>>46677183


“You want to come with us?” You stood abruptly, your pulse skyrocketing as you felt both danger and alarm for what that sort of request may entail.

Odette sat firmly, drinking a sweet apple cider brought out by the chefs, likely stowed away from a recent harvest. Her eyes went to you as she maintained her demeanor expertly.

Victoria however, sweetly smiled with that unabashedly fake expression she wears, her eyes showing the truth. A wellspring of curiosity, a swallowing violet mire that could not be sated despite all the books in this library. “That is the consequence for losing our game... Take me with you on your adventures until I declare that I am satisfied.”

“You...” Pressing a hand to your forhead, you press back your bangs as you slide back slowly into your chair. “You are... So young.” A nervous smile trembles upon your face. “The world is quite dangerous, and surely a Hylon of your... errm importance would be misses?”

“Oh, yes. Surely.” The girl seems surprised, enough so that it's clear that she'd not even minded the implications of such a request based on her position. Turning to her butler, Alder, “Speak nothing of this meeting aside for the fact that Miss Belinda has kidnapped me.”

“Yes m'lady-” The Butler dutifully begins.

“Kidnap?” Odette's eyes leer at the raven-haired Hylon girl. “They would come after us.”

“Of course, but surely two heroes could evade the grasp of even a count? Besides, my father is no more than a Jack of Commerce. His success is granted only through my predictions and I've already written all that's needed for the rest of this year.”

>>46677192

“I don't think you understand the position that this puts us in.” Odette's voice is firm and measured, the same motherly tone that she's been using on this girl. “If we are to be captured-”

“It is my reward for winning this game. Besides, as much as I love my collection, I'd really like to see all the places I've read about. The Namour of Celes Pranse and Twi'lace, the Drezar of Septic, Cesspoo,l, and their other undercities. The Behemoth's Teeth mountains... Oh! And the Nine Leviathan seas! And...” The girl carries on with rambling on about a number things.

Your eyes meet Odette's and you feel the compulsion to say yes to the girl, the terms of the game forcing your agreement. “Very well.” You say with a nervous heart while wearing your best smile.
“We'll show you Thespia.”

The girl's rambling stops when she hears that and bashful little grin appears upon her lips as she squirms in her seat, lower lip trembling and a tear welling up in the corner of her eyes. “Th-thank you...”

“If I may...” The butler, Alders speaks up, “Leaving now would be in your best interest. I will report the kidnapping as directed, however Master Vladmir will likely be busy with his... whore until Sol's Zenith. This would give you ample time to leave Pruden for wherever else you might be headed off to. If I may suggest, reporting a false direction to the Adventurer's guild will undoubtedly afford you more time from pursuers.”

>[“Why are you so intent on helping us rob your lady?”]
>[“Is there not danger for you if Count Vladmir thinks you're lying?”]
>[“Can we really trust that?”]
>[Write in.]

>>46677205
>[“Is there not danger for you if Count Vladmir thinks you're lying?”]
Fucking Hylons

>>46677205
>[“Can we really trust that?”]

>>46677205
>[“Is there not danger for you if Count Vladmir thinks you're lying?”]

>>46677205
>[“Is there not danger for you if Count Vladmir thinks you're lying?”]
I'm really liking the Card game motif of the Hylon.

>>46677205
>[“Is there not danger for you if Count Vladmir thinks you're lying?”]

>>46677205

You look to the butler as he stands there resolutelty, a towel draped over his arm in case of any spill or emergency. The Danhor with Hylon accents gives off a distinct vibe of credibility, however... “Is there not a danger for you if the Count thinks that you're lying?”

“Most certainly, if he were to doubt my loyalty to Lady Victoria, I'd be likely to have my head roll...”

“And we can be certain that you'll not have concern for your master-” Odette gestures toward Victoria with an incline of her head, “- And tell him the whole truth?”

The butler stands before the two of you, with his head held high, a frown deepening upon his face, “You think that I cannot keep a vow, Guisi scum? I see you for what you're running from. A past wrought with lies only to find yourself anew as an ascetic savage. The raw your Guisi features recede, the way that your teeth are pointed and eyes only just starting to slant back into something tangible of one trustworthy.
Do. Not. Ever. Question a Danhor's honor.” The Butler stares a finely pointed blade at Odette, while she stares a slashing arrow back at him in a dreadful silence.

Odette rises, hands planted firmly on the table as though to crush it. “Fine. Let's go. The Hylon gi-

“Lady.” Alder quickly corrects.

“Lady.” Odette bites back. “Comes with us as she declares...”

>>46677826

You stand up, letting the edges of your mouth curl up to dispell the animosity between the two, “We'll keep her safe okay? It's been lovely of you all to have us here, Toodles!” With your hands on Victoria's shoulders you turn to leave through the door with Odette at a brisk pace. You can hear Biz hurriedly following after from behind.

As the four of you bypass the first set of guards, Victoria gives them a little wave to put them at ease. Biz canters up to you and whispers far too loudly for your liking, “We are really taking a komtesse with us? What of the wolf? And everything else that could harm her upon the road?”

“Shut up Biz.” Odette snaps at him, glaring harshly. “We're in this because you had to run that blasted mouth of yours.

“And how could I not?” Biz's trademark shit-eating grin comes into play, quite bardly of him, “In the presence of near- royalty, I must spill my tale out for all to hear so that one day I may perform at the finest of courts in the land- But then here we are taking her from her home at the whims of a selfish request.”

“Idiot Bard, honestly. Besides the tale of Belinda you'd told I'd never heard such a horrible performance. I've been told that I can't understand art, yet I do know that fundamentally you're the worst bard I've ever heard.”

“M-M'lady!” Biz grimaces melancholy, clutching his heart dramatically as he squeezes tears from his eyes, “Your words cut me down to the heart and soul.”

“Shut. Up. Biz.” Odette balls up a fist, ready to deck the bard.

>[Let it happen.]
>[“Odette, this is still not the time.”]
>Cut Odette's aggression off, “Lady Victoria's right Biz. The only thing comparable to your horrible verse is your unbridled passion for it.”]
>[Write in.]

>>46677847
>[Let it happen.]

>>46677847
>[Let it happen.]

>>46677847
>[Let it happen.]

>>46677847
>[Let it happen.]

>>46677847
>[“Odette, this is still not the time.”]

>>46677847
>[“Odette, this is still not the time.”]

>>46677847
>[nono, let ME.]

>>46677847
This >>46678045

>>46677847

Odette raises her fist and her sleeve draws back, exposing the toned flesh underneath the wraps on her hands and forearms. You have a moment to notice the glimmer of fear in Biz's eyes as Odette's fist smashes him right in the jaw, sending a tremor throughout the bard's body as he falls to the floor with a thick thud.

Victoria gasps, clasping her hands to her mouth in an act fit for a lady of her stature, yet you can't help but to notice the grin she hides from ear to ear and a barely restrained giggle from the sight of the bard sprawled out on the floor, a few of his teeth rolling like white dice onto the hardwood.

With biz down, and not getting up, Odette grins with almost sadistic satisfaction only accentuated by her shark-like teeth until she notices the stares of the guard, and their sudden response of shuffling to attention and readiness. “What? How dare you strike a guest of our lady!”

“It- It's no problem!” Victoria speaks up, covering. “That fool is no longer a guest. He can be dumped out in an alley somewhere.”

The guards look on in confusion for a moment, “My lady?”

Victoria twiddles her fingers in the air, “I'm stepping out for some fresh air with the guests still in good favor. I'll be back shortly!”

The guards nod apprehensively before of them, and then another grabs Biz. One hoisting him up by the feet, the other, by the arms. They run off somewhere, clearing him from the hall. You get a feeling that it'll be looong time before you see the Bard again, if ever.

>>46678655

The three of you make it outside and Victoria walks up to the guards at the gate. “You two will now be knocked out by my guests. Surely, you'll understand that we must keep up appearances...”

The guards seem confused, turning about to Victoria and eyeing the komtesse over, “What by Sol do you mean, my Lady?”

Odette steps up, quickly throwing another smashing punch to the unaware guard, sending him to the ground. Suddenly realizing that you should be acting yourself, you slip up to the other guard as he's reeling from Odette's sudden attack on his cohort. Undoing a button, you entice the guard with a slight wave of your body, causing him to have thoughts perhaps that may betray his wife. Flicking your tongue, you generate a heatless flame and kiss the man deeply, banishing the air from his lungs and knocking him out cold as you withdraw.

Wiping, your mouth and then spitting, Odette smirks at your own act of bravado, “Y'know, I could've just punched him too.”

“Can't let you have all the fun, can I?” You return a coy smile punctuated by a wink of your ruby eyelashes.

Odette pushes open the metalwork gate, “You'll have to try that trick on me later.”

“You two are certainly fitting the role of kidnappers right now.” Victoria claps slowly as she walks through the gate. “Well, this'll be interesting. Outside without a carriage. Oh dear, what if I get a scratch.”

Odette steps up from behind the Hylon girl and wraps an arm around her waist, hoisting Victoria up. The hylon girl screams from the sudden gesture, and the two of you start to run down the hill of the manor and into the city streets...

>Where to now?

>[Head straight to the guild. Give them a mistip about where you're going.]
>[Leave the City right away.]
>[Stop by a clothier and get Victoria a change of clothes... Maybe some for yourself too.]
>[Write in.]

>>46678675
>[Stop by a clothier and get Victoria a change of clothes... Maybe some for yourself too.]

>>46678675
>[Head straight to the guild. Give them a mistip about where you're going.]

>>46678675
>[Head straight to the guild. Give them a mistip about where you're going.]

>>46678675
>[Leave the City right away.]

>>46678675
>[Stop by a clothier and get Victoria a change of clothes... Maybe some for yourself too.]

>>46678675

Heading through the city, Victoria quickly calms down and is set back down by Odette. The three of you move swiftly towards the Adventurer's guild, taking less traveled ways and slipping in through the back. At this time, the Guild's not quite so packed with adventurer's out and about in the late morning.

You tell the clerk who you are, giving your name as “Beli” and the Drezhar behind the counter seems to leer at you with interest, “Ah, yes. I've heard about your deeds concerning that little village to the south. There's a reward sum of twenty topazes, and five rubies.”

“Pardon?” Odette asks with a quizzical look, “What of a reward in coin?”

“Ah, yes.” The Drezhar smiled with a serpentine grin, “The Hylonian Empire's changed its currency to various jewels. Quarts are the most worthless, then ametheyst, topaz...”

“I've no time for a lesson in Economics, sir. I merely need to collect.” Taking the bag of gemstones from the Drezhar, you turn briskly in place, prepared to leave.

“I'm already privy to the change, I'll tell her later, sir.”

“Wait a moment.” The Drezhar clerk asks. You stop in place, “I've something for you, sent from Bikel. An order, yes?”

The Drezhar places a package atop the counter with a sealed letter attached. With another twirl around, you snatch it and start to head off. “We'll be returning to Bikel shortly. Thank you sir.”

Leaving in a hurry, Victoria starts to rattle off the various costs and the unique tumbles needed to dictate a gemstone's worth as well as the process involved behind it that depends on a new drezhar invention that spits out perfectly tumbled gems every time.

>>46679478

As she rambles, you drag her and Odette to a clothier and tanner workshop run by an old Danhor couple. They take one look at the filth of your clothes and shake their heads, standing up behind their counters. “I see that you're all in need of clothes for travel, come. We'll find something and fit you all. You're traveling... Sisters? Or perhaps vassals with their lady?”

“Sisters! Yes.” You smile brightly, even as Odette chuckles a little at your nervous enthusiasm. “You will NOT believe the day that we've been having. We started with breakfast and had to punch this guy that'd been effectively stalking us. He was such a jerk.” You ramble on like an airhead as the couple fit the three of you.

>What would you like to wear?

>[Something attractive, showy, and easy to move in.]
>[Something reliable. Hardy, even if it might be a tight fit.]
>[Something silken and sexy. That responds to your every movement.B]
>[Write in.]

>... What should Victoria wear?

>[Something fit for travel, and while less than elegant, still expensive.]
>[Something boyish... Maybe cut her hair too. Make her less identifiable.]
>[Something lady-like and fit for a delicate girl.]
>[Write in]

>>46679478
>We'll be returning to Bikel shortly. Thank you sir
As if they didn't have enough problems
>>46679494
>[Something silken and sexy. That responds to your every movement.B]
>[Something lady-like and fit for a delicate girl.]

>>46679494
>[Something attractive, showy, and easy to move in.]
>[Something boyish... Maybe cut her hair too. Make her less identifiable.]

>>46679494
>[Something attractive, showy, and easy to move in.]
We rely on agility

>[Something fit for travel, and while less than elegant, still expensive.]
>[Something boyish... Maybe cut her hair too. Make her less identifiable.]
One of these.
Revenge is sweet but could invite more issues with her

>>46679546
Revenge?

>>46679494
>[Something attractive, showy, and easy to move in.]
>[Something fit for travel, and while less than elegant, still expensive.]

>>46679563
For "forcing us" to take her along.
It seems like Beli/the Faceless aren't too happy about it

>>46679595
But which option is revenge?

>>46679494
>[Something attractive, showy, and easy to move in.]
or
>[Something silken and sexy. That responds to your every movement.B]
and
>[Something lady-like and fit for a delicate girl.]

>>46679604
Cutting the hair and putting her in boys clothes doesn't seem like something she'd enjoy.

>>46679632
Looking at her the way she is now, she looks like a victorian era doll. All dressed up for appearances.
By her own admission, she's scarcely even gone outside without escort.

>>46679494
>[Something attractive, showy, and easy to move in.]
>[Something boyish... Maybe cut her hair too. Make her less identifiable.]

>>46679494

When you come out of fitting, you come out with a a laced blouse and highcotton trousers that are affixed with long and thin silken sash. An elegant shawl thrown around your shoulders for added warmth, colors, and patterns. You miss your previous outfit, but it was effectively thrashed by the wolves anyway.

Odette returns with a new garb, a leather tunic that reveals her bosom bound by linen wraps to keep her assets in order while she draws her bow. New wraps around her hands to hide her calloused hands, and yet her arms are revealed, toned from a mix of her time as a slave. Starved and working and then repeatedly drawing a mighty bow have left her with an upper body strength that would intimidate most men.

The two of you sit Victoria down as the couple observe the two of you take scissors and expertly cutting Victoria's hair into something easier to handle. The girl sits there stiffly, unsure at first of what you two are doing as her hair falls to the floor in thick likes. By the end, her hair is bobbed and decidedly cute. Seeing herself in a mirror, her eyes seem to kind of glaze over the fact that her hair's gone. “It was annoying anyway. At least this way you won't have to brush it for me every morning. The maids were always so insistent on fath-” You cover Victoria's mouth.

“Yes, little sister.” You say with a sweet tone. “This way, we're better for travel. Come on now, let's get you into something better for the road.”

When Victoria returns, she's wearing a lad's tunic with leather fringes to ward off the cold and given a bag to ride over her shoulder. With the dress off her, she looks more like a tomboy now than a proper lady.

>>46680275

“Sure glad that Butler never said anything about harming a hair on her head.” Odette whispers quietly and you can't help but chuckle as the Hylon girl's eyes find a mirror and regard her new look with curiosity. You can't help but notice that out of the dress, she's not putting on nearly as many airs to act a certain way.

“My hair... Could be a bit longer but... This is agreeable.” Victoria whispers to herself as she thumbs a lock of her shortened hair in thought.

Putting away Victoria's old dress in her bag, you resolve to burn it in a more inconspicuous place. Putting your hair up with a few clips, you don a cloak over your shawl to hide your red hair and advice Odette to do the same. Red and White hair tends to be rather uncommon, often reserved for the brave and the bold.

Without anything further to do, you pay the couple for their services and see yourselves off.

You notice that Sol's past his Zenith, and there's some buzz among the guards of the town now as there are some running around as though searching for someone. A Guard stops before the three of you as you travel at a non-suspicious, leisurely pace.

“Ah!” The Guard bows curtly before Odette, “I don't mean to bother your clear family outing with your son and daughter, but have you seen a lusty redheaded harlot Namour,-”

You feel a vein throb in your forehead.

“-A white-haired muscleheaded sharkhag,-”

Odette's eyes close with a motherly grace, though you feel an ominous aura of gloom permeate from her.

“- and a most revered and honorable lady Hylon with Stella markings upon her heavenly crown?”

Victoria's too busy watching the clouds roll past to pay any much mind.

>[Kill this man dead.]
>[“Why, my mother and I haven't seen any such thing... You'll have to excuse us!”]
>[“I'm sorry... This isn't my mother.” Cling to Odette's arm dotingly.]
>[Write in]

>>46680296
>[“Why, my mother and I haven't seen any such thing... You'll have to excuse us!”]

>>46680296
>[“Why, my mother and I haven't seen any such thing... You'll have to excuse us!”]

>>46680296
>[Kill this man dead.]
Stupid idea inside the town
>[“Why, my mother and I haven't seen any such thing... You'll have to excuse us!”]
Should work
>[“I'm sorry... This isn't my mother.” Cling to Odette's arm dotingly.]
The less attention we attract the better,

I go with
>[“Why, my mother and I haven't seen any such thing... You'll have to excuse us!”]

>>46680296
>[“Why, my mother and I haven't seen any such thing... You'll have to excuse us!”]

>>46680296
>[“Why, my mother and I haven't seen any such thing... You'll have to excuse us!”]

>>46680296
Still here, Dran?

>>46681311
Mmm... Kind of having a block here.

>>46681433
huh

>>46681459
Feeling like something actiony should be happening soon. But I can't really feel out what.

Okay, I'm almost done with the next post. Sorry about that guys!

>>46680296

“Why, my mother...” You answer for Odette as to keep her from showing those teeth of hers, “and I haven't seen any such thing. You'll have to excuse us. We've a busy day of family activities, yes.”

“Hrm...Apologies.” The Danhor includes his helmed visage and runs off in a rather comical fashion.

Victoria stares at the man blankly as he scampers off, “What an idiot. Anyone with a brain could tell that that we're just wearing different clothes.”

“Right, right.” You say as you turn to Victoria, leaning over a bit to come down to her level. “Most people will fall for a clever disguise if they don't know exactly whom they're looking for dear.”

“Right, and they've got really poor descriptions to go off of.” Odette's strained smile passes and she frowns a touch, “We just need to leave and things will quiet down a lot.”

Odette sets off, and Victoria follows after, clutching the messenger's bag close as she does to keep it from bouncing against her hip. With the town in increasing alarm going through the gates may be a less than ideal situation. You can see as much as you near from the alleys. Many guards gathered around the exits for inspection.

There's a few ways to possibly go about this...

You notice that some carts out are reglars and aren't being inspected too heavily. Ideally, you could smuggle yourselves through.

The walls of the city are high, though you'd reckon that Fuse could potentially climb the walls. Seeing how he'd do with getting you all to the other side may be troublesome but...

>>46681769

You've done this well with bluffing and seduction. Why not just walk through?

>[It may cause a panic, but I'll call upon Fuse to get us out of here.]
>[Smuggle yourselves through a cart.]
>[Saunter up and use your feminine wiles.]
>[Set a cart on fire to distract the guards and make a run for it.]
>[Write in.]

>>46681787
>[Set a cart on fire to distract the guards and make a run for it.]

>>46681787
>[Set a cart on fire to distract the guards and make a run for it.]

>>46681787
>[Smuggle yourselves through a cart.]

>>46681787
>[Set a cart on fire to distract the guards and make a run for it.]
One rather far away from us

>>46681787
>>[Smuggle yourselves through a cart.]
clearly we must combine this by setting the cart we're riding on on fire! ....don't actually do this.

>>46681787
>[Smuggle yourselves through a cart.]
I don't see a purpose in bringing in Fuse
Did you watch Jin-Roh by the way?

>>46682002
Actually... That could work...

Belinda can generate a heatless flame. If they can't put it out, they might run it out of the city.

>>46682002
Noone would ever suspect us!

>>46682055
>Belinda can generate a heatless flame
that's new. That's very new.

might need to set more than one cart on fire so that they'd consider just running them out instead of throwing water, though.

>>46678675
>Flicking your tongue, you generate a heatless flame and kiss the man deeply, banishing the air from his lungs and knocking him out cold as you withdraw.
>>46682116
>That's very new.
?

This was also done to biz several scenes ago.

>>46682152
...huh, I guess I just didn't see the power working that way.

>>46681787

Seeing a cart that's about to leave with a tarp stretched over its contents, the three of you slip in quietly and discretely, uncomfortably resting upon a bunch of smoked meats. The pungent smell tickling your nose and almost making you queasy.

Victoria seems to reel from it, though you keep her mouth firmly covered as you yourself breath through your shawl. Odette, likewise, finds the strength of the odor horrid, yet perseveres as she holds back any hacking or gagging.

The cart soon starts to move, only agitating the smell of smoke, salts, and dehydrated beasts, though clearly more than a little ripe.

As it begins to slow, Victoria breaks out of your hands, gasping for air and tearing up from the stench, “Oh no...no... I'm... I'm going to die...”

“What was that?” You hear a guard from outside say and immediately realize that you have to think fast.

Hearing them approach, you rub your hands together briskly to build a flame, heatless, you light the fire grow into a blaze. Just as the tarp comes up for a peek, you let the fire roar, scaring the men and the highhorse pulling the wagon. Suddenly, the whole thing jolts, causing the three of you to rock as the falsefire billows out of the back, egging the horse on to maximum speed. Some of the meat thankfully tumbles out and fresh air inward, giving you all a much needed reprieve.

The wagon's shaking starts to get dangerous, and you realize that the driver must be losing control!

>[Jump!This whole thing is going down!]
>[Call Fuse! He's bound to be near with all this meat!]
>[Dispel the flame! But will that quell the beast?]
>[Write in.]

>>46682636
>[Call Fuse! He's bound to be near with all this meat!]

>>46682636
>[Jump!This whole thing is going down!]

>>46682636
>[Call Fuse! He's bound to be near with all this meat!]

>>46682636
>[Dispel the flame! But will that quell the beast?]

>>46682636
>>[Call Fuse! He's bound to be near with all this meat!]
>>[Dispel the flame! But will that quell the beast?]
Both

>>46682636

Dismissing the roaring flames, your vision is clear. With a serene cry out in the true voice, you hear a nearby howl and in short time Fuse is thumping along the road after the cart, driving the horse to run even faster and the driver to yell out in fright.

Standing up among the smoked meats, you cast off the tarp with a triumph display and throw a haunch for Fuse to snap up excitedly in his enormous maw. “Come on, we ride!” You say as you jump off, Fuse bowing his head to let you fly over his head and mount him with acrobatic skill. “Faster!” You command and the wolf responds in kind, bearing down on the cart as you grip his rippling mane. Reaching out to Victoria, you pull her on as Odette performs a heroic leap upon the Dire wolf's back.

Victoria screams with a girlish delight as she holds onto your waist for support. Without any further direction, Fuse snaps at the cart, stealing away a mouthful of meat before running off from the cart with his spoils. Looking back, the cart plows off the road and into a ravine, likely spelling an unfortunate doom for the horse and its driver.

You feel a little bad about it, looking back and Odette can see your grimacing expression.
“Look forward Beli. We can't dwell upon it right now. We must carry on.”

“Right... I know...”

Victoria turns her head, seeing the wreckage, “Oh, are they dead? Th-that's scary...” The girl shivers against you, a very real sensation of fear in her body.

You shush her as Fuse plods down the road, carrying the three of you onto newer and greater ventures.

>[End Scene- Stay for interlude!]

>>46683378
I've been wondering but how big is Fuse anyway?
Maybe give an example

File: poe02_1491349a.jpg (26 KB, 460x288)

26 KB JPG

>>46683431
He's 6 ft at the shoulder.
Size of a clydesdale horse. Probably even bigger due to canine features.

The Dire Wolf Abomination was somewhere around 25-30ft at the shoulder.

An Alpha Dire wolf is 8ft-10 ft at the shoulder.

They're "classed" as monsters.

>>46683502
So it's pretty much the size of the wolf from Princess mononoke?

>>46683647
Pretty much.

>>46683378

>[Interlude]

Rodin, The King Of Thieves saunters into the audience chamber of Bikel's manor. He looks side to side, ignoring the girl seated in the lordly throne and the guards that stare on at him from her side. He's been here before, or at least, somewhere like it a long time ago. Rodin notices the changes that have been made to this hall, golden metalwork's been stripped from the supports, some banners have been hung up, likely representing those sworn to the rebel faction.

As the man nonchalantly approaches the throne he humbly, though more than likely mockingly, drops to a knee before the elected maiden of revolution. “My Lady.” He says with a condescending, yet gracious tone before looking up and lazily propping up his arm with his knee and resting his head in the palm of his hand.

As he looks at the girl she's rigid, likely with fear. Yes, he can see her lips trembling, quivering even by his sudden appearance. “Who are you? What do you want?” The girl manages to blurt out like the sort of peasant cretonne she likely hails from. Her features though, he's never seen anything like it. Skin as pitch black as the darkness between the stars of Scaffos, horns that curl back like coiling snakes, resting their points right under her ears. And those eyes, eyes like a Drezar, only violent and stained ruby red. No, indeed. This girl is an idol of malevolence.

“Me? I am Rodin, King of Thieves. I've come to do something about this peasant rebellion... I'm seeking the leader behind all of these... Shenanigans.” The Hylon places a hand upon his knee and slowly rises. The guards shuffle to defense, pointing their spears at the man as he eyes the tips unabashedly. Raising his arms. “Woah, woah there. I don't mean any trouble. Just stealing some time, you know?”

“I am the elected leader of the Free Arches.” The girl says triumphantly as she rises. “Do you dare threaten me in my own domain?”

>>46683868

“Now, now. I'm no assassin, and you're... Not the one I'm looking for.” Rodin steps back, giving himself some distance. He of all people knows that he bleeds red.
“The High King told me that there was a little problem... But I don't take my orders from that asinine, pompous blowhard. No, no, no...” Rodin shakes his head, a smile tracing wide across his lips.

“A pair that's causing trouble... Avar? Rava? I've heard stories about you guys.” Rodin lowers his hands and looks up and around. “I'm supposed to take care of you, for the emporer. No one else needs to know about this unpleasant business.” Rodin cracks his knuckles, staring out into the empty spaces of the hall.

“What are you talking about?” The strange girl stands, a glimmering sliver of metal in her hand. “Leave here, or die Hylon. You tresspass-”

“Rava, Avar! I know you're around here somewhere. You two have been bad. Very, very sloppy. HIS recollections say that none of this here's supposed to happen.” Rodin spins his finger around in reference to this entire situation. “If you don't want me to steal this girl's breath away, I suggest-”

“Fulgar-”

Rodin's eyes open wide and he reaches out with a flicker of a reaction to catch a bolt of lightning appearing from seemingly nowhere.

“-Vitae!”The electric surge rolls past and a woman appears from the thunderous bolt with a sword, striking along the horizon with a shimmering static blade that the King of Thieves ducks under.

>>46683883

“Really should keep better track of your things-” The man says as within a moment, the blade's changed hands. From the woman, to Rodin.

Brandishing the woman's blade against him, Rodin smiles. “Dance with me. Are you the one that's Avar? Or are you Rava?”

The woman breaks into a manic smile, saying nothing, betraying nothing until a voice rings out true for everyone to hear, “Fulgar: Vitae Dolor!” A crackling surge erupts from the woman's fingers as she clashes with the King of thieves in a thunderous flash...

>[End Interlude]

>>46683896
Thanks for the thread