The oracle arrives

Richter · traveler Number of posts: 13 Registration date: 2008-03-07

He waited in a large Oak tree growing near the road patiently. As the predetermined time approached, a sly grin snuck up his lips until he was almost grinning. The guards rode up over the hill about a hundred yards away and were in standard two, by two, by two formation one of the rear guards was playing flag bearer, and his mark was riding in the very front, out in the open. The light summer breeze would not betray the actions and horrors that were about to happen this day. As the sextet neared to about ten yards Richter moved. However, he did not walk, or run, nor did he drop from the tree. He Blinked out of existence here and appeared behind the guards in the fields next to the roads.

Here he summoned his long bow and an arrow appeared on it as he drew back the string. Once it was drawn back fully, a second arrow appeared above the first balancing precariously on top of it. Rotating his bow to a fifty degree angle Richter let the arrows both loose, then un-summoning the bow. Blinking out he was back in the tree above when the two rear guards dropped like stones. An arrow sticking through ones neck and the others skull. Pulling out four darts, he threw them at the guard on the right, and killed him rather quickly. The remaining guards took notice now of men dying and spurred the steeds onward, screaming warning to their lord while whipping their own beasts. The horses ran fast as their rider’s commanded. Very willing to play to the demands of their masters, much like Richter did for his.

As the horses thrust onward to bring their master to whatever place they thought they would be going to, the horses entered the field of caltrops left in the road. Hundreds of sharp objects in their path, and now under their hooves, caused horses to rear up fast at the pain and buck against their masters rule, two were thrown the last managed to stay on his horse. That rider would luckily die without ever knowing what killed him. The same would go for the horse as both were split in two by Tallang’s wicked edge, horse and rider fell in several directions as they hit the ground and covered it in entrails and blood.

He blinked a dozen feet behind the surviving two that had landed painfully in the spikes their horses had found. Both horse’s had moved to the fields and were running off with a hobble, they would be allowed to leave. The two he wanted were flailing around pulling barbs out of their bodies. Only the guardsman had the sense to stand and painfully draw his sword. Richter bowed to his foe in a kind of taunting, yet slightly Asian way. Sheathing Tallang, he drew his Sai’s into his hands, and took a low cat stance, then motioned for the final guard to come to him.

The foolish guard took this as his final duty and darted forward towards the Shadow Hunter. His sloppy disengage lunge was easily batted away with one weapon as Richter stepped forward and implanted his other blade neatly in this foe’s temple. With a tug, his blade slipped free with some slimy, grayish-red filth on it. As Lord finally stood up, he knew he was a goner. Moreover, Richter just smiled at him revealing his elongated canines in a threatening manner. He may not be vampiric. Nevertheless, he knew how much he looked like it. Moreover, that edge was enough to drive the Lord on into a deeper panic.

Just like clockwork the coward ran, tripping over some of the gore of the dissected horse and rider he shrieked. It was so pathetic, it was almost funny. However, a job was a job and there was no sense in tormenting this Lord further, walking carefully through the field of spikes he took up the Banner that the guards were carrying and continued to walk towards the man that was now crawling on his back away from him. A powerful blow against the ground shattered the lower half of the haft and left it splintered and more importantly pointed. The Baron was still spouting off in his native tongue, seeking for mercy. Had Richter a choice in the matter he still would not have granted such a waste another chance to see the dawn.

Closing the gap between him and the Baron only took another few steps, and then he started feeding on the life force of the man begging before him. At first, the lord did not feel his life draining away towards Richter but as he weakened and became a bit paler, he noticed his strength was quickly failing him. Yet he still did not seem to notice that it was Richter sapping his will by absorbing it. The Lords final cries fell upon deaf ears as Richter drove the wooden pole through the male’s abdomen and more then a foot into the earth under him. Splinters pierced stomach, kidneys, and maybe intestines, yet this impalement would not kill the man quickly. Instead, it drove out the most agonized screams. Far worse then most battle-hardened warriors might have ever heard. This was a truly horrible way to die. The process would take several minutes if he were lucky. In fact, had it not been for draining this poor wretches life away it might have very well taken only a little bit less the half an hour for this to kill him.

With the guards decimated and the lord dead, Richter moved over to the corpse of the sergeant. His face hard like stone as he rummaged through the things in this pack, after a few moments he found exactly what he wanted. A hardened scroll case came out of the very messy pack, and with a smile, Richter blinked somewhere else again. However, not very far, he was up in the oak tree again as he opened the case and pulled out several sealed letters. Nevertheless, these were dropped carelessly on the ground. What he was looking for was something he would sense, not read

Sure enough, two letters dropped into the ichor later he smiled. The contract was his again. The moment ht touched it he felt the power of his master on him and he averted his eyes downward. He had a new assignment it would seem; normally they did not come as quickly. However this one sounded like fun so its haste was not a bother. Once his master was done instructing him he would feel the queasy sensation of vertigo, up become down or possible right. Left was now gone, down was up, everything mixed up inside of him. A second later gravity shifted and everything returned to where it was supposed to be. He was no in a new place, in a side alley alone. Grinning at his masters powers he exited the alley way and started to head in search of a tavern.

**Admin** · Subject: Re: The oracle arrives Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:08 pm

Port Xonan was still in smoky ruins after Trina's last attack and the surprise one of the pirates that unwittingly arrived at the same time. A double whammy you may want to say. The people were weary and it showed on their faces. They trusted no one, especially strangers. The tavern was no longer used for entertainment purposes, it was not serving as a care center, I guess you'd call it lol There were just locals here now, as the bulk of the armies and those that wanted to help in the war had left for the battle field

A'isha · Subject: Re: The oracle arrives Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:25 pm

A faint light drifted aimlessly up and down the alleys and sidestreets of Port Xonan, remaining just out of reach above everyone's heads, but dipping now and then as it meandered through the town. The place seemed like it had been ripped apart and not quite put back together properly. The people were subdued: there was no laughter, only the occassional argument, sometimes developing into a quick fight, over almost before it had begun.

The light cam to rest for a moment in a chink in the stone wall of a house, just by the entrance of an alley way. The glow faded somewhat and now the figure of a very tiny woman could be seen, perched on a piece of brickwork.

The woman glanced along the empty alleyway, then across the street to the Tavern oposite. Or at least it used to be the Tavern. It was not full of rowdy drunks and sly strangers as she remembered it. A low groaning could be heard from within its walls, but otherwise it seemed deserted.

A man walked out of the alley way just below her and she jumped into the air with a sudden shiver of wings and a shower of sparks. Frowning, she stared at the figure as it headed towards the Tavern. She was sure the alley way had been empty only seconds before. Where had he come from?

The glow of her wings hiding her from view once more, she drifted curiously after the strange man.

Richter · traveler Number of posts: 13 Registration date: 2008-03-07

( Sorry, I did not think anyone was ever going to respond to this post)

He moved through the street unimpeded. Partially because very few were out, and partially because as a foreigner no one wanted to get near him. He would not however go to enter the tavern. The smell of dead and dieing signaled that it was no longer a place of joy or even much booze. There went getting a good stiff drink. But he was expecting a certain level of destruction to have hit here. Just not that much.

Once he was in the next alley way he would step behind some crates and bend like he was doing something devious. Which of course he was. he would be seen riffling through a large sack as if it was there before he had entered. Once the pixie was close enough however he would spring into action. Trying to catch her in the rather empty sack.

Hopefully he was fast enough if not he would only take the single swing to capture her. his goal was not malicious or even evil he just didn’t like being followed and knew that pixies caused mayhem. He was not going to be to willing of a target for a pint sized sprite to get a laugh off of. Even if he didn’t get a hold of the tiny glow bug in his sack he would ask

“What do you want pixie? I am in no mood to be the center of your joke or suffer thy cantrips”

A'isha · Subject: Re: The oracle arrives Sun Aug 24, 2008 6:07 am

(Thats okay. I noticed it was quite old, and just tried on the off chance)

Hovering at the entrance to the alley way, she watched the man ruffling through a sack, and frowned. Was he a thief? There didn't seem to be anyone else in the alley to whom the sack might belong to, so who was he thieving from? It was quite a large sack, and she could hear no sounds from its contents, and in truth her curiousity was aroused.

Drifting closer, her wings silent, she decided to try to get a peek in the sack and find out what he was doing. With an effort, she dulled the glow of her wings, the sparks that fell from them fading. By the time she reached his shoulder, she was much less noticeable, but he must have been waiting for her.

With a sudden movement, he swung the sack around at her, clearly intending to capture her. She darted sideways with a frightened squeak and managed to evade the sack. Mostly. The flapping edge of its heavy fabric caught her a blow on her wing and she spiralled to the ground, desperately trying to stay airbourne.

It was no good. Finding herself grounded, one wing bent and painful, she turned to face the man who had attacked her angrily. Her glow had returned, there was no use in staying inconspicuous any longer, and a soft heat now radiated from her small body.

"I am not a pixie!" she exclaimed in response to his words, her voice carrying easily to his ears, but seemingly not to anyone else's near the alley.

"And I am not intending any jokes or whatever cantrips are!"

Richter · traveler Number of posts: 13 Registration date: 2008-03-07

His rouse worked and the sprite moved closer to him as expected. She lowered her glow and did her best to hide her motions, but the light humming of wings drifted easily to his heightened hearing. However he sprung his trap early and she was not as close as he had assumed. This was more because she was a little bit bigger then he though she was and therefore made more noise then he was expecting and that in turn made him think she was those two extra inches nearer.

But his actions were not entirely in vain as that he hit the creature with his bag while it tried to evade and he damaged a wing. One swing really was all that was needed. Sure it flitted and tried to flutter. But eventually took hold and it ended up rather grounded. The bag that had been in his hands was discarded as it had no further use and he squatted closer to the fairy after her boisterous verbal explosion.

He smiled lightly as he rose an eyebrow. A long nearly vampiric canine stood in contrast to both his darker then normal complexion, and his elfish ears. However if she took time to study his facial features she would see that he was very much not a local. He was not far off, but his facial features were definitely foreign. His voice when he spoke held a light gravel and roughness to it, but not a strong one, his accent was just as foreign as the rest of him.

“Ah well then I apologize for bunchin ya in with that rabble. But if your not a pixie then pray tell what are you?”

he would lower his hand for her to climb into if she would there were no signs of malice or evil in his intentions. It was honestly an apologetic motion since he had hurt her for apparently no reason

“I could fix thy wing if you like?”

A'isha · Subject: Re: The oracle arrives Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:19 pm

She stared up at the man who had almost caught her, angrily and not a little nervously. He was a lot bigger than her, and now she was grounded there was no way she could escape him. He had not made any more moves to capture her or harm her, but then he would clearly realise he had the advantage.

Hands on hips, raising her undamaged wing so as to appear larger, she listened to what he had to say silently. She did not recognise the accent, and she could not work out what he was either. His teeth reminded her of a vampire, but he wasn't pale enough. His ears made her think of an elf, but she wasn't quite sure that was right either.

Whatever he was, though, she did not trust him. Regarding the hand that he offered her for a moment, she then glared up at him, the heat radiating from her intensifying.

"Stay away..."

Then, in reply to his question,

"I am a faery. Can you not tell?"

Richter · traveler Number of posts: 13 Registration date: 2008-03-07

It was kinda cute how the sprite puffed up to seem bigger under her glow. But it was not helpful, well other then that he was starting to see little tracers of light. And speckled blue dots in his vision from her bright glow. He pulled his hand back form her increasing heat and then as strange as it was he sat down. About a foot and half away form her.

“Ay I can tell you’re a fairy, but where I came from we call ya pixies. And you are devious little creatures he harm others for your own amusement. Sorry I attacked you and hurt your wing I truly am lass. And I really can fix it if you calm down.”

He smiled at her in a rather polite way that still showed of his pointed canines but also showed a softer side to the man that wore a bastard sword on his back and a pair of dagger in his belt. It was very likely this warrior was not normally this nice with out a reason. The question of course was simple. Was his reason to correct a wrong, or to trick the fairy?

A'isha · Subject: Re: The oracle arrives Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:02 am

She did not take her eyes from him as he spoke, but her glow gradually began to fade and the heat with it. The fact was, she simply couldn't keep it up without the motion of her wings to power it, especially if she was to keep back some reserves in case he attacked her.

The distance between them seemed large to her, as he seated himself on the ground, but she was well aware that it was not much more than arms reach to him. She was confident that she would be able to evade him if he tried, but she would not be able to leave the area until her wing was healed. Her dark eyes flickered over his body, taking in the various weapons, as well as registering where any others might be concealed.

"I don't know where you are from, but I am not a pixie who harms others for my own amusement."

She didn't let on that in fact many of the fae she had left behind in her own country would do just that, given half the chance. Perhaps this did in fact make her devious, although not malicious.

"Perhaps next time you should check these things before attacking people. I was only curious."

As she spoke, she reached behind herself with one slim arm, taking hold of the tip of her injured wing and giving it a tug. Stinging pain lanced through her, and she winced in spite of herself. Apparently she was injured more badly than she had thought. She didn't feel able yet to take enough of her attention from this man to mend it herself, and she was not sure if she could trust him yet. So she decided to bide her time, and question him.

"How would you mend it? Do you know much about faery wings?"

Richter · traveler Number of posts: 13 Registration date: 2008-03-07

The sprite seemed to be calming, that or getting tired. Either was workably good for the Shadow Hunter. Though truthfully, he didn’t know what to do with a pixie. A good one or a bad one…. Well he had heard of a really good use for their dust, and another good one for their wings, but he was no alchemist.

“I am from a different, Country at least that is the easiest way to describer it”

In truth he was from a different world entirely. One he had not seen in many, many years. More in fact then he knew. But when one was not on the same world for more then a brief period ever time became meaningless. True most of the planes had a very similar timeline, but when one was hoping planes and dimensions it eventually would get distorted. Specially when you never landed in the time zone you left.

“Truthfully I know almost noting about wings. But I know a good deal about healing magic. and the kind I use can mend bones without need to set them, so I think it should work just fine on a wing.”

He would offer her a smile, one that was not devious, or mean, and that held no hidden meaning. He was far old enough and devious enough to hide all motives form his actions, and even a perfect mimic of emotions that he wasn’t feeling. So saying he looked harmless was not enough. He seemed completely harmless, and like he truly wanted to make amends for the actions he had done to hurt the little creature.

“Let me try? Worse to worse it doesn’t work and we have to find another to fix my mistake, but I am fairly certain that I can fix it for you with out any problems.”

A'isha · Subject: Re: The oracle arrives Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:37 pm

(Sorry to take so long. Its been a bit mad at work...)

She narrowed her eyes, watching him carefully still. He seemed to be friendly enough now, despite having hurt her wing, but she was on her guard. She came from a race of people who were continually devious and spiteful, and experts at hiding it. Having been on the recieving end of such malicious behaviour in the past, she was wary of all people now.

Perhaps later...

Tilting her head to once side, she appraised him, considering what she should do next. Without wings, she could not leave easily. He was so much bigger he would catch her immediatly should she try to run. But if she moved to her larger form she would have a better chance. He wasn't to know that she was virtually defenseless when large.
Unless he knew more than he was letting on.
Whatever, though, he was not getting a chance to harm her further.

I think perhaps I should find another fae to heal my wing.

She smiled sweetly at him, hoping he wouldn't suddenly become angry or offended.

Wings are quite different from bones, you know.

She had no idea if this was true or not, and suspected that there were no other fae in the area, but she did not trust this man.

A'isha · Subject: Re: The oracle arrives Sun Dec 28, 2008 3:57 pm

At last she made up her mind. This man seemed harmless enough, and although she didn't trust him she was aware that if he intended to hurt her further he could have done it ages ago. This didn't mean that he wouldn't, but it did give her a small amount of hope.

Taking a few steps backwards from him, she kept her dark eyes on him, ready for any movements towards her. The glow that surrounded her began to rise again, although her wings were now still. This new glow seemed paler, coming from somewhere deep within her, and growing quickly brighter than anything she had generated previously. Very soon it was impossible to see the tiny figure that stood within the glow.

There was a sudden explosion, soundless, but spraying a cloud of sparks and mist upwards and then the light was gone.

Where the tiny faerie had stood, there now crouched a woman, someone much closer to normal human size. For a moment behind her there was the impression of beams of gentle blue light rising from between her shoulder blades, at first clear but seconds later it was impossible to tell if they had not in fact been a trick of the sudden blinking out of the light around her.

She was slim, and a little under five foot at full height, and after a moment's hesitation she tretched herself up to this. Thinking he might possibly mistake her for a member of the Danae Sidhe, a regal and downright dangerous faery race. She tried to fix her expression into one of suitable haughtiness, as she stared at the man, but if he was sharp-eyed enough he would see that the pupils of her now silver eyes were wide with fear.

There, you see. I am well able to make my way to find another fae.

She stood still, waiting, hoping he would simply step out of the way and let her past.

Richter · traveler Number of posts: 13 Registration date: 2008-03-07

“Are there more of your kind nearby?” he asked both in question of her getting healed, and incase he might need to worry about the evil wrath of flying midgets… “That is true”

But before he had gotten to move to terribly far form her she began to glow, explosively it seemed as her glow became to much for him he shield his eyes, and switched how he was seeing so that his hand did not become a barrier to stop sight. What he saw was amusing.. The glow no longer thwarting his eyes he watched her size double, and then triple, and then more

It was only partially her eyes that betrayed her fear, the other half was scent, and heart rate. He couldn’t help to smile as he lowered his hand, and switched back to only seeing normal things. But that brief view of her soul would let him judge how evil she really was, in the grand scheme of things.

Yes his eyes roamed up and down her now human sized body as he took her features in.

“If you are fully certain of your ability to travel alone in this war torn city I shall not keep you, but without a blade perhaps you might want to rethink letting me escort you to a healer?”

(((Sorry I got so lost, and that its so small, hopefully you can forgive me?)))

A'isha · Subject: Re: The oracle arrives Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:08 pm

She shook her hair, now a long, smooth, silvery-blonde mass, away from her face, and tried a smile. It was hard to act like one of the Sidhe when in fact she wasn't at all. A member of the Sidhe would have simply blasted this man out of their way (or attempted to). A member of the Sidhe probably wouldn't even need to bother with that as they could move from world to world with ease.

It appeared, as well, that he either wasn't fooled or didn't know who the Sidhe were, as he seemed to think that she would need protection moving around the city. She didn't know that his special ability with sight had given him a glimpse of her soul, which would have told him that she was not a being of pure malicious and self-centred power. She was not an evil person at all, but that did not mean she was good. She had done good things, and she usually tried to be good, but this was hard for a fae. She was someone who could easily be encouraged in either direction.

Considering the answer to his first question, her eyes flickered past him, and above to the walls that surrounded them in this alleyway before she replied.

I am sure there must be...

She had no idea in actuality. Further, she intended to avoid any others of her kind if at all possible. Her actions in the past meant that any other fae who knew her would immediately attempt to capture her and take her to the Sidhe.

As he suggested escorting her to a healer, her eyes turned quickly back to him, wondering how to discourage him without arousing his suspicions.

Its true, I have no blade, but I... I'm quick, and I don't think anyone will pay any attention to someone like me.

She gave him a sweet smile, hoping this would help to persuade him of her ability to cope alone. How she would, with no weapons, and unable to fly, she wasn't sure. But she was too wary of him to trust him.

((Its fine, lovely. *grin*))

Richter · traveler Number of posts: 13 Registration date: 2008-03-07

He smiled as he flicked his head to send his own unique hair cascading out of his face.. Dark Grey Hair with Flame red tips. And very quizzically native to his head.. Not faked with Dies… he didn’t believe her haughtiness for an instant. But let her think he did ..he was even better at acting then a Fae. But then again he had had countless centuries to learn to lie to ones face as he stabbed them in the back or murdered their entire families.. So this charade was simple as drawing breath.

“Well then . I guess I should leave you to find a healer.. are you Certain this is no recompense I can pay for the wrong I have caused?”

He was baiting her. trying to gauge her reactions to things.. the fairies form his world were VERY greedy so this was another ploy testing her resolve even as he stepped out of her way to let her wander off into the nearly none existent crowds of this ruined city.

Yes to him this was all a game.. a gamble to figure out more about the first occupant of this realm that he had come across. Though honestly he was worried that he was in a Fae city, and that this was going to be one of MANY encounters with the fickle little tarts…..