-Shiny Wrapping, Empty Box [OPEN/MOD]-

[Kour'el Kha'Serith]

Late afternoon of the Fourteenth day of Immanis, in the Season of Winter, Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.

Drinking and flying didn't really work. Thankfully, the jug of alcohol had run dry a while ago, so the draconesss was only a bit fuzzy minded, unlike yesterday when she had drank half the bottle and sent herself into oblivion. It had helped her to sleep a bit, the headache this morning hadn't really been worth it though. Still, when the pit of her mind got too much for exhaustion to curb, Kour'el found a bottle of something cheap and hard and slept that way.

Squinting a bit, the draconess scanned the ground below her looking for a suitable place to land and make camp. It was cold, and colder where she was, high above the ground. Kour'el wasn't quite sure exactly where she was, the past cycle was merely a hazy blank spot in her memory, she had spent most of it in the bag and passed out under trees for protection from the winter. Still she couldn't remember the guilt or rage she felt, though she was sure she had committed a couple of random acts of violence traveling to where ever this godsforsaken place was. The emerald draconess had always been a mean drunk.

Now however her mood was turning sour once more, as she was beginning to dry out. She had a dry, foul taste left in her mouth, reminiscent of vomit and rotting things best left alone, and behind her blurry eyes was a steady throbbing that was like a pair of orcs banging on a drum or a bar top. Cursing under her breath, the draconess banked slowly, circling a small clearing in a grove of trees. Night was falling however and this so far was the best place she had spied too camp for the night. Not that she really remembered anything else she might have seen. However, since she had started too awake from her alcohol soaked bliss, this was the only place she was aware of.

Folding her wings, the draconess dove down, a normally easy move but a dangerous one in her inebriated state. Kour'el hit the ground running, stumbled in the untouched snow and sprawled face first into the stuff. ”Feth” She mumbled, as she waited for her head too stop spinning before she clambered too her feet unsteadily. She was covered with snow, shaking her heavy head as bits of snow began too melt and creep down her neck, the draconess spread her wings and vigourously shook herself too get rid of the hateful stuff.

[Hiroshi Yamagata]

Hiro cursed his choice, rubbing his hands together vigorously to try and stir some warmth back into them. He had left Zinn'Sunn but five brightenings ago, eager to escape the city and the disapproving looks of people who were aware of his family situation. He would gladly be back there now however, if it meant an escape from this damned cold. He had purchased some warmer clothing beforehand in anticipation of the weather, but he was still out of his element trudging through the snow. Snow, how he loathed the stuff. He had admired the beauty and pureness of it at first, but after having to walk through it, each step being dragged by the weight of it, he had soon grown tired of the substance. Being light of foot helped, but he still longed for the ease of a hard packed road. Shrugging into his heavy fur lined cloak, Hiro surveyed his surroundings, coming to a simple conclusion. He was lost.

He had not had any particular destination when he set out, letting his feet and his spirit lead the way. He was beginning to lose faith in both, perhaps using his brain would have been a wiser choice. Now all he wanted was to get back to Zinn'Sunn, he had had enough of the wilderness, and a dip in the hot springs sounded like paradise. He could imagine being up to his neck in the near scalding water, the cold being banished from his bones. Looking around once more, Hiro sighed, there was no sign of anyone anywhere in his view, just endless white, bright from the light of the sun. Pulling the hood on his cloak tighter to block out the blinding rays, Hiro chose a direction and began his aimless search once more.

Discontent settling in, the Kemite muttered to himself. "Wow some adventurer I'm turning out to be. I'm sure the bards will speak well of me, the Great Hiroshi, found dead in a snow drift a cycle after setting out." Despite this, Hiro trudged onwards, looking for any sign of civilization, which he would be more then glad to return to. He did not want to have to spend another horrible night outside, even a cave would do, he would snuggle up to a bear if need be. He was not sure what his intentions had been venturing out here, he had not had any really. Somehow he had expected events to swirl together, and adventure to tumble into his lap. Needless to say, he had learned a cold and valuable lesson.

Or perhaps not. Distant, in the sky, he could see some sort of object swirling around chaotically. It was difficult to discern, through the brightness of the sun and the snow. The UFO then dove rather gracelessly to the ground, making a rather abrupt stop in a pile of snow. Intrigued and excited, Hiroshi forgot about his troubles for the moment, picking up his pace and heading towards the unknown. His spirits now lifted, and his imagination swirling with possibilities, the young swordsman headed towards what was certain to be a grand adventure. If only he knew what he was walking in to.

[Kour'el Kha'Serith]

Flaring her wings and giving them a couple of lazy flaps, Kour'el got most of the snow clinging to them off. Picking out a few clumps that had gotten packed into the narrow spots where the fingers met at the joint the draconess flexed them before snapping them shut, nothing was broken, and she didn't seem to hurt, of course, she likely would have some nasty bruises under her scales when she woke up in the morning, and she was sober. For now however, the whole situation was hilarious too the draconess and as she brushed the snow off her shoulders and legs, she giggled non stop.

"Ahh Vander, if only you could see me now. You'd probably cry at how clumsy that was. Or you'd cover me with honey and lick me clean again. Ehehe.” She muttered in draconi. However as was often the case, even good memories she had were often over shadowed by the terrible ones and soon she stopped laughing, her teeth bared. "Of course, you wouldn't recognize me now, not if I turned into an elf, would you, you'd be like the rest of them, my family, friends none of them recognize me.” Hissing, she looked down at her, gaunt skeletal hands, studying them closely too see if any of that hated greenish tinted pink soft skin was growing on them. Of course, being drunk, seeing anything was pretty much impossible.

Nothing, but the transformation had been tricky before, when she was safe asleep, that's why she didn't sleep much anymore. Grasping a loose scale on the back of her hand, the draconess yanked it out, a dot of black blood bubbling from where the root had been anchored and studied the skin under, the pulled scale dropping from her hand, forgotten too land on top of the snow, where it lay glittering like a lost jewel. Frowning, the draconess licked the back of her hand several time, relishing the taste of her own acidic blood as well as the black colour before she looked around with blurry eyes.

”Diana's balls, where the feth am I?” She asked the snow drifts in front of her, in common, not expecting the snow drifts too be good enough to know draconi. The common tongue was more suited too their feeble minds, just like it suited the elves and humans of the empire.

[Hiroshi Yamagata]

Hiro continued venturing across the frozen landscape. He had gotten closer to the object, or being, as he could definitely make out that it was moving. He was still having trouble making out all the details through the glare of the sun though. Even so, the young man was resolute on his course, determined to investigate the situation. This was the first thing of interest to happen since he left the city, he had to show himself that his decision was not all for naught.

Curiosity building, Hiro began to wonder, what type of creature could fall from the sky? He could think of many beasts that might fly, this one might be injured given it's sudden and sloppy landing. Or perhaps magic was involved, he had certainly heard how powerful mages could become, flight would very likely be possible. Or perhaps a mage's unlucky foe, sent hurtling across the landscape, lucky enough to land in a pile of snow. The closer he got, the greater his curiosity, but at the same time doubts began to cross his mind as to what exactly he was walking in to. He had to assume that whatever it was might very well be hostile. Reaching down to his side, Hiro grasped the hilt of the katana his grandfather had given him, it's well worn grip providing comfort and a sense of security.

Letting his hand fall away from his most prized possession, Hiro closed the remaining distance between him and the creature. Finally he was close enough to make out the details of the stranger. It was a dracon, he could now make out the tail and wings clearly. It clearly seemed disoriented, likely due to the rough landing. His heart pumped heavily in his chest, he had never been close to a dracon before, having spent his life cloistered within the walls of Zinn'Sunn. He had heard tales of course, dracons were supposed to be quite deceitful, able to shift in to other forms to trick people, as such they were not allowed within the city. "Orb's of lies, a dracon's eyes" Hiroshi spoke softly, repeating an old childhood rhyme. "Scaled feet, thrive on deceit. Are you a dracon, are you a lie, do you make the children cry. Praise Aslan's name three times in a row, else fangs and wings you'll surely grow." Recalling all the tales he had heard since his birth, it was hard not to slink away, or charge and try to kill the dracon while it was still dazed.

At the same time, the things his grandfather had told him growing up conflicted with some of these beliefs. His grandfather had advised him to forget some of the things he had learned living in Zinn'Sunn upon venturing outside. He seemed to recall that Tatsuya had associated with a few dracons in his tales, saying that some of them were just as honourable as any Kemite. Perhaps this was one, it was in it's true form at least. Mind you out here in the wilderness it had little reason to hide. He then heard the creature speak, apparently talking to herself, he was fairly sure it was female given the voice. Hearing the dracon speak in common, it's situation similar to his, allowed Hiro to humanize the scaled being a little. Running his fingers along the hilt of his katana once more, Hiro acted impulsively. "Serale?" he yelled out, doubt clearly present in his voice.

[Kour'el Kha'Serith]

At the yell, the draconess hissed and spun around. It was a soft skin, she knew that, it hadn't tingled in her mind and up her spin. Unless of course it was a Moraden versed in the call, but then, it would have called out in draconi, or in the Call itself. Nope, it wasn't some cowardly chained bastard, just some short boy dressed in winter cloths. Bland and colourless like the rest of his sorry species. Kour'el frowned, the tips of her fangs showing briefly as she hissed to herself, then turned her head looking around. Like rats, where there was one human, there was usually two or three more unseen.

Failing too see or hear any, Kour'el turned back too the boy in front of her, her head was rapidly clearing, but there were still fuzzy spots. For a few moments she eyed the human with a predatory look, judging him like a cattle meant for slaughter as she stroked the handle of her saex. He had a weapon, a sword, one of the curved things. Seemed a staple for humans in this region too carry one. Their originality was staggering. Her lip curled up in distaste, the emerald draconess didn't like what she was looking at. The boy was built well and carried himself in a way that reminded her of Prime, her time in the garrison, which made her twitch. She hated Prime almost as much as she hated this human in front of her. Her long whip like tail lashed to the side once in agitation. She wanted too kill him, too peel back his skin with her talons and make the snowy trees festive with his organs. His head could be the angel at the top.

There, was that someone sneaking up behind her? Her head turned too the side and she peered over her shoulder, tense and ready too flee too the sky. Nope, no one there, yet. Kour'el probably had killed more things than this whelp, though likely she was probably the same age as him. Still, she was also somewhat drunk, and a little unsteady. Scaring the bastard off seemed like a good idea, rather than bashing his skull in with a branch. There was the chance that, drunk, the edge of her experience would be gone and a sword in the belly wasn't something Kour'el looked forward too. Then again,s he could attempt too make her demented christmas tree. Hair was enough like feathers, she would slick it back with his blood or something, set it so his hair was the wings of her tree angel.

Her reptilian eyes narrowed slightly. First things first scare him off, or his friends out of hiding. ”What the feth are you looking at softskin?” She snarled pacing a few steps from side too her, her tail twitching and her wings rustling restlessly. Then she stopped and peered at his black hair, muttering more too herself than him. ”Feathers and hair. All the same, bland, colourless. Pathetic” She laughed, it was slightly derranged before abruptly stopping and asking. ”Do you like angels?”

[Hiroshi Yamagata]

Hiroshi backed off a step or two upon seeing the draconess' reaction, his hand reaching instinctively to his katana. She obviously wasn't friendly, it had been foolish of him to expect to find a companion in the middle of the wilderness. Looking at her fangs and talons, Hiroshi took some comfort from his grip on his own steel tooth. He was beginning to doubt his grandfather's advice on dracon's, though it was foolish to judge them by the first one he should meet. Still, he would be more wary of the creatures in the future. He would not show fear though, he had to stay calm in this situation, his training and experience in the military certainly helped, and for once he thanked the Kemite law that had forced him in to service.

Standing straight, Hiroshi met the emerald one's gaze, trying to gauge her intentions. However, try as he might, it seemed impossible to tell what she was thinking, her eyes held a wild and crazed look. She also seemed nervous, glancing over her should occasionally, as if she thought something was stalking her. Catching a faint whiff of booze in the breeze, Hiro realized that she had not fallen because she was injured, she had fallen because she was drunk. Crazed and drunk was not a combination he liked, trying to predict her actions would be like trying to predict where lightning would strike. Though at the same time it gave him some confidence if things should come to an armed confrontation. Still, he wished Keiji was with him, him and his brother would make short work of this wretch.

The uneasy silence was broken by the draconess, the venom in her voice causing Hiro to tense even more. Her words didn't exactly help his view of her either, it was nonsense to his ears, though she seemed to base her hate on the fact that he did not have scales. "I'm not sure I understand your hostility, but I think I'll be on my way. You would do best to avoid the liquid spirits in the future, they do not sit well with you, though I doubt your attitude would improve while sober." Tilting his head he considered the odd question she had finished with, backing away from her slowly. He would not expose his back until he was a safe distance away. "I suppose I respect the grace and beauty of such beings, but I have no interest in meeting one. A man must stand on his own, not hoping for salvation from fanciful creatures." Realizing he was essentially having a conversation with someone who in all likelihood would like to strangle him with his own intestines, Hiro stopped and laughed. Was there any point in being civil with a bloodthirsty demon?

[Kour'el Kha'Serith]

OoC: Crazy conversation till we find a mod ftw

While the human backed away from her, Kour'el narrowed her golden eyes and stalked forward, placing her feet with care in the thick snow. " My hostility? I think seeing your friends and family slaughtered every day by you and your kind just for being born a dracon. At least some of them survived by hiding amongst you, may Jorel take the wretched chained cowards. You all call us the demons but we don't nail your corpses too our gates or churches or collect teeth and talons as trophies. Hostility keeps me alive in the empire. Are there any more of you about hmm? Some hiding in the woods with crossbows and nets?" She hissed in a low voice, filled with anger, hatred, and a bit of sadness too. Kour'el herself wasn't much older than this human, and what she had seen and done had made her fall from grace into the deplorable state she was currently in.

Balling her hands into fists, the draconess didn't even react as the tips of her own talons bit into the meaty part of her palms, it was a common occurance. She stopped her forward stalk and shifted her dark gaze from the human too gaze into the distance, a soft look of yearning flickering across her scaled visage before once more the mask of coldness anger slipped back in place. Glancing around once more, the draconess sneered and half turned from the kemite, pulling her wings close for warmth. "When you've seen what I've seen boy, drinking is a pleasant way to forget when you are drowning in your own bloody memories."

At his talk of salvation, the draconess merely laughed coldly. She found those with excessive faith the most naive and stupid people of the empire. Most of the fools never even heard from the gods or goddesses they prayed too, even when they died, they were as likely to end up as Jorel's plaything in the abyss as a hand maiden too Ioannes or the bitch in Aetheria. Waving a bloody palm at the human, the emerald and sapphire scales stained black, the draconess sneered. " They do not give salvation to begin with, it's all lies, as are the gods. My salvation was having my family, my own body and soul torn from me and shattered."

Drawing her saex, her moment of lucidity fading back too the usual red and black of her anger, the draconess once more visited the thought of killing this soft skin and using him too decorate the forest around her. She was Santa Claws, and the empire had been very naughty indeed. Instead of coal, she would bring bloody gifts of terror and pain to the rest of the citizens.

[Haywire]

The frigid grip of winter did not stop the words of the draconess and her counter part Hiroshi. Both of them seemed to be on the end of the spectrum but not so different, both were feisty warriors with something to prove. Kour'el sought direction in her life, her drinking taking over her ability to fly properly and the banished Yamagata seeking redemption. Both worthy goals, both leading them in separate but similar directions, as they had ended up here, in the snow with nothing but tense words and hands upon the hilts of their weapons.

Kour'el interrogated the man, wanting to know if there was a trap, wanting to know if there were mercenaries lurking in the woods not too far from where they stood on the rolling plains of the gracelands. No, there were no mercenaries or troops but there was something else. A deep, old consciousness, hostile and hungry. Something lurked in the woods but they did not wield crossbows or spears. No, they were above such crude weaponry.

As the two stood there in the snow, hostility and civility intermingling with little success, something pulsed from the woods not too far off to their right in the east. They felt it, a thought, a screaming thought as they both could feel it in their minds. It spoke to them, its voice full with fear, filled with the hope that someone could help it.

"Helppppppppppp Usssssssss!"

It stopped.

It had not come in the form of an audible sound, no. It rang through both their minds and the reactions upon each of their faces told one another that they had indeed heard it. Silence enveloped them momentarily as an eerie, quiet moment flooded over them. The woods to their right shimmered slightly as light reflecting up from the albedo of the snow danced about it but stopped at its edges, not able to penetrate the darkness that now filled it. Something was wrong here. Something very wrong.

The cracking of branches and rushed footsteps started to echo amongst the woods. It halted for a few seconds and then continued again. Then two large slams as the ground shook ever so slightly. Something...Something was there and they were not armed with crossbows and steel longswords. No, something was coming and they craved something much more valuable then blood and flesh...No they wanted souls and there were two nearby that would satisfy their master greatly.

More than a dozen red eyes peered out from the darkness, sticking out like Nairu tribesmen in the snow. More pairs formed...and more. They were everywhere. Then two sets appeared above them, taller...wider. Two sets of wretched arms extended and grabbed hold of a tree in each decaying palm. Fingers ripped into the timber and cracked the stems in half and ripped the trees out of the ground. A loud roar echoed from the woods, a roar of anger....a roar of thirst.

The voice echoed once more in their minds....

"Helppppppp Usssssss"

They were hungry and an easy meal was just outside their doorstep.

[Hiroshi Yamagata]

His grip on his sword tightened as the draconess followed him. Silently he cursed, confrontation seemed inevitable, this female was quite obviously mad. So be it, what would be would be. Still, he would try a little more diplomacy before striking out at this tortured soul, he could sense more to this creature then just hate and rage. "Unfortunate as that may be, I personally bear you no grudge, though you obviously don't feel the same way, and simply continue the cycle of violence and hatred. It is the very ones who hide among us that breed such hate among my people, you cannot trust someone who would disguise themselves as another, there is no honour in that. My people may go too far in their persecution of your race, and I apologize, but perhaps one day things will change. More likely I am just young and a fool, but that suits me fine for the time being. I'd rather be a fool with spirit, then a sage who has let the weight of the world crush them."

Drawing his katana, Hiro looked into the draconess's eyes, his gaze steady, despite the pounding of his heart in his chest. "Now I am tired of being stalked by one who has let darkness engulf her, so let us fight and one will die, or forget your hostility and we will both go our separate ways. Or maybe we can mend this poor start. For all your hatred you can..." Hiro's words were cut short as he felt a sudden pulse around him, like some dark pressure on his soul. No longer calm, Hiroshi's eyes flicked back and forth wildly, searching for the source of occurrence. Goosebumps popped up on the young swordsman's arms as the whispery voice hissed in his mind. "What sorcery is this"? he exclaimed.

Catching a strange glimmer from the corner of his eye, Hiro turned to face it. The woods themselves seemed to be responsible for the phenomena, though past the glimmer there was nothing but a deep blackness. No matter how hard he tried his eyes could not breach the eerie darkness. Sounds emerged from the abyssal forest, giving the impression that something was moving through the trees, cracking the branches as it went. It sounded massive. The ground trembled slightly as something impacted with it. Suddenly, dozens of red eyes returned his stare, emanating a malice much worse then the drunken draconess, whom he had forgotten almost entirely about. Two powerful arms emerged from the blackness, ripping trees from the ground like a gardener would rip out a pesky weed. A predatory roar echoed forth, causing the Kemite's heart to jump into his throat. His grandfather's sword suddenly wasn't providing much comfort.

Once more the hissing plea echoed through his mind. For a moment he thought to flee, but his instincts told him otherwise. He doubted he could outrun such a thing, especially in the snow, his only option was to fight. Determination returning somewhat, Hiro's lips curled into a grim smile. Whatever awaited, he would do his best to help it, with a length of cold steel. Briefly he realized he was leaving his back exposed to the other danger of the day, but he let this concern slip from his mind. "Aslan give me strength." With this said, Hiroshi strode to meet the beast of the woods, and perhaps to meet the reaper

[Kour'el Kha'Serith]

As the soft skin drew his sword, the draconess bared her teeth in something was most assuredly not a happy smile of friendship.Drawing her long knife, holding both familiar weapons loosely in her hands, the draconess watched the human with glittering eyes. Her pupils had shrunk, almost to the point of vanishing, but her golden eyes appeared as dark as the abyss, darker then the rage of a hundred demons, cold and empty as death, and the landscape around them. Fires from Aeternia burned deep within them and seemed to be the only glimmer of life there. She ignored his words, letting them wash over her scales like so much gibberish. They were as meaningless as his life was about to become, and soon, only the trees would remember them.

She let out a low hiss between her bared fangs, and took a step towards the soft skin, ready to fight and kill him. One of them would die today, and it wasn't going to be her. However Hiro's bloody end was stalled before Kour'el could take another step forward. Pausing, setting her taloned foot down slowly, the draconess stared into the distance past the human's head. The scales on the back of her neck lifted and she shuddered involuntarily as the voice raced through her mind. It was almost like the call but not, since the human appeared to have heard it.

When the human broke the silence with his words, the draconess shot him a muderous glare. The fool had just given away their position to whatever the hell was out there Not that it mattered much to her, she could always fly away from whatever trouble was brewing. Unfortunately for Kour'el, she had always been the curious sort, and now she was intrigued. Couple with the madness she suffered from at the moment, the draconess, foolish or not, wanted to find out what had made the cry. Not to help them of course, since it was likely some stupid human or elf, but perhaps to kill them, or watch them be killed. Denying them the salvation they sought, and enjoying the helplessness in their eyes as their life was snuffed out. That would be enjoyable.

Turning first her horned head, then the rest of her body, her two knives held up defensively, the draconess cocked her head and listened intently to the forest as new sounds reached her frilled ears. Her reptilian eyes focused on the trees, the draconess absorbed the shaking of the ground under foot and widened her stance slightly in case any more came her way. From the corner of one eye she kept tabs on the human, in case he attacked her on the sly. A sneak attack was likely from a lesser foe hoping to kill their better.

Golden eyes glared back at the pairs of crimson eyes peering at her, meeting and challenging each. And when the roar echoed out, she snarled in response, her tail lashing out at the snow behind her once. The strength of the creatures as they destroyed probably would have given most people pause, but Kour'el was both proud and mad, a dangerous combination. Never had she shied away from battle before, locked inside demon worlds, against trolls and numerous other challenges. She would not start now.

"Your god can't help you." She snapped at the human as he passed by, his simple, blind faith annoying her even in the face of the greater danger. "Only your sword can now." A bark of deranged laughter echoed across the meadow as the emerald one followed the human. Behind and slightly to the side, her taloned feet placed carefully in the snow. Wetting her thin, scaled lips, Kour'el snarled again, waiting to see what was hiding in the trees and to destroy it utterly.

[Haywire]

Screaming horrors greeted them at death's door and both the draconess and the young Yamagata were able to shun their fears, both able to disregard the danger and plunge head first into the unknown. The groans and growls that emanated from the forest kept up their pace as the pair of arms had reached out and ripped apart two trees. They however did not advance, nor did the eyes. They wanted Kour'el and Hiroshi to come into the forest; they wanted them to walk to their doom and for them to do so so willingly made them howl with even more ferocity with each step they took towards them.

As Hiroshi and Kour'el exchanged glances and words and approached the woods to eradicate the presence that lingered there, the gallop of hooves sounded from behind them. It was just one horse, just one man. A calm and collected voice sounded from behind them, overriding the howls, piercing them with its authority.

"If you want to see the next brightening, I would suggest you not proceed any further." A hint of Kemish lingered in the voice's accent as it floated towards the adventurer's. If either of them turned around to see who had approached them from behind, they would be surprised to discover that a man dressed in the formal armour and wear of the Darui'Torek of Zinn'Sunn was mounted upon his ashen Nachyaka warhorse. He wore a dark blue headwrap that came across his face, studded leather armour that covered most of his upper torso and branched out down his thighs. A long katana was at his hip surrounded in a jade green scabbard. Both Kour'el and Hiroshi could feel the energy that pulsed from it even from where they were standing.

The warrior's hand was rested on his weapon but it was not drawn, as he was merely taking precautions. His dark brown eyes slowly evaluated both Hiroshi and Kour'el, curiousity and confusion getting the best of him as he tried to understand why two bodies of this world would want to venture into such a den of murder and death.

"Those woods are cursed with the denizens of the underworld. Anyone foolish enough to walk to their own deaths should do so. However I have a feeling you are not one of those types...Perhaps you have been misled yes?" His voice was a bit quieter this time. Reaching up, he took the edge of his facial wrap and took a portion of it and detached it, revealing his face. He was a Kemite man, perhaps in his early thirties. A part of his lower face near his jaw looked as though it had been burned by something and they could both see that it ran all the way down his neck below and past where their eyes could venture.

"If you want to fight against the darkness, I suggest you come with me. You could be of some use to us, that is, if you are interested in helping. Otherwise I suggest you get away as far as you can from here; from these lands...There is something on the horizon that looms over us all...A great shadow. We have felt it for sometime." He reached back and wrapped his face up again, his eyes darting to the forest's edge. The eyes and screams still cried out, their hunger trying to lure Kour'el and Hiroshi to their doom.

The cries died down and the massive arms that were outstretched receeded into the dark comfort of the woods. All went quiet. Perhaps the dead did sleep.

[Hiroshi Yamagata]

Hiro's adrenaline was pumping hard as he neared the dusky expanse of the forest. The screeches emanating from the woods made his hair stand on end and his nerves tremble, his legs felt like jelly as the darkness grew closer. All that kept him going was foolish pride, he did not want to be outdone by some scaled wench. Why are the damned things not attacking, I cannot stand this waiting and I surely do not want to face the creatures on their own turf. I dare not stop now though, less I show myself a coward. Reason screamed that the denizens of the woods could not leave, and he was perfectly safe as long as he did not enter, but he shoved these life saving thoughts to the back of his mind. Then again, if his legs kept this up he wouldn't make it much farther before they buckled beneath him, his vicious companion would certainly have a good laugh then.


Just as it seemed he would be walking into his doom, the sound of someone behind him caused him to halt. Scittish, the young Yamagata whipped around, a white knuckled grip on his sword. Expecting some gruesome horror, he was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by one of his countryman. Relaxing somewhat, he loosened his hold on the hilt of his katana, his hands thanking him with a dull ache. He examined the newcomer, admiring the man's blade and armor, he hoped one day he would be as well equipped. Armaments aside, the man gave the impression of a skilled warrior. Sensing he had an ally before him, Hiro slid his blade carefully into it's sheath.


He listened carefully as the man spoke, attentive for more information on the cursed woods that lay not far off. As the man finished, the young warrior felt a little safer, more confident that whatever dwelled within the forest would or perhaps could not venture out of the shelter of the trees. He wondered if the same held true once night fell, he didn't intend to stick around to find out. Giving a respectful bow to his savior, Hiroshi introduced himself. "My thanks for the warning, I'm not certain what I intended to do against such an immense evil, pride makes men do foolish things I suppose. My name is Hiroshi, I would certainly be honoured to help in any way I can. I'm on foot though, so I fear I might slow you down." Giving a cautious look at the draconess he continued. "You best be careful of her, she isn't the friendly sort. Before the forest made itself known I feared I would be fighting for my life against this one. In a way I suppose that cursed place might have saved me some trouble." He intended this as a joke, but it came out sounding flat and lifeless, his spirits still low with the evil of the place so nearby.


As the howls of the tortured souls died away, Hiro watched as the demonic arms withdrew back into the embrace of the darkness. Feeling a little better, he looked back to the man. "Well, as I said, I'm willing to help, lead the way if you will have me."

[Kour'el Kha'Serith]

Still careful to keep the kemite in front of her, the draconess continued to approach the trees, eyes glittering with excitement. Hiro would be the first the creatures attacked, and if they proved to troublesome, Kour'el would be long gone as he was ripped to shreds. If the kemite proved to be more than he looked, which was utterly pathetic to Kour'el, then she would have fun ripping the creatures, whatever they were, apart, before she murdered the boy. She still wanted a white and red Christmas after all.

Then another voice spoke, and Kour'el whirled around. So, here were the boy's friends, putting on a show for her. Adding one more reason to the pile on why she would peel the skin from the kemites face with her talons, the first and most important being he was a softskin, Kour'el circled away from the boy, since he was now at her back, and with his sword out. A sword sticking through her chest was not appealing to the pragmatic draconess.

Staying an equal distance away from both the rider and the boy, Kour'el switched her reptilian gaze back and forth, staying silent for the moment, waiting to see if either would attack her. They now outnumbered her, and given that humans were the worst sort of cowards in Kour'el's experience, likely, feeling the odds not favoured them, they would try to get the best of her. How pretty the horse and rider's heads would look on her tree. What a magical season of giving this was!

As the man spoke, Kour'el listened half heartedly, there was always some darkness, some great evil, something despicable ready to attack in an instant, at any point or time within the empire. Always she had gone forth bravely to do battle, first with the inane notion of proving her race was equal and didn't deserve the contempt of the so called "lightborn" races. Then as she grew more jaded, Kour'el had realized her race was equal, if not superior to many of the lightborn races, given they didn't hide their dark past, while humans and elves were alright with preaching Diana's love, while turning around and raping and mudering in the same name. And she was the monster. Hypocrites. Of course, there were the moradens, but they were chained and as low as the soft skins they tried to be.

When the boy spoke of her, Kour'el glared at him. Typical, seek help against the rabid draconess. Next thing she knew, the whole lot of his sorry race would be up in arms with pitchforks and torches and burning down the countryside around her. However, she did have a trump card up her sleeve. Her facial features were utterly alien to humans, the snout, and stiffer features prevented her from emulating a lot of soft skin emotions, while little things like her tail, wings and eyes were used more. Thus, Kour'el usually found it quite easy to lie to soft skins. And she planned on doing just that so later, when they were alone again, she would have the pleasure of gutting Hiro like a fish, and wearing his skin as clothes.

Sheathing her knives and stepping forward, her hands spread wide, the emerald and blue scales glittering in the fading light, Kour'el spoke with an insulted tone in her accented common. "Typical soft skin thanks. I go to enter the forest to save your life and you make me out to be a demon. For shame." Turning to the mounted human, she bowed her head slightly to him, acknowledging a fellow warrior with respect. " I trust you are more wise to the world and do not hold my race against me then our young friend here. I will lend a hand to your venture. The creatures that prove to be a blight to the respectable races should be wiped out." Humans of course being part of the blight themselves, Kour'el was beginning to find the entire situation highly amusing.

And when all was said and done, there would be a Hiro tree for her to prance around in the snow.

[Haywire]

The conflict between Hiro and Kour'el was apparent and the Darui'Torek knight saw this. He looked over at Kour'el with a somewhat suspicious eye but tossed his thoughts aside for now. Dracons weren't normally allowed into Zinn'Sunn due to the fact that they considered them unclean, tainted and touched by the Aeternians. Luckily they weren't headed towards Zinn'Sunn. The man had