Quest A Hunting We Will Go

[Traverse]

A Hunting They Will Go The 61st of Winter, 512 A.V. Crisp and clear, Syna rose above the great waterfall like a fiery topaz, bringing hints of warmth and light to all that stopped to bask under her glory on an otherwise chilled and typical winter dawn. Today was not an unordinary day in the way that people rose like the tides of the ocean and flowed smoothly through their routines, barely making any ripples put of the ordinary, for the intricate city could be like a well oiled set of cogs in it's own way.  The streets were filled with gem like hues of sapphire, splashes of iridescent scales or the tanned musculature of humans intermittent in the masses. Among this day, not so changed from the one came before nor the one that would come after, a lean Akalak with brilliant white streaks in midnight black hair went about nailing a piece of paper up onto a sign board listing various openings for jobs, residencies and ads selling wares.  Judging by the dwindling amount of parchment beneath his arm he was nearly complete with his task and as the silence that had once been the hammering of metal into wood fell silent, he expertly flipped the hammer around like one familiar with a lakan, the tool spinning in a blur before sliding neatly through the loop in his belt that held it so well.  The Akalak continued upon his day's journey, leaving a neatly printed and official looking document that sat in a straight manner upon the board, a single corner twisting gently in a stray breeze. If one was to glance at the paper, or perhaps find another one similar to it posted in various locales around Riverfall, written in common it would read: Dear Citizen of Riverfall, Necessary action is required against invading Zith raiding parties. It is requested that all those of able body to volunteer at their earliest convenience and report to The Kuvay'Nas Lodge in order to be given further instruction Courtesy of The Council of Ten It was not descriptive or informative, but very few residents of Riverfall needed any reason more when the word "Zith" was thrown onto a piece of paper. If the volunteer militia needed aid and such aid was sanctioned by the Council of Ten, well that was all one needed.

[Razkar]

It was the hammering that stirred the Myrian to step outside. It was ruining his smoke.

Razkar was sat in a corner booth at the Blue Bull, content and relaxed in the half-light that seeped in through the curtains. The tavern was hardly a place for haute cuisine, but that was not why he came. Truth be told, it was familiar to him, and he liked their honeyed water. And, since most of Kevlar's business was conducted under the anonymity of nightfall, during the day it was nearly deserted.

Just as Razkar liked it. He wasn't a social creature.

Smoke curled gently from his pipe and he watched it shift and morph and flee towards the ceiling. The light caught the strands and they turned blue in the haze from the window. Taloba baccy. Very hard to get hold of that side of the Suvan Sea, and he was making the half-pound that he had last. He inhaled again, drawing the smoke into his lungs, relishing that delicious burn... and then what followed...

His muscles relaxed and his mind cleared. The smoky, earthy flavor reminded him of what he had left behind. He saw faces; heard voices. If he concentrated on them, they would fade and vanish like the smoke before his face. But if he let the smoke work its will, then...

The hammering ruined all of that.

Razkar's eyes snapped open and his head jerked towards the sound, coming from outside. He leaned forward, peering out the window... and saw the lean Akalak with the streaks in his hair stride away, obviously a busy man. There were sheets under his arm and a hammer in his belt.

The Myrian pondered this, shrugged and stood. What would it hurt?

"Leaving?"

Ann saw the Myrian place his pipe carefully on the table and head to the door, but his cloak was still in the booth. Hence the invisible but audible question mark after the word. Razkar turned to her and shook his head.

"Just looking something."

Miss Flowerheart cocked an eyebrow and got back to the bar. Funny sort, was Razkar. Still, he wasn't what she expected from Myrians. All the baby-eating, growling, snarling, never-bathed-and-always-savage-monsters stuff. He was a walking contradiction to it, despite the way he looked. Bones stuck through his face and hair, tattoos covering much of his body, and never without at least three weapons.

The cloak didn't help, either. Whatever it was made of was not animal skin.

But he was quiet, respectful to her and the other girls, and always paid his tab promptly. He didn't cause trouble but, then again, she guessed that was because no-one ever started it with him. Kevlar told her things now and then: that the Myrian was a mercenary and a warrior. That meant if he shed blood, it was for pay or for... something else.

The door was flung open again and he hurried back to his table, snatching up his cloak and whirling it around his shoulder. Ann saw the mismatched hair flash in the light, noticed that the whole item of clothing was made up of smaller patches. Each about the size of a scalp...

"Now leaving!" He said, tossing a copper onto the table to pay for his drink and efficiently emptying his pipe into an ashtray. "Good day."

Flowerheart nodded her farewells and got back to work, not sparing him another thought. Well, apart from one.

Whatever he saw, it certainly had got him excited.

Razkar was halfway to the Kuvay'Nas Lodge by the time she had got around to cleaning off his table.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

In the basement of the Kuvay'Nas Lodge, the newest member of their group stood alone while working out. Normally Riaris would set in his workout at his home before heading off to work in the shipyard. But on this day he wasn't working there and had decided to spend that time instead at the lodge where he would await orders for his next guard post. The Akalak sat on the floor, his dark clothing flowing over his muscular form. His heavy brown coat and dark boots set off to the side on the floor away from him. He breathed in, bending his knees and placing his feet flat on the floor. The bulky purple mass of a man laid on his back then, placing his arms over his chest as he sat up, bringing his folded arms to bump against his knees before he laid down again.

Riaris sat up again, the muscles in his ads, arms, chest and back tighten up each time he moved. The Akalak closed his eyes, lips parting each time he counted off a full sit up. He continued the repetition again and again until he reached one hundred and stopped. Riaris paused for amount, his thought wandering from his exercise and on to more important matters. The invading Zith had become a very serious problem in the past, and the time had come again to arrange a party to combat the threat. If the bold Akalak had his way, he would gather several groups together, men of all races and styles in combat. They would find the Zith colonies and destroy each and every one of them. Sadly that was not to be, the Kuvay'Nas didn't seem to favor his idea and had their own way of dealing with them.

Even so, Riaris was ready to defend the city, and even more so to destroy any and all Zith that he could get his hands on. The Akalak was brash at times, but also patience. One day the Kuvay'Nas would have to recognize his worth, and even the Council. Maybe then he would have enough ears to hear his plan and give him what he needed to accomplish his goal. But that would come in time, for now he had a raid to follow. Riaris moved into a crouching position then extended his legs behind him as he pressed his hands against the floor shoulder length apart. He pushed his ankles together and arched his elbows outward as he lowered himself onto the floor.

Lifting his chin up, the Akalak raised his icy gaze as he started to move, up and down, up and down. Again he parted his lips, counting off each time he pushed off the floor. He continued on for a time, feeling a rising tightness in his shoulders, back and chest. He kept his body steady, his feet planted almost entirely on the tips of his toes. Up and down he went, lifting his massive frame upward the length of his arms then lowering himself down almost to where his body touched the floor beneath. Up and down he continued, breathing in before lifting and breathing out as pushed from the floor.

Once he reached a hundred, Riaris rolled over and sat on the floor. His legs bent and crossed over the other as he calmed his mind and allowed his limbs to relax. He cleared his mind, allowing all thoughts to wither way, even as he could still feel the burning in his muscles from the exercise he had just finished. Riaris breathed easily, the thumping of his heart within his chest slowly steadying back to a normal pace and his body started to cool off as well. He sat there for a while in silence, neither soul speaking as their combined effort worked to blend their minds and body as one.

Riaris arched a brow at the soft sound of thumping in the distance. He had heard the sound several times that day and figured that sighs were still being posted for the coming Zith hunt...and it was about time. He stood up and slipped his feet into his boots, before putting his coat on again and heading back up stairs.

[Traverse]

It began as tapping: A muscular cobalt foot striking the ground gently at a relaxed pace. As the ticks turned to chimes the steady beat of the appendage began to grow increasingly erratic, and once a full bell had passed the young Akalak from whom the vibrations emanated was up on his feet and pacing. He was a wiry individual who was barely past his rite of passage, and his lack of patience clearly displayed this. He had taken the order to stay behind and wait for any stray volunteers seriously, until it became abundantly clear that it was busy work so that the more veteran members of the lodge could get going after a worrisomely large troop of Zith. He would join them once he had given the set of instructions passed from his superiors, but the duty of remaining behind still irked him the more time passed, and as such his attitude seemed more like a starving wolf than a trained warrior. He turned like a pointer, poised and ready as he heard the clomping steps of someone approaching. The man who might have still been a boy ran towards the stair well to fetch Riaris only to nearly body slam him as the purple Akalak was headed up. It couldn’t be said the youth was not still a respectful and dutiful warrior, and his composure after the near clashing of one muscular frame into another was admirable. A nimble step back brought enough room between the two for him to speak, and his body straightened rigid and formal to address Riaris, for the Akalak like to retain a respectful attitude, even if he was technically Riaris’s superior. If Riaris remembered correctly the Akalak’s name was Onithet and his entirely more violent side was Mathius, both souls who enjoyed the bastard sword and short spear. He cleared his throat, “Looks like we’ve got another.” There was excitement shining in his dark gaze as Onithet made his way to the entryway of the lodge expecting one of his brethren, and instead receiving a rather out of breath Myrian. While taken aback, the Kuvay’Nas would never turn away an able bodied volunteer and Onithet wasn’t one to judge, though Mathius certainly had some doubts about the Myrian’s character. He once more took a few steps back to allow their new guest to come in and catch his breath, and the angular shaped Akalak ran a hand over his braided hair. “Come to help with the Zith, Myrian?” He glanced back at Riaris, then walked swiftly over to a small rectangular table with a few stray notes, maps, and data gathered from scouts preparing for the debrief the two would need. While the lodge had professed the need of getting as many volunteers as possible, time was also of the essence, and Onithet decided they should not wait any longer.

[Razkar]

“Come to help with the Zith, Myrian?”

Razkar just nodded while he breathed the exhaustion out of his lungs. He'd sprinted the last leg of the journey through the winding streets, not wanting to arrive at an empty lodge, his opportunity leaving him behind. The tall Akalak who had greeted him glanced at someone he couldn't see and moved to a table...

Riaris. That was the other Akalak in the room. The two sparring partners regarded each other for a second time, and exchanged a brief nod. But they were not here for a reunion, or a spar. This was serious work.

Akalak and Myrian both walked to the small table, where Onithet had both hands resting on its surface, head studying the plethora of forms, maps and scraps. Razkar finally got his breathing to normal and spoke carefully, not wanting his accent to interfere with his words.

"Saw paper on wall about Zith. Said that help needed." He nodded firmly, patting the weapons lining his belt. "Want to fight Zith."

And that was all there was to it. He was not expecting a bounty - Akalaks killed Zith as a sport, not a business - nor any recognition from the multicolored warrior race. They distrusted and feared his people on a good day, and besides, he had no left the jungle to make friends. But the call of battle, a chance to take scalps and lives for his Goddess-Queen?

Razkar would always answer that, regardless of whom it came from.

The massive shadow of Riaris loomed next to him and Razkar flicked a sideways glance his way. The Akalak had a sheen of sweat covering him; he'd obviously been interrupted working out. They did not speak to each other: both their eyes were fixed on the younger Akalak (well, Razkar assumed he was; his face just looked more juvenile compared to Riaris'), waiting for their orders.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Riaris uttered a low grunt, his hand roughly gripping the handle of the stair arm to help regain his balance. It happened, the bumping of heads, clashing of shoulders not just in the Kuvay'Nas, but in the whole of Riverfall, when it came to the youth. They were an energetic bunch and always on the move. It was to be expected, however Riaris wasn't as bouncy and didn't take kindly to being shoved about, even if it was by someone with superior rank. Respect..respect was the one thing that kept the now grumpy Akalak from sending the boy tumbling down the stairs and planting his boot into his rear hard enough to be sure that he wouldn't be sitting for a while.

Respect..

Riaris nodded once the young Akalak spoke. So few words but he knew exactly what he meant. It had been sometime in planning, waiting for the right time to strike, and gaining the necessary information to undertake the mission at hand. "Well It's about time." He said in a stern voice and followed Onithet into the entryway of the lodge, where he spotted a familiar face. It was the Myrian he had spared with not so long ago. The human looked tired, worn out, and Riaris wondered if he had found himself in trouble and in need of help.

It came to him as a surprise when Onithet asked the man if he was there to help with the hunt. As far as Riaris knew, he had never seen the Myrian in the lodge before, or helping out with any of their task when they asked it from the people. A sudden and low chuckle erupted from within him and a raspy voice echoed in his mind. "So the Myrian has appeared again, and he wants to help fight Zith? He's not one for words is he, and he sounds almost child-like when he speaks."

Riaris features remained calm yet baring a more serious strain. "I couldn't care less of what he sounds like, if he's willing to help, the Kuvay'Nas will find use for him. But I wonder if he is prepared for a fight with Zith." The voice, Recoomas' voice spoke again, uttering another chuckle before starting. "Well he did give you a fight, didn't he?" Riaris stiffed a chuckle of his own and rubbed at his chin. " I know exactly what you're getting at, and I don't find it humorous. It was a spar nothing more or less. If you had your way, I'm sure that you would have given him the privilege of Krysus' touch, but I saw no need."

The Akalak stared down at the Myrian again, before turning his attention to Onithet as he led them over to the table with maps and plans laid about. "Let's get on with this then. I assume that we already have men in position. Is this to be a group effort, or are we to pair off into teams?"

[Traverse]

Onithet glanced up at the two men, both clearly eager to get going, and gave an approving nod before clearing his throat. His head tilted a bit at Riaris’s words and held up a finger. “Close, but not quite.” He gestured to the sprawling area of the Cyphrus area painted in a lush green upon a thin leather map, his finger falling at almost the dead center. “As you might know there is a relatively large colony of Zith in this area that no matter how many times we try to find it, we cannot, and we suspect the raiding parties that we are encountering now are stemming from this local. The mass we caught wind of was at least 30 Zith coming this way, and the militia is forming two groups to work as a pincer movement to take it down. That, however, is not what either of you will be participating in today.” He slid over a couple of papers and glanced at them, then shook his head and looked back up at the two expectant faces. “There are some that believe there was misinformation given about the force we are going to be up against, that there are more than anticipated. Regardless this is a rather large group of savages to be traveling together in organization, which brings their ultimate goal into question. We have already sent out a pair of militia scouts to head off into the grasses to investigate. Your task is to make a loop around this perimeter.” A cobalt finger drew a line around the edge of the Cyphrus region in which Riverfall fell, cutting a large swathe. “We don’t want any smaller parties slipping through the cracks while our main forces are distracted. It will take ten days of riding to complete this search and reach our main party here.” Onithet gestured to the end of the line he had outlined, a few days ride in the opposite direction from which the two warriors would be traveling initially. Now he drew the same line in ink onto two maps and rolled them up, handing one to each of the men. “If you encounter small groups, 2 to 4 you know what to do. Anything larger than that and it should be reported and avoided. We’re sending two homing pigeons with you in case you encounter anything that needs to get to the main party or back to warn the city. In about three days you should meet up with the first pair of scouts we sent out, which I marked on the map. I want you riding fast, but not fast enough to lose your mounts since they’ll be the only ones you have. Any questions?” It was clear that questions would need to be answered on the move, for with swift long strides Onithet led the two out the door where a rather nervous looking human boy was standing holding the reins of two horses. Both were mixed bloods, but the mare stood somewhere around 17 hands of height and was a muscular and thick animal the color or loamy soil with a cream colored mane and tail. The grey dappled gelding to her right was more around 15 hands, with dark mane and tail. They were both calm and geared up for a long ride, each had a small cage with a singular homing pigeon and the gear and food stuff to last both of the warriors through the duration of their scheduled journey. A chill wind swept expectantly between the four individuals and the two horses, and Onithet waited with arms crossed in case there were any points of clarification that the two men needed.

[Razkar]

Razkar quickened his steps to keep up with the two Akalaks, burning every word and image into his head. The young Akalak was just that, but he was apparently no fool. His words were clear, concise and, from a military viewpoint, made sense. An army, whatever its size, rarely moved as one solid group. There were always foraging and raiding parties, skirmishing lines, stragglers, scouts, hunters and gatherers. There was no wisdom in sending everything the Lodge had against the main force but sparing nothing for other groups.

Still, a part of him burned at being so far removed from the real battle, a massive clash of fang and steel and wing. That was where a true servant of Myri belonged, not on the fringes, sweeping up the scraps.

But Razkar had calmed himself by the time they trotted down the stairs and towards the door to the courtyard. That was the thinking of a boy, not a warrior, and it would profit him nothing. Soldiers went where they were most needed, even sellswords like him. And besides, the way Onithet spoke, it wouldn't exactly be danger-free, so he would have plenty of chances to collect fresh scalps.

So Razkar had no questions about the mission, or the Zith. The former was satisfactorily explained and the latter, well... he knew all he needed to about the Zith. How they fought and how to kill them. It was all he needed to know. But...

"What is land like on line?" He said, unfurling and tapping the rough line that the Akalak had drawn neatly onto his map. "Know Sea of Grass is dangerous. Not just Zith. Animals, glassbeaks, lions, Drykas... other things."

Oh, he'd heard of other things. Not seen, mind you, but sellswords whispered and bragged around campfires a lot. Stories of beasts and demons that prowled the endless grasslands. Stories of places and pools where reality itself seemed to shift and warp and physics became a quaint joke that was laughed at and ignored. An enemy that he could fight and kill was one thing; but Razkar was smart enough to know the environment they were riding into could be just as deadly.

"Any report of danger there?"

He waited for an answer as he slid over to the dappled grey, the smaller horse. Riaris, towering over him, would undoubtedly need the larger mare. He patted the grey muzzle and looked into those calm, limpid eyes. A good horse, and he was glad it was not Mrrko.

If they did lose a mount out there in the tumultuous Sea, he would rather it be someone else's.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

It appeared that there was to be two groups setting up to take on the Zith. And neither group were he and the Myrian to be a apart of. It was to be expected, the newest member to their group wouldn't be taken seriously as he realized. And the fact that he was being sent off with only an untested Myrian, to aid him was enough proof that the group held him in very little regard, or at least in Onithet's case. He didn't speak out against the orders however, they were fitting. After all, he wasn't interested in putting his life on the line for a group that cared so little for his own well being.

Instead, he listened quietly as Onithet spoke and explained what it was that they were being sent to do. It was a straight forward mission and nothing that needed further explaining. It was possible that they would face danger, that was nothing new. Even in the city one couldn't get too comfortable and had to be wary of attacks from all sorts of creatures. However it seemed that the danger in this case would be minimum, and they'd possible face a Zith or two. Nothing he couldn't happen on his own.

Riaris took the map that was offered and listened as Razkar questioned Onithet and then followed them outside. Once they were outside Riaris moved to the taller of the horses and looked it over. There was a bit of surprise in his eyes then, the Akalak hadn't expected to have to ride a horse. It would be a first for him, and likely troublesome given the supposed urgency of the situation. But there was nothing to be done about it as his orders had already been given and the plan set in motion.

With a low grunt, the Akalak snatched the reins from the human and took the horse under his control. He glanced towards the Myrian who seemed to be admiring his horse, then turned back to see Onithet standing with his arms fold. "Is there something else?"

[Traverse]

Onithet would have been amused by the Myrian if there wasn’t such haste required. His own opinion of the savages of Falyndar did not add up to the….fairly well spoken question that was strangely logical. As he opened his mouth to reply another horse was brought around from the side of the building, this one a purebred Sungold who tossed her head, clearly eager to depart. Her equipment was much lighter, intended for a swifter journey, and as Onithet began to speak he expertly mounted up onto the spunky mare whose front hooves tapped restlessly upon the solid ground. “Apart from the strange amounts of Zith, we have not heard any other odd news about any of the inhabitants of the Grasslands, but you seem to get the general idea, Myrian. You might find more than Zith out there, but I imagine our Sea of Grass is no more deadly than your jungles.” He looked up at Riaris, whose taciturn manner he could never seem to translate. He hoped for the pair’s sake it meant that he was determined for the task ahead. To the other Akalak’s question he merely shook his head, for he had imparted all that they needed, at least all the instruction that had been given to him to relay. The cobalt Akalak gave both men a salute. “Good luck out there, Riverfall and the militia are counting on you.” He was a young thing, especially by Akalak standards, but the warrior’s tone was as genuine as any could readily tell, and with that he kicked his heels into his mount’s withers, the Sungold practically leaping forward to get on her way. The human stable boy muttered something unintelligible that may have been ‘good luck,’ before dashing off, leaving the Myrian, the Akalak, and their mounts alone in front of the lodge with the entirety of their task in front of them. OOC : Congratulations! For the duration of this thread you have gained 2 Homing Pidgeons, 1 Heavy Warhorse, and 1 Light Warhorse as well as 10 days’ worth of rations, and basic camping supplies consisting of 1 tent, 1 sleeping roll, and 1 set of eating utensils that are distributed on each horse. This is day one of your journey. So get out there into wild world of Cyphrus! My next post will come after both Razkar and Riaris make camp and turn in for the night, so it is up to the both of you how long you’d like to make this initial day of riding, and after that the real fun begins.