Post by Joliette Thorne on Apr 27, 2008 4:23:49 GMT -5
HANGING CORPSE TAVERN
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Kasyr had finally had it. Really, it was that damnable pools fault. Tenebrae. Caedan had said she had seen her near it, and yet, the hybrid hadn't felt the Vampiresses presence anywhere on the mainland, "..Is it..being obscured?" Leaning back in the chair he'd taken to, the hybrid couldn't help but be discomforted by a possibility. That the pool, the thing which was spoken of in whispers- and with damn good reason from what he had cared to find out, was it that the troubled teen had espied Joliette within, mired within it's nightmarish depths. What was it she had said again, "...Ugh. Gods be damned, I can't believe I'm actually plotting this out."
Dulcinea seemed to appear out of nowhere, plopping down at Kasyr's table, bottle of wine placed in front of him. "Ya know...talking to yourself is the first sign of old age." Pausing for a moment, she suddenly grins at him, leaning back and mimicking his pose. "Well, its actually not, but it was a pretty good opening line." Nodding to the bottle, she folds her arms over her waist and becomes slightly more serious. "So, boss...you seem to be pretty deep in though. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that its about about a mutual friend that we both care about very much. Care to share?"
Kasyr frowned, hardly seeming 'pleasent' about those thoughts flitting through his minds eye. "Caedan, She'd said she knew where Tenebrae was. Saw her at the pool et all. Something which my whole...wisp magic bit told me otherwise about, but. given the situation..and the place. I'm thinking, there es a possibility I was wrong, or not looking literally dip enough. That place es the very -last- place I want to go. There's a cost, but right now... I'm willing to risk it. ..Mostly. I think I'll just help myself to that drink et make sure I get to a point where I'm dead certain- I don't exactly like the idea of feeding myself to the pool." And with that, the bottle of wine was absconded, one thumb hooked 'neath the cork- to oh so merrily dislodge it towards a wall before the entirety of it was swilled in a manner that might have made Darian proud. Okay, that was a lie, but amused... perhaps. "...Feh. Why es it every time I'm going to do something stupid, I can't find the people I -really- want to. Or person as it is."
Dulcinea followed his explanations as well as she could, a little fuzzy on exactly what place he was talking about, but knowing that it had to do with her missing friend, she tried. Having muddled through it and come up with as clear a picture of his situation as she could, she quietly processed it all, watching as he drank deeply from the bottle of wine. "I see." Perhaps he was being stupid, but he was also the only person that she could see willing to take a risk to find someone that had apparently meant so much to so many...even though few were acting like it. Straightening up, she thumped her hand down on the table and nodded her head. "Well, I don't know who you're looking for, but you've found me. And if you're going to try and find Tene, I want in. Stupid as you think it is." The young healer nodded her head with finality as she gave her proclamation, meeting Kasyr's eyes and silently challenging him to laugh at her determination if he was so inclined.
Kasyr could barely muster a rather cynical sounding chuckle- a full out laugh was entirely out of the question. Instead, he simply met and returned that stare, an edge creeping into his voice, "Cherie, I appreciate the offer of company. More than I would have appreciated tu tossing yourself in my lap than a bottle on the table- et given what I'm about to do, that probably would have been appreciated to a point. A very shortly lived one, but still. You're a healer, just what do you do if by chance.... wherever Tenebrae es, whether it's in the belly of the pool or what have you, that there is something capable of -keeping- here there. You honestly think tu can pull your own weight? Follow...if you really want to- you are Cabal, so the choice es yours... But, I might not be able to protect tu. Do keep that in mind." The hybrid, just to ensure that whatever uncertaintys his words may or may not have incurred- would shove away from the table, if only to rise up to his feet and begin his trek to the door, "So...What'll it be?"
Dulcinea couldn't help but give him a little frown as he seemed to dismiss her from being any real help. Nonetheless, she jumped up from the table and followed him over to the door, taking a moment to scoop up her ever handy satchel from behind the bar. "I will have you know, that I'm always helpful. I have many many skills." Coming up behind him, she reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder to catch his attention. "I won't slow you down...and my brother taught me how to defend myself. I'd like to help Tene." There was a slight quaver in her voice that spoke to her apprehension, but she let none of it show on her face as she stood there all petite and determined in front of him.
Kasyr simply offered Dulcinea a shrug,, the faintest hint of a smirk appearing at her perseverance, "..Well, I guess this es what I get when I nominated you as my personal assistant, eh? ...Well, I suppose having a bit more company on this death march es always a fun thing." And with that, the hybrid simply opened the door, then drew his hands to the back of his head, hands fingers weaving together as he proceeded to waltz out into the evening. "Do try et avoid dawdling, eh? Going to have to keep pace if you intend to get killed off at the same time as moi."
Dulcinea shoulders her pack, muttering to herself as she follow him out the door and into the start of their search. "Dawdling...I'll show him dawdling...I'll stay on top of him the whole time. Let's see him make snarky comments with me riding him the whole time." She shakes her head and smiles slightly, glad that he trusted her enough to let her come with him, even if his attitude didn't suggest as much. Taking one last look at the establishment she waved to Steadmen and walked through the door behind Kasyr.
Vailkrin City Path
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Kasyr was rolling his eyes ..the whole time, of course. He was in fact doing his utmost to abstain from the slew of comments that practically flood his mind- her particular choice of words lightening the mood, if only for the moment. "So,What exactly -did- your brother teach tu, Et, well, who es your brother, for that matter? Mostly, I'm just figuring where we stand et whether I'm going to have to pick up much slack or no." And onwards did the tiefling go, seemingly unperturbed by the perpetually cracked and broken roads that Vailkrin possessed these days. They'd only last so long, after all, both in travelling distance...and more importantly, in time.
Dulcinea kept up with the tiefling rather easily, having been used to traveling to help people before settling down in Vailkrin. Empathic that she was, she knew at least that he was amused by her presence and she was hopeful that would keep his spirits up during their journey. At his questions, she reaches behind her into her pack, grasping hold of the smooth wooden rod just sticking out of it and giving it a yank. As it pulled free, the ebony colored staff gleamed in the dim light from the tavern its contours and grains seeming to be perfectly fitted to the druidess' grasp. Unperturbed by the action of pulling something so big out of a place so small she continued walking with him, using the staff as a walking stick. "He taught me how to protect myself with this. His name is Ardan. And I'm rather good with it. The wood is special to me. I can pull my own weight. Stop worrying so much, we're off to visit the Tene!"
Vailkrin-City of the Unquiet Dead
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Kasyr continued to traipse, even as the buildings became all but inexistant and the roads somehow became noticeably worse, somehow. Now, instead of merely broken, they were smashed at all sorts of awkward angles- forcing the hybrid to hop from perch to perch- his rather ...odd sense of balance allowing him to maintain a steady pace with an excessive amount of ease. Indeed, even hopping across the bodies of dead workers, the hybrid hardly seemed ill at ease- especially when upon reaching the edge of the path, he'd hop upon some poor dead humans torso, spin in place then shot a stare back towards Dulcinea, "Ardan...You say. You know, I've met someone by that name before. Paladin, as I recall. He was searching for his sister in Vailkrin, en fait." Letting out a curious little, "Hrm", he then simply returned to hopping
Dulcinea was able to keep pace with him, playing some odd version of follow-the-leader over broken bits of building and landscape and the dead that no one had bothered to remove. She reinforced the mental barriers in her mind, keeping out any and all residual empathic echoes from the area. It had been awhile since she had left Vailkrin, but the sights still didn't sit well with her. Using her staff to help her over a particularly large piece of debris, she managed to reach the top of it as Kasyr spun in place to face her. A smile twisted her lips and she jumped down, happy that she hadn't been overcome with a bout of her usual clumsiness. "Yes, that would be my brother. He doesn't seek me out as much as he used to. I miss him."
Tattered Rope Bridge
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Kasyr sauntered onwards. Really, it was a reflief to be finally clear of that particular set of obstacles, especially considering that amidst all that debris had been the ashes of the former mayors office. A rather nasty sort of Omen towards one who was endeavouring to rebuild and take hold of the city- to be sure. Still, he couldn't remain trapped within his reveries forever. "So wait? You were the one he was searching for? How quaint- et...rather funny that he only had to stray a little bit further from the fountain to find you, if only he had directions. if I had known, I wouldn't have screwed around et wasted his time so much well. Possibly." The hybrid would, of course, pause- the task of crossing the ruined bridge immediately coming to the forefront of his mind. Still, it didn't seem impossible, and the hybrid generally was game for this sort of thing, thus he'd take a few steps back, then leap- only avoiding an awkward spilling forth once again due to surnatural grace. From there, came an almost liquid flow of motion, the hybrid intermitantly stepping onto the actual ropes of the bridge, and the planks, avoiding those which seemed most rotted in favor of the more 'sturdier' ones. "...God es this a lousy bridge." And thud- would he be upon the other side, landing quite neatly in a crouch- and with a broad grin upon his features.
Dulcinea sighs and shakes her head, silently lamenting her brother's particular habit for 'just' missing her. She took a deep breath once they were on more steady ground, lifting her staff above her head and stretching for a moment, before trudging along behind her companion. In short order they were at the bridge, a particularly nasty looking obstacle which she wasn't looking forward too. She approached the unsteady thing whispering a plea to her gods as she got ready to traverse the rickity monstrosity. "Lord and Lady protect me and help me to not kill myself crossing this poor excuse for a bridge." Rolling her eyes heavenward, she would pause and watch the tiefling for a moment as he crossed. Not wanting to risk putting both of their weight on it at the same time. Shaking her head at what she interpreted as a showy landing, she would take her first step, making sure to stay along the side where it was most steady. A series of clumsy leaps and a couple of heart-wrenching balancing acts and she was across, giving Kasyr a mild smile even as her heart was pounding heavily within her chest. "And we push forward."
Drow Check Point
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Kasyr looked back with a smirk, a brief bit of applause offered up as the hybrid continued to move, albeit in a somewhat backwards motion. Thr road was after all, clearing up. No longer a mess of broken tiles, it was instead guarded by a particularily rough barricade of sorts; a row of wooden spikes to be exact. What was more, there was a rather large amount of drow forces stationed at that particular point- whos sole purpose in life seemed to be the haranguing of every single traveller who passed by. Well, the haranguement and killing of those who weren't undead or a dark elf. "..Oh. Oh right. Uh. You might wanna just...keep close to moi Cherie. With the way things are in Trist'oth...there es a half and half chance we'll either get through without a hitch....or that we'll quickly have to run through without getting skewered to death. On the bright side, those are fairly good odds, all given." And Dulcinea was not given any more warning than that, the tiefling hurriedly moving up to the checkpoint, to simply introduce himself to the officer, by full title, "Excuse-moi, et all, but, I have to skip the whole..formalities of being checked through, me et my companion have important duties to attend to, in regards to the future of Trist'oth." A pause, and with a simple bit of flourish- a ring was produced. Unremarkable in the sense that it lacked a magical aura, it still held a particular insignia, That of the archmosian empire to be precise. It was upon that revelation that he would begin speaking anew, "Kasyr Azakhaer, Ashen the Tiefling, Ruler of Trist'oth. It's rather important, Madamoiselle." And then he'd wait, and just pray to Hell that the drow which had taken to patrolling closest to the border were those of his own and not of Malices forces- not like he really cared to figure all this out generally.
Dulcinea was for the most part, enjoying being outdoors. She had been stuck in the tavern for the past several days attending to her new found job and the druidess had missed feeling the breeze against her skin and seeing different sights than those that were offered inside. Barely any time was given to let her process his statement before he was hurrying forward towards the drow guarding the checkpoint. The young healer put on a burst of speed, arriving at the waypoint nearly at the same time as her companion. She had only had to deal with the drow here once before, and at that time she had had help so she couldn't help but wonder herself, how this encounter would go. Trying to make herself invisible along Kasyr's side she waited silently as he broached the subject of the passage with the drow officer in charge. Dulci wondered at the ring that he had produced but simply let him talk, hoping that they would get through quickly. She didn't like the feeling of this place at all. The female drow had focused on the tiefling and the ring in his hand, listening with barely concealed contempt to his story. A few harsh words were said, simply telling them to stay put as she paced back a few steps to talk to another officer. Dulci could hear nearly nothing of what the drow were saying, but from the looks of things, they would be very lucky to get permission to pass. When the officer that had questioned them looked back in their direction and started fondling her whip, the empath knew that they weren't to have a favorable decision given to them. "Uh...Kasyr...I think the running and fleeing approach might be in the best interest of us both right now..." She tugged on his sleeve, more to reinforce the point hoping that he'd take the hint and run. She could sense the guards malice from where she was standing, and she wasn't about to get killed without even finding Tene.
Kasyr wasn't bereft of an empathic ability, something which led to his head drooping forawrd at the general mix of emotions being produced, "...Oh...Goddess'es sake. What -es- with my luck when it comes to that goddamn city. I should drown them all. Like goddamn rats. Just find a way to flood their go...Oh. Right. Fleeing." And with all due abruptness the hybrids right arm would shoot out- none to gingerly moving to wrap around Dulcineas waist before she'd be abruptly lifted up by the hybrid. He'd be careful as ever, to avoid any direct contact of skin to skin, simply letting what strength was granted to him by training (and his traits more inherant to race) aid in the purloining of Dulcinea, and then, with any bit of luck he'd quite abruptly plow forward- left hand flickering towards the face of the very first sentry he could grasp, before ramming them straight iinto a sidelong section of the barricade, granting them a fatalistic incidence of Irony as the hybrid rushed forth like a mad man- more than intent on evading through or tackling those who weren't stunned enough by his little burst of Celerity and sudden moves to get straight in his path. "...Why...Why! Does this happen to moi...?"
Vaileen stopped and looked on in complete confusion at what was happening before her, should she help, did they need help?
Dulcinea lets out a squeak as without any ado whatsoever the tiefling plucks her from the ground and hitches her over his shoulder. Managing to keep hold of both her staff and her dinner, she'd let out a groan as his shoulder slammed into her stomach. She had a moment of girlish behavior where his manliness nearly made her swoon...oh wait. That was the lurch as he sprung forward, carting her off in his fleeing motions. She could hear the muffled shouts and grunts as an impact jarred both herself an her companion, and since she couldn't see forward, she could only assume that he had dealt with whomever had been silly enough to try and stop them. It was at that very moment that one of the officer's who she had thought half-asleep sprung into action, leaping towards the two of them with every inclination of tackling them to the ground. What he got instead was a staff to the gut. Dulci aided in their headlong flight as much as possible from her ungainly position, managing to get several more whacks, and what sounded like a broken collarbone with her weapon of choice. "You're just that lucky, I suppose." Something impacted with her feet and she yelped, bouncing on his shoulder slightly before yelling, "Did you just use me as a blunt weapon?"
Kasyr slowed briefly, the soldier he'd impacted into just given the time to regain his bearings as the hybrid responded, mid-flight {In the sense of fleeing, of course}, "Not quite yet....I'm still working on it." And then, he was back to full speed, empty hand crashing into the just having recovered soldiers throat, Kasyr then simply keeping a grip as that fleeting bit of opposition was knocked over than dragged at top speed, The ending result, would of course be that the back of the poor bastards skul, and a fair chunk of his brain would be smeared in a path - but such was the price for..well. doing his job. "Right ...so. On second thought, that was a fairly bad plan." Fwip- "Was that an Arrow?" And then came a veritable cascade of noise, a wave of noise- that sound of bows creaking, and arrows whistling- which only had the hybrid moving even faster still- "...Just...tell me where the arrows -aren't."
Dulcinea flinched at the rather sickening sound of what sounded suspiciously like a broken skull. Jabbing her staff to the left, she managed to jam it into some drow's throat, idly noting that they were down for the count before starting as an arrow imbedded itself into the wood of her staff. "Uh...Kasyr...flee faster!" At his question, her gaze lifted to the raise where the checkpoint station was located, and the long row of archers getting ready to open fire. "What do you mean where they -aren't?" As another volley was readied and she watched as if in slow motion the arrows were released, she absentmindedly shoved her staff into the groin of another drow trying to get at them from behind. "Its a frickin' volley of arrows. There's not gonna be many places they aren't, since they're aiming at us." Her anxiety suddenly getting the best of her, she could feel energy starting to build around her. Fueled by the emotions of both herself and the tiefling the magickal energy was soon filling her full, nearly to bursting. She knew that Kasyr could probably feel she was up to something, and since she didn't know what else to do with the energy growing she decided to direct it downwards. "Hold on!" Gripping onto him as he continued to move she could feel the magic pour out of her flowing back into the ground and spreading from the tieflings' pounding footsteps. Suddenly there was a rumbling and a cracking of the ground behind them both. As she watched long, thick thorny vines sprung from the earth, enveloping and cutting off their pursuers. Likewise on the ridge she spotted the archers dealing with the vines and she patted Kasyr on his back yelling, "Go, go, go!" With any luck they'd be able to get away before the drow figured out what happened.
Pale Moonlit Path
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Eventually, and, by all means, Eventually is meant in every sense of the word, the hybrid comes to a slow, something like a frantic giggle the only noise that could be heard from him for a few long moments. "...I can't...believe this. If this keeps up, we'll get skewered, maimed, flambeed, torn asunder, crushed or killed in some other colourful manner long before we get to the pool. ..Oh. Did I mention eaten?" Pausing, the tiefling cast a glance at the far distance, before finally remembering an important detail. "...Uh..by the by, nice trick et....sorry? Eheh." Gingerly, the hybrid would come to a brief stop, unslinging the woman from his shoulders, to land her on her feet, before he'd slowly start to pick up pace again. "..Still, I'd prefer you didn't ride moi all night long. ...That's sort of reserved." And off he went again.
Dulcinea just managed to stay on her own two feet, lurching around for a moment before completely regaining her balance. Using her staff as a tether, she blinked and shook her head stunned and surprised over the recent events. "Oh dear..." Not wanting to get too far away from him, her anxiety still high, she stumbles along behind him until she catches up. One hand falls to her belly, massaging the tender muscles there before glancing backward again. "Oh dear..." Silently she began to thank the Lord and Lady for keeping them safe, content to remain silent in the glory of the escape. Deciding to say something to lighten the mood, she pats him on the shoulder before speaking, "Speaking of, next time you give me a ride, would you mind not being so hard? I think you've bruised my insides..." She winces and rubs her lower belly again.
Kasyr scoffed slightly, something he couldn't quite place tickling at his odd sense of humor. Still, he was hardly ready to step, simply offering her a faint look which spoke volumes, in the sense of 'Catch up, or wait to be caught up to'. But, towards things of a more verbal nature, "Eh. Don't complain so much Cherie. Just think of it as a sign you were having a good time. Worked up a sweat et all. Anyways, It's far better than being left prey to those Drow officers et their whips. ...Eesh." And, from there, the hybrid would briefly reach back with one arm, intending on gingerly taking hold of her sleeve, to coax her attention away from what was behind to lead her onward. "That really was impressive, you know."
Dulcinea nods her head vigorously, agreeing with the whole not-being-left-behind thing is better. "Don't get me wrong, I really do appreciate you coming to my rescue and he-manning me over your shoulder like that. It was quite impressive." She allows him to tug her forward, her attention returning to where they were going just in time to catch herself from tripping over a large rock. Shaking it off, she pulls her hair back from her face, shrugging at his compliment. "Thank you...though I didn't really know that was going to happen. I just did what felt natural and hoped for the best."
The Dark Land
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Kasyr smirked, their traipsing having dragged them far enough that the damned forest was now in sight. It was about this point that a fair bit of healthy Paranoia keyed into the hybrids mentality, ensuring that the strayed as far from the woods as possible, preferring the more barren rockface, towards the giant spider, undead and what-have-you-now-a-days infested forest. Really, he wouldn't be half surprised to hear a bloodthirsty dragon had taken root in the place. "...Right. So detour up ahead, all following, please keep to this side of the path at all times. Do not stray near the forest, do not feed the giant spiders, et most of all, no talking in the ba-...wait. No, chat away. I'm going to need the distraction." And onwards they'd go, "...By the by. Have you...ever actually been to the Pool?"
Dulcinea raises an eyebrow at all the orders being tossed her way before popping a salute and a short, "Aye, sir!" A grin and a little twirling step to the right and she would be sticking as close to the path he laid out as possible. Just because she didn't always appreciate the orders, didn't mean she wasn't going to follow them. Hell, if he'd told her to take off all her clothes and wear a suit made of leaves, she'd probably do it just because with him in charge they'd probably survive a lot longer. Shaking her head, she continued to skip after him, taking time to poke at something rustling in some underbrush before plodding away again. "Nope. I suspect that you're not just talking about any body of water, but truly, I have no idea what you mean."
Portal of Darkness
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Kasyr turned around just briefly to answer Dulcineas question, something like a frown creasing his expression, though it's rapidly enough dispelled. "It's...Fine cherie. The Obsidian pool, you'll see what I mean when we get there. Explaining it hardly does tu any good- but, it's... not right. To say the least." Twirling one finger in the air in a sort aloof motion, he'd simply hurry onwards, gleefully noting the presence of the dark portal. Freedom. Freedom from Vailkrin when it was decided to be treacherous and present itself as a deathtrap. Go figure that it'd only be a goddamned nightmare when he was baby sitting and had a purpose. "...By the way. As to sir. I like that. Works much better than Uncle, keep up the good work. Mmhmm." And then, with a shimmer and a distinctive popping noise. The hybrid would cross the veil.
Dulcinea stares after her companion with disbelief, suddenly wondering if killing your partner was really all that against the rules of questing. Pulling up her sleeves, she grasps hold of her staff and marches into the portal, "Why that arrogant little..." Whatever else she may have said was swallowed into the writhing mass of energy.
Odd Trembling Pass
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And it was not with a whimper, nor a bang- But a goddamn pop! And thus was the tiefling thrust forth into the space between both Kelay and Cenril, a sort of furtive look shot either way before he'd simply stand to one side and await Dulcineas arrival. And by stand to one side, it's entirely meant that he gauges the vicinity between where he was, and where she was, so he could stand directly in the path, and turn upon his heels to Stare forward oh so fixedly- body leaning forward so the moment she popped through the portal, she'd be greeted by some large and rather luminescent amber and sanguine tanted eyes. Oh, and a big Grin of Chesire-cat Esque proportions, paired up with some Calico Ears. "Boo!" ....Hell, might as well get a cheap giggle in now.
Dulcinea arrived with the same sort of abrupt pop and fanfare like noise, but with much less grace. Still in mid sentence, she would emerge into space that was already nearly occupied with a large body. Even though somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew exactly who it was that she was about to hurtle into, she couldn't help the screech and loss of balance that was caused by his 'boo'. Unable to stop the forward momentum, she barreled straight into him, the full weight of her body slamming right up into him before she could even so much as shout a warning. Before making full contact, the last thing she saw was the smug grin and large eyes and the thought of murder flitting through her mind.
Kasyr found himself pinned. Now, whilst most males likely wouldn't find the situation of being trapped neath a females form nose to nose, the experience with him was enough to induce an excessive bit of reddening, and an abrupt bit of squirming as he tried to clear himself out from under her, with as little contact as possible, ever evasive of any actual skin to skin, "Uh. I...Nice...Fall. Et Stuff. So. Hee. Mind..moving?" His broken up pattern of speech was the only way he could prevent falling into a stutter of his own, the hybrid plunking out both his arms to either side and trying to see how much faster he can aid in the recuperation of himself, "S-so, No t-touching... The t-tiefling, D-d'accord? Oui, we're agreed. P-perfect" ..So much for not stuttering.
Dulcinea laid on top of said tiefling, stunned and unable to catch her breath as he squirmed. The first thought she had was that the situation was unbearably embarrassing and the second was that her boss seemed to have an unnatural revulsion to touching. Or at the very least, touching her. Finally able to take a deep breath, she rolled off of him, sitting up and climbing steadily to her feet, before prodding his shin with her foot rather roughly. "This is all your fault! And I will have you know that I don't have cooties." Muttering to herself, she starts brushing herself off and walking towards her staff that lay on the ground several feet away. Picking it up, she looked around before heading in the most likely direction of their travels.
Kasyr regained his composure not a moment after she'd plucked herself off of him, a relieved sounding exhale of breath ti follow. Thus came the nimble hopping to ones feet that is generally expected after such a minor catastrophe, Kasyr idly brushing himself before immediately heading towards the south, Regardless of whatever path Dulcinea had chosen, "And we're off!" And more quietly, "It's not that you damnwell have cooties, I'm a taken Tiefling. ..et stuff." And stuff accurately described as an almost phobic reaction to being most save a certain few individuals of the fairer gender. "...Not that it matters. Less mumbling, more ambling!"
Dulcinea tosses a grin in his direction, her momentary pique having already warn off. "More ambling? I dare say we're moving at a much brisker pace than any mere ambling." Turning completely around, she started walking after him, choosing not to make note of her lack of directional skills. "Yes, you keep referring to being taken...Laurelle, right?" It never occured to her that she might've met the person in question or anything as they continued on their quest to find their missing treasure.
Overlooking Gorge
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Kasyr was picking up speed again, trying to focus more on the pleasentiries rather than what their end destination had awaiting for them, "Yes. The Loricat. Er, The Lady Laurelle. Ahem. She's the home I have beyond Cabal. Something I'm ever grateful for." A cheerful little whistle ensued, as the path passed from a crossroads, down to a slope, one which the hybrid took with a jubilant lack of caring- rushing downwards in a manner akin to a lunatic. It didn't help that he practically squealed in glee the whole way down
Dulcinea paused at the top of the slope, a soft laugh escaping from her as he took off tearing down the incline, much like a crazy person without head protection. "Oh dear..." Shrugging it off, she realized he was putting on the distance between them. "Uh oh.." Throwing herself down the slope with the same sort of head-long rush as he had, she couldn't help but let out a shriek of laughter as she stumbled and ran at a speed far greater than she was used to.
Dirt Road
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Kasyr had run, stumbled and rushed. From the bottom and top of hillsides, along ever twist and curve the road had taken him, But now, now that mad dash pace he had taken could do very little besides falter in the face of what was to come. They were getting closer now- to the point where idle chatter was quickly ebbing away from the hybrids expression. It was moments like these that he was glad he hadn't come along, because nine hells did he hate the place. And yet onwards did he carry on, down that dirt road, towards the plains that'd carry him to their final destination. of sorts.
Dulcinea faithfully followed Kasyr ever onwards, feeling little more than a puppy following her master. She was able to keep pace with him, which was something she was happy about, but she had to admit that their current pace was rather grueling. She'd eventually need a break and if her companion's grim countenance was any hint of what was to come, she might be less prepared than she originally thought. Sensing his mood, uncharacteristically, she'd remain silent, content to be lost in her thoughts about some of the interesting people she'd met lately.
Southern Prairie
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Kasyr travelled. Wordless for the entirety of their path as they eked a trail across prairies, bit by bit the improvised party continued. It was tedius: a mind numbing boredom which almost demanded that something be said. And yet, small talk eluded him- nothing seemed appropriate or even -smart- to utter within a proximity of the place. It was only when the tiefling reached a large rock to hop upon that he chose to stop, seemingly wary of the grounds all-too-soft nature. Regardless, there was a speech to be had. "Dulcinea. Cherie. We're on the threshold of the place I mentioned- et thus, I'm affording you one more chance. You can leave, if need be. You can turn around, et head home. If you stay, that es your perrogative, but know that this es where the real trouble es going to undoubtedly start. Et do know, that both this place et the pool present -very- real dangers." And that was it. He'd simply hop off from the rock, before settling hands into pockets, and heading forth for the final bit of distance.
Dulcinea trudged along beside the tiefling, deciding that there was distinct disadvantages to being a mere human. Several times during their journey she started to speak, only to stop with her mouth open and nothing coming out. After a while, she simply gave up. Eventually she spaced out, her mind wandering and flitting from subject to subject all the while she continued on, following Kasyr's lead. Just when she was sure that she was going to go crazy he finally stopped on top of a large rock and finally addressed her. The sound of his voice was loud, considering the quiet that had surrounded them for quite a while. She listened to his short speech with a growing irritation, wishing very much that he'd stop treating her like a child. She knew the journey was dangerous and she'd agreed to come along. After all that she'd already done, he's still question her commitment? Putting on a last burst of speed, she'd jump from the rock to land in front of him, hands planted on her hips and ready to give him a piece of her mind. "Okay, let's get a couple things straight. I volunteered to come on this mission, knowing that it was dangerous. You're not the only one that cares about Tene, so stop being so condescending. We have to work together, ya know? You can't treat me like a child one minute and an adult the next...just treat me like a partner and maybe we'll get rescue Tene and get back in one piece." Ending her speech with a smile, she sticks out her hands in a concillatory gesture. "Agreed?"
Kasyr eyes the hand suspiciously, the healers 'offer' of sincerity and all those other pleasentries striking a chord in the tiefling- and perhaps not the most pleasent sounding one. Still, sour expression aside- his fingers would in fact slowly work towards creeping upon that hand offered, giving her an all too firm shake- done carefully so that fingers never brushed against her skin- and to aid in quickly retracting his arm back to the side, "....Fine. Don't blame me for anything that happens. On y Va." She only got the faintest hint of a smile before he turned anew, her jovial manner brushed aside as he returned to his task of marching, a veritable pall accompanying him by this point.
Dulcinea rolls her eyes, but nonetheless accepts his handshake as a peace offering. As he turns away, she turns her attention towards the large, stone fortress, eyeing it with trepidation. Quickly she squelches her anxiety and the urge to turn back by reminding herself that they were there to save Tenebrae. Squaring her small shoulders, she followed Kasyr to the building, feeling very much like following him to her doom.
HQ Of The Eldritch Cabal
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Kasyr could hardly be blamed for disliking this particular chunk of the landscape, the place more than easily managing to precipitate a rising of the tieflings hackles. A bleakness made complete in cooked earth and vegetation long since dead, ashes and remnants of something else spread about the area like the remains of a rotted carcass spilt open by carrion eaters. The grounds seemed to oozed with a sort of malignancy, a veiled sensation of something quite sentient but always out of reach the likes of which only seemed to grow as the tiefling fell in the shadow of the headquarters, as he intruded within the Architectural Anamoly that was this place. "..Hate this." It was the sole complaint he'd allow himself, lingering just within the Threshold until Dulcinea would catch up, more than intent on grasping her arm upon entry. "Keep close. There is a path here we must stick to. I remember this much, d'accord?"
Dulcinea couldn't help but shiver at the sheer force of bleakness that seemed to settle into the very foundation of the fortress. It was the kind of eerie creepy place that she had avidly avoided since she was a small child and it took a great deal of courage on her part to follow Kasyr towards the door. She just managed to catch his muttered complaint before the tiefling latched onto her arm and she looked up at him in surprise. "Whatever you say..." The words were but a whisper as they left her lips, somehow she could not bring herself to be any louder. Her free hand crept upwards to grab his arm as she very nearly molded herself to his back. "After you."
Kasyr might have complained about the wording normally, but now was neither the place nor the time. It also helped that, regardless of his uneasiness with proximity, he could more than adequately deal with Dulcineas' vicinity. And so he'd begin to move, playing guide in a manner akin to how he had once been guided, following memory and something far less tangile through the hallways, deeper into the belly of the headquarters. Whispers would echo down corridors, voices vying for attention, lures to those on the path to make them stray. Shadows flitted and twitched, a surnatural animation to their movements, coiling about in the path of the pair- provoking more than a few pauses from the tiefling. And yet, his goal remained within his thoughts- a singleminded devotion set to his journey as he carried onwards.
Dulcinea was majorly creeped out. If the prickling along her neck and arms wasn't enough, she could swear that a familiar voice was calling to her on the wind. The dim lighting only added to the imposing feel of the Cabal headquarters. Suddenly she could feel doubts leaking into her mind, doubts that hadn't been there a moment ago. What kind of Cabal member was she to get nervous in their very headquarters? Surely Tenebrae wouldn't've chosen her if she had known just how weak the young healer was. Her grip tightened on Kasyr's arm momentarily before she spun around, nearly pulling away from him. "Did you hear that?" She strained to hear the voice better, the whispering vocals so achingly familiar.
Kasyrs arm almost immediately shot out after the healer had turned away, seeking to gain a firm grasp upon her,sleeve before he could simply tug her forward- trying his best to keep his own composure intact. "Do not...stray from the path. I doubt I'd be able to find tu in this place." And then, quite abruptly, whether she'd complain or not, he returned his focus to moving, even if that meant dragging her forward. He could feel the pull so clearly now, Something which seemed to just tingle with the sensation of chaos to come- of a discord of some sort; a twist of fate that yearned to be catalysed. It was something that would bid the hybrid in deeper, past those seemingly phantasmal apparitions & tricks of the mind. Not even the odd dimensions of this place, the sensation of the path taking longer than the building could possibly hold would dissuade the tiefling.
Dulcinea allowed herself to be tugged forward, following him much like a truculent child. "But..." Taking a look up at his face, she decided not to say anything else and instead focused on the task at hand. Following the tiefling and rescuing Tenebrae. She could feel something nudging at her mind and she instinctively reinforced the mental barriers she held in place. Doing her best to ignore the fleeting hints of whispers and peripheral ghosts that never seem to come into focus, she would continue to be lead forward by her companion, the brief thought that perhaps she was following a crazy person to her own death a growing worry.
Kasyr was not deaf to the particular sentiments his companion had, his empathic nature resulting in a particular bit of uneasiness at her growing worry- particularily that some seemed to be directecd at him. Regardless, his path had been set. It had been set since the idea had crossed his mind, and every step had cemented this course further. "...Even if I simply let to leave Cherie, you'd get lost, and god knows what this place would do tu vous. You told me to treat you as a partner. Act like it. You're being ..disconcerting." How droll indeed, that those words would blossom not into the tight spaces of corridors, but instead a widened chamber, dark as the corridors had been, and nearly as drab weree it not for one particular thing. Within the center of the chamber rested a pool, a shimmering mass of obsidian- it's surface unbroken and almost mirrorlike though it carried a distinctly unsettling air, as if something sinister lurked just beneath the surface. It was only then that the tiefling relinquished Dulcineas arms, hands coming to rest
Dulcinea was nothing if not predictable. Given that she had been feeling more and more off-kilter by the fortress it was only natural that Kasyr's words would produce a strong response in a different fashion than before. Her grip loosened upon his sleeve, leaving enough contact for him to be assured of her presence and her to feel a bit more grounded. And just like that, a few words spoken from the tiefling, she was back to grumbling and muttering to herself, much of her apprehension washed away. "Disconcerting my...hrmph...partner or no, I'll still kick you in the shin..." She didn't even notice the end of their trip until he let go of her, allowing some space between them. Pausing in mid-muttered rant, the healer blinked heavily at the strange mass in the center of the room. "Oh dear." Pacing away from the tiefling and closer to the strangely hypnotic pool, she tried her best to peer into it. "Very strange, that." A quick about face and she was facing him, an expectant look on her face. "Alright, what now? How's this gonna get Tene back to us?"
Isen slips in behind Kasyr and Dulcinea, his black robes blending in with the shadows, his bare feet silent on the floor. There seems to be something different about the lycan; something about the way he moves, the way he holds himself. He remains silent as he enters, his eyes fixing at once on the black depths. A note of longing seems to enter his golden gaze, a desire for the mysterious wonders of the dark water.
Caedan is lounging on one of the expansive stone benches, surrounded by the embroidered cushions that keep her comfortable. She watches the entry of her three clansmates with an inquisitively tilted head, though she does nothing to alert them to her presence. The psychic turns on her side to watch them approach the pool, and barely muffles an exasperated sigh at what she feels to be their stupidity in advancing upon the sentient thing
Kasyr found it disturbing really. So absorbed had he been with his particular 'quest' that he'd managed to miss detecting the presence of not one...but two. Maybe it was entirely possible that it was this place which had obscured his attentions to find the vampiress. The possibility seemed all the much stronger within his mind now, a small 'fact' which only served to aid his resolve- bringing him to stand near to Dulcinea. The others would be attended to soon, enough, since they likely all had their purpose here. "With a desire. That es to say, if you step into it, it can grant tu your desire. There's a price to pay, but- I need to find her. Cabal needs her, et I'm not fit to be her successor. ..." Pausing the hybrid would stare uneasily at something which seemed to flick along the surface of the pool, almost like a tendril, nothing left save a faint perturbation in it's wake. "...I probably should have remembered to bring a rope."
Dulcinea finally seemed to notice that she and the tiefling were not alone in the room. Both figures were recognized but the healer remained uncharacteristically silent. She gave the room a swift perusal with both gaze and empathic senses, wide-eyed all of a sudden at the way she could feel the 'pool'. Taking a couple steps back from it, she gave it a more respectful look before turning back to Kasyr with a determined look. "You mean, -we- need to find her. Partners remember?" So saying she would unsling her pack from her back, before starting to rummage through it. "I'm sure I have some rope in here somewhere..." Pausing in mid-search, she looks up and meets the tiefling's gaze. "Whatever the price is, I'll willingly pay. I owe Tenebrae much...anything I can give."
Isen turns back, shaking his head. Too many people here, despite their being friends. He would have to wait until another time. He makes his way out once more, cautiously looking about before stepping through the doorway.
Caedan 's gig is up; she's been found out. Languidly, the teen rises and paces towards the pool, which stirs and begins to writhe in response to her presence. The psychic grins, a certain satisfaction gained into bothering the thing so. Dulcinea and Kasyr are eyed sidelong, and she questions, "What are you doing here? I don't understand. Jack isn't here. Tenebrae isn't here. Only you. Me, maybe. But mostly you."
Kasyr cocks his head to one side, the teens particular mannerisms of speech a return to the odd sort of normalacy the hybrid had become accustomed to. An anchor of sorts, towards what was, rather than what this place caused- that sort of thick tension which had so easily come to work it's way into himsef and the healer.Slowly the words were digested, from both travelling companion, and Psychic, before the guardian would move to respond, addressing the rummaging Dulcinea first, "...You won't chose. It'll take what it wishes, I think. We'll find out the exacts in a few. Rope or not, I intend to find her." Those last words were what had the hybrid pacing nearer to Caedan, before he'd tip forward to eye her, "You said you saw her here. If she es not here- I'll tell it to show me where she es. She left me the leader, I intend to do everything I can to make sure that wasn't a choice made in vain, even if the only thing of note I ever manage to do es drag her back." Stretching out, he'd cast a glance over to that blackened surface, a formerly immaculate state now seemingly in turmoil in Caedans vicinity. "...Not like I can do much else, She's the one that kept Cabal together- not me."
Dulcinea continued her search for the rope, becoming faintly amused at the thought that the rope had somehow disappeared to the same place as Tene. "Lord and Lady knows that I can't go a week without misplacing a stocking or something...probably all end up in the same thrice-damned place..." Shaking her head, the healer makes note of Caedan's words, having found that usually even if what the psychic said didn't make sense at the time, it would eventually. "Caedan...always a delight." It was an unusually brief greeting for Dulci, but she was rather busy looking for the rope that she knew was in her pack. Finally shoving her arm elbow deep inside it, she looks up at the tiefling with a triumphant grin. "Ah ha!" Yanking said rope free from the cramped confines of her satchel, she hands the coiled length to Kasyr before standing. "Well, let it take what it wishes. Its worth it to get Tenebrae back."
Caedan said, "But ... Tenebrae is at home. I don't understand why you're here. Jack isn't here." She steps toward the pool, which seems to hiss at her before recoiling. "Anyway. Well. If you go in, just take a deep breath first and make sure you don't let go of the rope. It'll suck you and the air you breathe."
Kasyr was almost acting by compulsion by this point. Upon Dulcineas retrieval of said rope very little time at all had been spared at all for him to loop it about his waist thrice, so when Caedan chose to make her particular announcement, it was no wonder that his attempts at making a knot fumbled.Moving slower now, the hybrid would endeavour to fix that tangle, continuing the knot, though her words had caused an exceedingly doubtful look to crease his features. "...Back? When... how did this all happen?" He'd almost staggered back into the pool under that newfound information, solely preserved by a sudden flailing forward when his left foot found nothing to hold onto. "...Joliettes returned? So...I'm not leader anymore. right?" ..It was sort of sad, to what extent he sounded hopeful, especially if it meant he didn't have to take a step into that viscous mass which had been dubbed a pool, into that thing which seemed so familiar, and not simply by sight. By feeling, by something which evaded description by emotions, or those other things which painted his world- it simply was something he should almost know. Something which made his hackles rise. "...Everything es going to be fine again?"
Dulcinea spun around to face the teen, mouth opened in shock at this surprising turn of events. "Tene's back? Tene's back!" Jumping up into the air, she does a little twirl and places a hand on both of her clanmates, grinning happily. "This is excellent news! Now Kassy doesn't have to be so surly about being in command..." She jumps up and down again before grabbing then end of the rope and tugging at it. "Well, I don't think you'll be needing this anymore, Uncle Kasyr....er...boss-man." The pool catches her eye and she blinks at it, trying to shake off the appeal again. "Strange..."
Caedan is startled by Dulcinea's touch, and jerks away, and neatly into Kasyr -- who is already on the edge of the pool. Caedan recovers her balance and turns to face the tiefling, who may or may not be flailing into the water which will gobble him up like an expectant mother her latest craving. Either way, the teen will snatch up the length of rope and wrap it around her forearm a few times before mumbling an apologetic, "Oops," Dulcinea's direction.
Kasyr managed to eke out something like a panicked mewl upon that impact, teetering back until he was only upon the edge by the most barest margin of his feet. Unforunately, a 300 and something pound trenchcoat doesn't bode well towards maintaining precarious Equilibriums, nor does the pools seeming desire for the tiefling. That moment of awkwardness catalysed, the blackness of the pool would lurch forward in a glob, wrapping about the hybrids legs and ensuring that he's jerked back with a frightening bit of speed. "Fu-urbl" ...So much for holding his breath. As it was, his impact with the surface was all but noiseless, not even a splash occuring as it endeavoured to pull him deeper and deeper- that particular patch where he vanished already in the process of settling anew into that feigned state of docility. Familiarity bred contempt, did this thing hate him- was that it, did it seem to call to him so just so it could have an opportunity to snuff him out; was it sentient enough to use that odd pull to lure him forward, just so it could squeeze every last breath out of him. ...A wish, he needed to make a wish. But Tenebrae was back- What wish? Anythig, Just anything, as long as it spat him back. Thats how it worked, right?
Dulcinea would gasp as she somehow managed to be clumsy without even tripping over herself. "Oh dear..." Several things were taken in at once, Caedan's grabbing of the rope, Kasyr's windmilling attempt to stay balanced and the pool's physical manifestation climbing into the air to wrap around his legs. Making a belated attempt at rescue, she leaps forward to grab onto his arm, one hand still clutching the rope attached to him. "No!" Forgetting that her satchel was still at the ground by her feet, she of course being the clumsiest person in the world, would trip over it and go tumbling head first into the enveloping dark waters of the Pool. Just before impact she sucked in a deep breath, having no wish to drown and still not having any clue as to what this pool was all about. How the hell was she going to save herself, Kasyr and probably Caedan who she can only imagine was about to be pulled in with them?
Caedan isn't. No way. Even if she did take a tumble, the sentient fluid would only spit her back out again in disgust, in all likelihood. But the rope is uncoiling at her feet, and being the occasionally savvy thing she is, she darts around a column, circling it twice, before bracing booted feet against it's sturdy base. A few feet of rope slip from her hands, which causes them to burn and the skin to blister, though the column catches it, and the leverage established. With a sigh and a grumble, she ties off the rope and paces towards the pool, which rises to meet her and deliciously taunt her with images of it's victims trapped beneath it's surface. She stomps her foot indignantly, beaten for the moment by her adversary. "Well fine. But you give them back. You give them back or else." The pool seems to grin, and Caedan plunges a hand into it's depths, which causes it to recoil and tumble onto it's self in repulsion. "In one piece. I mean it."
Kasyr had been here before? ...No, but he'd been somewhere similar- he was almost sure of that. He couldn't place why, nor could he actually identify when- save that glimpses of these feeling had been felt before; half remembered scenes conjured up by dreams. Smothered in a feeling of belonging, his head swimming from a lack of air and that stuff seeming to sink it's way up into his nostrils and down it's throat, the hybrid was only barely aware of his thoughts wandering. Was he in shock? Dying. He..felt intact. Something burned, something twisted and hurt- but he was alive, just sinking deeper, at least. He was sure he was. The pool seemed to contract around him, an oppressive constriction which sought to squeeze out what bits of air were still caught in his lungs... It wanted him..what did he want? Out..? More than that...Tenebrae. He had wanted Joliette found. A wish! He was supposed to make a wish, maybe then it would...A desire? That she wouldn't leave. No...that he could find her. He had wanted to find her, and if she left again. He wanted to be able to find her. It was on this desire he settled, wanting now to find her, to have the means. Whatever it took, so long as it let him the hell go. He didn't like this place.
Dulcinea was fully enveloped in the encompassing darkness that is the Pool. She knew she was submerged but strangely the water felt like no liquid she had ever known. It caressed her skin like a friend, a lover feeling oddly comforting as at the same time it scared the willies out of her. A tug of her hand assured that her limb was still tangled in the rope connected to Kasyr and she started to struggle for what she hoped was the surface. Already it was getting so that it was painful to not breathe. Her chest began to faintly ache with the strain and while she knew she still had a little time left, she needed to get out. Starting to panic, she let go of her control on her shields for a fraction of a second and empath she was, she projected her feelings. Like a loud psychic wail it seemed to make the waters pulse, turning the sound near audible with the sheer magnified force. Everything seemed to still for a moment, as if the entire universe held its breath. And then...there was something. A niggling in the back of her mind. Her limbs starting to tire, she focused inward on that particular sensation. That's when she knew. The Pool was alive and it was curious...about her.
Caedan said to the pool, "I'm going. But if you haven't spat them out by the time I come out, I'll go in you after them, and you won't like that."
Kasyr would have cursed if he had the breath, the ability to move~ That burning he had felt before only intensified, as he could feel the pool growing agitated about him. There was moveent, he was certain of that, as that abyssal 'stuff' flowed, pushing against him as though it were endeavouring to plunge him to it's very depths- if such a thing even existed. He was almost expectant of the cord about him to snap- that pull, push, as whatever it happened to be intensified- and then there was nothing. Light was blinding compared to the darkness of the pool, and the way the world erractically spun as he was spat forth didn't aid his sense of equilibrium. Crashing heavily on his shoulder, the hybrid hits the ground rolling, turning end over end, until he'd finally come to halt somewhere near the pillar he had been attached to. What happened to Dulcinea, he couldn't be sure, whether she'd followed him, or not... He simply knew that he hurt, that there seemed to be a high pitched screeching within his ears- and that bits of the Obsidian Pool were seeping from his nose and his eyes, hitting the ground in globs and quickly 'squirming' back towards the central mass. "..Ehk?" His voice...It sounded harsh, something hurt so so much- and without further ado he fell into a coughing fit. Chunk by chunk, bits of black and red were hacked forth, every heave of his body forward causing a spray of sanguine to hit against the pavement- followed by chunks of flesh. Finally, after a minute, it'd cease, and the hybrid could only stare down at the remnants. Of what had been, his tongue. And all he could do was utter a gutteral moan, a body that currently marked strange burns all over only able to hunch forward- furtively cupping the leftovers as a feeling of despair hit him. ...Prices.
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Kasyr had finally had it. Really, it was that damnable pools fault. Tenebrae. Caedan had said she had seen her near it, and yet, the hybrid hadn't felt the Vampiresses presence anywhere on the mainland, "..Is it..being obscured?" Leaning back in the chair he'd taken to, the hybrid couldn't help but be discomforted by a possibility. That the pool, the thing which was spoken of in whispers- and with damn good reason from what he had cared to find out, was it that the troubled teen had espied Joliette within, mired within it's nightmarish depths. What was it she had said again, "...Ugh. Gods be damned, I can't believe I'm actually plotting this out."
Dulcinea seemed to appear out of nowhere, plopping down at Kasyr's table, bottle of wine placed in front of him. "Ya know...talking to yourself is the first sign of old age." Pausing for a moment, she suddenly grins at him, leaning back and mimicking his pose. "Well, its actually not, but it was a pretty good opening line." Nodding to the bottle, she folds her arms over her waist and becomes slightly more serious. "So, boss...you seem to be pretty deep in though. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that its about about a mutual friend that we both care about very much. Care to share?"
Kasyr frowned, hardly seeming 'pleasent' about those thoughts flitting through his minds eye. "Caedan, She'd said she knew where Tenebrae was. Saw her at the pool et all. Something which my whole...wisp magic bit told me otherwise about, but. given the situation..and the place. I'm thinking, there es a possibility I was wrong, or not looking literally dip enough. That place es the very -last- place I want to go. There's a cost, but right now... I'm willing to risk it. ..Mostly. I think I'll just help myself to that drink et make sure I get to a point where I'm dead certain- I don't exactly like the idea of feeding myself to the pool." And with that, the bottle of wine was absconded, one thumb hooked 'neath the cork- to oh so merrily dislodge it towards a wall before the entirety of it was swilled in a manner that might have made Darian proud. Okay, that was a lie, but amused... perhaps. "...Feh. Why es it every time I'm going to do something stupid, I can't find the people I -really- want to. Or person as it is."
Dulcinea followed his explanations as well as she could, a little fuzzy on exactly what place he was talking about, but knowing that it had to do with her missing friend, she tried. Having muddled through it and come up with as clear a picture of his situation as she could, she quietly processed it all, watching as he drank deeply from the bottle of wine. "I see." Perhaps he was being stupid, but he was also the only person that she could see willing to take a risk to find someone that had apparently meant so much to so many...even though few were acting like it. Straightening up, she thumped her hand down on the table and nodded her head. "Well, I don't know who you're looking for, but you've found me. And if you're going to try and find Tene, I want in. Stupid as you think it is." The young healer nodded her head with finality as she gave her proclamation, meeting Kasyr's eyes and silently challenging him to laugh at her determination if he was so inclined.
Kasyr could barely muster a rather cynical sounding chuckle- a full out laugh was entirely out of the question. Instead, he simply met and returned that stare, an edge creeping into his voice, "Cherie, I appreciate the offer of company. More than I would have appreciated tu tossing yourself in my lap than a bottle on the table- et given what I'm about to do, that probably would have been appreciated to a point. A very shortly lived one, but still. You're a healer, just what do you do if by chance.... wherever Tenebrae es, whether it's in the belly of the pool or what have you, that there is something capable of -keeping- here there. You honestly think tu can pull your own weight? Follow...if you really want to- you are Cabal, so the choice es yours... But, I might not be able to protect tu. Do keep that in mind." The hybrid, just to ensure that whatever uncertaintys his words may or may not have incurred- would shove away from the table, if only to rise up to his feet and begin his trek to the door, "So...What'll it be?"
Dulcinea couldn't help but give him a little frown as he seemed to dismiss her from being any real help. Nonetheless, she jumped up from the table and followed him over to the door, taking a moment to scoop up her ever handy satchel from behind the bar. "I will have you know, that I'm always helpful. I have many many skills." Coming up behind him, she reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder to catch his attention. "I won't slow you down...and my brother taught me how to defend myself. I'd like to help Tene." There was a slight quaver in her voice that spoke to her apprehension, but she let none of it show on her face as she stood there all petite and determined in front of him.
Kasyr simply offered Dulcinea a shrug,, the faintest hint of a smirk appearing at her perseverance, "..Well, I guess this es what I get when I nominated you as my personal assistant, eh? ...Well, I suppose having a bit more company on this death march es always a fun thing." And with that, the hybrid simply opened the door, then drew his hands to the back of his head, hands fingers weaving together as he proceeded to waltz out into the evening. "Do try et avoid dawdling, eh? Going to have to keep pace if you intend to get killed off at the same time as moi."
Dulcinea shoulders her pack, muttering to herself as she follow him out the door and into the start of their search. "Dawdling...I'll show him dawdling...I'll stay on top of him the whole time. Let's see him make snarky comments with me riding him the whole time." She shakes her head and smiles slightly, glad that he trusted her enough to let her come with him, even if his attitude didn't suggest as much. Taking one last look at the establishment she waved to Steadmen and walked through the door behind Kasyr.
Vailkrin City Path
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Kasyr was rolling his eyes ..the whole time, of course. He was in fact doing his utmost to abstain from the slew of comments that practically flood his mind- her particular choice of words lightening the mood, if only for the moment. "So,What exactly -did- your brother teach tu, Et, well, who es your brother, for that matter? Mostly, I'm just figuring where we stand et whether I'm going to have to pick up much slack or no." And onwards did the tiefling go, seemingly unperturbed by the perpetually cracked and broken roads that Vailkrin possessed these days. They'd only last so long, after all, both in travelling distance...and more importantly, in time.
Dulcinea kept up with the tiefling rather easily, having been used to traveling to help people before settling down in Vailkrin. Empathic that she was, she knew at least that he was amused by her presence and she was hopeful that would keep his spirits up during their journey. At his questions, she reaches behind her into her pack, grasping hold of the smooth wooden rod just sticking out of it and giving it a yank. As it pulled free, the ebony colored staff gleamed in the dim light from the tavern its contours and grains seeming to be perfectly fitted to the druidess' grasp. Unperturbed by the action of pulling something so big out of a place so small she continued walking with him, using the staff as a walking stick. "He taught me how to protect myself with this. His name is Ardan. And I'm rather good with it. The wood is special to me. I can pull my own weight. Stop worrying so much, we're off to visit the Tene!"
Vailkrin-City of the Unquiet Dead
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Kasyr continued to traipse, even as the buildings became all but inexistant and the roads somehow became noticeably worse, somehow. Now, instead of merely broken, they were smashed at all sorts of awkward angles- forcing the hybrid to hop from perch to perch- his rather ...odd sense of balance allowing him to maintain a steady pace with an excessive amount of ease. Indeed, even hopping across the bodies of dead workers, the hybrid hardly seemed ill at ease- especially when upon reaching the edge of the path, he'd hop upon some poor dead humans torso, spin in place then shot a stare back towards Dulcinea, "Ardan...You say. You know, I've met someone by that name before. Paladin, as I recall. He was searching for his sister in Vailkrin, en fait." Letting out a curious little, "Hrm", he then simply returned to hopping
Dulcinea was able to keep pace with him, playing some odd version of follow-the-leader over broken bits of building and landscape and the dead that no one had bothered to remove. She reinforced the mental barriers in her mind, keeping out any and all residual empathic echoes from the area. It had been awhile since she had left Vailkrin, but the sights still didn't sit well with her. Using her staff to help her over a particularly large piece of debris, she managed to reach the top of it as Kasyr spun in place to face her. A smile twisted her lips and she jumped down, happy that she hadn't been overcome with a bout of her usual clumsiness. "Yes, that would be my brother. He doesn't seek me out as much as he used to. I miss him."
Tattered Rope Bridge
-----------------------
Kasyr sauntered onwards. Really, it was a reflief to be finally clear of that particular set of obstacles, especially considering that amidst all that debris had been the ashes of the former mayors office. A rather nasty sort of Omen towards one who was endeavouring to rebuild and take hold of the city- to be sure. Still, he couldn't remain trapped within his reveries forever. "So wait? You were the one he was searching for? How quaint- et...rather funny that he only had to stray a little bit further from the fountain to find you, if only he had directions. if I had known, I wouldn't have screwed around et wasted his time so much well. Possibly." The hybrid would, of course, pause- the task of crossing the ruined bridge immediately coming to the forefront of his mind. Still, it didn't seem impossible, and the hybrid generally was game for this sort of thing, thus he'd take a few steps back, then leap- only avoiding an awkward spilling forth once again due to surnatural grace. From there, came an almost liquid flow of motion, the hybrid intermitantly stepping onto the actual ropes of the bridge, and the planks, avoiding those which seemed most rotted in favor of the more 'sturdier' ones. "...God es this a lousy bridge." And thud- would he be upon the other side, landing quite neatly in a crouch- and with a broad grin upon his features.
Dulcinea sighs and shakes her head, silently lamenting her brother's particular habit for 'just' missing her. She took a deep breath once they were on more steady ground, lifting her staff above her head and stretching for a moment, before trudging along behind her companion. In short order they were at the bridge, a particularly nasty looking obstacle which she wasn't looking forward too. She approached the unsteady thing whispering a plea to her gods as she got ready to traverse the rickity monstrosity. "Lord and Lady protect me and help me to not kill myself crossing this poor excuse for a bridge." Rolling her eyes heavenward, she would pause and watch the tiefling for a moment as he crossed. Not wanting to risk putting both of their weight on it at the same time. Shaking her head at what she interpreted as a showy landing, she would take her first step, making sure to stay along the side where it was most steady. A series of clumsy leaps and a couple of heart-wrenching balancing acts and she was across, giving Kasyr a mild smile even as her heart was pounding heavily within her chest. "And we push forward."
Drow Check Point
--------------------
Kasyr looked back with a smirk, a brief bit of applause offered up as the hybrid continued to move, albeit in a somewhat backwards motion. Thr road was after all, clearing up. No longer a mess of broken tiles, it was instead guarded by a particularily rough barricade of sorts; a row of wooden spikes to be exact. What was more, there was a rather large amount of drow forces stationed at that particular point- whos sole purpose in life seemed to be the haranguing of every single traveller who passed by. Well, the haranguement and killing of those who weren't undead or a dark elf. "..Oh. Oh right. Uh. You might wanna just...keep close to moi Cherie. With the way things are in Trist'oth...there es a half and half chance we'll either get through without a hitch....or that we'll quickly have to run through without getting skewered to death. On the bright side, those are fairly good odds, all given." And Dulcinea was not given any more warning than that, the tiefling hurriedly moving up to the checkpoint, to simply introduce himself to the officer, by full title, "Excuse-moi, et all, but, I have to skip the whole..formalities of being checked through, me et my companion have important duties to attend to, in regards to the future of Trist'oth." A pause, and with a simple bit of flourish- a ring was produced. Unremarkable in the sense that it lacked a magical aura, it still held a particular insignia, That of the archmosian empire to be precise. It was upon that revelation that he would begin speaking anew, "Kasyr Azakhaer, Ashen the Tiefling, Ruler of Trist'oth. It's rather important, Madamoiselle." And then he'd wait, and just pray to Hell that the drow which had taken to patrolling closest to the border were those of his own and not of Malices forces- not like he really cared to figure all this out generally.
Dulcinea was for the most part, enjoying being outdoors. She had been stuck in the tavern for the past several days attending to her new found job and the druidess had missed feeling the breeze against her skin and seeing different sights than those that were offered inside. Barely any time was given to let her process his statement before he was hurrying forward towards the drow guarding the checkpoint. The young healer put on a burst of speed, arriving at the waypoint nearly at the same time as her companion. She had only had to deal with the drow here once before, and at that time she had had help so she couldn't help but wonder herself, how this encounter would go. Trying to make herself invisible along Kasyr's side she waited silently as he broached the subject of the passage with the drow officer in charge. Dulci wondered at the ring that he had produced but simply let him talk, hoping that they would get through quickly. She didn't like the feeling of this place at all. The female drow had focused on the tiefling and the ring in his hand, listening with barely concealed contempt to his story. A few harsh words were said, simply telling them to stay put as she paced back a few steps to talk to another officer. Dulci could hear nearly nothing of what the drow were saying, but from the looks of things, they would be very lucky to get permission to pass. When the officer that had questioned them looked back in their direction and started fondling her whip, the empath knew that they weren't to have a favorable decision given to them. "Uh...Kasyr...I think the running and fleeing approach might be in the best interest of us both right now..." She tugged on his sleeve, more to reinforce the point hoping that he'd take the hint and run. She could sense the guards malice from where she was standing, and she wasn't about to get killed without even finding Tene.
Kasyr wasn't bereft of an empathic ability, something which led to his head drooping forawrd at the general mix of emotions being produced, "...Oh...Goddess'es sake. What -es- with my luck when it comes to that goddamn city. I should drown them all. Like goddamn rats. Just find a way to flood their go...Oh. Right. Fleeing." And with all due abruptness the hybrids right arm would shoot out- none to gingerly moving to wrap around Dulcineas waist before she'd be abruptly lifted up by the hybrid. He'd be careful as ever, to avoid any direct contact of skin to skin, simply letting what strength was granted to him by training (and his traits more inherant to race) aid in the purloining of Dulcinea, and then, with any bit of luck he'd quite abruptly plow forward- left hand flickering towards the face of the very first sentry he could grasp, before ramming them straight iinto a sidelong section of the barricade, granting them a fatalistic incidence of Irony as the hybrid rushed forth like a mad man- more than intent on evading through or tackling those who weren't stunned enough by his little burst of Celerity and sudden moves to get straight in his path. "...Why...Why! Does this happen to moi...?"
Vaileen stopped and looked on in complete confusion at what was happening before her, should she help, did they need help?
Dulcinea lets out a squeak as without any ado whatsoever the tiefling plucks her from the ground and hitches her over his shoulder. Managing to keep hold of both her staff and her dinner, she'd let out a groan as his shoulder slammed into her stomach. She had a moment of girlish behavior where his manliness nearly made her swoon...oh wait. That was the lurch as he sprung forward, carting her off in his fleeing motions. She could hear the muffled shouts and grunts as an impact jarred both herself an her companion, and since she couldn't see forward, she could only assume that he had dealt with whomever had been silly enough to try and stop them. It was at that very moment that one of the officer's who she had thought half-asleep sprung into action, leaping towards the two of them with every inclination of tackling them to the ground. What he got instead was a staff to the gut. Dulci aided in their headlong flight as much as possible from her ungainly position, managing to get several more whacks, and what sounded like a broken collarbone with her weapon of choice. "You're just that lucky, I suppose." Something impacted with her feet and she yelped, bouncing on his shoulder slightly before yelling, "Did you just use me as a blunt weapon?"
Kasyr slowed briefly, the soldier he'd impacted into just given the time to regain his bearings as the hybrid responded, mid-flight {In the sense of fleeing, of course}, "Not quite yet....I'm still working on it." And then, he was back to full speed, empty hand crashing into the just having recovered soldiers throat, Kasyr then simply keeping a grip as that fleeting bit of opposition was knocked over than dragged at top speed, The ending result, would of course be that the back of the poor bastards skul, and a fair chunk of his brain would be smeared in a path - but such was the price for..well. doing his job. "Right ...so. On second thought, that was a fairly bad plan." Fwip- "Was that an Arrow?" And then came a veritable cascade of noise, a wave of noise- that sound of bows creaking, and arrows whistling- which only had the hybrid moving even faster still- "...Just...tell me where the arrows -aren't."
Dulcinea flinched at the rather sickening sound of what sounded suspiciously like a broken skull. Jabbing her staff to the left, she managed to jam it into some drow's throat, idly noting that they were down for the count before starting as an arrow imbedded itself into the wood of her staff. "Uh...Kasyr...flee faster!" At his question, her gaze lifted to the raise where the checkpoint station was located, and the long row of archers getting ready to open fire. "What do you mean where they -aren't?" As another volley was readied and she watched as if in slow motion the arrows were released, she absentmindedly shoved her staff into the groin of another drow trying to get at them from behind. "Its a frickin' volley of arrows. There's not gonna be many places they aren't, since they're aiming at us." Her anxiety suddenly getting the best of her, she could feel energy starting to build around her. Fueled by the emotions of both herself and the tiefling the magickal energy was soon filling her full, nearly to bursting. She knew that Kasyr could probably feel she was up to something, and since she didn't know what else to do with the energy growing she decided to direct it downwards. "Hold on!" Gripping onto him as he continued to move she could feel the magic pour out of her flowing back into the ground and spreading from the tieflings' pounding footsteps. Suddenly there was a rumbling and a cracking of the ground behind them both. As she watched long, thick thorny vines sprung from the earth, enveloping and cutting off their pursuers. Likewise on the ridge she spotted the archers dealing with the vines and she patted Kasyr on his back yelling, "Go, go, go!" With any luck they'd be able to get away before the drow figured out what happened.
Pale Moonlit Path
---------------------------
Eventually, and, by all means, Eventually is meant in every sense of the word, the hybrid comes to a slow, something like a frantic giggle the only noise that could be heard from him for a few long moments. "...I can't...believe this. If this keeps up, we'll get skewered, maimed, flambeed, torn asunder, crushed or killed in some other colourful manner long before we get to the pool. ..Oh. Did I mention eaten?" Pausing, the tiefling cast a glance at the far distance, before finally remembering an important detail. "...Uh..by the by, nice trick et....sorry? Eheh." Gingerly, the hybrid would come to a brief stop, unslinging the woman from his shoulders, to land her on her feet, before he'd slowly start to pick up pace again. "..Still, I'd prefer you didn't ride moi all night long. ...That's sort of reserved." And off he went again.
Dulcinea just managed to stay on her own two feet, lurching around for a moment before completely regaining her balance. Using her staff as a tether, she blinked and shook her head stunned and surprised over the recent events. "Oh dear..." Not wanting to get too far away from him, her anxiety still high, she stumbles along behind him until she catches up. One hand falls to her belly, massaging the tender muscles there before glancing backward again. "Oh dear..." Silently she began to thank the Lord and Lady for keeping them safe, content to remain silent in the glory of the escape. Deciding to say something to lighten the mood, she pats him on the shoulder before speaking, "Speaking of, next time you give me a ride, would you mind not being so hard? I think you've bruised my insides..." She winces and rubs her lower belly again.
Kasyr scoffed slightly, something he couldn't quite place tickling at his odd sense of humor. Still, he was hardly ready to step, simply offering her a faint look which spoke volumes, in the sense of 'Catch up, or wait to be caught up to'. But, towards things of a more verbal nature, "Eh. Don't complain so much Cherie. Just think of it as a sign you were having a good time. Worked up a sweat et all. Anyways, It's far better than being left prey to those Drow officers et their whips. ...Eesh." And, from there, the hybrid would briefly reach back with one arm, intending on gingerly taking hold of her sleeve, to coax her attention away from what was behind to lead her onward. "That really was impressive, you know."
Dulcinea nods her head vigorously, agreeing with the whole not-being-left-behind thing is better. "Don't get me wrong, I really do appreciate you coming to my rescue and he-manning me over your shoulder like that. It was quite impressive." She allows him to tug her forward, her attention returning to where they were going just in time to catch herself from tripping over a large rock. Shaking it off, she pulls her hair back from her face, shrugging at his compliment. "Thank you...though I didn't really know that was going to happen. I just did what felt natural and hoped for the best."
The Dark Land
------------------------
Kasyr smirked, their traipsing having dragged them far enough that the damned forest was now in sight. It was about this point that a fair bit of healthy Paranoia keyed into the hybrids mentality, ensuring that the strayed as far from the woods as possible, preferring the more barren rockface, towards the giant spider, undead and what-have-you-now-a-days infested forest. Really, he wouldn't be half surprised to hear a bloodthirsty dragon had taken root in the place. "...Right. So detour up ahead, all following, please keep to this side of the path at all times. Do not stray near the forest, do not feed the giant spiders, et most of all, no talking in the ba-...wait. No, chat away. I'm going to need the distraction." And onwards they'd go, "...By the by. Have you...ever actually been to the Pool?"
Dulcinea raises an eyebrow at all the orders being tossed her way before popping a salute and a short, "Aye, sir!" A grin and a little twirling step to the right and she would be sticking as close to the path he laid out as possible. Just because she didn't always appreciate the orders, didn't mean she wasn't going to follow them. Hell, if he'd told her to take off all her clothes and wear a suit made of leaves, she'd probably do it just because with him in charge they'd probably survive a lot longer. Shaking her head, she continued to skip after him, taking time to poke at something rustling in some underbrush before plodding away again. "Nope. I suspect that you're not just talking about any body of water, but truly, I have no idea what you mean."
Portal of Darkness
-----------------------------
Kasyr turned around just briefly to answer Dulcineas question, something like a frown creasing his expression, though it's rapidly enough dispelled. "It's...Fine cherie. The Obsidian pool, you'll see what I mean when we get there. Explaining it hardly does tu any good- but, it's... not right. To say the least." Twirling one finger in the air in a sort aloof motion, he'd simply hurry onwards, gleefully noting the presence of the dark portal. Freedom. Freedom from Vailkrin when it was decided to be treacherous and present itself as a deathtrap. Go figure that it'd only be a goddamned nightmare when he was baby sitting and had a purpose. "...By the way. As to sir. I like that. Works much better than Uncle, keep up the good work. Mmhmm." And then, with a shimmer and a distinctive popping noise. The hybrid would cross the veil.
Dulcinea stares after her companion with disbelief, suddenly wondering if killing your partner was really all that against the rules of questing. Pulling up her sleeves, she grasps hold of her staff and marches into the portal, "Why that arrogant little..." Whatever else she may have said was swallowed into the writhing mass of energy.
Odd Trembling Pass
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And it was not with a whimper, nor a bang- But a goddamn pop! And thus was the tiefling thrust forth into the space between both Kelay and Cenril, a sort of furtive look shot either way before he'd simply stand to one side and await Dulcineas arrival. And by stand to one side, it's entirely meant that he gauges the vicinity between where he was, and where she was, so he could stand directly in the path, and turn upon his heels to Stare forward oh so fixedly- body leaning forward so the moment she popped through the portal, she'd be greeted by some large and rather luminescent amber and sanguine tanted eyes. Oh, and a big Grin of Chesire-cat Esque proportions, paired up with some Calico Ears. "Boo!" ....Hell, might as well get a cheap giggle in now.
Dulcinea arrived with the same sort of abrupt pop and fanfare like noise, but with much less grace. Still in mid sentence, she would emerge into space that was already nearly occupied with a large body. Even though somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew exactly who it was that she was about to hurtle into, she couldn't help the screech and loss of balance that was caused by his 'boo'. Unable to stop the forward momentum, she barreled straight into him, the full weight of her body slamming right up into him before she could even so much as shout a warning. Before making full contact, the last thing she saw was the smug grin and large eyes and the thought of murder flitting through her mind.
Kasyr found himself pinned. Now, whilst most males likely wouldn't find the situation of being trapped neath a females form nose to nose, the experience with him was enough to induce an excessive bit of reddening, and an abrupt bit of squirming as he tried to clear himself out from under her, with as little contact as possible, ever evasive of any actual skin to skin, "Uh. I...Nice...Fall. Et Stuff. So. Hee. Mind..moving?" His broken up pattern of speech was the only way he could prevent falling into a stutter of his own, the hybrid plunking out both his arms to either side and trying to see how much faster he can aid in the recuperation of himself, "S-so, No t-touching... The t-tiefling, D-d'accord? Oui, we're agreed. P-perfect" ..So much for not stuttering.
Dulcinea laid on top of said tiefling, stunned and unable to catch her breath as he squirmed. The first thought she had was that the situation was unbearably embarrassing and the second was that her boss seemed to have an unnatural revulsion to touching. Or at the very least, touching her. Finally able to take a deep breath, she rolled off of him, sitting up and climbing steadily to her feet, before prodding his shin with her foot rather roughly. "This is all your fault! And I will have you know that I don't have cooties." Muttering to herself, she starts brushing herself off and walking towards her staff that lay on the ground several feet away. Picking it up, she looked around before heading in the most likely direction of their travels.
Kasyr regained his composure not a moment after she'd plucked herself off of him, a relieved sounding exhale of breath ti follow. Thus came the nimble hopping to ones feet that is generally expected after such a minor catastrophe, Kasyr idly brushing himself before immediately heading towards the south, Regardless of whatever path Dulcinea had chosen, "And we're off!" And more quietly, "It's not that you damnwell have cooties, I'm a taken Tiefling. ..et stuff." And stuff accurately described as an almost phobic reaction to being most save a certain few individuals of the fairer gender. "...Not that it matters. Less mumbling, more ambling!"
Dulcinea tosses a grin in his direction, her momentary pique having already warn off. "More ambling? I dare say we're moving at a much brisker pace than any mere ambling." Turning completely around, she started walking after him, choosing not to make note of her lack of directional skills. "Yes, you keep referring to being taken...Laurelle, right?" It never occured to her that she might've met the person in question or anything as they continued on their quest to find their missing treasure.
Overlooking Gorge
-----------------------------
Kasyr was picking up speed again, trying to focus more on the pleasentiries rather than what their end destination had awaiting for them, "Yes. The Loricat. Er, The Lady Laurelle. Ahem. She's the home I have beyond Cabal. Something I'm ever grateful for." A cheerful little whistle ensued, as the path passed from a crossroads, down to a slope, one which the hybrid took with a jubilant lack of caring- rushing downwards in a manner akin to a lunatic. It didn't help that he practically squealed in glee the whole way down
Dulcinea paused at the top of the slope, a soft laugh escaping from her as he took off tearing down the incline, much like a crazy person without head protection. "Oh dear..." Shrugging it off, she realized he was putting on the distance between them. "Uh oh.." Throwing herself down the slope with the same sort of head-long rush as he had, she couldn't help but let out a shriek of laughter as she stumbled and ran at a speed far greater than she was used to.
Dirt Road
----------------
Kasyr had run, stumbled and rushed. From the bottom and top of hillsides, along ever twist and curve the road had taken him, But now, now that mad dash pace he had taken could do very little besides falter in the face of what was to come. They were getting closer now- to the point where idle chatter was quickly ebbing away from the hybrids expression. It was moments like these that he was glad he hadn't come along, because nine hells did he hate the place. And yet onwards did he carry on, down that dirt road, towards the plains that'd carry him to their final destination. of sorts.
Dulcinea faithfully followed Kasyr ever onwards, feeling little more than a puppy following her master. She was able to keep pace with him, which was something she was happy about, but she had to admit that their current pace was rather grueling. She'd eventually need a break and if her companion's grim countenance was any hint of what was to come, she might be less prepared than she originally thought. Sensing his mood, uncharacteristically, she'd remain silent, content to be lost in her thoughts about some of the interesting people she'd met lately.
Southern Prairie
-----------------
Kasyr travelled. Wordless for the entirety of their path as they eked a trail across prairies, bit by bit the improvised party continued. It was tedius: a mind numbing boredom which almost demanded that something be said. And yet, small talk eluded him- nothing seemed appropriate or even -smart- to utter within a proximity of the place. It was only when the tiefling reached a large rock to hop upon that he chose to stop, seemingly wary of the grounds all-too-soft nature. Regardless, there was a speech to be had. "Dulcinea. Cherie. We're on the threshold of the place I mentioned- et thus, I'm affording you one more chance. You can leave, if need be. You can turn around, et head home. If you stay, that es your perrogative, but know that this es where the real trouble es going to undoubtedly start. Et do know, that both this place et the pool present -very- real dangers." And that was it. He'd simply hop off from the rock, before settling hands into pockets, and heading forth for the final bit of distance.
Dulcinea trudged along beside the tiefling, deciding that there was distinct disadvantages to being a mere human. Several times during their journey she started to speak, only to stop with her mouth open and nothing coming out. After a while, she simply gave up. Eventually she spaced out, her mind wandering and flitting from subject to subject all the while she continued on, following Kasyr's lead. Just when she was sure that she was going to go crazy he finally stopped on top of a large rock and finally addressed her. The sound of his voice was loud, considering the quiet that had surrounded them for quite a while. She listened to his short speech with a growing irritation, wishing very much that he'd stop treating her like a child. She knew the journey was dangerous and she'd agreed to come along. After all that she'd already done, he's still question her commitment? Putting on a last burst of speed, she'd jump from the rock to land in front of him, hands planted on her hips and ready to give him a piece of her mind. "Okay, let's get a couple things straight. I volunteered to come on this mission, knowing that it was dangerous. You're not the only one that cares about Tene, so stop being so condescending. We have to work together, ya know? You can't treat me like a child one minute and an adult the next...just treat me like a partner and maybe we'll get rescue Tene and get back in one piece." Ending her speech with a smile, she sticks out her hands in a concillatory gesture. "Agreed?"
Kasyr eyes the hand suspiciously, the healers 'offer' of sincerity and all those other pleasentries striking a chord in the tiefling- and perhaps not the most pleasent sounding one. Still, sour expression aside- his fingers would in fact slowly work towards creeping upon that hand offered, giving her an all too firm shake- done carefully so that fingers never brushed against her skin- and to aid in quickly retracting his arm back to the side, "....Fine. Don't blame me for anything that happens. On y Va." She only got the faintest hint of a smile before he turned anew, her jovial manner brushed aside as he returned to his task of marching, a veritable pall accompanying him by this point.
Dulcinea rolls her eyes, but nonetheless accepts his handshake as a peace offering. As he turns away, she turns her attention towards the large, stone fortress, eyeing it with trepidation. Quickly she squelches her anxiety and the urge to turn back by reminding herself that they were there to save Tenebrae. Squaring her small shoulders, she followed Kasyr to the building, feeling very much like following him to her doom.
HQ Of The Eldritch Cabal
-----------------------------
Kasyr could hardly be blamed for disliking this particular chunk of the landscape, the place more than easily managing to precipitate a rising of the tieflings hackles. A bleakness made complete in cooked earth and vegetation long since dead, ashes and remnants of something else spread about the area like the remains of a rotted carcass spilt open by carrion eaters. The grounds seemed to oozed with a sort of malignancy, a veiled sensation of something quite sentient but always out of reach the likes of which only seemed to grow as the tiefling fell in the shadow of the headquarters, as he intruded within the Architectural Anamoly that was this place. "..Hate this." It was the sole complaint he'd allow himself, lingering just within the Threshold until Dulcinea would catch up, more than intent on grasping her arm upon entry. "Keep close. There is a path here we must stick to. I remember this much, d'accord?"
Dulcinea couldn't help but shiver at the sheer force of bleakness that seemed to settle into the very foundation of the fortress. It was the kind of eerie creepy place that she had avidly avoided since she was a small child and it took a great deal of courage on her part to follow Kasyr towards the door. She just managed to catch his muttered complaint before the tiefling latched onto her arm and she looked up at him in surprise. "Whatever you say..." The words were but a whisper as they left her lips, somehow she could not bring herself to be any louder. Her free hand crept upwards to grab his arm as she very nearly molded herself to his back. "After you."
Kasyr might have complained about the wording normally, but now was neither the place nor the time. It also helped that, regardless of his uneasiness with proximity, he could more than adequately deal with Dulcineas' vicinity. And so he'd begin to move, playing guide in a manner akin to how he had once been guided, following memory and something far less tangile through the hallways, deeper into the belly of the headquarters. Whispers would echo down corridors, voices vying for attention, lures to those on the path to make them stray. Shadows flitted and twitched, a surnatural animation to their movements, coiling about in the path of the pair- provoking more than a few pauses from the tiefling. And yet, his goal remained within his thoughts- a singleminded devotion set to his journey as he carried onwards.
Dulcinea was majorly creeped out. If the prickling along her neck and arms wasn't enough, she could swear that a familiar voice was calling to her on the wind. The dim lighting only added to the imposing feel of the Cabal headquarters. Suddenly she could feel doubts leaking into her mind, doubts that hadn't been there a moment ago. What kind of Cabal member was she to get nervous in their very headquarters? Surely Tenebrae wouldn't've chosen her if she had known just how weak the young healer was. Her grip tightened on Kasyr's arm momentarily before she spun around, nearly pulling away from him. "Did you hear that?" She strained to hear the voice better, the whispering vocals so achingly familiar.
Kasyrs arm almost immediately shot out after the healer had turned away, seeking to gain a firm grasp upon her,sleeve before he could simply tug her forward- trying his best to keep his own composure intact. "Do not...stray from the path. I doubt I'd be able to find tu in this place." And then, quite abruptly, whether she'd complain or not, he returned his focus to moving, even if that meant dragging her forward. He could feel the pull so clearly now, Something which seemed to just tingle with the sensation of chaos to come- of a discord of some sort; a twist of fate that yearned to be catalysed. It was something that would bid the hybrid in deeper, past those seemingly phantasmal apparitions & tricks of the mind. Not even the odd dimensions of this place, the sensation of the path taking longer than the building could possibly hold would dissuade the tiefling.
Dulcinea allowed herself to be tugged forward, following him much like a truculent child. "But..." Taking a look up at his face, she decided not to say anything else and instead focused on the task at hand. Following the tiefling and rescuing Tenebrae. She could feel something nudging at her mind and she instinctively reinforced the mental barriers she held in place. Doing her best to ignore the fleeting hints of whispers and peripheral ghosts that never seem to come into focus, she would continue to be lead forward by her companion, the brief thought that perhaps she was following a crazy person to her own death a growing worry.
Kasyr was not deaf to the particular sentiments his companion had, his empathic nature resulting in a particular bit of uneasiness at her growing worry- particularily that some seemed to be directecd at him. Regardless, his path had been set. It had been set since the idea had crossed his mind, and every step had cemented this course further. "...Even if I simply let to leave Cherie, you'd get lost, and god knows what this place would do tu vous. You told me to treat you as a partner. Act like it. You're being ..disconcerting." How droll indeed, that those words would blossom not into the tight spaces of corridors, but instead a widened chamber, dark as the corridors had been, and nearly as drab weree it not for one particular thing. Within the center of the chamber rested a pool, a shimmering mass of obsidian- it's surface unbroken and almost mirrorlike though it carried a distinctly unsettling air, as if something sinister lurked just beneath the surface. It was only then that the tiefling relinquished Dulcineas arms, hands coming to rest
Dulcinea was nothing if not predictable. Given that she had been feeling more and more off-kilter by the fortress it was only natural that Kasyr's words would produce a strong response in a different fashion than before. Her grip loosened upon his sleeve, leaving enough contact for him to be assured of her presence and her to feel a bit more grounded. And just like that, a few words spoken from the tiefling, she was back to grumbling and muttering to herself, much of her apprehension washed away. "Disconcerting my...hrmph...partner or no, I'll still kick you in the shin..." She didn't even notice the end of their trip until he let go of her, allowing some space between them. Pausing in mid-muttered rant, the healer blinked heavily at the strange mass in the center of the room. "Oh dear." Pacing away from the tiefling and closer to the strangely hypnotic pool, she tried her best to peer into it. "Very strange, that." A quick about face and she was facing him, an expectant look on her face. "Alright, what now? How's this gonna get Tene back to us?"
Isen slips in behind Kasyr and Dulcinea, his black robes blending in with the shadows, his bare feet silent on the floor. There seems to be something different about the lycan; something about the way he moves, the way he holds himself. He remains silent as he enters, his eyes fixing at once on the black depths. A note of longing seems to enter his golden gaze, a desire for the mysterious wonders of the dark water.
Caedan is lounging on one of the expansive stone benches, surrounded by the embroidered cushions that keep her comfortable. She watches the entry of her three clansmates with an inquisitively tilted head, though she does nothing to alert them to her presence. The psychic turns on her side to watch them approach the pool, and barely muffles an exasperated sigh at what she feels to be their stupidity in advancing upon the sentient thing
Kasyr found it disturbing really. So absorbed had he been with his particular 'quest' that he'd managed to miss detecting the presence of not one...but two. Maybe it was entirely possible that it was this place which had obscured his attentions to find the vampiress. The possibility seemed all the much stronger within his mind now, a small 'fact' which only served to aid his resolve- bringing him to stand near to Dulcinea. The others would be attended to soon, enough, since they likely all had their purpose here. "With a desire. That es to say, if you step into it, it can grant tu your desire. There's a price to pay, but- I need to find her. Cabal needs her, et I'm not fit to be her successor. ..." Pausing the hybrid would stare uneasily at something which seemed to flick along the surface of the pool, almost like a tendril, nothing left save a faint perturbation in it's wake. "...I probably should have remembered to bring a rope."
Dulcinea finally seemed to notice that she and the tiefling were not alone in the room. Both figures were recognized but the healer remained uncharacteristically silent. She gave the room a swift perusal with both gaze and empathic senses, wide-eyed all of a sudden at the way she could feel the 'pool'. Taking a couple steps back from it, she gave it a more respectful look before turning back to Kasyr with a determined look. "You mean, -we- need to find her. Partners remember?" So saying she would unsling her pack from her back, before starting to rummage through it. "I'm sure I have some rope in here somewhere..." Pausing in mid-search, she looks up and meets the tiefling's gaze. "Whatever the price is, I'll willingly pay. I owe Tenebrae much...anything I can give."
Isen turns back, shaking his head. Too many people here, despite their being friends. He would have to wait until another time. He makes his way out once more, cautiously looking about before stepping through the doorway.
Caedan 's gig is up; she's been found out. Languidly, the teen rises and paces towards the pool, which stirs and begins to writhe in response to her presence. The psychic grins, a certain satisfaction gained into bothering the thing so. Dulcinea and Kasyr are eyed sidelong, and she questions, "What are you doing here? I don't understand. Jack isn't here. Tenebrae isn't here. Only you. Me, maybe. But mostly you."
Kasyr cocks his head to one side, the teens particular mannerisms of speech a return to the odd sort of normalacy the hybrid had become accustomed to. An anchor of sorts, towards what was, rather than what this place caused- that sort of thick tension which had so easily come to work it's way into himsef and the healer.Slowly the words were digested, from both travelling companion, and Psychic, before the guardian would move to respond, addressing the rummaging Dulcinea first, "...You won't chose. It'll take what it wishes, I think. We'll find out the exacts in a few. Rope or not, I intend to find her." Those last words were what had the hybrid pacing nearer to Caedan, before he'd tip forward to eye her, "You said you saw her here. If she es not here- I'll tell it to show me where she es. She left me the leader, I intend to do everything I can to make sure that wasn't a choice made in vain, even if the only thing of note I ever manage to do es drag her back." Stretching out, he'd cast a glance over to that blackened surface, a formerly immaculate state now seemingly in turmoil in Caedans vicinity. "...Not like I can do much else, She's the one that kept Cabal together- not me."
Dulcinea continued her search for the rope, becoming faintly amused at the thought that the rope had somehow disappeared to the same place as Tene. "Lord and Lady knows that I can't go a week without misplacing a stocking or something...probably all end up in the same thrice-damned place..." Shaking her head, the healer makes note of Caedan's words, having found that usually even if what the psychic said didn't make sense at the time, it would eventually. "Caedan...always a delight." It was an unusually brief greeting for Dulci, but she was rather busy looking for the rope that she knew was in her pack. Finally shoving her arm elbow deep inside it, she looks up at the tiefling with a triumphant grin. "Ah ha!" Yanking said rope free from the cramped confines of her satchel, she hands the coiled length to Kasyr before standing. "Well, let it take what it wishes. Its worth it to get Tenebrae back."
Caedan said, "But ... Tenebrae is at home. I don't understand why you're here. Jack isn't here." She steps toward the pool, which seems to hiss at her before recoiling. "Anyway. Well. If you go in, just take a deep breath first and make sure you don't let go of the rope. It'll suck you and the air you breathe."
Kasyr was almost acting by compulsion by this point. Upon Dulcineas retrieval of said rope very little time at all had been spared at all for him to loop it about his waist thrice, so when Caedan chose to make her particular announcement, it was no wonder that his attempts at making a knot fumbled.Moving slower now, the hybrid would endeavour to fix that tangle, continuing the knot, though her words had caused an exceedingly doubtful look to crease his features. "...Back? When... how did this all happen?" He'd almost staggered back into the pool under that newfound information, solely preserved by a sudden flailing forward when his left foot found nothing to hold onto. "...Joliettes returned? So...I'm not leader anymore. right?" ..It was sort of sad, to what extent he sounded hopeful, especially if it meant he didn't have to take a step into that viscous mass which had been dubbed a pool, into that thing which seemed so familiar, and not simply by sight. By feeling, by something which evaded description by emotions, or those other things which painted his world- it simply was something he should almost know. Something which made his hackles rise. "...Everything es going to be fine again?"
Dulcinea spun around to face the teen, mouth opened in shock at this surprising turn of events. "Tene's back? Tene's back!" Jumping up into the air, she does a little twirl and places a hand on both of her clanmates, grinning happily. "This is excellent news! Now Kassy doesn't have to be so surly about being in command..." She jumps up and down again before grabbing then end of the rope and tugging at it. "Well, I don't think you'll be needing this anymore, Uncle Kasyr....er...boss-man." The pool catches her eye and she blinks at it, trying to shake off the appeal again. "Strange..."
Caedan is startled by Dulcinea's touch, and jerks away, and neatly into Kasyr -- who is already on the edge of the pool. Caedan recovers her balance and turns to face the tiefling, who may or may not be flailing into the water which will gobble him up like an expectant mother her latest craving. Either way, the teen will snatch up the length of rope and wrap it around her forearm a few times before mumbling an apologetic, "Oops," Dulcinea's direction.
Kasyr managed to eke out something like a panicked mewl upon that impact, teetering back until he was only upon the edge by the most barest margin of his feet. Unforunately, a 300 and something pound trenchcoat doesn't bode well towards maintaining precarious Equilibriums, nor does the pools seeming desire for the tiefling. That moment of awkwardness catalysed, the blackness of the pool would lurch forward in a glob, wrapping about the hybrids legs and ensuring that he's jerked back with a frightening bit of speed. "Fu-urbl" ...So much for holding his breath. As it was, his impact with the surface was all but noiseless, not even a splash occuring as it endeavoured to pull him deeper and deeper- that particular patch where he vanished already in the process of settling anew into that feigned state of docility. Familiarity bred contempt, did this thing hate him- was that it, did it seem to call to him so just so it could have an opportunity to snuff him out; was it sentient enough to use that odd pull to lure him forward, just so it could squeeze every last breath out of him. ...A wish, he needed to make a wish. But Tenebrae was back- What wish? Anythig, Just anything, as long as it spat him back. Thats how it worked, right?
Dulcinea would gasp as she somehow managed to be clumsy without even tripping over herself. "Oh dear..." Several things were taken in at once, Caedan's grabbing of the rope, Kasyr's windmilling attempt to stay balanced and the pool's physical manifestation climbing into the air to wrap around his legs. Making a belated attempt at rescue, she leaps forward to grab onto his arm, one hand still clutching the rope attached to him. "No!" Forgetting that her satchel was still at the ground by her feet, she of course being the clumsiest person in the world, would trip over it and go tumbling head first into the enveloping dark waters of the Pool. Just before impact she sucked in a deep breath, having no wish to drown and still not having any clue as to what this pool was all about. How the hell was she going to save herself, Kasyr and probably Caedan who she can only imagine was about to be pulled in with them?
Caedan isn't. No way. Even if she did take a tumble, the sentient fluid would only spit her back out again in disgust, in all likelihood. But the rope is uncoiling at her feet, and being the occasionally savvy thing she is, she darts around a column, circling it twice, before bracing booted feet against it's sturdy base. A few feet of rope slip from her hands, which causes them to burn and the skin to blister, though the column catches it, and the leverage established. With a sigh and a grumble, she ties off the rope and paces towards the pool, which rises to meet her and deliciously taunt her with images of it's victims trapped beneath it's surface. She stomps her foot indignantly, beaten for the moment by her adversary. "Well fine. But you give them back. You give them back or else." The pool seems to grin, and Caedan plunges a hand into it's depths, which causes it to recoil and tumble onto it's self in repulsion. "In one piece. I mean it."
Kasyr had been here before? ...No, but he'd been somewhere similar- he was almost sure of that. He couldn't place why, nor could he actually identify when- save that glimpses of these feeling had been felt before; half remembered scenes conjured up by dreams. Smothered in a feeling of belonging, his head swimming from a lack of air and that stuff seeming to sink it's way up into his nostrils and down it's throat, the hybrid was only barely aware of his thoughts wandering. Was he in shock? Dying. He..felt intact. Something burned, something twisted and hurt- but he was alive, just sinking deeper, at least. He was sure he was. The pool seemed to contract around him, an oppressive constriction which sought to squeeze out what bits of air were still caught in his lungs... It wanted him..what did he want? Out..? More than that...Tenebrae. He had wanted Joliette found. A wish! He was supposed to make a wish, maybe then it would...A desire? That she wouldn't leave. No...that he could find her. He had wanted to find her, and if she left again. He wanted to be able to find her. It was on this desire he settled, wanting now to find her, to have the means. Whatever it took, so long as it let him the hell go. He didn't like this place.
Dulcinea was fully enveloped in the encompassing darkness that is the Pool. She knew she was submerged but strangely the water felt like no liquid she had ever known. It caressed her skin like a friend, a lover feeling oddly comforting as at the same time it scared the willies out of her. A tug of her hand assured that her limb was still tangled in the rope connected to Kasyr and she started to struggle for what she hoped was the surface. Already it was getting so that it was painful to not breathe. Her chest began to faintly ache with the strain and while she knew she still had a little time left, she needed to get out. Starting to panic, she let go of her control on her shields for a fraction of a second and empath she was, she projected her feelings. Like a loud psychic wail it seemed to make the waters pulse, turning the sound near audible with the sheer magnified force. Everything seemed to still for a moment, as if the entire universe held its breath. And then...there was something. A niggling in the back of her mind. Her limbs starting to tire, she focused inward on that particular sensation. That's when she knew. The Pool was alive and it was curious...about her.
Caedan said to the pool, "I'm going. But if you haven't spat them out by the time I come out, I'll go in you after them, and you won't like that."
Kasyr would have cursed if he had the breath, the ability to move~ That burning he had felt before only intensified, as he could feel the pool growing agitated about him. There was moveent, he was certain of that, as that abyssal 'stuff' flowed, pushing against him as though it were endeavouring to plunge him to it's very depths- if such a thing even existed. He was almost expectant of the cord about him to snap- that pull, push, as whatever it happened to be intensified- and then there was nothing. Light was blinding compared to the darkness of the pool, and the way the world erractically spun as he was spat forth didn't aid his sense of equilibrium. Crashing heavily on his shoulder, the hybrid hits the ground rolling, turning end over end, until he'd finally come to halt somewhere near the pillar he had been attached to. What happened to Dulcinea, he couldn't be sure, whether she'd followed him, or not... He simply knew that he hurt, that there seemed to be a high pitched screeching within his ears- and that bits of the Obsidian Pool were seeping from his nose and his eyes, hitting the ground in globs and quickly 'squirming' back towards the central mass. "..Ehk?" His voice...It sounded harsh, something hurt so so much- and without further ado he fell into a coughing fit. Chunk by chunk, bits of black and red were hacked forth, every heave of his body forward causing a spray of sanguine to hit against the pavement- followed by chunks of flesh. Finally, after a minute, it'd cease, and the hybrid could only stare down at the remnants. Of what had been, his tongue. And all he could do was utter a gutteral moan, a body that currently marked strange burns all over only able to hunch forward- furtively cupping the leftovers as a feeling of despair hit him. ...Prices.