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RE: A Vision of Fogã€Closed】 - Nero - 07-24-2015
Apparently, Kasrjin's haphazard response--and he was all too aware of its inadequate nature, given his poor command of the western continent's language--was enough to satisfy the criteria of the transaction, for that seemed to satiate Edda's curiosity. He watched her curiously as she pulled out a sheet of material and laid it over the bird that accompanied her before stepping forward to bring the lantern closer to him.
“If you would like to put it out, you may do so,†she offered. “I am going to rest for the night. We have a full sun’s worth of travel tomorrow, so I suggest you do the same. If we make good time, we should reach Dragonhead by nightfall. You may query me as much as you like tomorrow.†With that, his guide pulled out another peculiar coloured bottle and drank its contents before settling into her personal shelter, leaving the Xaela to his thoughts. He adjusted his position against the rock and sighed again. Now that he thought of it, this was the first moment since his landing upon the western continent that he'd had a chance to meditate. A small part of him still throbbed with a vague feeling of homesickness and for Tsanai's guidance, but Kasrjin knew of the reasons why he had been selected. He'd originally objected, but once Tsanai had explained her reasoning, the Khadai warrior had agreed quite readily.
So much of this land was confusing. While the road was still visible in the forest, he'd eavesdropped on travelers in order to build upon his rough foundations of the language, and while he could understand the definitions of some words, that did not necessarily mean that Kasrjin understood the meaning. It was a land of paradoxes; sometimes it was practical and efficient, other times it was circuitous and filled with needless complexities. Diversity flourished for both good and ill, and while lip service was paid often as such, rarely did the individual lend thoughts to their neighbours.
The Xaela inhaled deeply, the familiar sting of the frigid air filling his nostrils before he exhaled again, his breath coming forth as a smoky puff. It did not seem that the temperature would drop much lower, meaning that the climate at this altitude was much milder than what was present around Kaarad-El. His emerald eyes, scintillating in the dark, stared at the indignant ember flickering inside the lantern. Already, he was nearing the region containing his objective. The Correspondence could be cryptic, but it was not intentionally vague so much as it was monumentally difficult to interpret the thoughts of the one who used such an esoteric medium to communicate. A conflict of sword and wings. Blood upon the slopes of snow and mountains. The sea of mist shrouds the timeless testament upon which the eternal march shall be impaled.
It was needlessly vague and worded in a loquacious fashion that only an Aljai would have bothered with, but then the original ideas conveyed to the Tsenkhai were downright unintelligible; it was only through their efforts that they managed to make the interpretation comprehensible, much less as specific as it was, and even then the interpretation he'd been given numbered out to something around ninety-seven sentences which was remarkably laconic in comparison with past interpretations. Kasrjin was retrospectively grateful that they managed to pick out useful landmarks to narrow down his search, lest he be lost upon the western continent for years to fulfill his task.
The Xaela adjusted his sword again to rest against him and pinched the ember of the lantern to douse it before closing his eyes. It was the first time he had rested in the presence--or near presence, at least--of company in...who knew how long. It was an odd sensation, that feeling of security that was provided by the presence of another. As he drifted off, Kasrjin only hoped that he would not awaken with a start.
--
He awoke with a start.
Kasrjin heard the first sound before opening his eyes; it was too artificial and deliberate to be an animal. The crunching sound of boots stamping onto snow and frozen soil, the aural gradient of dirt collapsing as one's foot made contact with the ground from heel to toe. A shot of adrenaline surged itself through his veins, his eyes widening rapidly and a hand on his sword, though he did not change his posture. A quick glance noted that the sleepy personal settlement that Edda had erected the night before had at some point collapsed, if the bundle of cloth and leather was to be believed. It was likely that she was still slumbering.
The Xaela twisted his head to the side; it was still dark. If he had to guess, it was close to dawn, but there was no way of knowing for sure. There was a tingling sensation in his horns as he attempted to focus on the source of the sound. The steps were getting louder, and accompanying them were voices.
"...never 'ave told 'em we's were dragon 'unters!"
"We ain't been caught yet! And them knights pay a pretty penny fer our kind o' help. Let's just find one o' the little ones an' bring the tail back. The rest of the patrol will take care o' everything else."
The first voice was gruff, almost guttural. The second one was of a higher pitch; not quite feminine, but a bit too lilting to be properly masculine. Kasrjin placed both hands on his sword and was now crouching behind the boulder, which was rather difficult given the Au Ra's height. It was unlikely that the pair of voices were a threat, but it was not as if he could risk alerting the pair by awakening Edda to ask for an assessment on the situation. Thus, it would be best to assume a worst case scenario and prepare for hostilities. His grip on the leather-wrapped handle of the greatsword tightened and loosened.
"Bloody 'ell, I'm freezin' me jewels off. Can't we 'ave a rest?"
"Fine, you big baby. The sun should come up soon anyway, so we can just hide out somewhere before returning to the main group." A pause. "There. That looks like a nice, warm area, doesn't it?
An audible shudder and chattering of teeth. "Better 'an out 'ere, definitely."
The boot steps were getting louder. Kasrjin's anxiety grew as he was unaware of how to respond. Should he strike first? Should he wait? Should he shout for Edda, or would that provoke an attack? Damn this uncertainty to the hells! The Xaela stood up to his full height and, in one long stride, stepped around the boulder, bringing him face to face with the two intruders.
One was a man. He was wide and tall, of a height reaching Kasrjin's chin, with a ruddy complexion and suntanned skin, dressed in chainmail and casually carrying an axe of considerable size. The other...thing...was much shorter, barely reaching up to to the Xaela's shins. It had narrow, elfin features, and would barely qualify as a stepstool in most respectable circumstances.
All three froze.
They stared.
Kasrjin wasn't sure what to say. He would have hardly been surprised if Edda later told him that he should have asked the pair as to the status of their mothers before cutting off their heads.
The short man and the gruff man both bounded backwards a step, their weapons coming to hand, though they did not strike immediately. The tall man pointed a meaty finger forward.
"Look! One o' 'em dragon peoples!"
The Xaela eyed both of them in the same way that a coeurl might eye a pair of jackals looking to steal its kill.
"That'll do," said the short man, licking his lips while spinning a pair of knives in elaborate manoeuvres. He flashed a toothy grin before pointing one of the knives at Kasrjin. "We only need one o' the smaller ones--comparatively speaking--anyway for our next moon of pay. He's got a nice tail, so this shouldn't be too ha--"
The sentence was interrupted by a pained yelp. In one leaping stride, the Au Ra had bounded forward with a forceful upward swing that promptly sent the small man into a state that was not conducive to intelligible speech, that state being described by most leading experts in the respected field of dismemberment as "missing an arm". He followed up with a wide swing aimed at the gruff man, whose instincts kicked in just in time to deflect the blade with the haft of the axe. The gruff man was clearly taken aback by the savagery with which the greatsword followed his movements, and took a step back for every blow that was sloppily parried. The ring of steel echoed for a short while, though eventually naught was heard but the biting of steel deep into the neck and chest, followed by a gurgle.
The short man was still yelling, a frightfully prevalent illness which, in the land of the Xaela, was often cured quite effectively with heavy metal implements forcefully placed into their chest.
Thus having prescribed medication and enacted proper medical procedure to cure the short man of his incessant screaming, Kasrjin made another wide swing into the snow to attempt to whip off some of the blood before it froze on the blade.
It was certainly not Kasrjin's intention to react violently, but the Xaela felt he made the appropriate judgment call; he, and by extension his companion, were threatened by a pair of armed interlopers who made gestures that implied intentions of inflicting harmful action. Therefore, following principles of self-defence, he made a pre-emptive strike in order to minimize the chances of damage befalling Edda and himself.
The adrenaline began to wear away from his body as the Au Ra began to look for something to wipe his sword with. The entire encounter took roughly fifteen seconds, though it felt like five minutes. He could not help but frown at the dismembered bodies. The short man was neatly separated into several pieces that were, remarkably, larger than when they had been put together into a single being, and the tall man had a wide gash extending from the side of his neck into the chest cavity. The blood rapidly began to pool in the dirt.
Even so, he could not help but feel rather pleased. Not because of the violence, no; such fighting was woefully inefficient. The Xaela was lacking in enough knowledge about customs and practices to be comfortable with any other option he might have had, especially with the gestures the pair were making towards him. But that did not mean that the brief spurt of exercise would have to go to waste, and Kasrjin felt that his muscles were rather refreshed from exerting themselves so early.
Though, this theme of interlopers stumbling upon him and ending up in pieces was hopefully not a common occurrence past this point. The Xaela winced imagining Tsanai's glare of furious indignation.
Maybe the snow would hide the blood?
RE: A Vision of Fogã€Closed】 - Edda - 07-25-2015
It was a night like any other. She had barely settled underneath the heavy blanket when she fell into a sleep like death. For the six bell duration of the potion, it was nearly impossible to rouse her, even in the event of emergency. Edda did not dream. There was some shame in being so dependent on alchemy to sleep, but the body required rest, and she would not begrudge its necessity.
Doubtless aches and pains would plague her when she woke, her body only used to the softest of beds, but it would be only temporary. A vision of a hot bath and warm bed could be seen in her mind’s eye as the potion began to take effect. Surely they would await her in Ishgard within the next two suns. The two had already made it out of the woods, and they would be able to continue the journey in the morning, unhampered and unharmed.
-
The screaming was not what woke her.
Rather, enough time had elapsed that the potion began to wear off, the discomfort of the cold and hard earth cutting the full duration of the medicine short. The tent that had collapsed during the night was not enough to wake her. The proximity of the leather and wool provided extra warmth, her breath shallow enough as to not be hindered by her coverings.
Edda began to stir, still drowsy from sleep, her eyelids bearing considerable weight. When she managed to open her eyes, she very suddenly snapped to attention, the total darkness and unexpected enclosure sending her into a panic. The woman tossed and kicked at the blankets and tent around her in a pathetic attempt to break free. Had she been abducted? She was not moving, the ground beneath her unmistakable. What of Khadai? Edda glimpsed a sliver of light at her feet as she struggled, and immediately twisted her body to dive for the opening.
The collapsed opening of the tent gave way to a blonde head of hair as she managed to crawl out of her makeshift bonds. She let out a heavy sigh and hung her head in embarrassment. It would be easy to pass it off as waking from a nightmare, and so she scanned the area for Khadai, who had hopefully not witnessed her display. His tall stature was unmistakable, the dark of his features standing out even in the poor light. He stood a ways away, the top half of his body visible behind a small boulder from her current position on the ground.
Edda turned away from him, shifting her position to sit on the earth. Her legs had become tangled in the blanket, now bound together as one instead of two, and so the woman began to remove herself from the tent. What Khadai was already doing up and about she did not know, and she wondered if he even slept at all. Perhaps he was scouting the area, or obeying nature’s call. The very thought made her face heat, and so she waited for a few moments to give him time. Gullinbursti was already quite awake, standing to attention and looking toward Khadai. Her raincoat lay dirtied on the ground, and so she stood to retrieve it before throwing it atop the pile of cloth and leather that had once been her tent. She hissed at the soreness in her back and shoulders as she stood, before making her way over to Khadai.
Now that she stood at her full height, Edda could plainly see what had the Au Ra and chocobo so fixated. A steady stream of red pooled on the other side of the boulder, and half of an upturned body from which it flowed could be seen. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, her skin turning a deathly shade of white. As she stepped closer, the dismembered arm of a lalafell had up and flown towards the road, the supposed body of its owner laying several fulms away in multiple pieces. Her stomach lurched.
Tearing her focus away from the scene, Edda looked Khadai in the eye with a steady gaze. He seemed rather pleased with himself, like a cat that dropped two vermin at its owner’s feet. The woman stood on the opposite side of the small boulder, and looked between the Xaela and his prey. An axe and knives lay discarded on the ground, presumably owned by the two corpses. There was a small degree of comfort knowing that Khadai had not slaughtered two unarmed civilians. He seemed unhurt and unfazed, of course, and Edda let out a long sigh. She was unsure what disturbed her more: That he had killed two more people as if it were nothing, or that she was becoming used to seeing such brutality.
Khadai now had her full attention. She gave him a severe look, a quiet rage and frustration in her eyes that could hardly be mistaken for anything else. Edda did not know the two that now lay dead, and she did not care to. It was sad that they died in senseless violence, and their deaths could potentially put the two travelers at more risk than simply scaring them off would have. They had the appearance of simple mercenaries. It would have been easy to pay them off. That Khadai would not think of it – or would even understand it – was logical, but it did not make Edda any less upset. If his gut reaction to a perceived threat was violence, there would be little she could do to curb him outside of stopping threats before they became one. Truly, it was a wonder he did not lop off her head the moment he first laid eyes on her.
She breathed in deeply, her nostrils flaring. “What happened?†She asked slowly, her voice as grave as her expression. “Explain yourself.â€
RE: A Vision of Fogã€Closed】 - Nero - 07-25-2015
Kasrjin gestured towards the pile of featureless gore with his sword. A mild snowfall had begun, peppering the red splotches with white. "When I awoke, I perceived the presence of two individuals approaching this location. When they saw me, they withdrew their weapons and voiced intentions of harm, along with threatening gestures with their weapons. If the conflict had begun on their terms, they would have possessed an advantage. I removed the threat pre-emptively." The Xaela admitted to himself that this was a different circumstance. With the masked Wood Wailers, they had attacked him first. These two individuals, however, had been conversing with one another and had been speaking before attacking. Was it possible that their intention was not to attack at all? Even for the western continent, that kind of social practice seemed completely implausible.
He pursed his lips to recall details. "They were speaking of hunting dragons and...collecting tails. One of them pointed at my person and referred to me as part of 'dragon people'. If they did not clearly intend provocation, then their withdrawal of their arms and adoption of combat stances would have been unnecessary."
He glanced at Edda's face curiously, noting her expression of severe disapproval and twinges of disgust as her eyes avoided flicking towards the carnage behind the Xaela. "I do not intend violence," Kasrjin added, somewhat as an afterthought. He was doubtful that if he had breached another social convention that this would be enough to placate his guide. "It was the most reasonable option at the time." The warrior had begun idly sloshing patterings of soft snow over the blued steel of the greatsword in an attempt to wipe the blood off as he spoke before glancing up at her again briefly. "What was the appropriate course of action in such a situation?"
RE: A Vision of Fogã€Closed】 - Roen - 07-25-2015
“If they are not back in two bells, go find them. As eager as those two are for their payment, Blacke and Fenco will find ways to get paid for doing the minimal necessary.â€
Roen frowned as she recalled Ser Tournes’ orders, her mind drifting as she continued down the southwestern road leading away from the Observatorium. Goldwind’s pace had slowed to a steady walk, both the rider and the bird having slowed somewhat through the night’s falling temperatures. Their group had taken to nightly patrols for the past few suns--a duty no one envied--for the Dravanian Horde did not favor sun or stars when it came to roaming the frozen lands. The paladin tugged her cloak tight as she continued to look about, the approaching dawn finally allowing her to set her lantern aside in favor of what her naked eyes could see. Her dark fur-lined armor--a suit of mail Idristan had helped her obtain from an armorsmith in Ishgard--warded her from the cold better than her old plate-mail had, and for that she was silently grateful to the Elezen. But the night did not do any favors to her stiffened limbs and she shifted in her seat to loosen them up again.
It had been many suns since the parcel had arrived at her doorstep. For two suns following the delivery, the paladin did not leave her room, nor had she said a word to anyone at all, isolating herself in the dark dingy quarters of the Forgotten Knight. It was on the third morning that Ser Tournes came knocking on her door, quietly but firmly giving her new orders for her next patrol route. There was no question or admonishment for her absence, only the expectation for her to resume her duties. And so Roen did.
The paladin realized that nothing had changed but the depth of her regret. The world still remained as it was, a dark violent place, and every part of her heart still ached. But diving back into her duties served as an adequate anesthetic, and trying to carry them out in the dark of night preoccupied her well enough. But much to her chagrin, Roen also come to realize then that Ser Tournes had often grouped her with Blacke and Fenco, a questionable pair of mercenaries. A part of her wondered if she was there to simply keep the other two honest. It did not go unnoticed whenever they would slink off on their own, only to mysteriously return with their bounty--some vague evidence of a dragon kill, usually in the form of piecemeal body parts.
The paladin suspected that the two self-proported “dragon hunters†were skirting their duties whenever possible, but she never cared enough to bring it up to Ser Tournes. Roen did notice the slight tug of displeasure on the Elezen knight’s features whenever the two returned from their assigned duties; she guessed he had already discerned their indolent natures. But Blacke and Fenco were still two willing sword arms, and those were oft in short supply; Ishgard always needed bodies to stand against the Dravanian Horde, so the two mercenaries were allowed to stay and continue to make their gil.
As Roen approached the southern borders of Coerthas, the hint of dawn had begun to silhouette the mountain peaks beyond. She could see the vague outline of trees in the far distance, as snow gradually began to give way to frosted dirt and dark greenery. She was nearing the outskirts of the North Shroud. Her eyes narrowed and she let out a long-suffering exhale into the cold air. It would be Blacke and Fenco who would seek out any excuse for milder climes during their border patrol. She half expected them to be sitting around a fire, waiting for the arrival of morning.
The scowl that was beginning to etch upon her face quickly turned to alarm, however, when she heard a distant yowl echo through the mountains. She knew Fenco's high pitched voice well enough to recognize the Lalafell's cry. Even as she spurred Goldwind onward into a full sprint, Roen heard that cry come to an abrupt end, and the deathly silence that soon fell warned her against charging in to a likely violent scene.
The paladin pulled on her reins and guided her mount behind a large boulder, sliding off her bird as quietly as possible. With one tug, her cloak was tossed over the saddle as she took up her shield and unsheathed her blade, flexing her fingers to awaken her muscles. The woods had become hushed once more, and Roen guessed that either Blacke and Fenco had been subdued or they were already dead.
I could run and get help. But she already knew she wouldn't go that route yet.
Roen approached an outcropping, sheltered by stony crags on all sides but one. It was a suitable and secure place for a camp, and also where she had heard the yell originate. There was only one possible approach, and no nearby higher ground to take a look at who or what was within. But as she carefully advanced toward it, she began to hear a pair of voices--a deep low rumble that was most certainly male, and a quieter, muted one belonging to a female.
Not beasts or monsters. The paladin frowned, but the tight grip on her sword did not loosen. Her eyes slowly narrowed. Perhaps these are the heretics Ser Tournes always spoke of. Or they could even bandits this far south. But now was not the time to be selective about choosing what battles to fight.
It did not matter if the enemies were monsters or men. If they were the source of the violence, her course was determined.
Her blade drawn and shield raised, Roen rounded the boulder.
RE: A Vision of Fogã€Closed】 - Edda - 07-26-2015
The explanation Khadai began to proffer was easily his best yet, but did little to assuage the unease settling in the core of her chest. It was a clinical description of the events, and if what he was saying was to be believed, then he was not at fault. Not entirely. Edda cupped her hands together and covered her mouth with her fingers, breathing heavily through her nostrils. As he spoke, Edda walked around the boulder to better view the scene. She came to stand in between Khadai and the bodies, her back facing him.
His story made sense. The weapons of the pair had clearly been drawn at some point, now lying discarded in the gathering snow. She grimaced as she inspected them further. They were dressed for the weather, but not well dressed; that they were simple mercenaries was quite clear, the materiel of their equipment and discernible lack of hygiene as obvious as their current state of decay. They were not Ishgardian natives – that much was clear – but it was not out of the question that they were hired by the city-state for simple work.
Edda turned back to the Au Ra to address his question. The look in his eye was not remorseful, but the refreshed appearance he had had prior gave way to confusion, though his nonchalance was ever present. She hesitated as she looked at him, her eyebrows creased. The question was a difficult one to answer, as she herself did now know how she would have responded in such a scenario.
“If they truly meant to attack you,†she began slowly. “Then I suppose I can hardly hold you accountable for your actions. Brutish, yes, but if you felt threatened…†Edda trailed off and pouted ever so slightly. She could not be so angry with him for this. Were it more Wailers, or anyone unarmed, she would have been quite distressed, but she relaxed knowing it was two faceless and aggressive mercenaries. Still, if the Wood Wailers – or anyone else – had figured them out and followed them, leaving a pair of similarly mutilated bodies out in the open would keep them on their trail. This would not do.
“We will have to hide the bodies,†Edda said matter-of-factly. By ‘we,’ she of course meant Khadai. He would be far more capable and experienced at such a thing, and it was only natural that he clean up his own mess.
Edda looked around from where she stood for a viable spot to hide them. The ground was too hard to bury them in, and she doubt the Xaela would agree to use his sword as a spade regardless. The bodies could be dragged behind the boulders so as not to be seen from the road, though that counted on no travelers using the area to camp for quite some time. It would be their best bet, however, and the snow could be used to cover the blood.
As she looked past the campsite, Edda alerted to Gullinbursti, who appeared quite focused on something beyond the tall boulders on his side of the outcropping. He was not a large bird, and so he stood remarkably straight, his neck strained in an attempt to peer over it. Edda frowned. He had always been a skittish creature – perhaps he was frightened by the violence from earlier. The hairs stood up on the back of Edda’s neck, and she stood perfectly still.
No.
He was not looking toward them, rather beyond a point neither of them could see. There was something there. An animal perhaps, or a companion of the two seeking revenge. Gullinbursti let out a shallow wark as his head turned to follow whatever it was beyond the boulder. Edda nearly dove for Khadai, placing her right hand on his upper arm, her left over the hand that held his sword. She was not quite an obstacle, and far from strong enough to keep him still, but perhaps it would be enough to stop him from cutting down whatever may be out there without a second thought. She did not look at him, instead focused on the blind spot around the boulder, and waited.
RE: A Vision of Fogã€Closed】 - Nero - 07-26-2015
Hiding the bodies was a reasonable course of action. These two had arrived without supplies or proper clothing and thus must have been a part of a larger group or settlement. If these individuals had meant to engage in arbitrary violent action, then the other members of their group must be of a similar disposition. It would be wise to avoid the main roads for now as well on the off chance that additional belligerents were met in numbers greater than they could handle. Hiding the cadavers within their former campsite seemed best; it was close to the road but still relatively secluded and somewhat hidden from view. Hopefully carrion would reach the bodies quickly, or at the least the cold and the wind would disguise the decay.
Kasrjin scratched his head.
This felt like a familiar situation.
The Xaela began laboriously carrying the bodies and their formerly attached pieces--after having searched them for anything useful--towards the former camp site when suddenly he and Edda's large bird had synchronized in that moment, for at the distressed chirping of the animal Kasrjin simultaneously craned his head towards the outcropping of rock and stared at it as well, his eyes narrowing.
Both of them heard the steps interloper before they saw them. It was soft, very soft, but the telltale shlick of a weapon being retrieved from a scabbard accompanied the deliberate crunch of dirt and frost being disturbed by footsteps. Kasrjin dropped what he was carrying and his hand dashed for his sword, ready to swing, when he felt a small but firm hand attempt to grasp him. Edda had clasped a hold over his sword arm, and it was enough to make him pause. His first reaction was confusion but the next instant he understood the unspoken message, for that had been his intention anyway; now that Edda was awake and in a state to possibly negotiate with these new assailants, violence may be unnecessary. Kasrjin relaxed his grip on the hilt of the sword only somewhat, but his stance was still tense and ready to swing.
Emerging from around the outcropping was a female, considerably more austere than the pair the Xaela had cut down just minutes ago. She held a sword and shield in tandem with practised ease. The armor she wore was painted a dark sable and lined with fur; its quality was apparent and well made as opposed to the suits of dingy chainmail that had practically snapped under the strain of the Au Ra's swings.
Like the first two, the female held a belligerent stance but did not make the effort to strike first. Kasrjin's muscles tensed, but he curbed his instincts enough to keep the sword still. On the western continent, it seemed that many armed confrontations began with weapons but ended in ways other than a fight.
"We do not seek trouble," he rumbled at the interloper, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Edda for guidance. A part of him hoped that the new stranger would not notice the trail of body parts--as he had been interrupted in relocating them--or the chilled splashes of blood behind them leading to the camp site.
One could only hope.
RE: A Vision of Fogã€Closed】 - Roen - 07-26-2015
The blood was everywhere. And bodies, and their severed limbs. Everywhere.
Roen rounded the boulder, jaw clenched, hand tight on the hilt of her blade. Her eyes immediately found the most imposing figure within the camp. He stood tall like a man, but unlike any she had ever seen, he had dark ebony horns protruding from the sides of his face, and equally dark scales that lined his jaw and cheek. His eyes seemed unnaturally green, especially when set against the grey and reddish hue of his complexion. His frame struck a towering silhouette, standing fulms above any she had ever known. She spied the metal pauldron upon his shoulder and noted his battle-ready stance, as well as the blood-streaked greatsword in his hand. It was obvious he posed the greatest threat here.
But that was not what made her tense up. Having a moment to spare--given that the warrior remained stock still even with his weapon drawn--Roen quickly scanned the scene at large. She could not help but notice the streaks of crimson that stained the icy ground beneath them, and beyond, the gruesome sight of severed body parts, unmistakably belonging to a Lalafell. The paladin then followed the appalling trail to spot another body, one that she recognized as the Highlander sellsword, laying faced down in a pool of dark blood.
All the signs of death seemed to originate from the ominous figure standing at the center of the camp. It was then that Roen also noted that some of his features could resemble that of a dragonkin. The word Dravanian flitted across her mind.
“We do not seek trouble,†he said, his voice gruff and low, like gravel sliding down a mountain side.
Roen‘s nostrils flared, her eyes widening with disbelief. “Is that what you told them before you cut them down?†The paladin glared up at the figure to try and size him up. Her grip on her sword tightened in expectation for an inevitable conflict. “One does not murder people and avoid trouble.â€
It was then that the paladin noticed the second figure. Perhaps it was because she had been preoccupied with a potential Dravanian killer. Or maybe it was the grisly scene within the camp of mutilated corpses. But Roen had missed the slight figure of a woman standing behind the one wielding the greatsword. But when she did see her... it made the paladin freeze.
The woman’s face, with her pale blonde hair and her green eyes, it was unmistakable.
“....Edda…?â€
RE: A Vision of Fogã€Closed】 - Edda - 07-26-2015
That Khadai did not immediately strike down the stranger was a blessing. Her position beside him felt like a nuisance, but it was enough if it managed to stay his hand. The woman that appeared before them was armed and considerably well-dressed compared to her presumed companions. She did not seem ready to strike, rather defensive, and for that she could hardly blame her.
“We do not seek trouble,†Khadai growled at the woman, and Edda nearly rolled her eyes. His penchant for trouble and his desire to avoid it seemed ever at odds with each other.
“Is that what you told them before you cut them down?†Edda frowned, and narrowed her eyes. That she had somehow been remiss in inspecting the stranger’s face suddenly seemed quite silly. “One does not murder people and avoid trouble.â€
The voice, the posture, the appearance – they were all rather unmistakable when put together. The woman stood perfectly still, unsure as to whether or not she should approach or flee. Her presence in such a place would be considered outlandish by most, and alongside her unexpected companion, she would not be surprised if Roen failed to recognize her. Understandably, she seemed rather preoccupied by the Au Ra wielding a bloodied sword, but once her eyes came to rest upon her, if only for a brief moment, she knew.
“…Edda…?â€
The look of confusion on her face was palpable. The paladin remained in her defensive position, weapon still drawn, Khadai having the same idea. Edda relaxed her grip on the man and gave him a stern look, before withdrawing herself from him completely. She stepped forward, blonde hair still loose and disheveled, blowing in the quickening wind of the early dawn. She came to stand between the two warriors, and though they could see each other past her frame, they would need to cut through her in order to harm each other.
“Roen,†she began softly, a cautious smile blooming on her face. Snow began to collect on her long eyelashes, the precipitation coming down heavier than before. “It has been some time. What are you doing here?†Edda looked around before turning back to Roen with a steady gaze. She clasped her hands in front of her; ever calm, but aware that she may seem just as guilty as the Xaela behind her. White puffs of her breath dissipated in the air as she waited, hoping the two did not do anything rash.
RE: A Vision of Fogã€Closed】 - Roen - 07-26-2015
There were too many questions, and the paladin did not know which to ask first.
Roen stared at the noblewoman, dumbfounded. Even as she uttered her name, a part of her wondered if this was some kind of a trick of the mind. Perhaps she had dozed off momentarily on Goldwind’s back and this was a figment of her dream. Why else would Edda Eglantine, the daughter to a wealthy Noscean noble house be doing in a camp middle of nowhere surrounded by dismembered bodies? And standing passively next to a possible Dravanian killer, of all things?
The possibility of Edda being held hostage by the warrior crossed her mind, but it was quickly dismissed when Roen noted the stern look Edda shot the man. Her hand had also been on his sword arm, as if to cease any actions he would have taken against the paladin. The quick look the two exchanged was not missed; these two unlikely pair were not strangers to each other, this much Roen could discern.
But that did not put her mind at ease.
“Roen,†Edda stepped forward with a slight smile. “It has been some time. What are you doing here?â€
The paladin stared incredulously at the woman and her casual inquiry. “I could ask you the same,†she replied warily, her eyes darting between the Midlander and the taller figure behind her. The massive male had not made any moves yet that hinted at aggression, though his bloody sword was still held at ready. Roen was not about to take her attention off of it. She too had not lowered her sword or shield, although she held the latter slightly off to the side when Edda approached.
“You are surrounded by bloody corpses.†Roen motioned vaguely towards them with a flick of her head. “I was sent to find them; they work for the same Ishgardian knight that I serve under.†Her gaze turned pointedly back to the scaled warrior, suspicion clearly etched upon her face. “The Dravanian Horde ever encroaches upon Ishgard, so we are hunting dragonkin.â€
The paladin’s scrutiny lingered on him for a moment longer. A small part of her wanted this to be some mad misunderstanding--especially if these two knew each other, and Edda was somehow a part of whatever had happened here. Roen did not want to imagine the prim and proper noblewoman she had entrusted once upon a time with Gideon North’s fate would have any association with such gruesome violence.
Roen narrowed her eyes on the dark swordsman, her tone sharp. “You killed them, did you not?â€
RE: A Vision of Fogã€Closed】 - Nero - 07-26-2015
Kasrjin relaxed considerably when Edda placed herself between him and the other female. At that point, he recognised that he was not required to act in the capacity of intermediary. Given his lack of knowledge on the continent's customs, it would have likely proven disastrous were he expected to act outside of his typical martial capacity for much longer. The Xaela completely relaxed his grip on his sword, allowing it to fall slack and easily rest in one hand as the tip impacted with the ground. The two females were acquainted with one another and did not seem to possess a hostile relationship, thus fighting would be unnecessary. That was good.
As they two women spoke briefly, he was careful to take note of the terms he heard. A knight was a senior warrior of sorts. Ishgard was the city before, fighting the dragon nation of Dravanian which was represented by its Horde. This new woman, given her arms and armor, was associated with Ishgard and was thus of a similar party as the two corpses behind him. She, too, seemed to harbor hostile intention towards Kasrjin's person, possibly for the same reason of being a "dragon person".
The Au Ra did little to keep the confusion from his face. If he were related to dragons, why did he not possess wings?
He shook his head.
The new woman flicked her eyes towards him. "You killed them, did you not?"
Kasrjin stared at her for several long seconds, the gears in his head almost audibly grinding by attempting to process the absurdity of the question.
He looked down at the smatterings of drying blood on his clothing.
He looked at the blood contrasting with the blued sheen of the weapon in his hand.
He turned and glanced at the haphazard trail of body parts, as he'd been interrupted when carrying the cadavers into the campsite.
He made a brief, ridiculous looking gesture of spinning around looking to see if there were any other individuals present.
He looked at the stern woman again.
"No," he answered flatly.
The western continent had a habit of asking exceptionally silly questions, he found.
The Xaela hefted his sword a bit.
"They tripped and fell on my blade."
His expression was deadpan.
Ask a stupid question...
RE: A Vision of Fogã€Closed】 - Roen - 07-26-2015
Roen was not amused.
“I am certain that will go over very well when you are brought to trial,†she said wryly.
The look she gave the scaled warrior was a withering glare. Such indifference even when surrounded by dead bodies. He does not show even a single hint of remorse. The paladin narrowed her eyes.
She had come across such a scene before. The unintended jolt of that memory only served to spark a sense of smoldering resentment. The unlikely hope that this was indeed some misunderstanding was threatening to be shattered as soon as it was conceived.
The paladin flicked a glance back to Edda with an exasperated sigh. “So your companion is a murderer.†She paused, leaving the consequences of such actions unsaid. She studied Edda’s face, as if to ascertain the Midlander’s motivation in all this. For all the times they had spoken to each other, Roen still could not say she truly knew Edda. And yet she would have never expected to find the Hyur under these circumstances.
“What is he?†The paladin gestured toward the man. She did not bother to address him again; she had a better chance of getting straight answers from Edda. “Is he Dravanian? And… why are you here? Why were those men killed?â€
Her questions came quickly, like arrows loosed one after another. Where once she had looked upon Edda with warmth and cordiality, now there was an underlying feeling of distrust.
What else do I not know about her?
RE: A Vision of Fogã€Closed】 - Nero - 07-26-2015
"I am capable of answering such queries myself," Kasrjin interrupted. This female was turning out to be rather idiotic. She had asked if the Xaela had killed their two intruders, when a simple cursory--or even momentary--inspection of the scene would have confirmed it. And now she sought further reasoning from Edda, who was not present or possibly even conscious for the conflict, while simultaneously being displeased at Kasrjin's sarcastic confirmation to such a blitheringly obtuse question. He was aware of what kind of trouble a misunderstanding might bring and that Edda, having been absent, was not necessarily equipped to provide such information. A small part of him twinged with equal parts guilt and annoyance again for having stepped outside of his capacity as a warrior.
Nonetheless, the intimidating Au Ra stepped slightly forward ahead of Edda such that he was standing in front of the stern female, who practically had to crane her neck to look up at him. His gaze was cold and severe. If this foolish woman wanted answers, she need only have asked the right questions in the first place instead of seeking confirmation on the obvious. Thinking about it irritated Kasrjin far more than it should have.
"I am Khadai of the Xaela. I am not of Dravania. Those two," he made a sweeping gesture to the scene of gore behind them, "had intended hostile action upon us and had their weapons withdrawn. I dispatched them before they could inflict harm. Edda is present to guide me into the region known as Coerthas. In return, I am to serve as..." he paused briefly, seeking the right words. "...one who may or may not be called upon to fight for her, at her leisure."
With those blunt and straightforward responses, Kasrjin stepped back behind Edda some ways, slipping the greatsword into the embrace of its harness upon his back. He had no intention of fighting, but he had no intention of remaining in the company of such a stolid woman. Before, he might have simply chalked up the more imbecilic questions as simply western culture, but the female's tone was clearly antagonistic towards both himself and to his guide, and thus he found himself expressing a desire to leave expediently. Though Edda's questions were strange in their vagueness, she was at least reasonably straightforward, and while the purpose of her questions escaped the Xaela at times, they did not feel as superfluous as the stern woman's inquiry of "Did you kill those men that you obviously killed for reasons I do not know but am making judgment on anyway".
Kasrjin glanced at Edda. "You stated the remainder of our journey would require a full sun. We lose light in this and conditions may worsen," he said austerely. "I will collect the remainder of your personal belongings, Edda." He paused again. "Carefully." The phrase was added almost as an afterthought. "Finish your discussion, then we must leave."
With that, the Xaela sauntered off towards the remains of the campsite to both finish masking the bodies and to perform the aforementioned task of preparing for travel.
And if that stern female tried to interfere with either of them, he would kill her.
RE: A Vision of Fogã€Closed】 - Edda - 07-27-2015
Khadai’s sudden explanation came as quite a surprise. Edda looked up at him and blinked as he came to stand in front of her. Her lips parted in wonder, and she drew her hood up to cover her head in order to busy herself with something. His actions were both mortifying and gratifying at the same time. The Xaela had not spoken so many words in a single breath since she had met him, and she had to wonder if the ordeal tired him. She watched him step away and make back to the camp, before turning to Roen and giving her an exasperated and animated shrug.
“And there you have it,†she said. “In the simplest of terms. Pray do not think him dangerous –.“ She stopped herself. Of course he was dangerous. “At least, inasmuch as his race is concerned. The Au Ra dwell in the far reaches of Othard, though they have been trickling to these lands in great number recently. I do not imagine he will be the first you meet. Though his appearance belies it, he is no Dravanian – of that you have my word.â€
As she spoke of him, Edda looked over her shoulder to watch him wrestle with the sorry ruins of her tent. A smile creased its way onto her face, both from watching him and remembering Roen’s earlier words. ‘So your companion is a murderer.’ It was an obvious statement if anything else – yet it touched her somehow, giving rise to a blunt and far off pain that welled up and settled in her chest. Edda turned back to the paladin with a smile, gentle and slow. Yes, Khadai was a killer, but he was not so different, for so too was she.
“I found him wandering the North Shroud,†Edda began in a quieter voice. “That he did not kill me the moment he saw me surprises me even now. I tried to run, but, well…†She motioned to herself, as if that was all that needed to be said. She did not mention the three dead Wailers, as now was neither the time nor the place. It would not do to have Roen attempt to bring him in shackles to Ishgard or Gridania, nor think that she had taken up a new hobby of slaughtering innocents.
“He is callous and impulsive, but he is a stranger to these lands, and perhaps knows no other recourse. When I had awoken this morning, the deed had already been done.†She sighed and shook her head. “He had mentioned before that your two companions were hunting for dragon tails, and drew their weapons once seeing his, presumably to harvest it. A regrettable event, but I do believe him. I had fashioned him a cold-blooded killer in my mind, but if that were truly the case, I would be dead.â€
Edda paused and examined Roen carefully. That she appeared confused would be an understatement. It had been some time since she had seen the paladin, not since she had disappeared after that wedding. The threats that had plagued the woman so disappeared as well, and so Edda assumed that her departure was an intentional one. It seemed her suspicions were true, with the woman now standing in good health before her.
“I will be taking him to Camp Dragonhead – beyond that, I know not.†Edda looked at Roen with searching eyes, her distant smile ever present on her face. “What will you do? Will you come with us? Or will you not come with us?â€
RE: A Vision of Fogã€Closed】 - Roen - 07-27-2015
Roen’s eyes slowly narrowed as she listened to both of them. She had actually heard of these people--these Au Ra--but had never actually seen one of them in person. Heat rose to her cheeks in embarrassment that she had first thought the scaled man to be Dravanian, for apparently the same assumption was made by Blacke and Fenco as well. The thought that she shared anything in common with the two sellswords left a bitter taste in her mouth.
But did they deserve this? Her eyes flicked to the spattered array of gore, and then back to Khadai.
The paladin glanced past Edda to the collection of limbs and corpses, now having been gathered by the massive warrior. Both Khadai and Edda’s stories--at least when it came to the two mercenaries--were not hard to believe. Had the two sellswords been hunting an innocent race to collect their gil? She had never paid close attention to their offerings whenever they returned with their “proof†of dragon slaying, but if they were eager to attack a man without actually questioning him to ascertain his origins or motives…
There were still facts that did not make complete sense, especially from Edda’s recounting of the events. Why did Edda think the Xaela was a cold-blooded killer initially? Were there other episodes of violence before or since their encounter? Was this Khadai prone to cutting to pieces every opponent that posed a threat to the man?
Despite the fact that she was wrong about what he was and his intentions, Roen still held onto some measure of suspicion for the man. The brutality in his martial prowess was clear, and despite the fact that he answered her questions forthrightly--albeit not when she asked him but when she asked Edda--there was a severity to his gaze and words that made the paladin suspect that he had no reservations when it came to violence. Whether it was his intrinsic nature or the fact that he was surrounded on all sides by foreigners, Roen suspected that this Khadai would kill and dismember whoever they encountered next if he saw them as a threat.
At least Edda believes he is not a cold-blooded killer, she tried to reassure herself. And yet, the two mercenaries met their end quickly enough without any input or intervention from the Hyur. And now the two were planning to head further into Ishgardian lands, where distrust of outsiders lingered like a plague. If she and the mercenaries all mistook the scaled warrior for Dravanian, how many more would do so as the two neared Camp Dragonhead?
Roen’s expression darkened as she realized that she could not let them go on their own. She worried about Edda’s fate, traveling with someone who seemed to have penchant for violence. She also wondered how many bodies may be left in the two’s wake should they come across any other eager heretic hunters. Or even both Edda and Khadai ending up as one of the casualties themselves.
Where the paladin had no care as to whether this Au Ra lived or died, she wanted to see Edda safe to Camp Dragonhead. But moreover, she had to be certain that Khadai would not pose a danger to everyone he came across. Perhaps in accompanying them, she could determine his true nature. If the Au Ra turned out to be a wanton killer, then at least she would be there to deal with him before he caused any more deaths. But if the Xaela turned out to be as Edda believed him to be... then perhaps the paladin could arrange for a new guide for him. Roen could not imagine that Edda was the best choice for a guide when it came to leading a foreigner through harsh lands filled with unsuspecting dangers. That brought forth another question as to why this arrangement was made in the first place, but the paladin tucked it away for another time.
“What will you do?" Edda asked, her face set ever in that polite smile. "Will you come with us? Or will you not come with us?â€
“I will accompany you both to Camp Dragonhead.†Roen nodded to the woman, even though her words were slowed with a hint of reluctance. “That is where I need to make my report regarding those two.†She gestured vaguely to where the bodies were being buried. She did not elaborate on what the details the reports would entail.
“My… apologies,†the paladin called out to the Xaela, although her voice had not softened with the sentiment. She still eyed him warily and her suspicion of him had not abated. “I mistook you for something you were not. But it would behoove you to not answer every threat with immediate violence, especially where you are now headed. Not many have seen or heard of your kind.â€
Not expecting any similar courtesy to be returned, Roen turned back to Edda without waiting for an answer from the Au Ra. “The road through Coerthas is not safe. You can use another sword by your side if you intend to travel on foot.†There was another pause as the paladin hesitated. There were other reasons why she did not want to part from Edda just yet. There were still questions regarding the welfare of the people she had left behind that a small part of her wanted to inquire of the noblewoman.
Roen quickly dismissed those thoughts as well as she turned from the Hyur. “I will retrieve my mount,†was all she muttered as she began to exit the camp.
RE: A Vision of Fogã€Closed】 - Edda - 07-27-2015
Edda felt no lack of happiness that Roen agreed to accompany them. No doubt the woman did so begrudgingly, and for that she could hardly be blamed. Still, it was a relief that the woman was safe and sound. Those that worried for her – those that Roen considered friends – would surely be pleased to hear she was well. She knew it was not her place to speak of her so freely, however – if the woman had wanted her status known to those who held her dear, she would have already contacted them herself. It would have to wait.
As the paladin turned to retrieve her chocobo, Edda made her way back to the outcropping. Khadai had indeed retrieved her belongings as he said he would, piled neatly at the center of camp. He had not placed them on Gullinbursti, which did not surprise her. The Au Ra treated the bird warily, as if he did not to know what to do with it, and she wondered if the man had not seen one before. She loaded her items onto the saddle and fed the chocobo more krakka root from her satchel.
Edda made her way over to Khadai, who had finished disposing of the remains. The snowfall began to stick to the ground, the trails of blood beginning to disappear underneath. She came to stand beside him, and craned her neck to look up towards his face. “She is not entirely wrong, you know,†she began. “As we approach Ishgard, it would be wise of you to keep your head down. The people of Coerthas do not take well to strangers, least of all those with horns and scales.â€
She hesitated, and continued in a quieter tone. “I know not where it is you seek to go, but Coerthas and the surrounding lands are vast. Will you go the city, Ishgard? Or does your destination lie beyond? You need not answer right now – think on it, if you must.â€
The woman looked up to the sky and sniffled as quietly as she could. She did not mind the cold, but she was still unaccustomed to it. Khadai’s ultimate goal was still very much a mystery, though it was plain he had a destination in mind, even if he himself did not know where that was. Edda did not trust him in full just yet, and she did not feel she could be at peace until she learned what his purpose was. If so many lives had been lost for any sort of nefarious cause, she would… The thought gave the woman pause.
What would she do?