Here We Find.....[Open]

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Serrif seemed to laugh at the girls offer. She was so young he wasn’t going to lead them out into the grasslands to get her killed. This other man was right, even though he painted a horrible overly exaggerated picture of what he thought was true or not. So Serrif shook his head some and looked to Desmus.

“Three Akalaks at the bar, two about the same size, one slightly shorter. There is also a Konti woman, a nakivak wearing silver bracelets that is likely going to take the shorter of the tree away to so the service that is required of her. The table next to us has a nick in it on the right hand side and there are three more Akalaks sitting at it as well.” He motioned for the man to check and if he did he would notice that Serrif was indeed correct.

“I’m observant enough. And I have also heard that in the winter the glassbeaks tend to hunker down and not hunt as much. As far as Zith are considered I can take my chances with them. Perhaps they will not spot me against the snow easily. I doubt traveling in a group would make a difference.” He shook his head a little then spoke some more.

“But, if you two and this second cousin of yours Solicah can join me in my little escapade into the sea and we can see what we can get out of this. We can sell the wagon, I know a buyer for the horses and well any armor and anything else will fetch a fair price as well.” He tried to take another stiff drink but had forgotten that his mug was empty. He was only slightly embarrassed as he set the mug aside and shook his head.

” But I only have one rule. Just one, any women go free and get released to Godiva’s Refuge.” Those were the rules for this engagement but he wasn’t going to budge on them in any way.

[Solicah]

Solicah hadn't had much luck in his work for the day. He did understood the inconstant nature of his work, however, and as such his mood remained unaffected as a result. The cold was another story, it tensed his muscles and lead way for a piercing headache. One that he would never profess to unless asked, of course. He was Drykas, and as such did not complain about minor aches and pains. He had braved much colder winters, though he was accustomed to traveling south for the bitter season. He had to at least feel thankful he had a heated room to stay in, and company. He was most thankful for the part where they were only a minute or two from the pub. Nothing warms the body or cures a headache like a glass or two of fine wine.

He entered clad in a heavy woven poncho of the same weave as Wyndivere's, dark natural wool along the bulk, adorned with a custom string of vivid blue thread sparingly throughout the unmistakably Drykas design. On his head rest the hood of what must be a second layer of clothing, not uncommon in the winter, this one knitted and of lighter weight than the heavy winter poncho, but pure blue. Much like the longer and scarf many times wrapped beneath. His lower half only revealed a bright exterior layer of weather proofed leathers, tied both artfully and practically secure with a network of dark leather strips and cheap bone beads painted with a layer of sapphire blue. As a last practical touch he wore matching winter gloves and boots of a dye that attempted, but did not quite achieve black, no doubt awarding the wearer a fair discount on purchase. The deep colour somehow fit the man.

Both practical and adorned, Solicah entered the tavern and cast a quick look around. Fuller than usual, he wondered if it was the slight ease in the cold winter gusts that day that encouraged the locals to venture out for pleasure, or if it was in bitter anticipation of the cold that would no doubt be coming the following night. This speculation, however, came to an end as he spotted his cousin with two men, the waitress giving them no mind. Solicah arched a brow, and started over leisurely. He was not overtly concerned, after all this was Riverfall, and Wyndivere had found herself in the same position as most women in the city had, especially free and single women. Since day one she had herself assaulted by the affectionate natures of nearly every available, and often unavailable man she passed on the street. Solicah couldn't blame them, Wyndivere was a gorgeous girl, and one of fine Drykas stock. She would make any man a good husband, though he wasn't sure what they could hope to expect for only a single night of warmth. Regardless, it was none of Solicah's business, and he was well aware his cousin could watch over herself. She had always been one to know her own limits.

"Hello there, cousin." Solicah spoke with a jovial tone as he approached, and gave a kind and fraternal nod to the Drykas standing by the table, slipping in between him and his cousin. He then cast a slightly more neutral, but not overtly dubious, look toward the one sitting across from his cousin. It was clear from that angle that his mug had been cleared, and Solicah had to wonder how many times before it had done so that evening. He disregarded this quickly, however, the tavern was the place to be doing that after all. What concerned him more was the stern look on his cousin's face as his eyes finally reached her. She often looked sullen of focused when alone, but he rarely saw her far from a light smile when speaking with others. His voice effortlessly switched to Pavi as he addressed Wyndivere. "Cousin, I see you're attracting attention as always. You really should try covering up that beautiful face of yours. You are going to strike all these poor men blind with your unrivaled majesty!" He winked at her, trying to lighten the mood, or prompt her to send her some signals of why she was upset.

He then gave another look to the Drykas to his left, and decided to engage him as well, still not ceasing his Pavi. "I see you have found a brother as well," he said back to his cousin, "that's good. Not enough come to Riverfall in the winter. A bit ahead of the spring march, aren't you, Brother?" He looked the man over to check his well being, for any wounds, and to tell the state of his gear. He wondered if the man had been in the city long, or if he had just arrived, and by what means. And more importantly, in what state. For the time he would ignore the human man, until he was introduced or spoken to.

[Desmus Marrudius]

Desmus looked at the man and could tell he was no ordinary outlander coming to the plains planning to buy his way through. His knowledge seemed true and his words rang in Desmus's ears. "You know more than I gave you credit for outlander" Desmus thick pavilion accent rang in his words " but I could.not forgive myself.if you died in the frozen grass"

Desmus continued to look at the man before looking at the the new Drykas and sayingin pavilion "Hail brother, what brings you from the Sea of Grass"

[Wyndivere Moondirge]

Wyndivere's stern gaze continued to bear down on Serrif. Without looking away from him, she welcomed her cousin in common. "Oh Solicah. Good, you're here." and with a nod towards Serrif, "This man thinks he can brave the winter grasses without the aide of a Drykas guide. We should assist him lest he get his wish to die on his feet for what he believes in." She gave Serrif a long hard stare. "Even though dying in the sea of grass would do no service to his cause."

Finally, she turned her gaze to her cousin. Her gaze spoke to him. She knew he would understand somehow. This was important. The Sea of Grass was nothing to be taken lightly. Any Drykas would know that. Her gaze was gentle and understanding. A simple sad gaze that she did not show to people she did not care about.

She slipped into Pavi to join the Drykas at the table. "There is a slave caravan out in the grass. This man hates them. It is important to him. He wants to find them and save them before the Akalak get there. Otherwise the slaves will be brought here and forced into servitude. I think we should help him. He'll be useless otherwise." Continueing in Pavi, she turned to look at the other Drykas. "You could join us. I have never met you, but you are a brother and we are few here." She smiled at him, accepting him as one of her own. "What do you say?" she asked, addressing the two Drykas.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

He was suddenly cut out of the conversation. Something he had gotten used to while in Mura. The women would talk in a language he didn’t understand about things he likely couldn’t comprehend. He rubbed his eyes some as it was getting late, but by the same motion it was a young night as well. However if he was going to do this he would need some time to prepare some things. He wasn’t going to go do this in his current state. No, he needed to be rested as well as prepared mentally for the task at hand. What he was about to embark on was not only dangerous; but highly frowned upon by the Akalaks. If they found out; he would likely be brought up on some formal charges of some kind. This he knew; but he also knew the disgrace he would cause them if he and these Drykas were able to do what Akalak raiding parties failed to do.

They would have to use tactics and whatever skills they could manage to get ahead in this game. With a sigh he just waited to be spoken to in a language he could understand. He felt like a stupid child really. But that was common for him. Among the enlightened Konti he felt sometimes like he was struggling to get over the beauty long enough to understand they were a very intelligent race. Here among the Akalaks they looked down on him because he wasn’t as big or rough as they were. But what they didn’t realize yet was he was just as deadly. They only didn’t give him the credit he deserved yet. But they would soon enough.

“Think?” He said almost sounding insulted as he looked to Wyndivere bearing her one of his arms. He undid some of the belts that clung the second white silken bodysuit to him. He then rolled up the sleeve some exposing the elaborate scarring.

The first most telling scar was radial around his wrist. Bindings, horrible iron bindings of slavery. They showed he struggled but never broke free. The way the bindings wore his wrists down to the very bone told this story. But there was more. Far more, smaller battle like scars from random weapons…no they weren’t weapons. They were torture equipment. Some of the same odds and end equipment these Drykas would use as veterinary instruments on horses and people…could obviously be turned against flesh of another being.

“I survived three years of this, no over-sized turkey or flying bat is going to stop be from achieving this.” He said as he then rolled his sleeve back down and belted it tight to his skin. “none.”

He shook his head as if he didn’t fully expect them to understand. How could they? They had never been prisoners. No, they didn’t know what it would be like to be forced from one form of slavery to the next. To have the illusion of freedom only to have it ripped away from you. He knew what that would feel like, he as the closest one here to understanding that. And he knew it. “Look, you do whatever you must. But my path is set.”

[Solicah]

Solicah listened to all three present before he responded verbally to a single one. To Desmus' words he smiled silently, a receptive stance spreading across his body. The expression was soft, kind, and promised he could respect him with a response in time, but showed that there was more on his mind than just his friendly and well received question.

His eyes fixated next on Wyndivere's as she spoke of Serrif. And, though he listened closely to his words, his eyes seeped farther into what was behind them held in her eyes. This man had touched Wyndivere's honor with his drive, and she was clearly concerned for his well being. Solicah knew more than most of his cousin's loving heart, compassionate about all even those outside their family. Something Solicah respected greatly of her. She was always willing to go above and beyond her duty to serve people as a whole, a valuable and rare trait in the post valerian society. As an answer to not her words but her heart his eyes grew more serious, more contemplative. She knew this wasn't a safe, or easy request she made of Solicah. This could get them killed, and at best do little to further their Pavailion's state. But Solicah realized the sacrifice was high if he refused, the trust and companionship between Wyndivere and himself. For this reason his attention turned toward Serrif as he spoke.

His eyes studied Serrif's improperly healed wounds with open anguish, and his respect grew without contest. His cousin's words, and the man's empty mug would have him painted a fool, but Solicah realized that it wasn't foolery Serrif was after, it was revenge. Revenge is a topic Solicah had seen gleam brightly in many lonely eyes, he knew it well, and what he saw in Serrif's eyes and heart was the purest kind of revenge. There was a nobility about the man, a knightliness, and Solicah suddenly realized he was possibly the strongest person in their presence, Drykas or not.

With sympathetic, but not pitying eyes he nodded at the human as he addressed his cousin. A slow steady raise and fall of his curl laden head, a simple sign that he saw what was meant to be shown. His hand dropped down gently on his cousin's narrow shoulder, the expression sensual as his fingers shifted in a slight caress as it settled. This was not to silence her but to show he was by her side. He knew he hadn't say any more to her, she knew the bond of family could not leave her alone in this journey.

Shifting to common tongue he spoke with a low calm voice that could not travel beyond their circle. "Desmus, honor brought us to Riverfall, and a certain craving for bounty, not only of currency but heart. I personally had a thirst for adventure to drive me wide of my home as well." He paused a short moment looking at the half gone man before him. Serrif was on a path to ruin, but Solicah couldn't help but hold the highest of respect for him. And, he couldn't help but hold an unexplainable faith in the spark of determination in his eyes.

"Sir, my name is Solicah Moondirge, second cousin of Wyndivere here, and proud member of the Sapphire clan. I believe your plight could reward all of the bounty our hearts have been searching for here outside Endrykas. I would be honored if you would allow us to guide and assist you with these beasts you seek." With that he continued his speech, but as he did so pressed his palm to his chest, the warmth between his heart and palm seeping toward each other through his cold clothing, and nodded his head toward the man with respect. "It will take more than prowess with blade," he couldn't help a expletive glance to an Akalak across the room, but the look fleeted with little notice. "Or sheer numbers. The ever dangerous sea is in the winter only more treacherous even for Drykas, and especially for an entire caravan." The smile that could never stray too far from his lips flared slightly at that moment, a notation of the upper hand they might have, both over the slavers and any Akalak group that may try to use numbers to undo them, "If the weather is used I believe we can overcome them with small numbers, and with grace no casualties. It will take keen minds," he pitched a slight look to the empty mug before the man, "and dedicated hearts from all people you bring with you to achieve your daunting goal. I believe any Drykas could offer you this if that was their will. I know it is my own." His face turned slightly to Desmus to open the conversation to him to answer Wyndivere's request as well. Though, his eyes remained fixed on Serrif, the vision of those gruesome scars still burning into the back of his mind. He saw Serrif in a new way, even the shadows from the lanterns filling the room seemed to play upon him differently than they had moments before.

[Desmus Marrudius]

Desmus looked at the two Drykas. They were young but he could tell that they had their hearts in the right place. Desmus thought it over in deep reservation. Before he decided that he would go on this journey to take these slave women. Desmus had never been one to take slaves if any kind. This man had a noble and just goal but the the men here would be very grateful if he were to give them the slaves instead. He quickly dismissed these thoughts however because his family had always frowned upon taking slave. He would go but fir the young ones not this man.

In common tounge Desmus spoke to all of the three around him "I am Desmus Marridius, patriarch and last remaining member of the Marridius clan. I have hunted, slept, and breathed the Sea of Grass since birth. I know the dangers and joys it offers, and i will accompany you on this quest of yours,but I will not save or fight for a syrillian.

With that Desmus turned to the the Drykas and nodded.

[Wyndivere Moondirge]

Wyndivere stared in a combination of amazement, shock, and disgust at what must have happened to put those scars on Serrif. Her mouth hung open slightly. This man had seen many things. He had proven his worth and experience.

She felt her stupidity settle in as her cousin's hand settled upon her shoulder. She shut her jaw and flushed with emberassment, lowering her eyes and turning her head to face Solicah as he spoke. A humble smile crept onto her face as she listened to his words. As all hearts were collected and decided she turned her gaze, more confident, back to Serrif. "Yes, we will all aide you in this quest, if you will have us. And I am sorry if I have brought offence to you." She lowered her head towards the table in a bow of apology, hands folded in her lap.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

This Solicah was a smooth talker indeed. It seemed he took the liberty of speaking for all the Drykas in the group. But there were still outliers. They could be fooling him; they seemed closer to each other than they did him. However there was one distinct advantage here; they were not Akalaks. He couldn’t’ even have a single one of those blooded warriors in his group. If he did he ran the risk of them claiming Riverfall law on any female slaves they found and freed. It only took one short tempered self-righteous Akalak to ruin the work of all these at the table. He didn’t want to cause an influx of fresh wombs for the Akalaks to impregnate. No…that was not the point of this. He NEEDED this; any at the table could see there was a sense of closure in this for him.

Finally his body was well enough to fight for what he actually believed in. To really fight tooth and nail for what he held so dear to his heart. The horrors he had seen were immeasurable compared to even the bleak picture Desmus had painted earlier of Glassbeaks tearing a man apart. Even in that picture a man was allowed some decency to die with honor. At the slave camps no such thing was ever really allowed. Humanity was stripped in a brutal process, names were stolen away and beaten out of you till all that was left was a number. The number they gave you. You knew where you stood, hardly worth more than the dirt you slept on or the blanket they gave you. Nothing. Less than nothing. You weren’t even property to be owned really. You were….just alive…until they took that from you too.

They were the masters. You had control over the little things. Like when you decided to urinate in the bucket in your cage. But besides that you had almost nothing at all. He remembered how cold he felt…how hopeless he was. If he could cause a shred of hope even in his own death it would be well worth it for him. But he also knew this Solicah was right. They would have to be smart about this if they wanted to stay alive and make this mean anything at all.

Tactics. They would need tactics; in his current state he cared little for tactics though. He nodded to the man and spoke. “Tomorrow, midday. Kavala another Dryka owns the Sanctuary. Meet me there and we will outfit what Kavala allows me and then head out from there. I have an idea where the caravan will travel through. But only a rough idea, the rest we will have to divine through other means.” He noted that Wyndivere seemed a little embarrassed. There was really no need to.

“I apologize, I am used to…other social interactions. In Mura everyone feels what you feel. Most of them can tell your future, or past in elaborate detail. Needless to say they are aware of what one is capable of easily. I am still acclimating to such interactions where those you speak to are unaware of what your life has entailed up to this point. I have however grown fond of these kinds of interactions. There is no pretense and I can tell you as much as I wish to.” He looked right to Wyndivere and gently placed a finger on her chin and rose her eyes to meet his.

“No need to be sorry. You did not offend. You merely opened my eyes to what was the truth. I need a Drykas guide. And if you would bring these other two with you that would be wonderful.” He said with a slight smile trying to lighten the mood as he stood.

It became immediately apparent this man was not only large for a human, but by the slight stagger in his step he was also a little drunk. He stretched some and then looked to Desmus then to Solicah. “Bring whatever you will need for the raid. I will see about procuring us some boarding or armor of some kind for the horses if you wish it. I am sure I can ‘borrow’ it from Kavala for a short period of time. The rest of your gear, weapons and armor for your body is up to you to procure somehow.” He stretched again to try and get his legs underneath him a little better.

“Tomorrow midday the Sanctuary. I will meet you all there, but until then…I have sleep to get and preparations to make. I trust you three likely do as well.”

[Solicah]

Solicah watched Desmus with a proud smile as he spoke, impressed at the man's story. He knew how hard it was for those that had lost their clan, and was honored to be able to fight by an Ankal's side, even if has never heard of his Pavilion before.

To his cousin's words he nodded in silent agreement. They had all been humbled by the man's naked truth he had reveled to them all. He was at first surprised but he quaintness, the meekness of the apology. But, then realized that there was a strength behind it. So many Drykas remained steadfast and harsh all the time, there was a certain undeniable grace the ability to recognize when one has done wrong, and honestly show your emotions of regret. Solicah felt, if possible, even more pride in his Pavilion, and his cousin.

To Serrif's response, specifically the touch Solicah's brow just rose in surprise and suspect, but he decided to just let his cousin do what she would. She had more than learned to handle such overt advanced in her time in Riverfall. He simply fought a slight laugh.

"Then it's a party." Solicah smiled a little more jovially than before, his voice returning to it's usual well traveling tone. "We will see you tomorrow, friend. When your head is clearer. Thank you for confiding in us." As Serrif stood Solicah was surprised at his size. The drunken man seemed only a fraction the height as he sat, and this realization encouraged more words from Solicah than were perhaps necessary. "You have quite the imposing figure, don't you? But, gentle hands. Impressive combination. I'm so envious." He smiled, his eyes revealing his words as not an insult but something far more ambiguous. "I think I'm going to get a drink before I go, but I suppose I should be off to bed soon as well." With that he walked away form the group. He would spend some time behind open to socialize and relax for some time before leaving himself.

He had much to gather for the next day's travels. Warmer clothing, rations, and various other supplies he regretted to weight Aureunna down with. But, he understood the gravity of the situation, and attempted to be over prepared, apposed to under.

Secret :

will flesh out what all he has/bought in the next post. And I'll tally up prizes and stuff at the end.

Once Wyndivere was ready, Solicah allowed Aureunna to lead them all toward Sanctuary. He felt a little nervous, but well rested and warm. The sky seemed clear enough for a change, though the fresh layer of snow on the ground was a testimony to how unforgiving the season still was. At first at the traveled along the hilled tundra Solicah was forced into silence by the roaring wind, but half the distance to Sanctuary the winds held and Solicah was offered a reprieve to speak to his cousin. "What do you think about all this?"