Hunting Humans
Log Info
- Title: Hunting Humans
- Emitter: Wyniko
- Characters: Wyniko, Cryosanthia, Kaelyn
- Place: W01: Wayfarer's Inn
- Time: Tuesday, February 04, 2020, 11:03 PM
- Summary: Cryosanthia is traveling to Mictlan and stops in at the Wayfarer Inn for a meal. An Egalrin Hunter, Wyniko, is there, warming himself at the fire. The two get to talking, about each other's homes, professions and goals. Wyniko is a bounty hunter with a liking of Maps, Cryosanthia isn't sure about her goals, but wants to be seen and known. During their discussion, Kaelyn arrives with some opportunity kills, and trades them for a dinner and joins the other two where they sample some of the spices she has.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* W01: Wayfarer's Inn *>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
The inn's main room is large yet cosy, with plaster walls and a low ceiling supported by sturdy oaken beams. The decor is sparse: there's little other furniture save for a few rough-hewn wooden tables and chairs, and the only real object of 'ornamentation' is the large, moth-eaten moose head that's set above the kitchen door at the far end of the room. Still, the inn is pleasant in a simple, rustic way, and the delicious smell of food cooking makes it all the more inviting; the place seems to be more of a restaurant than a tavern, and a bar is nowhere in sight.
The innkeeper's counter sits in the east corner, within a few paces of the main entrance. Behind the counter is a small storeroom where one can purchase traveling supplies. The west corner of the room is occupied by a spiral staircase that leads to the second storey.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Wyniko 4'9" 85 Lb Eaglefolk Male A short Egalrin with a male kestrel coloration. Cryosanthia 6'7" 245 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, lithe white lizardgirl with tattoos. Kaelyn 5'4" 1110 Lb Dawn Elf Taur Female Tall-ish, extremely curvy 5'4" redhead Elf... (VERY ENERGETIC!) -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
The dark skies, and wet air have driven most of those from the trader's market to the Inn. Wyniko is one of them, as this late hour he finds himself near the hearth with a small cup of ale, watching the fire as the hustle and bustle of the merchants and hunters seems to do little to phase him. Several furs sit on his table, though they have been cleaned and already slated/dried for winter.
The door to the Inn opens, allowing a cold blast of air and some flurries to blow in. The wind brings a white sith-makar as well. She sweeps the door closed with her tail, gazing across the occupants of the inn. She's travelling light, with only a rapier and a small bag, perhaps on her way to Mictlan. Even her clothing seems light for season, with leather armour that exposes a fair amount of skin, or scales as it would be in her case. She recognizes no one.
The inn is about half full. Some heads turn. Sith are not an uncommon sight here, a monochromatic one, a little more so. The conversation level barely dips as everyone goes back to their business and meals.
Wyniko catches sight of the Sith, beginning to raise a hand, but noticing the coloration, he soon drops it. "Oh, not one known." he says to himself, pouring a drink of his ale down his gullet, and blinking twice as he leans back in his seat, enjoying the fire. "Sith can sit here and chat. Come from Mictlan. Two days ago. Hunted for Iuitl, Wyniko did. Shamans friends of Egalrin."
The white sith sees the rather colourful Egalrin and space by the fire. She slips over and gives a small bow. "This one is Cryosanthia, Speaker. Known by Iuitl. Peace be on your nest Wyniko."
"Mictlan is home. Very impressive. This one goes there soon," She adds.
Wyniko seems to preen with a smile that causes the feathers of his cheeks to puff. "Yes. Peace, and nests. It is good met, Speaker Cryosanthia." bobbing his head to his words, motioning to an empty seat. "This one, Wyniko. Hunter, and guide." Introducing himself with a sweep of his free hand. "Egalrin have speakers too, though not caste. Born and chosen by others for greatness." seeming to know a bit about the Sith, though he then sips his ale, giving himself a frothy beak.
Cryosanthia smiles, angling in her seat so she faces and leans towards him. She also adjusts her cape, briefly, ensuring it is turned so its shimmering inside is visible and catches the firelight. "This one hopes to be both, choosing caste, by others choosen."
She catches the Innkeeper's eye and signals for an ale and meal with a raised gesture. "This one has known hunters, but not Egalrin. This one would know, what, how?"
Wyniko continues to bob his head to Cryosanthia's words. "Worthy goals. Chosen by others, and honored for it. Egalrin know of honor, but many have forgotten it. Once replaced with might, but no longer. Once bullies, now friends." his broken tradespeak coming in bits and pieces as he finishes her ale, signaling for another too. "It good. Taste of malt and caramel." he notes of the drink.
"This hunter? Know of nature, and lands. Know well the bow. Wishes could fly, but young and can only glide." Wyniko's tone dropping on that admission. "Track, and sneak. Hunter things. Or Ranger. Whichever one chooses to call."
"Yes friends. Better." Cryosanthia says, mirroring Wyniko's head movements. Her food arrives and takes up the ale to sip it. She smiles, then laughs, "This one agrees. Good. This one dreams to fly. Leaves trails, makes noises. Hunter caste is understood. Ranger is human word."
Wyniko shrugs at something Cryosanthia said, laughing with a strange squawk. "Humans strange. Too many freckles, and all look the same." he muses. "Geir, Iuitl are closer to Wyniko than many humans." pausing. "Don't know many humans. All that have met, have hunted." and what he means by that, he doesn't explain.
"Were that they were," Cryosanthia says, perhaps unconsciously as she's sipping her ale. "This one would know Iuitl, Geir, better. The humans are. So many."
She sets her ale down, takes up her plate and a fork. She brings up a chunk to put in her mouth and swallows without chewing. "Hunted. This one would know more."
Wyniko nods in his bobbing way, taking out a scroll case that's marked with a rabbit's foot off one end. As Cryosanthia eats, he takes out the wanted posters from the Adventurer's Guild, and each one featuring a murderer or criminal. It seems he hunts more than beasts, his hand sliding the papers towards her. "Three this month, but all gave up before big fight." he notes, shrugging. "I have maps, like maps." he notes, smiling again as his ale arrives. "Hunters hunt worthy prey, yes?"
"Very worthy Prey. Honourable. For crimes and coin." Cryosanthia says, making a small 'ooo' noise as she takes the papers and spreads them across her lap. She examines each image, her head turning from side to side. She grins at the Egalrin, and then catches herself, and very consciously removes all expression from her mouth, lowering her jaw instead. "Maps are good."
Aaand well, here comes Kae!!! The Elf-turned-drake-taur is ducking in through the doors and waggling her arms in the air.. "Loook, restock on meat pantry!" She calls out cheerfully, on her back? She's managed to bring down a deer, and a large pig... Both look to be shot neatly with a bow....
Kae beams cheerfully and heads to where folks can take the animals off her back, before she looks around "Soo that covers dinner?" She gets a nod.. "Oooh and then some!" she calls out happily the other person? Well they're a lot quieter... Wyniko catches that smile, nodding once with less enthusiasm, but seeming to watch her more closely. "No need. Be happy, and smile." he says, waving off her controlled demeanor with one hand, taking up his mug with another. It's then he hears Kae's voice and steps, turning an eye to peer as he takes a sip.
"Kaelyn being might hunter, yes?" he calls to her, seeming to want to throw credit where it is due, but then his attention is back on Cryo to finish his words. "Do you look at maps? Redridge, and some of the castle!" speaking of the fortress beyond it. "One should not be shamed for smile."
The white sith-makar raises her hand in greeting towards Kaelyn as she comes in, then gestures at the fire. There is room, some could be made at least.
She keeps eye contact with Wyniko as she does, then after puts her fingers along her mouth and pushes her lips up and and down. She winks, "Soft lips, unfair advantage. Speaker practices. That one is Kaelyn. Scale-cousin, of sorts. Yes maps. Yes Redridge. Yes Castle."
Kae blinks and ummms... "SOo I kinda got lucky today? Ran into three animals." She responds and rubs at the back of her neck... "Anyho, less hunter, more opportunist?" She says and then add "That and someone said I should hunt some to make up for my food intake!" She says happily, and yeah her tail wags once, but wow she doesn't knock anything over, and she's sooo not imitating a draconic metronome!
Wyniko takes out a second scroll case, this one adorned with bones on a tassel hanging from it. It takes but a moment, but maps, a small stack are brought out. It is clear he's purchased them, or had them made. All but one are in tradespeak, though the one of Redridge is distinctly in Egalrin. "Weeny collects, and keeps. Maps are good for navigation. Geography is important to hunt! Knowing terrain." pointing to Kaelyn as she speaks of he opportunity hunt. "Take best opportunity, wise lesson." agreeing with her as he sips his ale and scooches his seat closer to Cryo, and motioning Kaelyn over. "Come, sit. Make merry!"
Cryosanthia shifts also, so she takes up as little space as possible. Then she takes the maps and spreads them out as carefully as possible, with an eye to how close they are to the fires. She examines the Redridge map very carefully, in particular the language she's completely unfamiliar with. Next she looks for one of Alexandria, and pours very carefully over it. "Oooooooooh."
The city makes more sense now!
"Yes! Come Sit. Meet friend."
Kae tilts her head, her tail lashes once and she shrugs, heading over to sit near the other two, well ok she lays her lower half down and all so she can relaxe at the table....
Wyniko seems appeased with this, sipping his drink, and wiping his frothy beak. It's when Cryo speaks of Alexandria that he nods, closing his eyes. City is full. Many people, and saw tiny demon chasing spider. Lucht-Knight and Wyniko have good laugh." shrugging again. "Busy place, much noise. Not like much." speaking exactly what he thinks of it. "Mictlan calmer, quiet. Iuitl and Geir welcoming, and kind when snow was cold." looking then to Kaelyn after she settles. "Should hunt with Wyniko. Show you some tricks. Need bolas. Lost his, Wyniko did."
"Check this out Kaelyn. He has maps of Alexandria! The streets make so much more sense now. I've been wandering and wandering. The food is really good tonight too." Cryosanthia tells Kaelyn as she settles down. noting her tail movements.
However, the white sith watches Wyniko like... a hawk. There's a strange energy to her. The sith-makar communicate on many layers, beneath words and expression there is body language, scents, and levels beneath that. Cryosanthia has not had a chance to speak with an Egalrin up close. All her instincts are firing. Wyniko's movements register to her as a language unknown and a direct challenge to her Speaker abilities. "Busy. Busy is good. Mictlan is. Everything. Home. Calm is good. Snow is... heh, snow."
Wyniko wiggles his brows proudly as Cryosanthia seems to like his maps and her energy seems to feed his. "Mictlan is good place. Sith-Makar friends of Wyniko." he says simply, finishing his ale, tossing the last of it down his gullet, and wiping his beak before setting the mug aside. "Redridge is home, but not everything. Seeking, and working. This one young, only thirties." he explains. "Much time, will return home someday. Now? Wyniko seeks mightiness. To know real might, and see strength that can be outside war." a wink cast from his large eye. "What of Cryosanthia? What does Sith-Makar seek?"
"This one is younger. That question. Is hard." Cryosanthia exhales and sits back, adjusting her feet on the floor. Her toes clenching then flexing. Her tail coils snakelike back and forth. She takes a forkfull of food, another one, a long sip of her ale. Perhaps internally debating how much to share with a stranger as much as the answer itself. 'To be a dragon' has been her joke answer. Except it's neither, a joke nor an answer, only an indication of a deeper desire. Finally she decides to say whatever... whatever flows forth as she opens her mouth. "A nest again. All eyes on me. All ears listening. The world moving when I say Turn. Meaning. To leave a mark."
Saying that, she leans over and scrawls a quick design on a nearby stone, a dragon-eye that spells 'Cryo'. Her Arcane Mark.
Kae tilts her head curiously and rubs at the back of her neck... "OOooooh, ummmmm..." She says, yus very very intelligent! Finally she pauses, blinks and waggles her arms, drawing the attention of a waitress "Umm Whatever you have as roast, on veggies please!" She says cheerfully, it really doesn't take long for her to get a gigantic portion of roast, probably amix of pork and beef or venison by the looks. There's potatoes, beats, carrots, and cabbage mixed in!
Kae grins a bit and nods "Many thanks!" she says and proceeds to start digging in, pausing long enough to offer a little of this absolutely gigantic meal to anyone at the table.
The Egalrin's eyes narrow, watching, observing. It's hard to tell, but Wyniko's black pools flick, absorbing each twitch and shift of tail. Not only that but in the pause of her words his eyes roam her, the body movements and even noting her breath as she speaks. No words coming until she answers, seeming to note how her mind takes it's time, and how her body works to stall for thoughts. As Kaelyn speaks, his puffed cheeks denote his odd beaked smile, a hand rising to pat Cryosanthia's shoulder. "It is good. Very good answer." the words an approval, something deeper than that maybe, his chuckle after a bit kinder and his mannerisms more reserved. "Sith-Makar will do well. Keep words close to self." turning to Kaelyn as if just noticing she spoke. "Looks and smells good." seeming to change that topic, but offering the Sith-Makar a second wink.
Cryosanthia winks back at Wyinko, then she moves her plate close to Kaelyn's huge meal so she can transfer a few pieces over. She selects carrots primarily as the vegetable, and a lot more meat. She rolls the carrot cube up in the meat, then swallows that without chewing. "Thanks Kaelyn, they did a good job with the meal, don't you think. Are you traveling to Mictlan, or searching for more of those pins and your device?"
She seems more relaxed now, especially that some unspoken communication occurred, sitting back. Sill observing Wyniko, but less attentive to every detail. She reaches out with a toe talon and taps at her symbol. "Is Eye. To be watching. Like mine. From my name. Self seeing Self."
Kae ooohs "Been hunting stuff, I've devised a treatment that works well on folks with only one or two of those things in them... Any more and I can't treat it... I'll probably need the main item to be able to do that." She adds and grins a bit... "Still though, it's a start..." She adds before nodding to the Sith, Kae takes a bite of cabbage and some of her roast, as well as eating a beat, then she's on to a potatoe...
There's a pause and Kae pulls a small pouch out and sprinkles some on her food... She then offers it to Cryo "Spiced smoked salt." She says cheerfully " You'll like it I think."
Wyniko takes up his posters and maps, clearing more space, and putting them back in the cases that they belong too, nodding to Cryo's words. He's fallen quiet, though he seems content as he takes up his bowl and makes move to share in that large meal of Kaelyns. "Sight comes many ways. Wyniko drink Sith-Makar vision tea. It showed images, many to make one think." he admits, looking again to Cryosanthia. "Wyniko can see might of Sith-Makar. Might in caste, might in family. Mighty indeed." then flashing a glance Kaelyn, and motioning to the salts. "May try?"
"This one had the tea." Cryo nods in agreement, sprinkling of the salt on her meal then handing the small pouch to Wyniko. "Egalrin flock?"
She starts in on her newly spiced meal, taking a bite of the food. The spiced smoked salt has an intense flavour she's not encountered before."Oh wow, this is good, thanks.""
Kae nods to Wyniko and grins "Sure, sorry should have offered it to both, pass it around... I also have this.." She pulls out another couple pouches, one has ground pepper corn from the south, and chile flake. Kae grins "Careful on the chille flake, it'll light your tastebuds up if you aren't used to... warm spicy things." She says cheerfully.
"Egalrin equal in Aerie. Live upon the Redridge, adorning nests, building family. Like flock that does not move." Wyniko muses, adding a touch of salt to his food, and then letting it pass back to Kaelyn. "Speakers born, special of birth. Speaker till death. Lead Egalrin. To live Egalrin, is to take care of Egalrin." looking to Kaelyn then as she mentions the spices. "Spice price high. Supply low, maybe save?" he muses, recalling the news he heard from Alexandria with a glance back to Cryosanthia as he spoons a bite, swallowing with an odd gesture of beak. "Mothers important. Lines traced through mothers. I am hunter, sibling warriors. Different mothers. Different lineage."
The white sith-makar bobs her head, following the explanation. "This one has clutch-mates, creche-mates. This one knows Egg-father. Caste, most important. Scale-line, important."
Cryo takes the spices from Kaelyn, separating her food into three small groups on her plate so she can enhance them differently. "This one has eaten poison things in the jungle. It's... not advised."
Kae grins at the Egalrin.. "It's ok, sample, I have a small stash of all this stuff.." That's probably a massive understatement, considering the girl kind of does crazy cafe stuff on a whim..
Kae grins happily, and puts some of the crushed black peppercorn on her food, and a little of the red pepper flake, before starting to nible happily... Ok she's not nibbling more like scarfing, as that's really the only way she'll get her fill in a reasonable amount of time.
Wyniko nods to Cryosanthia, taking note of her words and looking to her scales once more. "Now know." he muses, taking some of the flakes after Kaelyn's explanation, and spooning the rest of his dinner down with a smile as his small bowl is soon empty. Letting it clack on the table with a short toss, he looks to the two and smiles with puffed cheeks. "Bed. Hunt tomorrow. Early." seeming content as he stands, offering a bow to the two, adding a human flare and extending his arm, keeping his wings close. "Was pleasure. Much so." his eyes on Kaelyn. "Dinner, thanks." and then to Cryo. "Will see in Mictlan. Wyniko, visit often."
"Good Hunting. Drop Prey." Cryosanthia wishes for Wyniko, standing and returning the bow. A bow with a sweep which also involves her tail. "Peace on your Nest."
She settles back with a contented grin, sampling her three spice options, seeing which one she prefers. "Okay, this one is hot. This one... eh. This, is nice. Wow, you can eat. You will be round if you eat like that when you're back to normal..." A normal the white lizard woman has never seen.
Kae laughs "I won't need to eat like this when I loose the half ton riding drake for a lower body." She says and shrugs "And I don't eat to get full, I eat to sate my self." She adds and shrugs "believe me I can litterally eat till my belly bulges, but then for half a day I'm lethargic, like soooooo lethargic..."She says and flails her arms in the air some.
She then oohs "Like you saw how I get on the back side of me eating till I'm super full... I was tugging on your cheeks." She adds and grins a bit.
Cryosanthia laughs, "Well, that is how it works, full of food, then you sleep, for the lizard-kind. As long as you have it under control, all will be well. I've had too much myself, I think, and I'd rather not walk to Mictlan in the night. They should have beds here that aren't short, the door is tall enough and they must be used to sith coming through. It's been a pleasure Kaelyn, Peace be upon your nest, I will be heading a bed."
Kae ooohs and nods "Good night! I evedently get to sleep in a 'specially' set up stable stall thingie.." She says and shrugs... "I at least get blankets, lower body doesn't care about hay though... I think that part would be comfy anywhere."
Dramatis Personae
Wyniko
An Egalrin is here, its head-crest being a plume full of rust colored feathers, leading to a mask of blue that encompasses the dark and disk-like eyes that peer about its surroundings. Their inhuman lids are trimmed with yellow cartilage, but fine feathers of pale blue on their surface blends in to the mask that runs across its face. Black tears run down its cheeks, the color of the finer feathers here give a look of eternal crying. White takes up the rest running from below its cheeks, down to its neck to where a tuft of rust plumage peaks from a shirt. A small, but sharp beak is where any other creature would have a mouth. Where it meets its face it is the color of cartilage, yellow, like the rims of its eyelids but fading to a pale grey-blue at its sharp tip. It matches the color of the Egalrin's mask-like feathers. This Egalrin is shorter than most, being a few inches under five feet, and of a lithe build.
It is dressed in the colors of the wild, it's shirt sea-weed green, having the color of both tree and earth. Its leggings that end at its calf are a dark leather of scarab in hue, ending with leather ties that wrap down the rest of its leg, and are braided through its claw-like talons. It wears a fine set of simple leathers, a cloak with two slits worn to ward of weather, being dark like the purple leaves of a maple tree. It is usually seen with a bow in hand, and scimitar at its side.
His wings match his coloration, the slits in his cloak allowing them to be extended with ease. They have rust colored markings from where its shoulders start, to its wing's tips. The bottom half of the that plumage are a pale blue, almost grey like the rest of his markings.
( American Kestrel: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/id# )
Cryosanthia
Cryosanthia is a tall, lithe lizardgirl with flamboyant mannerisms and a flashy style. Her scales are a bright, snow white, complimented by her frills and keratin-scale 'hair' which are the pale blue found in glacial ice. This gleaming tapestry is marred by dark tattoos gouged in her hide, green-black in colouration, which at times have a dark glow. Her snout is long and tapers elegantly. Her legs and tail are likewise graceful, despite being a significant portion of her size and mass. She seems light on her talons and energetic, head glancing quick from side to side. Her eyes are bright and like her frills, the palest of blues with a dramatic slit pupil.
Cryosanthia's clothes are a simple kit of kilted leather armour in white. It is close fitting enough to seem a part of her, but it lacks the lustre of her scales having instead a dull finish. She has sandals that leave her talons free, as well as a hat that is hanging to the back as often as it is on her head. A long blue feather is tucked into the woven band. Finally, she wears a cloak, likewise fashioned from white leather but with a satin interior that matches her eyes. It gleams when the light catches it right. Belted to her hip she has a rapier, a couple of pouches, and a tiny bag on a thong around her long neck.