 2011 23:27:26 GMT -6
As Xavier started to fall and slip towards the edge of the cliff, he was about to grab on to Ralph's reins, knowing full well that he'd probably just grab Ralph along with him and fall down the cliffside together. It was then that the winged woman he had seen earlier had dashed past the mountainside and grabbed him with such speed that he had not noticed that he had stopped falling only when he was back on the mountainside.
The winged woman had at that point ask him if he was following them, which was then followed by the mage he had been following stepping forward and having an outburst of anger. Xavier could tell he was quite angry, and he had a right to be angry, Xavier was not supposed to follow him, no matter how much he wanted to.
"Well... umm... oops...", was all Xavier could manage, while at the same time looking sheepish, like a small boy that had just been caught doing something he was not supposed to be doing.
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Saffra
Dragon
The Winged Girl
Posts: 169
Lycia Fame: -1
Profession: Ill Omen
Affinity: Fire
Dragon Element: Ice
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Post by Saffra on Jun 23, 2011 14:04:02 GMT -6
Saffra breathed a soft breath of anger, mostly at the point that the man did not own up to anything. Instead, he acted just as she called him, a boy. Releasing him, seeing him as no threat, Saffra just crossed her arms, and retreated somewhat. Aaron knew who he was, so Aaron had to deal with him. Flashing her yellow eyes in his direction, she almost demanded it of him.
As her wings tucked back into being folded, Saffra wandered off a bit, but remained within earshot, as she leaned up against the stone wall of the mountain, and crossed her arms. The air tickled her leg through the slit in her long skirt.
"Friend of yours?"
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Aaron Winsett
Sage
Seeker of Knowledge
Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed.
Posts: 419
Sacae Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 2
Profession: Student of Magic
OoC Alias: Feldsky
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Post by Aaron Winsett on Jun 23, 2011 14:53:01 GMT -6
Seeing Saffra release him and move away, Aaron took the few remaining steps and seized Xavier for himself by the front of the troubador's robes. Ignoring Ralph the horse, Aaron stepped towards the rockface, and half threw, half pressed the blue-haired young man up against the wall.
The same puff of air that stirred Saffra's garments also stirred the sage's cloak, blowing it back from the satchel that he carried his tomes in.
"He's an acquaintance I met in Bern. Spent the night in our camp after we killed the bandits he'd been with." Aaron answered the dragoness, though his brown eyes remained locked on Xavier's.
"What I want to know is why he's following me when I clearly stated that I was traveling alone!" the mage cocked his head to one side, looking harshly and expectantly at the healer. "Hm?"
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Xavier
Troubadour
BANNED
Posts: 69
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Post by Xavier on Jun 23, 2011 21:31:44 GMT -6
As the winged woman let go of Xavier, he tried to gain a more stable position, adjusting his stance a little, right before Aaron moved forward and in a surge of anger lifted Xavier up and held him against the rock wall.
At that point, Xavier's thoughts roamed, trying to think of a way with which to explain himself. He could not say too explicitly that his only desire was to head to Etruria, that would definitely make him lose points with the mage even if the mage had let him follow. Also, it was too late for the mage to send him back to Bern now, so either way, he had to choose an answer that would earn him some points with the mage.
"I... I wanted to help... You know, since you said it'd be dangerous...", Xavier replied, looking down, trying not to show in his eyes or face that that was not his true intentions.
"Oww, put me down already, kay?", Xavier added, hoping to distract the mage's thoughts from analysing his answer by covering it with his annoyance at being pressed against the rock wall.
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Saffra
Dragon
The Winged Girl
Posts: 169
Lycia Fame: -1
Profession: Ill Omen
Affinity: Fire
Dragon Element: Ice
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Post by Saffra on Jun 23, 2011 21:42:25 GMT -6
At the moment, Saffra didn't seem all that interested in what the two men were doing. Xavier was Aaron's problem, not hers, so it was only right that he dealt with him. Saffra moved off down the road some more to give them a bit of space, and privacy, but not too much privacy, she was listening, always, though it didn't seem like it.
Bending down, she sat on the edge with her legs dangling off the side, and she dropped pebbles, and stones down the slope, watching them bounce, and shatter on their way. There really wasn't much else to do in such a narrow area.
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Aaron Winsett
Sage
Seeker of Knowledge
Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed.
Posts: 419
Sacae Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 2
Profession: Student of Magic
OoC Alias: Feldsky
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Post by Aaron Winsett on Jun 23, 2011 22:25:20 GMT -6
The tension snapped"Ohh no. The first night we spoke, charity was the farthest thing from your mind. You don't believe in it, remember? We didn't keep you for your own intrinsic value. Only for your usefulness." The sage threw the lad's own reasoning back at him. It was a disgusting thought to the green-haired scholar, who believed that life was more than the sum you could trade for: life was something to be protected and cherished.
Aaron released the blue-haired healer in frustration and whirled towards the cliffs.
He doesn't even sound upset. Or remoseful. What am I to do with him now? Leaving him isn't an option. I'm surprised he made it this far! Just another person to be worried about!
"Grah!" Aaron touched the satchel that his elfire tome was in and drew on it, venting his frustration into a more visible avatar. A molten ball of flame, five feet across, congealed into existence next to him, burning like a miniature sun. With a vigorous throwing motion, the sage released it straight at the far side of the cliff, where it shattered into a hundreds of glass like shards, before each detonated.
Small pebbles cascaded down on the green-haired scholar as a large portion of the far cliff side collapsed due to the force. Thankfully, the heavy rocks weren't carried far enough to endanger them.
It didn't really make him feel any better, but he did stop, and take stock of the situation, calmed somewhat by the sight of what he wielded, and the dangers it could pose if he didn't keep it in check. Perhaps it had helped then, by reminding him to watch himself.
He was here. And Lilith was there. He'd have to trust her to hang on. That was all that was truly in his power at this time.
"... ...Xavier. Why did you really come." Aaron's voice was soft now, as if releasing the fire had dropped him into a quiet pit of despair.
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Xavier
Troubadour
BANNED
Posts: 69
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Post by Xavier on Jun 24, 2011 19:03:20 GMT -6
As Xavier was released yet again and he got to the ground, he reviewed his stance again so as to take a more stable position. Then, as he looked up, he saw the mage shouting, unleashing his magic in anger. Xavier could feel it in the fire, the mage's anger and frustration was large. Maybe he should not have followed at all? No, he had to come, it was for something personal.
When the mage had calmed down, he turned back to Xavier, and in a low voice, asked Xavier, "...... Xavier. Why did you really come?" The anger had all drained from his voice, only a kind of desperation seemed to remain.
Xavier looked around the place before answering. He saw the winged woman some distance away but largely within earshot. He saw that they were near the peak of the mountain, right before the point where they would have to continue downhill.
Then, Xavier made up his mind. He would tell a half-truth, he would not really be lying, just that he wouldn't tell the full truth, "I... I had wanted to go to Etruria... for so long... so badly... When the chance came... I just couldn't give it up... And we're all concerned about you... Even Grayson... He had to clench his fists till it bled to stop himself coming. Why...? Why do you have to throw down others' concerns and take only your own concerns as important...?"
This, Xavier felt, was a good enough answer, and one that would probably hit the mage's guilt and allow Xavier to come along. He was not lying after all, the incidents had happened, and it had been Xavier's wish for so long to visit Etruria. He just was distracting the mage's attention with another issue to allow the mage to think as he thought and allow him to follow the mage to Etruria.
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