Lyquis & Arutha

[Jones]

Lyquis: opened green eyes, staring down at the collection of tents sprawled about the large clearing. Her straight, black shoulder length hair danced patterns with the wind as it blew across her face. She was crouched on a rock overlooking the encampment, dressed in green-dyed leathers to blend with the surrounding forest. Bizarre weapons were strapped to her waist, claws of steel that wrap around the fist and hand. She stood up, cloak billowing about her. "What shall I do next?"

Arutha: The evening lights cascaded through the trees, with the sun struggling behind darkening clouds, poking golden rays through the thunderheads, and laying them down upon the world. They brought no warmth however. They were simply teasings of the spring to come. However many months it had been since the last snows of winter had melted, winter still kept a bitter hold. Cold winds more often than not rushed through the town, keeping many to the comfort of their homes when free time was abound.
Arutha: The town wasn't really a town, however. A mix of wood and earthen stone works heaped together, somehow making inhabitable four walled niches. There was no organization in how and where they were built. Fishing villages were not built to fit the desire of any one person. Such a village's domain was determined by the river it depended on.
Arutha: stood upon the bank of the river, gray eyes studying the river's surface intently. He absent-mindedly pulled the black cloak tighter around his figure, giving into to a slight shiver when the wind picked up and made past him. Light red hair fell across his smooth-skinned and hairless face. At a glance, he would look like any of the other youngsters in the village. He seemed to young to be a soldier of any station. But the ringlets of iron that clinked together beneath his cloak, and the other two men in the same kind of armor standing on either side of him, told the truth of it.
Arutha: "Lets go back inside. This damned weather will be the death of me yet if we stay out here too much longer." The man on Arutha's right sniffed, hacked, and spit as he voiced his complaints. No one could mistake the hulking figure for a village boy. He stood two feet taller than Arutha, and the size of his arms and legs could be compared to tree trunks. But he was definitely aged. His hairline had long receded to the back of his head, and three scars ran down his right cheek. Snot stilled dribbled from his nostrils despite his efforts to wipe it away with the back of his hand.
Arutha: The man on Arutha's left, standing at about the same 5'8" that Arutha did, laughed aloud and turned to face the other, clapping him on the back. Gray had streaked in with his hair as well to reveal a man of many years, but he was at no loss for hair. It was thick atop his head, shaggy and uncombed, it curled to his shoulders where it seemed to merge with a massive beard and mustache. It was difficult, if at all possible, to see his lips move when he replied. "Ha! Derrick. It seems that after six years in this blasted army you'd have grown used to this. Its been this cold, if not colder, every year, and you have yet to live up to your words in dying, dashing my hopes and wishes every time you survive."
Arutha: "Pah...Southerners." Derrick began his returned gaze with a dark look, but he was too plain minded and spoken to keep any mischief going. He couldn't hold back his own smile at the taunting. "One day Garret... one day, after you've been discharged for impersonating a soldier, and I've retired, we'll visit my southern lands together and you'll see how your damn northern cold pales in comparison. Now come on...we've stood here long enough, and the commander will take us for deserters if we don't get back."
Arutha: The two men turned and started back up into the village. Arutha remained still however, and stayed his gaze on the river's surface. Garret noticed his absence and turned back, a puzzled look on his face before speaking up. "Arutha! C'mon. Stop daydreaming you lout. You've got duties to attend to too y'know. And if not, the commander will make sure you do if you're missing." Arutha remained still a few seconds more before turning and taking long strides to catch up.
Arutha: After five weeks of marching, the village had been a lucky find for the army. Supplies were running low. Winter had taken its toll on them, and the slow beginning of spring wasn't helping. With the usual game in these parts remaining in their late slumber, and the berries and other fruits bushes and trees usually produced dead with cold before being ripe, made foraging nearly impossible. The army was to remain here for at least a week to replenish whatever the quartermasters found lacking. That gave the men opportunity for R&R.
Arutha: Village and the army alike benefited. Tavern's income would rise drastically with the populace of soldiers roaming through the towns, and the army would receive a well deserved rest. -- However, most of the R&R.
Arutha: Latrines, cooking, cleaning weapons and armor, standing watch at morning, day, or night, carrying dispatches among the officers; Arutha was given the burden of all of these duties. He took them stoically and without complaint...aloud, in anycase. Inside, he hated it. He wanted to explore the village and meet the people. He wanted to drink and eat with his comrades. Not polish the commanders dirt-scuffed boots. More often than not, his desire for being elsewhere and more worthwhile things led him to day dreaming and deep quiet thought. And like tonight...he stared at the surrounding woodlands, tales of his long dead childhood giving him the imagination to convince himself there were unsolved mysteries hidden beneath the canopy; in the forest's depths. With one patrol, or maybe on his own during R&R
Arutha: strapped his sword and scabbard around his waist, took an extra cloak in defense of the coming bitter cold night, and made his way for the treeline. Some seventy or eighty yards were put between himself and the camp before he found the tree where the past guards had made a temporary abode. The guard on day duty stood up at the sight of Arutha. "May the night fair well for you. Nothing to worry about so far." Arutha nodded, and the other man made his way back the way Arutha had come from camp. Neither of them had noticed the green clad figure perched upon the rock just up the slope to the south.

Lyquis: She crouched low again, her mask a smooth, wooden oval disk, with depictions of symetrical red stripes, two on each side running along her cheeks; two slits in the wood just wide enough so only her green eyes were visible. She looked down at the young man standing below her, and her eyes narrowed. Her hand held on tightly to a choker around her neck, rather unadorned save for three large fangs. As twilight set in, a pale moon rose slowly in the sky, mimicing her own grey mask.

Arutha: was young. He didn’t have much experience in the army. Only twice had he bloodied his sword. Here, on guard duty, his strengths were yet building. He couldn’t look through the woods and tell you what animals had traveled past over the past day, like some of his superiors could, especially the renowned trackers. However, there was something every soldier developed well when he came to the battlefield. That was instinct. Instinct saved your life more than your shield or your sword more often than not, especially in the chaos. But there’s a way to feel the hair on your neck rise to tell you that something is up. Perhaps…you’re being watched. That’s exactly what Arutha was feeling the moment he sat back against the bole of the tree. He hadn’t paid attention to it until now he had reached his destination and could rest comfortably. The hairs were rising, but rather than whip his head around in a frenzy to see if he could find something that was watching him like he had when he was first just a green boy, he kept his cool. He kept his eyes trained through the trees ahead. But it wasn’t that direction he was watching… His peripheries were searching now, out the corners of his eyes. He’d tilt his head side to side…as if just cracking his neck…but really, just searching for the watcher.

Lyquis: She remained motionless, studying him closely. Something about him was unique; different from the others who were just present. She sniffed the air, his scent floating through the soft breeze. It carried a pleasantness to it that the others lacked as well. A distant wolf howl echoed in the canopy, and she quickly stood up, turning in the direction. A sudden lonliness gripped her; closing her eyes once more, she moved quietly towards the young man. He carries something special. She thought to herself. Perhaps he has some answers, although he looks too young.
Lyquis: She paused before revealing herself to the torchlight; the old instincts rose up inside of her, and she hesitated. What if he was like the rest of them? What if he had no answers, and for revealing herself, forced to hide once more, afraid he would report her? These doubts swam in her mind, and she once more looked up at the sky where the pale crecent rose; her only comfort.

Arutha: The longer the silence grew, the more nervous he became. He could see nothing from this vantage point. He thought to move, but he didn’t want to put himself in a position where he could be taken down easily. Here against the bole of the tree, he only had to guard his front. Slowly, he stood, as though just to stretch his legs, letting a hand fall to the hilt of his sword. He began to draw it out slowly, but it caught. Either the bitter weather, or something else… in anycase, the sword wouldn’t come free. Even after a hard jerk. “Cursed thing!” he muttered, looking down at it now, struggling with both hands, looking up nervously for whatever was watching him to move in on him while he struggled.

Lyquis: She reached slowly towards her belt, sliding her hands easily into the ready claws. They melded over her hands as if by magic; they were apart of her, an extension of her own fingers. They moved almost individually, powered by her instinct. The material was unknown even to her; black as obsidian, yet stronger than steel. She was unsure even if it was metal, yet they had been with her ever since she could remember. She doubted she would have to use them, however the youngling struggling with his sword could prove to be a threat.

Arutha: He couldn’t stand it. “I know you’re out there!” He shouted, with more boldness than he actually felt. He was still struggling with the sword in its scabbard. He began to move away from the tree, whirling in all directions, all the training and dignity of a guard melting away. “Show yourself!”

Lyquis: A sliver of a shadow moved within the trees; suddenly, a figure appeared. A forest green cloak covered most of her, and dark hair danced in front of a simple mask. Her hands were hidden, and she did not move very far forward. She spoke with quiet dignity. "You are not like the others, are you?"

[Jones]

Arutha: He froze. His hand was gripping the hilt hard, but had given up pulling. All he could do was blink and stare at the forest green cloaked stranger.. Stare at the mask, searching for eyes to poke out but seeing none. "Like the others?" He asked dumbly, taking a step back in wariness, his food hitting the log behind him underfoot so it sent him reeling backwards... his arms flailing, attempting to keep him upright. But the ground met him with a harsh thud, and shot all the air out of his chest, leaving him wheezing.

Arutha: She made no sound; only looking down at him. He could feel eyes sizing him up, calculating. Her hands still withdrawn within her cloak, she tilted her head to one side, hair cascading down. "Perhaps there is a touch of destiny to you," She said, and with the slightest hint of sarcasm, continued, "Or perhaps I am just muddled." She twisted suddenly, leaning up on a rock, seemingly relaxed. But Arutha could still see the tension in the muscles. In her mind, a thought flitted acrosst the vast emptiness. Never let your guard down.

Arutha: "A touch of what?" His initial fear had passed when the stranger began talking...and not attacking. He scrambled up to his feet anyway, keeping a hand on the hilt of his sword as more of a reassurance than renewed hope of getting it out to defend himself with. He watched the stranger closely, feeling more and more relaxed as he noticed she was a....'she.' Girls didn't hurt people really...Not physically anyway. Not where he was from. Perhaps she was the same. She seemed pretty as they were, if not more so..how different could she be?
Lyquis: "Who are you? You don't...mean any harm do you? I mean...you're not going to...kill me or anything?" He swallowed, loudly, before putting on his calm visage again. Shaky as it was, he was going to try to retrieve his dignity here, and at least seem manly and soldierly. "You're trespassing."

Lyquis: "Try to stop me and I'll kill you." Any humour that was in her voice was gone now. "For the moment, I am merely observing." She made a slight movement, and her hands withdrew from the cloak, unarmored save for a tough leather armguard on each hand. "Nor do you need to know who I am," Inside, she was scolding herself. What got into her to come out in a human's presence? It didn't feel to her anymore that he held any more information to what she was searching for; her nose can only lead her so far. She glanced up back at the moon, the radiant disc shrouded now by overpassing clouds. She could smell moisture in the air, and knew rain would not be far to follow. Noticing the sudden change in Arutha, she turned back to him, tensing; wondering if he will try anything.

Lyquis: "What's so interesting to observe around here? There's trees. And more trees." He waved a hand over each shoulder, and looked around himself as though making sure. He tried to ignore her threat. Well... Maybe she could kill him. Until his blade unfroze, he was vulnerable. Maybe if he kept friendly... "Well...if you're not going to tell me who you are, or what you're doing here... I guess there's nothing to stop you from doing. Just.." he glanced in the direction of the tents. "..Don't get too near. They're a hard lot. Harder than my dad, sure. They've been places...seen things. Had to do things. They don't take kindly to strangers sneaking up on them. 'Observing.' " He shrugged his shoulders a little, and stood there quietly, watching.

Lyquis: "I have my own reasons. Are you sure there are only trees?" She stopped, hoping he wouldn't notice the slip. Her hands slid back into her cloak, and she shifted slightly. The bone necklace felt cold and hard against her skin, reminding her why she was there in the first place. "You talk of them as if you are not one of them." He could feel eyes scrutinizing him from beneath the mask.

Lyquis: The eyes penetrated him deeply, and it made him want to squirm. But he took their gaze in stride, on the surface anyway, and stared back, a small smile spreading across his pale red lips. "I'm kind've not I guess.. I mean, I'm in the army. I earned my rank. I'm in training.. I've even fought before. Once. But they've seen a lot more than I have. Not many my age have made it..you see? Young ones...it's hard to survive. We're always marching. There's sickness sometimes... They get too tired, and get left behind." He sniffed, and shrugged again, looking back towards the tents. The sun was settling down now...and the clouds were moving in.

Lyquis: "I see." She said flatly. Inside, her mind was swirling. She could feel more than sense the presence of the others within the tents; the youth seemed to want to return to his watch. Could she risk it? Would they believe him if she let him live, if he told the rest his story? She wondered if it would be messier to kill him; the blood would surely alert them in the morning, but by then she would be long gone. It is apparent her target is not here.

Arutha: Arutha continued to watch her. What more was there to do? Isn't that what a guard did? Watch. Of course it was. Just because she was there didn't mean he had to raise his voice and sound the alarm; call to arms. She was just one person wasn't she? And she was a girl, afterall. What harm could she be capable of? That thought reminded him of his initial fear of her, and he scoffed inside at himself. The more he reassured himself he was in no danger, and there was nothing to worry about, the more he visibly began to relax. He even released the hold on his hilt. "So..." His voice more friendly, and inquiring, "...What're you going to do now? Going into town? I'd hurry. Evening will fall and the place will close up. And I might have to go back with you and let my friends know y
Arutha: you're ok to go through."

Lyquis: Lyquis tilted her head upward. "Perhaps you can assist me, little youth. I am in search of an inn by the name of the Jaded Dragon. Would you know of it's whereabouts?" Beneath the mask, her lips tensed into a thin line. She despised speaking to people; but she needed information, and perhaps he would be the only source until she got within the walls. And then she would be isolated from everything else. Knowing she would be traversing in such a clausterphobic area, full of foreign smells and humans, made her skin crawl. She also knew, however, that she must go. She sighed, hoping that he would be the only person she'd need to speak with.

Arutha: "The Jaded Dragon hmm?" His eyes swung downward and narrowed as he fell into deep thought, repeating the name over and over in his head, seeing if he'd heard it before. He'd heard a number of Jaded inns... The Jaded Thorn, the Jade Crown... And he'd heard a number of inns with 'dragon' in the name too. But had he heard the words together? "Afraid I haven't. But when we march, we usually avoid large towns so as not to alarm the people.. Don't want any trouble where we don't need it. So we could've missed a Jaded Dragon or two." -c-

Arutha: He shrugged and made his way past her...back to his little camp at the base of the tree and knelt down. "I'll tell you what though. You come see my friends and maybe they can help you. Or someone in the village." Her apparent hatred for having to speak to humans was lost to him. He remained oblivious, and too caught up in thinking. "How's that sound?"

Lyquis: She sighed. "I suppose it will have to suffice." She moved slowly, following from a polite distance. "If it is not too much trouble." She glanced up once more at the moon, dissapearing amidst the foliage. Of all of them, she thought, he wasn't nearly as bad as many others she had come across on her journey. If circumstances had been altered, she wouldn't have minded even being friends with him. Yet she believed her charge needed to be taken alone. "If it'd be possible, I'd like to remain outside of the village until necessary to enter; until I find the location of the Jaded Dragon."

Arutha: He had gathered up his pack of food, and slung a scrip around his shoulder again. Once ready, he glanced at her and smiled, sweeping a hand in the direction of camp, and where through the trees...she could see tents gleaming under the evening sun. "Not any trouble at all. Unless you've got killing or something on your mind... Commander agreed to protect the village and police it so, no violence." He started off, following the footprints in the snow that lead back and forth from the camp. "C'mon! It's not far... What's so special for you about the Jaded Dragon? And I wouldn't be afraid of the village. They're nice people, and those who aren't don't talk to ya."

Lyquis: She nodded to him, and followed him along the trail. Few people were out and about; some traveling between tents, conversing, others lighting small torches scattered about the village. "I simply have business there." Was all she said in response to his question. Their breath was visible in the descending temperature; iciles hung from frozen tree limbs. Lyquis breathed in the chill, sharp air. It helped to clear her mind of things, focusing on her goals. Power, she thought, is only rewarded to those who are patient enough to wait for it to reveal itself. She glanced up at Arutha. "How did you get into the mess of guarding such a place?"

Arutha: The people were soldiers more often than not. Not many villagers came near the army. Only those who had direct dealings with the soldiers, or the Commander. Arutha moved past them, deeper into the tents, without even a second glance to any. It was a trip to the Commander first, then to the village. Maybe he'd be lucky and be relieved of the guard duty... Otherwise, he'd have to turn back at some point, and go back to the perimeter in the dark. Something he was hoping to get out of. -c-

Arutha: Her vague answer barely caught his attention. He was in a hurry here. "Guard...? Oh. Well.. it's something we do to be accepted by the villages or towns we do stop in. They don't like strange armies marching in...and we could take things by force, but then we'd be making enemies where we don't need them right? So in return for our protecting the village from invaders and bandits and the like...they provide us service. Warm meals..." His words trailed off as he turned around a corner of tents. Beyond these before them was the village and the river... -c-

Arutha: And nothing looked out of place at either. It was beyond the river...where there was a swarm of ...something...grouped in the woods, just about to come out into the day. A swelling cacaphony of movement and voices... So loud, to reach so far. --- When they broke free of the trees, Arutha gulped. He had seen the things only once before. Black, malicious, and not human. Just enough intelligence to direct them to wanton bloodshed, from what he had seen. And before he knew it, he was shouting, bringing the heads of those who hadn't noticed the charging masses going into the river to cross, whipping his way. "OOORRRRCCCCSSSSS."

Lyquis: Her hands dissapeared within her cloak. Her voice sounded almost excited. "Enemies of yours, I presume?" Before she could answer, he had plunged after the troupe. A wicked grin spread across her face, hidden beneath the mask. She whipped out her weapons; the obsidian claws -- glowing with malicious intent. She suddenly looked relaxed, prepared for the oncoming fight. Before a calm spread over her, she wondered absently how well he could fight. She sensed other guards rising out from the tents, grabbing weapons and hastily putting on armor. The first orc reached her; tusked, ugly, brutish. -c-

Lyquis: A claw plunged deep within its chest. Lyquis had withdrawn and engaged with the second before the first had fallen. Yet during the fight, the same, nagging thought flooded through her mind. If only she was a bit stronger, had a bit more power. Then she could dispatch these odd creatures easily, without having to reveal as much about herself. She was possessed of a sudden ferocity as she thought this; until the sobering question of why they were there was asked in her mind.

Arutha: The surprise was swift, and to the invader's advantage. The village wasn't exactly an open ground. With the river, it would've been easy enough to defend with archers along its banks. But there were elements of carelessness and overconfidence at work, and the orcs were unopposed as they crossed the river, and climbed its shores. The orcs charged, guttural roars coming from their throats, their mismatch armor and weapons glinting under the sun. However, the snow slowed them somewhat. It gave the time for soldiers to run down into the village and form some lines of defense. But the first few streets along the riverfront had already been lost. -c-

Arutha: The swarm seemed never to end. Arutha had run for a little bit, but had stopped when he saw that the swarm wasn't disappating from the forest. The orcs just kept coming. His gray eyes widened, and his body froze. Because what he saw in front of him couldn't be possible. It couldn't be... Suddenly shouts from behind him drew his attention. He whirled away from the horrible scene at the river to look towards the forest he and stranger had come from. And there too...orcs were running across the field towards the camp. --- They were caught in a trap.

Lyquis: Lyquis heard noise from behind. Turning, her eyes widened in shock. Despite appearances, apparently the orcs contained the ability to form proper traps. She quickly looked about. The resistance was nowhere near what they needed to be to repell such a forceful attack. She gritted her teeth, and with renewed ferocity, plunged into the ranks, hoping to create instability. Perhaps disruption will cause a chain effect on morale. Noticing the differences of armor pieces on each orc, she gathered that they may not be from the same groups. -c-

Lyquis: Different groups working together already possesses a level of dissention; it's just a matter of exploiting it. Dispatching a few more orcs, she jumped back towards the line of defenders, searching for Arutha. Finding him looking back to where the two had trekked from, she quickly moved up next to him. "Perhaps if there was a wedge formation, it would break the ranks," she commented, her composure regained. "Although it does not look like there is organization to begin with."

Arutha: At first, Lyquis' words were lost to him. He was too caught up in watching the events unfold...and dispelling the shock that gripped him. -- Everything was chaos. The army was out, but not together. Each alley of tents and in the village, officers had gathered what men they could to form some kind of defense. Each individual pocket held no chance against so many numbers... but even if they were altogether, the orcs were too many. There seemed to be...thousands...pouring out of the land around them and converging into the camp and the village. Thousands upon thousands. And the army was merely four-hundred. -c-

Arutha: Arutha was about to turn to Lyquis and ask her how crazy she was, because she seemed so commited and ready for this slaughter, when Garret stopped and took him by the shoulders. "Arutha! What the hell are you doing here? Get out! Go! Now! You don't belong here now. The camp is lost and so is the village. Derrick and the others in our squad are dead.. they didn't even make it out of their tents. And no one I've passed knows where the Commander is." He shook his head, blood beginning to pour from a hidden wound in his hair. "Now go boy! And take her!..." he glanced at Lyquis. "...With you!" -c-

Arutha: Arutha watched Garret disappear through the tents, joining a group of soldiers who were fighting an opposing group of orcs...four to one. -- "...We have to go." he looked at Lyquis, fear and pleading in his eyes...but a small fire of determination. He grabbed at her hand, clueless to the bloody claws yet, and started dragging her the opposite way Garret had run.

Lyquis: At first, she felt resentment to leaving the bloodletting. However, another glance told her it was the right choice. She drew away from his hand, sliding the claws back in place within her cloak. She grabbed his arm, then, and began to run. The masses swarmed over the village, tents englufed in fire from displaced torches. So much for her idea. But she kept the knowledge of these creatures in her mind -- she felt that it'll be needed later. -c-

Lyquis: Her task would have to be completed later. She ran fast across the bloodied snow, Arutha in tow. Looking for an escape, she noticed a steep side that appeared vacant. She plunged for the opening. Upon reaching the cliff, she turned to Arutha. "For now I am with you," she said. "Climb." -c-

Lyquis: She leapt onto the rockface, finding pockets and holes, and soon was at the top. Within, she was burning. Why, she kept asking herself. Why can't she find the power she needs? With it, she could have saved the village, could have saved countless other innocents. Her heart suddenly hardened. But then, why do they need to be saved? They raced through the woods, eerily quiet from the din of the bloodshed.

Arutha: There was more than fear in Arutha as he followed Lyquis. But there was no time to address it. There was this anxious need to survive. -- When they came to the cliff face, he stopped and watched her nimbly finding pockets and climbing. "I can't do that!" he cried out. But when he turned to look over his shoulder and see the carnage that awaited him... He stoically threw himself at the cliff. He began to climb, ledge by ledge, hold by hold. His fingers cutting and bruising. He had never climbed before, but he knew now was the time to start. When he looked up and saw Lyquis pull herself over the top, several yards ahead of him, he cried out again, "HEY!. Wait for me! I can't!..." and he almost lost his hold.. Dangled, by his fingertips, before his feet found holds again. "Wait for me!!" -c-

Arutha: Below him, the orcs were running rampant through the camp, killing everything and anything that moved. And apparently each other...for now, by this time, there were few humans still fighting. But the battle was growing heavier, and harder. Orcs were fighting orcs. Lines of them crashing into each other. The roar didn't disappear...it grew. And more kept pouring from the woods and the over the river...adding themselves to the frey.

Arutha: Arutha continued to climb until he came to the top, pulling himself halfway over...and began to rest, until a stray arrow...or, perhaps, an orc archer had caught sight of him...hit the cliff face just next to his elbow. He scrambled quickly over and rolled out of sight...and laid there...blinking, catching his breath, looking up at the sky.

Lyquis: Lyquis quickly ran back to him, helping him up. "Now is not the time to rest, no matter how much you need it. If we don't hurry, some of them will no doubt smell us and head this way. We need distance." She supported him with an arm, holding him up. They began moving, albeit slowly, through the dense woods. Only after the din did she notice a slight crack in her mask. I'll have to fix that later, she thought absently. Lyquis also knew there would be stragglers, or deserters. -c-

Lyquis: Judging from the change of enemies on the orc's side, her guess was correct; or their bloodlust had not run out when their enemies had. She also quickly pushed away the self-criticism; she needed survival first. Why not leave the human to fend for himself? Let him rest, leave him? Something inside resented it, however, and Lyquis knew better then to go against instinct.