Drux can be seen making some renovations to the first floor of the new tower outside the tavern. He is in the process of turning it into a great hall for the new warrior’s training facility the academy offers under his supervision.
Ripper perches on a log outside the tower, using it as a bench, holding a large leaf as a form of makeshift parasol in addition to her cloak and sun goggles. The pix reaches into the bloody bag at her side, fishing out a filled cake from the tavern. She bites down with an audible "Om!" followed by a mildly disturbing suctioning sound.
Licking the last bits of filling from her sabre-like canines she chucks the cakey part into a nearby group of birds. "Whachu buildin' Droo...Druh... Mister Twitchy Arm?"
Garith quickly desends the stairs following Astrum and hurries past Drux barely noticing him. He quickly catches pace with Astrum as they hurry to the tavern. He pauses for a moment and looks up at Ripper. He calls out, "Ripper have you seen that dark skinned human that came to town in that group of followers of Ressik?"
Ripper stares at Garith as if lost for a moment, though that isn't entirely unheard of for the pix even when in...livelier status.
"Er...well, ~everybody~ is dark skinned to me now...don't think I've seen anybody darker than you or anybody else though."
She leans forward slightly, grinning and poking her goggles up onto her forehead to show off her luminescent eyes.
"Is he a criminal? I can get Mister Taki-sacks and we can go find him."
Ripper squeals happily at the news that something is complete, though she isn't entirely certain what she's been waiting on until she sneaks into the hall and peers about. A single dark brow slowly inches up her forehead and then she vanishes outside once more to fetch her things. The candy sack thumps solidly on the floor on the corner, followed by the clatter of her shield and sword being placed over it at such an angle as to protect the precious horde from would-be thieving.
Without the harsh light of the daystar, the pix unbuttons her cloak and tosses both it and goggles down, then bee-lines for a free dummy. It's an odd shift, as always. That moment when, like a kitten's switch between play and hunting, white-blue eyes narrow and the edge of a tiger's growl creeps into her breathing. Bouncing, toddling steps give in to the awkward but effective enough slinking of a hunting animal that's still getting used to its own skin.
The wood of the training sword whooshes as it flies through the air, impacting the dummy more accurately than true combat allowed time for. Throat, inside of the left arm, inside of the right thigh, left thigh, and back up to the right arm like a widow's hourglass. Pixie she might be, but she still hunted, she knew where the femoral vein and artery were, and all their companions.
But...shattering the illusion that she *might* know what she was doing...after several strikes that make the dummy groan under their might, she pounces and pointed canines dent...then drive into the wood at the dummy's windpipe. The line between training and actual hunting blurred for just long enough to cause trouble.
A long moment of silence follows...then a soft whine...and finally the sight of Ripper pushing at the dummy with both palms like a trapped woodpecker.
"Eeenh! Sfooped seefs! Sfirrel licshing sumph funner!"
Grall Bonekeeper stomps into the new Warrior's Hall, ducking under the doorway, and notices Ripper in the corner.
"Ah, Ripper, you're back! I have heard of your return, but it is good to see you in the...flesh...." Grall trails off as he notices that Ripper is slumped precariously over one of the training dummies. Not only that, but it seems as if her skin is paler than it once was where visible. Grall approaches the Fey, keeping his guard up in case something where to go wrong.
"Ripper? Are you alright? Are you...are you eating that dummy?" Grall kneels before the awkwardly placed Ripper, inspecting her face.
Drux watches the pixie with great awe until see tries to feed from the dummy. When Drux sees this he begins to laugh loudly that all in the tower my hear it. "Ripper this is not a real fight." Drux begins, "This is meant purely for training." With this Drux begins to spare on his dummy again.
Erdan steps into the circular room. And raises his hand in excitement.
"Ah HA! This is my kind of place. Great work, Drux. Maybe one day we could get an archery range. But this'll do just fine."
He makes his way to a free dummy, giving a weary eye toward the fairy on the ground and the Angori. "A little carried away, haven't we?" He laughs.
Erdan approaches the dummy and starts sparring.
Ripper extracts herself from the dummy...gingerly (to say the least) and pauses to rub at her fangs with the back of one hand. Her wings flutter quickly, bringing to mind an irritated cat's tail-twitching. She shakes off the incident by standing and brushing at her clothes with a careful peer this way and that as if to say that of course she meant to do that, particularly as it had netted three different pairs of eyes. She carefully stands up the dummy, dusting the splinters off its neck and then levels her attentions onto Grall...neck only saved from craning by the fact that the angori was kneeling.
The pix was indeed paler (though to be fair she'd been a touch less than tan to begin with), eyes a chillingly pale shade of blue that glint like those of a hunting cat whenever a spare shaft of light from the outside crosses their path. The sort of gaze that (even when set into her rather un-intimidating face) made small animals squeak their last rites and run for cover. Its these eyes that makes her chipper grin seem a touch out of place, or...perhaps it was the fact that her canines were more like small sabres.
"Not eatin' just practicin' my aim for coo day graaah. Er, least that's how Uncle Wryenn said was the fancy polite way to say killin' blow. But I think that's a bad idea now that I think about it since it's all in animated and that probably means it doesn't have a windpipe to squish or any good stuff inside."
Grall blinks, surprised by Ripper's appearance.
"You're a Vampire, aren't you Ripper? I had heard a rumor about this, but it is something quite different to see it with my own two eyes. I've never fought or seen a real Vampire before, but I've heard tell of how dangerous they can be." Grall inspects Ripper more thoroughly, taking great interest in her fangs. "Those things may not be as big as some of my teeth, but they appear much sharper. Though it saddens me to lose a fellow Savage, perhaps I have also gained a new hunting partner?" The Angori smiles at this new suggestion, baring his own row of sharp fangs.
Atasatch hears all of the commetion ans steps forth. Drawing his hood back he surveys the area and says in a quiet, tired voice. "what is going on here" As Atasatch sits down he draws his ear covering off and fits a new one as he stuffs the bloodstained band into his pocket.
The pix cocks her head, unsurprised to hear that word has spread given the nature of the town, but a tad shocked nonetheless at all the appraising. But, of course, her thoughts on vampires now are...skewed. A small voice hisses at the corners of her subconscious, thin and soothing, 'Isn't that sweet, the chattle are so quick to offer to hunt with you.'
Her left eye twitches slightly, and if she'd had feline ears they would've twisted backward to listen at the sound that only she could hear. But with that one statement the vetala's voice settles back into silence. Assuming it to be her overactive imagination she turns her attention to dutifully inspecting the angori's pointed teeth.
"Well I liked huntin' when I was just a savage too, the only difference now is that I hunt better at night with no daystar to make my eyes hurt. But if you don't mind the mess you can come with me anytime! Ariekins always said she needed a poncho to help me hunt even before Papa made me into art. Have you ever tried huntin' in a poncho? I keep trip--"
Mid-sentance the pixie trails off, nose twitching. Her eyes, and then the rest of her head turns toward Atasatch and his bandaging. Her expression very accurately mimicks a child edging toward the cookie jar as she side steps and then sits next to him. Grinning wide for a second in what's *meant* to be a disarming and friendly way she points at the pocket where he'd just deposited the band.
"Could I borrow that?"
The Angori's smile falters as he notices Ripper's staring at Atasatch. After a moment of putting the pieces together, Grall leaps into action and postions himself behind the Fey, wraping one great arm around her so as to restrain her.
"Elf! Are you crazy? Coming in here with freshly bleeding ears when you must know by now that we have a newborn Vampire in our midst... Go back to your cabin to change those bandages, and make sure they're thick enough so that they won't attract our little bloodsucker here again. If you need me to, I'll come smell you when you're done to make sure that you don't stink of monkey-blood."
Though the Fairy's struggles are more similar to a child who doesn't enjoy being kept in one place, not those of a bloodthirsty murderer, Grall keeps his arm wrapped around her just in case. "Ripper, I enjoy a good hunt and a messy blood-spill as much as the next Angori, but we can't have you drooling over every minor cut or scrape. Think of how that would affect you during battle. Sure, you'd be a mighty foe against bloodied enemies, but you'd be trying to eat any of your companions who becomes injured. I know you're still young, in many ways, but you must try to learn how to control your blood-lust." The huge Savage turns his attention back to Atasatch.
"What are you still sitting there for? Go! 'Else I'll have to tie this Fey to my back and carry her around all day to stop her from sucking you dryer than one of your fancy Elf teas!"
When the sudden commotion breaks out Drux readies himself for an attack (hone 2, empower ice). He stands waiting for the elf to leave and watches the vampire for any sign she may attack. When the question enters Drux's mind he asks, "Why are your ears bleeding that is a rather odd wound?" Drux stands still on guard staring at Ripper waiting for an answer or the elf to leave.
Ripper squeaks in answer to the sudden restraining and such, looking a tad piqued but overall non-violent all things considered. Pawing the angori's arm down slightly so that she can stretch her head up and speak she eyes the already cautious monk and then rotates her vision back up to Grall.
"I wasn't gonna bite him. I just wanted to borrow the old bandage so I could make tea. I wouldn't bite him unless he said it was okay 'cause biting without permission is ass-halt."
It's worth noting that, while the majority of her speech is done in a childish protest, the one word, 'tea', is unduly stressed in an accent that is atypical to her. Those who'd heard Rizzik and paid attention could draw a parallel. But it's only the one word.
Grall raises one bushy eyebrow at the accented word. Continuing to hold onto the Fairy, just in case, he addresses her.
"Well I am glad that you seem to be in control of yourself, Ripper, but we must make sure that you can keep in control all the time. Until then, lets just be a little cautious." Grall unhands the small creature and continues, "Ripper, what was it you said a minute ago about your... 'Papa'? Who is that? Your father?"
The vampire starts fixing her pigtails, pulling each in turn to retighten them before she nods at the entering paladin.
"I'm fine, just a miss-under-stand-thing."
As she continues on, she considers whether pickpocketing used bandages would be considered theft, but makes no movement to act on this inward question and instead answers Grall with a proud chestpuffing.
"Not my father, daddy was nice but he wasn't as nice as Papa. Papa was an *artist*. He said that I was useful and full of brilly-ants and his greatest work. And he made me dollies, I never liked dolls before, but I understand now."
Again, that minor modulation of voice when the word artist graced her tongue. Reaching for her protected candybag the pixie fishes out a small doll made of something solid and white, potentially carved bone. Its black hair sticks out at awkward angles, and dollish face is contorted into enough of a scowl to show prominent fangs. She picks at the doll's dress while she talks, flicking a loose thread away and then snuggling the somewhat ghoulish toy.
"This one is Vora. It's supposed to be short for something. Vora...vorae...vorarephilia! That's it. Papa Rizzik made her right before the gallery was supposed to open, I helped paint her face."
Atasatch looks to the Angori and says. They never stop bleeding, they were cut with a...befouled blade. And I have spare head wraps on me at all times." Atasatch throws the used bandage to Ripper. "Knock yourself out. And as for you Drux, I was cut in this manner for freeing allies against a Tyrant leader of my home village, The Red Meadow. It was corrupted when my father took control." Atasatch then looks back to the Angori and stands. "And no I have not been aware of what has happened in Jastry for a while you see I have been searching for the fang. Every rock and twig, but I still have yet to find it." Atasatch give a yawn and stedies himself by sitting down again. "I need something to wake me up.."
The pixie nearly drops her doll in the rush to grab the bandage out of the air, and does carefully and safely sit it beside herself before she plucks a few choice candies from the bag.
"I've got two fangs but I don't think they're the kind you're lookin' for. It's the one that smells of mutt, right?"
Fishing into the sack again, she produces a teacup (its handle broken) and starts to carefully wring whatever she can from the bandage into the strawberry-patterened vessel. It's a meager offering, but enough to hold her amusement as it puddles. The entire macabre procedure is carried out as if it's the most natural thing in the world and, as she licks spared blood from the hand used to wring the linen, the pix uses the other to hold up the previously selected candy toward the elf. Whether an exchange or simply an offering to do said waking up it isn't clear.
Distracted by Atasatch's statement, Grall turns his attention to the Elf.
"What are you talking about? What fang? You starting to wonder whether Angori fangs are better suited for eating then an Elf's puny grinders?" Grall smiles, proudly displaying his sharp teeth. His grin resembles that of a shark or a crocodile.
"We Angori have magnificent fangs for fighting, biting, and otherwise cutting. With perhaps the exception of Vampires, I can think of no race who rivals us. Few races rival us at all, really..."
Grall beats his chest violently with his fist, reflecting the pride felt in his voice.
After seeing all is just a miss understanding Drux lowers his guard but is still a little on edge. He looks to Atasatch and asks, "Has Heaven seen these wounds her healing is the best in town she might be able to do somthing about them?"
Drux then looks to Erdan and says, "Go find Taklinn, Garith, Astrum, and Glimmer for me please. I need to speak to the Guild Counsil at once." Drux then sinks into a nearby bench in deep thought.
Atasatch's ears stay in the same bloodied stumps. The elf smiles and looks toward his companions. "These wounds are not normal wounds. They will never heal and they will never stop bleeding. Also my ears will enver be restored, not until I cleanse The Red Meadow of its corruption which brings me to you my Angori friend. THis fang I am in search of is not a normal fang. But the fang of Gorepaw the werewolf. I aim to find this fang and harness it's power for good in the hopes that it will grant me the ability to cleanse my home. However many have searched this cursed, and demonic fang before but all have either been corrupted or fled in fear of its power. Our Paladin friend here had a run in with said fang in his older, darker days. If I recall correctly the outcome of said incident was....explosive to say the least." Atasatch then trailed off and yawned.
Settled into listening and watching, now that she's gained the prize she sought, the pixie sips at the teacup. True enough the blood was cold, and bore none of the living essence that actually satiated her hunger but..it wasn't awful. Looking away from the cup she draws air across her tongue, then closes her mouth and exhales it through her nose to get a proper bouquet of the "tea". Almost idly she comments,
"Bit like wine. peanut noer I think..."
Drawn back from mumbled reverie, blue eyes track the retreating student and head tilts to one side like a confused housepet. Holding the teacup carefully aloft she checks first to be sure that her chemise and vest are covering like they should, and then that her pants aren't ripped. Nope, good, thus she starts checking over everyone else.
"Somebody's descent sea is hangin' out. We better find it an' put it back in before Miss Haven or Aunt Glimmer see, 'cause they're ladies."
Yes Atasatch I rember that fang very well....(stiers rembers being exploded in to many pices) Atasatch what corruption has affected you beside your ears? I know from a personal experience dont mess with curses things!! The out come is not always what you think it will be "stiers looks down at his arm and says" flesh is soo good !!!
Grall frowns. "Demonic fang, you say? Bah! My family's bloodline is descended from demons! I do not fear such relics, nor am I as frail as some of the weaker races.... No offense of course, Sir Stiers. I will not explode, nor shall I cower before a mere tooth! If this object truly has the power to cleanse one's homeland of a wronged doing, then I will henceforth help you find such a relic, Atasatch. With me helping you rid your land of whatever evil plagues it, surely you'd be willing to help me extract my revenge against Altasor Blooddrinker?" Not waiting for the Elf to respond, the Angori continues, clearly lost in his thoughts.
"Yes yes, a mighty fine army I'm raising! I have the help of two Warriors, a Paladin, a Rogue, and now a Druid. Soon, I'll have enough help to amass an attack against the Blooddrinker tribe. That murderous traitor Altasor will pay for his oath-breaking!"
Erdan emerges into the monastery flanked by Garith and Astrum. A heroic entrance if anything, backlit by the bright sun.
They make their way over to Drux.
"Drux, I couldn't find Taklinn or Glimmer. But this will have to do for now. I will watch the others here," he raises his eye brow, "And make sure they stay...respectful to our new facility."
Atasatch looks toward his Angori friend. And chuckles silently. "You are either the bravest, or stupidest creature I have ever met. But yet again, many say the same to me. I shall take your assistance, but I warn you. This will be possibly the most horrible thing you have ever indured, if we are to locate this fang." Atasatch stuck his hand outward to his new companion.
Ripper blinks at the bright light from the doorway, cringing and reaching up to rub the after-image from her newly sensitive eyes. Getting at the last of the teacup's contents with her fingers, she wraps the cup in a bit of cloth and slides it back into her bag along with the doll. She scoops up her cloak, refastening the bit of red fabric around her shoulders, and then tugs what look almost like an alchemist's goggles (their lenses coated with something reflective and dark) over her pigtails so that they dangle around her neck ready for outdoor wear.
Without much more than another quick tightening of pigtails the pixie nods at the zealous angori and the elf.
"Even though it *does* smell like mutt. I can try an' help you find it now that it's just me. Without Uncle Wryenn always tellin' me what to fetch for the candy-making it's been kind of boring."
The vampire seems briefly too distracted by the passing group. Her head cocks again, this time to it's opposite side before she picks up the edge of her cloak and starts sniffing at it carefully. Nope, it smells like it always does - marshmallow, dirt, sugar, and a hint of blood.
Turning back to Atasatch and Grall she leans up on her tiptoes and whispers through cupped hands,
"Do I smell or somethin'?"
Hearing mention of Gorefang's Tooth Garith turns to Atasatch, "Soon my friend we will consul on this matter. Until then gather what knowledge you can." Garith quickly follows Drux suitly up the stairs calling back, "If anyone sees Glimmer or Taklinn please send them up to the fourth floor. Erdan keep an eye on the tower for us. Thank you." The slam of a door is quickly heard afterword.
Atasatch looks toward his long time friend and nods. but quickly turns his gaze to Garith. "Who do you suggest I consul I've spoken to nearly every one in Jastry but so far all I know is that it was last seen headed outward of town but the man who had the fang died shortly after. and believe me I spent nearly two months tracking every spec that moved in that area only to find a couple of leather shards and a hungry bear." Atasatch gives a slight chuckle as he ends his sentence.
"Are you okay Ata? You look tired." Rasiri fished around in his bag for a moment and pulls out a small wrapped piece of candy, "This has enough sugar in it to keep you awake for days. And i am a hunter, maybe we could take a few people out and look for the 'fang' or whatever. I think a group is always better than just one person." Ras then turned to Ripper and Stiers, "Will you two come along as well, and maybe you too, Grall. If you will."
The door to the tower slowly opens and a large bear head can be seen,
The head sniffs the air and looks around. If anyone can see the head they see it quickly raises and then turns into Corvaxs face. Corvax gives a quick knock on the door while he enters
" Hello has anyone seen Tacklin?"
Ripper shrugs off whatever had been concerning her before at the sight of candy. Staring at it in the same distracted way she had noticed the elf's wounds, eyes never leaving the surface of the wrapped treat she responds idly, first to Rasiri and then to Corvax.
"Sure, it'll be a chance to try out my new pelt."
The pixie snuggles at her leather vest, edged in spots by what looks like it might be lynx fur.
"Haven't seen Mister Tackles recently, sorry. But if I do see him or Auntie Glimmer I'll tell 'em you're lookin' Mister Core Facts."
Ripper scowls slightly at the daylight again, scooting the goggles firmly up and over her eyes. Her hands work to carefully tuck her pigtails into the hood and position it for maximum shade without impairing vision. Sliding her bag over her shoulder and scooping up both shield and sword she follows after the angori...looking rather like a battle-ready bug.
Erdan remains at the foot of the stairs, standing with his hand on the hilt of his sword. He steps to the center of the circular room after the Vampire leaves.
"I know you all might like those two fellows, but seeing as this is a new place, I'm glad that this didn't turn into a bloody mess. I was truly concerned for you, dear Elf. That pixie will stop at nothing at the scent of blood. And you are a prime food source. I know this because I have seen what they are capable of doing.
"I'm surprised that particular pixie is a pixie at all. Vampires usually come in human form and have superhuman strength. It's strange for sure. It'll only make it easier to kill her if she gets on the wrong side of us."
Erdan flashes a wooden stake he keeps hidden in his cloak.
"That's why I always carry this. As a precaution."
Corvax moves closer to Erdan "what do you mean the pixie is a vampire." He says with a look of disdain on his face.
" Has anyone told the Brotherhood of this, I will not suffer undead in my presence." Corvax looks out the door at the two leaving, he turns and questions Erdan
" How is she able to walk in the daylight?" " Has she bewitched the young Angori?" "What has come of this town, we have a abomination walking amongst us."
Erdan stands his ground during Corvax's machine-gunned questions and calmly regroups himself before answering.
"Have you not noticed her cloak she wears during the day? Have you not seen her feast on the blood of the beast she kills in battle? Have you not seen the light fade from her eyes at the mere scent of it? This past month I've witnessed her making drink recipes. It's sickening... We both wish to rid this land of undead and all that terrorize the Shard, I know.
"But my dear Corvax, she has yet to prove herself as a threat. She is harmless for now and as long a she keeps to the blood of the beasts, she will pass in my book. I protect my home and for right now, home is here."
Erdan looks to Rasiri and the earless Elf, then back to Corvax.
"So be patient, Corvax. Her time will come... As with all the undead... Their time will come."
Suddenly, Erdan takes the wooden stake and hurls it at the nearest practice dummy. It hits with a thud, sticking in the area where the heart would be.
"In the meantime, we practice for that day."
Atasatch's face grows grave. As he stares at the perfectly placed stake. He then thinks upon what his fate would be should the day come where he finds said shard and..god forbid. It corrupts him. He sakes his head away from the thought. His heart is pure, his intentions, admirable to say the least. he smiles slightly and looks toward his friends. how they had change in the two months he had been away searching for the shard.
"Steirs... If I allow you have that, I am not sure I can trust you not to... well, make a hasty decision. However, you may have it if you will swear to uphold the same principles as I. We must not kill out own. But by all means use it against the undead that rise from this hollow ground."
Erdan gives Stiers a confident nod and looks around the room at the others.
"Well? A lot like you should get training. On with you now. We don't want the new floor of the monastery to have been built for nothing!"
Erdan grabs a different weapon off the wall - a double-sided axe. He begins practicing combinations behind a shield.
Astrum walks down the stairs and pauses for a moment, watching the activity. His face is tired and dark circles have appeared under his eyes. He catches one of the passing mages by the arm and instructs him to help Drux. He then proceeds to walk to the tavern, questions on his tongue.