Gysalin discussion
The Village
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The Pub
((Oooh. Ima add a cloak to Belle's appearance :D))Belle slides in next to Alyssandra, their knees lightly bumping each other as she settles in. Her hood keeps her face masked in shadow. She analyzes the room, eyes darting to the doors. Three large windows, an obvious front door, a side door leading to the alley, and a back door that lets out into the streets. She checks escape routes, ways to distract the men, doing all this in less than ten seconds.
Her muscles are stiff as she watches the men and women. Most men are drunk, but a burly man with a jagged, inflamed scar that crosses his eye watches them from the shadows. She looks away from him, knowing that he probably just finds two girls alone rather odd.
((What if the guardians have something special about their eyes, and Belle wears a hood so people don't know her secret? Maybe Aly doesn't know about that aspect of them, but normal townsfolk do?))
Mod
Hips swaying, a curly-haired serving wench saunters up to them, goblets brimming with ale arrayed on her metallic tray. She sets on in front of each of the girls. "S'all we gots here. Get ch'all some grub?"
Illiterate. The thoughts flashes through Aly's mind, ringed with distaste. "I'd like a broth," she replies, glancing in her friend's direction and awaiting her reply.
((Lol okay, well I'm still going to make Guardians have very blue eyes :3 ))Belle looks up at the wench. A large chest is practically popping the buttons on her too-small shirt. She examines the curly red ringlets that cascade down her shoulders.
"Make that two," she replies, the candlelight illuminating her face as she looks up.
Mod
"Have you noticed any races besides mages here?"
((What other races are there... elf, mage, dragon-shifter, guardian...?))Belle looks around the pub again, thinking about the question. Her eyes fall on the man in the corner again. He moves slightly under her gaze, and his hood slides a little ways down his neck. A slightly pointed ear is revealed, and she flickers her eyes back to the table.
She lowers her voice, "There is a man in the shadows who is an elf. There is quite a good chance that he is of the Winter kind."
Mod
I think the elves only come in Winter and Fire, but you'd have to ask Fen, since that's what her charrie is.))
"Any one else?" Aly takes her bowl and the wooden spoon offered her. The soup isn't even hot, only lukewarm. It's sustenance though, so she won't complain. Though really, the dragon-shifter heir deserves better than mediocre food. "There's something off here."
((Ermm... okay gotcha. Are there any more options like dwarves, pixies... etc?))Belle takes her bowl as well, along with the wooden spoon. She eats half-heartedly, filling her mouth as she keeps watching the different people.
"I'm pretty sure our serving wench is secretly a werewolf," she whispers jokingly. Everyone knows that werewolves don't exist!
"There is an over abundance of mages," she says quietly, "It makes me question the values of this kingdom. I've heard stories of Grysalin, how they force children to learn magic. If they don't pass a test at 16 they are outcast and disliked by everyone in town." She takes another spoonful of her soup and finally relaxes her muscles. They hadn't eaten for a little while, and Belle had been very hungry.
Mod
"Gysalin," Alyssandra corrects abruptly, intensely alert. She remains casual taking a sip of the bitter brew. She'd heard of the place, too, but had not realized it was her current location. "My mother told me that they kill you if you don't pass their little test." Poor children. She would not kill her young.
Belle tenses. She hadn't known that information. "That's a bit over the top. Well, you're past the age, so you don't have to take the test, right?" she takes a sip of her ale. It is bitter with a small amount of tangy sweetness infused. She flinches at the taste and sets her mug down, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand and sticking her tongue out with disgust.
Mod
((Please pardon my pitiful accent skills lol- it came out more Western than I intended))Belle nods to her, if anything, pulling her hood forward more. If there were any other Guardians here, they would recognize her blue eyes. "You are still just a young woman, Aly. You aren't ready to rule a kingdom yet, let alone take over one from a greedy king. Have patience." She looks at her carefully, soaking in the detail of her lit up features. She was beautiful of course, just like the previous dragon-shifter queen. "I agree that queens should rule, but there are always some women who are no better than the men they find power-hungry."
She pushes her ale mug an inch away from her, wrinkling her nose in disgust. A drunken man walks over to them, swaying and taking uneven footsteps. He places his hands on their shoulders, making Belle flinch. "Yer ter ladish are unpertected in a bar full of mean mern." His words slur together, and Belle feels the hot fumes of alcohol wash over her. She gags.
The man moves his fingers down Aly's arm towards her chest. Belle moves quickly, pulling out a knife and putting it to his throat. It is hidden behind the side of her cloak. He freezes and pulls his hand away. "Get away from us you idiotic drunk," she says in a deadly quiet voice. She applies pressure, and a small drop of blood slips down his neck.
He raises his hands in surrender, backing up, very unbalanced. "No need ter be violent." A loud belch emits from his throat before he passes out in a heap on the floor.
Mod
Staring in blatant distaste, Aly nudges the man farther away from their table with the toe of her boot. "Thank you, Belle." Resuming their interrupted conversation, Alyssandra parries, "I have been a woman for many years now. If not for my lifestyle, I should think I would already have children tottering about."
((I would say Roan once he finishes what he is doing.))Belle doesn't respond to her thanks, they had been through events like this too many times to be gracious to each other. It was more natural now.
A small smile is brought to her lips at the thought of a mini Aly wandering around. "You have lost your queenly touch, Aly- too long away from a proper ruler. You haven't gotten a chance to be in charge yet, so you are still naive about it." She studies the wood that makes the table, dragging a finger on it.
Mod
Alyssandra's eyes narrow, her back straightening at the insult. She thinks of Belle as a sister; sisters get mad at each other from time to time. "You forget yourself; I've never been in the presence of a proper ruler. Allow me to build up my preconception to the proper method of running affairs, would you?" I will restore my race she adds silently, jaw clenching; those words are not safe in public.
Isabelle looks at her calmly. "Exactly why you are so naive about it. It wasn't meant as an insult M'lady. You should calm yourself, fits such as these are frowned upon when you are a ruler." Her intelligent eyes sparkle at Aly, glowing slightly in the shade of the hood.
Mod
Alyssandra makes a go forth motion with her hands, indicating the exit. "Bring me a perfect ruler than. I shall model myself after he or she." Aly ignores the comment about the fits, taking a hearty gulp of the ale.
((Oooh, sorry I was planning on waiting for the other girl to post first.))Belle shakes her head. "I know of none. My parents were greedy. The king here is a bastard," she whispers so softly only Aly can hear, making a pathetic list. She pours some of her ale into Aly's mug, having given up on the drink.
Mod
Aly's broth finished long ago, she quickly guzzles the rest of the ale, not want to waste anything, and tosses a few coins on the table before standing, fixing her cowl. "Let us leave. It is too crowded here." She can feel that her cheeks are rosy and warm, an effect of the heat and excitement.
((Okay, I'll post after this.))Isabella nods and stands alongside her, swinging her leg over the wooden bench to get out. She readjusts her hood, beginning to walk out of the pub with Aly by her side. The broth had been barely satisfying to her, hunger still gnawing at her sides. She bites down the need for food, not showing weakness or complaint to her friend.
Mod
Belle nods, the breeze pushing down her hood. Her hair falls out of where it is tucked close to her back, and it lightly waves in the breeze. She breathes in, finding the clean, fresh air much better than the stuffy air from the pub. "No matter what the ruling of this kingdom is, they sure do have a great sunset," she says with a smile.
Mod
OR, ooh, idea! The captors could be random ruffians. Say the king has a reward for any many who brings in suspect persons. Then Roan wouldn't be necessary and we could continue.))
((Okay, that'll work. Okay, but who would play as the ruffians.))
Mod
And one other thing--I'm lazy and don't remember. Did you say that Belle had any magical talents?))
((Yus ma'am. But isn't it kind of weird to kidnap ourselves then take ourselves to the king? lol. Uhh... yeah I said she has magic, but I don't know what kind of magic yet. Still figuring that one out.))
Mod
Okay, was just trying to plan about how the ruffians would have to subdue the charries...))
((:P I didn't get a notification, sorry for the delayed response.Let's just say that she won't use magic when they try to kidnap them. She'll just use her combat, sword fighting, and archery :3 ))
Mod
Yeah, she prolly wouldn't want to reveal her talents from the get-go.))
((:3 okay, when do they get captured by ruffians?))
Mod
The pair starts making their way to the inn they'd rented for the night. The streets are lightly traveled on, most tucked away in their homes for the night or easing their various lusts in the pub.
Belle tries to relax as she goes, but the darkness unsettles her. Shadows behind barrels, the screams of horses in the distance, and the breeze that rattles the blinds add together to make her skin crawl. She reaches over and grabs Aly's hand when the last rays are blocked by the mountainous landscape. It is more to reassure herself than Aly, but she won't tell her friend that.((I think that I'll add that Belle is afraid of the dark. Everyone has to have a weakness.))
Mod
Trees arch overhead, creating a cocoon of interwoven branches, all threaded together. The woods grow thicker, footprints diverging from the well worn path, though hoof prints remain common.
Before Aly can even react, there's a booted foot slamming into the small of her back, knocking her into the dirt.
Mod
((Ouch. My bad. I never get notifications for this topic. Sorry.))Belle spins around when Aly falls. She lashes out with a kick to the guys chest, sending him stumbling bakward. Her hood reamins raised, so the burly man will automatically assume he is facing a boy.
Mod
And there are multiple men, not just one.))
Aly rolls to her feet, not wanting to be pinned to the ground where she'd be as helpless as a newborn calf. A dagger appears in her palm from seemingly nowhere, a hidden pocket sewn into her garments.
Another man appears, grabbing Belle by her cloak, a leverage point. He yanks, trying to pull her backwards far enough that his ready fist can slam into her body.
((I know, I was imagining them coming out of the trees from hiding places.))Sure enough, Belle slams into his fist, the air also pulled out of her throat from the cloak. She whirls around, jumps, and kicks him in the face while she is in the air. Her soft boot connects with his nose, a large snap ringing out. Blood oozes down his face like water from a faucet.
A burly man comes out from behind a tree. He walks toward Aly, his sword raised high above his head.
Mod
Aly's heartbeat ratches up, fear mixing with anger in her blood. A sword. She stood no chance against a sword with her dagger. So she does the only thing she can think of.
Runs.
A curse rips from the man with the broken nose, the ginger. It dribbles down his upper lip, sliding between the grooves in his decayed teeth, staining pink. With a few muttered words, a ring of fire blazes up, encircling himself, his comrades, and their targets.
((Hello? Notification center? Ugh.I still think Roan should have captured them :P))
Belle cries out. A tongue of fire licks at her palm, burning it sufficiently. She can't move or else the fire will get her, so she stays completely still. She can't see Aly through the fire, worry aching her heart.
The man chases after the woman. He runs as fast as he can but is no match for her. He considers calling for help, but ends up pulling out his bow to shoot her down. He pulls back and let's one fly free, it hits the girl in the upper arm.
Mod
He was preoccupied, unfortunately.))
Aly leaps away, avoiding the sudden fire that she'd almost rand straight through her. The move costs her--and arrow punctures her arm, ripping through flesh and embedding in muscle. Her mind is frantic, trying to come up with a suitable plan, but there's nothing. Her mage side is useless, her draconian side only handy when dragons are in her vicinity. She's practically human.
((No problemo, Danisan.))The burly man laughs cruelly, revealing a crusty copper tooth. "Well, little girl, seems as though I have won." He grabs her roughly by the arm, yanking her towards him. He grips her arm with a hold like iron. "We're going to get a nice sum of money from you two suspicious folk." He grins again, tapping the metal in his mouth. "I could buy a solid gold tooth with that dough," he muses.
Mod
The ginger's eyes are trained on the other woman, the one who is of yet uninjured. She is holding still for now, but he'll take care of her if she so much as twitches.
The burly man ((That is officially his name. Lol.)) retains his grip on the girl. His shins ache, but he can't lose this girl. All he sees is money when he looks at her. "It isn't safe to play with fire," he scolds in a tone often used on children and puppies.Belle sneers at the man. She hears Aly call for help in the distance, causing her heart to constrict and her eyes to harden. She tightens her muscles and leaps over the flames, instantly sprinting when she lands, following the sound of Belle's cry.
Mod
With a curse, the ginger extinguishes the flames so that he can hunt the woman down, needing to nab her and present her before the king, taking a pouch's worth of shillings home.
Aly twists, but the man's grip on her is infallible. Abruptly, she stops pulling and instead goes for his bar, sinking her teeth into his grimy fingers where he holds her captive.
Burly cries out and shakes his hand in the air. He stuffs his dirty fingers into his mouth, tasting blood. "You little..." he says around a mouthful of hand.Belle runs, the trees tearing at her hair. She must have taken a wrong turn because she can't find Aly. She keeps running blindly, her only goal to get rid of the ginger.
Mod
Aly goes for the goodies, slamming her knee into his groin and twisting out of his grasp, taking off at a dead sprint.
Belle is hit in the back suddenly, her muscles locking. She falls to the ground, her hood coming off, dirt painting her face.((Well shit, how do I beat that? Lol))
He groans and folds over. With a little healing magic, he is on the run again. He summons more, the power vibrating within his skull. He unleashes it at her, a stun spell, the general spell that their gang of thugs is known for.
Through lowered lids, Alyssandra watches the working of the inn, the serving wenches moving to and fro, dodging outstretched hands with the expertise of years of practice. Raucous laughter reverberates through the small room, echoing back and forth. Peanuts shatter under suede boots as men get up from their tables, seeking to relieve themselves. The scent of ale is sharp, pervading the packed, stuffy pub.
Alyssandra absorbs all of this, but pays it no mind, only one thing in particular striking her as strange: the presence of mages. Every one of them, with only the occasional human mixed in. Where are the other races? Why only mages here, in this odd kingdom? It was like that on the streets earlier this evening, too: only mages. Uneasiness, wet and slimy crawls through Alyssandra's stomach, but she shoves the feeling away. She can feel the heavy wait of stares, following her every movement. Despite her efforts to appear innocuous, it would seem that she's been marked.
Stranger.