Fantasy RP

Wren and Rannok walked down the well-forested path, both taking in their surroundings warily. Neither had seen so many trees before in their life. Not that there were many trees in the desert--mainly a scattered one or two near the plains, but that was it.

"Great," Rannok grumbled. "We're lost."

"Shut up," Wren snapped. "It's your fault." She glared at him with her bright violet eyes, obviously angry. "Can't you do anything right?! Griffon told us not to wander off!"

"Shut up, Wren! Just because I--"

"You wandered into the middle of nowhere!"

"Yeah, because that spider was chasing me!"

Wren made a low, irritated growl and stormed off toward a building in the distance.

"Come on," she snapped. She swung open the door heavily and stormed inside, then sat at the table. "You're such an idiot!" she fumed.

((**waits patiently for someone else to post**))

Ovric looked up as the bickering kids entered the room. Kids; they're not much younger than me, really. But all Rusgars knew that there was more to growing up than just getting older. Some of it was gauged by accomplishments and behavior. And by Rusgar standards, he was already a man.

He watched them for a moment with mild curiosity before looking away.

((I know he sounds like he's got a superiority complex or something, but bear with me. He's a good guy.))

"Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." --The Screwtape Letters

The sky looked to still be where he'd left it. And from what he could feel beneath him the ground was in much the same place too. The buildings however seemed to have been replaced with trees. This was not really what he expected.

Saryn pushed himself into a sitting position and then scrambled to his feet, brushing off the bits of bark clinging to his clothing but ignoring the majority of the dirt. Just where the hell was he?

"Saryn?" he turned quickly at the voice to see Mat emerging from behind a tree, looking about at their surroundings. "Do you know what's going on?"

"Not a clue," he said, doing an extra sweep of the area with his eyes to make sure there was nothing around that might hurt Mat. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Hey, there's a building over there. Perhaps someone in there will know where we are."

Saryn looked dubious at the suggestion. "Do you really think that's a good idea? Going to find other people is generally a bad plan."

"You don't have to talk to them if you don't want to," Mat said. "But it's a better plan than just hanging around out here. Buildings I can manage, forests not so much. Come on, lets go." He set off towards the building. Saryn shrugged and followed. Saryn's hand went to his pistol as Mat pushed the door open and stepped up to stick close to his brother. It looked safe. He glared around at the other patrons and went over to the nearest unoccupied table. If Mat wanted to go talking to people that was his problem. He'd just be here to shoot anyone that hurt him.

Compassion hinders my creativity.

Cobra looked up as the door swung open again. He'd been doing a lot of looking up lately - the door seemed to open every three minutes since he got here. Not really surprising when this seemed to be the only place to get a drink in a town that was the only place with more than three buildings within a fortnight's travel, but the type of people entering - first a young couple who had probably never seen a wooden building before by the look of their gear, now two more kids who were probably brothers - and that one might be trouble, he noted, raising an eyebrow.

Sparing another glance at the huge brown-haired man who was the other most unusual thing in the room, he got up from his place and, carrying his mug of water followed the second of the brothers - if that's what they were - to his chosen table. Best cut any trouble off in the beginning. Clearing his throat, "Greetings - I regret that I have no true name at present, but you may call me Cobra - and what brings you here? You look ill at ease compared to your - brother? friend? But here, I have some gold still, may I buy you a drink - of any sort - or food? Your companion as well." He paused, waiting for a reply, and looked out towards the other tables to see what had happened to his addressee's traveling partner.

“When you absolutely don't know what to do anymore, it is time to panic”
- John van der Wiel

Saryn blinked at the man who came over to him and then his eyes narrowed suspiciously when he offered to buy him food and a drink. "He's my brother," he said. "And why would you offer to pay my way? What do you want?"

Mat wasn't exactly sure who to approach in the tavern. There were two people roughly his age, perhaps a little older that looked approachable enough, but they also looked to be occupied in their own squabble. And another man...a huge fighter type. He looked nervously at the man's huge arms and obvious strength. No...he'd rather not approach him unless he had to. He glanced over to see where Saryn had got to and his heart leapt into his mouth at the sight of a stranger talking to him.

He plastered on his most charming smile and joined the pair at the table. "Hi," he said pleasantly. "I'm Mat, and this is my brother Saryn. May I have the pleasure of your name?"

"He calls himself Cobra," Saryn said before the man had a chance to respond himself.

"Oh. Well, I'm very pleased to meet you Cobra."

Compassion hinders my creativity.

Ovric watched Saryn and Mat, brow furrowed. Hopefully they weren't here to cause trouble.

"Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." --The Screwtape Letters

Griffon and Armand both stumbled around the little pantry, knocking things off the shelves as they went.

"Ow," Griffon muttered as his head made contact with the ceiling. There were a few more seconds of pandemonium before he reached for the door handle and both stumbled out into the main tavern room.

"Hey," Armand laughed, walking up to Wren and Rannok. "Are you guys at it again?"

"Shut the fuck up, Armand," Rannok snapped.

"Why, afraid I'm gonna steal your girlfriend?" The younger--though not obviously so--boy smirked and folded his arms. Griffon sighed from behind him and grabbed his shoulder, steering him away. "Leave it, Armand," he said. "Go find some food." He shoved some gold pieces into the boy's hand and pushed him away before sitting at the table with a roll of his eyes. He looked nervous--uncomfortable almost. Like he didn't want to be there.

Armand strode over to Cobra with a smile.

"Hey," he said. "Are you in charge?"

Mat noticed Ovric glancing over at him and did his best to give the man a disarming smile. His attention transfered back a little closer to home when Armand came over to speak to Cobra.

"Hi," he said, giving him a friendly smile too.

Saryn gave the newcomer a suspicious look but didn't say anything to him. After all this new kid was speaking to the stranger rather than either of them. Wasn't any concern of his.

Compassion hinders my creativity.

"Hey," Armand said, returning an easy smile. He looked over at the other man sitting at the table. "What's his problem?" he laughed.

From the other table, Griffon muttered something and put his face in his hand. Kid was looking for trouble already.

Ovric nodded slightly at Mat and went back to his meal.

"Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." --The Screwtape Letters

Cobra started to answer Saryn's question, surprised by such outright hostility to common politeness, but before he could speak he was interrupted by the brother - somewhat hyperactive, he thought - and as he tried to reply to that, Saryn answered the question and then another man came up.

He tried not to look alarmed. Where did all the attention come from so suddenly?

He turned back to Saryn. "Well, to answer your question, I was merely being polite. You look unsettled and possibly - I mean no harm - slightly lost, and a good meal often does wonders. As for you" - he turned to Mat - "as your brother says I am now called Cobra." He looked Mat up and down before continuing. "Where have you come from? - my offer of a drink still stands, for your brother as well, if your explanation proves too lengthy. One minute, however."

He paused, turning to the latest newcomer. "No, my friend, I am not, as you say, 'in charge'. I would recommend that you look for the bartender if you want something. Over there." He gestured to the row of locals sitting on stools.

“When you absolutely don't know what to do anymore, it is time to panic”
- John van der Wiel

Armand shrugged.

"I didn't really want to anyway," he laughed. "My brother just wanted me out of the way." His smile and laugh were disarming--completely nonthreatening despite the sword at his side. Approachable. Someone you would want to be friends with.

"Does it matter where we've come from?" Saryn said, still looking a little edgy. He jumped slightly when Mat poked him.

"Of course it does," Mat said quite reasonably. "At least if we want any hope of getting back there. While the public parks do have clumps of trees there aren't any that resemble a forest quite so well as out there." He jerked his thumb towards the door. Saryn shrugged. At this explanation but didn't make any further protest. "Anyway, we are from a city called Kitam in the country of Suderia. I don't suppose we're anywhere near there still?" he asked hopefully. "And your offer of a drink would be very much appreciated sir, if it still stands." He gave Cobra a winning smile. "It's very generous of you, isn't it Saryn."

Saryn raised an eyebrow at Mat's comment. Of course it was very generous. That was precisely his problem with it.

Compassion hinders my creativity.

Armand looked over at Saryn and laughed.

"Reminds me a little of my brother," he smiled. "He's not happy with anything, is he?"

"He's usually extremely easy to keep happy," Mat said, keeping his voice low to try and keep Saryn from hearing. Saryn wouldn't actually care about being discussed as though he wasn't sitting a few feet away, but Mat felt it impolite to be too obvious about doing it anyway. "He just doesn't really like surprises. And suddenly being here can't really be considered anything but."

He did a quick mental appraisal of this other man. Similar age to him, good looking, and very friendly looking despite clearly looking like a fighter sort. He turned his smile up a notch.

Compassion hinders my creativity.

Armand laughed and shrugged.

"Griffon would care, I just don't care," he said. "Besides he's all the way over there." He glanced over at his brother and grinned. The tall man rolled his eyes and curled his hand tighter around the drink he was holding. "He's not much fun," Armand shrugged. "He's got a stick up his ass." He laughed.

"Griffon," Mat said, testing it out. "That's an interesting name. I'm Mat by the way. And this is Saryn." He couldn't remember whether this guy had been present when he'd introduced the pair of them to Cobra. "And what might your name be?"

Compassion hinders my creativity.

"Armand," the boy responded. The way the other man was smiling at him was a little unnerving, but he wasn't too bothered by it. Not much bothered him after all--as a matter of fact it took quite a lot to bother him. "That's Wren and Rannok," he said, nodding to the pair of brooding teenagers who were still glaring at each other across the table. "They always act like that," he laughed.

"Shut up, Armand," Rannok scathed.

"Very well then, Mat." He rapped sharply on the table for the bartender.
"Drinks for these two young men, please -" he pointed at Saryn and Mat while feeling in his pouch. "Ah, good - since I am here and there's a crowd, make that for the table," he said, indicating that he would include Armand. Turning back, he added, "You can tell him what you want - he's a good man." He passed a few coins to the waiter who had come up.

"As for your problem, Mat, I am not sure I can help you much. By the sound of it Kitam and Suderia ought to be somewhere in the South, but I couldn't say more than that. Excuse my ignorance; despite anything you might have thought from my appearance, I am not widely traveled apart from my own land in the north and an - ah - pilgrimage I undertook to the desert."

He paused. "If, however, I am right, those two" - pointing towards Wren and Rannok - " might be able to get you a little closer, as they appear to come from somewhere nearer your home than I do."

“When you absolutely don't know what to do anymore, it is time to panic”
- John van der Wiel

"Pleasure to meet you," Mat said, maintaining his smile. He glanced over at the other two Armand indicated. "Do they not like each other?" he asked.

Smiling his thanks at Cobra for his generosity he ordered some wine for Saryn and himself. He didn't specify the type. His palate wasn't particularly refined and he didn't want to risk ordering anything too expensive and take advantage of the man's generous offer.

"A pilgrimage you say?" Mat asked with interest. "Are you religious then?" He turned back to look at Rannok and Wren again. "Thank you for the suggestion. I'll go and speak with them presently." He glanced at Armand. "If you're friends with them, perhaps you could introduce me. I'd rather not just walk over to them uninvited when they're in a bad mood."

Compassion hinders my creativity.

Armand laughed.

"They wish they didn't like each other," he grinned, shaking his head. "They'll be fine." He looked over at them. "Hey guys--"

"Leave us alone, Armand."

"Shut up, Rannok! He's not doing anything!"

"He's--"

Wren smiled sweetly over at Armand, her demeanor seemingly changed all at once. "Ignore him," she said to Mat. "He's an idiot."

Mat couldn't hide a grin at that comment. "Oh, like that is it. How sweet." Mentally he ticked the pair of them off his list of potential clients. A lot of the people he dealt with didn't consider hiring him to be infidelity since it was a purely physical thing, no emotion involved, but if these two might know something about how he could get home, he didn't want to rock the boat and risk either of them being the sort that would object. He still gave Wren a friendly smile when she spoke to him though.

He was a little surprised at Rannok's reaction to Armand though. "So he wishes he didn't like her...but what about you?" he asked quietly. "That was a surprisingly hostile reaction to you saying hello."

Compassion hinders my creativity.

((And alas I have to go now. Check last post in Divica thread for my availability this evening))

Compassion hinders my creativity.

Regan strolled into the tavern, thankful for the chance to take a load off his feet for a little while. He kept his cloak carefully over the sword at his side. His sky blue eyes swept the room as he took a seat at a table alone.

NaNo '07 Winner: Divica Prequel: Blood Forsaken. Buy it here.
NaNo '08 Winner: Divica 1: Hunt for the Blood
NaNo'09: Divica 2: Rapscallion's Hammer

Apollo was sulking. Not that he would admit to it. He sat at a table in the tavern sipping away at whatever it was in the glass. It didn't really matter anymore. Nothing tasted as good as the ambrosia they had drunk in abundance in days gone by. He looked across the table at his sister for a moment. She had her arms crossed and her jaw set. He wondered what had set her off today, it had to have been something big because she was usually so laid back.
"What's up with you?" He asked. She turned to him slowly.
"Nothing. I'm merely thinking." She replied.
"About what?"
"Nothing that concerns you, to be sure." Artemis looked down at a little mouse scurrying across the floor. Apollo followed her gaze. It ran up to her and climbed onto her shoulder. She petted it with a finger, absentmindedly. Apollo raised a brow.
"That's disgusting." He said.
"If you don't like it you can leave." She said, putting the mouse on the table and shifting her wings a bit.
"I think I will." He said, and stood up to see if there was somewhere else to sit. If she wasn't going to be amiable, then he didn't have to stick around with her.

((I'll join in later this evening. I posted my characters in the discussion area))

Armand laughed quietly.

"He thinks I'm going to steal his girlfriend," he said in a mock whisper.

Rannok growled and glared up at Armand and all of the sudden Wren looked irritated. She stood up and stalked off a little ways, then sat at another table. She didn't even notice the woman sitting there with wings--wrote it off mostly as maybe another marked one, though she didn't have hers yet. She looked decidedly unamused and folded her arms.

Armand laughed.

"I'm not going to steal her, Rannok," he smiled.

"Shut the fuck up, Armand," the boy replied.

Artemis watched the woman out of the corner of her eye, watched her coming closer... then closer. Then to her complete surprise, actually having the nerve to sit at her table. "Can I help you?" She asked cooly, an eyebrow raised.

Mat giggled at that, but mentally gave a sigh and prepared himself to strike Armand off his mental list as well. If Rannok was worried Armand might be angling to take Wren's attention away from him then it was less likely Armand would be wanting his services. Pity. Armand was one of the better looking people in the room. But all cats were grey in the dark, or whatever the saying was.

When yet more people came in (the place was really getting busy for somewhere that had looked so deserted when they came in) Mat half saw them out the corner of his eye, and then kept trying to sneak glances without it being totally obvious that he was doing so. They had wings! What manner of place was this he had stumbled into?

((Aaaand bed *passes out*))

Compassion hinders my creativity.