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Post by Aislyn Redmercy on Jul 18, 2017 1:37:34 GMT
Aislyn was a creature of the mountains. She had grown up there, close to the stars and seemingly far from the concerns of the world though often those concerns reached out and touched them anyway. These grasslands, though not so clear or high, had a similar quality. The sky was clear and vibrant in the deepening twilight. A wraith in the night, the were's pale hair blew in the gentle wind as she gazed upwards. One by one the stars began to wink on in the sky like ladies lifting aside their veils. The night was going to be beautiful. She could tell it in her bones. The lone woman standing in the midst of the waist high grass could've been a statue for all she moved, only the movement of her tangled hair on the air and the slight rise of her chest an indication that she was truly living. The tracks that led up to her position would be strange to any tracker, the cloven prints of a massive elk that change abruptly to those of a woman less than a hundred yards behind her.
She was dressed simply and surely, in some eyes, scandalously. A loose white linen vest draped from shoulder to thigh, held closed only by a frayed cloth sash wrapped haphazardly low on her hips. Threadbare trousers covered her legs, torn and shredded in many places. At her feet lay a pair of bags strapped together like the packs of a pack animal though smaller than those normally used on draft creatures. She didn't carry much with her in the way of personal possessions but there were certain herbs and plants that only grew in certain places or needed to be prepared in certain ways to be useful to her. It also contained the precious set of surgeons tools she had been given by her first teacher in medicine, rare obsidian blades that would be expensive and hard to replace if she ever broke one. Her feet were bare in the soil. The cloth sash aroudn her waist carried a large knife that served two purposed- for defense and for profession.
Finally, as true night turned the sky velvet and the silver sliver of a moon began to show above the horizon, she knelt and returned to the thing that had made her stop here in the first place. The bright white and yellow nodding heads of chamomile were plentiful here. She trimmed the flowers from the stems, moving slowly through the night as she went. She never took all the flowers from any one plant, leaving them to continue to grow. Mentally she memorized the place though the grasslands were relatively featureless. So instead of landmarks she focused on recalling how many days from the last familiar place it was, and in what direction. She might never wander through here at the right time again, but it was always good to know where certain things grew.
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Farmer/Grim Reaper of Grim Reapers
Heterosexual.
Widowed.
Human
Authored by Arlyn.
Offline.
16 posts made.
0 likes.
Da
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Post by Da on Jul 20, 2017 3:36:42 GMT
The night was young. Da, who was walking about amongst the grasslands, could feel the tall blades hitting his thighs as he wandered in the midst of the large fields. Fortunately the grasslands were not too far from Cendra City, as where his farm lay. Though, tonight, the Grim Reaper of Grim Reapers was on business. The hunt began quite early, and ironically although usually he would set out in hunt of wolves instead his target was a human, a man that stayed near the southern port of Mir. He threatened Cendra City a few days prior, terrorizing a local tavern owner that Da knew and went out into the city, started to hurt people on his way. Well, Da didn't know the details, but the tavern owner told him that it was personal business, and that the man needed to be taken care of. Da agreed of course, for no price.
So he continued along his way, as the Grasslands needed to be traversed to get to his destination. His daughter Olwyn was sleeping by now he presumed, and he thought that he could make it back by morning. The night was lonely, he could feel the cold air upon his skin, even the breeze lifting his coat slightly. His scythe was bare, as he planned to make this a quick trip. There was no need to hide it on his back like he normally did. Not seeing where he was going due to his blindness, he used his scythe as a guide, chopping down the grass that stood tall in his path. He only did so when there were tall thickets he couldn't pass, but he otherwise held the weapon below. He thought he was alone until his attentive ears caught the noise of rustling grass and footsteps.
He turned around slightly, facing toward the direction where the sound had come from. He could sense there was someone there, he just knew it. Was it a werewolf, that so often traversed the night? Although, he didn't smell the scent of wolf. Instead it felt rather... different. But he could smell an animal nonetheless. Maybe it was just his imagination and there was a wild creature standing close to him, although most ran away when he neared.
"Fine night isn't it?" he asked, a smile upon his face as he took a few steps closer, although still keeping his distance. |
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Post by Aislyn Redmercy on Jul 20, 2017 3:51:06 GMT
Aislyn heard the soft brush of cloth and metal on the blades of grass before she saw the man who made them. She stilled, like the wild thing she was, pale eyes studying him as he moved through the grassland. As he began to approach where she left her bag she slowly straightened, so as not to startle him. Then he stopped and turned towards her, and she again stilled, eyes narrowed now. Her grip shifted on the knife she carried, stained from the stems she had cut. The sash full of flower heads dangled lightly in her other hand, ready to be dropped at a moment's notice to give her the freedom to flee or fight, whichever. Now, however, he was somewhat between her and her bag.
He stepped closer and she held her ground for the first, step, then the second. On the third step she slid sideways with a quick and graceful step that maintained the distance between them but began to shift the angle at which she stood to him so that she could make a clean dash if he turned out to be aggressive. After spending so long on four legs it took her a moment to register his words. "Yes." Her voice was soft but clear, carefully neutral. "Unusual to be out so late, isn't it?"
She didn't really think about the fact that she was also out unusually late, had she been human. As she was not, the thought didn't occur to her. This man smelled human, through and through. Like dirt and metal and faintly- she inhaled slowly and deeply, lips parting slightly to draw in the air over her tongue as well. Blood, old blood. That was not an unfamiliar smell to her.
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Farmer/Grim Reaper of Grim Reapers
Heterosexual.
Widowed.
Human
Authored by Arlyn.
Offline.
16 posts made.
0 likes.
Da
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Post by Da on Jul 20, 2017 7:17:16 GMT
"Yes it is," he agreed, his smile still plastered on his face. He felt the cold breeze hit once again, his dark coat blowing in the wind. His posture relaxed, and his scythe hit the floor, and he leaned against its handle as a support, much like a cane. Both of his gloved hands were placed on top of it, and he continued to look in her direction, although he couldn't see. A woman, something rather unexpected at this hour. More so than a man like he, who wielded a scythe and brought it bare. She must be more surprised than he was, Da thought. Though, he wondered what she was doing out here late in this hour, although he wouldn't ask right away. Eventually he would figure it out.
"I am just on my way to the fields next door," he said. "There is some assistance that is needed, and I need to help cut it down," he explained. Although, the crypticness was actually somewhat true in a way. He needed to cut down a man rather than a field, though. He didn't ask what she was doing out here, as perhaps maybe he could learn a bit more about this one. What was she? Human, immortal, merfolk? His guess was any. Werebeast perhaps, although not a wolf. Was she on her way to Cendra? As she was not wolf he was glad that she wouldn't be heading to his farm.
"Do you travel these grasslands often?" he asked, rather casually. He felt confident that she could do no harm to him, or be hostile toward him anyway. |
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Post by Aislyn Redmercy on Jul 20, 2017 15:28:56 GMT
Aislyn was not a farmer. Still, it seemed strange to be cutting fields down in the dark. She let the strangeness of it pass he by, putting it down to lack of knowledge. She had cultivated some small plants and herbs when she was settled in one place for a period of time but not fields or even grains. Though she had raided the occasional farmer's field, usually only when their grain was infested with a particular kind of fungus which was useful to her. Property didn't mean terribly much to her and she was rarely troubled by the thought of trespassing.
"Only when I'm here." An answer that meant nothing, but as long as they were talking they weren't doing anything else. She took another slow step, working her way in a sort of circle around him. Now she was closer to her bag than he was which eased some of the tension in her muscles. It also kept her from being directly in front of the scythe which she was perfectly aware could be a lethal weapon. Many weapons started out as farming implements. For example, the flail. At the memory she could almost feel the bone deep ache of a long healed break.
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Farmer/Grim Reaper of Grim Reapers
Heterosexual.
Widowed.
Human
Authored by Arlyn.
Offline.
16 posts made.
0 likes.
Da
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Post by Da on Jul 21, 2017 3:01:06 GMT
Only when she was there. What a peculiar answer, the man thought. Well, it could either mean that she did roam about here often, or that he came here sometimes. It was not quite the answer he had expected, and certainly did not gain any insight to who she was. He could hear her footsteps circling around him, however the man just stood in his spot. His head only vaguely turned to better hear where her movements were. Was she planning to kill him? Da couldn't make out a purpose but there were some women out there that had a thirst for blood. After all they were both out here so late in the night. But he was confident that if she did try to attack him he could defend himself. After all there would be more blood to shed.
But it seemed so far that she made no plans to murder him. "Ah, I see," he pretended to understand, nodding agreeably. "It is nice to see another fellow venturer of the night. What is it that you do out here?" he then asked, deciding to be more direct. Although, he was having sort of fun with this little game. She seemed to be on her guard but the old man seemingly did not have a care in the world, resting upon the handle of his scythe and smiling contentedly. The way he spoke had been more casual, as if greeting a friend that also had the same tendencies of traversing at this hour. |
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Post by Aislyn Redmercy on Jul 21, 2017 18:09:51 GMT
When he didn't move to follow her, not even with his eyes, she started to put together some of the things that had bothered her since he had come upon her. She suspected that he couldn't see ,at least not very well. Night blindness perhaps? She mulled the thought over in her head as she watched him. Straightening a little, she slid her knife back into the sheath on her belt and moved the few steps to find her bags. She never quite turned her back on him, always wary, even as she picked the packs up and slung them over her shoulder. The contents was well packed, making little noise except the brush and thump of it resting against her skin and clothing.
"Pass through." She answered his question with the same shortness and ambiguity with which she had answered everything else, but something made her pause as she watched him. Now her gaze was less wary and more clinical, studying him. After a heartbeat of silence she spoke again. "I was collecting a certain medicinal herb I found growing here. I am a healer."
With that she felt the duty of her calling was done. She had put out what she was was and if any aid was required, he would know to ask. If not she planned to wander for most the rest of the night and bed down a few hours before dawn. That, she found, was the most peaceful time of night.
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Farmer/Grim Reaper of Grim Reapers
Heterosexual.
Widowed.
Human
Authored by Arlyn.
Offline.
16 posts made.
0 likes.
Da
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Post by Da on Jul 22, 2017 23:53:51 GMT
"Ah," he said with interest. Well, it made sense. A healer collecting herbs wasn't so rare in these parts. Unfortunately he had no need for a healer. If he were going to save someone rather than kill, perhaps he would have invited her to travel along with him. But, he had to make sure that the man was dead. Anyone that the man harms however... Maybe she could be useful there but by then Da assumed that it would be too late. Although if she was looking for work perhaps he should suggest where he was headed to. Surely there were many in need of healing. He didn't take into account his own blindness. It was something he was accustomed to for so long. It was something that could not be healed.
The elderly man then stood straight, lifting the scythe and placing it onto his shoulder, turning to head toward his destination. "Well it was very nice to meet you, healer," he said, not even asking for a name. "I am headed to the southern port now, so if you are looking for work you are welcome to join me." Though, he didn't expect for her to come along, and he turned heel to spin around and began to walk toward that direction. "Have a good evening," he said, taking off into the fields. But, after a few steps more, the man stopped. It was a familiar noise. One that might have caught onto his, no, both of their scent. He could hear the growls and running paws in the distance, ever growing so near.
The wolves.
"Well," he said with delight, turning around to face her again. "It appears we have company." |
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Post by Aislyn Redmercy on Jul 23, 2017 2:17:50 GMT
She listened but had little more to say to him. So as he wished her a good evening and began to carry on his way, she turned to go another direction- it did't matter which, just some way that would take her somewhere she hadn't been before. At least, not somewhere she'd been in a time of peace. Much of this area had been battlefield at one point or another, she was sure of it. What part of their land hadn't? Even the high reaches of the mountains had not remained untouched. However when he stopped and spoke again she paused. Listened. Then a soft snort escaped her and she shrugged, though the motion was lost on him.
"They are probably hunting and will pass us by. Men have not been the prey of weres for a century- except the mad. Unless they hold grudge against you." She had no interest in getting in the middle of a feud but she also had no real desire to see bloodshed come to pass. So she moved back towards him, nostrils flaring as she scented the air. Judging by sound and scent and the rippled in the grass she placed herself between the man and wolves, though pointedly far enough away that he would have to do more than lunge and swing to touch her. Even that one extra step could give her the time she needed to get out of the way of a human's weapon. Even if they had issue with him, they would recognize her as their own kind if he truly was their target. Her hand rested lightly on the hilt of her knife, ready but not yet drawn.
She truly believed they would pass the pair of them by, on their way to hunt choicer prey. Still, they made the hair on the back of her neck prickle. She had been hunted by wolves once, mad ones who had shortly after been killed by the Alpha of their pack. Madness, after all, threatened the delicate peace that had allowed their land to flourish in the past century. She bore no grudge against them for it. But she remembered it none the less.
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Farmer/Grim Reaper of Grim Reapers
Heterosexual.
Widowed.
Human
Authored by Arlyn.
Offline.
16 posts made.
0 likes.
Da
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Post by Da on Jul 25, 2017 7:21:39 GMT
"They're all mad it seems," the man said, now bearing his weapon, ready to slay the incoming opposers. He heard her move in front of him and toward the pack, perhaps she was thinking of defending him? Truly brave the one was if that was true, Da thought. Although he continued to smile and look onward, hearing the wolves come nearer, and eventually the growls as the approached. It was a group of three, or maybe five if they were silent, he guessed. But he continued to stand there, wondering what the woman planned to do. Would these beasts really just pass them by? It was something that the human doubted.
"They hold no grudge against me, just wanting to scavenge the farm," he explained, hearing them run ever so closely now. "Although I believe they must be here for something else," he then guessed, side stepping his way away from her but making more space for him to defend the attack against the wolves. His scythe was still at its ready, the sharp blade almost shining under the night sky.
The wolves made their way one by one toward the pair, led by a larger wolf that seemed to be the leader of the pack. They continued to run forward towards them, and they split directions, the leader aiming to attack her while the others made their way to the man. Da couldn't tell what in the world it was they were after but then again he assumed that all wolves were like this. |
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Post by Aislyn Redmercy on Jul 25, 2017 14:07:50 GMT
Aislyn frowned. This didn't sound right to her. "They are not mad," she said definitely. "Madness has a smell." She watched as they neared, her hand now resting more solidly on the hilt of her knife. There was something queer and unplanned about this, a roughness to the approach. This wasn't even the coordination of an ordinary pack, much less the well times union of practiced weres. She had seen the damage that well trained weres- of whatever variety- could do in a group. Their silent communication gave them an advantage while shifted that made up for their lack of steel weapons and armor.
The leader seemed to come for her- were against were, she presumed. She waited for him, drawing her knife but reversing her grip on the hilt. When she saw him fully in the moment before he lunged, she knew. Young. They were young. Too young to know better, young enough to still be high on the feeling of immortality that every teenager seems to suffer through. Young enough to regret missing the war that had broken so many of their parents.
She stepped forward into his lunge, thrusting her forearm between the snapping, slavering jaws that had been aimed for her throat. His momentum checked against her body, the force of it thrumming through her bones. Her arm slammed back against the hinges of his jaw and he made on odd 'hurk' sound as his jaw spasmed. The teeth dug into her flesh but he couldn't bring the full force of his strength down in that moment, saving her broken bones. Swiftly the knife came up and the heavy handle smashed into the side of his head with calculated force.
He dropped limp from her arm, stunned but not out. She pulled her savaged arm free and shoved the wolf to the ground, following up with a second strike that would keep him down for the count. Then she turned to see what fate awaited the rest of them.
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Farmer/Grim Reaper of Grim Reapers
Heterosexual.
Widowed.
Human
Authored by Arlyn.
Offline.
16 posts made.
0 likes.
Da
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Post by Da on Jul 30, 2017 7:10:11 GMT
Wolf after wolf, they approached him. Ducking in a smooth movement, his arms turned the scythe in a circular direction, aiming for the first wolf that approached him. Eyes closed he could tell that the first beast got scratched, feeling blood spray toward the man's face as the other came toward him. The first one was injured, but not yet dead as it paced around him, snarling and showing its frightening teeth as the second now aimed for his throat. With another swift motion the scythe moved as steadily as a wave, leaving a trail of gleaming silver as it cut into the creature's neck. Unlike the first, this one received a fatal blow, flying to the ground as its head dangled at an odd angle, A large gash upon the side of tis head and throat, he had cut deep but the blood did not start to ooze out until later. The wolf that still lived growled, unseeing its fallen comrade it lunged toward him again. Da turned in a spectacular motion, fast as both hand switched the position of the blade, the sharpest end falling down toward its head. But the wolf was fast, and dodged the attack but the man twisted the blade around, gripping its neck from behind as he pulled the wolf closer to him.
It was unintentional but the wolf's head slid right off, falling backward as its moving corpse fell at the man's feet. He had intended to aim for its shoulders, as the hunt should not end so quickly. A geyser of crimson blood sprayed on the man as a result from his mistake, staining his brown coat and his face. However, he still laughed. Looking toward the woman, his eyesight was obscured by the frame of his hat, although his smile stayed.
"Does it smell like blood?" he asked, referring to her statement of madness having a smell. |
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Post by Aislyn Redmercy on Jul 31, 2017 15:50:52 GMT
Aislyn knew from the angle of second wolf's head that he'd nearly been decapitated but that knowledge did not catch up to her as her body moved on instinct. She lunged under the angle of the man's attack, catching the body even as it began to convulse and change back to human form. She hauled it out of the fight even as the second wolf lost it's head, working to see if perhaps she could save him. Weres could survive wounds that would kill nearly anything else due to their incredible rate of healing. A little noise of despair escaped her as she struggled to keep pressure on the wound as fur changed to skin beneath her hands.
She'd been right, he was young. Barely an adult, drunk on his own power she thought. There was too much damage. She sat back on her heels and bowed her head, ignoring the old man's question of a moment. Then she slowly stood, crossing her arms across her chest without any care to dirtying her clothes. She went back to her unconscious opponent, picking up the knife she had dropped. She stayed between him and the old man, protective.
"No. They were young. Stupid." Her voice cracked a little, sorrow for such a waste of life. "Be on your way." The demand was abrupt, but not angry. She watched him. Once he left she would bury the other two and figure out what to do with hers. Most likely his two dead friends would be enough to scare him into more caution. And she would figure out what pack he belonged to. The alpha needed to know that he had youngsters running amok and breaking the treaty.
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Farmer/Grim Reaper of Grim Reapers
Heterosexual.
Widowed.
Human
Authored by Arlyn.
Offline.
16 posts made.
0 likes.
Da
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Post by Da on Aug 5, 2017 23:16:25 GMT
The fight was over. Placing the scythe back on his shoulder, the elderly man stood upright, gazing toward the direction from where he had heard the woman stand. Indeed, the fun was over. That was a nice little warm up, he knew that the man that he was after was going to prove to be more of a battle than those wolves. Da had heard what she had said, however not commenting on it. Instead, he continued to smile, taking a step further away.
"If you are in need of help, just call for Da," he said, turning around fully to be on his way. It was a thanks for her aid within the fight. Although he didn't know too much about her, he rather enjoyed her company. That was, for this night. Though he could always use a little bit more excitement later on, if this healer needed an extra hand in slaying some stray beasts or even people, a simple letter or a word of mouth would suffice. Da wasn't too hard to find, in fact many knew of the Grim Reaper of Grim Reapers. Word travelled fast to the man, he would know when he was needed, and where, if he remembered who it was that asked.
So, the human continued on, walking into the night as the tall blades of grass blew in the wind. Eventually he was gone, faded in darkness. On to the port, he went.
[END] |
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