Akon groans quietly, crawling along the forrest that surrounds the tavern in the quiet of the night. She waits, hidden with the shadows, crouching by a tree, and looking on at the tavern lights. Covered in dried crusted blood in black layers and soot, her garmets were little more than remnants and tatters, armor ruined. There she waits until she sees the dark figure for which she was keeping watch. She whispers out into the night, calling out to the masked Uordeq.
"Rasiri....Rasiri..m'lord..please....m'lord...." she calls out weakly, reaching a hand wearily out to him.
Akon's quivering hands latch onto the flask over his. She holds it desprately between her cracked and pealing lips, sucking down every ounce of the water therein before pausing to cough and sputter. Resting back once more she closes her red eyes, taking pause and speaking quietly. "M'lord....I did it for you...I did it for Jastrey, for Stiers, for the Prince..."
"It would have destroyed them." She reaches up to grasp at his chest ernestly, her tone stressed and raised. "Destoryed them! I couldn't let it happen! I couldn't let it happen, M'lord!" She almost shakes him as she speaks, all serriousness about her, before her energy gets quickly spent and she rests back mumbling and closing her eyes again. "I had to protect them....had to protect them...." she trails off.
Stiers Following Rasiri from the distance (Teleport) Stiers looks down Seeing Ras Strugle He kneels down and grabs the other side for Akon while says (For the blood of the fallen (Bane heal 50).... Come friend lets get you back to town I know how it feels down there ..
Akon is lifted, not at all burdened by armor, but she reaches for her sword and shield as she is picked up, not wishing to leave them behind. She keeps them accross her mid as she is carried, eyes watching where they are going. "I need to see Talkin..and the Prince....are they alright? Is everyone alright?"
Akon's stomach growls loudly as they pass the tavern, and the smells of the night's passed dinner fills her senses. She looks to Rasiri with her red eyes. "By the shadows...I'm starving, m'lord. I've had naught to eat since I was cast...." Akon falls quiet a moment. "Cast away....seven days I've gone with nothing. Can I have something? Anything? Do you have anything?"
Rasiri spins on his heel to see Stiers up close and behind him, still holding a prostrate Akon. "Good to see that you still haff sense Stiers... I do beliefe that she did this for us... not meny of us vould have survived her trials." Rasiri looks down at Akon and smiles as she talks of food. "I am sure we can geeet you somethink. I hear Glimmer can cook pretty vell. I thenk that ve need to take a trip by the tafern before the Den. All of your food is on me, Mistress Nivarian." Then he glances at Stiers, "And yours as vell... ve haf much that ve must discuss."
Akon's stomach growls at mention of food as if to answer for her before she speaks. "I vould very much like that. Thank you, Rasiri, and thank you Stiers." She seems to have come around a bit at Stier's healing, though she still looks the gruesome sight.
She holds her free hand up to her head, kneeding her temples tenderly. "I vorry that people will misunderstand....misunderstand all of this...." She shakes her head, seeming to mutter the words almost to herself. "I need to see Talkin, and the Prince, but in due time...in due time."
Akon lets herself rest once more in Rasiri's arms, closing her now red eyes.
Rasiri looks at Stiers are jerks his head gently towards the tavern and begins to walk carrying his friend. He manouvers the doors on the tavern open mostly using his feet and walks down into the room and sets Akon at a table and takes the seat next to her. A barmaid comes over and Rasiri sends for some mutton and ale... in copius amounts. The barmaid returns with a platter of food almost as large as half of the table and half a keg of ale. Rasiri smiles and takes a smaller peice and begins to nibble. "So vat happened to you my freeeend?"
"Hell..." Akon muttered, sitting with deeply curled over shoulders over the feast. Her stomach growled again, but her fingers merely picked at the food, yet to take a bite. A pale look of mild sickness works across her features. "Ugh..." She groans, holding her head in one palm, elbow resting against the table. "My only solace is that they didn't have to bare it....."
Rasiri reaches over and pats Akon on her back very gently and looks at her. "Eaat you must eat, efery one in town es okay but ve must be vorried about you right now. Stieeers vas a might bit mad vhen you left but he has, appearantly, calmed down und noone resents your choice. Et is okay. Vat did they do to you... and vere there any up turns to this?"
Akon sighs and uses her free hand to pick at a tiny bit of meat, forcing her shrunk stomach to accept the sustenance. "Up turns? I made it out of there alive. I'll take what blessings I can in that. I fell near to my death when that pit opened, and landed with half the bones in my body crushed."
Her tone gets darker, almost a touch resentful. "I didn't want this power....I didn't need it....for decades I have rejected it. If I had wanted it, I had it in my palm since birth. You know of my family, Rasiri. These arts have been praticed and perfected in my blood line for centuries. The Nivarians grow up playing with demons and poppets. I took this upon me because I wished no other to suffer its torments. It's corruption is too great for most. Even if another would have survived what I endured, it is the slow corruption that would have destoryed them thereafter."
She looks over to Stiers with her tired red eyes. "Even you...it would have destoryed you and you damn well know it. I had you killed to save you. I tried to speak with you, but its power had already wound its way into your head, it was already pulling you and bending you to its will. It was the only way I could keep it from devouring you entirely. You are of too great of power to be corrupted Stiers. Someone of your strength and ability? This town needs you whole...not bent to this." She looks back to Rasiri. "And of course he was mad. Having dark power ripped from you will make any soul that it has tasted of it snarl and hiss. It is an expected reaction. I was fully expecting him to kill me himself, but at least my death would have been in exchange for saving him. It still had hold of him at the time, but now it looks as though he has had time to reason with himself, and free his mind of the taint." She looks back over Stiers slightly wearily. "At least I hope so....."
"I know your family very vell, even ef i wish i dedn't. They are all lieing scheming varlocks that i resent. You vere a very strong exception to them. Vhile i vas still being given bottles and small daggers your family vas being given imps and infernals." Rasiri looks down at the food on the table and grabs a large piece and takes a chunk out of it. "Man i haff missed good food... und this is excellent. But anyvays I theenk i should call a group meeting... i need to haff a talk vith all of the people that can be of use to me."
Glimmercomes out of the woods, with what appears to be minor scratches from her recent encounter, cursing and swearing all the while. She overhears her name being spoken by Rasiri involving food and follows the three into the tavern. Seeing that Fancy now has a meal, and also overhearing her being called Mistress Nivarian, Glimmer goes into the kitchen and prepares some of her herbal teas. After a few minutes, she approaoches the three and says "Well then. You two ogres leave her alone a spell, yes? Sit with her, but close those yap holes in your faces. MISTRESS Nivarian needs rest. And tea. Not ale you oaf." Glimmer then pulls a chair over beside Miss Nivarian and takes a salve from her bag. She quietly sings as she applies salve to her residual wounds "Gather your pride, Gather your bits and your bones, In world that will try to break you down, Know you will stand, yet not alone." (Heal 10) She places the tea in front of Miss Nivarian and says "Whether you have a passion for tea or not my dear, you will drink this, you will." Glimmer then eyes Rasiri and Stiers, in a warning of her unhappiness of the secrets being discussed. She then whispers to Rasiri "You should have told someone you knew her Ras. This won't hold long. What is going on?"
Rasiri leans over to Glimmer, "She es an old family advisor of mine. I haff known her since i vas a very very small child. She is a good person and tends to share most of the same moralsss as me. She is a lot better than my sister... I just to get beat up and down my Families estate by her." He then looks at Glimmer and smiles and realizes his mask is still down so he quickly pulls it up and says to Glimmer, "Und don't vorry about Akon here, she es very hardy."
Glimmer continues the whispered conversation with Rasiri by saying "Dear, I am Glimmer. Whether she can handle herself or not is no concern to me. I can handle picking her up when she needs it. And seeing as she's turned warlock now, I imagine she can handle herself. Good to hear she can beat you up and down an estate, as well. More pride for the femlaes and such is all." Glimmer then turns to the newly names Urodeq and says "Well then, Akon. I go by first names and first names only. I'm Glimmer, again, and I think we shall become dear friends. I do so love having someone to chat with. Especially when it involves beating up on Ras here." Glimmer winks at Ras as a sign the secret is safe with her.
Akon smirks and lets out a small smile of amusement at Glimmer's bantering. She almost chuckles slightly as she wraps her hands around the offered tea, readily accepting it. Lifting it and sipping it as she listens, she then lowers what little remains of her tattered hood. "You must forgive me, m'lady." She turns her head to look sidelong towards the fae. "Vere I come from, to give a name means to give one the powver to kill you at a vord. To give a name either expresses great trust, or great stupidity. I am not use to such...hospitality? Perhaps you can teach me the vays of this people." She extends her battered and blood crusted hand towards the fae. "My name is Akon of clan Nivarian." She then pauses, looking down to her gruesome hand before looking for some way to clean it off before shaking the fae's hand.
Glimmer sees Akon trying to hide her hand and hiccups a bit as she does when excited. She hugs Akon tightly and then releases her quickly, seemingly aware of her random outburst of kindness. She pulls a small hankie from her pouch and offers it to Akon. 'Well then Akon, I'm just plain Glimmer. No m'lady for me. Taklinn the dwarf is my partner. And the Wings Above know he's no sort of proper. There's reallt not much to learn of our ways. We usually all get along. What happened those days ago between you, the Prince, and Stiers will be forgotten soon I hope. Not all the boyfolk in town understand the ways of properness. Your reasons are your own for you actions. Sometimes I fear we can be our own worst enemies. No harm, no foul I say then." Glimmer pours herself a cup of tea, and tops of Akon's cup.
Akon immediately cringes and tenses up at the hug, not returning it in the slightest. Gritting her teeth through the ordeal, she remains stiff as a board, not for pain but more for shock and being unfamilar with such a display. She clears her throat and sniffs a bit once the fae releases her, rolling her shoulders a bit to work out the stiffness. "Vell..I do hope it is remembered. I did it for reason, and I hope it is not soon forgotten. It vas no simple task, nor vas it pleasant...." She pours a bit of her tea on the cloth, wiping her hands repeatedly and managing to get some of the crusted grunge off with a look of disgust upon her face.
She looks back to Glimmer, something in her dark red eyes sincere. "This place, this town, this people....this is all I have." She pauses a moment, searching the fae's own eyes before continuing. "And I vish to protect it. To protect you, Rasiri, even Stiers..... I did vat I did to pursue my desire to protect this humble place vich we both now share, for this powver would corrupt most, and destory even the strongest of wills." She shook her head, looking back down to her hands. "So I took it so others would not be bent to it, as all my life I have been trained to control this, though I never vanted it." She sighs slightly, but then dismisses the thought.
"As I have spoke to Rasiri, my only concern is that my actions may be misunderstood." She shrugs, placing the cloth back to the table, now covered in black and browns. "But I suppose there is little I can do about that...people will see me as they see me..." She says quietly, somewhat to herself.
Taklinn enters the Shady Corner in time to see Glimmer pull away from her hug with Akon. He orders a drink and walks over to the group. "So yer tradin' me in fer a hairless model are ye?" he says to Glimmer and winks to Rasiri and Stiers. His mood changes as he regards Akon. "Looks as if ye have been in a bit of a row urdek. I imagine that there is quite a tale to tell about that!" He then looks at her gear and notices deep gashes in her armor, that appear to have been made by teeth and claws. He blows out a long whistle and says "Stinkin' things must've really been hungry ta want a bite of urdek." He then snaps his head up to meet Akon's eyes as if in realization of what could have rended her armor so, a memory he has supressed for over a century. He pulls out his flask and takes a pull and calms a bit. "But it seems that other'n a bath ye seem to be none the worse fer ware. Tis good to hear, fer though I hate to admit it, the loss of another warrior in these times could prove disatrous fer Jastrey, even if they be an urdek. A shield arm is a shield arm, no matter what color it be in these times." He then looks back to Glimmer and hands her a pouch (Treasure sent). "Here love, I think ye dropped it out in the woods and some goblins gave it back when I cut one of them down."
"Taklinn Forgesplitter you bumbling oaf. She's been hurt bad and I got attacked by a herd of gobbos. Leave it to you to notice the scars of another woman before me own. OOOF You frustrate me." Glimmer snatches the pouch out of Taklinn's hands and mumbles an angered 'Thank you." She drops her head to her tea and sips quietly, attempting to hide her wounded pride.
Akon turns to to regard Taklinn just in time to catch his glance when he looked up, taking a moment to lock her ember hues with his. Afterward, she eyes him over, her usual hidden thoughts quite apparent on her face, appearing somewhat suspicious of this dwarf and his seemingly kind comments. It takes her a moment before she gives a satisfied nod that his comments are indeed sincere before she replies, "My blade and shield still stand to protect this town along side yours, sir dwarf. I've been meaning to speak vith you." She turns back to her tea and takes a sip before setting it down. "And not to vorry miss Glimmar. I'm sure thees dwarf hardly regards me as a voman. To him I am...how do you say..." She smirks as she pauses to pull up her hood around her face, "Urrrdeck." She snickers lightly, her tone some what amused at her attempt to mimick the racial slur.
"Well it ain't that I ain't noticed yer wounds love, but I thought ye had a bit of beard burn from the other night! And I'm always ta keep a weathered eyes when one of these devils is about lass, and don't ye be forgettin'. I've been hatin' them long afore I started lovin' on you" he smiles at Glimmer and makes a gesture with two fingers from his eyes towards Akon and Rasiri. "I didn't know the snot suckers assailed ye on the road though. Seems I'm gonna have to dull me axes on some gobbo heads once me arm gets better! And trust me urdek I've seen wounds like yers long afore ye were born I would wager on me own kin. I'm starting to think ye are more of a warrior than me first impression warranted." Taklinn goes over and sits next to the sulking faerie and gives her a quick peck on the cheek before downing one of his mugs in one long gulp. "See I'm learnin to smooch ye afore I get holy water on me whiskers!" he says to Glimmer before chuckling loudly.
From the edge of the woods, Ripper pauses, the scent of brimstone and blood floating even this far away. She's positive of the source, but kneels momentarily to lean close to a stained leaf to be sure. Her lungs expand, drawing the bouquet deep into them and drawing back on recent memory. Uordeq had their own scent, like cave moss and earthy mushrooms, and this one was familiar. Not Rasiri, but one she'd smelled before. Pair that with the lingering, burning, irritation of sulfur and brimstone and there was no doubt.
Upon standing, she glances down toward her blade, catching the reflection of fanged lips and informing herself of the length they had gained in answer to the blood's call. For just a moment...or not even to be honest...she wonders if she'll ever be able to consider a wounded friend without a growling stomach or the oh-so-brief, obsessive, compulsion to be on guard for other predators threatening potential prey. Dead lungs drawl in a deep breath, sucking on the cool air as one might a pacifier, drawing the chill across sabre-like fangs until they've receded to their subduedl state. Her eyes flicker, quick as a snake's tongue, toward the direction of Rizzik's ruined workplace and cold fingertips stroke the molded shape of a book beneath her armour.
A chance at one more steeling breath, and then she consciously abandons the effort to mimic a mortal's breathing, chest ceasing to rise in regular pattern as if somehow that will lessen her sense of smell. She makes a show of being sure her boots are heard on the steps, and that the door creaks, lifting a quick nod toward her cousin and Taklinn before crossing nearer. Maintaining a guarded distance, she declines her head deeply toward the wounded uordeq before sliding the book across the table. Two fingers rest on its cover gingerly to the casual observer, but sly eyes can see the way the digits compress hard leather as if to insist that it remain closed for now.
"I believe you had need to borrow this. Treat it gently. I'd very much like to have it back safely when you've finished. "
Gold and ruby eyes fixate on Akon through the shadow of the hood, half-glowing with reflection of the room's ambient light. A cold hand moves near enough for its chill to be felt against her clothing, but hovering carefully without ever touching.
"I'm sure more has been done, but allow me to indulge my own desire to assist."
A faint glimmer lights the edges of a signet ring as she speaks quietly.
"Beatus vir qui sufferit tentantionem. Quoniam cum probatus fuerit accipiet coronam vitae."
[Heal 5]
Akon's ears perk at the incant, looking up from under her tattered hood with cocked brow at the vampire. Looking to the bloodied book placed on the table with her usual dark suspicion,she frowns as she reaches her somewhat cleaned hand toward it, to draw it to her, and then slip it to her side. "I'll take a look at it then....." Licking her lips, she bows her head slightly. Then a sudden look of illness and disgust works across her face before she shakes out her head. Akon remains hunched for a moment as the feeling passes.
Noting carefully the vampire's choice of words, she then rises, gathering shield, sword and book and leaving all food and drink behind. "I should go get washed up....if you will excuse me." Taking stride towards the door she pauses on her way out to turn, looking up from her hood so they can all see her face clearly. "Thank you all for your hospitality." She takes a moment to quietly lock eyes with each of them, and then bows her head to indicate her sincere thanks. "Taklinn, I do wish to speak with you when your time allows. Rasiri, I would request a chat as well if you will." She glances at Ripper before turning on her heals to depart, speaking as she trapes towards the door, "And please, if you see the Prince, tell him I'm looking for him."
On her way out she sees a letter addressed to her layed out on the tavern table. Pausing a moment, she plucks it up, then continues on her way out the Tavern.
After Akon takes her leave, Taklinn seems to stiffen a bit, seemingly understanding the nature of the book. "I'll only be seeing that devil under the light of day. A good warrior, and turned to dark magics and urdek trickery! Here I thought was one different from her kind, but she is the same as all her kin. She was probably trickin' us the whole time! And now she knows our names?!" he finishes in dismay. "Keep a weathered eye on that one lass" he says to Glimmer before downing another mug and ordering another pitcher to be delivered. "I'm gonna need a good bit of holy water in me to help protect me from the darkness of that one".
A miniscule nod responds to Akon's request as she leaves, before bright eyes fix on Taklinn's candid commentary. A misleading corner of her lips quirks upward, amused not by his words, but by his vigor. With a sweep of her tabard, she takes a careful seat on the bench and leans forward, elbows resting gently on the table and curled knuckles supporting her chin. Despite her body language, her expression becomes grim.
"Cousin-in-law...Please, calm your fears. Do you remember when I asked if you trusted me? I back her choice. She did this not for power or dominion, but to help us, lest someone unprepared become the apprentice. Or...someone ill prepared who very much desired it. It's best for everyone if we help her understand her new abilities just as much as you'd ought teach your pet dragon to breathe fire rather than let it belch sparks on your beard till it learns."
She straightens, drawing her hands back until they rest on the edge of the table.
"I won't say that she isn't dangerous, but I'm no innocent babe either, and for now I believe her motives honourable. She sought me out to discuss the sacrifice of this path, and I have promised that so long as she use her power to aid the town of Jastrey I will be at her back. But, if it settles your addled nerves, she's also been warned that her first move against the town will be her last. And that treachery will see her put down like a lame horse."
Rasiri scans the forest and sees his female friend laying on the ground and his eyes widen. He drops his mask and his hood falls off as he runs over to help her up. He drops to his knees and slides over as he runs his hand over her. "By the light of the new dawn i heal you" [Heal 5] he repeats himself several times as he finds the worst spots of damage. Then he rolls her over and pulls a small flask out of his pack and gives her a small bit of the water within. "Arrre you okay?!?! Vat happened to you?!"