A relatively short, slim woman can beseen walking down the road toward Jastrey's tavern. Her dark-ringed eyes marked her an Uordeq, and a braid woven with a deep red ribbon coiled around her head. On the left side of her neck was a tattoo of a dark crescent surrounded by chains and tribal spiked accent, which also adorned the right thigh of her short, black tunic. Crossing her back were two black daggers and at her hip rested a small bird cage and beside that what appeared to be a chain leash of some kind. She looked rather young, but she moved with confidence and purpose as sharp eyes surveyed the town.
As the daystar crested up into its height in the sky, Lia drew her sunvisor over her eyes along with her hood over her head. She lifted a freshly carved spear to inspect its tip. Deeming it good enough with a simple nod, the Ixifar started down the road heading towards a spot she'd laid a rabbit trap at the night before. A few moments into her walk the abrupt puff of smoke of Akon instantly drew her attention up ahead. As Lia's blue eyes caught sight of the woman beside the warlock, they widened and she gripped her spear fiercly. "No...." She mutters through clentched teeth. Unsure of a better solution, she use a slight flare of energies to make herself appear much like her usual self, just as if she were human (Disguise). With that she continued walking foward casually.
A long sniff can be heard, and in a flash of white, looking like a snowball exploding in midair, Cheech appears wearing his....distinctive dress of an open shirt and extra short shorts. "WOOOAAW that never gets old" And than noticing the two girls talking "EEEEEYY CHICAS! I like a good cat fight, dont let me bother you"
Solas wanders into the scene in such a manner that only a member of the Wild Hunt honestly could. He stops for a minute and stares before continuing forward a few steps. He seems to be muttering something to himself quietly. He paces in the middle of the road, taking a few steps toward the scene, shaking his head, and then turning around and walking away. He stops again before turing back to the scene.
"Damn it, Damn it, Damn it. I'm about to stick my nose where it doesnt belong again." He seems to mutter to himself as he approaches the scene.
"Madam Akon," He calls out loudly, forcing power into his voice. "What have I told you about bringing Uordeq Policies into this town? You know just as well as I that through the mere action of setting foot in this town she has made herself free." He stares at the Uordeq, "And there's not an Immortal-Damned thing you can do about it."
"Welcome to town, Miss Noxian, I believe she said your name was?" He says, throwing on a friendly smile. "You may trust that not all members of town will greet you in such a... delightful manner." His voice drips with sarcasm at the last two words.
Wren calmly turned to face the woman who spoke behind her. She studied her briefly but thoroughly, no. She didn't know the woman at all. She chuckled and raised an eyebrow, "Slave? Your town? Warlock, who are you, thinking so highly of yourself that I might seek your aid? I was unaware this little hamlet belonged to anyone."
She looked at the woman calmly when another figure caught her eye; one in a sand colored cloak. This figure she inspected much more closely and for a few seconds longer (seek). A slow smile spread across her face when she recognized the woman as she drew closer. "Lianna Saxum. How lovely to see you again, little bird." The uordeq reaches out as if to brush a strand of the other woman's hair with her fingertips, as her eyes narrowed in her amusement.
Her attention was then pulled away by the loud appearance of a strange man in very little clothing. Arching an eyebrow yet again she shrugs his entrance off. The approaching Empyrean seemed more interesting. He stopped and addressed the warlock as Akon and scolded her about Uordeq politics and proclaiming "freedom" was already Wren's own. She grinned, so that was Akon Nivarian. Yes. Far more interesting. She returned the Empyrean's smile. "Actually. My name is Wren. Wren Wraith. I quite find myself adverse to Uordeq politics, after all, my family was cast away nearly 60 mestruns ago. It is delightful to know that there are more well mannered and pleasant people here in your town. May I ask your name, good sir?"
Solas cocks an eyebrow at the uordeq. And stares almost stunned for a bit longer than socially acceptable, before shaking it off.
"Sorry, Sorry, I'm not used to uordeq being so civil with me after I insult one of their own." He smirks at himself. "I'm Solas the Farseer of the Wild Hunt. The pleasure is mine." He extends his hand jazzily, pulling the other arm back behind him, and causing his coat to sort of flutter.
"Can I ask what brings you to our humble little hamlet, Miss Wren, Wren Wraith?"
Wren takes the offered hand with a smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you Solas the Farseer, of the Wild Hunt. I have heard such things of my kind, but I've never been fond of being the first to get ugly."
She seemed unphased by his momentary lapse of the socially acceptable. When she drew her hand away again, she gestured to Lia. "As for what brings me here, this delightful young lady, among other things."
Akon's eyes dart to the huntsman, taking a deep breath, and forcing herself to calm. Yet her tone still nipped the air sharply. "Solas, you speak of what you do not know. And for once, allow me to actually share something if your ears will even hear it. The markings she bares are that of the Nox. Renouned slavers and torturers. Her Master makes my dabling look like child's play, for his experimenting is ruthless. You need not take my word for it though. Merely ask Lia if you won't hear me out. Not that I really care, honestly. There is no law in this town, but that of what our own blades see fit. And I assure you, my blade will not hesitate to bite into this one's flesh should she prove she is anything but ally."
Delvin stood leaning against one of the many trees that lined the path towards Jastrey, one of his daggers unsheathed, his eyes scanning the blade as if searching for imperfections with every ounce of his attention, "Noxian you say?" he gave a light chuckle as his fingertip ran along the edge of his blade. "They are the Stalkers of the sands seeking to satisfy only their sadism and the twisted whims of their necromantic high lord. People go missing in the middle of the night without a trace and for days you can hear them screaming in the sands but you can't find them. You send tracking parties and they go missing for weeks, when they do show back up they are the lumbering dead without a scrap of skin left on their tortured forms, all their soft bits carved out of'em I'd take back my hand if I were you Solas, before it decides to play for keeps"
He glanced towards Lia, knowing it was her immediately <seek> and simply shook his head, "Something tells me this one lacks the redeeming qualities that you've shown since your arrival, repentance being first and foremost". He spun the dagger in his hand and drove it into it's sheath at his side. "So, other than the most obvious of reasons, why are you here? Hyde feeling too bashful to grace us with his presence this time around? I've never known that old wretch to avoid a chance at getting his hands dirty, or could it be?! Please oh please tell me someone finally put a dagger in his spleen and twisted it a half dozen times!"
Ohren pads his way along the road lazily, lumbering along in the form of a bear. He notes the goings on and, as silently as the bear can, he attempts to approach the new deki. If he got close enough he would sniff at the woman and tilts his head to the side curiously. He then look to Akon. "Dis friend or food?"
Solas stares on confused.
"A slaver you say? Hm. Well, if this group is truly as evil as you all claim them to be, how come I've never heard of their deeds? Or even read about them in books? Surely they can't be that bad." He says, almost mocking their aversion to the newcomer. "And surely a Masters actions cannot be passed down to his apprentice. We know nothing about this newcomer. What if she ran to get away from her master's 'evil deeds.' Have you even asked? Or given her the benefit of the doubt? Innocent until proven otherwise." He says firmly.
Akon looked to Solas, then to Ohren. "That's yet to be determined." She looks back then to Solas. "I haven't killed her yet, have I? She has the benefit of the doubt, but walking into town proudly wearing the Noxian symbol, and not even attempting to hide it, as well as the articles she has chosen to bring with her, already is enough for me to believe she has quite clearly stated her allegiance. Innocent until -proven- guilty? Sure, but her thread of innocence grows short. I -have- asked what her true intent is, and given her chance to ask for freedom from the bonds her markings dictate. Should she wish such freedom, I will gladly provide it, as I have to others which were bound to Hyde's chains."
Rasiri stands in the trees outside of the gathering and listens to all of the words. Rasiri had Faintly heard whispers of this group back in his days in the shadelands but never had seen a member, and he decided to be wary. For the first time in a long time Rasiri disapeared without his signature puff of black smoke but instead he simply faded from existence and reappeared next to Delvin. He said nothing and made no movements, just watching.
Delvin offered a slight nod to Solas, "We haven't strung up the noose just yet, if she wants to renounce the evil that resides in her markings then we'll surely allow it. It wouldn't be the first time we've done that very thing" he gave a little sigh, "They are a smaller band of brigands, not some great empire. You haven't heard of them simply because they've had no desire to be heard of. They terrorize the nomadic tribes of Sirison, even preyed upon my old tribe a few times before my exile. They owe me a few pounds of flesh, I'd reckon"
Solas shakes his head.
"What you say doesnt make much sense to me. You say they're a small group. But it just so happens that several -random- members of town happen to all know who they are. Townfolk who have never been to Sirison. I, like Banekeril, do not believe in coincidence. So tell me, what is it we have to fear from this one? How is it you all seem to know something I do not. Give me good reason and I'll tie the noose myself." He says. "For now, we let the woman in. The items she wears mean little to me. Jastrey has opened its doors to all kinds of filth." He says, staring at Akon. "So tell me why we should refuse this one? Because she has personal history with one of those you keep under your wing?"
Zwey enters the tavern, looking for a place sit down, relax, and take his pack off. Upon entering and feeling the immediate animosity towards the roughish newcomer, he remembers that the taverns is the last place to relax in Jastrey. Upon inspection of said dagger wielding Urodeq, he freezes and nearly drops his overburdened pack at the sight of her tattoo. How could they be here? Why, is the better question. Zwey sits calmly and watches the events unfold through the window.
Nobody can be seen walking around town, as he stumbles apon the group he camly makes his way over. Trying to keep the group from noticing as much as he can and getting close as he can to hear what is going on. Nobody does not recognize any of the markings or who the newcomer is, he simply waits and listens for what is going on, keeping his hand firmly placed over the hilt of his sword.
The hoofs of a large beast could be heard moving the gravel along the road. Slowly it steps, almost lazily. Jael happens upon the scene infront of him, a small group of people blocking the road into town. He pulls back on the reigns slowing the moose to a stop. A string of fish hang off the side of the great beast, dangling beside many different pouches of shapes and sizes. Jael scratches behind the ears of the moose and it gives a light sound in response, "Whoa Javor."
"So... What are we all doing here?", Jael asks, carefully dismounting from the magestic creature. He gives Javor a pat pulling a carrot from one of the side pouches and offering it to his trusted steed.
Lia clentched her fists. It was too much tension all at once. Stepping out to a position central to everyone present, the samirian Ixifar calls out, "Enough of this!" She looks to Delvin and Akon in turn. "Wren Wraith is my problem to deal with. Am I just some doltless bird you must shield? I'm not the same as when I first walked this road into Jastrey." Glancing at the Noxian woman before her, she took account of her colors with a small nervous swallow. "So I see Hyde has finally sent a master to collect his lost property then? Well, I swear I won't make it as easy for you as you anticipate, 'little bird'. And know this. You, are my mark..." She pauses to look at each person around her. "NOT anyone else's. Any of you leave a mark on her, I will slice back sevenfold." Lia angeredly adjusts her hooded tabbard, and plants her hunting spear on the ground. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some hunting to finish." With a stern grimmice, she shoves her way passed Wren and Akon.
Standing quietly as those that gathered around her spoke, Wren simply watched and waited. There was a lull in the conversation and she interjected calmly. "Akon was it? You'll pardon me, I hope, but I don't play with warlocks." She looked around at the people that had gathered, particularly resting her gaze on those who already called for her blood when she spoke. She seemed almost nostalgic, "I never knew a little place like this could feel so much like home. You would suit the family well."
Then she turned to Solas with a grateful smile and a nod, "Thank you very much for welcoming me and defending me Sir Farseer. I appreciate it greatly. You give me a touch of faith in a town so violent toward newcomers"
From the corner of her eye she noticed a smaller Uordeq hiding in the shadows, but she didn't say anything to give away his position. He intrigued her, making her wonder how long he had escaped her notice. It was then that Lia made her frustrated outburst. "Birds of a feather, my dear." The younger woman smiled. "I am not here to collect you, nor Desiderio Phearvorne, for that matter, for Lord Hyde. Though, I am glad to see you recall the meaning of my new colors. I simply wanted to ensure I was recognized. I mean no harm to anyone here. Mark me as you will, pretty Canary."
Rasiri pulled a small slab of meat out of his robes and flings it to Ohren, but as soon as it leaves his hand he is no longer standing there but instead he is face to face with the newcomer. "Hello. My name is Rasiri. I bear you no ill will but it seems some of the people have thier doubts. As much as i hate to say it i agree with Solas, noone should be hung before they have a chance to prove themselves." Rasiri extends a hand to the new Uordeq. "Until i see a problem with you i have no problems. But i watch."
Akon watched the proceedings likewise, her gaze drawn away for a moment when Jael approached. She kept her burning watch upon him momentarily before Lia's voice drew her attention back. She watched as the Ixifar now human made such a strong display, and something about her features seemed pleased. She then looked to Wren and answered a bit less violently, releasing her palm from her blade. "The Nox are not welcome here. You are considered condemned in my eyes until you prove you are no longer allied with the clan. And warlocks? Child, your very Master is a warlock. Funny you boldly wear his mark both on your neck and your garmets, yet you do not claim bidding to them." She backed away slightly. "You best choose your allies quickly, for not everyone is fooled by your 'kind' pretenses." She then turned her back towards the woman, walking back towards the cabins, shooting Jael a hard glance before making her way down the smaller pathways.
Ohren snatches the meat out of the air and begins busying himself with eating it. This toesnt take long. Probably around fourty seconds or so. He tears the meat apart and then looks back to the gathering, blood now coating his muzzle a bit. He licks his chops and looks to the Noxian Deki. He was a bit hungry still... He shakes his head and the rest of his body right after it. He plops down into a seated position and watches, waiting to see if more food would be sent his way. Free food is great, though warm fresh Deki is better.
"It's unfortunate not all of town shares my beliefs. I see no reason why you need to be judged so quickly for the actions of others. However it seems these people seem to know something I do not, although they refuse to tell me. These people seem to think you have malicious intentions." Solas's smile drops slightly. "Please do not let me be wrong about you, little uordeq." He smiles again and places one hand on top of the girl's head, giving her hair a quick tussle before turning. Solas gives Rasiri a smile and a low nod, and heads back down the road into town. "There I go giving a fuck when it aint my turn to give a fuck." He says to himself, shaking his head. He smiles as he walks.
Seeing that Ohren was still hungry he removed three of the fish from the string and tossed them to the bear. Jael approached the conversation and as he did so kept both eyes on Wren, watching her neck as more of the tattoo revealed itself. First he turned to Lia, "Lia, I will leave these decisions to you then. If you request such." Jael took a breath and continued, "Akon... I understand that she is from Nox, and might willingly be there. Still I know not of her past or purpose here. Though I would like to know more. She is most likely a killer, and should not be welcomed here. However I would not kill or threaten her until I know more about this whole situation."
With that he turned to Wren, "My name is Jael Taydon." Jael extends a hand, his palm giving off a faint white light. "So what is your purpose here?", Jael asked calmly a small frown on his face.
"Thank you, Rasiri." Wren took the offered hand with another grateful smile. "I appreciate it."
The woman then turned back to to Akon. "The Nox are unwelcome here? That's odd. Lianna is here... and if my information is good, Desiderio is as well. Miss Nivarian, do I look like the type to play games with my Master? I have not claimed anything about my Master or afiliation in this conversation either. Nor have I bourne any false pretenses. I'll thank you kindly to keep your politicians tactics to yourself and your words out of my mouth. I have stated exactly what I have meant for the duration of my not-so-welcoming entrance into Jastrey."
She just chuckled after the Empyrean who had ruffled her hair and smoothed it back in to place while he walked away. She then turned to the man who introduced himeself as Jael. "Thank you. Another reasonable soul in this town. It is a pleasure to meet you Jael Taydon." She continued after a brief pause. "My purpose here is peaceful. I am to ensure that both Lord Hyde's favorites are in good health. Harm is not in my list of orders."
He grins and devours the fish ravenously. He ate them, bones, scales, guts and all. Mmm... fresh meat. He was happy with that. "MM... good fishies Jael..." He continued to rip the fish apart infront of everyone, the blood once more covering his muzzle. He licked his chops and chewed with the crunch of bones. "Mmrrf grmgg mmffgmm..."
A large spherical space in front of the group bubbles and distorts as Cail appears with a small flutter of his robes. The air returns to normal as his attire stills and he turns to face the small crowd that had gathered. He looks from face to face quickly, resting on Akon a second longer than anyone else, when finally his gaze rested on the new arrival.
Cail's face bared a look of indifference, but the tone of his voice displayed distaste as he said, "Oh, look what we have here; another Uordeq to brighten the scenery of our humble little conurbation."
Wren shook her head, eyeing the new Empyrean to arrive. Clearly this town was not as accepting as it would seem from all the races... or Lord Hyde's informants. She sighed lightly before shaking her head and speaking, finally, after a few moments, "One unkind face and rude welcome after another around here, isn't it?"
She clasped her hands lightly behind her back, well beneath even the ends of her blades. The gesture was obviously far from intimidating, and was innocent enough. She rocked back on her heels a bit and sighed again, "It's a wonder anyone comes around if you're all like this all the time. By the way, this Uordeq has a name. I am Wren. Wren Wraith. I would appreciate the courtesy of being given the chance to be addressed like that, instead of being spoken about as if I am not here. Now, who might you be, Mr Empyrean?"
"If I had wished to address you by your name, I would have done so. A name has no meaning until the person behind it proves it to be worth knowing and as such, you'll have no need of mine." The indifference his face portrayed didn't sway, but his tone of voice lightened in spite of the words spoken. "If you do right by all here during your stay, then perhaps the courtesy that you seek will be given. It is hard for most of us in this town to ignore stereotyping a new Uordeq face, however I, myself, treat everyone this way except for a select few."
At his last words he flashed a glance in the direction Akon had left and then looked back to Wren awaiting her reply.
"How cute. An Empyrean with an ego. If that be your case, then I'm certainly glad you realize you have yet to prove yourself worthy of being known to me. I did not know common courtesy had vanished on this shard. Keep your name. I've no need of it or of you, who choose to be quite so rude with no rhyme or reason. I also forsee you having no need to call on me, so I would be quite thrilled if you would forget mine." She smiled rather cheerfully at the large man. "Quite frankly, if this is the way you treat all friendly advances and remarks, I'm surprised there isn't a blade sticking out of your back."
"I do believe this is the worst welcome I've ever recieved for simply wearing the insignia of my Master- particularly in a place where he is so very clearly unknown- and being an Uordeq." She chuckled again. "It's almost silly, really. Oh well."
"Unfortunately I do not share in the same pleasure. Your group encourages assassination, stealing, and slavery. The foundations that Nox stands on are things that I do not support. Proudly showing you are an agent of said group will earn you few friends here. In fact I would make your death swift and painful should I learn anyone in this town came to harm by your hand or if you openly participate in any said activities in my presence. That is not a threat, it is a promise.", Jael's eyes flicked over to the direction Lia left in, "That is, if there is anything left of you after Lia is done."
His attention turned back to Wren, "That all being said, welcome to Jastrey."
“Common courtesy vanishes only with what we all have lived through, thus presuppositions are formed about newcomers because we do not wish to live through the same mistakes we have already made. If you cannot respect our wishes as a visitor, don’t expect us to respect your desire for politeness. As for blades in my back, there have been plenty elsewhere on my person, but most people know to leave me be and in return I do the same for them. Respect is not given, it is earned. Suspicion saves lives.”
"I have said it before, I'll say it once more, Jael Taydon. I have no interest in harming you or any other denizens of Jastrey- including Lianna and Desiderio. If you know so much of my Lord Hyde and of the Nox, do you think I would come in broad daylight down the road?" She responded, a slight frown finding her features. She folded her arms lightly across her chest. "I am not half such a fool. I come openly, wearing the mark of those that have raised me, given me shelter and a living, bearing no ill will. I have said so from the start. The behavior of the majority of you is entirely unwarrented. As your Farseer has said, you cannot put the sins of the master on the apprentice. As for Lianna, the first move is hers. I will not harm her without being harmed first, it is not part of my orders- nor do I imagine it to ever be. I fear neither you, nor her, nor anyone else. I have no reason to."
She turned her attention back to Cail, "Don't presume anything you have lived through will trump the necessity of the common courtesy of a polite greeting, foolish white hair. Particularly when you know nothing of the person you make such presumptions toward. That, boy, is common sense. Even the taking of a false name would have prevented your foolishness, nameless one. If your wishes are to drive away possible allies with the idiocy of a wounded child, by all means- don't let me stop you."
Cail turned to face Wren, his face showing the distaste he alluded to before. “Courtesy isn’t a necessity. No one needs it. Need implies that they would die without it and if you are such a person, you are weak and probably shouldn’t survive another day. False names are for cowards. I would rather remain anonymous than pretend to be someone else. Foolishness, little Uordeq, is coming into a town full of strangers thinking you deserve kindness and expecting us to give it to you freely. As I have said before, everything must be earned, including respect.”
He pauses to clear his throat before continuing. “As for what you say Solas has said to you, I disagree. The sins of the master are the sins of the underling when that underling freely follows in his wake. Although you may be bound to him, you do not have to accept without question what he does or makes you do in his stead. I would rather die than do anything against my morals or my will. As for allies, I don’t need any more than I already have and if acting like a ‘wounded child’ keeps me alive, then so be it. Suspicion and general distrust has saved my skin more times than I can count and doing the opposite has ended unfavorably just as much.”
Wren only laughed at Cail now. "No use arguing with children, they never see any way but their own. You have not earned my respect either, if you will recall. I would step down off the high horse you Jastrians seem to be on.... Or perhaps I should say moose. All the same, one day you may anger someone who could and would do far more damage than one small assassin girl, willingly placing herself at multiple disadvantages to so many at once."
Faintly, she heard the sound of a woman- the ixifar who had left some time before, if she wasn't mistaken- screaming something that involved her name and made it sound like an insulting obscenity. She grinned. "Well. I daresay that this first impression has gone enough awry for you lovely sample of Jastrey's citizens. I believe I'll take that shout as my cue that I'm needed elsewhere." She didn't pause for reply before disappearing in a whisp of black smoke.
Galdor had just begun heading home from the tavern when he saw the crowd in the distance. He saw only enough to witness a new Urodeq fade into smoke. But it was something about that white symbol that she wore on the side of her clothing that sent a shiver down the back of the elf's back. "Where have I seen that before..." the elf thought to himself. The elf pulled the hood tighter around his head as he walked towards his home, with a more urgent purpose in his step.
Dark shadows abruptly circled and with a swift and harsh collapse of dark energy, the shewitch appeared directly behind the newcomer. Red eyes flared dangerously, threatening the raw powers of the Pit itself as the woman materialized. Akon's palm was already upon the hilt of her blade, her voice harsh like nails upon steel as the low growl of a tone issued from her lips. "Quite the audacity to walk into my town, Noxian. You best be here to be freed of your bonds, for if you do not wish it willingly, I shall see that there no longer remains a subject upon which the bonds need reside.....Speak, slave, why do you -dare- step foot upon this soil?"