[Denvali Road] Blood-Gray Day [Veldrys]

[Talen Stirling]

The cliffs and road seemed so vacant, as if colour and promise had been drained of it. Talen’s mood now as when the day had begun matched the gray skies, and the Symenestra’s question caused him to cringe. He looked at the creature from out the corner of his eyes, muscles tense and a frown upon his face before he exhaled deeply and seemed to let it all go. His voice was dull, as if it didn’t even matter to him anymore. ”I believe they did… But I just figured that taking a second look and a new pair of eyes was necessary.” He tightened the leather strap holding his shield in place, fumbled a bit with his belt and sword scabbard, and then followed the Symenestra when he finally started moving and stopped looking at him. Instinctively, he felt the need to get away from him, before he let his temper get away with him and did something he would regret. Still, he couldn’t quite let it all slide. The man before him seemed to show different faces, both that of the predator Talen believed he was, and the healer he claimed to be. Perhaps he was a healer who cared about Denval… But Talen didn’t dare believe it was the truth. If he did, it would mean he had been wrong all along… And if he did and he was wrong, that was not a chance he dared to take. If he made exceptions, perhaps they would deceive him. Still, as he followed the Symenestra and saw him glance back, Talen quickened his pace until he came up side by side with the creature. ”Priskil give us the strength to keep trying.” He almost whispered the prayer; it seemed almost futile in the face of what had happened and what was to come. Even so, he reached out with hope for himself and perhaps also the Symenestra.

[Veldrys]

He could see the look in Talen’s eyes every time he turned around, that deep frown, those tense muscles. The human seemed just as disappointed, just as afraid as he was. Or was he secretly plotting murder? Those bad things had begun to happen not too soon after his, Veldrys‘, arrival after all. It wouldn’t be strange to assume some kind connection. He could see that Talen fumbled with his scabbard, as if he considered drawing his sword. Maybe the most recent happenings had affected him more than he’d realized. Maybe he was losing his mind a little. Maybe he just needed to go to bed, and everything would be fine again the next day.

He sighed and walked on, leaving Talen to his thoughts. As the human suddenly quickened his pace, the Symenestra tensed a little, but he didn’t say anything nor did he try to move faster so that Talen wouldn’t be able to catch up with him. He simply waited. He wouldn’t become paranoid now. He told himself that there was no reason for it. It was not his fault that they hadn’t found anything, not his fault that the murder had happened, and nobody would punish him for a crime he hadn’t committed. Talen likely only wanted to talk to him.

What Talen said suprised the Symenestra a little though. His eyes widened. It almost seemed to him as if Talen had included him in the prayer. That seemed unusual after the way he had acted all day long. He looked into Talen’s eyes for a moment, and then he inclined his head. „Priskil, give us strength“, he whispered. „Viratas help us and prevent any more blood from being spilled.“ He wasn’t sure if any gods were listening today and if there was hope, for any of them, but they had to at least give it a try, didn’t they?

[Paragon]

Reward Time! Talen: Skill XP Reward Running +1 Investigation +2 Rhetoric +1 Observation +1 Veldrys: Skill XP Reward Rhetoric +1 Investigation +2 Acrobatics +1 Climbing +1 Observation +1 I really enjoyed the thread guys: especially your investigative and logical conversations. If you have ANY queries, concerns, or questions, don't hesitate to PM me!