Completed [Bronze Woods] Calamity Glade (Shiyami, Viper, Wrenmae)

[Wrenmae]

ooc :

Sorry for jumping ahead ya'll, couldn't resist. Don't you just love conflict?

Wren laughed, but it was derisive, annoyed. "Your gods damned right you're not forcing me to be here. You put a piece of paper on a board asking for help in exchange for payment. All you Sylirans are the same. You expect everyone to have honor and goodness in their heart, that we all just want to help out of the goodness granted to all of us in our easy, easy lives."

He spurred his horse onward in a quick canter, pulling up in front of Ama and fixing her with a glare. "If you wanted this done on behalf of Syliras...why don't I see any Knights willing to lay down their lives for a pat on the back? No. I'm not here just for the good of a city I barley know. I'm here because I have the skills necessary to deal with potholes, snakes, and wolves...and your paper promised payment in return."

Casting his glare back at the ghosts, he almost snarled.

"It is my right to ask for proof of payment. You answer as if it is your righteous high-horse duty to refuse anyone who won't fawn over the 'good' or 'just' way of doing things. I may have problems with your shades...but that's only because ghosts, overall, are lunatics without the good sense to pass on. You know what else endures past death, ghost? A Nuit. Cold, cruel, corpses that murder to keep themselves moving. I have not yet met a nuit that was not powermad in some way, and you ghosts are the worst off...echoes with poor purpose and a penchant for interfering." He turned back toward Ama, running a hand through his hair.

"I may also have some suspicion as to your capacity to lead...you're a kelvic, more animal than human. Every Kelvic I've met has been a self-centered, instinctual, pain in my ass...so you'll excuse me if I don't kowtow to your light's show or your highborn sense of superiority. I validly asked why you don't simply leave the glade alone and you answer me as if I've accused you of forcing my hand. Do you know I came? I'm here because you asked for help in return for payment...and if that hunter-" he rolled his head back at Viper, "Is any man concerned for his wellbeing, he'll be equally interested in whether you can provide proper compensation for risking his neck. We humans tend to have the need for food and shelter, all which cost coin."

Wren was in no mood to play games with another arrogant shyke that felt everyone who mattered was filled to the brim with goodwill and suicidal honorific tendencies. It had been the end of Imass, it was the end of those before him and would be of those after him. It was any wonder Syliras didn't simply collapse into ruin...everyone simply providing service free of recompense. Maddening lunacy, the lot of it.

Wrenmae hated Syliras now more than he ever had before. It had turned even mercenary work into another chance to teach some sort of useless moral lesson.

"I came on your request, wolf," he repeated, pulling his horse away from her path, "And my skills and cooperation are yours for the duration of this little exploration so long as I can be assured you aren't going to turn around and simply say 'thank you for your help' after the work is done."

[Viper]

Viper grinned ever so slightly as her finger ran across his chin, and his eyes narrowed a bit as he tried to figure her out. So...not only cute, but playful. Interesting. With a slight shake of his head after she moved on to "Murdock", he refocused on the task at hand. The ensuing argument caught Viper in the middle of opinions.

On the one hand, he appreciated Ama's do it because it's right attitude. It was a refreshing change from the cold reality that is normally their world. And depending on the circumstance, he'd be right there with her.

However, he could also see Murdock's side of things just as easily. The simple fact of the matter was, payment was promised in exchange for help. To renege now and simply expect help for the common good was a bit on the shady side. Bordering downright deceit. Besides, as Murdock pointed out. Tasks like that is what the Knights were for, if "for the common" was really going to be the battle cry here. And the sad fact of life was that mizas were what made it possible for the living to survive.

Being a firm believer in giving everyone a chance, his stance toward the ghosts was neutral. This being his first actual encounter with their kind, he had no reason as of yet to hate them. And again, this quest would require team work. Viper saw no reason to choose sides and possibly do something that might give someone reason to be less than helpful, should he require aid.

He had his reasons for joining up, and that was that in his mind. What everyone else chose to do was completely up to them. His gaze focused back on Ama, as he watched on with curiosity as to how she was going to handle the situation.

When she offered no confirmation of payment, a slight sigh escaped his lips. He wondered how wise that really was. No doubt they would probably now find themselves short one person. A sad loss considering, he seemed like he may have some useful skills. What with the way he carried himself in general that is.

Ama soon transformed back into her dire wolf self and left the area toward the direction of the affected glide. Viper shook his head lightly, and soon prodded his faithful strider onward.

"Sorry Murdock..." He stated as matter of factly. "I agree with you, but I need these woods to be safe. Don't want anything after me whenever I venture in here to hunt." For some reason Viper felt the need to at least convey, that the stranger wasn't alone in his thoughts and comments...at least some of them anyway. Trotting away, he stopped after a few paces and turned back to Murdock. "I hope you do decide to join us though. I know I wouldn't mind some more experience watchin' my back out here. But if not. Best of luck to you friend."

And with that, he turned away once more and galloped after Ama.

[Radiant]

OOCIndeed, indeed! Conflicts are what make a story!

Ama kept silent, she continued on in her wolf form. She couldn't bother herself with the attitude Murdock had been showing. Men like him were the ones that made this petched up world even more petched up, they did everything for "money", for "reward", and in the end, only think about themselves. Purely waste of space, Ama seldom found the ire to dislike a person, but Murdock was tethering close to it. Why did you even live if you don't devote yourself for the sake of good, justice, and fairness? Greed, desire, and pride, these things... horrible things caused the Valterrian centuries ago. If sentient beings kept going on like this, Mizahar would fall into another apocalypse.

Oh yes, Ama understood, even some of the Divines themselves were good-for-nothing gods only furthering their own agendas, most notable the God of Evil, Rhysol, and God of Undead, Uldr. They disgusted her, may Priskil burn them with her light. If Murdock had at least show some courtesy, Ama would confirm their payment as a sapphire jewel, she acted like before to test them on what their motivations would be. If Murdock wanted to leave, fine, nothing was holding him back. He came with snide remarks, utter racism, not only to ghosts but to Kelvics as well, and the usual cynical views of the world. Ama wouldn't be sad to see him go.

Morals, without them, one might as well abandon their sentience and be ravenous beasts like Yukmen. Sometimes, Ama envied ants and other colony insects, they could work together selflessly, furthering the need of many over their own personal desires.

Knights had their hands busy, what will the so-called "Rogue Knight" wandering about and the reports of people saying "They stole my djed." She was a guardian of the forest, it was her solemn duty to keep it peaceful for the hunters and patrolling knights. If she could help them solve some things on her own, take some burden off their backs, she would so so.

She continued onward towards the glade, looking back to check if Murdock or Viper would be following, she knew Shiyami would follow her since they had worked together before.

[Shiyami]

It took a good chunk of Shiyami's willpower and determination, to marginally stop himself from slinging his scythe at the man named Murdock. Barely. Only reason why he hasn't done so, was due to the fact that he had thought of at least twenty different methods to kill right this instant, and every method involved a slow and painful death.

Shiyami sighed, as he tried ignored the disdain exerted in full by Murdock. To Shiyami, that man seemed to be oozing hostility from his body, and showing no attempts at hiding it. Probably even flaunted it. That hostility against ghosts though, was creating a minor problem for him. That minor problem, too the form of glares given by his little, normally innocent adopted daughter, who was floating on his right. Even trying to shield her from the terrible side of the living, the greed that consumes all, she stil has the ability to figure it out by herself..., he thought miserably to himself. Shifting their positions, he moved himself behind Kimi, partially blocking her line of sight with Murdock. "You can glare all you want, but that isn't going to change anything.", he calmly told her. However, to Shiyami's surprise, she had a response. "Then why are you now behind me?", with a curious tone. With a look of incredulous, he looked up, and finally realized she had taken off her ribbon...again. He was seriously starting to lose his edge, if he doesn't pay attention to details. "Just...glare at him after everyone gets out alive, alright?", he sighed with resignation, earning him a hesitant nod. Turning his attention over to Ama, Shiyami pondered for a moment. Where were the knights anyways? Were they busy with another business? If so, what? Making a mental note to ask Ama at a later time, Shiyami just continued to follow the Dire Wolf.

Shiyami

[Wrenmae]

Wren wheeled his horse and followed, albeit at the back of the group. She had not paused a moment to consider him. At the back of his head, a vein pulsed, a subtle but angry instinct to injure.

But he held it back. He was here to complete a job and the wolf had promised payment for the completion. If she chose not to pay him in the end? Well, then he would exact a payment he considered suitable from her possessions.

Granted...she did not appear to carry anything, but that hadn't stopped him before.

[Viper]

Viper continued to follow the wolf as she sped through the forest toward their destination. When she stopped to look behind for a moment, he paused as well. Pulling back on the reins and bringing his Strider to a halt, Viper smiled and gave her a slight nod to show he was still with her.

His only other concern now was if anyone else had decided to continue as well. He turned in his seat and copied her gesture. Much to his surprise, both the ghostly duo as well as 'Murdock' were all still present. Though from the look on Murdock's face, it was most begrudgingly so.

An audible sigh managed to escape his lips. But as the rest of the group caught up, he said suggestively, "Perhaps we should come up with some sort of plan...or at least get an idea on what each others strengths are before we arrive?"

He shrugged his shoulders, and looked on for a couple seconds before starting himself. "Well I suppose I can go first. I'm a decent enough archer and competent horseman. If need be, I can be a distraction, bait, longer range support...whatever you need really. As long as you don't need me to conjure up any magic that is...anyway, how about you guys? Strengths, weaknesses?"

[Radiant]

Ama saw the two men ultimately decided to follow here, good, maybe there was some conscience of good will left in them both, especially Murdock. Viper seemed a lot more willing to participate in the first place. She heard the bowman starting a discussion about the strengths of the party members. Ama gave a gesture with her right paw, revealing their long sharp claws and her fangs, that should be an enough indication on what she was capable to do, she also flashed a bright yellow light for a tick, showing her Luminance gnosis.

She would continue leading the group as they discussed. The journey to the glade had been rather uneventful, with Syna's morning light gracing the glade. The storm that raged over Syliras for the past few days had come to pass. The Fortress City and its surrounding wilderness would finally have some sunny days at least for the next few weeks.

.........

.....

...

After about two bells of trekking, deep in the woods, Ama gave the gesture to stop. She shifted to her human form and motioned the group to gather. "Alright, gentlemen, just up ahead..." She pointed with her right hand and true enough, the group could see the forest clearing into a glade not far from their location "is the rumored 'Calamity Glade'." Her tone was serious, suggesting that the group could not afford any stupid mistakes right now.

"Once we step into the glade, I can assure you, something will happen... something not good." She maybe assuming, but after experiencing three phenomenons in a row, she was completely sure about it. From this distance, the glade seemed normal and peaceful enough, but... a keen observer could feel something different in the area they were in. Like an outside power was watching over that particular glade.

"We must get this over with, who knows if whatever or whoever being that made this place their home decided to move or worse, expand their influence." Ama clasped her hands together, examining the two humans and two ghosts, her eyes not containing any traces of disdain anymore. Infighting would be the worst thing that could happen in this kind of situation.

"My idea is to step into that glade and take care of whatever phenomenon it throws at us, powerful or not, it will run out of power sooner or later." Ama believed that, even the Divines themselves were not invincible. If they were, Sylir wouldn't have died.

"If you have any ideas, please say them now, gentlemen and Kimi for once we step into that glade, there will be no going back." Going back as in abandoning the quest and hoped the misfortunes wouldn't happen, they still could try to retreat in case things went awry.

[Shiyami]

Shiyami had continued to follow the Dire Wolf, eagerly anticipating the thrill of the challenge this Calamity Glade would give him. Although he had enough experience over his years to learn how to keep his face straight, even in the more dire situations. His attention was pulled, when the Drykas asked a question. A question related to this strengths. Sighing, Shiyami had a hesitant expression on his face. "...I'm a ghost...that is all I will say...", he muttered. Once again, he winced as he saw the light being shone from the Dire Wolf, and he made a mental note to himself, to ask the wolf about the odd light show of pain and comfort.

As the group had stopped, and Ama had morphed back into the human form, she pointed out the so called Calamitu Glade. While carefully observing the glade, Shiyami felt something. Something that he has only felt twice, since his death. Ah...I had nearly forgot...how this feels...so this, is the fear that the living feel..., he pondered trivially. Hearing that the Dire Wolf was asking if they had any suggestions, Shiyami shrugged. "I could always go first, and attempt to trigger the traps for you all.", was the suggestion that he gave nonchalantly. However, if you look carefully, his left eye was opened just a crack. And even in that crack, one could see the scarlet red eye, with untold bloodlust barely kept in check.

Shiyami

[Wrenmae]

The ride to the glade was quiet for the sorcerer. He kept his gaze on the ghosts and the quiet padding of the wolf. He wasn't as adept on a horse as Viper, pausing to navigate tougher terrain, falling behind at some junctures and for a time, he did not answer the archer's question.

Not till they reached the glade, before Ama spoke. Wren turned on his horse, and looked at Viper. Between them, even with the way he fawned over that animal, there was that bond of hunters and mercenaries. Unless profit swayed them to, it was easier to have someone at your back than burying a knife into it.

"By blade and by skill, I work my trade," It was not so loud, only a dull murmur to the archer, "But I would warrant you don't reveal so many secrets yourself, and so I will keep mine close. The wolf wants her glade cleared of problems...and I will employ whatever methods I need to do it."

After, he waited till the beast had taken its faux human form and until the ghost spoke before making his opinion known.

"I agree with the ghost. It isn't as if he has to worry...how often can one die these days, anyways?" He barely afforded the spectral girl or the other ghost more than a glance. "Wolves, sinkholes, and snakes. One would think all these tales are personal...hunters that enter together, you who pad alone, perhaps we should test the range of this glade's influence. Groups of two on opposite sides, no farther in than a couple feet...see which it chooses as the greater threat, regroup and assess." He paused and chuckled,

"Unless the echo can draw attention for us."

[Viper]

Viper listened quietly to everyone's responses as well as suggestions for how they should go about this objective. A detail caught his attention. 'Run out of power sooner or later'. He not having any real knowledge of power was surprised by this comment. So, magic is not limitless hmm? Well that's interesting. Thought curiously to himself as he pondered a new strategy with this information.

The discussion continued as began to rummage through his bag of equipment. After retrieving a couple items from his pack, he finally turned back to the group and cleared his throat to get their attention.

"Ok how about this. I think everyone's idea so far has merit in some fashion. So why don't we combine them all? If we go prodding our enemies lines and then fall back completely to reconvene our findings, he will know our strength as well as get an idea of how we operate. No matter how minor that is, it'll still lose us the element of surprise and give it a better idea of what it's up against.

With that said, let's all go in at once, and in pairs like Murdock here said in different areas but still within ear shot." At this point Viper brings up a signal whistle and a bird call for the others to see. "What we do, is when someone gets hit by some sort of attack, they sound off with a signal, then fall back. The rest of us will know instantly who was considered the primary target and move in closer. As whatever it is engages the next pair, the first pair redeploys in a new path and pushes onward again. And the process of signalling and redeploying starts over.

What this will do is keep whatever it is busy while the other groups get closer and closer. And with each attack it does, it gets weaker and weaker till we actually do close the gap and can engage it more on our terms. Redeploying should also help mask our true numbers and possibly make whatever it is think it is against a much larger force, hopefully causing it to panic and make mistakes...thoughts?"

He paused for a moment looking everyone over hoping what he said made any sense whatsoever. Looking back at his two items he then added, "I'm also afraid I only have two forms of signal communication...so the third pair would have to come up with some way to signal the rest of the group." He finished with a soft shrug of his shoulders. He then waited, hoping his plan wasn't to difficult to understand as some of his past ideas had been.