[The Western Hills] Easy Come, Easy Go

[Rayage]

37th Spring, 511 AV- The Dead of Night

The darkness of the night hid the nuit, in his black isurian steel plated cloak. The moonlight seemed be absorbed and the darkness seemed to welcome and invite the shadowsilk robe into its folds. Folded into the night was the nuit, and in the darkness he shall stay. It wasn’t too long ago that the nuit had escaped some slavers or bandits that wished him harm. It seemed this place was crawling with them, but he couldn’t turn his back now, no, he had to save his faithful companion H1-A.

The poor lizard was taken from him during the struggle and he had to get him back, but it was thick in the bandit camp. They thought they could make some money off selling the odd creature and they were probably right. To the right person H1-A could make quite the profit. It didn’t help that it was so unique and a product of alchemy, a formula that only the nuit knew. Yes, he had many creations under his belt, but this one was his first success in life. It was his first steps, his first successful steps into the darker side of alchemy. He knew what little other alchemists knew, the art of transmuting life, and altering it to his vision. He had a dream, and it was slowly coming together one mutation at a time. Magic was dark, but his magic, Rays magic, is assured to be darker.

Petch them! How dare they think they could lay a hand on him, let along his creation. His mind burned with fury as he wandered his way back slowly. In the distance was the light of the fire, but it was far beyond the hills, and multiple fires like that one dotted the hills. It was a smaller group of thugs that decided to set up camp for the night. He wondered if they felt that the fire would keep them safe, that in the presence of light those who look in the dark cannot reach or sneak up on them. How wrong they were, yes, how very wrong they were. He will get H1-A back, yes, at all costs.

A hand reached down, touching the cold metal hilt of his sword. The chill reassured him that his sword was still present. A small comfort, and if he had to, he would cut them all down. Yes, that would be the only way. In his fury he wasn’t thinking quite right, he wasn’t nearly as rational as he was. No, they touched a nerve in the nuit, a hard thing to do, and an all too human thing. They are sickening! Those disgusting, greedy humans. They will get what was coming to them.

[Shadowfang]

Darkness. When the light of the sun had long since disappeared from the sky and even Leth's glow only just illuminated the land. When the shadows concealed him, shrouding him in secrecy. When the things that went bump in the night had the advantage. This was his favorite time of all.

Shadowfang crept along the edge of a small hill, hunched over and keeping an eye on the specks of firelight on the distant hillsides. Bandits and slavers most likely. The best idea would be to avoid them. Of course, if he wanted to avoid them, be would not have come here in the first place. No, the reason he was here was to find a way to kill at least one of them, take his possessions and leave. Besides, in the many stories he had heard about his teacher, she liked to see slavers die, so he had the ability to kill two birds with one stone in exterminating one of the bandits. He'd get some good equipment and loot and he could cheer her up with news of his victory. Maybe three birds he thought as he clutched his rumbling stomach. This self-given task seemed a simple enough if he could only lure one out without being seen by the others.

He lay down and crawled to the crest of his hill, peering over it at one particular campfire he had targeted. He was not entirely sure of how many men were gathered around it, but he was fairly certain that this group was one of the ones with fewer numbers. His night vision was very helpful in identifying many things that were shrouded in the darkness, but the presence of such a bright light as the fire caused his eyes to shut out too much light for them to be of much use.

He placed a hand on one of his throwing daggers. He was still so inexperienced in using them that he doubted they would be very effective, but the feeling of the weapon's hilt mentally prepared him anyway. He returned to a crouching position and moved across the hill, skirting around it to get a better view of his target. Some semblance of a plan began to form in his head, but he discarded it, deeming it too dangerous. Another idea began to form, but this was was abandoned as well. His little brainstorming session was interrupted when he caught whiff of an unfamiliar scent, followed by the small rustle of dry plant debris being disturbed. At first, he became tense, then wondered. Was this the stray bandit he was hoping for? He sniffed, taking in more of the scent. This individual smelled less like one of those particular bandits and more like... something else. Something Shadowfang may have never before smelled.

As he peered into the shadows, he noticed a spot that seemed different from the rest of the area. This thing seemed to be more shape that silhouette. He remembered another piece of advice his teacher had given him and acted on that advice. Never attack unless you know what you are attacking He lay down once more, watching the shape, trying to find out exactly what that thing was, hoping that it had not noticed him.

[Leon Von Strova]

Like a shadow in the night, the human stalked towards the meeting spot, his feet finding the quiet place to step as he sneaked towards it. He had been called upon by another of the Edge, and came as quickly as he could, his dark eyes now searching out his comrades for this. He would be working without his partner on this mission, but still, there were four others. He hadn't met them but that didn't mean they were bad people. Still, the thief stood in the shadows, watching for his comrades at the meeting place, his gauntlets placed against his back to hide the shine of metal. "Now where are you, Rayage..." The Thief had known who his captain was in this mission and now awaited for the male.

[Ana Sol Starris]

It hadn't taken much skill to eavesdrop on the conversation and the requests to understand that there was much loot to be had. Ana had bided her time during the day and now it was night, dreadfully dark out but a great way to use her stealthyness. Slinking about corners, darting between roads and alleyways out to the hills where there rumored slavers and bandits all around. It was risky of course, she wasn't formally invited either to help.. But she wanted in anyways, and so she had tailed Leon without a moments hesitation. Shortsword at her side and the black cloak to hide her frame in the dark, even if the moon were to come out, using the shadows around her to dart between them would be a good idea. Halting as Leon came to a stop, she hunched her body and looked to the horizon of dotted fires around the hills- most likely camps. This was dangerous, and especially rash for someone like her; the little girl who was afraid to go out at night in fear of being caught off gaurd by some maniac on the streets. No, no, she was confident that she wouldn't be seen easily any longer, it would take a trained eye in observation to catch her movements. Ana had never formally gotten to know the man, and maybe he would be mad at her for coming along but it was a chance she could take. Taking a few steps foward, stopping, maybe just appearing out of the dark wasn't such a good idea.. Instead she whispered "don't attack, I'm apart of the Crimson" she stated, taking a step back as she straightened up. Thoughts of perhaps pulling down her hood for him to see who she was but then decided against it. If the moon were to come out, she was most certain her light blonde hair would rebound the moons rays. If that was at all possible. Hunching back over, assuming the familliar sneaking crouch of a thief, she was glad it was so dark out.. But now where was the associate that had started this nonsence? "Don't mind if I join in, do you?" Still her voice whispered to him, as if she were slightly worried that any sudden movements or noise could attract the people in the hills. oocSorry I took so long. >_>;; It's such a dinky little thing, but figured things will get much better after the next set of posts.