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| Infiltrating Ixa'ness; Moved from the old board. | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 15 2008, 06:25 PM (669 Views) | |
| BearOfGlacia | Oct 15 2008, 06:25 PM Post #1 |
Viking
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(OOC - I'm gonna label each post according to who wrote it so we'll know who posted what and when.) Gordreg Jel'din squirmed. Hours of sitting in the tightly-packed fishing boat had passed already on this trip, during which their small boat had left behind Kortela's forested island and travelled westerly against the winds, and she hadn't once gotten a chance to stretch her legs. Charka hadn't let up once during the journey, and his constant pestering of Tomoe whilst he ignored the rest of them seemed to have driven Nixie right up the walls. Right now the Ixa'ness was staring out to sky, her eyes on the horizon whilst Nixie did her best to ignore Charka's lovesick prattling. For her own part, she was merely uncomfortable. The hafts from several spears were pressing right into the small of her back, the mast in the boat's centre had forced her legs into a most uncomfortable position, and with Tomoe pressed tightly on one side and Nixie close on the other there wasn't any room for her to move around - not that she'd have dared even if there had been. Hours of sailing against the wind had bought all her old fears of the wind creeping back, and even now every large sway of the boat left Jel'din's heart in her throat. She sighed, slumping once more as she glanced out over the side. Through the misty clouds she could see the vague shape of an island in the distance ahead of her, but changing little in a way that suggested the distance between them wasn't altering much. Rubbing the soreness of her knee, Jel'din had been about to reach into her pouches for a poultice when she heard Nixie call out. Her head glanced up, and turning it Jel'din took a moment first to look at Nixie, who was still seated at the bow. Her friend had turned herself about in her seat, and now sat with one hand pointing ahead of their boat whilst she flashed the others a victorious smirk. "Ixa'ness. Home of the bravest and most deadly warriors anywhere in the skies, and did I mention I'm from there?" Nixie grinned broadly, a smile on her face for the first time this trip at the sight of her home. "C'mon, Charka. Stop bothering Tomoe a moment, and let's go land this crate." she spoke, pointing away from the village and toward a nearby patch of Jungle. "Just down there in the jungle, right? Too close to Ixa'ness village and you might not get to come back..." The comment obviously bothered Charka enough, as for a moment he forgot about Tomoe whilst making a rapid turn on the descent. As the boat turned sharply the plain sky view before Jel'din gave way to the greenery of an Ixa'takan isle, and amongst it a clearing covered with huts all surrounded by a wall. The walls themselves were plain but most roofs were decorated with colourful shapes and patterns, though before Jel'din could make any of them out the Village vanished from sight as a wall of forest greenery sprung up between their boat and the distant huts. Charka landed his boat in a clearing just on the edge of the island, and Nixie was first ashore as she jumped from the bow. Landing well, she snatched up a parcel of her spare clothes she'd thrown out with her, then turned around before gesturing for Jel'din and Tomoe to follow. After a brief hesitation as the ship stopped rocking, Jel'din grabbed her own belongings and climbed carefully down over the side after Nixie. "Sorry, Charka... I'll just want Tomoe and Jel for this." Nixie grinned widely. "But hey! Perhaps Tomoe will let you take a look later?" She winked mischievously, then turned, and scampered off into the forest. (There are posts missing here it seems) Listening to Nixie chatter about 'Auntie' as she led them onward, Jel'din found her thoughts again turning to Embessi - and tried to push the thoughts from her mind. But try as she might, memories of her former mentor kept returning to the surface... along with the bitter pain of rejection, and the disappointed look that she'd seen on the elder woman's face. Swallowing as she tried to blink away the image, Jel'din placed one clenched hand to her chest and, looked upward with a very nervous smile aimed in Nixie's general direction. "She will?" Jel replied, the tone of her voice lightening a little at her friend's optimistic statement. "That's... that's good!" she continued, her face brightening as the dark memories of Embessi slipped further from her mind. Of course, there was still quite a chance that Nuangi wouldn't know a thing about the Kortelan men - but wasn't any chance better then none at all? Stepping inside of the doodle-daubed and toy-laden hut to find nobody inside, Jel'din heard Nixie release a gentle sigh of disappointment. Had Nixie been getting quite eager to see Nuangi again? The way her friend had explained 'Auntie's' role within the tribe it sounded as if the elder woman had played quite the part in raising all the tribe's children for many years... which had most likely included Nixie herself at one time, Jel'din supposed. No wonder Nixie had been eager to see her 'Auntie Nu-Nu' again... Seating herself down on the floor, Jel'din picked up the carved shape of a Que'lak and held it in front of her face. The wooden pack animal had obviously been held by many hands over the years and was a little worn at the edges, marked by the prints of many roving fingers. How long had the wooden animal been a plaything for the tribe's children? BearOfGlacia Minutes passed as the trio waited for Nuangi's return. Nixie took a deep breath and blew it out between her lips as she twirled the wooden sword in lazy circles above her head. Nixie's ears perked up and her head swiveled towards the door. From just beyond the stained canvas that covered the entry she could here the sound of footfalls. Someone was approaching. The door flap swept upwards, billowing to one side, as someone entered the hut. Nixie's eyes brightened then dimmed as a young girl of perhaps 7 years dashed in. The child came to a swift halt, staring in surprise at the huts latest occupants. As quickly as she'd come the little girl left. "Just one of the village brats looking for Auntie, same as us." Nixie grumbled. "...say someone has come to visit Auntie?" A merry voice could be heard from just outside the hut. Nixie smiled broadly as the young girl made her return, this time in the company of a spindly old woman who stooped to enter the hut. "Auntie Nu-Nu!" Nixie squealed as she scrambled to her feet. She practically bowled the child over in her haste to greet the old woman. Nuangi's eyes narrowed in the dim light of the hut as she studied Nixie's face. "Hmm? And who might.....why, as I live and breathe, Nixie! It is you isn't it? Oh, come to Auntie child! I haven't seen you in ages!" Nixie threw her arms around the old woman's shoulders and embraced her warmly. "I've missed you too Auntie!" She gushed, practically in tears. "Yes, it's been so long since you ran away and left poor Auntie. I was worried sick about you." Nuangi's lips parted in a toothless grin. "And my, how you've grown! You're certainly filling out child. Practically a woman now." Nixie blushed as Nuangi poked at one of her budding breasts with the end of a bony finger. "Ah, don't! I'm.....er, I'd like for you to meet my friends Auntie." She gasped, placing one arm across her chest while gesturing towards Jel'din and Tomoe with the other. "Oh ho, and who might these two be?" Nuangi asked with interest. She stepped closer and scrutinized the two girls intently for a moment. "Hmm, I don't think we've ever met before. You two aren't from Ixa'Ness are you?" Nuangi was perhaps simple-minded but her memory was as sharp and quick as the fang of a snake. She could accurately remember the names and faces of every villager who'd dwelled in Ixa'Ness for the past 9 decades. Nixie's confidence in the old woman's ability to assist Jel'din was not unfounded. "Auntie, this is Tomoe. She's from Yafutoma." Nixie introduced the Souhei as she came to stand beside her. "And this is Jel'din from the village of.....oh yeah, Kortela." "So nice to meet people from beyond our island, yes. I'm happy to know you both." Nuangi greeted the two girls. She hobbled into the center of the room and lowered her thin body onto a wooden stool that sat in the midst of the strown toys. "Auntie, Jel came here searching for someone important to her." Nixie began in a serious voice. "I told her you might be able to help her. Will you please listen to what she has to say?" Nuangi's rheumy eyes drifted over to Jel'din and locked onto her youthful face and peered into her eyes. Finally her lips rose once again into a warm smile. "Yes, Auntie always knows when one of her children is upset." She said, beckoning Jel'din to come closer. "Come sit beside Auntie and tell her what troubles your heart." Ianthefira Fiddling with the doll in her hands, turning it over and over, Tomoe didn't even bother to look and see what it was. Most likely, she wouldn't be able to tell, regardless. Her semi-meditative state was broken abruptly by the arrival of the child, and she jerked her head in the direction of the young one as the child ran in, stopped, stared, and ran out. And then, Auntie herself arrived. The doll slipped from her hands. Nixie... to think that the usually carefree pirate cared about someone like that, that strongly. A hand unconsciously went for the toy again, although it simply held onto it this time. None of that fidgeting with it, now. A small gasp escaped from the souhei as the old woman guessed their identities, that they weren't from Ixa'ness. She bowed her head, as if preparing for the worst. The worst never came. Slowly raising her face, Tomoe peeked up at the elderly woman, finally venturing to look upon her face. "...Ah..." she breathed. Her face, her appearance... no, it wasn't like Sui, but... she couldn't help but be reminded of the nun. "Oh, I'm... sorry..." she apologized just as quickly, red running into her cheeks. Her look of surprise and amazement just moments before wasn't.... proper. She'd been raised to be respectful. "I'm... pleased to meet you, Miss, ah... Nuangi?" It took a moment to recall the woman's name, and Tomoe still wasn't entirely sure she'd gotten it right. She fell silent again--it was Jel's turn to speak--and finally looked down at the doll. It was... a person. Something made of plants, with a plant skirt. Gordreg Placing the wooden Que'lak down upon the floor before letting the model creature slip from her fingers, Jel'din sat back up and allowed her wary eyes to wander. To the door-flap; half-expecting it to billow open, then to a small pile of wooden toy weapons. To Nixie, lazily swinging a wooden sword in circles above herself. To Tomoe, her hands quietly turning a child's doll over whilst her eyes were elsewhere. And then back to the door, as the fabric billowed upward to let a person through. Swallowing with nervous anticipation, Jel'din stared at the new entrant - right into the surprised eyes of a young girl, who stared back for a moment before turning and vanishing. Not Nuangi, then. Breathing in, Jel tried to calm herself down. It would… A voice from outside caused Jel to jump, and clasp her hands tightly together as the spindly old woman entered her hut. Nixie's squeal of joy was surprising to Jel - she'd never seen her friend quite this emotional, not even to Nixie's 'Viper' Crewmates. But it also made Jel'din feel a little more relaxed - this was 'Auntie', then; not one of the Ixa'ness tribeswomen grown suspicious to the strangers in their midst. Yet it made her a little envious, too. If only meeting Embessi again had gone even half this well… blinking quickly, Jel dammed her tears before they could even start gathering. That was behind her now; she couldn't let that interfere with her mission here. Worriedly, she raised her eyes toward the elder woman's face. Nuangi was scrutinising her, her and Tomoe both. She winced; Nuangi had seen right through their 'disguises', such as they were. But Nixie trusted her 'Auntie' enough to tell the old woman everything; and despite Jel'din holding her heart in her mouth, Nuangi's cheerful response was encouraging enough for Jel to slump slightly where she sat, a thin sigh of relief streaming from the back of her throat. "Happy to… know you as well, mi… auntie." She corrected herself mid-gasp, using Nixie's term of address and preying to Quet'ya that Nuangi wouldn't take it as an insult. Thankfully, that didn't seem to be the case. If anything, the smile stretched across Nuangi's face looked to grow a little. Jel'din's face still blanched as the rheumy eyes checked her over - inspecting her, perhaps? - But the smile that appeared soon afterward was both warm and very comforting. Shuffling herself over when Nuangi beckoned, Jel'din took a new seat on the floor just before the old Ixa'ness. "Well…" she began, trailing off almost instantly as her eyes turned pleadingly to Nixie. Her friend nodded, and with a small swallow to clear her throat, Jel'din looked back up toward Nuangi's eyes. "It's… umm…" she swallowed again. "Some… members of my tribe." Again Jel'din's gaze turned to Nixie; again her friend beckoned Jel onward. "My… father and my… betrothed." She almost whispered the last word, feeling incredibly foolish. "They were taken months ago… by Ixa'ness… and I was wondering if you knew where I might find them." "Or even… start looking." Jel added, after a quick pause where she closed her eyes tightly. BearOfGlacia Nuangi peered at Jel with a thoughtful smile as the young healer explained her situation. Seeing the anxiety in her friend's eyes Nixie chimed in with what little she'd learned as well. "They were likely captured somewhere to the north, a group of fishermen weren't they Jel?" Nixie added. "And your, um....fiance' was called Magaxa right?" Nuangi nodded slowly, her eyes half-lidded in though. "Hmm, I think I remember them. It's been a while but there aren't as many prisoners being brought in as there were in the old days. Now let Auntie think." Nixie poked Jel'din in the ribs with the tip of her elbow and gave her a reassuring smile. The child who had accompanied Nuangi home made herself comfortable on the floor a short distance away, unconcerned with what was being said and clearly upset that her Auntie's attentions were being monopolized by Nixie and her friends. She stuck her tongue out at Tomoe as she began raking a handful of scattered wooden blocks across the ground, gathering them into a pile before her. "Ah yes, I do recall hearing that name uttered not too long ago!" Nuangi announced as her eyes lit up in recognition. "Yes yes, Magaxa! He was in the company of an older man if memory serves me." Nixie's face brightened as well. "I knew you would help us! So do you know what happened to him? To the both?" "Well...no, I don't keep up with such things." Nuangi sighed, crestfallen. "But I can tell you who might know. The warrior Xera was the one who caught them. She probably knows of their fate as well." Nixie frowned. "Xera? Oh boy, that's gonna be a problem." Elsewhere...... Shan'dala planted her fists on her hips and fixed Kokyrie with a scathing glare. "The Mononoke is the flagship of the Ixa'Ness. Only our warriors are allowed onboard." From the scorn in her voice it was obvious the war chieftain's dislike of her ran deeper than their childhood rivalry. "So I'm no longer a member of the tribe eh?" Kokyrie returned cooly. "The blood of the Ixa'Ness courses through your veins Kyrie." Shan'dala answered. "But it doesn't burn with the same fire as those who will ride that glorious ship into battle. It's not for the likes of you." Kokyrie snorted and refused to be baited into this argument. Shan'dala's words were unfair but Kokyrie couldn't deny that she'd never wanted any part in her tribe's savagery and that much held true even to this day. Whatever violence the amazons were planning wasn't something she wanted to be involved in. Still, the Mononoke had piqued her interests.... "Xera! Xera, come over here!" Shan'dala cried out as she caught sight of another Ixa'Ness warrior who had just appeared on the Mononoke's upper deck. The woman cast her gaze about until she spotted her leader and raised her arm in reply. With nimble steps she leapt atop the ship's gunwale and made her way down the gangplank. Reaching the ground she approached Shan'dala at a brisk pace. Her gaze lit on Kokyrie for a moment before she saluted the war chieftain. The glimmer of surprise Kokyrie noted in her eyes revealed that Xera recognized her. The suspicioun that followed indicated that she wasn't happy to see Kokyrie either. "Xera, how go the...." Shan'dala began as Xera drew near. They spoke for a moment in hushed tones, glancing from one another to the Mononoke and back again. As the quiet exchange continued it grew less formal. Kokyrie couldn't hear their words but judging from their facial expressions and a few sidelong glances in her direction she'd become the subject of their conversation. Finally the two separated and approached her. "Xera will escort you back to the village and see to your lodgings." "You're too kind." Kokyrie drolled. Shan'dala's lip twitched irritably but she said no more, instead turning on her heel to stalk off towards the Mononoke. Kokyrie's gaze lingered on the ship for but a moment. "C'mon, let's go." Xera growled, addressing Kokyrie for the first time in years. "I know the way." Kokyrie shot back as she set off back the way she'd come. Xera dogged her heels every step of the way. "So I take it you're to be my chaperone then?" Kokyrie taunted. It was more likely Xera had been sent to keep an eye on her. "You're smart mouth is the same as always." Xera answered. "Look, just don't get too comfortable here. Shan'dala is......forget it. Just keep moving." Kokyrie shrugged and lapsed into silence as the two of them made their way back to the village. Ianthefira Tomoe remained quiet, turning the doll in her hands this way and that, as Jel'din spoke about her missing loved ones. A... betrothed. Had Jel spoken of Magaxa that way before, or had the Souhei missed it? All the same, she glanced up in shock, staring momentarily at the healer. A betrothed... It was strange. Such a thing... was alien to the warrior-priest. It wasn't forbidden to marry, if you were from the temple, but most did not. The bonds of marriage were second to the bonds to the temple, and as such, martial relationships often didn't last in the face of the devotion required to the Blue Moon itself. Her musings were cut short when she noticed the child sticking her tongue out at her. Taken aback, Tomoe looked away, not certain what to make of it. True, she had been a... difficult child herself, but... it was shocking to come to face with a child that might have been similar to herself. And then, her focus distracted by such rambling thoughts, she eventually returned to the conversation, only catching Nixie's last. Perhaps handling that doll had made her unfortunately nostalgic and distracted. "Um, excuse me, but... why is that a problem?" she ventured, looking up at Nixie as she set the doll at aside finally. Gordreg Grateful for Nixie's intervention, Jel nodded. "Yes, that's right." She confirmed, her eyes re-opening and glancing down toward her folded hands. "Magaxa." She quietly spoke the name, and looked hopefully upward toward Nuangi as the elder woman pondered hearing the name before - just in time to be on the receiving end of an elbow nudging into her ribs. Recoiling her hands close to her torso, Jel said nothing; too busy watching Nuangi with a hope-filled stare to look away, and not willing to interrupt the elder woman's thoughts whilst they tried to drag up memories of the past. The passing minutes seemed slow to Jel'din, but she didn't dare look away from Nuangi. And at last, the elder woman's eyes seemed to light up with remembrance as Auntie confirmed she'd met a man by that name. Her eyes closed, and silently Jel'din mouthed a prayer of thanks to Quet'ya for her protection of Magaxa. And an older man as well? Jel'din beamed; the description wasn't exactly detailed but it was quite possible this 'older' man could have been her father. Brightly she threw Nixie a glance, for her friend had asked her own next question before Jel'din had even thought of saying it herself. Even Nuangi's admission that she didn't know their fate wasn't enough to wipe the fresh excitement from Jel'din's face. But Nixie's frown was. "…who is Xera?" she questioned once Tomoe had finished asking her own, the healer feeling quite repetitious for doing so. "Do you… know her well, Nixie?" BearOfGlacia A tense silence hovered between Kokyrie and Xera as the made their way back to the village. Xera didn't seem the least bit interested in conversing with the tribe's prodical daughter and that suited Kokyrie just fine. Her mind was focused on more important matters at the moment. Finding her missing crewmembers was her highest priority but securing a new ship to captain was also on Kokyrie's "to do" list. Thus far she hadn't given much thought as to how to acquire another vessel but the tribe's new flagship had certainly piqued her interests. 'I can't just steal the thing from my own tribe.' Kokyrie thought to herself. 'But it couldn't hurt to take a look around could it?' Kokyrie's train of thought was derailed when Xera came to a halt ahead of her. She turned an icy glare against her charge when the other woman almost collided with her. Coming to herself Kokyrie glanced around, only just realizing that they'd arrived at their destination. "Makara died of a fever several days ago." Xera explained in a flat tone of voice. "You can stay in her hut." The mention of the death of one of her tribemates was upsetting to Kokyrie and she tried desparately to link the name Makara with the face of someone she knew. She vaguely recalled one of the elder warriors, a portly woman with curly hair, as having that name but little else came to mind. "Wait, she died of fever? Has her hut been cleansed?" Kokyrie asked as the reason behind the woman's death sank in. "Sleep on the ground if you'd prefer." Xera returned, not bothering to answer the question, as she turned to walk away. With a scowl Kokyrie parted the hut's flap and peered inside. She entered cautiously, as if expecting the sickness to leap out at her from the shadows, and let the flap fall into place behind her. ~ Nixie slumped to the ground as she voiced her answer. "Xera is a little older than me. She wasn't very....nice to me." The young woman sighed. "Yes, a troubled girl that one was." Nuangi said. "She mistreated the other children and..." "She was a bully!" Nixie cried. "Yes, a bully." Nuangi returned an a calmer voice. "And you had your share of problems with her didn't you child?" Nixie's face burned with shame as the old memories began to surface. She'd been sent running into Auntie's tent in tears on more than one occasion, nursing a bloody nose or a blackened eye during the worst of those instances. "Even if she knows anything about Jel's men I doubt she'd want to talk to me about them." Nixie sighed. "If only Kyrie were here." She added, whispering to herself. Xera had been quick to resort to intimidation when dealing with the younger girls of the tribe but she'd never been able to frighten Kokyrie in the least. Nixie had often relied on her older friend's presence to keep Xera from teasing her but now she was on her own. That knowledge made Nixie feel even worse but it didn't change the fact that she'd have to confront Xera sooner or later. She couldn't let Jel'din down after all they'd been through together. "I guess we should go and find her then." Nixie said as she rose to her feet. "Thanks for all your help Auntie. We'll stop by again later okay?" Nuangi rose and clasped Nixie in a warm embrace. "May the Green Moon watch over you on your journey child. I'll be here if you need anything else." Nixie was surprised to feel tears forming in the corners of her eyes. A part of her was tempted to stay in Auntie's hut, safe and happy, until things were resolved. But the larger part of her being knew what needed to be done and vowed to do whatever it took to see things through. Leaving Nuangi's home behind Nixie paused for a moment outside of the entrance to think. "Hmm, the next step is finding Xera. I wonder where she is right now." Glancing about Nixie's heart skipped a beat as she spotted just the person she was seeking. Xera was right there in front of her, crossing the open space between the huts and heading in their direction. "Wow, that was fast. Um......we'd better go talk to her.....I guess." Nixie stuttered. "I'm not sure what I should say to her though....." Ianthefira "Oh." The reply from the souhei was brief, combined with a glance downwards. None of the few others that had been at the temple had been a bully, not even herself although she had caused distress to them in a, perhaps, different sort of way. But never like that, never on purpose, never with intent to harm. What sort of child would...? She hadn't grown up like other children. She stood, then. "She really wouldn't talk?" she said, peering at Nixie. Well, not that they could make her talk. Some people--yes, she knew that much--were disagreeable and difficult to get answers from. She had been one once. She was quiet for a while, thinking. Then, nodding at Nixie's decision, she added, "Perhaps, if we reason with her...?" This would, of course, in Tomoe's mind, be an appeal to the woman's better nature. Never mind that such might not even exist, for Xera. She only shifted awkwardly in place as Nixie embraced the older Ixa'Ness, reminded of what she had left behind back home. Sui had been the same for her, hadn't she? As she trailed out of the tent after Nixie, she bit her lip as she ventured a glance back at Nuangi. It looked like the problem of finding Xera had been solved for them, though, as the woman headed in their direction. Selfconciously, Tomoe straightened, trying vainly to look like a warrior-woman herself. She'd be silent for now, though, lest her identity be given away prematurely. Gordreg Jel'din felt her lower lip give way as she stared wide-eyed, her mouth falling open as she tried to take this revelation in. NIXIE had been bullied? It wasn't an idea that sat easily in her mind - that Nixie, always so confident, always so cheerful; had once been a victim? But going by the troubled expression she could see upon her friend's face it was plainly the truth, and would have been even without Nuangi's calming tones to back her up. She chewed gently upon her lower lip, thinking. She hadn't really ever been bullied herself - teased and taunted on occasion, yes, but nothing protracted or serious. And all that had stopped as soon as she'd gone to live with Embessi - or had at least been taken out of earshot. But certainly there'd been nobody in Kortela willing to pick on the girl who was due become their next medicine woman... Not that she'd seen them much anyway, not after that. From then onwards she'd been kept busy almost all of the time. "Perhaps... someone else might know?" she suggested, after having listened to Nixie's doubts and Tomoe's reply. Not that she thought there would be, or at least not anyone who could tell them anything useful. After a moment's more consideration her eyes closed as she sighed, dismissing her own suggestion. By the time she opened them again, Nixie was already rising to her feet and Tomoe was nodding in agreement. This, then, was what they were doing, and Jel'din resolved to go along with it. Perhaps the three of them together would have more luck then Nixie would alone? As Nuangi embraced Nixie, Jel'din pressed her palms loosely together, her fingers curved so that fingernails pressed against fingernails. She missed that feeling of warmth and comfort - her temporary return to Kortela had just made everything seem so much worse. Traipsing out the door in Nixie's footsteps, Jel'din scratched her head - before stiffening as Nixie suddenly started stuttering. Was this Xera, then? Nixie hadn't said as much, but her actions suggested it. Nervous herself, Jel'din nonetheless inched herself closer to her friend and carefully patted her friend upon the back. "Just... say what you want to." Jel answered quietly, staring toward the approaching Xera. "You've... erm.. you've got us to back you up on this..." she uttered, and then her stomach turned queasy as she realised what she'd said. Quickly she flashed a nervous glance toward Tomoe, but the Souhei was standing straight and trying to look proud. A good idea, perhaps... if Xera knew Nixie had a warrior like Tomoe as a companion, perhaps she'd be nicer? BearOfGlacia Kokyrie stood silently in the gloom of the hut. Her eyes scanned the shadowy interior for a few moments before finally lighting on the small, rickety cot in the corner. "Well, at least they left that behind." She sighed. Most everything else had been claimed by Makara's friends and relatives or had been purified by fire to prevent her sickness from spreading. Kokyrie inspected the cot and was pleased to see that the bedding was fresh. The old mat and blanket had likely been burned along with everything else. A large jar of clean water had also been brought in and placed in the far corner. "I won't be able to make a move until nightfall. It'd be best to get some sleep until then." Kokyrie decided. She approached the bed and sat down, testing the softness, then had second thoughts. Standing up she crossed the room to the jar of water. "But first, I think I could use a bath." ~ Nixie swallowed a lump in her throat as she took a few nervous steps forward. At this moment she wanted nothing more than to turn around and walk away. In fact her legs moved of their own accord and she almost did so. But in doing so Nixie now faced Jel'din and Tomoe instead of Xera. "Just... say what you want to. You've... erm.. you've got us to back you up on this..." Jel'din was saying. Nixie smiled weakly at her. Was her fear so obvious? Turning back towards Xera Nixie's smile melted into a frown. Narrowing her eyes she began stalking forward, intent upon her target and thinking of nothing else, lest she lose her nerve. "Xera!" Nixie called out in a loud voice. The volume helped to mask her trembling tone. Hearing her name the elder warrior glanced about until she caught sight of Nixie. Her lips twisted into a grimace as she stopped, waiting for the trio of women to approach her. "Make it quick. I don't have time for your foolishness." Xera growled as Nixie drew near. Nixie hadn't expected such a straightforward reaction. She'd feared Xera would have at least been surprised to see her, if not pleased. Recovering her wits Nixie decided that it was for the best that Xera was getting down to business without any sort of awkward reunion. It was almost as if she'd been expecting to see Nixie but that wasn't possible. They'd only just arrived. How could Xera have learned that she was here so quickly? "My friend here is searching for someone." Nixie began, indicating Jel'din. "Her father and betrothed were taken by our tribe some time ago. Do you know what became of them?" Xera glared at her angrily. "Why are you involved in the affairs of an outsider? Have you betrayed our...." "Just answer the damn question!" Nixie cried, drawing the attention of several women who were nearby. "His name was Magaxa." She added in a quieter tone. Xera seemed to be taken aback by Nixie's sudden anger. Her eyes widened for a moment before narrowing again. "You know the fate of those taken by the Ixa'ness." She stated in a cold voice before turning to walk away. "Go and look for them if you think they're still alive." Xera called over her shoulder as she went. Nixie watched her go with mixed emotions. Xera hadn't been much help at all but she still felt as if she'd won a small victory. Had Xera actually backed down from her? Nixie turned to speak to her friends, a glow of smugness glittering in her eyes. "Bah, she was no help. Just full of hot air as usual." Nixie stated with a cocky voice. "C'mon, let's go ask someone else." She knew the "fate of those taken by the Ixa'ness" had changed since her childhood and Xera had hinted that Jel'din's men were still alive. Now it was just a matter of determining what the tribe had down with them. Ianthefira Tomoe briefly glanced in Nixie's direction, momentarily smiling in what she hoped was an encouraging manner. As Xera approached, she tried to scowl slightly at the warrior woman, hoping to at least look intimidating. Maybe if she played the part of being as scary as the Ixa'Ness were supposed to be, they could get some answers out of the woman without her suspecting anything. Or... maybe Nixie wouldn't beat around the bush at all. If Xera were perceptive, she would see worry distinctly written in Tomoe's face, just before a moment of panic and then a sternness that would seem terribly fake. So much for effort. Still, the woman left without calling others to the attention that, well, Jel'din was an outsider to the village. So much for small favors. Once she was certain that Xera was out of earshot, Tomoe turned to Nixe. "What did she mean by that? Alive...? Do your people really--" she cut herself off, glancing aside. It was one thing to kill. It was another to kill for an unfair reason. Disposing of other humans... how despicable. The disgust probably showed on her face, as much as she tried to keep herself composed. In the end, though, she followed. She'd cling, for now, to the hopes that Nixie wasn't like the rest of her tribe. Gordreg The growl of anger, and the stubborn grimace spread across Xera's face, did not appear to bode well for this conversation. Jel'din drew in a breath as her teeth gritted, pressing tight together to try and stall herself from acting up in front of Xera's face and revealing herself as an outsider. Perhaps Nuangi hadn't minded Nixie bringing Tomoe and herself into the village, but then she and Nixie did appear to be quite close. Scratching an itch behind her ear a moment, she tried not to gulp as she glanced toward the glowering figure of Xera again. Somehow, Jel'din didn't think Xera would likely be quite as forgiving if she ever found out… Tilting her head, she glanced toward Tomoe a moment. The Yafutoman looked to be wearing a scowl of her own, and Jel'din wondered why for a moment before the realisation struck her. Tomoe was scowling to look more like a warrior, to make Xela think Nixie had other warriors on her side if things turned ugly. Admittedly, in Tomoe's case it was true… but perhaps she should scowl too, then, to try and give Nixie the appearance of further advantage? Xela didn't know her, and… …And what had Nixie just said? The faux-scowl vanished as the healer's eyes opened wide, realising she'd been indicated toward even as Nixie had been asking her question. Perhaps Nixie had needed to demonstrate, but… Xera now knew she was an outsider, and also would know why she was here. Jel'din felt her stomach tighten as her nerves took a hold, but forced herself to nod her head in support of Nixie's questioning, little help though it might be now. And the answer she'd gotten? Jel'din closed her eyes for a moment as Xera walked away, wondering just what the 'fates' of those taken by the Ixa'ness might be. Were either Magaxa or her father even still alive? And even if the moons still shone upon them, then where in the world were they? Even their captor didn't seem to know. Jel swallowed as Tomoe spoke, her face blanching as she thought about the Souhei's words. It sounded to her as if the Yafutoman thought they might be dead… and perhaps they were? Gone from the Souhei's face was the scowl, and in its place there sat an expression of genuine disgust. Perhaps… perhaps they really were dead? She shook her head. No. They would only be dead once she found proof they'd died, and until that moment she'd try to keep thinking of them both as alive. "But… who else is there to ask?" she questioned Nixie, trying to think back to what Nuangi had told them. Xera had been the one who'd captured them, she'd said… but could one person really have defeated a whole boatful of her villagers on her own? "Would there have been other raiders?" She queried, pondering the matter. "Should we go back and ask Nuangi again?" BearOfGlacia Xera fumed silently as she stalked away from the trio of girls. She silently cursed Kokyrie and Nixie for returning to Ixa'Ness. 'Damn them! This can't be a coincidence. They must have found out.' Of course Xera had recognized the name Magaxa. He'd been young and strong, one of the sorts of men she so highly prized but not for the same reasons as other members of the tribe. 'Hmph, he's probably slaving away in North Ocean by now.' Xera allowed herself a triumphant smirk. 'But I'll have to be cautious and watch those two.' Meanwhile...... "I guess we should ask some of the other warriors." Nixie answered Jel'din's concerns. "Ixa'Ness hunt in groups so all we have to do is find one of the girls who was in Xera's party and ask them. Maybe if we start asking around someone will..." "Nixie!" Upon hearing her name called out the young huntress glanced away from her friends. Nixie's face brightened and her lips parted in a broad smile when she caught sight of a girl about her age running towards them, waving her arms in excitement. "Pino! By the Moons, it's been ages!" Nixie squealed as the other girl reached them and threw her arms around Nixie's shoulders in a warm embrace. "After you left the village I never thought I'd see you again!" The girl named Pino chirped. "But I heard you'd returned. Are you here to stay? Oh, but where's Kokyrie? She came back with you didn't she?" Nixie's smile darkened slightly at the mention of her former captain's name. "Kyrie is....um, oh yeah! These are my friends Jel'din and Tomoe. And we're in the village searching for someone so we'll be around for a while." "Oh, is someone missing?" Pino asked curiously. Nixie briefly explained their hunt for Jel'din's missing men. "So that's how it is. And Xera was no help, as usual." "Huh. Y'know, my elder sister might be able to help. She went out on several raids back then. She probably knows something, or at least can tell you who does." Nixie grasped Pino's hands and squeezed them with gratitude. "That would be great Pino, thanks a lot!" "But on one condition." Pino added in a firm tone of voice. "You can only talk to her.....if you agree to come over for dinner tonight! You've only just come home and we've got so much to catch up on!" Nixie smiled and agreed to meet up with Pino later that evening. Then, turning to address Jel'din and Tomoe she spoke in a soft voice. "Maybe this will be easier than we thought eh? But it'll also make things more difficult if we're going to sneak out and free Charka after dark." Ianthefira Tomoe still looked a bit uncertain, but the expression of disgust at least, had faded. It can't really be death, can it, she thought to herself, taking the moment to eyeball some of the Ixa'Ness that were close by. All these women, they couldn't all be murderers... right? She shuddered suddenly, involuntarily. The idea of being in a village full of murderers--despite her own denials--it was terrifying, even to a warrior like herself. Maybe it was just men, the thought proceeded with, maybe it was just men, but she was an outsider too and if they caught her, oh the horrible things. Imagination took over. She stood stock-still, her eyes half-glazed over and staring as images flooded her mind. They'd chase her through the village and into the forest. And then she'd get lost and they'd surround her. They would probably tie her up like an animal and use the knife, or, no, the spear, and gore her like a-- The sudden call of Nixie's name jolted Tomoe violently out of that unpleasant daydream with a soft squeak. "What? What--are you a--" she stammered, and then the scene finally clicked. The souhei relaxed. And then blushed. Bowing her head, she fell silent, her cheeks starting to burn. She'd gotten herself lost in her head again! Shameful! She caught little of the conversation except 'Kokyrie'--a pang of sorrow there--and only by the time Pino finished speaking to Nixie had Tomoe's shame and self-chastization passed. Silently, she glanced up at the sailor as she spoke with them quietly, and nodded. Charka, oh they couldn't forget him, especially if the Ixa'Ness were murderers and they-- It took all of the souhei's will to squash that train of thought before it proceeded. Gordreg Jel'din nodded wordlessly as Nixie answered, in agreement with her friend's idea but not knowing where or how to start going about it. What if they asked the wrong person, and got caught out as being outsiders? That Xera knew seemed bad enough already to the healer, for why would Nixie's foe hesitate to turn their group in? But asking more and more people would only add to their chances of being exposed as outsiders to the village at large, and when that happened… Jel'din shuddered, trying her utmost not to think of the possible consequences of being discovered. At least they had Nixie with them, thank Quet'ya, so Jel doubted they would be punished that badly… but she felt certain it would mean an end to her search. Magaxa and her Father would remain lost until the end of days, and only Quet'ya herself would ever know how or whereabouts they fell. The sudden shout of Nixie's name caused Jel to raise her head from an impromptu prayer to Quet'ya, and look frantically around at the nearby scenery before relaxing as she saw her friend embrace this newcomer. Pino, had she said? Jel'din swallowed at the mention of Kokyrie's name, blinking a little and wondering just how Nixie would need to break the news here. She listened as the conversation went on, her stomach tightening once more as Nixie told Pino the story behind their journey here. But to her relief it seemed that Pino had little interest in turning them in, and a wary smile appeared upon Jel's face as the Ixa'ness girl mentioned help from a sister. Though… it still sounded more likely to work then asking Xera had done before. Though… that still left Charka imprisoned. Though… only Nixie had been invited, hadn't she? Jel'din chewed upon her lip… it hadn't sounded like she or Tomoe had been. Which was a mite disappointing; she was already starting to feel a bit peckish, and a nice meal at the home of someone Nixie could trust would have solved that problem as well. But right now, the current plans left them the question of what to do with themselves or where to hide whilst Nixie was busy at Pino's… "I… I think it would be easier if we waited for you to finish eating before trying to free Charka." Jel'din admitted, turning her gaze downward and staring toward her bare toes as she wriggled them nervously. "But… if you think Tomoe and I should try without you… I suppose I could give it a go before then." She offered, trying to hide her face from Nixie so her friend wouldn't see just how much the idea was worrying her. |
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| BearOfGlacia | Oct 15 2008, 06:32 PM Post #2 |
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Viking
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(OOC - This set of posts consists of our individual posts made after Gord's mass repost that was lost after the Penguinsuit account (and all posts made under it) were deleted.) BearOfGlacia "What are you talking about Jel?" Nixie cocked her head to one side in confusion. "You're both invited to dinner too. But it would be rude if we didn't add something to the meal." Glancing up at the sky Nixie gauged the time of day and reckoned they still had a few hours until dusk. Then, hefting the wallet she'd purloined back in Kortela, Nixie decided they had enough money left to contribute quite a bit to their meal with Pino and her elder sister. "I know of a good vendor where we can buy some fruit and maybe a bit of meat. Yeah meat...." Nixie said. "If we bring the good stuff maybe it'll help grease the wheels a bit and help us to learn what we want to know." Leading the way Nixie set off through Ixa'Ness in the general direction of the local grocer's store. She hoped that the place was where she remembered it being from her youth. It had been years since she'd last been here after all. Reaching the site she was relieved to see the store's wooden facade, a plank painted indicating a food vendor hanging over its door. "Hmm, it's been remodeled I see." Nixie remarked. "I wonder if the old lady that used to run the place is still here." Wind chimes cut from hollow reeds clattered against one another as Nixie pushed open the shop's door and stepped inside. Her feet made barely a hint of sound as they trod upon the woven straw mat that covered the dirt floor. In response to the sound a young woman looked up from the store's counter, a smile of greeting upon her face. "Welcome! Please have a look around and let me know if there's something in particular that you're looking for." Nixie returned the greeting then began browsing the store's contents. Shelves lined its walls and a long table sat in the room's center. Baskets, jars and nets scattered about the store contained all manner of fruits, vegetables and other products. "Hey Jel, could you and Tomoe pick out something good to buy? I'll ask if there's any fresh meat for sale and maybe ask a few questions while we're here." Gordreg Jel'din chewed nervously at her lip, thinking about Tomoe's question. If they needed to fight then the Souhei would need her weapon, but… would they need to fight? Jel'din was sincerely hoping they wouldn't; for if it came to a fight then they'd be up against the whole of this village by themselves, and that wasn't something they could hope to win against. Most likely, they'd end up in the same situation as Charka. But on the other hand, the Ixa'ness were hardly shy about keeping weapons around them. Even from here she could see a few of the warriors standing around, their weapons worn openly, so would they even think Tomoe suspicious if she carried hers? Indeed, perhaps they might become less suspicious about visitors if they pretended to be armed Ixa'ness, just as Tomoe had done earlier when they'd first walked into the village? "Umm…" she murmured, looking back toward Tomoe "…I think you should take it, Tomoe, just in case. Just… pray to Quet'ya that we won't have to use it for anything more then cutting bindings." And she gave the Souhei a quick, rather nervous smile. And then Nixie spoke up, and Jel'din widened her eyes as her perception of the plan changed utterly. They were both invited too? Well, that explained things a little bit, Jel'din supposed. If they were all going to eat together, then they'd still be all together when the time came for the meal to end and to slip out after Charka. Even so, it did mean they'd have to leave Charka that little bit longer before his rescue came… she chewed her lower lip as she thought on that, hoping that Charka would still be alright when the time came. But if Pino's sister knew something about the Captives from her village, then she'd have to be there to listen and hear just what she might have to say. No matter how uncomfortable it might become to eat in the same room as one of the kidnappers. As Nixie rushed off once again Jel'din waited a moment for Tomoe before following onward, across the village toward Nixie's vendor. There was a clatter of chimes as she pushed aside the fabric of the door, and for one horrible moment Jel thought she'd just broken something. But the sound continued, and as she looked up to see wind chimes stirred by the movement of air she gave a relieved sigh. Just a chime, then… nothing that she'd have to pay for out of the funds she didn't have. "Umm, okay. Is there anything you'd recommend?" she mumbled across to Nixie in answer, though if Nixie had heard or not she wasn't quite sure; she did seem quite preoccupied. So Jel'din started to look around the vendor for herself, lifting the lids of small clay jars to see what lay within, sifting her fingers through baskets of pulses, and studying the bound clumps of fruits and vegetables that hung from hooks on the walls and ceiling. There was quite a lot around, including many things she recognised that were almost the same in Kortela, but what would Nixie's friend like most, she wondered? Garpa? A basket of fruits? Perhaps a Loqua of some sort? There was a lot of choice here, perhaps too much, really… "…Tomoe? Is there anything here you like the look of?" Jel'din asked, scratching just behind her right ear with one finger as she did so. Ianthefira The souhei nodded quietly, taking the familiar polearm into her hands. Then she reached up, for beads that were no longer there, and frowned, before bowing her head in prayer. "In the name of the Blue Moon, I'll not strike unless I have to." Her expression took on an uncharacteristic hardness, before Nixie spoke. "Meat...?" Tomoe looked slightly taken aback at the mention of the word, her expression returning to its common form of worry. She swallowed, glancing around as she followed after Nixie. A little more quietly, she ventured, "You, um, mean fish, right...?" It was forbidden, to taste the meat of an animal. One of the many vows of those who lived at the temple, this was one of the most stringent. Not even for the sake of preventing starvation were adherents allowed to eat anything but the flesh of fish in terms of meat. She was otherwise silent as they walked, her mind troubled. She couldn't eat something like that, but pretending to be an Ixa'takan was very important, too. What to do... Once they reached the stall, she wandered away a distance, handling some of the fruit and vegetables briefly and ignoring any of the meat. So strange, she thought, picking up a round, reddish-purple fruit, so different from back home. The color of the skin was so bright, and she swore she could smell it and it looked so ripe and good and... Shaking herself from her fruit-induced reverie, she put the fruit quickly back down, and looked over to Jel'din sheepishly. "Um," she murmured, "I don't know what's good..." Her gaze did wander back to the mysterious fruit though. Gordreg (OOC: A little while after the meal finishes..) Reaching upward, Jel'din took hold of the Vidal tree's higher branch and pulled. The outer bark felt quite smooth beneath her fingers and more then once she felt as though her grip might slip from around the trunk, but with both arms she pulled herself upward, raising herself up onto the higher branch of the tree. Taking a quick glance downward as she steadied herself upon the branch (and grabbed hold of a slightly higher branch for balance), she threw a weak smile to Tomoe and waited for the Yafutoman to begin her own climb. She could still hear the ruckus, of course. It was a hard sound to miss; Nixie was playing her role quite admirably over by the building's entrance and no doubt distracting many observers who would have otherwise noticed their climbing. Jel'din still vehemently wished that Nixie could have come along with them, but there'd been no choice. Nixie was the only one of the trio who could create a distraction for the guards without ending up a prisoner herself. Her eyes raised their uncertain stare away from the distant commotion, and Jel switched her attention toward the building itself. A log-walled structure a single story high, the only exit and entrance to the prison was well guarded by warriors of the Ixa'ness. But from up here, Jel could see that the roof was another matter altogether. A tightly bound layer of sewn leaves and animal leathers it stretched across the prison from side to side, though the slight rise of the fabric near the centre made it look as though the Ixa'ness had built a wall about a tent. It would only take a single step to climb atop of it… which was why they had climbed here, of course. Patting herself just below her right armpit, Jel'din quickly checked again that the rope was secure. She felt nervous enough just being up here, her comfortably filled stomach tightening a little each time she let those nerves makes themselves known. Despite their time planning, and despite Nixie's repeated assurances, it still worried Jel'din that it would only take a single Ixa'ness turning her head in the wrong direction to completely scupper this rescue. And they owed Charka this rescue, as much as they needed him to get away once they were done here. "Urm... are you ready?" Jel'din whispered as she tapped at the coiled rope again, the branch beside her vibrating a moment as it took another weight. She wasn't really sure she felt ready herself, but... Nixie's distraction might end at any moment. Ianthefira The only problem, for Tomoe, was managing her naginata. Finally opting to use a bit of vine to create a rough harness for the weapon, she quickly followed up after Jel'din into the branches of the tree. It was, at least, an easier climb than some of the trees she'd gotten herself into as a child. Some of those had very smooth bark with not much in the way of hand-holds. The souhei did hope she wouldn't need to use the weapon. But Charka was an innocent in this whole mess; it was their collective fault he was trapped, and she would threaten, if not worse, the Ixa'Ness if it meant freeing him. It was a struggle to stay focused, and not fixate on the distant ruckus back in the village. Tomoe had to bring all her will to bear to not just hang there like some kind of tree-rat and listen to the whole thing. Oh, that would be very bad... From here... it wasn't too much further to the roof of the prison. At least Tomoe had good balance. There was a silent nod in the direction of Jel. Perhaps it would be best to not talk too much... ...And then, the souhei stepped off the branch, onto the roof. More secure in her balance thanks to years of martial arts, she would let Jel'Din handle the rope. Besides, Charka would probably need the extra help. Dropping down to all fours, Tomoe began to slowly crawl across the roof, hoping to make as little impact over the tent-like top as she went. Her goal? The post-like indentation. From there, she could set up more rope with Jel's help for the inevitable descent. Gordreg Jel'din watched with a nervous swallow as Tomoe stepped atop the roof, silently mouthing a prayer to Quet'ya that the Souhei would keep her balance. She seemed focused, though Jel'din knew that it might only take a single damp leaf to send Tomoe crashing to the forest floor, or into the inside of the compound. But she also held her tongue; distracting Tomoe at this time would be even less helpful, and perhaps it was not a good idea to talk in any case... Busily keeping both eyes upon the Souhei and watching her path along the roof, Jel'din took a sudden gasp of breath as Tomoe's head sunk downward. For a moment Jel wondered if Tomoe really had slipped, before realising that her companion had merely dropped down onto all four of her limbs. And with all four limbs, Jel'din realised, it looked as though Tomoe was making steady progress up toward the indentation. Stepping off the branch herself, Jel'din wobbled a moment before finding her balance upon the wood that lay underneath the fabric. Quickly lowering herself down onto hands and feet to follow Tomoe's example, she climbed along the edge of the roof toward the Souhei. Reaching Tomoe after about a minute's careful climbing, Jel perched herself unsteadily upon the wood that lay underneath the leathery fabric and steadied herself upon the edge, then uncoiled the length of rope from around her shoulder. She peered quickly downward at the fabric, then back toward Tomoe and to the naginata. Perhaps it would be better at cutting then her knife, she wondered? But after securing the rope about the slight extension of the wood, it was her knife that Jel'din pulled out, and with it started to cut through the fabric of the roof. Ianthefira It was still shaky going. The strength of the roof wasn't certain, after all, and even if Tomoe was relatively small and compact, there were no guarantees it would hold her. That said, though, so far, so good. The souhei reached her target point, and there, precariously perched, opened her mouth as if about to say something. Whatever it was, though, it was apparently minor, as she quickly clammed up again. Warily glancing at Jel'Din, Tomoe took ahold of the part of the rope, wondering if the cut was could to make the whole roof collapse. ...Better that the healer stay where she was, if that was the case. Tomoe would, at worst, fall part way, potentially get hurt a little, if the roof tore apart. More likely, with her training, she'd be able to make use of the rope here to greatly minimize her problems. Very quietly, just above a whisper, the souhei hissed, "Get ready." Best to be prepared. Gordreg The fabric was tough to cut; but then Jel'din supposed it would have had to be. Nobody would want a roof that gave the first time that a branch fell on it, after all. Nonetheless, her knife was making slow progress as it bit further in, opening up a horizontal slit. Lifting up one side of the small cut, she peered down into inside of the building. The insides were warm and filled with smoke from some unseen fire, but through the slight haze she could just make out a figure below them, seated upon something obscured. Was it Charka, though? She couldn't quite tell, and her eyes were starting to sting from the slowly escaping smoke... "Get ready." Jel'din readied herself at the Souhei's instruction, her muscles tensing, her breathing quickening with sudden panic. She took a breath too quickly and started to gag, quickly clamping a hand over her mouth to muffle a pair of coughs that subsided soon afterward. "Ready?" Jel questioned in a whisper as soon as she could speak again, turning her head to regard Tomoe quizzically. But, ah, Tomoe was holding the rope and appeared prepared. Ready for that, then. She re-took her tenuous hold upon the rope, and peered down through the hole again. "Shall I...umm... go down, then?" Jel asked the Souhei in a whisper of her own. "We could just lower the rope, but... Charka might not find it..." And she clasped the rope more tightly, ready for Tomoe to lower her downward if the Yafutoman made that decision. BearOfGlacia Earlier that evening…. Nixie sat across the small hut's fire pit from Pino, her deft fingers rotating the skewers that held the strips of meat she'd purchased earlier suspended over the flames. "So how have things been around here since I left?" She asked, mostly out of the need to make pleasant small talk but also out of curiosity. She had been gone for some time after all and the question had been nibbling away at her since she'd returned. "Hmm? Oh, not much really. You know how it is with this place. It's the same old, same old." Pino yawned, tossing an empty banana peel into a shadowy corner behind her. "Shandala made War Chief, my sis is a warrior and Makara passed away not long ago. You remember her right? Anyway, she's gone now and sis is…." "What foul lies are you spreading about me now?" An older woman growled as she stepped through the tent flap and cast her gaze around the room at Nixie, Jel'din and Tomoe seated before the fire pit. "And who are these people?" Pino briefly introduced Nixie and her friends. "You remember Nixie right? She left a while back but has finally come home. Oh, and these are her friends Jel'din and Tomoe. Girls, this is my elder sister Tyler." Tyler snorted in greeting and sat down to help herself to some of the meat Nixie had been preparing. "So what brings you back after so long?" Nixie stuffed a pierce of meat into her mouth, chewing as she thought of how to answer the question. "Well….we were in the area so….." The younger woman mumbled as she swallowed her food. Tyler didn't seem to be paying attention to her response anyway. Nixie hadn't known her very well beforehand so it was no surprise the warrior didn't care one way or the other about what she did. That might be a good thing Nixie realized. Later…… Jel'din and Tomoe had excused themselves for the evening while Nixie chose to loiter around, chatting absently with Pino. In truth she was stalling for time while her friends made their way to where Charka was being held captive. There was one ulterior motive however. She waited until Pino rose, heading for the latrine, before she spoke. "Say Tyler. You've been a warrior for a few years right?" Nixie began nervously. "Yeah." Came the clipped response. "Do you remember capturing a younger man named Magaxa a while back?" She asked in her most casual tone. "And an older fellow, probably his father?" Tyler sat cross-legged on the floor fletching a handful of arrows after their meal. She didn't even look up from her task as she replied. "We caught a lot of men. I can't recall every one of them. But that one I remember well enough. Kept fussing over the old man, put up a fight whenever any of us came near him." Nixie nodded, filing the information away in her memory. "So…..what did you do with them?" "Not sure. I only helped catch him. It was Xera's group that dumped them out after we were done with them. You'll have to ask her." Tyler explained, furrowing her brow as she pulled a feather into position upon a wooden shaft. Xera again. It wasn't the news Nixie had wanted to hear. She was certain her childhood tormentor wouldn't be nearly so trusting and cooperative as Tyler was being. Just then Pino reentered the hut. Nixie rose to meet her and began to sidle towards the tent flap. "Well, it's been a fun evening catching up with you both but I need to get going now." "What? You're leaving so soon?" Pino whined. Tyler paid them no heed. Nixie smiled apologetically as she lifted the flap and stepped out into the night. "I really do need to go and find out what Tomoe and Jel'din are up to. They get into no end of trouble when I'm not around. And later still….. Nixie swayed dizzily as she approached the hut where Charka was being held captive. A gourd full of sweet wine hung from her hand and her breath smelled as if she'd been drinking from it. "Heeeeey you girlsh!" Nixie slurred as she wobbled closer. "Whoooo ya got in dere toni…tonight?" The two guards stationed at the door raised their spears in warning but relaxed when they realized that the person approaching them was obviously not a threat. "A fine, fit young fisherman but he's not for the likes of you. So get lost." One of them growled. The second guard supressed a snort of laughter at Nixie's inebriated antics. "Heeeeey, c'mon! Just gimme a quick peak. Maybe he's……my type!" Nixie giggled. She wasn't drunk of course and she was sure her portrayal of a tipsy wench was just horrible. But for the moment the two guards seemed to be buying into her act. The first guard scowled and poked at Nixie with her spear. "I told you to leave! Now go on, get!" Nixie staggered for a moment but stayed put. "Oh I get it. You're…..just keeping this 'un for yerselves yeah?" She asked, squinting at the guards in mock accusation. "Havin' yerselves a private party. Yeah….a party." Nixie took a swig from her goard, nearly choking on the fiery liquid. A drinker she was not. "But that's goooood! Party yeah" She squealed. "And whassa party without some booze?" She asked, holding out the gourd towards the second guard. Glancing around to make certain no one important was observing the scene the guard reached out and accepted the gourd. "Don't mind if I do." She answered, taking a long pull from its contents before handing it over to her comrade. "I'm not about to start drinking while I'm on duty." The other guard huffed, glaring hotly at her. Nixie giggled drunkenly. "Can't hold yer liquor eh? Yeah, you look…..not like party……uh…." The first guard turned her angry gaze upon Nixie as she snatched the gourd away from her comrade and took a shallow swallow from it. "Fine, I'm drinking. Happy now? But I'll be keeping this." She stated, confiscating the wine. "Heeeeey! Gimme it back!" Nixie shrilled. "Only if you leave." The guard returned, eliciting a sigh of disappointment from her comrade. "Fine but…..I…..don't feel….so……" Nixie stuttered, placing a hand on her forehead before toppling face first into the dirt at the guards' feet. "Hmph, now who can't hold their liquor?" The first guard snickered. 'Jel, Tomoe. I hope your end of this deal is going well.' Nixie thought silently to herself. |
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| The Karlminion | Oct 17 2008, 04:41 AM Post #3 |
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In the tent where the prisoners were kept, a blonde man was slowly coming to wakefulness. His clothes had been neat and fashionable a few months ago; now they were stained, dirty and torn, with most of the rips being recent. He was clearly a Valuan man; his presense in a dirty hut in Ixa'ness Village was hard to determine. He would have been a handsome man, had his long-ish hair been clean and styled, his face clean, and his clothes presentable; as he was, with his hair dirty and lank and hanging down past his jaw and being generaly smudged, he wasn't so attractive. Add in the fact that he was inarguably bound to a stiff wooden beam, and the incompatability was completed. Now it only needed whip-wielding haridans to finish the picture off. "Urgh..." the man muttered as he stirred, trying to rise. "Moons, my head..." He tried to put his head in his hands, but was stopped by the realization that there were manacles around them. "What the hell?" he cursed, staring at the cold metal bands. "Who would dare..." He moaned again and finished his previous movement; his head felt hot to his hand. Not a good sign. Vaguely, he began recollecting how he'd landed here... ------------------------------- "Little ingrate!" the blonde man shouted, half-drunk, as he tried to chase another man around. This other man, short and dark, held a half-empty bottle of loqua in hand and a resolute expression on his face. "You dare take my-!" "Yes, Jareth, I do," he cut in, planting a hand in the taller man's chest and firmly shoving backward. "You've done nothing but drink and shout at us this whole trip, we're all sick of you." Jareth laughed as he stood up again. "What, are you going to strand me here? ME? Jareth Ludos Montoya of the Valuan Armada?" His voice became scornful. "My family would-" "Your family wouldn't give two shakes of a Looper's ass, Jareth!" the darker man shouted, advancing on the nobleman. "You're a drunken mess! You've swallowed your ticket's worth of loqua, we're not taking you any further!" With that, it was all over. The shorter man, captain of the vessel, had his mates sieze Jareth and throw him overboard. To his credit, Jareth didn't scream; he merely landed ten feet down on a convenient bush. "Bastards!" he screamed. "Come back here and face me like men!" The crew of the trading vessel merely laughed and threw the man's effects overboard after him; some tattered clothes, a finely crafted sword, and a massive pistol. "Why en't we kept that lot an' sold it?" the mate inquired ruefully. "Because, you lout," the captain replied, "they were personalized to his hand and name. Selling them anywhere, even on the black market, would get us handed to the block quicker than blinking!" For all his disdain of Jareth's standing, he knew the man was still an officer of the Armada and a son of one of the great houses; his Medallion indicated that. "I won't risk my head for a few thousand gold." --------------------------- "Cowards," Jareth hissed to himself, failing to notice he wasn't alone in the tent. The rest of his recent past came back to him; his being found by native women, their capturing him through Sleep spell and tainted dart. Now he was here, hungover, disarmed and miserable. "DEMONS!" he shouted with sudden vigor, straining at his bonds. "LOOSE ME IMMEDIATELY AND RETURN MY ARMS! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO HOLD ME HERE!" He kicked at the side of the tent, trying to make as much noise as he could. "HEATHENS!" |
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| Gordreg | Nov 18 2008, 02:50 PM Post #4 |
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Descending slowly into the smoke-filled hut interior, Jel'din held a moist strip of fabric against her face with one hand whilst the other held tightly onto the rope. The dampness of the fabric helped keep her from inhaling the worst of the smoke-laden air, though nothing could stop the slight stinging sensation that was causing her eyes to water. Even part-closing her eyes had only a minimal effect against the stinging soot, and with her eyes closed she would be completely at the mercy of anything waiting down below in the prison... she opened them again quickly, rapidly blinking to try and keep her sight clear. Her hands tightened about the length of rope for a moment and then slowly, carefully, she continued the long climb downward... And there, a figure in the gloom! For a moment, Jel'din wondered if it might be Charka; until he shouted out in a voice quite unlike that of any Ixa'takan she knew of - in strange accent, and with a most peculiar dialect indeed. The figure - the man, Jel'din decided, for that was what he was - the man was tied up and bound against a wooden beam. In the dim light of this prison she couldn't determine his features clearly, and so Jel'din descended the final meter of rope to the ground, then gave the rope a quick tug to let Tomoe know that she'd arrived. This done, Jel'din turned around once again and looked about at the room. A number of wooden posts rose upward from close to the centre of the room, and tied to one of these posts Jel'din finally caught sight Charka. The young man was prone, bound tightly and unconcious against the post. She stepped forward, and knelt down to press one hand to Charka's throat. He was still warm, and she could still feel the pulse of his blood beating beneath the skin. Alive, then... thank Quet'ya for her mercies. Though quite what had been done to Charka was another matter altogether; Jel'din could see a few odd bruises marking his body and there was a strange odour in the air, just potent enough to escape being masked by the smoke. Jel'din shook Charka gently, but though he stirred there was no sign of him waking... had he been drugged, perhaps? Or was it exhaustion? Jel'din chewed her lip nervously. This complicated things; they'd assumed that Charka would be able to climb up the rope himself. Yet if that was no longer possible... A loud shout from the other man in the room caused Jel'din's head to turn, the young woman gasping invoulantarily from the sound of his ranting. He was evidently a prisoner as well... just how long had he been here, Jel wondered? And would removing him be safe? He didn't seem particularly stable, though perhaps that was simply a result of his confinement? Hesitantly, Jel'din took a few steps toward the bound man, coughed to clear her throat... and then coughed again, for the sooty air was really not doing her any good at all. "Umm... excuse me?" Jel'din ventured nervously, taking another step closer. She wanted to untie the man, to end the suffering that the Ixa'ness were apparently causing him, yet his wild shouting was a bit disconcerting and, once free, there was no indication that he'd help her out in return. Indeed, what if this man were some real criminal, as opposed to Charka's false incarceration? She thought it through for a moment, then swallowed. Whatever reason he was here, she needed him to help Charka. And in any case, she couldn't just leave him to suffer. "Mister... prisoner?" she ventured, taking a careful step closer. "Umm... I have a friend here to rescue, but he won't wake up." She swallowed nervously, her hands held together to stop herself from jumping if he shouted again. "If I let you out... can you carry him out of here, please?" And without waiting for an answer, she stepped closer once again, and started cutting at the binding ropes with her knife. As she did so, Jel'din noticed the man's hands were bound seperately, and by heavy metal. Theworried expression crossed her face again. Even if freed, would the man be in any shape to carry Charka out of here? But she kept on cutting at the rope with her small knife, until the final fronds frayed and the binding rope fell away. |
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| BearOfGlacia | Nov 25 2008, 10:49 PM Post #5 |
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"Oh for the love of......" One of the guards sighed as Nixie collapsed. "Get up! You can't lay there all night." "You think we should get her some help?" The second guard asked, poking Nixie's prone form with the butt of her spear. "No. Let's just drag her into the bushes and she can sleep it off." The first answered. "So long as she's out of our way. I don't want to trip over her or anything." Of course Nixie overheard the whole conversation, being that she was only pretending to be falling-down drunk, and the guard's suggestion troubled her. It wouldn't do to have the guards rooting around in the bushes where they could stumble across Jel'din and Tomoe. She had to do something. "Owww. Quit it!" She mumbled, flinching as the spear's butt prodded against her ribs. Nixie sat up, looking around blearily before her eyes focused on the guards. "Oh......is jussst you. Go 'way, I'm.....shleepy." As one the guards stepped forward and hooked their elbows underneath Nixie's armpits. "Then go home and sleep in your own bed!" The first guard snapped, giving Nixie a shove in the direction of the village proper. "Okaaay, okay......I'mma goin'." Nixie slurred as she staggered off. "You're no fun. You're not...." Nixie kept up her slow, swaying pace until she was out of sight of the guards. When she was confident they could no longer see her the young huntress leapt off into the shadows and began retracing her steps, circling silently towards the rear of the tent where Jel'din and Tomoe were likely to be waiting for her. ~ "Um......Are you awake Kokyrie?" A shy voice called from the other side of her tent's flap. "I've brought you a change of clothes and some food ma'am." Kokyrie yawned and stretched as she rose, relaxed and refreshed, from her cot. Having washed away the dirt and sweat that had accumulated on her dark skin and rested her weary mind and body she felt like a new woman. Kokyrie could tell from the low light outside that a few hours had passed already. Although she hadn't meant to sleep for so long Kokyrie knew her body needed rest. "Yes, come in Mika." She called out. The clumsy young woman whom she had met earlier pushed her way into the tent, her arms laden with parcels. "I....these are.......GAH!" Mika yelped as she sprawled facedown on the ground. Kokryie snickered as the wrapped bundles landed on the ground at her feet. "Food and clothes, I heard." Kokyrie smiled, offering Mika a hand. "And just when I thought Shandala didn't like me." "Oh she probably doesn't." Mika groaned as Kokyrie helped her to her feet. "But what she doesn't know won't hurt her." Kokyrie's smile broadened at that. It seemed this awkward young girl had some spirit in her. "So, this fabulous feast will be our little secret then?" She purred, unwrapping one of the bundles to reveal several strips of cured meat. Mika blushed slightly as Kokyrie held out the bundle to offer her a piece. "Well, I just kinda.....I feel sorta bad about......you know, the way you were treated and all....." Mika stammered before trailing off into an embarrassed silence. "It's not your doing girl. There's bad blood between Shandala and I." Kokyrie sighed, tearing off a mouthful of the thick, chewy meat. "I guess that's one thing that hasn't changed while I've been gone." "Yeah." Mika frowned. "Oh well, Shandala was a twit back then too so it's no big deal." Kokyrie smirked, offering Mika a conspiratorial wink. Mika snorted with laughter and nearly choked on the meat she was attempting to swallow. "Like I said; that hasn't changed since I left." Kokyrie continued in casual tones. "But it looks like the village has. It's gotten bigger and I can barely recognize anyone anymore. I wanted to take a look around but......" Kokyrie left her words dangling like a baited hook. "Oh! How about I show you around then? I don't think Shandala would mind something like that. I mean.....we don't even have to tell her about it right?" "It'll be our little secret." Kokyrie purred. |
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| The Karlminion | Nov 30 2008, 10:56 PM Post #6 |
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Jareth quit shouting when he realized someone was already here, about the time he realized the room was full of smoke. Peering through the haze he noticed a girl, Ixa'takan he was confident in assuming, coming forward and mumbling something about her friend over there needing help and would he help them if she cut him loose? A jumble of replies coursed through his head as she cut through the ropes binding him. The first was that of traditional disdain for lower citizenry; callously brush her away and loudly claim he could get out himself. This was obviously bollocks, though it was tempting bollocks. The second reaction was to merely hit her over the head and run for it, but that would be dishonorable, and horribly ungrateful to boot. He squinted into the top of her head, covered in ordinary brown hair, hoping he hadn't caught some wretched little jungle virus in this miserable hole. Finally she was done, and he took a step forward, testing his balance; at least he was steady on his feet. He turned to Jel'din, and decided at last that whatever his personal issues she had helped him out somewhat and he needed to at least try and be gracious about it. "My name is Jareth Montoya," he said with a bow, noticing as he did so that she had no shoes on, which confirmed his impression of her as a bare-footed jungle heathen, "and I am of Valua." Nevermind that he had whole-heartedly supported the man who would have enslaved this whole continent; that man was dead and he had moved on since then, or so he told himself at night. "I shall help you get your friend out, but in return you shall help me escape as well, and help me find my arms and affects. Acceptable?" Without waiting for a response he turned to the unconsious Charka. He put a finger to his neck, checking his pulse; still strong, and the skin was warm and alive. "That's alright, then," he muttered, looking down at his bound hands. They would be a hinderance, but nothing he couldn't deal with given a bit of assistance. "You, girl," he ordered, turning back to Jel'din. "Bind his hands together, then put him on my back; it will be easier that way to carry him up the shaft there." The smoke didn't seem to bother him; either he was used to it or he had a good constitution, but aside from a slight roughness of breath the fumes did not affect him. |
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| Gordreg | Dec 1 2008, 09:12 PM Post #7 |
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Jel’din took a backward step as the ropes fell away from the strange bound man and watched as he stood himself upright. When he bent forward again a few paces afterward she feared for a moment that the man was about to topple right over, but thankfully after a few paces further the man seemed to be quite steady on his feet –even despite those heavy bindings that he still wore about his arms. She wondered for a moment if they were removable, then pushed the thought aside. Doubtless the man would have said something already if such a thing had been desirable, after all? Still, at least she now knew where this strange fellow was from. She thought for a brief moment of that strange dark city she had visited, a place of stone and unpleasant air with only the light of glow-rocks to see by. Then she returned her thoughts forcefully to the present, and listened as Jareth Montoya made an addition to their quick deal. “Yes, Acceptable.” Quickly Jel’din nodded in agreement; of course this man would have to be allowed his escape if he was to carry Charka. And as for his arms and effects… Jel’din could clearly see he had his arms where they were supposed to be despite the metal binding them; so she decided that probably wasn’t quite what he had meant. Just what he had meant was another matter altogether; but since she had no idea what to look for Jel reckoned it would be better to agree, then to let Jareth do the actual finding of them if such a thing was even possible. Picking up a bunch of the sliced bindings that had fallen from Jareth and tucking them underneath of her arm, Jel’din made her way over to Charka. Reaching for her knife again she cut through the rope as before, and watched with some satisfaction as the bonds fell away to release the unconscious fisherman. Pulling him gently away from the beam, Jel’din struggled for a moment to lift both hands together before tying the bonds about them to keep them from falling apart again. That done, she strained and coughed with the effort as she lifted Charka slowly, her legs quivering for a moment as she briefly took his full weight. It took a couple of tiring tries and one complete false start, but eventually she managed to lift Charka’s prone form atop Jareth, and sighed with relief as Charka’s bound hands slumped forward across Jareth’s torso. Stepping backward she took a deep breath, then found herself coughing as the smoky air crept unbidden into her lungs, setting her eyes watering. Her hands leapt quickly to her face to bring back the damp cloth, and for a moment she held them above her mouth whilst recovering as much of her breath as was possible in this foul air. When recovered enough, Jel’din walked back over to the dangling rope, and gave a quick pull as she looked back upward to the hole that had been cut in the fabric of the roof. To cut through the fabric of the roof rather then the hard wooden walls had seemed sensible at the time, but now Jel’din wondered if they had erred. Even with Charka bound around Jareth, hoisting him up through the gap would not be an easy task. Still, she gave a quick pull upon the rope – to alert Tomoe that she would be coming up now – and then started to climb, glancing downward every now and again toward the pair who remained below. Only when she crested the wooden beam of the building’s log wall did Jel’din relax, and after checking over the rope’s security once more she peered down into the hole. “You can, umm, start climbing!” she called downward quickly, the glanced briefly about to check that she hadn’t alerted the Ixa’ness by accidental means. But all she saw when looking was the shape of Nixie, moving quietly around the building toward them, and Jel’din sighed again with deep relief. |
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| BearOfGlacia | Dec 5 2008, 12:35 AM Post #8 |
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Kokryie fidgeted with the neckline of her leather tunic and sighed. She'd forgotten how uncomfortable the crude clothing of Ixa'taka was compared to the softer fabrics found in other parts of the world. The supple brown buckskin was flexible and easy to move about in to be certain but when combined with the humidity in the air to chafe at her skin. "Not very fashionable either." Kokyrie muttered, observing the unadorned tunich and shorts she wore. "Hmm? What was that?" Mika asked upon hearing her voice. "Did you have a question?" Kokyrie shook her head. "No, just talking to myself." She answered. Mika nodded her understanding and the two continued their tour of the village. For several long minutes Kokyrie followed Mika as the younger tribeswoman pointed out various structures around the village proper and added her own exhausting commentary on each and every one. "And that's the hut where Kora had her baby. Oh, you should have seen the size of her belly! She had to have been carrying triplets in there! Why, the whole tribe was gathered around the hut that night placing bets on how many babies she'd spit out!" "Uh huh." Kokyrie answered mechanically, no longer paying attention to Mika's banter. Instead her eyes roved around the village noting the layout of the huts and estimating the number of warriors who would likely be found in the area. Filing this information away for later she tapped Mika on the shoulder, cutting off the girl's latest story of village life. "Saaaaay Mika. This is fun and all but let's go take a look at something more.......exciting!" Kokyrie purred. "What did you have in mind?" Mika asked. The mischievious glitter in Kokyrie's eyes was making her nervous. ~ Nixie glanced anxiously up towards the top of the hut. She fought down the urge to climb up there herself to find out what was going on. Patience had never been her strong point and the suspense was getting her all flustered. "Psst, hey Jel." Nixie rasped in as loud a whisper as she dared. "You almost done?" No answer. Nixie stewed for a few more moments alongside the eerily silent Souhei at the back of the prison hut. At length the sound of stealthy movement from above drew Nixie's attention upward. She was relieved to see Jel'din atop the hut. She couldn't see Charka with her and realized he was probably still inside the hut. It wasn't until that moment that Nixie realized that it was entirely possible the young fisherman would be in no shape to climb out under his own power. It was equally unlikely that Jel'din would be able to haul him out by herself. Smacking her forehead in embarrassment Nixie mounted the tree and began climbing. "You okay? Need any help?" She hissed as she reached the top of the hut. |
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| The Karlminion | Dec 6 2008, 10:52 PM Post #9 |
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Charka was lighter than Jareth had anticipated, and he hadn't anticipated much in the first place. He scowled slightly as Jel'din scampered up the rope, knowing he would have a harder time both because he was larger and heavier, and because of the burden on his back. Nevertheless, it was his plan, so he tested the give in the shackles; about a foot of slack, just enough to get on with. "Here goes nothing!" he declared, gripping the rope in one hand. He hoisted himself up and reached up with the other hand, restricted of course by the chains. "Haven't... done this... in a while..." the Valuan grunted as he heaved, foot by foot, up the rope. Eventually they made it up, and the other two pulled Charka off his back before he, too, awkwardly scrambled over the edge. "If we can find a file or a sharp rock that would be a most excellent thing," he said as he rubbed his wrists as best he could. He shielded his gaze with his hands and glanced out over the village, though he had no idea what to look for. "Do either of you know where prisoners' weapons and affects are kept? I would be much more useful with my sword and my gun, and yet more useful still with my hands free." He was, for the moment, managing to act almost normal, though it was a sure that bet that as soon as he could get into any position of higher merit he would revert to his usual haughty, haunted ways. Jel'din and Nixie didn't know that, of course, but they would find out sooner or later. |
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| Gordreg | Dec 12 2008, 12:55 AM Post #10 |
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The strange prisoner from Valua called up in reply, and Jel’din glanced back down into the hut through the gap she’d made to watch as he climbed. He made slow progress moving up the rope; though what with those bindings about his arms and Charka’s weight to hold him down Jel’din supposed that Jareth was actually doing remarkably well. She smiled a little and beckoned encouragingly upward; his performance certainly added justification to her choice to free the prisoner. The sound of new footfalls upon the wooden-log wall caused Jel’din to look round, and she nodded in greeting to Nixie. “Umm… yes.” She nodded again, gesturing down toward the figure climbing the rope. “I think we might need lots of help…” she muttered, a little uncertain of what to do now. “Charka’s sleeping and I couldn’t wake him, so…” And she trailed off as Jareth made it to the roof, though Jel pointed quite subtly to indicate what it was that she’d done to Nixie. Pulling the slumbering form of Charka off of Jareth’s back to allow the Valuan prisoner to gain his own hand and foothold upon the roof, Jel’din bent down quickly to check Charka again now that she could see in daylight rather then the smoky insides of that prison. His torso was covered with those peculiar bruises – though in the daylight a few of them looked more like thin wounds – and outside the smoke-filled atmosphere that strange odour about Charka seemed far more potent. She placed a finger upon Charka’s eyelid for a moment – but she felt little movement underneath, and so moved the finger to his throat where Charka’s pulse was both evident and gaugeable. Still deep unconscious, then - even after such an ordeal as that climb. If that hadn’t woken him, Jel’din wondered; what would? She glanced back up as Jareth asked his question; but it was one she couldn’t answer and so glanced down again, hoping that Nixie might answer whilst she was otherwise engaged. Reaching for her moonstone, Jel’din clutched her hand tightly about it and tried to concentrate and silently pray, placing her other hand gently upon Charka as she did so. “Moons… give him strength.” She whispered; and a faint green glow spread out from her hand and over Charka. All across his torso those strange bruises started to fade, whilst the thin wounds began sealing over with scab. Removing her hand from Charka’s chest, Jel’din exhaled slowly and looked back to the others. “ Jareth of the Valua, I’m afraid we will need you to carry Charka until we’re out of the village.” She stated apologetically, hoping that the man wouldn’t mind too much. True; it was a part of their bargain – but Jel still felt a little guilty for holding it over Jareth’s head. “But, er, for now I think getting down from here would be a start.” And she took another step, reaching out to grasp hold of an extended branch from the Vidal tree. Pulling herself across and onto the trunk, the healer started a slow climb downward, pausing only to look back up to Nixie and clear her throat quickly. “Umm, Nixie… what happened to those guards you were distracting?” Jel’din asked, curious to know. |
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9:52 AM Nov 26
