[Game Thread] The Partisan Torch

[Sakure]

Laksha looked at Dylon with some sympathy. "Don't worry, if it's in a full sprint I'll make sure -you're- the one draped over the saddle." There was something a little off about Dylon that made the knight prod her horse into a gentle trot around Antony's. She kept the horse mobile in a fair circle around her friend as a way to avoid too much contact with the disparate comrades that she'd had shoved on her.

[Aosaw]

Kaia watched the others make their introductions, paying particular attention to the growing dynamic of animosity between Laksha and the elf. She's bothered more by the familiar than by its elven master. He won't understand either.

She fell in step beside Nos. "Kaia," she said, introducing herself. "Don't worry too much about her. She'll come around; you just have to trust her. They're all good people; just not used to seeing someone different. If you ever get confused about a look or a phrase, give me a nod and I'll explain it for you." She smiled, then. "Us freak-shows have to stick together, after all."

And a freak-show she was, stepping out into the sun: her skin was the color of polished ivory, and she had not a single hair on her head; and what had seemed at first to be gray eyes turned out to be true silver. There was also something else - some strangeness about the hands, a piece of dark string held there, or a patch of grime - but whenever the eye was drawn there, her fingers closed reflexively, hiding whatever secrets lay there.

"To tell you the truth, I think most people you meet will be more bothered by your...friend. People in these lands don't trust wizards, since most of the trouble we face comes from wizards. Luckily, I know that not all wizards are bad; and some of them can be heroic, at times. But not everyone feels the same way, and you have to respect their ignorance." She gave Nos a pat on the shoulder, her best smile, and then she bounced off to join Dylon.

"I heard you say you don't own a horse. You're in good company. I've never even ridden one." She didn't mention that she had ridden much more dangerous things, that she had ridden a dragon before without any fear. But he was different. The Silver One had changed everything.

[Elucidus]

"I've never had the opportunity to ride any mount. Kaia, was it? He wipes the hair long overdue for a cut from his eyes. "So he is a wizard, eh? Haven't met many of those."

[Aosaw]

"Not a wizard proper, no," she said. "Something about him is different. And the eloquence of his familiar - I haven't seen it too clearly, but I don't think it's any ordinary creature." She shrugged. "I think he feels out of place. Living with the elves all your life, only to be thrown in with a bunch of humans? We must all look like monsters to him. And then that exchange with Laksha... It's not good, starting things off like that."

[Elucidus]

"Yeah, it is a shame sometimes. I'm trying to be nice." He shrugs.

[shaderhedemon]

Nos looks to the two and considers how to respond to the comments, and being talked about as if he was not there, but decides to ignore that. "It is different, but I do not see you as monsters. And if my eidolon bothers you..." The snake returns to it's hiding place, "I will try to keep him hidden, but he does have a mind of his own sometimes. As to what I am, I am a summoner, I once trained as a wizard but I have more affinity for the summoning arts. It is not uncommon for elves to use arcane magic, we invented it after all, but I can see how people might be afraid of it. I will try to refrain from showing off my magic more then is needed."
He then looks to Dylon, "And Dylon was it? Effort is all that matters, I just hope one day we don't have to try but are simply friends. And yes you may call me simply Nos."

He then looks to kaia, " I will ask you if I need clarification on anything, and thank you for offering."

[Elucidus]

"No not at all, it was just unexpected. I didn't mean to seem unwelcoming, afterall we are in this together. Magic of any form confounds me, but I can appreciate..." He pauses a moment thinking. "I am sorry, what was his name? As for the friendship, Don't try, just let things happen. If they can get past their first impressions or whatever is on their minds about you, then things will go fine." He offers a handshake, wondering if elves do that as a greeting.

[shaderhedemon]

Nos looks at Dylon's hand for a second before reaching out his hand and shaking it. "I have not done this gesture in a long time. His name was Gobaith, it means hope." he then looks to Dylon, "It might surprise you but I am not a full elf, I am in part human. Though full blooded humans have not lived with us in many generations they once did."

[Elucidus]

"I would be able to tell the difference really." He shakes his hand. "So how do elves normally greet each other?"

[shaderhedemon]

"We in my clan bow, but not all clans of elves do this." He looks to you and then says, "Even we do not know how many are still here, most have left."

[DukeofDellot]

It is early afternoon with a grey sky. It doesn't look like it will rain, but the sun is neatly tucked behind some light clouds. The guards have been stacked and are ready at all entrances with double lookouts, and the whole town is on its toes. Due to this step up, there has been a decrease in local crime, but with the world the way it is, this is hardly an enjoyable statement. There are no children playing in the streets, and local businesses have been in low stock. Only a single smile has shined out in the sea of faces, and it was in vain over the whole in the sole of his shoe. The streets are a muddy mess, and the filth that is usually manageable (in a world blessed with magic, such things would be) is readily visible on the walls and faces presented everywhere.

If you were to travel to Reathinsan on foot it would take no less than a week's travel. In days long past, Denthraw and Reathinsan were close partners in trade, relying heavily on each other for the most basic needs. When the neighboring kingdom fell, tales were spun of the worst sort. The highway leads through a couple of small towns and over a rather large river, but otherwise foes could be spotted from great distances if they intended to intercept you on the road in daylight.

OODM About three hundred miles over open fields with only a few stops along the way. Ready to get started?

[KithKunabi]

After everyone gathers, Antony rouses out of his drawn out silence and glances over all of them.

He doesn't particularly feel the need to introduce himself any further, he already has their names from the initial meeting, they should have picked up his as well.

"Don't have horses, eh?" Antony frowns to himself. He'd gotten himself used to a regimen of riding, if only to keep up with Laksha. "I'd reccomend everyone have one. Even if you aren't charging into combat, it makes the journey considerably faster."

Unstated is the fact that every day they tarry is another day humanity spends under the strain of demons, fighting an infernal war that it seems slated to lose.

Every day it takes, is another day people spend dying.

[Aosaw]

"Your point is well taken, Antony; but I believe that I can walk just as fast as your horse. To show you what I mean, I'll follow you to the stables. Keep your horse at an even pace, and see how well I can keep up. Unless you are planning on galloping to our destination; but I don't think you'll want to overexert your horse, since a dead horse is no good for the return trip." Kaia gave Dylon a nod, and began to move at a fast clip in the direction of the stables.

[Sakure]

Laksha sighed. "I do hope you don't complain or lose your conviction after several days travel." The lithe warrior had brought her horse to a halt next to Antony's only facing the opposite direction. She scratched at the halo-braid in her hair before leaning against her horse's neck. She felt like she was talking to a bunch of kids, fresh recruits with lots of ideas and not a lot of applicable experience. "I think it would be best to save the displays of fortitude for more relaxed times." A condescending smile followed her statement, much like she'd give a child she'd lost patience with but was still forcing a positive attitude towards. "Unless you need something I must insist that we take flight."

[Aosaw]

Kaia stared at Laksha. "Forgive my impertinence, dear Lady, but I believe your companion suggested that Dylon and I acquire horses. Perhaps you would like to stop patronizing me and help me choose one that will suit our needs; otherwise, I would prefer to keep Antony's company while I determine the necessity of a mount."

That was well-said. Though a true Novice would have said nothing at all.

Kaia bit her lip, turned away from Laksha, and said more loudly, "Dylon, Antony; are you two coming, or will I have to pick the first disease-ridden mule I find?"

OOC I think you misunderstood what Kaia was saying. She's heading for the stables, so that if it seems like a horse will be necessary we'll be closer to the place where a horse can be bought - rather than standing around talking about how we should buy ourselves horses. At the same time, it allows her and Dylon to show the group that they can move just as quickly as any standard mount; it helps alleviate concerns about "slowing down the group", without wasting too much time with talk. Granted, she has a charisma of 7 - so that might not have come across very clearly. But in the interest of moving things along, I thought I should explain it.