An Adventure in Black - Chapter I

[Quáel]

Quáel took the silverbard in her hand willingly and thankfully, nodded to the ones who remained as a goodbye salute, and left for Voldar.

The city was filled to the brim with all different types of people. Although she hated the thought, Quáel knew that there was probably a fair amount of mages around, which didn't please her. But she forgot the dislike of them when she smelled the food vender's goods. Cakes, fruit, meat, vegetables, and all things good for travel. Quáel walked over to one of the meat stands, took out the silverbard, and purchased a large variety of salted meats. She then proceded to purchase honeycakes, apples, and a mug of nice, light ale. Although drinking alcohal wasn't something Quáel did often, she did fancy a glass at the moment.

They were given about one hour to get what they needed for the trip, so Quáel wasn't worried when she couldn't find the weapons shop right away. The city was huge, and although Quáel didn't spend her whole life in the forest, she didn't spend it in a city either.

"Eh what will ya be needin' today?" asked a man with a scruffy face and long hair. "Arrows" Quáel told the smith in a straight forward manner. "Course, if you could just follow me over here, please." She followed the man to a shelf filled with many arrows, "I'll take a dozen please." said Quáel, as she pulled out her money. "Ere ya go!" Thank you sir." "No, prolem, you 'ave a nice day now." You too." and with that, she left the shop, and headed to the meeting place.

Quáel placed the remaining sans in the pouch on her belt, and filled up her water skin at one of the wells. "That should do it." she said to herself. As Quáel approached the maple tree, she noticed two of the members were already there. "Hey Gilith." Hello Irid. Did you find what you needed?" she asked the both of them. Quáel saw Irid sitting down, and thought that looked like a good idea, so she followed suite. She placed her elbows on her knees as she sat cross-legged, which was the most comfortable position at the moment. But at that moment, she felt something pinch her leg, and she stood up instantley, brushing off her clothes.

[Serpentfang]

The psyrpent stared at the marketplace in wonder. The area was full of sights, sounds and scents that piqued his curiosity. David ran ahead of him, eager to explore the place. Jarrox quickened his pace to keep up with his dog, a smile playing on his face. The day promised to be beautiful until he reached the premises of the marketplace. More than a few people stared at him in terror and curiosity, some muttering under their breath, and other glaring at him. At this the psyrpent paused, then continued walking, the stares of the commoners following in his wake. A few town guards stationed to keep order also glared at him, barely leaving him out of their sight.

He then stopped in front of a stall selling smoked meats. He browsed the merchandise, taking in the smell of spices cleverly mixed to provide a mouth watering aroma. He looked at the merchant, a young woman gazing at him with her mouth open, and pointed at his desired product: two slabs of meat, roasted over a grill. The slightly terrified girl handed him his purchase and his change after paying her.

Serpentfang knelt and gave one to David, holding onto the other steak as the dog ate. By then a small crowd had gathered around him, and the girl from earlier flashed a shy but amused smile.

“Aww, he’s such a softie.”

The psyrpent snorted. Where had he heard this before?

[Juliette Dante]

Juliette thanked Rayne for the silverbard, bid a temporary farewell to the group remaining in the inn and then departed. There weren't many supplies that she needed but more arrows for her quiver were a must, having only half a dozen left. The streets of Voldar were lined with shops and carts filled with various wares. Fresh produce was everywhere and filled the air with a hodgepodge of different scents that seemed to be the perfume of the city. To her right, Juliette spotted a spirits store and after a quick peek into the window, she decided to enter. The shelves were lined with bottle after bottle of wines, ales, brandys and much more. After only a cursory perusal of the store, the owner appeared through a door that she assumed led to the storage room.

"Is there something that I could find for you, miss?" The man was middle-aged and bald, with a rather large, solid stomach. It was fairly obvious that he not only sold alcohol but quite often imbibed in it himself.

"Yes, I'd like two bottles of Wisk-Away." The Remusian grain alcohol was one of her favorites of late and last night she had drained the last bit that she had purchased when she first touched land. The owner walked over to one of the many shelves and grabbed the neck of two clear bottles, the tan-colored liquid sloshing enticingly around inside. Almost immediately after setting the bottles on the counter, Juliette reached for one and proceeded to fill her flask with the strong smelling liquid. "Wait just a moment now, that will be 35 san young lady." She handed him the silverbard and while he was making change for her, she put the bottles and the flask safely away in her backpack. After leaving the spirits shop, she visited several other places, procuring two dozen arrows, a new bar of soap, some smoked meat and an apple for the walk to the rendezvous point. Her walk to Melspath Road was uneventful and soon she found herself standing before an all too familiar tree. As she chomped at the apple, she stared up at the offending maple before chucking the core at it's trunk. It hit the tree and burst apart, sparying bits of apple everywhere. With a curse she sat down in the grass a good distance from the tree and rubbed at her neck. In all truthfulness, her aching body couldn't be blamed on the tree, for it was of her own doing that she passed out drunk beneath it's sprawling limbs but, nevertheless, she held the great maple responsible.

[Gilith]

Gilith was searching in his pack pack for something when he heard Irids greeting.

Gilith looked up "Hello there" he responded. Then after that he pulled out an object from his backpack smiling. He put on his helmet as he was expecting danger.

He turned to Irid once more and said "How is your hand holding up."

Right after that he heard Quaels greeting. "Hello Quael." He responded.

Then after that he saw Juliette. She threw an apple at the tree and sat down a good deal away from it. Wondering what grudges she had against trees he forgot about the question he asked.

[Alýr (Rayne)]

As the companions headed out, Alýr stayed behind to talk to Mari about her rather uncongenial guest. The hobbitess, despite her assumed prandial success with regards to the psyrpent, seemed anxious regarding the dark elf.

"Oh, Rayne, he's quite disagreeable. He slammed the door! Right in my face!" Mari was saying with cheerlessness, and maybe the hint of tears. "You can't leave me with him in this place! Jurg has gone out to fetch the pork for first lunch, and my other patrons are still asleep, and he's so... so..."

"He's a dark elf," said the indigo-eyed elf. "It is all in his nature."

"It's also in his nature to do horrid, horrid things!"

"Perhaps." She could not bring herself to lie to the hobbit. "But I trust he will sleep for a few hours, and I myself must make arrangements for my travel."

"But Rayne!"

"I will return shortly, before he is scheduled to wake, and ensure he departs peacefully."

Mari hadn't much choice but to trust the elf, and after a few more comforting words, Alýr lifted like wind over a hill and took her leave of the inn. Pulling her hood up to hide her features, she journeyed into the streets, moving down the smaller side-streets into the larger ones, which joined the way streams join a growing river.

The market was a cacophony of sounds and voices, all sounding much like the products they sold--the ribbon-seller's twirled like a ribbon through the crowd, while the butcher's voice hung meatily in the air. The smells, too, seemed to all join in an odoriferous orchestra that was purely Voldar's--as distinct as a woman's perfume, though somewhat lacking the semblance of its redolence.

She stopped in the shop of a cobbler, whose eyes smiled to meet hers--and seemed to smile even wider when he looked upon the face of his guest: "Rayne!"

The elf smiled: "Hello, Erdoc."

"I can't believe yer in town! You visitin' the council?"

"No. I have other business. I am only passing through--but I require new shoes, for these I have are wearing thin, and the sole is loose."

"With all the travel you do, can't say I'm surprised. I thought elves were a reclusive bunch."

"Yes," the elf nodded with a friendly passivity. "That is usually true."

"I suppose yer an exception, which don't surprise me none. I reckon e'en among the elves, yer exceptional." Here he winked at her and she gave him an appreciative smile for his kindness. He helped her pick out a fine pair of boots, and she paid him a bit extra before she wandered out to the street again.

She picked up some viands for the road, and fed a few of the urchins, which was her custom when she came to town. A small band of them followed her a ways as she made her way back to the inn, for they enjoyed the small, discreet magic tricks she could do, and it entertained them greatly--how she could make a coin float or seem to make it disappear. She bid them all farewell, with a few more sans in their pockets, as she stepped into the inn. It would not be long now until the dark elf woke.

[Serpentfang]

After David finished eating, the pair walked deeper into the maze of stalls, looking for a smith or an armorer who can repair his hauberk and find another bowstring to replace his fraying one. A few turns and some unsuccessful inquiries for directions later, he found himself in front of a small building, the weapons displayed outside giving him a hint that his search is over. He entered the store and was greeted by an intense heat coming from a furnace. The psyrpent jumped back a little, expecting the scales on his face to fall off from the heat. David felt it too, and decided to stay outside where it is comfortable.

"Never have seen your kind in a long time," an old grizzled man said as he came out from the back of the store. "course that was ages ago. Can I help you?"

The psyrpent nodded, took his chain armor and quiver out. He gave the suit to the smith, who called a couple of young men to mend the rings back. The old man then took the quiver to the back of the shop and promptly came back with the quiver full of arrows. He took the money Jarrox offered, and came back with some change. "Come back a little while for the hauberk, it's going to take some time for it to finish." The old man grinned at the psyrpent, as if he understood that most of the snakemen are not comfortable talking with people.

Jarrox decided to browse the shop's wares until the repairs were complete. He examined a collection of spears neatly arranged -- different kinds from the simple spear to an elegantly decorated tri-point. Next to them are the polearms, some taller than him, probably designed to counter cavalry. Then the axes, some small enough to hold with one hand, others as tall as a man and scalloped for that extra cleaving power. He stared at the collection of swords, some with hilts and pommels encrusted with jewelry; they look more for ornamental rather than for practical use. He was handling one of the beautifully decorated swords when suddenly one of the gems popped out. The psyrpent gasped, looked around to see if anyone saw it, then pocketed the bauble with a snicker.

There are suits of armor in the store too, assembled in stands. He lifted the visor of one helmet -- just a little peek -- and the entire thing crashed to the wooden floor. The surprised psyrpent quickly ran to the other end of the store as fast as two legs and a tail could carry him, just in time as the ruckus prompted the man to check his store. The smith looked at the psyrpent, who calmly shrugged and pointed to a window. "Blasted wind," the smith replied while setting the armor up again, then added, "Your hauberk is on the counter, please visit us again." The psyrpent nodded again, took his armor and quickly left the establishment.

The cool breeze greeting him outside was a pleasant change from the furnace air inside the smithy. He walked on, past some children who stared at him in curiosity and under makeshift roofs that block out the sun. He stopped in front of a stall filled with an assortment of food: fruits, bread, salted fish and smoked meats. The owner was not around so he decided to look for something with which to feed David with in case he starts to get hungry again. He took three bags of dried meat, two loaves of bread, two skins of ale and some salted fish that are displayed, tucked them inside his bag and waited for the one who tended the stall.

“Eeeeeeek!”

Jarrox turned around in surprise and met the broad end of a stick with his head. The assailant, a fat old woman with a smoky scent, kept hitting him, and Jarrox trying to block the blows with his arms. A few more hits and the psyrpent lost his patience. He grabbed the stick, roared at the face of the terrified woman, broke the weapon in two and threw it at her fat face. A group of people had assembled around the commotion, and from afar the psyrpent spotted two guards squeezing through the crowd and trying approaching them. He motioned for David to follow, shoved the people blocking his path, and ran out of the market.

The pair kept running until they are some distance away from the market place. Then both sat down, the dog lying on the ground with his head resting on his paws, and the psyrpent rubbing the lump on his head where the blows landed. The snakeman cursed, but at least he got some freebies from the fat old hag.

[Quáel]

Quáel, seeing an apple being thrown at the tree, reminded her that she has purchased apples as well. Although it had only been an hour or two since she had consumed breakfast, she felt a bit hungry. So, she pulled out one of the seven apples she had purchased, and bit into it. Deciding that it was one of the best apples she had ever eaten, Quáel was a bit reluctant to ask, "Does anyone want an apple?" She directed this question to everyone but the one who had thrown the core at the tree.

She didn't trully care if anyone said yes or no, after all, it was just an apple, a really, really good one. But Quáel was not a selfish elf, and didn't mind sharing this quite delectible snack with anyone who would partake.

[Irid alMenie]

Irid had barely sat down when Quáel joined them and followed her example. She seemed stung by something, though, as immediately after she jumped right back up. The next to arrive was Juliette, who seemed to be in an even fouler mood than that morning. She threw the core of an apple at the tree under which Irid was sitting. The elfess looked at her, but thought better of reprimanding her. All she needed was to be left alone.

When Gilith asked her after her hand, she moved the wrist slightly, but there was no pain anymore, just a slight tingling that reminded her of pain. "It is much better, thank you." she answered softly, though she was not sure if he had heard. When Quael offered an apple, Irid smiled at her but shook her head to decline. She still had an obstacle in front of her that needed to be overcome first, though she would attempt it only when Alýr was there to give her support, and when everyone was present to hear it the first time.

[Alýr (Rayne)]

Alýr was waiting when Remis awoke and came downstairs, her eyes like liquid pools, seeming to reflect rather than show clearly what lay beneath the surface. His expression to see her sitting there was a thinly-hidden scowl, which he transformed into a sardonic smile.

"I did not think I warranted guarding," he said, somewhat sarcastically.

Mari, who had been in the kitchen, peered out, but quickly hid again; she did not wish to be seen or heard by the dark elf who had so rudely slammed his door in her face.

"I am only here to lead you to the meeting place. I did not wish to clutter Mari's little inn any longer than was necessary," the wood elf replied as she stood to prepare her things for the trip to the maple.

Remis nodded his understanding, although he did not believe her, not willing to trust this fair-skinned elf. He pulled his cloak about him, putting up his hood to hide his sensitive eyes from the sunlight. Alýr did the same, though more for the benefit of hiding her race than for the warm rays of the injera. They left together, from the inn through town. Well hidden as they were, they attracted little attention, though no doubt they would have received stares if any knew what lay beneath their cloaks: two elves, one dark and one light, traveling together through a human city; she, a manifestation of all that was light about the race, and he, of all that was dark.

They crossed the liquid arm of the Vandrina and headed out to the meeting point. The larger buildings of the inner city gave way to smaller ones, eventually leading them both to the maple tree where the group had already begun congregating. Alýr lifted her hood just a ways so that the light rejoiced upon her face. Remis did not, but stayed hidden in the shadow of his hood, like some cloaked bringer-of-death.

The indigo-eyed elf greeted her companions with a smile, and looked to see who had arrived. "Ridgen and Jarrox have not yet arrived, it seems. Has anyone seen them?"

[Ridgen Sú'ufanán]

Ridgen thanked Rayne for the coin before walking out of the inn along with everybody else, following the crowd to the marketplace. This was where they split up - his original plan was to follow someone else, considering he had nothing to buy, but then a thought crossed his mind, and the next thing he knew was that he was making his way through the marketplace at a brisk pace.

Ignoring all sounds, the elf's good eye flicked too and fro in search of something. Their gaze passed through many things, wonderful things, beautiful things, not-so-beautiful things, noisy things, quiet things, subtle things, things that are just plain weird and all sorts of other things. Once they found what the elf had been searching for, Ridgen half-walked, half-ran towards the street stall.

"Sweets! I'll have nine bags of them, please," went the elf's excited voice even before he reached the stall. The oddly wonderful smell of sugary goodness was in the air, teasing the childish magician's senses. The store owner blinked incredulously in response, half-amused, half-shocked.
"You have quite a sweet tooth there, sir," she said laughingly, before proceeding to pack said bags with the treats. "That'll be 45 sans, please."

After the exchange of goods, the elf found his attention being snatched away by a particularly joyful piece of music. It was a lively melody, played by a lute and accompanied by the claps of bystanders all around. His mind soon lost its way to the music, his feet tapping in time with the melody. The magician was so caught up in the music that for a moment, he forgot about the situation, and before he knew it, the two hours they've agreed on had already passed.

.........

A panicked Ridgen was running down towards the meeting point on Melspeth Road, carrying the bags of sweet in his hands. By the time he got there, everyone had already arrived - except for the psyrpent. "Sorry 'bout the wait! I got distracted... for two hours... I got you guys sweets though! Uhm... if you want them," he said, in a futile attempt to explain his lateness.

Maybe these people have sweet teeth too.

[Serpentfang]

The psyrpent stood up with a worried expression on his face. What was he supposed to do now, he wondered. The purple eyed elf didn't say anything except going to the market to buy some stuff. He vaguely remembered the part where she had given all of them a silverbard to spend as they see fit, but beyond that he had no inkling. The sweet cakes had beckoned him and it was nigh impossible to reject them, especially since the small squishy human came back and promptly gave him another platter.

Suddenly an idea came to him. The inn! Perhaps some of the other people went there. Or he can ask for their location from Squishie. He tried retracing his steps, and when that didn't prove successful, went to other travelers to ask for direction. Some backed away from sheer terror, but others are merely wary and gave him what he sought.

A quarter of an hour later he was standing at the inn, thankful that he made it. He entered the inn and found the female Squishie serving some patrons. He tapped her shoulder, and upon looking at the lizard caused her to nearly drop a platter. She and the other customers were staring at him, but what comes next is more surprising than his looks.

"Elvesssss." The psyrpent said in a low, guttural voice.

The Squishie must know he meant Alyr.

"D-d-down at Melspeth road. I-I can give you directions." The woman was visibly shaking.

The psyrpent turned around, left the inn and followed the way the hobbit pointed. Soon enough he saw some of the party members. A few steps after and he came into view of all of them. The wound is starting up again causing him to have a slight limp in his steps. He approached the group but still maintained a distance, his hand clutching the wound on his side and the other rubbing the lump on his head. His dog sat down on the ground, observing the other people and growling at some of them.

[Alýr (Rayne)]

Hardly had Alýr asked the question than Ridgen came running up to the group from the town, bags of candy in his hands. She could not help but to chuckle just a little at the sight of a Cyhallrhim rushing down the road with such unusual cargo.

"Sorry 'bout the wait! I got distracted... for two hours... I got you guys sweets though! Uhm... if you want them," he said.

Alýr tilted her head with a smile, and it looked almost as though the gesture would have been one of reproof, but that the wood elf's perennial calm and mansuetude could not sustain such an expression. Her eyes, instead, glistened with kindness and amusement, and she shook her head. "I'm all right. Do not worry about being late. There are many things in the city that can arrest one's attention, as seems to have happened to Jarrox. Though... he seems to have made his way here at last."

As she spoke, Jarrox came up the path, looking somewhat worse for wear, what with the lump on his head and the limp in his step. The claws that clutched his side conveyed the unmending of his wounds. She observed his cár'áll carefully to notice that some of the work from the night before had been undone. Alas, her strength was somewhat lacking. She sighed and met his serpentine eyes: "I am still recovering from my last healing. Perhaps we can re-bandage the wound for now and I can work on it tonight? Are you able to walk, if we move at a moderate pace?

What caught her eye was the new addition to the group: a Voldon dog, rather large for his breed, sitting beside the psyrpent and growling. She dare not go near Jarrox, knowing how fierce such creatures could be. Her indigo eyes flitted from dog to psyrpent. "A friend of yours?"

[Quáel]

"Sorry 'bout the wait! I got distracted... for two hours... I got you guys sweets though! Uhm... if you want them," Quáel had a huge sweet tooth, and immediately accepted the offer. She tossed the apple core behind her, and said, "Something sweet does sound quite satisfying right now, mind if I have some." Quáel didn't really say this as a question, for she knew the male elf named Ridgen would say yes, after all, he did offer them.

Jarrox the psyrpent joined the party as well, along with a Voldon dog, who didn't look very menacing. But the Voldon dogs were not weak, and coud be menacing if they so desired.

Quáel began to feel very dizzy, her mind becoming hazy. *Thud* Quáel's body hit the ground with startling force, and began to tremble and quake. A giant beast attacking everyone maliciously, Keeshaunka in the Zephyr Forest burning down every last home and tree within its boundaries, and the hobitess from the inn being attacked by drow.

Forcing her eye lids open, Quáel stared into the sunlight, blinking rapidly and eyes watering, she sat up. Resting against the tree and holding her head. "Evil images take over my mind, sent by an evil cleric Keeshaunka. They are unbearable. . . not always true though, only what makes me vulnerable and weak, that's how he works." She explained this to them, for they were most likely all staring at her, wondering why she had so violently hit the ground.  

[Serpentfang]

The psyrpent still clutched the aching wound, but shook his head at Alyr's question. Then she took notice of David by his side, sitting proudly as a Voldon dog should. "A friend of yours?" She inquired. Jarrox held David's head closer to his side and nodded. He caressed the ears of the dog. Whatever reason they have he won't be leaving Voldar without him, and the people here can kiss his help goodbye if they disagreed with his decision. David licked his chops and panted, his facial expression somewhat akin to that of a silly grin.

One of his would be companions suddenly fell to the ground. The psyrpent took a peek and raised an eyebrow then sighed. Great. Another companion slightly touched in the head. He motioned to Alyr and pointed at the woman, thinking that since both of them are elves and both are female, the purple eyed elf may be of some use to the other one. He's not about to aid those birdlike, pitiful creatures, with a few exceptions, like Alyr here. She did gave him some food before.

David clawed gently at the psyrpent's robe and stared at him with golden puppy eyes. The lizard looked at him for one moment, then took one of the paper bags he bought earlier out. He placed his hand inside and withdrew it along with three strips of dried jerky. He held one for the dog, who greedily grabbed it and laid down with the treat between his paws, a contented expression playing across his face as he chewed on the slightly tough shred of salty, smoked meat.

[Alýr (Rayne)]

It did not take Jarrox's encouraging gesture to convince Alýr to the side of her fallen companion. What had just a moment ago been an ease breeze, for an instant, a gale, and she came to the side of the young elfess: "Quáel?" As the woman lay shaking, her black eyes seemed to see things that the rest of them could not, and the indigo-eyed elf looked with concern at the fluctuations in car'all that came--to her deep dismay--from a source far-off. She closed her eyes and tried to follow the line of manipulation, but before she could track it to its end, the link ceased, and Quáel began to rise:

"Evil images take over my mind, sent by an evil cleric Keeshaunka," Quáel explained. "They are unbearable. . . not always true though, only what makes me vulnerable and weak, that's how he works."

Alýr nodded, concerned. She glanced to Ridgen briefly with a look that conveyed her desire to speak with him, though she spoke no words to him. She turned back to Quael. "Are you well? Can you walk?" She began to help the elven woman to her feet, though she could sense a certain weakness wrought by the visions that had so fiercely entered her mind.

She looked around to the others, noticing how Remis, dark elf that he was, slunk back behind the shadows of the tree. She looked to Jarrox, who she knew was inhibited in his movements by the broken wound--but with whom she knew better than to argue. Her eyes then glanced back to Quáel. "Are you all right?"

In hidden concern for the dark elf, she was eager to move the group to the shadows of the forest.

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