Abysmal Souls Chapter 5
#1
Posted 03 August 2011 - 05:17 PM
"Mmmmmgrbleah..."
Waking up to the sound of thunder so early in the morning made Carrion quite upset. Using her best judgment, it seemed to be too early o'clock. Not wanting to wake Adrian or anyone else up yet though, she simply pulled her coat over her tiny frame and laid back down on the ground. "Is there really someone taking my name like that?" she mused to herself. Maybe it's another misunderstanding, or worse... That thought made her almost cry, wishing no one aside from the worst of the worst would ever have to go through what she went through. Keep it together, Riya, you've almost got your fire back. Someone has to be able to help you in Pravna, and if notthere, you can just suck it up and put your hate aside and try Lushira...
Grant
Walking into Alathan, the former mercenary quickly bought a room and went to sleep, the sun still rising. He had to sell his helmet for it, but he didn't care. Not much use he had for it anyway in his condition. "Where is she...?
#2
Posted 03 August 2011 - 06:25 PM
#3
Posted 03 August 2011 - 06:47 PM
His journey to Lushira was long and saturated with stress and anxiety. The memories of his encounter with the kid still haunted him, as well as memories of his past. He was heading home, in the hopes of regaining his noble status. No one knew what had happened to his uncle, anyway. At least, he didn't think so. Most people probably assumed Julius died in the fire that ravaged his old home. He smiled briefly at the prospect of a "triumphant" return to the nobility. The "Gentleman's Gentleman", Julius Kilstrong. He reveled at the idea of coming home.
That brief moment of happiness was swept away when Julius remembered his mission in the first place; to try and figure out who he was. The life of a noble was unfulfilling. He was showered with everything he wanted: money, clothing, food, drinks, but he couldn't find happiness. He felt ill at his forgetting of that simple task.
Heading home was the only logical decision; he still had enough money to survive, but he didn't have much else barring his uncle's blade. If he was able to return to the nobility, he figured he could use his social position to figure out what he wanted. Was it love? Success? Financial stability? A sense of being? Whatever it was, Julius had the gut feeling that he'd find it in Lushira.
Because he was traveling alone, he was able to move quickly. After only a week he was already approaching Malegon via the mountain pass next to Belenos, his first stop. His goal was to make his way to Albion, where his family's home was located nearby. If he could get to Albion, he could find people his uncle affiliated himself with and reclaim his title.
Approaching the end of the mountain pass, Julius was tired and weary. He had been traveling throughout the night in order to reach the next city more quickly. He had found himself climbing a steep rock wall that marked the last large mountain before Malegon. As he climbed higher, he couldn't help but shake off the feeling that he wasn't alone. Whether or not the presence was malicious, he couldn't determine. One thing was for certain; however, he kept his hand next to his sword and was ready to fight at any moment.
#4
Posted 03 August 2011 - 07:44 PM
"Mmmmmgrbleah..." What the heck was... was that Carrion? Geez, someone sounds grumpy. It was Carrion, the grumbling shaking Adrian from his sleep. He cracked open and eye, looking out on the day. It had barely begun, and clouds were already forming up into what looked like another storm. Or maybe it had been something else? He definitely heard the rumble of some thunder now that he was waking up. He stretched, and fell back over, not wanting to get up at ridiculous O'clock. But, Carrion's awake... you really should keep her company. He forced himself awake, looking over at Carrion. She seemed troubled, which wasn't something new for him to see, but still made him worry. "What's... what's eating at you, Carrion?" He yawned as he whispered over at her, grabbing his own coat, and sitting up to put it on. Hope it's not something too bad.
Horatio
The man ended up in Indolcure that morning, heading straight to his favorite place: the local bar. He could get himself a drink, and get some information. And sitting down at the bar, there were two men discussing something that had really surprised them. "... Yeah, and they even had two anri with them! I mean, so close to the capital, I shouldn't be surprised, but still. It's weird you see a group that large just walking along. Heck, I bet they're in the capital by now, passing through as quickly as they did last night." "Two anri, really? Must of been some group heading towards the festival. You know how dem beasts are, all attracted to magic an' the like." "Yeah, and one of 'em was smokin' hot, too. Too bad, she seemed like she already had someone."
Horatio couldn't help but be intrigued by these two men and their conversation, slipping over to them. "Listen, eh... d'you mind repeatin' what you jes' said, about a... a large group o' people jes', walkin' through the town?" Of course the two men were a bit put off by this stranger eavesdropping on their conversation, as well as how oddly specific he was being, but they told him what they'd seen after a drink, and even in a bit more detail. And one detail about one of the people mentioned made him smile. "... Pink hair, you say? Well, my man, I do thank you for that information. Here, enjoy anotha' drink, on me." He threw some coin down onto the table, smirking as he walked himself out of that bar. Well, I've got my lead. Time to head down to the good ol' capital, Pravna...
Edited by seph1212, 03 August 2011 - 08:51 PM.
#5
Posted 03 August 2011 - 09:05 PM
Ormis woke up when the first few drops of rain began sprinkling on him. As per usual, no one had cared enough about him to let him sleep in their tent. Groaning, he rolled over- right onto a patch of sharp rocks. As it would happen, the pointiest one got him right where the biggest bruise was, where Amera had hit him when she caught him hiding behind a tree and glancing into her tent while she changed.
"Gah..."
Grudgingly, he got up. Grabbing his cloak (well, it was little more than a dark red rag at this point) which he had matted up as a pillow, he picked up his sword, looking for a tree. Once he found one, he drew it and began striking it, as fast as he could, trying to make as many marks as he could before the rain really picked up. He had about ten good ones when it started pouring. He crouched underneath the tree, shivering. As little shelter as it was, the tree did keep most of the water off of him.
Teis
Teis woke at first grumble of thunder. Yawning and sitting up, his first thought was his axe. It was still there, as it always was. The knight stuck his head out of his tent, glancing around to see who Ormis had decided to be kicked around by today. No one, it seemed. Then he checked his armor to make sure the little annoyance hadn't stolen it. Teis scowled as he recalled two days ago, when Ormis had removed the pole from Teis's tent. Then the patter of rain brought the knight back to the present.
I hope the guards open up soon. I'd hate to be out here for much longer.
Edited by CT075, 03 August 2011 - 11:25 PM.
#6
Posted 03 August 2011 - 09:11 PM
Gideon woke earlier than he would have liked, grumbling something even he couldn't discern. He didn't feel much like getting up - then again, with Amera on his side, that wouldn't be happening until she woke too. "Too damn early," he growled, trying to roll over and get comfortable. They would wake him when it was time to go...Amera was keeping still on top of him. Maybe she had slept better than he did? "You awake?" he asked softly, not too keen on being the cause of her waking.
Melanie
"Ugh! What am I supposed to do with this?!" With a frustrated groan, Melanie tossed her most recent catch at the door of her room at the inn, and it fell to the floor with a clang. It was a helmet she had picked up outside the city walls, probably the lost property of some poor would-be hero. When she found it, it looked like a nice piece of metal - fairly sturdy, and in decent condition on the outside. It wasn't until she had looked inside and seen the metal covered in rust that she realized what it was. "Junk. Absolute junk!" she cried, her tone a bit childish. It couldn't all be like this. There had to be something of some quality on this continent! She laid back on her bed with a groan, brushing her matted brown bangs from her face. They were stuck to her face with soot and grime from her latest attempt at reshaping what she had. That was a week ago. "I need a baaaaaaaaath," she whined.
She glanced at the small table next to her bed, picking her journal up from the edge where she had balanced it. As she leafed through the pages idly, her mind began to wander. I've been here for all of five weeks, and still nothing. Pulling a pen from her shirt pocket, she scribbled something on a clean page.
Day 38. No alchemy yet. Down one-third of steel. Details later.
When she was done scrawling, she tossed it aside. There has to be something. I'm not far from Pravna, so if there isn't anything here, they flat-out lied to me. She looked at the door again. The wood was a bit misshapen from where the helmet had hit it... "Oh, come on!" she shouted, slamming the bed with her fist. "Can I have something go right today!? Please?!" No, no, calm down. Taking a deep breath, she sat up and opened the door, looking out to see if she had disturbed anyone. The clanging had been pretty loud...hopefully she didn't draw any attention.
#7
Posted 03 August 2011 - 09:49 PM
"Hm? Oh, sorry, didn't mean to wake you." She flashed a smile but continued to lay there. "It's nothin much, just... wondering who that other witch is. I mean, is it just coincidence? Is it a similar situation to mine? It's got me thinking, and it's got me concerned is all." Rain drops pattered against the tent, only getting harder and harder over time. She took a peek outside to see just how bad it was, "Yeesh, what's with this weather? I don't remember it being this stormy or this friggin cold down here this time of year... Somethin's definitely not right. Maybe mother nature is just PMSing, eh?" Looking out further, she saw Ormis attacking a tree and then sitting down out in the rain. Carrion grunted and went outside to get him, running because the rain seemed to chill quite easily. "Hey kid, come on, you can get in our tent for the moment, it's way too damn cold for this and I ain't gonna be dragging your ass around everywhere!"
She hoped he wasn't still bitter about what she had done. After all, it wasn't by her provocation that it happened.
Grant
A loud clanging noise didn't help out his headache, and his tiredness only made it worse for him. Instead of sitting there peacefully and falling back asleep, some girl decided to keep on yelling. Sitting up, he stretched and yawned, feeling his leg. "What the..." He looked down to see half of his leg had regrown. He let out his own yelp of surprise as he tried to stand up with his crutch, looking at it. "W-W-What...? Why is it.....?!" He didn't understand it, but he was honestly overjoyed. Unfortunately, even more noise hit his ears, so he went outside to find some girl poking her head out. "Hey, some people are trying to sleep... this morning... ya know!"
#8
Posted 03 August 2011 - 10:05 PM
Dreaming of silly things, like chasing a giant mouse, or playing with tonnes of yarn (because cats must dream of these things, always), she was suddenly woken up from her comfortable pillow. That pillow being Gideon, she woke as he tried to roll, the movement making an eye open to see what was happening. "You awake?" She mumbled something about wanting to sleep longer, and rolled off of him, "I am nooooooow..." Complaining probably isn't what he wants to hear right now, but he woke me up, so he's going to have to deal with it... No, that's so immature. Come on, Amera, he didn't mean to. A loud thunder crack rang out overhead, and she jumped back onto his arm, shaking a little. "S-Sorry about that. Thunder's just... not my thing." She glanced up at him, wondering if the sudden attachment to his arm had been annoying.
Adrian
"Hm? Oh, sorry, didn't mean to wake you." He quickly rubbed his eyes and sighed, "no, 's'okay, the weather would've woken me up if you hadn't..." Stupid thunder... why can't we be back in Sapphire? I can sleep through a snowstorm... He'd been waiting for an answer to his question, getting a rather intriguing one. "It's nothin much, just... wondering who that other witch is. I mean, is it just coincidence? Is it a similar situation to mine? It's got me thinking, and it's got me concerned is all." "Yeah... that," another yawn, shaking his head to try and wake up some more, "those people back at Lazarynth were talking about that witch... what if she is in your situation? Wouldn't it be nice to have someone to be able to sympathize with?" Joking to himself, he thought, and I'd get two cute girls to be with, ha ha. She mentioned the weather, and all he could do was nod, "yeah, this is pretty nuts. I don't mind the cold, but I could do without everything else." Suddenly Carrion was outside, yelling at Ormis. He stepped out after her, standing near the tent. I've got my jacket on, I'll be fine. Just... not so sure about Ormis, right now. Sure, he came along with us, but what if he's still urging for revenge against Carrion?
#9
Posted 03 August 2011 - 10:13 PM
#10
Posted 03 August 2011 - 10:17 PM
"I am nooooooow..." Dammit. Not what I wanted to hear. Sorry, Amera. A thunderclap hit, and she clung to him tighter, trembling a bit. This wasn't a side of her Gideon was too familiar with - he had seen her vulnerable, but never scared. "S-Sorry about that. Thunder's just... not my thing," she said, looking up at him. She looked apologetic about it... "Don't be," he mumbled, still not fully awake as he pulled her back on top of him. " 'snot gonna get to us in here." The familiar feeling of having her cuddled up to him made him close his eyes, and he would have fallen asleep if it weren't for another thunderclap. "Guess the clouds want me awake," he grumbled. "Is anyone else even moving yet?"
Melanie
"Hey, some people are trying to sleep... this morning... ya know!" Melanie turned bright red and hid behind the door a bit. This guy sounded grumpy... "Sorry," she said quietly. "I didn't mean to..." She looked him over, and her eyes fell right on his leg. Or rather, the space where his leg should have been. "Whoa..." she said, her eyes widening as she stared. "How did you even - " Quickly she was on one knee, examining it carefully - and assaulting the man with questions. "How do you get around with this? Does it hurt? What do you do with half your shoes?" Her face was lit up as she asked. It didn't occur to her that she might be pressing unwanted buttons - she had never seen an amputee before, and it interested her.
#11
Posted 03 August 2011 - 10:18 PM
"Hey kid, come on, you can get in our tent for the moment, it's way too damn cold for this and I ain't gonna be dragging your ass around everywhere!"
"If you didn't want me around, you didn't have to go send Teis after me all those times I got left behind," he shot back, although he was grateful for the invitation. Revenge against Scarlet was one of the last things on his mind at the present. She really wasn't all that bad. On the other hand, he couldn't get his mental image of her, taunting him as he tried futilely to hit her, or her laughing, mocking him and Adrian right before... Well, no reason to confuse myself right now. He stood up, shaking the water out of his hair. As an afterthought, he picked up his sword, sheathed it, clipped it to his belt, and wrapped his
#12
Posted 03 August 2011 - 11:11 PM
#13
Posted 03 August 2011 - 11:30 PM
Practically shoving the kid at this point, she was starting to shiver herself, quickly hiding back in the tent and curling up. "I-I f-fo-forgot how c-c-c-COLD the w-world-d was wi-without-t m-m-my f-f-ire..." Looking out at Adrian only made her feel much colder, him just standing there apparently not feeling it as badly as she was. It wasn't life threatening for her, but it was extremely uncomfortable for her, and now she started sneezing. "Oh fuck, did I seriously catch a cold? No no no, not now... dammit!"
Grant
"Wait, what?" Bombarded with questions and a girl suddenly studying his stumped leg, he took a step back with his not destroyed leg. "Um..." Holding out a hand to count the questions, "I use a crutch, it hurts a little if you touch it since it appears to be growing back, and uh... haven't really thought of that last one, I'd probably keep it? I really don't know. Wait, why're you so curious? You've never seen someone with a missing leg, I take it?"
Edited by SlaveKitty, 03 August 2011 - 11:40 PM.
#14
Posted 03 August 2011 - 11:44 PM
Gideon
"Well, it could hit the tent..." High-strung, aren't you? She didn't share his frustration with the thunder - she just shuddered again, causing Gideon to sigh and lean his head against hers. "Guess the clouds don't want me to relax at all. Ever." It was far too early to be this wound up. Gideon would have some trouble cracking this habit of hers... "Lemme check..." she said as she sat up. On top of him. Whatever, breathing's overrated. Still, he got a better look at her. Even with her hair all messed up, she looked as good as ever, and it was clear that he thought that from the way he was looking at her. "The regulars. Ormis being himself, and Carrion yelling. No biggy..." "We aren't moving, then," he replied as she lay back on top of him. "Even if the sky wants to keep us awake." Beyond that, Gideon didn't really know what to say. Intimate conversation wasn't his strong suit. Hell, since he and Amera had gotten together, he had said nothing of his history with Shuthra. It wasn't a topic he liked to talk about. He elected to just hold her - that part of their alone time, at least, was growing on him.
Melanie
"Wait, what?" he had asked as she was looking the stump over. From the size of it, he had lost quite a bit of leg...She flailed her arms a bit when he took a step back and grabbed onto his leg, looking right up at him. "Hey, hey!" she cried. "Would ya stop it? I can't get a good look at you if you're fidgeting! Honestly..." "I use a crutch, it hurts a little if you touch it since it appears to be growing back, and uh... haven't really thought of that last one, I'd probably keep it? I really don't know. Wait, why're you so curious? You've never seen someone with a missing leg, I take it?" "Nope," she replied idly as she examined his leg. "Never. So is it growing back, or what?" She didn't know anything about biology - did legs grow back on people? " 'Cause if not, you'll need to replace it with something. Can't hobble all your life." Her voice was a bit quiet - she was more focused on looking than on talking. "You could always..." She trailed off into a mumble, just moving her mouth with whatever thoughts hit her at the moment. "...maybe a shiftsteel frame, but that might not..." It occurred to her that she didn't know this guy's name, but if he wanted to, he'd tell her, so she kept looking.
#15
Posted 04 August 2011 - 12:04 AM
"We're here. My father might be somewhere in this city." It had been quite a long travel, but they'd gotten to know each other, somewhat - Their motivations and their final goals.
"He's pretty damn old - about 70 by now. If you see someone like him, tell me. We go together."
"Alright then, Adonis. We start with the back streets?"
"It's night time. Let's do it."
Danyon
He'd talked to the group during the week, but not very much - He probably was considered the main outsider. Then again, if he could help Carrion, he could, but if anything, he wanted to get in that library, if only for a short while.
It was raining pretty badly now, but he needed to sleep. He could get up a bit earlier for the final watch or something.
#16
Posted 04 August 2011 - 12:14 AM
"I-I f-fo-forgot how c-c-c-COLD the w-world-d was wi-without-t m-m-my f-f-ire..." Geez, she looks like she's freezing... He sat down next to her and lost his coat, as it was soaked, wrapping an arm around her to pull her closer. "You could throw on that dress. It's probably warmer than... the..." he got stuck at the word 'shorts', as he stared down at her legs, his eyes running all the way along them. Adrian, perv later, she's freakin' freezing here! he stammered to get the words out. "Th-Th-Th-That dress instead of your shorts! Yeah, th-that. Or... you could just cuddle up to me. I don't mind that, either." He didn't mind her doing that at all, even if Ormis was in the tent. He was just trying to warm her up, he could get some contact along with that, right?
Amera
"We aren't moving, then," Not even if I wanted to go walk in the rain a bit? I've got a change of clothes, getting wet would be nice, about now. Her hair was pretty messed up, and as much as she hated getting soaked, as long as she could dry off and change right away, she wouldn't mind. "Even if the sky wants to keep us awake." "Not that I mind staying awake with you. Just wish the thunder would go away..." His arms rested around her, and she felt a bit better about the thunder, as much as it continued to unnerve her. "Y'know, Gideon..." She'd been thinking for a while, about him. He'd never really told her about himself, and he knew about her past as a slave. Not really fair, is it? "I don't know a thing about you. We've been having too much fun this week, for me to actually ask, but... since we have this chance to just talk... maybe you can tell me more about your past? I'd like to know, please." Swishing her tail a little, she looked up at him with a pretty inquisitive look. Maybe he used to be a... a crime lord! Oh, or maybe he's a gang boss! Well, he could've just been a farmer, Amera...
Edited by seph1212, 04 August 2011 - 12:21 AM.
#17
Posted 04 August 2011 - 12:46 AM
"Y-Yeah, I think I'll just d-do that" Her teeth were almost chattering at this point, but she rummaged through the backpack for the dress Adrian picked out for her and slipped it on over her shorts. They weren't that wet thanks to the coat that she took off, and so her legs started to warm up ever so slightly. The next step was her scooting over to Adrian, figuring since he offered she may as well take him up on it. "Th-thanks, Adrian..." Another sneeze and a sniffle later, she groaned. "Why nooooow? Ack... b-by chance, did-did either of you bring a-any medici-cine with you?" Damn it all, I don't need a fucking fever right now. Come on, something go right for me... please...
Grant
As he thought about it, he realized he hadn't really seen many people missing legs either. "Is... is there something I can help you with, ma'am? My leg can't be THAT interesting... can it?" Asking him if it'd grow back jolted him slightly. "Uh, um... it... it actually is. I'm not really sure why. It's certainly something very... unnatural. I think a friend of mine must have done something to it, it would explain her long ass coma..."
#18
Posted 04 August 2011 - 01:07 AM
"Not that I mind staying awake with you. Just wish the thunder would go away..." He was doing the best he could, so he decided not to worry much more about it. Instead he just closed his eyes in hopes of getting a bit more sleep... "Y'know, Gideon..." "Hmm?" He didn't open his eyes. "I don't know a thing about you." At this, he opened one eye. What was that? "We've been having too much fun this week, for me to actually ask, but... since we have this chance to just talk... maybe you can tell me more about your past? I'd like to know, please." The memories came back to him when she asked, and his expression became blank.
"Yer eighteen now, right?" the old man had asked between bites of salt pork. "A real man, aint'cha? Not just a barking pup." He never closed his mouth when he chewed - Gideon hated that about him. "Well? Speak!"
"Yeah," Gideon replied.
"Well, let's make ye a man, then. That fool what stuck his nose in our business...the farmer, yeah? Go hit his land. Torch it good." Gideon was certain he hadn't heard the man correctly, but that was his assignment: burn a farm to the ground. At the time, it seemed like fun...
Gideon blinked and looked at Amera, his discomfort with the subject apparent. "Look, I..." he began, his voice a bit softer than usual. "How much time do we have? There's a lot to tell." Maybe he could distract her with a bit of traveling talk, so he wouldn't have to mention...the other stuff. The raids. They were raids, Gideon. Don't bullshit her. You were a bandit.
Melanie
Designing a replacement for this would be really fun...it'd have to be durable, but light. And rustproof for when he walks through water. Maybe he's a monk, and he'd need a combat model! What if... "Is... is there something I can help you with, ma'am? My leg can't be THAT interesting... can it?" "Shush!" she hissed, completely enthralled by his leg. "Thinking!" Uhm...fuck, I forgot. "Uh, um... it... it actually is. I'm not really sure why. It's certainly something very... unnatural. I think a friend of mine must have done something to it, it would explain her long ass coma..." She pulled back and scratched her head. "Do you think arms grow back too, then?" Wait, did he call me ma'am? She bolted to her feet and looked up at the man, who was still quite a bit taller than her. Like everyone else... "I don't look that old, do I?" she asked, cocking her head and narrowing her eyes. "I'm not even seventeen yet, so don't call me 'ma'am.' Call me 'miss' or 'girl' or 'urchin' or something normal! And I'll call you, um..." She looked him over. "What's your name?" I bet he has a cool name. He looks like he has a cool name. If he lost a leg, it has to be something badass...
#19
Posted 04 August 2011 - 01:30 AM
The week had been an interesting one, he'd never really travelled with anyone else for this long before. Although he deeply appreciated the company, especialy Lucretia's. The three hadn't been able to travel very fast, Adano did his best but it was still pretty slow, but that gave them more time to appreciate the scenery. Adano seemed to the oracle of all combat knowledge, he seemed to know what to do in any situation. He had almost become a sort of father figure to Aurelio. Lucretia seemed oddly cheerful, a stark change from when he first met her. Although it was nice to see her smile once in a while.
After a week's travel they had reached Phirias, Lushira still their goal, and stopped for a little while. It would probably take a week or two to get to Lushira, but that was the way it had to be.
#20
Posted 04 August 2011 - 01:54 AM
Carrion, even wearing her dress (which he thought looked really nice on her) still seemed to be freezing. He was about to insist her cuddling up to him again, but she did just that. He placed his arms around her, and held her close, hoping to provide her with some sort of warmth. Maybe I'm cold as well? I'd hope not... I think I'm pretty warm, right now. She sneezed, and that had him worried, as she started sniffling, even asking for medicine. "I don't have any. Ormis? If not, we'd best head into town as soon as it opens up. Don't want your cold getting any farther along than it has." He hoped it wasn't more than a cold, her sniffling. Having her get sick on top of all this weather would just make the day worse off than it already was.
Amera
"Um... Gideon? Hello?" She'd gotten even more confused, as Gideon had seemingly zoned out upon asking about his past. Well geez, that's a neat trick. Maybe I'll ask him when he's fighting, see if he freezes then... None too happy about being ignored, zone out or not, she poked him a few times, before he came back to reality. "Look, I..." "You what? Nothing you've got can beat what I've already told you about myself, so just say it." She didn't understand him, sometimes. Or maybe she just had a different way of seeing things? Nevertheless, Gideon asked how much time they had. "Judging by how it's still almost dark outside, I'd say a lot. Come on, Gideon, just let me know~! It's only fair, you know my life!" She was getting a bit impatient and wound up, again, hoping he'd spill the beans and just let her know. It has got to be something cool, and that's why he won't tell me! He doesn't want me asking a ton of questions about it... whatever it is.
Edited by seph1212, 04 August 2011 - 02:05 AM.
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