-╪ Tuatha De Dannan ╪- [ Medieval Fantasy / Steampunk ]

[Urban Thorne]

Rikki Tikki Travi

He approached the pair and interjected as politely as he could. "Begging your pardon, but I believe it would be best if I accompanied. The commander is still on the mend, and we are in strange territory. It would be beneath Lady Ash to dirty her hands should something happen. Plus, the Kae'dryn has given her vow of sanctuary. Talise and Domini should be safe without me."

Dark-hued lips pursed faintly in displeasure as her ailment from the previous week was brought to bear against her, those slanted violet eyes pinning Ky with a stern look. As much as she appreciated his motivations and intentions, there were much bigger concerns that a slight nagging weakness in her lungs... And she was not about to allow the two people responsible for their small group being this far advanced on their quest to be left unguarded in the grasp of a clearly angry archmage known for showing her displeasure in fatal fashions.

Shaking her head firmly, that purring soprano emerged in gentle disagreement to Ky's words. "One of us should stay and keep an eye on the two troublemakers, Ky, and I think you would be far better suited for it than I. Besides," she continued, those violet eyes slanting towards the pale figure beside her, "If the stories are true, the Lady is probably a more dangerous combatant than either of us. If there is any sort of danger the Kae'Dryn has allowed to remain in these lands, the Lady Ash is probably more than a match for it."

Lowering her voice, Asmyrra unconsciously moved a little closer to Ky, that purring soprano taking on a more serious note. "Also, there is the matter of the Kae'Dryn. She says we are welcome to stay, but..." That purring accent trailed off as Asmyrra closed her eyes, a sigh escaping before she continued. "In a contest between she and I, there would be absolutely no question that she could crush whatever Weaving I tried to bring to bear. As someone more physically oriented, you might be able to keep her off-balance just enough for the three of you to escape. Please, I ask you to stay, and keep an eye on our wayward Gypsy and her inventor friend..."  

[Talise Anora]

A beautiful roaring scream, of joy and sorrow so extreme...

Choosing to largely ignore the commander's faint jab at the manners displayed by their party, Tali accepting Domini's hand of assistance. She stands and rights herself with a short dusting of skirts and single sweep of fingers comb through her hair. Listening to the distressed elven maiden's offer of food and lodging, which was obviously aimed at Ky, she is surprised when the usually polite and chivalrous knight completely ignores the pretty ward's words. She watches bemused as he turns his back on the young lady and steers instead over to the commander.

Huh, she thinks to herself, I guess beautiful Angel trumps virtuous Elf.

It is comforting for her to see a bit of life and playfulness in the small woman beside her, and she squeezes the grasping hand gently in encouragement. Yes, food and sleep would be wonderful.

Slanted ears perk up faintly at the mention of Evalin's name. Amidst all of the excitement she had practically forgotten about her injured new friend. Not that the half-elf was going anywhere. The amount of sleeping powder she had slipped the woman would ensure their patient would be out until at late morning at the least.

There is a love in me raging. A joyous, magical feeling...

 

[--Winters-Cruel-Fate--]

Cyrillia watched as everything unfolded before her, the Kae'dyrnn's not so happy departure was something she wished she could have prevented. She felt bad for having done what the angel had told her but she was so baffled by the appearance of the female being that it would have been disrespectful not to listen.. right?

At present the young maiden stood still and listened now to the hushed sounds between the comrades, it was hard not to eavesdrop, her hearing was excellent especially when not far away but she tried her best to keep from listening to them. Cyrillia smiled at the young inventor, she was quite interesting and amusing, she was glad to be of service to them even if they were the legendary barbarians she had heard of so much throughout her life but she promised herself to keep her mind open. They might not be so bad.

The young elf put her hand down and looked to Naelonni who had been, at first, hesitate to do as the angel had requested which was understandable. Seeing as how the Kae'drynn might have been angered by Cyrillia herself at her disobedience had everything not been the way it had.

She now straightened her dress and wondered if perhaps she and her friend had been forgotten. She cleared her throat, "I am sorry if I am interrupting but who am I escorting to a room?" she tilted her head at the group, hoping that someone would have heard her and clear things up for her.  

[Talise Anora]

Chocolate eyes blink blink as the knight person utterly blows her off. Barbarians indeed! Suffering from far too much excitement for one night, she sighs softly to herself. At least the two slightly wild ones were listening to her. Glancing between her fellow apprentice, the gathered warriors and the strange duo with hands extended before her, her brunette locks shake off the confusion.

Turning now to Cyrillia, Nae motions in the direction of the soldiers. "It seems they aren't sure whether the gentleman," obviously after his latest stunt she's using the term in a general sense, "is going to be staying tonight or not. Why don't you wait for him? I'll take these two ladies here, then I'll fetch some supper."

Returning her attention to the two strangest dressed of the group, she starts down the hallway towards the sleeping quarters with a polite "If you would follow me please?"

The elven maid leads them down the hall and to a set of doors. "I can also prepare a bath after supper if you'd like?" She asks them kindly. Let it not be said that Elves have improper manners.

I am a leaf on the wind...

 

[Cheshiyre]

An amused hrumph and a smirk followed Kari's exclamation. "Yer assumin' tha'd I thought ye'd had a decent amount 'e sense be'forehand," comes the playfully goodhearted answer, "An' tha'd be givin' ye far too much credit."

She briefly glanced up from her task of cleaning the fallen warrior's wounds sporadically throughout the conversation. Once finished with that, she paused to empty a small bundle of herbs into a small pestle, then adding a splash of wetness from her waterskin to create the pasty poultice to apply against the broken flesh.

As she dressed the warrior proper, her eyes once again flickered around them. This time they caught for a moment on the carcass of the downed giant. "Bit o' luck there, weren't it?" the fiery haired lass comments with some trepidation. "Tha' brute's a might larger than the usual lot."

Dark green eyes rise to meet yours. "Or were it not luck then?" she queries curiously.


 

[Thaedrian]

Never mistake tears for sadness...

Not Johannes, then. Taking a second, more cautious, sip from the offered cup, Eva sighed happily as it soothed her aches and pains. Whatever else this witch was, she knew her way around... Well, whatever it was Eva was drinking. It tasted nothing like the foul brews her oft worried mother had made when Eva had so much as sniffled. A pity they weren't as effective as they were appalling or else... Stearing her mind firmly away from that particularly painful subject, she silently conceeded that the witch had a point. Still, it was hardly a skillful set of prevarications. Tali clearly knew she was hiding something and probably suspected something close to the truth. She was clever for all that she was young, and Eva had grown rather fond of her. Not that she would admit as much aloud.

"Being civil and learning when to hold your tongue is as much a survival skill as building a fire," she grumbled, uncomfortable with her present train of thought. Or, really, any of the thoughts currently lurking in her mind; each darker and closer to self-pityig despair than the last. Pathetic.

Her continued references to Uriel finally dragged Eva out of her own contemplations.

"Lord Uriel would do what is necessary. I trust his judgement in this."

She spoke firmly, disliking the implications in the witch's words but truly believing her own declaration. Uriel would have his reasons for such actions. He must. It worried her but then so had the order to kill Asmy--the witch. And then she had found her worries to be baseless. What cause had she to lose faith now? And at the word of a stranger? And a self-proclaimed heretic at that? She believed the witch as far as knowing Uriel. It made a strange sort of sense. As to the rest...

That last needle would have caused her to blush if Eva had any blood to spare.

"The shot was true and even an angel's healing left her coughing blood since. None of my marks ever had an angel at their call before."

That last was spoken at little more than a whisper, her mind travelling back to that day. It felt like a distant memory, now, though in truth it was not so long ago that she had seen the Beast's minion destroying the town. Not so long ago that she had left on this... quest of hers.

...that will only bring you grief.

 

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Ky opened his mouth to protest, but thought better of it once he had taken the commander's advice into consideration. He took a deep breath and nodded respectfully. "As you wish, Commander. I will await your return whilst keeping watch over the young ladies."

He shifted his gaze over to Lady Ash and bowed deeply toward her. He then righted himself and turned on his heels only to find the blonde elf standing alone. His shoulders sank as he considered this moment the quickest failure to follow orders in his short career. Not even a minute has passed and he has already lost track of his charges. If he were the type to swear he would've done so quite loudly.

His mind backtracked a bit to the seconds before addressing the commander and an apparent angel of tales as yet unheard by him. His face flushed a deep red as he recalled a duet of pleasant, young elven maidens attempting to gain his attention along with his missing companions. He had been so wrapped up in the business of the new angel that he had practically ignored the young wards of tbe Kae'drynn. Unacceptable!

Ky quickly gathered his bearings and approached Cyrillia. "I am terribly sorry. Please forgive my incredibly uncharacteristic rudeness." he apologized with a bow. "I am Sir Kiske, and I would be forever greatful if you would lead me to where my companions have gone. So that I may keep watch of them, and properly apologize to the other young miss."  

[--Winters-Cruel-Fate--]

Watching Naelonni leave with the two other 'guests' she wondered if perhaps both sides were leaving a bad impression on the other. Of course the barbarians seemed like a very close bunch and it was obvious they had been through so much together, they worried for one another and cared for one another. She wondered if perhaps she should think them not as barbarians but something kinder like a family, they seemed all very willing to give their lives for one another. That was a trait that she could respect but yet she still felt unsure of them, uncertain the outcome of their arrival and stay. It saddened her that she felt that way.

Cyrillia turned to Ky as he approached her which caused her to step back subconsciously. Had she thought he was going to attack her? Her green eyes dilated by the thought and she looked down, ashamed to know that she had even did that without thought. She was going to apologize but he now spoke to her, his voice was nicer when closer she mused. She was appalled to see such manners bestowed in this race from what she had heard throughout her life manners like bowing and such were simply not of their nature. A glitter of hope and faith danced in her eyes as she listened to him, humans might not be all that bad? He certainly didn't seem that way or perhaps she was judging too quickly?

She looked up at him with a kind sincere smile, "It is quite alright." she replied turning a bit towards the corridors she and her previous companion had run through not long ago. "I believe both parties are owed an apologize. The sudden visit has sent much.." she thought a moment, what would be the right word to express the magnitude of the situation, surely turmoil was not the right way to go. Goodness only knows if the Kae'drynn could or even dared too she could have caused some serious damage to both groups and the tower. "Chaos into this tower." she finished leading Ky down the corridors where Nae had gone down. "It is now simply a difficult time and everyone is just trying to keep up." she added sadly. What was there to say? The fighting had been going on for so long that she feared it would never end.

"I wish I could apologize for what had happened earlier on." she now spoke, glancing over her shoulder at him, she wasn't sure if she wanted him to stand behind her. It was unnerving to say the least.  

[BeaMichelle]

Molly was right. Kari could scarcely believe the size of the giant. Yet her eyes, and her left arm, left belief in her like a splinter. In hindsight both she and the wounded man should be nothing more than a pasty mess at the end of a massive club.

Her bright green eyes met her friend's dark ones. Kari was grateful to have Molly here. It meant she could dropmo her hardened soldier act and allow herself to be gentle for a bit. With now softened eyes she spoke honestly with her friend and sister in arms.

"I cannae say for sure, Molleh. Whatever brought dewn this tree did so with purpose." She bit her bottem lip as she considered how best to put her idea into words. "That sumthin' also cut it dewn in two strikes. I dinnae know of a creature liven' tha'd beh able the do tha'."

She paused for a moment while she surveyed the scene again. It could just be her mind playing tricks, but could almost feel strange eyes on her. She shook her head and dismissed the mad notion. She slipped back into her native tongue and admitted, "My dearest friend, he and I should be dead. Something, or someone, saved us tonight."

She chuckled nervously, "Would yeh listen the meh gab on. Ah think Ah'd sound better after a pint of ale...or two. Wha'dya say the tha', Firefly?"  

[Cheshiyre]

A distracted but thoughtful expression scrunched the maid's features as she considered those words. "Dunno love. I ain' never 'eard of no wisps get'in large eno'f ta be takin' down a tree. There be plenty of fey folk in 'ese forests, but none tha' wield axe 'nor blade."

Molly tucked in the last wrapping just as a couple of other warriors entered the clearing to take her patient away. She did one more check over of his person before giving them an affirmative nod, then rose up from her knees to approach her long time friend. "Dun think I 'aven't noticed yer favourin that arm," dark emerald eyes narrowed reproachfully with concern. "Ye' took a knee again didn' ye?"

Throwing her hands up towards the night sky, her hood fell back to allow ripples of flaming curls to cascade down her back. She raised her voice in exasperation. "By stars in the heavens, one day yer gonna yank yer bone so far from ets socket I won' be able to s'ove it back in."

With a low growl escaping her lips, the celtic lass stalked close to Kari's side to take a better look. "Oy..." gentle but firm hands check the shoulder area for the dislocation, "Ye'v got ta be more careful Four Leaf. Ye' keep up li'k tha' and ye'l tern these joints in'ta mince meat."

 

[Cheshiyre]

Thaedrian

"The shot was true and even an angel's healing left her coughing blood since. None of my marks ever had an angel at their call before."

That detached gaze rarely left your face, combining with her frank comments to create a strange honesty regarding the situation. Those colourless orbs seemed to absorb each nuance of emotion that passed over the halfling's features, silently gauging the fanatic level of this young devotee. Of course you trust his judgement. Sheep often trust the wolf. That is why they will always be prey...

"No, only an Angel with the blackest of wings would order such a kill," she concluded as she brought the now empty cup back to her lap and wiped it down with a cloth. "I know you have seen them. They are beautiful are they not? No other Angel in the Order can boast such tainted quills. But then, no other has worked so hard to earn them."

With a few movements from graceful ebony hands the container disappeared into the folds of her satchel and brought forth a small velvet looking tie bag. Long metallic nails loosened the knot and reached to pluck a small cloth wrapping from within. Extending those prong like talons towards Evalin, the witch pressed the bundle into her closest palm.

"You are correct. He will do whatever necessary to further his cause," the words were stated as simple, cold fact. The witch seemed to have little opinion about the subject matter either way.

"Hence, your assistance is no longer required. I have been sent to replace you."
 

[Urban Thorne]

Returning Ky's nod with one of her own, and a smile that showed both relief and thanks, Asmyrra let the knight depart, her mind already trying to wrap itself around the next task. But first things first... Departing this deathtrap of a tower. Giving the female angel beside her a beckoning nod, the azure-tinged spellweaver made her way over to where the double doors they had entered through. Taking a deep breath, she gave the great doors a slow push... Then allowed the breath to rush from her lungs in relief as the doors swung open.

Darting with a scarcely disguised alacrity out into the open night air, Asmyrra only paused to half-turn and wait for the Lady once she was a handful meters clear of the entryway. As she waited, those violet eyes slid half-closed, her senses reaching out and tentatively searching out the various threads of spell energy surrounding the tower. It came as no surprise to her that the tower seemed to be the center of a web-like structure of Weave energy... But it was definitely better than being inside the building. The air itself was almost tangibly charged with magical energy there.

Releasing that set of senses, Asmyrra allowed her gaze to trace over the garden and plant-life surrounding the tower. It all seemed so incongruent with what just happened inside that structure... And as she turned that slanted gaze to the tower itself, her mind struggled with it's size, in comparison to the interior she saw. Outside, it looked grand and slender, but no-where near as soaring and grand as it looked from the center, gazing up. It certainly didn't have the diameter her mind kept insisting they had been surrounded by.

Indeed, it was unassuming from the exterior... Just as the garden and gently flowing lines of trees and shrub seemed to be intended to relax every sense. The scent from the flowers, the gentle curve and line of the walkways.. Why, even some of the flowers appeared to have a nocturnal glow! The young spellweaver shook her head softly, unable to decide which was the illusion: the peaceful exterior, or the terrifying interior.

Or whether one was meant to enhance the effect of the other.

So caught up in her study of the place was she, that Ash had plenty of time to make her way out of the door and join her... Perhaps even a moment or three beyond that, even...  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Ky couldn't help but smile a bit at the young elf's flinching. Her overly delicate appearance, large eyes, and knee jerk reactions reminded him of a rabbit. He found it strange at first, but then he remembered their location. The young lady had probably never seen a human before. Thus the thought from strange to understandable.

He kept stride with Cyrillia as she led him through the corridors, listening to her soft voice all the while. He couldn't help but to try to take in as much of the legendary tower. After all, how many humans have walked these hallowed halls? This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Only a fool would squander such a chance.

He took note of her nervous glance. Not wanting to set the young lady more on edge, he adjusted his position to slightly behind and to the left.

He raised a hand and bowed his head slightly in regards to her making an apology. With a warm smile he said, "Think nothing of it, Young Miss. I know full well the strain conflict places on the mind. There is need for you to apologize. My comrades and I are unharmed. That is the best outcome I could hope for."

He placed a hand over his mouth and cleared his throat. The debris kicked up by the fallen chandelier seemed to be irritating his throat. "By the by, is there a title which an apprentice of the Kae'drn is addressed by? I would hate to not honor one of such prestige properly."  

[Urban Thorne]

Talise Anora

The elven maid leads them down the hall and to a set of doors. "I can also prepare a bath after supper if you'd like?" She asks them kindly. Let it not be said that Elves have improper manners.

Domini needed no second urging, and happily fell in step behind the cheerful apprentice person, still almost possessively keeping Tali's hand all to herself. As they wandered through the tower, the little inventor couldn't help but allow those mismatched eyes to wander, attention being caught by this trinket here, that design there... What she wouldn't give to wander this place without an evil mage lady ready to cook them! Maybe they'd get a chance after the conversation to look around a bit...

But from the severely bloodshot condition of her eyes, Talise knew it wouldn't be long. Perhaps Domini would last long enough to get some food in her, but certainly not long enough to take a bath or anything. It was just a matter of time before her exhaustion claimed the inventor, and she'd be out like a candle. Even her steps had the slightly unsteady track of someone who's adrenaline rush was starting to wear off...

But this was a quest! A quest that had treasure at the end, for the worthy adventurer!! After all... If the decorations were this interesting, imagine what the food might be... And the bath! This place prolly had full-size baths, rather than the little one-person tub aboard the Sul! She remembered baths like that... You had to lock the door back home, or an uncle or a cousin would intrude on the ladyfolk, quick as you please...  

[BeaMichelle]

Kari's demeanor switched to hardened soldier at the appearance of the other men. While she could be herself in front of Molly, she still had plenty to prove to the other clansmen.

She huffed when her close friend saw through her act. T'was true, she had been trying to hide the injury from Molly. Green eyes rolled as the fiery medic conducted her combination of scolding and examination. "Ah dinnae have much time teh think about it. It was either take it in the shoulder, or git knocked into the tree. Ah'd rather have yeh mold mah arm like meatheh clay than be carried out like HIM." The guardian Insisted. Her acute outburst came at the palpation of the bruise caused by her shoulder meeting the shield.

Kari inhaled through clenched teeth and grumbled obscenities in the language of dragons. Profanity was a habit she had been trying to break for years. She found it easier to cheat. She glanced down at her friend and quickly muttered, ."Aye, aye. Yeh dun hafta say et. Ah swear yer the only person tha' enjoys proofing me wrong more than my mum."

Her eyes surveyed the field once more before she took a deep breath and asked, "Wha'd yeh say, Love? Am ah goin' to yer table t'night, or can ah rejoin mah clan?"