Post by Joliette Thorne on May 5, 2008 11:32:30 GMT -5
Saiyah sat in a small coil just at the edge of the forest, resting in the middle of the path next to Tenebrae's pile of, still blood stained, armour. Already she had began to get prepared, her satchel resting beside her as bits of its contents were emptied out onto the ground. Some small vials, a sharpening stone, a carving dagger and most notably- a white mask. As she quickly went about dumping the vials into her hands, the slapped it gratefully at her neck, chest and where ever else she could reach. It was only then the putrid smelling scent could be smelt wisping off her- the scent altering perfume already at work; what kind of hunter would she be if her prey could -smell- her about. From here Saiyah snatched a raven quill from her bag and speared it into her hair, a few moments her hands would twist about and wrap it up into a small, tight bun to keep it out of her eyes. As the last bits of her contents were shoved back into her satchel, she reached back and slid the leather strap off her shoulders and let is slip into her grasp. This blade was the prize weapon of the hunter; many beast and creatures had dies by it's tip. She grinned, sharp gleaming white teeth baring as the staff was palmed in both hands- She twisted it into a figure 8, then the middle of the blade through her fingers only to finish in a graceful arc that circled her entire body. Holding it out before her as a knight would his prized broadsword, Saiyah smirked and began to glance around, waiting for the vampire to meet her.
Tenebrae had sorted the giant out, set him to clearing the city's rubble, and was now treading her way along the dark forest path. Soon, she'd reach the spot where Saiyah was waiting, and paused a moment to watch the woman's preparations. No beginner, this one, clearly. The vampiress coughed softly and stepped toward her-- a safe distance from the whirling of that odd blade. "Righty, then..." She'd glance about for her armour.
Saiyah would only drop the blade to her side, the staff swaying idly in her hand as the other pointed towards the ground, just off to the left of her. There was Tene's armour, just as she'd asked for back outside the pub, and to this the naga had but to grin once again for the 4th time this evening. So far, not one other hunter she'd met had gone as she did- armorless, but that was the key word in this factor...-yet-. Still she yearned for something exciting to take place in her stay about the lands, and tonight, her fingers were crossed in hopes of finding just that. Saiyah leaned down and took her mask in her hands and places it to her face, tying the bands tight while she waited for Tenebrae to suit up.
Tenebrae wasn't long in donning the bloodstained items; just as well she'd not bothered to clean them yet. She was less concerned with her scent-- the accumulation of grue on her clothing might just lure out some of the creatures that skulked in lairs along these treacherous paths. "Word of warning..." A sidelong green glance was cast to Saiyah. "A lot of the critters here have wandered up from the Underdark, drow lands. Some might have magic and venom as well as whatever fangs and claws they have." She frowned a bit at the naga's lack of armour, and rifled through her pack. "Don't know if you might have use for these..." Sundry items were dropped to the ground, for Saiyah to pick through. "Also, I'd have you with some magical protection." A low whistle had a black shape skulk from out of a nearby wizened bush, a shadow-cowled figure not more than three and half feet tall, twin pinpoints of red light shimmering from under its hood. "Maladroit here knows a trick or two, if you trust him to it." The goblin shucked off his head-covering and grinned, his maw so wide as to almost split his face in half, and looked upward at the naga with beady scarlet eyes.
Saiyah had been peering down the shaft of her staff, looking for any imperfections or scathed marks on her weapon, after all it had been roughly 2 months since she went on a proper hunt. A soft smile formed across her thin lips as she bladed weapon was stuck into the ground, her hands reaching up to take the python around the middle to lift off. She would set him down on the grass to slither away- this was her baby (not literally) and she did not know what she would ever do if any harm came to him. As Saiyah came back up, her neck canted to the side to glance from behind the mask at the items and with a polite shake of the head, she waved a hand. No, there was no need or want for the items. The naga was strictly natural when hunting, something she'd taking a keen fondness to in her years of a hunter. So, with a polite swoop of the items in her arm, she held them back to Tenebrae to take back. As for the goblin, she would simply smile and shake her head again- magic was something else she did not take a fondness to using. Others...she didn't mind, but to her, it was more a -personal- thing at best.
Tenebrae's goblin shrugged and snickered, scampering off in the direction of the python. Tene cast a worried glance his way, and looked back to Saiyah. "Alright.." She sounded dubious, but packed the stuff away again, stowing her bag behind some bushes. Drawing out her long sword, the weapon escaping its sheath with a metallic hiss, and her wand, she'd waste no more words but motion with a wand-equipped hand for the naga to follow her as she set out on the overgrown trail into the forest's depths.
Saiyah leaned forward, her dual-bladed staff held out in front of her- much like a jouster would do. Her body snaked this way and that, her upper humanoid body guiding the snake tail left and right past tree after tree. She was leaned low for a couple reasons really; one to look for and if she could, identify some of the tracks left by any creatures. Two was simply for the fact of keeping herself out of sight, if there was prey about, it would most likely be best if the element of stealth could be applied. Even as she did this, the naga took care to distance herself from the vampire, but at the same time keeping her in her peripherals. This forest was new to her, and perhaps even the creatures its self; so for the most part, she would keep following Tenebrae, all the while her own hunting tactics still actively being used to aid the two if needed.
Tenebrae wrinkled her nose at the foetid stink that seemed to rise from the very soil as she crept along the remnants of a path, ears keen and eyes sharp for any untoward motion or sound. She was careful to note the exact noise, slight at is was, that Saiyah made as she followed, so as to count that out of her vigilance. As the pair travelled, the light dimmed significantly as the canopy thickened, and her sword was necessary to sweep aside ominously wide webs that here and there stretched across the way. Webs, she noted, that got bigger and stickier. A shiver goosefleshed along her arms, and she peered to the tree-tops, catching sight of some bulky but unmoving objects lodged in the branches. Halting, Tene turned to her nagish companion. "Don't like the look of this..." she'd mutter darkly, her voice kept as low as she could. From above, one of those sac-like shapes began to move, long and thin limbs separating from twigs to shift the body-sac a little lower. The vampiress was oblivious to the crouching and silent monster, continuing, "I think we should head north a bit." As she finished speaking, the vast spider attached a rope-like strand of webbing to a branch, and launched itself down through the air, pincers gaping in anticipation of an easy meal, twenty feet above the head of Tenebrae. Well, that'd be fifteen feet, by now. Or... ten...
Saiyah :: Just as the arachnid-beast was only 5 feet from Tenebrae, Saiyah's staff had been lunched violently upwards. To Tenebrae, Saiyah would have just seemed to be off in the distance adjacent to her, the next only inches before her. She was quick, the lower snake body not only an advantage for vast amounts of strength and muscle, but for speed as well. It had only been moments ago that she had glanced about and found that of the -spider- making its decent on top of Tenebrae- this only brought her to where she was now. Her teeth bared, a scowl ripping from her lips as the blade of the staff missed- seemed she wasn't the only quick one in the forest too. The spider had performed that of a simple barrel roll to the side, if anything a spiralling twist to avoid the incoming weapon. To Saiyah's luck though, not all of her offensive attack to both save the woman, and slay the beast were without its reward. Slicing like a hot knife through butter, the tip of the blade snapped the thick silken thread in which the arachnid hung from. For a moment, the naga would have completely forgot about the laws of gravity and son found herself to be standing in the path of a rather large spider falling down on -her- now.
Tenebrae was small, and rather slim, and if not blessed -- or cursed? -- with her vampiric reflexes and speed, many's the time she may have made a short but tasty lunch for creatures very like the one that Saiyah had freed from its mooring-thread. The naga's swift action had her glancing upward, her mouth forming a small 'o' of surprise at a quick descent that only got faster once Saiyah's sharp-ended staff swept by with a metallic 'whoosh'. Tene shifted her feet, which rather than taking her -away- from the imminently landing spider, had her placed squarely -under- it, and did the first - and only - thing that came to mind. Her great sword, almost as long as she was tall, was gripped tightly in two fists. Thighs bunching under her as she dropped her knees slightly to give momentum to her next action, Tene pushed off the ground to spring upward, the weapon hurriedly thrust as hard as she could, hopefully, into some vital part. Seems luck was with her -- with a horrific screech, the spider found itself both without its easy meal, and impaled on the vampiress's weapon. Gouts of greenish ichor spewed from the sac of its underbelly, the furious beast landing with a sickly thud atop Tenebrae, who was thus pinned below it. Trapped so, she let out a yell before all breath was crushed from her body, the enraged and mortally wounded arachnid snapping and straining against the sword's hold to lunge with a poisonous and acid-like bite that would pierce all but the toughest armour and make short work of its occupant, were it to succeed.
Saiyah was already on top of the situation- quite literally. Being one with half a serpents body and all, agility was something that came quite natural to the woman. She leaned back, the motion more a simple sway backwards as her lower half’s muscles worked with east to accommodate the more humanoid upper half. Saiyah was just barely able to move out of the way in time before the next thing she knew, the spiders body had came crushing down atop the small woman. Her tongue flicked out once, tasting the air, the foul and putrid stench of blood now tainted the already musky forest. She twisted her body into a full 360, the massive bulk of the tail soon to follow as it smacked at the side of the spiders impaled body with the force that almost matched a tree trunk its self. Of course, with that much mass and momentum slamming into the beast, it was only natural that it was sent sailing through the air away from Tenebrae, and into a large trunk belonging to one of the many deathly, decrepit trees of the forest. Though her actions did not stop there, much as any hunter would do, the naga-woman was quick to send the monster a continuous volley of attacks. As soon as she swatted the beast off of Tenebrae, she was already in quick pursuit of it- the tip of her staff being drug behind her in the ground in close proximity. Here she would take advantage of the hopefully dazed arachnid and give her dual-bladed staff a quick twist at the middle of the apparatus and separate the staff into what seemed two shorter poles with blades fixed to the top. But the fun didn’t' stop here- chains spilled out and drug in the dirt path as her right hand harpooned one of the 'half-blade-tipped' weapons past the spider. It would only be a quick second before the length of the chains slack was pulled tight and the tension causing for the weapon to -hook- around the tree and wrap to the other side where she would be with an open hand catching it. Simply, a small chain now was looping around the spider, keeping it pulled against the tree trunk as the serpent-woman was on the other side using every last bit of muscle to keep the reins pulled tight, thus giving Tenebrae another chance to make a fatal strike at the creature. Meanwhile, Saiyah though to herself what a great idea it was to have picked up the mask post-battle with the muster...seeing as how it was being smashed repeatedly into the base of the trunk while the spider fought hard to pull, roll, and crawl away.
Once more Tene was to find herself matched -- if not a little outdone -- in speed, the naga almost a blur as the great weight lifted off her and she sluiced spider-gore from her eyes in time to watch the violent if brief battle between Saiyah and the monster arachnid. Struggling up form the stinking earth, trying not to slip in the foetid muck, she reached for her... oh. The sword was gone, still lodged in the spider's body up to its hilt, and the vampiress was left only with her wand. Lungs sucking a breath into bruised ribs, she'd hurry to where the naga huntress had ingeniously trapped the spider against a tree and was now doing her best to keep it in place before the creature managed to snap those chains. Even wounded so, and missing one or two legs courtesy of the strange staff's twin offspring, the spider was an ancient and powerful, with it. "Stand back!" Tene called a warning, hoping the chains held long enough for her incantation to gather force. Once the way was clear, already muttering the necessary spellwords, the necromancer held one arm behind her back and her wand at a point, much as a toreador might level his sword at a wounded bull right before the final death-strike. Saiyah might sense some thickening of the gloom around them, a low hum and crackle of magics rippling outward from the place where Tenebrae stood. The spider was writhing, still bleeding in a steady stream, but with enough life left in it to have the chains straining and deep gouges scored in the tree's trunk as they came loose and dragged across the bark. Any moment now... Tene did not often use her magics anymore, so much did they deplete her. But this meant she had plenty of it stored for just such moments, and as dark mana was summoned, refined and aimed it seemed as though she herself was composed of snakes, the black magics twisting thickly about her like so many midnight-skinned serpents, to one by one drain away into the wand. The weapon thus adequately charged, her voice was raised, the incantation an unintelligible drone and then... the final word left her lips, the wand shuddered and seemed to explode in her hand, and stream of ebon shot like a high-pressure jet of oil toward the pinioned enemy. One moment there was a spider. The next, there was a green stain, a couple of wet chains with bladed staffs attached, and a sword clattering down to land among the gnarled tree roots. The vampiress sank to her heels, clenching her arms around her knees.
Saiyah could not hold -it- much longer. As she felt the spiders strong, feeble attempts at freeing its self, so did her face...against the tree. Bit by bit, the strong, near epoxy strengthed mask chipped away, soon leaving a half-diagonal to remain- the rest a pile of what could look like cracked egg shells. Blood- it trickled down her cheeks, the rough bark having scored her bare skin, much like her arms and chest. Still, she held the formidable foe tight, waiting and hoping Tene' would be quick in her attack. And when Saiyah thought her arms could hold the halved staffs anymore, there was a deep -snap-. One, her chains having snapped under the extreme tension, two, the spell having hit its mark. Of course she would be send flying backwards, a deep 'whir-kish!' of the chains whipping backwards behind her; Oh how it would be woe for anyone or anything behind her right now. As she tumbled and was sent to sprawl out on the dark forest's floor, Saiyah could not help but to grin. Oh how lovely it was, staring death in the eyes, and even more knowing you did more then escape, but instead killed it. Oh how she loved that small 'high' of power that rippled through body, ethereal in its own sense. The woman lay there for a moment, catching herself before she idled upwards, her thick mass of tail behind her carrying her to rest before the woman. A bloody hand was placed on the vampire shoulder and a look of 'are you ok?' could be seen through the half of the cracked mask that still remained on her face.
Tenebrae jumped slightly at the naga's touch, glancing up with wide eyes in which ice-green irises seemed to ripple with streaks of black. "Oh..." The vampiress was dazed, her body trembling, and the wand lay on the ground beside her. "It's dead, then?"
Saiyah flinched her hand back, not at all aware of how -jumpy- Tene' was. At her words, she tossed a quick glance backwards and lofted a brow at the giant, greenish splatter of blood and gore about the trunk of the tree and the proximity around it. There was a near blank nod that was offered to Tenebrae that was most likely a 'yes'in the naga's attempt in body language. She lifted her arm weakly before her and squinted, several splinters now deeply lodged in her scaly skin that was not raw and bloody. There was a mute sigh followed by the soft ruffling of dead leaves while the tail swayed back and forth while Saiyah made for the tree. She hefted the sword over one shoulder, and two half-staffs on the other before slithering once more back up to Tenebrae. She set the items down next to the want; a wand in witch she kept a somewhat -safe- distance away from now. There was a moment to pass were the two sat in silence, the naga catching her breath really and enjoying the fruits of victory, while the vampire seemed more to just calm herself from what ever it was that she conjured.
Tenebrae took a while to get her mind in order enough for any really coherent attempt at speech. Thank the gods there had been only one of the monster spiders-- after channelling the spell of chaotic dissolution through her body, the vampiress was weak as a kitten and would have likely been dispatched quickly. She nodded her thanks to Saiyah for the sword's return, enjoying the quiet which they'd sit in a while. Gradually she felt some strength returning, but her limbs felt as though they had lead weights attached as she reached for the weapons and dragged herself upright. "Remind me..." she'd mutter, "to leave that particular wand at home next time, alright?" There'd been enough magic in that blast to dissipate the corporeal forms of several behemoths. A wry smile had her turn back on the path they'd come from. "C'mon, I've had enough for one day..." The sword was dragged behind her, point trailing in the dirt, like the toy of a very tired child.
Saiyah simply nodded and weakly smiled, her own weapon now hand in hand as the severed chains drug in the dirt behind her. There was a slight trickled of blood in her wake, the would from her cheek, chest, arms and mid stomach giving off a shimmering gleam in the low light of the thick canopy of the forest. There was defiantly some wounds to be treated, and even more, her precious weapon to be fixed. Well, seems she would -have- to stay about the lands a bit more before she was able to take off in well being and well equipped with her custom weapon.
-- Next Day, Hanging Corpse Tavern--
Tenebrae wandered in, looking weary, yet more battle and political talk wearing the vampiress out. She'd slump into a seat by the fire. There was no sign of her goblin.
Lalki looks over toward the vampriss as she walks in, the woman hopping down from her stool and trotting over with some concern in her eyes, "Miss Tenebrae, are you alright?"
Valse get up from his seat, leaving the other glass of wine untouched. He sits at an empty table and looking around the room
Tenebrae glanced up to the girl.. she really must stop thinking of her that way, and smiled wanly. "Just a bit weary, pet. Been busy. Don't suppose you'd fetch me a blood wine?"
She tossed a coin or two Lalki's way. "Little bonus for a fine job."
Saiyah could not help herself, it was beginning to be a continuous event- slithering up into the tavern is what she did. And upon that -slither-, she shot a sidelong glance to the few that were already seated about and none the less, gave a slight nod. Though to them, it really wouldn't have stuck out anyways, seeing as how her head bobbed about whilst her serpentine tail followed behind her at a writhing pace. Her original destination was for the counter, but as she sidelong glance sure enough caught a glimpse of Tenebrae, she had but only to take a doubletake. She paused, only to re-direct her being up along the side of the chair, but keeping a good distance from Lalki least she like the rest of those in the land took an odd stance to her -kind-. For now, she dove her hand into her pack tugged a quill from behind her ears and scribbled out a note and held it out for Tene' to take.
~Ah, a note..how quaint.~ Good evening, Tenebrae. You seem- down, is there something wrong?
Tenebrae offered the naga a smile, if a tired one, and take the slip of paper. After reading, she glanced up. "Not much, just weary. And... I haven't seen Maladroit since we were in the forest."
Tenebrae looked oddly upset about a goblin she cussed out at every opportunity.
Lalki catches the gold in her hands and she gives a firm nod, the woman trotting back behind the bar. She returns a few minutes later with a bottle of bloodwine in her hands and she approaches Tenebrae. Upon reaching the woman she holds it out for her to take, "Thank ya' miss Tenebrae. Here's your bloodwine." The woman quirks her head towards Saiyah and gives her a small, friendly grin, "Would you like anything, Miss?"
Tenebrae took the bottle gratefully, uncorking it with her teeth and taking a long swig.
Valse starts to think about the robbery that happened here today and wonders if he would ask Tenebrae if she wants him to catch the man so he can be punished
Saiyah would sigh, her own lips breaking and twisting to a rigid frown. With a missing Maladroit, that meant a missing python. The naga slowly slithered away to fetch a stool from the bar, and drag it off next to the chair in which Tene' sat- hopefully, she wouldn't mind, but if she did, Oh boy- this was going to be interesting. As she lower serpentine half began to coil around the stool, a nod was given to Lalki while her hands were already working on a note for the woman. She tore it off and held it out for her, then went about jotting down Tenebrae's note as well.
The note reads.. ~ Oh, ok then. Well, if you see him? Can you see if it has my baby with him, please?
Lalki takes the note in there hands, her eyes squinting together as if struggling to read it, before she smiles and gives her a nod, "I'll be right on it." She trots back behind the bar, taking a few more minutes than usual. She emerges with a glass of water, perspiration coating the sides of the glass. She approaches the naga and holds out the glass for the snake-woman to take, "Here you go, miss."
Tenebrae gave Lalki a warm smile of thanks, and read Saiyah's note. After, she blinked a bit, her eyes wandering the to naga's tail. "Baby...?" One brow quirked, she nodded. "Of course I will." Fingers crossed the 'baby' hadn't provided Maladroit with a little extra protein, she tried to change the subject. "And as you saw, the problem in the forest is a big one, and getting bigger as these things breed. I fear we'll have to get a much larger hunting party out, and then block up all the exits." She frowned. "The drow might not like that much.."
Britta sits near the bar, sinewy arms loosely wrapping around the dog before her. Cinder would instantly snuggle closer to his mistress, the woman in a somber mood this evening.
Lalki 's ears perk as she hears the footsteps of a newcomer, the woman trotting over to Britta and giving her a friendly smile, "Hello Miss, may I get you anythin'?"
Saiyah handed off the note to Tenebrae and slid her hand into her satchel to fetch a small coin purse in which to pay the woman. She was unsure of the payment in which was due, so, to be safe, she handed off a silver coin and turned back to Tenebrae. She lifted a brow to the rather queer face Tenebrae made and blinked. She smiled, lips parting into a grin as she silently laughed while she wrote.
~the note reads..~ Nonono, not literally. He's just been with me forever, and I mean 'baby' in the sense of endearment one would give to someone very close to them. As for the spiders, I can't do much until my weapon is fixed. Kasyr, he offered to escort me to someone who could fix it though.
Saiyah shudders at the though of having a child of her own.
Hyadai enters the tavern in her usual fashion, dragging her feet across the floor with grace as she moves to the table farthest from the rest of the crowd, With each movement, dark runes embedded into the black boots shine with unknown power. Well worth the gold, the prekleks can make anything out hollows materials. She sits at her table, crosses her arms as she glances around.
Britta smiles faintly at Lalki, shaking her head. "I work here as well...But, I don't believe we've met! I'm Britta Larter..." She states, extending a dainty hand towards the polite woman.
Britta said to Hyadai, "Can I get you anything to eat or drink, Miss?"
Hyadai stares at the naga with widened eyes. The assassin hated snakes, and seeing this creature was unsettling.
Lalki smiles, taking her hand with a smile, "I'm Lalki...I don't think you'd like to hear the mouthful I have for a full name. And it's not bad to offer service to someone ya' work with, is it?"
Hyadai turns to Britta, shaking her head as to say. "Not now."
Britta flushes slightly, giving the offered hand a gentle shake. "I guess not...It's nice to meet you Lalki."
Lalki gives a small nod as she returns the gesture and the bright smile never leaves the woman's face. "So, ya' gonna take up the offer or not? Anythin' ya' want on me."
Britta giggles softly, rolling her sapphire eyes as she was given an offer that was hard to refuse. "All right...A dark ale, as this place serves the best ale in the lands!"
Lalki smiles and nods firmly, "Alright, you got it." She trots to behind the bar, taking a few minutes before she emerges out a mug of ale in hand. She makes her way to Britta and places the ale in front of her. "Here ya' go!"
Britta frowns slightly as she glances at Rheven, the woman glancing quickly at her left hand and frowning.
Lalki said to Rheven, "Hello, would you like anything?"
Britta cheerily smiles, accepting the offered mug of ale. "Thanks, dearest. I think I'm going to like working here!"
Britta winks at Tenebrae, nodding towards Lalki. "She'll be good for business, such an attentive young girl."
Tenebrae was about to reply, when on the door came a repetitive banging, as though someone on the other side was kicking it, and hard. Tene's brow knit to a frown, and she sighed raggedly, drawing her weapon - just in case. A few strides had her to the door, and out, to see what the problem was --this-- time.
Tenebrae shouted, "Uh.. Saiyah... You might want to come out here a second... *in the background can be heard a high-pitched noise that sounds like 'wheeeeeee'*"
Tenebrae , realising the seriousness of the situation after reading Saiyah's last note, was nevertheless trying very hard not to allow the smile that threatened to curve her lips. At the naga's emergence, she'd slide one palm over her pallid face and merely point at the fiasco occurring several yards away, in the middle of the road. It seemed Maladroit had come home.. and brought Baby with him. Or rather, Baby had brought Maladroit home-- via a set of what appeared to be brand-spanking new wings. It was indeed the same python, but airborne on a pair of pretty golden-brown pinions, flapping hard now to keep the snake in the air despite the weight attached to its coiling body. The goblin himself was having the time of his life, ten feet off the ground, his little hands gripping the serpent, heels swinging merrily to and fro as he shouted 'wheeee'.
Saiyah held in each hand the two halves of the staff, a defensive pose struck as she slithered out into the streets of Vailkrin. Moments later, they would only be heard bouncing on the hard, cobble stone path her arms at her side and jaw hanging. She blinked...not once, but twice- no, this wasn't right, it was just a joke. It had to be, right? None the less, Saiyah slithered forwards, idling up tot he side of Tenebrae, her eyes still locked onto the pair as her hand shakily dug around for quill and paper. She tried to keep her eyes torn from the flying duo and more on the paper while she wrote- or rather tried to write. Alas, to no avail, the parchment fell to the ground half finished but right side up for the vampire to read |What?! That better -not- be-| A hand slid up to her face where she palmed it, slowly shaking back and forth. She was not only speechless in words, but now text.
Tenebrae chewed her lip, wincing a little as the naga's weapons went clattered to the ground, though she was a bit relieved they weren't being used on Maladroit. Gathering herself, she stepped out onto the road, hands on hips, head canted upward to her familiar and the snake. "Get down from there, this minute, I am not amused." Well, she was, a bit, but Tene wasn't going to let Saiyah know it. Maladroit shook his head, emitting another high-pitched squeal of delight as the python flapped a little faster, in an attempt to reach its owner. Swinging his legs again, the goblin somehow managed to have the snake lower its altitude until his small feet were no more than his own height from the ground. Letting go of the newly-winged Baby, he hit the ground running, fangs flashing in what could only be described as a shark's grin, as he ran the remaining distance toward Saiyah. The vampiress' turn to stare as her goblin began chattering excitedly in his own coarse and unintelligible language, nodding and pointing toward the snake, which was hovering close by. Did he think he'd done a --good-- thing? He wasn't running away, as he usually did after a prank, and indeed seemed to be very pleased with himself. And how in all hells had he come to give the python wings, she could not imagine.
Saiyah just blinked- again. Lifting her face from her palm, the naga ignored all of Tenebrae's word and even more, the goblin's odd antics. In stead, she slithered forwards and lifted herself up into the air to snatch the winged python way. She held him close to her chest, not letting him go -anywhere- as she pulled a 180 and made for her weapons on the ground. With all of her belongings retrieved, she gave on last glance backwards at Maladroit and made a 'hmph' face before disappearing into the streets of the undead.
Tenebrae had sorted the giant out, set him to clearing the city's rubble, and was now treading her way along the dark forest path. Soon, she'd reach the spot where Saiyah was waiting, and paused a moment to watch the woman's preparations. No beginner, this one, clearly. The vampiress coughed softly and stepped toward her-- a safe distance from the whirling of that odd blade. "Righty, then..." She'd glance about for her armour.
Saiyah would only drop the blade to her side, the staff swaying idly in her hand as the other pointed towards the ground, just off to the left of her. There was Tene's armour, just as she'd asked for back outside the pub, and to this the naga had but to grin once again for the 4th time this evening. So far, not one other hunter she'd met had gone as she did- armorless, but that was the key word in this factor...-yet-. Still she yearned for something exciting to take place in her stay about the lands, and tonight, her fingers were crossed in hopes of finding just that. Saiyah leaned down and took her mask in her hands and places it to her face, tying the bands tight while she waited for Tenebrae to suit up.
Tenebrae wasn't long in donning the bloodstained items; just as well she'd not bothered to clean them yet. She was less concerned with her scent-- the accumulation of grue on her clothing might just lure out some of the creatures that skulked in lairs along these treacherous paths. "Word of warning..." A sidelong green glance was cast to Saiyah. "A lot of the critters here have wandered up from the Underdark, drow lands. Some might have magic and venom as well as whatever fangs and claws they have." She frowned a bit at the naga's lack of armour, and rifled through her pack. "Don't know if you might have use for these..." Sundry items were dropped to the ground, for Saiyah to pick through. "Also, I'd have you with some magical protection." A low whistle had a black shape skulk from out of a nearby wizened bush, a shadow-cowled figure not more than three and half feet tall, twin pinpoints of red light shimmering from under its hood. "Maladroit here knows a trick or two, if you trust him to it." The goblin shucked off his head-covering and grinned, his maw so wide as to almost split his face in half, and looked upward at the naga with beady scarlet eyes.
Saiyah had been peering down the shaft of her staff, looking for any imperfections or scathed marks on her weapon, after all it had been roughly 2 months since she went on a proper hunt. A soft smile formed across her thin lips as she bladed weapon was stuck into the ground, her hands reaching up to take the python around the middle to lift off. She would set him down on the grass to slither away- this was her baby (not literally) and she did not know what she would ever do if any harm came to him. As Saiyah came back up, her neck canted to the side to glance from behind the mask at the items and with a polite shake of the head, she waved a hand. No, there was no need or want for the items. The naga was strictly natural when hunting, something she'd taking a keen fondness to in her years of a hunter. So, with a polite swoop of the items in her arm, she held them back to Tenebrae to take back. As for the goblin, she would simply smile and shake her head again- magic was something else she did not take a fondness to using. Others...she didn't mind, but to her, it was more a -personal- thing at best.
Tenebrae's goblin shrugged and snickered, scampering off in the direction of the python. Tene cast a worried glance his way, and looked back to Saiyah. "Alright.." She sounded dubious, but packed the stuff away again, stowing her bag behind some bushes. Drawing out her long sword, the weapon escaping its sheath with a metallic hiss, and her wand, she'd waste no more words but motion with a wand-equipped hand for the naga to follow her as she set out on the overgrown trail into the forest's depths.
Saiyah leaned forward, her dual-bladed staff held out in front of her- much like a jouster would do. Her body snaked this way and that, her upper humanoid body guiding the snake tail left and right past tree after tree. She was leaned low for a couple reasons really; one to look for and if she could, identify some of the tracks left by any creatures. Two was simply for the fact of keeping herself out of sight, if there was prey about, it would most likely be best if the element of stealth could be applied. Even as she did this, the naga took care to distance herself from the vampire, but at the same time keeping her in her peripherals. This forest was new to her, and perhaps even the creatures its self; so for the most part, she would keep following Tenebrae, all the while her own hunting tactics still actively being used to aid the two if needed.
Tenebrae wrinkled her nose at the foetid stink that seemed to rise from the very soil as she crept along the remnants of a path, ears keen and eyes sharp for any untoward motion or sound. She was careful to note the exact noise, slight at is was, that Saiyah made as she followed, so as to count that out of her vigilance. As the pair travelled, the light dimmed significantly as the canopy thickened, and her sword was necessary to sweep aside ominously wide webs that here and there stretched across the way. Webs, she noted, that got bigger and stickier. A shiver goosefleshed along her arms, and she peered to the tree-tops, catching sight of some bulky but unmoving objects lodged in the branches. Halting, Tene turned to her nagish companion. "Don't like the look of this..." she'd mutter darkly, her voice kept as low as she could. From above, one of those sac-like shapes began to move, long and thin limbs separating from twigs to shift the body-sac a little lower. The vampiress was oblivious to the crouching and silent monster, continuing, "I think we should head north a bit." As she finished speaking, the vast spider attached a rope-like strand of webbing to a branch, and launched itself down through the air, pincers gaping in anticipation of an easy meal, twenty feet above the head of Tenebrae. Well, that'd be fifteen feet, by now. Or... ten...
Saiyah :: Just as the arachnid-beast was only 5 feet from Tenebrae, Saiyah's staff had been lunched violently upwards. To Tenebrae, Saiyah would have just seemed to be off in the distance adjacent to her, the next only inches before her. She was quick, the lower snake body not only an advantage for vast amounts of strength and muscle, but for speed as well. It had only been moments ago that she had glanced about and found that of the -spider- making its decent on top of Tenebrae- this only brought her to where she was now. Her teeth bared, a scowl ripping from her lips as the blade of the staff missed- seemed she wasn't the only quick one in the forest too. The spider had performed that of a simple barrel roll to the side, if anything a spiralling twist to avoid the incoming weapon. To Saiyah's luck though, not all of her offensive attack to both save the woman, and slay the beast were without its reward. Slicing like a hot knife through butter, the tip of the blade snapped the thick silken thread in which the arachnid hung from. For a moment, the naga would have completely forgot about the laws of gravity and son found herself to be standing in the path of a rather large spider falling down on -her- now.
Tenebrae was small, and rather slim, and if not blessed -- or cursed? -- with her vampiric reflexes and speed, many's the time she may have made a short but tasty lunch for creatures very like the one that Saiyah had freed from its mooring-thread. The naga's swift action had her glancing upward, her mouth forming a small 'o' of surprise at a quick descent that only got faster once Saiyah's sharp-ended staff swept by with a metallic 'whoosh'. Tene shifted her feet, which rather than taking her -away- from the imminently landing spider, had her placed squarely -under- it, and did the first - and only - thing that came to mind. Her great sword, almost as long as she was tall, was gripped tightly in two fists. Thighs bunching under her as she dropped her knees slightly to give momentum to her next action, Tene pushed off the ground to spring upward, the weapon hurriedly thrust as hard as she could, hopefully, into some vital part. Seems luck was with her -- with a horrific screech, the spider found itself both without its easy meal, and impaled on the vampiress's weapon. Gouts of greenish ichor spewed from the sac of its underbelly, the furious beast landing with a sickly thud atop Tenebrae, who was thus pinned below it. Trapped so, she let out a yell before all breath was crushed from her body, the enraged and mortally wounded arachnid snapping and straining against the sword's hold to lunge with a poisonous and acid-like bite that would pierce all but the toughest armour and make short work of its occupant, were it to succeed.
Saiyah was already on top of the situation- quite literally. Being one with half a serpents body and all, agility was something that came quite natural to the woman. She leaned back, the motion more a simple sway backwards as her lower half’s muscles worked with east to accommodate the more humanoid upper half. Saiyah was just barely able to move out of the way in time before the next thing she knew, the spiders body had came crushing down atop the small woman. Her tongue flicked out once, tasting the air, the foul and putrid stench of blood now tainted the already musky forest. She twisted her body into a full 360, the massive bulk of the tail soon to follow as it smacked at the side of the spiders impaled body with the force that almost matched a tree trunk its self. Of course, with that much mass and momentum slamming into the beast, it was only natural that it was sent sailing through the air away from Tenebrae, and into a large trunk belonging to one of the many deathly, decrepit trees of the forest. Though her actions did not stop there, much as any hunter would do, the naga-woman was quick to send the monster a continuous volley of attacks. As soon as she swatted the beast off of Tenebrae, she was already in quick pursuit of it- the tip of her staff being drug behind her in the ground in close proximity. Here she would take advantage of the hopefully dazed arachnid and give her dual-bladed staff a quick twist at the middle of the apparatus and separate the staff into what seemed two shorter poles with blades fixed to the top. But the fun didn’t' stop here- chains spilled out and drug in the dirt path as her right hand harpooned one of the 'half-blade-tipped' weapons past the spider. It would only be a quick second before the length of the chains slack was pulled tight and the tension causing for the weapon to -hook- around the tree and wrap to the other side where she would be with an open hand catching it. Simply, a small chain now was looping around the spider, keeping it pulled against the tree trunk as the serpent-woman was on the other side using every last bit of muscle to keep the reins pulled tight, thus giving Tenebrae another chance to make a fatal strike at the creature. Meanwhile, Saiyah though to herself what a great idea it was to have picked up the mask post-battle with the muster...seeing as how it was being smashed repeatedly into the base of the trunk while the spider fought hard to pull, roll, and crawl away.
Once more Tene was to find herself matched -- if not a little outdone -- in speed, the naga almost a blur as the great weight lifted off her and she sluiced spider-gore from her eyes in time to watch the violent if brief battle between Saiyah and the monster arachnid. Struggling up form the stinking earth, trying not to slip in the foetid muck, she reached for her... oh. The sword was gone, still lodged in the spider's body up to its hilt, and the vampiress was left only with her wand. Lungs sucking a breath into bruised ribs, she'd hurry to where the naga huntress had ingeniously trapped the spider against a tree and was now doing her best to keep it in place before the creature managed to snap those chains. Even wounded so, and missing one or two legs courtesy of the strange staff's twin offspring, the spider was an ancient and powerful, with it. "Stand back!" Tene called a warning, hoping the chains held long enough for her incantation to gather force. Once the way was clear, already muttering the necessary spellwords, the necromancer held one arm behind her back and her wand at a point, much as a toreador might level his sword at a wounded bull right before the final death-strike. Saiyah might sense some thickening of the gloom around them, a low hum and crackle of magics rippling outward from the place where Tenebrae stood. The spider was writhing, still bleeding in a steady stream, but with enough life left in it to have the chains straining and deep gouges scored in the tree's trunk as they came loose and dragged across the bark. Any moment now... Tene did not often use her magics anymore, so much did they deplete her. But this meant she had plenty of it stored for just such moments, and as dark mana was summoned, refined and aimed it seemed as though she herself was composed of snakes, the black magics twisting thickly about her like so many midnight-skinned serpents, to one by one drain away into the wand. The weapon thus adequately charged, her voice was raised, the incantation an unintelligible drone and then... the final word left her lips, the wand shuddered and seemed to explode in her hand, and stream of ebon shot like a high-pressure jet of oil toward the pinioned enemy. One moment there was a spider. The next, there was a green stain, a couple of wet chains with bladed staffs attached, and a sword clattering down to land among the gnarled tree roots. The vampiress sank to her heels, clenching her arms around her knees.
Saiyah could not hold -it- much longer. As she felt the spiders strong, feeble attempts at freeing its self, so did her face...against the tree. Bit by bit, the strong, near epoxy strengthed mask chipped away, soon leaving a half-diagonal to remain- the rest a pile of what could look like cracked egg shells. Blood- it trickled down her cheeks, the rough bark having scored her bare skin, much like her arms and chest. Still, she held the formidable foe tight, waiting and hoping Tene' would be quick in her attack. And when Saiyah thought her arms could hold the halved staffs anymore, there was a deep -snap-. One, her chains having snapped under the extreme tension, two, the spell having hit its mark. Of course she would be send flying backwards, a deep 'whir-kish!' of the chains whipping backwards behind her; Oh how it would be woe for anyone or anything behind her right now. As she tumbled and was sent to sprawl out on the dark forest's floor, Saiyah could not help but to grin. Oh how lovely it was, staring death in the eyes, and even more knowing you did more then escape, but instead killed it. Oh how she loved that small 'high' of power that rippled through body, ethereal in its own sense. The woman lay there for a moment, catching herself before she idled upwards, her thick mass of tail behind her carrying her to rest before the woman. A bloody hand was placed on the vampire shoulder and a look of 'are you ok?' could be seen through the half of the cracked mask that still remained on her face.
Tenebrae jumped slightly at the naga's touch, glancing up with wide eyes in which ice-green irises seemed to ripple with streaks of black. "Oh..." The vampiress was dazed, her body trembling, and the wand lay on the ground beside her. "It's dead, then?"
Saiyah flinched her hand back, not at all aware of how -jumpy- Tene' was. At her words, she tossed a quick glance backwards and lofted a brow at the giant, greenish splatter of blood and gore about the trunk of the tree and the proximity around it. There was a near blank nod that was offered to Tenebrae that was most likely a 'yes'in the naga's attempt in body language. She lifted her arm weakly before her and squinted, several splinters now deeply lodged in her scaly skin that was not raw and bloody. There was a mute sigh followed by the soft ruffling of dead leaves while the tail swayed back and forth while Saiyah made for the tree. She hefted the sword over one shoulder, and two half-staffs on the other before slithering once more back up to Tenebrae. She set the items down next to the want; a wand in witch she kept a somewhat -safe- distance away from now. There was a moment to pass were the two sat in silence, the naga catching her breath really and enjoying the fruits of victory, while the vampire seemed more to just calm herself from what ever it was that she conjured.
Tenebrae took a while to get her mind in order enough for any really coherent attempt at speech. Thank the gods there had been only one of the monster spiders-- after channelling the spell of chaotic dissolution through her body, the vampiress was weak as a kitten and would have likely been dispatched quickly. She nodded her thanks to Saiyah for the sword's return, enjoying the quiet which they'd sit in a while. Gradually she felt some strength returning, but her limbs felt as though they had lead weights attached as she reached for the weapons and dragged herself upright. "Remind me..." she'd mutter, "to leave that particular wand at home next time, alright?" There'd been enough magic in that blast to dissipate the corporeal forms of several behemoths. A wry smile had her turn back on the path they'd come from. "C'mon, I've had enough for one day..." The sword was dragged behind her, point trailing in the dirt, like the toy of a very tired child.
Saiyah simply nodded and weakly smiled, her own weapon now hand in hand as the severed chains drug in the dirt behind her. There was a slight trickled of blood in her wake, the would from her cheek, chest, arms and mid stomach giving off a shimmering gleam in the low light of the thick canopy of the forest. There was defiantly some wounds to be treated, and even more, her precious weapon to be fixed. Well, seems she would -have- to stay about the lands a bit more before she was able to take off in well being and well equipped with her custom weapon.
-- Next Day, Hanging Corpse Tavern--
Tenebrae wandered in, looking weary, yet more battle and political talk wearing the vampiress out. She'd slump into a seat by the fire. There was no sign of her goblin.
Lalki looks over toward the vampriss as she walks in, the woman hopping down from her stool and trotting over with some concern in her eyes, "Miss Tenebrae, are you alright?"
Valse get up from his seat, leaving the other glass of wine untouched. He sits at an empty table and looking around the room
Tenebrae glanced up to the girl.. she really must stop thinking of her that way, and smiled wanly. "Just a bit weary, pet. Been busy. Don't suppose you'd fetch me a blood wine?"
She tossed a coin or two Lalki's way. "Little bonus for a fine job."
Saiyah could not help herself, it was beginning to be a continuous event- slithering up into the tavern is what she did. And upon that -slither-, she shot a sidelong glance to the few that were already seated about and none the less, gave a slight nod. Though to them, it really wouldn't have stuck out anyways, seeing as how her head bobbed about whilst her serpentine tail followed behind her at a writhing pace. Her original destination was for the counter, but as she sidelong glance sure enough caught a glimpse of Tenebrae, she had but only to take a doubletake. She paused, only to re-direct her being up along the side of the chair, but keeping a good distance from Lalki least she like the rest of those in the land took an odd stance to her -kind-. For now, she dove her hand into her pack tugged a quill from behind her ears and scribbled out a note and held it out for Tene' to take.
~Ah, a note..how quaint.~ Good evening, Tenebrae. You seem- down, is there something wrong?
Tenebrae offered the naga a smile, if a tired one, and take the slip of paper. After reading, she glanced up. "Not much, just weary. And... I haven't seen Maladroit since we were in the forest."
Tenebrae looked oddly upset about a goblin she cussed out at every opportunity.
Lalki catches the gold in her hands and she gives a firm nod, the woman trotting back behind the bar. She returns a few minutes later with a bottle of bloodwine in her hands and she approaches Tenebrae. Upon reaching the woman she holds it out for her to take, "Thank ya' miss Tenebrae. Here's your bloodwine." The woman quirks her head towards Saiyah and gives her a small, friendly grin, "Would you like anything, Miss?"
Tenebrae took the bottle gratefully, uncorking it with her teeth and taking a long swig.
Valse starts to think about the robbery that happened here today and wonders if he would ask Tenebrae if she wants him to catch the man so he can be punished
Saiyah would sigh, her own lips breaking and twisting to a rigid frown. With a missing Maladroit, that meant a missing python. The naga slowly slithered away to fetch a stool from the bar, and drag it off next to the chair in which Tene' sat- hopefully, she wouldn't mind, but if she did, Oh boy- this was going to be interesting. As she lower serpentine half began to coil around the stool, a nod was given to Lalki while her hands were already working on a note for the woman. She tore it off and held it out for her, then went about jotting down Tenebrae's note as well.
The note reads.. ~ Oh, ok then. Well, if you see him? Can you see if it has my baby with him, please?
Lalki takes the note in there hands, her eyes squinting together as if struggling to read it, before she smiles and gives her a nod, "I'll be right on it." She trots back behind the bar, taking a few more minutes than usual. She emerges with a glass of water, perspiration coating the sides of the glass. She approaches the naga and holds out the glass for the snake-woman to take, "Here you go, miss."
Tenebrae gave Lalki a warm smile of thanks, and read Saiyah's note. After, she blinked a bit, her eyes wandering the to naga's tail. "Baby...?" One brow quirked, she nodded. "Of course I will." Fingers crossed the 'baby' hadn't provided Maladroit with a little extra protein, she tried to change the subject. "And as you saw, the problem in the forest is a big one, and getting bigger as these things breed. I fear we'll have to get a much larger hunting party out, and then block up all the exits." She frowned. "The drow might not like that much.."
Britta sits near the bar, sinewy arms loosely wrapping around the dog before her. Cinder would instantly snuggle closer to his mistress, the woman in a somber mood this evening.
Lalki 's ears perk as she hears the footsteps of a newcomer, the woman trotting over to Britta and giving her a friendly smile, "Hello Miss, may I get you anythin'?"
Saiyah handed off the note to Tenebrae and slid her hand into her satchel to fetch a small coin purse in which to pay the woman. She was unsure of the payment in which was due, so, to be safe, she handed off a silver coin and turned back to Tenebrae. She lifted a brow to the rather queer face Tenebrae made and blinked. She smiled, lips parting into a grin as she silently laughed while she wrote.
~the note reads..~ Nonono, not literally. He's just been with me forever, and I mean 'baby' in the sense of endearment one would give to someone very close to them. As for the spiders, I can't do much until my weapon is fixed. Kasyr, he offered to escort me to someone who could fix it though.
Saiyah shudders at the though of having a child of her own.
Hyadai enters the tavern in her usual fashion, dragging her feet across the floor with grace as she moves to the table farthest from the rest of the crowd, With each movement, dark runes embedded into the black boots shine with unknown power. Well worth the gold, the prekleks can make anything out hollows materials. She sits at her table, crosses her arms as she glances around.
Britta smiles faintly at Lalki, shaking her head. "I work here as well...But, I don't believe we've met! I'm Britta Larter..." She states, extending a dainty hand towards the polite woman.
Britta said to Hyadai, "Can I get you anything to eat or drink, Miss?"
Hyadai stares at the naga with widened eyes. The assassin hated snakes, and seeing this creature was unsettling.
Lalki smiles, taking her hand with a smile, "I'm Lalki...I don't think you'd like to hear the mouthful I have for a full name. And it's not bad to offer service to someone ya' work with, is it?"
Hyadai turns to Britta, shaking her head as to say. "Not now."
Britta flushes slightly, giving the offered hand a gentle shake. "I guess not...It's nice to meet you Lalki."
Lalki gives a small nod as she returns the gesture and the bright smile never leaves the woman's face. "So, ya' gonna take up the offer or not? Anythin' ya' want on me."
Britta giggles softly, rolling her sapphire eyes as she was given an offer that was hard to refuse. "All right...A dark ale, as this place serves the best ale in the lands!"
Lalki smiles and nods firmly, "Alright, you got it." She trots to behind the bar, taking a few minutes before she emerges out a mug of ale in hand. She makes her way to Britta and places the ale in front of her. "Here ya' go!"
Britta frowns slightly as she glances at Rheven, the woman glancing quickly at her left hand and frowning.
Lalki said to Rheven, "Hello, would you like anything?"
Britta cheerily smiles, accepting the offered mug of ale. "Thanks, dearest. I think I'm going to like working here!"
Britta winks at Tenebrae, nodding towards Lalki. "She'll be good for business, such an attentive young girl."
Tenebrae was about to reply, when on the door came a repetitive banging, as though someone on the other side was kicking it, and hard. Tene's brow knit to a frown, and she sighed raggedly, drawing her weapon - just in case. A few strides had her to the door, and out, to see what the problem was --this-- time.
Tenebrae shouted, "Uh.. Saiyah... You might want to come out here a second... *in the background can be heard a high-pitched noise that sounds like 'wheeeeeee'*"
Tenebrae , realising the seriousness of the situation after reading Saiyah's last note, was nevertheless trying very hard not to allow the smile that threatened to curve her lips. At the naga's emergence, she'd slide one palm over her pallid face and merely point at the fiasco occurring several yards away, in the middle of the road. It seemed Maladroit had come home.. and brought Baby with him. Or rather, Baby had brought Maladroit home-- via a set of what appeared to be brand-spanking new wings. It was indeed the same python, but airborne on a pair of pretty golden-brown pinions, flapping hard now to keep the snake in the air despite the weight attached to its coiling body. The goblin himself was having the time of his life, ten feet off the ground, his little hands gripping the serpent, heels swinging merrily to and fro as he shouted 'wheeee'.
Saiyah held in each hand the two halves of the staff, a defensive pose struck as she slithered out into the streets of Vailkrin. Moments later, they would only be heard bouncing on the hard, cobble stone path her arms at her side and jaw hanging. She blinked...not once, but twice- no, this wasn't right, it was just a joke. It had to be, right? None the less, Saiyah slithered forwards, idling up tot he side of Tenebrae, her eyes still locked onto the pair as her hand shakily dug around for quill and paper. She tried to keep her eyes torn from the flying duo and more on the paper while she wrote- or rather tried to write. Alas, to no avail, the parchment fell to the ground half finished but right side up for the vampire to read |What?! That better -not- be-| A hand slid up to her face where she palmed it, slowly shaking back and forth. She was not only speechless in words, but now text.
Tenebrae chewed her lip, wincing a little as the naga's weapons went clattered to the ground, though she was a bit relieved they weren't being used on Maladroit. Gathering herself, she stepped out onto the road, hands on hips, head canted upward to her familiar and the snake. "Get down from there, this minute, I am not amused." Well, she was, a bit, but Tene wasn't going to let Saiyah know it. Maladroit shook his head, emitting another high-pitched squeal of delight as the python flapped a little faster, in an attempt to reach its owner. Swinging his legs again, the goblin somehow managed to have the snake lower its altitude until his small feet were no more than his own height from the ground. Letting go of the newly-winged Baby, he hit the ground running, fangs flashing in what could only be described as a shark's grin, as he ran the remaining distance toward Saiyah. The vampiress' turn to stare as her goblin began chattering excitedly in his own coarse and unintelligible language, nodding and pointing toward the snake, which was hovering close by. Did he think he'd done a --good-- thing? He wasn't running away, as he usually did after a prank, and indeed seemed to be very pleased with himself. And how in all hells had he come to give the python wings, she could not imagine.
Saiyah just blinked- again. Lifting her face from her palm, the naga ignored all of Tenebrae's word and even more, the goblin's odd antics. In stead, she slithered forwards and lifted herself up into the air to snatch the winged python way. She held him close to her chest, not letting him go -anywhere- as she pulled a 180 and made for her weapons on the ground. With all of her belongings retrieved, she gave on last glance backwards at Maladroit and made a 'hmph' face before disappearing into the streets of the undead.