Closed A Spider's Web

[Keene Ward]

He had gathered as many weapons as he could from the denizens of the inn, most of them borrowed with the confirmation that they would be left at the Sanity Center to be retrieved at their earliest convenience. A few of the weapons he had simply taken, though they would remain in the bag he had appropriated, as he had little actual need for the weapons beyond the initial creation of the barriers he intended. However, as time passed and the chimes stretched onward, Keene found that his plan was going to need to be adjusted. When the pale man and his red haired companion did finally arrive, there was only about a half-bell's worth of time to do a job that would have taken about two to be done flawlessly. With what time he did have, however, chimes found themselves wasted by useless words that would do very little to stop a dagger or an arrow's piercing greeting.

Keene waited in silence, nodding at his introduction and returning the girl's moment of curiosity with a pale, disinterested gaze of his own. She did not seem to be quite as useless as the thin, wisp of a man that had hired him, but it was a marginal enough difference that he put no stock in her taking care of herself. As neither seemed prepared for travel of any kind, Keene imagined that their journey would be a long one by principal alone, but that was something he decided to think about later, if ever. His brow raised at the only bit of interesting information the pair had to offer, and his already frown colored itself just a shade darker. "There is another?" His tone was reserved, and it was difficult to tell whether it was a true question or just an observation. In the end, it was treated as the latter, however, as he chose to address what he had hoped to be preventative measures. "I didn't want to discuss anything."

To demonstrate, Keene tapped the sack of weapons with foot, eyes steady and emotionless, though there was the vaguest hint of irritation in his soft, quiet tone. "I wanted to... prepare against potential dangers." There wasn't a very good way to explain shielding without blatantly explaining the process, and while the pale man knew - thanks to the loose lips of their mutual acquaintance - of Keene's supposed capabilities, there was no reason to offer up any information regarding his magic that wasn't absolutely necessary. "I only have enough time for one of you now. I can work on the other when we set up camp tonight." Keeping his words directed at his tentative employer, Keene continued as unenthused as ever, the mire of his next words entirely unnoticed by the linear path his logic had taken. "Which of you do you want me ward?"

[Mirage]

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"Ah, yes, preparations. Excellent, most excellent indeed." Veldonus said as he released the woman's shoulder, much to her dismay if the expression she gave was to be believed. Rubbing his palms together the Sym looked down at the weapons. The wide sleeves slid back to reveal his forearms, and just like with the rest of his body the thin veins could be seen coursing beneath the creature's paper thin skin. The tattoo on his left arm came into full view now, an intricate spiders web with seven gleaming eyed arachnids tangled in its strands.

"Preparations are of the utmost importance of course, yes I think you were quite the investment Versdane." coming closer the man waved both hands at Keene, beckoning him forward, "Well then lets be on with it. I trust my life in your hands." He said this as he raised his hands at his sides, indicating that He was the one who Keene should shield.

Cassandra merely smiled, not seemingly bothered in the slightest by this. Neither one had bothered to reply to his 'question' of the other person who was supposed to be coming. Then again, perhaps they did not recognize it as a question at all.
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[Keene Ward]

For a tick, Keene's eyes flicked between the expectant spider and the passive fly, somewhere, in the far distant reaches of his consciousness, there may have been a faint glimmer of surprise that the man chose himself over the woman, but it was gone just as quickly as it surfaced. Kneeling down, Keene picked up the sack, the sackcloth released a muffled clatter as the contents shifted inside, and as he stepped up to Veldonus, he carefully slid his hand into the bag, pulling out a well-used, simple dagger. With the rest of the weapons held securely by the hem of their container and the cool steel of the blade pressed between the thumb and fingers of his other hand, Keene drew a steady breath. The djed within him stirred, useless memories and feelings drifting from within him, slipping from what he was into what he would be. A haze of raw power emanated from his skin, wrapping itself around the dagger, pulling and pushing itself over and through the blade, weighing the strength of the metal, the fineness of the edge, the potential of its strikes. The iridescent nebula pulsed and shivered, each tiny particle of the icy fog taking with it a distinct memory of what it came into contact with.

Chimes stretched on as the process was repeated with each weapon: first the dagger of steel, then a bronze-tipped arrow followed by one of iron, a short sword of steel, a knife of copper, a crossbow's bolt tipped in steel then iron, and finally another dagger of iron. Every time, the iridescent mist of his magic wrapped itself around the objects, its purpose expanded with each new item presented to it. The short sword was the most difficult, as his djed relied upon his own understanding of the objects in order to properly task against it. The weapon wasn't a "long dagger", and it took Keene several attempts to work the task into the already saturated djed, focusing on the mass of the object and the intent of the weapon's strikes over the actual material, though the steel was still taken into account. With the tasks finally cemented into the free flowing fog, Keene let the bag settle back upon the ground, his fingers twitching this way and that as his hands hung at his sides, carefully guiding the icy haze to settle over the pale man's frame, wrapping over the thin skin rather than the clothes.

He worked carefully, eyes focused and hawk-like as they flicked over his work, checking and double checking the intricate fractals that formed as the weave froze into place, the frost rising in a solid half inch of ice that encased the man, like the slow descent of a glacier. While he wanted to keep the weave even, Keene made sure to apply the shield to Veldonus's head and chest first, working outward as he carefully watched his progress, taking time to slowly move around the other man, neither speaking nor responding to anything that was said, too focused on the task at hand. The shield took its form, a shell of opalescent ice that glimmered with a life of its own, thin flecks of varying colors running through its entirety, and as the last of the djed settled into a place, Keene set about triple checking his work, adjusting the width where it was necessary and correcting areas where the crystalline weave seemed irregular or clashed against sections to form a symbolic "crack" in the frozen, form-fitted aegis.

When he was finally satisfied with the spell, Keene pulled the dagger out of the bag, the same one that he had started with, and without any sort of warning or indication given in his passive stare, stabbed Veldonus directly in his pale, carefully controlled face. There was a small gasp of what was either surprise or terror - perhaps somewhere in between - but the shield performed its job as it had been intended. The blade was rejected, a sharp flash of prismatic light flared as the shield's weave shivered and adjusted itself, the strike not only learned but remembered in the slowly forming curls of frost that snaked their way throughout the entire barrier. Satisfied, Keene put the dagger away, ignoring whatever words either had to say to him until the bag was half emptied. He had not intended to take the borrowed weapons with him, and so he left them in the sack, taking out only the arrows and bolts he had "borrowed", seeing as they would be easier to add to his own weighty pack than the daggers and swords he had promised to leave behind.

Slipping them into his bag, Keene set the sack within a small alcove within the Maw's mouth that he had previously established with the Sanity Center's Serenity would be the location he would leave the appropriated goods. Turning back towards his two charged, Keene checked the position of sun. It had taken him about thirty-four chimes in total, but it was time well spent if it meant his delicate employer would sustain only injuries wrought by his own refinement. Letting his eyes fall to the deep violet pools that met his with a slightly different expression than they had beheld him with only a half bell before, Keene verified that his preparations had been completed. "Remember the weapons I used. Anything else will pass right through." Giving no other indication that there would be answers offered to any more questions regarding the magic he had just used, his lips turned into a pensive frown. "Were is this 'she'?"

[Mirage]

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While Keene worked Veldonus simply began to babble on, waving his hands when Keene wasn't forcing them still to emphasize whichever important point he was referring to at that moment in time. During the entire process the Symenestra paid next to no mind to the mage at all, his eyes typically turning to Cassandra and quickly away again when she gave him an acknowledging smile. For the woman's part though it seemed she was quickly loosing interest in his conversation, whatever the topic was. Her eyes followed Keene's actions with some slight interest but more often than not she simply stared into space between the two of them, eyes slightly unfocused as if lost in some sort of dream or thought.

The incessant talk would not slow, pause or hesitate for even a tick during the entire process. The subject flitted from Alvadas, to the weather, to the man's past travels to the Sylira region, and from time to time he would mention something or another about Kalinor. Their use of silks, or their love of dance. When Keene made his sudden stabbing motion Veldonus flinched violently, hands coming up to protect his face as he let out a less than masculine squeal, to which Cassandra giggled before a side look from the Sym silenced her to merely smiling behind one hand.

"Well, that was quite uncalled for." Veldonus said as he adjusted his clothes, his embarrassment made obvious with quick fidgety motions, "As for her..."

There was a sudden gust from over head and the Symenestra looked up with the smug smile once more, "It would seem she has arrived."

From above another gust came as a shape cleared the trees and circled overhead, its figure growing larger and larger until it landed in a flurry of feathers and wing beats. A great eagle, a mix of deep browns and cream colors ruffled its feathers and used its great wings to steady itself upon its feet before folding them closely at its side. It's eyes were intelligent, looking at all three of them in turn with a piercing intensity as all their species possessed.

On it's back sat a woman with flaming red hair, a sharp hooked nose and a grim expression that hardened her features as she looked out with golden eyes just as intense as her mounts. She didn't say a word to any of them, though Cassandra waved to her as if they had met before.

"This is 'she'" Veldonus said with an overly dramatic wave of his hand toward the Endal, "The lovely Nila. Sibeala darling, thank you for your services."

That only made the Inarta's frown deepen as she flicked a thumb behind her, "Just get on spider. In the back." the last part was said with such venom that it was clear that no argument would be accepted.

"Dear Sibeala, still giving me the cold shoulder I see. I thought we could become fast friends on this journey." Veldonus' smile did not fade in the least, and extending his arm he waved for Cassandra to join him. Once she was once more under his arm the Symenestra would nod to Keene, "Let us be off then Versdane. Sibeala will take us to within a days walk from the entrance of Kalinor, but when we must stop for the nights and for breaks you will aid her in keeping us safe."

"Don't call me that Spider. In fact don't say my name at all." Nila leaned down to extend a hand toward Cassandra, giving her a bit of aid mounting the back of the Wind Eagle. On it's back was a rather special saddle, two clear intentions were clearly there for two riders, and a third much smaller indention looked like it would uncomfortably seat one more rider. There was no fourth seat, but Veldonus either did not notice or did not mind.

"After you." Veldonus said, ushering Keene up to take his seat behind Cassandra.
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[Keene Ward]

The winds shivered as the spider spoke, fanning out around the small group in chilly gusts as the great, feathered beast descended, its shadow passing over them in a steady eclipse before the massive talons dug themselves into the earth as it landed. Keene took a step back, allowing the creature a wide birth as his eyes flicked over the newcomers, preoccupied with the sheer size of the bird before being able to glance up at the fiery-headed woman who's visage was as hawk-like - if not more so - as her mount's. The most striking thing about the eagle, however, was not its size, but the manner in which it eyed each face with a spark and light in its gaze that suggested there was far more than a bestial mind behind them. He frowned as the animal settled its stare on his, his own eyes a cold reflection of the golden hue of the piercing iris that swirled with thought and contemplation, all it if at the edge of aggression.

He remained inert, his eyes locked with that of the bird's, curiously searching for any lapse in what he considered might only be an illusion of intelligence. Veldonus spoke more of his superfluous words, though the name of the eagle's rider was given and noted all while Keene stared on, his gaze unbroken. His djed, already stirred from the shielding before, swirled within him, the clouds gathering in to a tightly controlled funnel of twisting power, rising from within him, following the familiar path to his senses with a breath of warmth over his face as he let his eyes close in a brief blink. When he opened them, colors swirled before him, a mix of a heady golden ocher and a sharp shimmering onyx that beat with an elevated pulse that one might have expected in the body of bird. What was not expected, however, was the size of the aura. There was a greatness to it, one that was accentuated by the biting flavor of ash and spiced scent of cinnamon; it was larger than most of the auras he'd seen before, and the glance was more than enough to assuage any doubts that the beast was anything but equal if not greater in mind and thought than those gathered.

Calming the gathering storm magic within him with a slow, steady exhale of quiet breath, Keene gave the bird a shallow bow, knowing full well he was in the presence of something deserving respect, whether Veldonus or his freckled companion realized it or not. Whether the eagle acknowledged the gesture or simply remained as inert and cautious as it had been upon landing, Keene turned to glance at the woman upon its back, settled comfortably in an odd saddle. Though she held herself with as regal and condescending a manner as her mount, she was a woman. Whether she had magic or power within her, Keene wasn't interested enough to find out, though his brow did raise slightly at the manner in which she spoke to the pale man. There was, as far as he could tell, little love there.

At the woman's command, Keene hoisted himself up onto the eagle's back, the sensation of feathers about his legs oddly unsettling. Checking the gloves on his hands, Keene reluctantly set his hands on either side of Cassandra's waist, a ghost of a touch that was more for his own comfort than hers, but as the wings began to flap, he found himself holding on to the woman in front of him out of necessity. As they rose, there was a feeling of lightness in his stomach, the breezes rushing over him with excitement and welcome, the stormwarden given a chance to feel what it was to truly be free, even if it were only a taste.