Fears by Firelight

Log Info

• Title: Fears by Firelight
• Emitter: Ezil
• Characters: Ezil, Cryosanthia
• Place: W02: The Wilderness
• Time: Saturday, March 07, 2020, 3:36 AM
• Summary: Cryosanthia can't sleep, and discovers Ezil camped near Mictlan. The two talk about what is on their minds. Ezil has been on an expedition to Merkabah, which while succesful, had many failings and conflict between the team. The weird creatures and nethercite were punishing and Ezil took a lot of damage which made him question his abilities and contribution. Cryo reveals she has doubts about her ability to contribute all the time, and also worries a team of random people won't back her up or care. She goes on to reveal why she fears wizards, and how Seldan and Svarshan have warned her away from Aya.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* W02: The Wilderness *>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The path from the village eventually narrows somewhat, with the trees on either side becoming more populous. Moss hangs from large stones that sit surrounded by beds of leaves that has accumulated over the years.

A few trails wander in varied directions though eventually even these woods will thicken. One particular trail carries with it the scent of natural brimstone...this trail wanders north and westward, where the trees grow thick once more. To the east, it's rumored that the druids have built a sacred site.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-- Appearing --=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
 Cryosanthia     A dashingly tall, lithe white lizardgirl with tattoos 
 Ezil            An armored man with dark skin, and grey-blonde hair.  
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= Exits -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The full moon isn't up. The tide is high and rising. The sky is grey-black, moonless and starless. It's hard for human eyes to see anything in the deep shadows round about, without a light. It's cool and a light breeze blows from the southwest.

Ezil sits on the back steps to his vardo, his armor strewn about the fire that burns off to one side of his camp. His clothes are in ruins, the charred remains of his cloak and shirt still worn as his wounds are nearly healed. The armor's paint has been blistered off, and it seems the Paladin has again run into some great source of flame. It's dark, but the clear night under the stars is something he watches with delight, despite his current state. "You're lucky you weren't down there Crepe. I don't ever want to meet a slime like that again." laughing with a wince, his hand glowing softly as he uses the last of his magic to restore himself. "I shouldn't of ran in there." seeming to talk a lot to his mules, though it can be noted... he's not wearing armor. For once.

There is the sound of something moving, outside the circle of firelight. The crunch of snow suggests a large creature. This close to Mictlan, it's most likely a sith-makar, although any investigating Hunter-Caste would be a lot more stealthy.

Cryosanthia appears like a ghost, lit by the flames, transitionning from dark shadow to yellow hued presence. "Oh, it's you Ezil. I wondered what the fire was about."

She steps closer, "You know, I don't think I've seen you without your armour. You look bad, what happened?"

Ezil looks up to the familiar voice, nodding his head as he meets Cryosanthia's glance. "No. Not many do, White-One." speaking of his armor and standing lazily, walking toward where his bags rest, tucked under a wheel. "I thought I would be alone this evening, and was... getting ready to sleep." taking his backpack and digging in to find one of the shirts he recently purchased. His has been burned up a sleeve, and across his chest.

"I was in Merkebah, and the fight didn't go well." finally answering Cryosanthia's words. "The expedition was to find nethercite, and we found a lot more than the ore."

"You were burned. This one can smell the roast flesh. It is not a scent I enjoy." Cryosanthia stalks around the fire, finding a place to sit near where the man was. She rests directly on the snow, her tail curled off to one side with her legs stretched out and ankles crossed. She splays her toes at the fire. "What is Nethercite? What else did you find?"

"Nethercite is... it's like anti-magic. It cuts people or objects near it off from the source." Ezil explains, as it was broken down to him. "Also, you're preaching to the choir, White-One. I hate the smell of burnt flesh. More so my own." laughing as he changes the subject briefly. "It looked like an orb of pitch black. Like that mul'niessa's arm in Mictlan. Just... black as night. Darker even." looking back to the Sith-Makar as he takes the ruined shirt off, and changes quickly, only giving a flash of toned muscles. "I ran into several things down there, but the worst was my company. Complaining at every action I took, even when other's agreed. It was sheer silliness, Cryo. They wanted me to be the reason for every failing."

The sith-makar is paying attention, as he explains and changes. She has a degree of curiousity, although she quickly looks away once she catches a glimpse of bare skin. "I've had mixed results with the teams the guild sends out. It does seem random, I would not have enjoyed being in your situation. Nethercite seems, rough to be around, even your divine gifts didn't work? I wonder what would happen to me."

Ezil looks up, his shirt loose and left untied so it billows like night clothing. "We had a special case to make it easier, but yes... even my gifts were hampered near it." admitting it with a shrug, crossing to stoke the fire with a stick he's left near the small pit. "My team encountered some water serpents, but I was able to draw one onto land. We used an explosive to cause a landslide into the puddle and scared the rest off." stoking the flames with his poking, and adding another log. "I threw a rock, much to one's regret. It's what stirred them. I'd rather of checked the water, than had one of us fall in trying to climb around it. Merkebah is just full of danger. Then there was a flaming slime, one filled with strange crystals. It..." pausing and motioning to his armor with the burnt end of his stick. "It's what got me. We had to lure it and take it down slowly with arrows." though she had seen his shirt. She saw how it tore through his armor. He may be healed, but there is no hiding the amount of damage that was thrown his way. "We were lucky."

"That's a lot of damage, and things I'd have no idea how to fight. At least you provoked them, they might have come out while you were climbing around, that's a tactic we use, and I've seen regular reptiles do it also." Cryo makes a short laugh, shakes her head slightly. Her head is facing in such a way she's probably staring at the fire, and the fluttering of the shirt. "A flaming slime. I didn't think that was possible, I guess the crystals allowed it? You look like you were burned to the bone. Sometimes I'm astounded at the effects of healing magic, then I remember. I'm glad I didn't go by the Guild today, looking for work. I had other things on my mind. What else did you find?"

Ezil snorts a laugh. "It blew through my guard like I was a paper in a fire. My shield, my armor. Nothing stopped it. It got me once. Once!" his huff coming with a shake of his head. Yes, it seems that's a sore subject. "I was left scrambling to retreat. My weapons had no effect. I was left slamming my shield against it until I couldn't take the flames any longer." sighing as he raises a hand and waves off his own thoughts. "Sorry.... I am bitter over it. One of the others left us to find the ore during the fight. Our monk got lost before this battle, and only two of us were left to deal with the slime." closing his eyes and sitting across from Cryo. "We found the ore in an old building, but something was causing it to emanate darkness. If it was the ore... I couldn't tell, but the magics there... why would the Guild want this?"

"Perhaps... to shoot out of the spell canon? I have no idea. I think they only broker deals and aren't dilligent in why or what they are for. I'm not a fan of fire either, you have my sympathies. Did the strangeness of the place make the Monk get lost, or was it wanderlust?" The white-scale sith sighs and pulls her knees up, hugging them and leaning against her thighs. "Several times I've wanted to use spells, but mine take a lot of time to damage, and everyone wants to run up and I know I can do more there. Try not to be bitter, it sounds like a mess. Maybe the ore can be used to make bullets for dragonspitters, or spellbreaking weapons."

"It's just my distrust of the Guild." Ezil admits. "I'm frustrated at how my companions don't think of consequences..... but I feel it's how the adventuring life goes." his words loweing as he sets his poking-stick aside. "You're right. I just don't voice my girevances when I should. I don't like conflict with those I work with, and hold my tongue." sighing a third time. He's not happy with what went down, not at all. "I don't know what happened to our monk. One moment he was with us, and then he was gone. It's possible he was still watching for serpents at our back, but... I felt useless. Utterly useless." looking up to the Sith-Makar and shrugging. "I didn't have the weapons I needed, but even if I did, the slime was tearing through my guard with no effort. I'm just sore. And angry. I should do better."

"I'm not sure how you would do better. Shields aren't designed to keep the rain out. The slime sounds like alchemical fire with a mind, that would be a nightmare. And I feel like that all the time Ezil. I can't hit, what I can hit I can't hurt, and everything hits me fine and hurts a lot. Like the fight with Braelnoir, not winning, only losing slowly." The palescale shrugs, brushing at her leg, exhaling, "Keep fighting, you made it back, some ore made it back. That's a success as far as the Guild is concerned."

"You're not useless, White-One. I have seen you do amazing things." Ezil argues with a laugh. "We all have bad days, but......" her words sinking in slowly as he nods to himself, and something she had said. "It was like alchemical fire. Living, and slow moving." looking to her, and then to where she brushes her leg. "What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger.... but this world is full of nightmares. I didn't realize the Faring Tales had so much truth in their words. I can't quit, and I won't, but I need to find some path to make a difference."

Cryo is fiddling with her scales, it seems like a thing a sith might do when they're idle or thinking. She lifts one and lets it fall back into place, then the next one above it, and so on up or down her leg. There are no apparent injuries. "Hopefully. Well, find people you trust to fight with. I'll try to be on the missions with you, even if I can't always. I spoke with Seldan today, about things."

"I'm sorry if you feel like you have to watch after me. I just trust your judgment and skills. Even if you don't yourself." Ezil notes, shifting to lay back in the snow, letting himself just take in that chill, countered mostly by the fire. "I shouldn't dump my thoughts on you, but thank you for listening." staring at the stars, and changing the subject. "How is Seldan?" he asks. "How's his sword?"

"I feel better knowing you're there. You will heal me, might even be able to carry me off the field." Cryo says, curling up a little more where she sits and lying her head to the side. It sounds like she's joking, at least a little. "I worry others might think it an acceptable loss, 'she's a monster' or something."

There is silence for a while, aside from the crackling of the fire and the tik, tik, as she snicks her fingernails over her scales. "Seldan is fine, the ancestors in his sword were quiet. We met in a library. He answered some worries. That Mul'neissa that keeps showing up, the shadowy one, Aya. She's dangerous."

Ezil sits up at her words. "I... I can't deny that worry. I don't see the world like that though. We all share this plane, and fighting over who's better as we're torn apart by other forces is just... silly." being nicer with his words. It's more crazy in his mind, but he doesn't say so. "Also... how is Aya dangerous? Her powers? Her desires? Is she up to something?" he asks curiously. "Danger comes in many ways." looking to his friend, and watching her and using a softer tone. "No loss is acceptable, Cryo. You're invaluable to the relations between our race. You don't see us as just soft-skins... and that's progress we can't lose."

"Well, we need to think new things, as the Silver Empress says. Thanks for your kind words, Blessed Follower of the Stars." Cryo smiles quietly, bringing her tail around to take hold of the tip and manipulate the last few vertibrae with her hands. "She follows Taara, the greedy, the cruel, the wife of the Tyrant Maugrim, and believes her lessons make her strong. She has been involved with slavers... captured, perhaps. Seldan says he senses no darkness in her, but also that she is very selfish and manipulative with her words. That she is far more experienced at deception than I am at seeing through it. Even Svarshan, fears her words and wanted me awy from her. I don't usually accept prohibitions from others, but if Svarshan and Seldan both warn me from her, I am now wary. She might not sell me out... or she might, if there is an advantage. Any information given to her could be dangerous, to me or Mictlan."

"I trust the Sunguard and Seldan more than I do many others. If they warn you away from her... I too would listen." Ezil admits as he is focusing on her words, watching as she fiddles with her tail. "I have my tenets, and go to her aid if called, but not without much thought, and many questions. So... let us take this as warning. Both of us." noting with a glance cast towards the fire. "It takes all kinds, but as I've learned.... even my path is mocked by others. Judgement before knowing the person, and being harsh without thinking for themselves. I see why my family stays away from the larger cities... it's full of those who feel they know everything, and make fun of those who admit they know little to nothing."

"Away from cities it is easier." Cryo says, making a small snort as she notices Ezil watching her play with her tail. The edges of her mouth curl, "Youngling habit, to pull on it and hope it grows long and beautiful. I should really stop."

Yet, she doesn't, pressing her tail against her leg instead. She closes her eyes and keeps them closed, her feet pull in closer to her rear. Her next words are flat, devoid of emotion, as neutral and distant as she can make them. "This one was taken by Charnath Slavers. These markings were without consent. They are full of poison to awaken my bloodline. The magic came later. This one escaped. The others did not."

She closes her hand around the pouch at her neck, and squeezes it tightly. The faint sound of scales rubbing over each other is heard inside. She enters that deathly, frozen stillness that she's shown before.

"Well I have no love of slavers. Those who deny the others a life of freedom is...." pausing as he waves a hand at his own words. "You know me well enough to know what I would not tolerate." he finishes. "As for the markings... if I did not know their origin, I would call them beautiful. I see each creature, each being as unique. Life changes and shapes us in many different ways, but without those marks... you wouldn't be who you are now. We might not of been friends." pointing this out as he offers another casual shrug. "As with Braelnoir and Kaelyn. I will have to change how I know them when they are cured of their transformation." wincing and looking away.

"I still owe Braelnoir an apology. She shared with us something heartfelt, and I trivialized it. She can't disappoint me, but I tried to play it off as a joke. I felt nervous. I don't like people thanking me like that. It's who I am to be this way. I am not going out of my way for her. I am simply doing what friends should do. It's nothing to thank one for." his thoughts on it muddled, but he seems to regret that night a bit. Changing topics, Ezil looks back to her tail. "And do what makes you comfortable. What you feel you must. I am not judging you. The All-Friend shouldn't judge anyone. Even the snoring,and moronic Jerboba."

"All that you say is true Ezil. I have made peace with how I am now. It's perhaps, why I felt sympathy towards Braelnoir, I know what it's like to be changed by another's whim. It's why I fear wizards. I have binding runes on me, one with the right knowledge could make me a slave. This is why Aya is dangerous, she would recognize them, they are leverage to blackmail me or to sell to those I fear hunt me still. Any, from Charnath, are this danger." Cryosanthia looks across at the All-friend, she still has her hand, holding her tail tightly along her calf. "Even without judgement, I need you to know why I'm frightened of certain things. Svarshan knows, Seldan knows, others might have guessed. I am not great at hiding secrets, but even speaking this here, I feel more vulnerable. It is a practical fear tied to an irrational panic. I can't let go of it because I'll be at more risk, and I can't embrace it, I would go insane."

"And there's something I'm sure I've forgoten about Jerboba." Cryo adds, "it should come back. Braelnoir and I went swimming in the Tornmrawr, you can ask her about that next time you see her, and maybe explain you valued her opening up also at that time."

"I am glad you feel like you could tell me about the markings. I knew they were not natural, but it is not my place to ask about such things if you did not wish to share." Ezil admits, looking to her with a small smile. "You need not worry about me spreading their tale, though it allows me to be vigilant of those who might exploit it." his posture easy as he simply sits still, glancing back to the flames. "Is there any way for it to be undone?"

"As for the rest of it... I'll talk to Braelnoir in time. Though... hopefully it won't take swimming." Ezil muses, winking as he regard Cryosanthia once more. "Jerboba is a lost cause. Bits of twisted souls that formed what he is now. He can't be changed, or that is what Svarshan said. I had just hoped."

"I don't know. I've been wanting to speak to the Shamans here, and looked at a few books. It's... not something I want to ask Mikilos or Merek about... right now." Cryosanthia releases her tail and pats her arms. "I would not doubt Svarshan on that, it's unfortunate. I hope to release you from those chains soon. The swimming was to practice for Merek's Plane of Water plans."

Ezil laughs Cryosanthia's last words. "He was serious? He really wants us to go with him to the plane of water?" shaking his head, and standing. "I mean... it might be better than fire." he muses, dusting the snow from his leggings, and moving to collect his armor. "You're welcome to camp with me here tonight. I was going to put mroe wood on the fire, and lay out under the stars.... but it looks like rain." noting the clouds rolling in with a subtle smirk. "As for my chains? I don't see it as you do. Bound I may be, but not unwillingly. He gave us enough to link much of what was going on to the Duke." noting this as he goes about picking up his equipment and storing it. "We could make for the small village south of here."

The white-scale sith-makar glances up at the clouds, smiling a little. "It does sound nice. I would, but another time. I left the Speaker-house so I would not keep them up, as I couldn't sleep, but we have practice tomorrow. And Merek does seem to be."

Cryosanthia rises to her feet, making a small curtsey. "Sleep well, do not dwell long on what happened today in Merkabah. Lots of bad things have happened in the past."

She slips to the edge of the light, "You look very vulnerable without your armour. Peace on your Nest." She moves from fire to night, becoming a faint white form between the trees.