Wandering directly into trouble (Private)

Xando · October 7, 2006, 12:04 PM

Timestamp: End of Kalendryas, Winter, Era XII

Xando had been here a cycle before, but she had come back. Had anyone asked her why, she could not have given a reason, but as she approached the area where Klue had fallen into her atop a barn door she wrapped herself in her black cloak and shivered against the cold. Winter was really setting in now and Xando was starting to feel the chill.

She came back here to see if there was anything she missed last time. There might be, after all, one could never tell. And the last time that she was here, she had been somewhat distracted by the human and the light elf who had appeared. No matter how she felt personally about them, those people had been distractions, and she needed to get out here now on her own and make sure that she was absolutely positive that there was nothing that gave her any clues before the winter really set in.

So, hugging her cloak around herself, Xando walked through the forested area to the small crossroads where she had woken up only a few cycles before. To search for clues as to who she was and to look for any suggestion of anything that might lead her somewhere....

..... anywhere.

Grot · October 7, 2006, 12:54 PM

Grot awoke this morning with a very peculiar feeling, one he was not all that accustomed to. After all, how often was it that one woke up with someone walking on their back? In Grot's eighty year memory he'd never experienced this, the little folk always ran when they saw him. Perhaps it had been the heavy snow that had come down as he slept, or the fact that his skin was a rather white hue, whatever it was, it appeared as if he had not been noticed as the little one ever so casually walked over him and continued on. This certainly wouldn't do, what giant could allow a small one to walk all over him and still hold his head up high with pride?

As he stood up, the great mass of snow began to cascade off the giant's alabastor skin and the snow white hides he wore. Yawning loudly as he stood up he brushed the remaining snow off the top of his bald head and looked down at the little one who had decided he made a fine path. "Oi! You there, just what makes you think I'm your foot path?" Grot growled as he took a quick step or two to get in front of the elvish woman. Crouching down in front of her slightly he examined her for a moment, she was obviously an elf and therefore worthless as food, afterall, he'd just be hungry an hour later. This one in particular was scrawny even for an elf. Still, this kind of elf wasn't familiar to the giant.... he had always thought of himself as unique with his alabastor skin, the grey color of his veins giving him the look of a living statue, but this little one seemed to have the same pale complexion he. Seeing how similar she was to him and skin coloring, and her full head of equally white hair, Grot decided he could let her live, at least for the moment. "Who are you little one?"

Xando · October 7, 2006, 01:27 PM

Really one did not expect the earth to move as one walked on it. Xando gave a surprised yelp and jumped backwards. The earth did more than move, though, and as the giant stood up... and up.....and up, she looked around for somewhere to run to.

He was enormous and Xando started to get concerned. More than concerned, in fairness. Scared. Scared of what was about to happen and how on earth she was going to get out of this one. The massive creature in front of her was as pale as an Esh'lahier and was almost four times as tall as one she thought.

So, as he crouched down, she took a couple of small steps back, wondering if she had the option to run. BUt she looked at his legs, and she considered the relative size of hers and her heart sank.

"I... I did not know that you were there. My apologies" she said, backing off slightly "My name is Xando and I was just going home. I will not take up any more of your time. My apologies again, I hope that I did not disturb you" she said, and glanced back, wondering if he was going to let her go.

Then, being who she was, she turned and walked back towards Mystique. Where there were people. Normal sized people who did not look about fit to eat her. What did it matter, Xando reasoned, if she did not know who she was? Did it, ultimately, matter? Absolutely not, she resolutely decided and she quickened her pace a little, hoping that the giant would let her go.

Although frankly, she rather doubted that he would. Maybe she should have told him that she was out here because she had some horrific wasting disease that would kill her in two brightenings, and him in three? Would that work, she wondered?

Probably not. But if all else failed, she considered, it was worth a shot.

Grot · October 7, 2006, 02:10 PM

The giant arched an eyebrow as the elvish woman apologized and introduced herself as Xando. Xando....what an excellent name, easy to pronounce, quick to say, much like his own name. Grot, like most giants preferred simple names after all, the need of most elves to take ten minutes to pronounce their incredibly long names usually resulted in him eating them because he was tired of listening. Still, this small woman was becoming amusing as she quickly started backpeddling, trying to get away from him.

Grot pondered for a moment on whether or not he was done with this Xando, this elf who shared his strange pale complexion. Grot didn't much like smaller folk, tended to be to much trouble if your weren't eating them. Xando however, was quite pleasant looking for a small one, and her long hair made Grot very much jealous as he had always been bald. It had been a long time since Grot had taken a pet...not since that damnable troll that decided to try and eat one of his toes 20 era's ago had he bothered having a pet. Unfortunately for Xando however, Grot had just this moment decided she would make a fine pet, certainly she was better looking then his previous pet Grok the troll, and she would be far less likely to try nad eat his toes. All in all, this seemed like a good choice to him, she might even be able to amuse him with conversation from time to time.

Standing fully upright once more as Xando turned her back to him and started to walk away, Grot once again quickly stepped in front of her. "I've made a decision little one...... I'm not going to eat you, elves just make me gassy anyway" Grot said with a chuckled. "I've decided instead that your my new pet, haven't had one since Grok, darn troll...tried to eat my toes so I had to crush him I did. Bah! Anyway, your my new pet Xando, you should feel honored" the giant said with a big beaming smile to the little elf woman as he reached down to gently pick her up by the waist. Grot had made his decision, one way or another, the elf was coming with him.

Xando · October 7, 2006, 04:52 PM

His legs were twice the size of her whole body, so his speed matched that. She frowned in consternation as he stood in front of her and her hands did go to her hips this time. "But I dont want to be your pet... what the....

She looked up at him and glared angrily as he picked her up by the waist. His hand enveloped her and Xando began to feel genuine fear. She tried to struggle and found that she was covered, his hand enveloping her completely "Listen.. I... there will be people coming after me and you will get into trouble" she said, looking at him and wondering if he cared. She idly considered what it was that would cause a giant to feel like he was trouble and as she considered that she shook her head. A bit of her, a very large bit, in fact, did not want to know.

"What... precisely... do you want your pet to do? I mean... OW! you're sqeezing me too tight and I do NOT like it!" she said, sharply "Now... what do you mean your pet? I'm not an animal and I do not wish to be your pet. I want to go home, if you please"

She didn't expect him to let her, but she hoped that the "ow" would make him loosen his grip a little and from there she could try and wriggle free.

She would consider the rest at that moment.

Grot · October 8, 2006, 12:43 AM

She hadn't had much of a chance to get away, giants may be slower then other races, but the sheer size of their stride allowed them to easily make up for their slowness in reaction speed. So it wasn't much of a surprise when she was cut off by the 17 foot tall monstrosity before her. Grot peered at her in a curious way as she spouted off some nonsensical protests and something about other little people coming after him and causing him trouble. Causing Grot trouble? Not very likely, he was the great beast of the east, no little one could best him! Grot couldn't be stopped! At least.... not as far as he was concerned anyway, until he saw an imperial legion chasing after him, he wasn't worried.

Grot chuckled at his new pets threats of other little folk chasing after him but grew concerned at her complaints of being in pain. Holding her at eye level he cupped his hand to allow her to simply sit somewhat comfortably before responding. It wasn't like she would jump 16 feet to the ground below after all, and his new pet did need to be comfortable. Grot snorted annoyedly as his newfound pet continued to angrily protest her situation, he'd been nice hadn't he? He'd decided to make her his pet instead of eating her, that was normally looked at as a nice thing to do right? "You know, I'm starting to get the feeling you'd rather be eaten little one. I thought I would allow you the honor of being my pet instead of eating because you share such a unique complexion as mine" Grot grumbled as his other hand suddenly appeared behind Xando, gently stroking her hair which the giant had seemed to be particularly facinated by.

Grot pondered carefully before answering his pets questions, after all, he had to be sure he said things just right, other wise she may get the wrong idea about her situation. Being that giants are prone to ponder things for an extended time, agonizing over every detail until they were sure they had it right, this process took some time, time that Xando spent having her hair stroked by a giant that could likely crush her with one hand. Grot's brow furrowed up in an obvious sign of deep thinking before finally, after much consideration deciding on his answers. "All I expect of a pet little Xando, is that they do as pets should do, obey their owner and provide decent company. I see your kind the same way as you view cows or chickens, as little more then livestock. You however little one interest me, you are elf I am sure, but I do not know your kind. I like things that interest me and as such, I have decided that you will be my new pet, and your home is now with me" Grot spoke, his voice showing very little concern with Xando's opinions on the matter as he continued to curiously, yet very gently stroke the elf's silvery hair.

Xando · October 8, 2006, 06:32 AM

Well, she was now in a position of making a choice. He was much much bigger than her and she was, quite frankly, faced with playing along or being eaten. She knew without a doubt which one of those was the realistic choice so she listened carefully to the brutish creature. Still, at least he cupped his hand so that she could sit comfortably and Xando's mind, ever sharp, started looking for ways around this.

"alright.... " she said, thinking quickly and then she spoke again, looking at him carefully with her violet eyes "I will be your pet, but will you treat me nicely? I'll obey you and do as you command me if you look after me well... is that what you are saying?"

She looked at him and smiled, hoping to all the Gods that this was going to keep her alive long enough to be rid of this monster and she turned her head slightly to bat against his hand as he stroked her, trying to seem playful.

Gods, how she despised lesser races.

Grot · October 9, 2006, 02:22 AM

Grot stared intently at Xando's hair, for some reason her long, shiny, silver head of hair intrested him greatly and he wasn't sure why. Likely it was because he was bald as a boulder, but still, it was such exqusite hair. Regrettably, he knew Xando would not be this co-operative this fast. Grot didn't know much about keeping elves at pets, but unlike Grok his previous pet troll, the little ones such as her were quite smart and always lying. For now though, he was pleased she had realized her place, he would just have to make sure she sees it as a permanent arrangement in the near future.

"I am saying little Xando, that you will be my pet and I will treat you as such. Sadly...you are a rather weak and scrawny pet unlike Grok...my previous pet, the troll I mentioned earlier. Which means I'll will have to keep a better eye on you then I did him. Grok could at least take care of himself, you on the otherhand I doubt could deal with even a lowly wolf." with that he leaned his back up against a rather large tree for comfort's sake and a good back scratch. "So yes, I will watch out and protect you, I can't expect a lower race such as yourself to be able to stand on her own after all." he said with a smile, wondering how elves like her reacted to being told what they were, lesser races destined to always be lower then giants on the food chain. "Now that the matter of you being my pet is settled, tell me about yourself little one. Tell me of your likes and dislikes in the world and what it is you did before having the honor of being my pet, one of your duties as my pet will be to give me decent conversation, something that blasted troll was useless for. In short, I want to know more about you"

Xando · October 11, 2006, 04:25 PM

Xando looked at him and sighed. The brute was not stupid unfortunately, or at least not as stupid as she could hope. Still, her mind was ticking over. This could turn to her advantage. Indeed, she could not protect herself against a wolf, and he certainly could. She could become the person in charge here with ease and that would mean that she had a very large, very strong and not-as-stupid-as-he-appeared bodyguard.

"Well, I like good food, good company and the more comfortable things in life. I like music and I like art. I enjoy talking, so I would be happy to talk with you and discuss our plans. Tell me, Sir, what are your plans for this place? Are you planning on making some money and so on. Because I would very much like to help you....."

She looked up at him and smiled a pretty smile "Because, frankly, you have the brawn and I have the brains.. can I suggest that we make lots of money?"

Best get this off on the right foot, she considered, and waited to see what her new "owner" said.

Grot · October 11, 2006, 07:53 PM

Grot arched an eyebrow at his pet as he listened to her speak. Grot had no concept of what these frail little ones considered art or music. Sure, he had eaten his fair share of performers before, but usually they were to busy running away and screaming to play music for him. Still it was good that Xando enjoyed talking and good food....though Grot was sure their definition of good food was vastly different. Grot really hadn't thought of making money, he himself didn't have a whole lot of use for it, however the little people did, it's why he'd raided that caravan earlier and forced that Imperial tax collector to make him a visa and then taken what he'd collected....all before roasting him over an open fire with a little bit of spice. Grot needed access to the towns and cities of these lesser races if only to see how they worked.

"My plans little one? You do not need to concern yourself with my plans just yet. Suffice it to say, I have little need of the money you little ones use, but I suppose if I am to accomplish my goals I will have to change that little fact." Grot laughed loudly as Xando implied she was smarter then the giant. Grot found it very amusing that his pet considered herself smarter then him, after all he was not the pet here. Still, after he had calmed himself, leaving Xando somewhat shaken in his hand he spoke again. "You are the brains little one? I suppose you can believe that for now, it matters not to me what you choose to believe as truth. Still little one, you haven't answered my question, what did you do before today Xando? I wonder what it is you are capable of."

Xando · October 13, 2006, 01:55 PM

He laughed and shook her as he did so and Xando gritted her teeth, gently, wondering how long she would have to enduer this... this... indignity.

Still, as he calmed down he asked her another question and she nodded "I didn't answer your question did I? My apologies for that scurrilous oversight on my part. I must have found myself so overwhelmed with the augustness of your vicinity that I was moved to temporary amnesia to sit happily alongside the permanent one that I have upon emerging from my slumber here anyhow. " it was time to test how smart this giant was. He might be able to understand some of the things that she said, but how much would determine a lot about the next few weeks.

"But I am an archaeologist, or training to be anyhow. I am learning to .. well excavate things and places. What about you, what are your goals that you need to accomplish?" she asked, one perfect eyebrow raised as she asked the question.

She dreaded to think.

Grot · October 15, 2006, 11:42 PM

Grot was fairly intelligent, if fact, like all other giants he liked to ponder his words and the words of other carefully and mull over them in his head to develop an appropriate response. Most people misunderstood this as his fellow giants being unintelligent, uneducated and without the brains of your average troll. Xando had made the same mistake and Grot had called her on it. Unfortunately for Grot, she decided to prove it. It wasn't that Grot didn't have a fair command on the common language, it was simply that his clan didn't bother much with many of the more fancy words some little folk like Xando were prone to use. This is where he had the problem, Grot had barely understood a word Xando had said. Grot tried to mull these words over in his head, his brow furrowing with slight annoyance at the upstart pet.

Grot understood one word in that explanation, amnesia, he just hoped that if he latched onto that one word he might not look like the utter fool she was trying to turn him into. Such a rebellious pet she was, Grot would obviously need to break her of such an annoying habit at some point. "Amnesia? I see." Grot said thoughtfully, covering up the fact that the rest of her words had left the giant quite....perplexed. "So you like to dig up the past do you? That could prove useful to me I suppose." the alabastor giant said as he stood and began walking away in no particular direction, other then the fact that it was obviously not towards Mystique. "My goals little Xando? I suppose it will not harm me to tell you of my goals. My goals are simple, I am going to rip down this Allerian empire you pathetic little ones have built and restore the proud and ancient kingdom of the Giants to it's former glory. Perhaps when this is done I'll allow you to be the one to command the slaves, your fellow lesser races, if you prove to be a worthwhile pet. Otherwise, I'm sure my brother would be happy to munch on you" the giant said with a smile as Grot continued to carry Xando away from her home.

Xando · October 28, 2006, 03:35 PM

Xando looked up at Grot the Giant in exasperation and some small degree of amusement. He would overthrow the Empire and bring about the glorious and ancient kingdom of the giants. Still, he was heading away from Mystique and Xando watched him wondering what it was that he was doing with her.

She watched carefully, though, and noted that he did not respond to her flurry of words. Of course, that did not necessarily mean that he did not understand them - in fact it could mean that he was a very clever giant and was merely holding back what cards he had.

So, Xando sighed gently and said nothing, wondering what it was that Grot was going to do now. Where would they go. She had a lot of questions but there was a need to play this cleverly "I am sure that it will be a long and difficult journey... may I ask where we are going now, or is that something that is unnecessary for me to know?"

She would have to play this one carefully, that was for sure. So she asked her question and waited, to see what would happen.