He's a Creepy One

The young dancer's mouth gapes open as they cross the threshold to the theater district. Many a book she had read where muses and musicians, artisans and creatives, had sought fame and fortune on the streets, plying their crafts. It had been a dream of hers for quite some time, and here she was, wrapped up in the throng of it. Street traffic moved around her, though some were irritable that this barefoot elf who stank of travel had stopped in their path. A rather large human shoulder-checked her, knocking her out of her daze and sending her stumbling forward a few feet, the bells in her hair and on her ankles jangling as she caught herself. Deciding that her gawking was over, she made her way to a street corner, fascinated by the young gnome who sat there, playing an accordion and singing songs in his native tongue. Though her coin-purse were rather empty, she slid out a silver piece and tossed it into the gnome's hat. She'd never seen an instrument such as this! Or heard the Gnome's native tongue raised in song. Overwhelmed was an under-exaggeration, and twinkling laugher rose up in her chest and burst forth from her mouth!

A stone's cast away from the accordion player, passers-by are gathering around another spectacle. A sort of show is taking place, certainly entertaining, but of a sort more likely to seen at the Festival Grounds than here in the Theater District. A wild elf seems to be leading a majestic griffon in ansort of feral dance, like a liberty routine with a horse and trainer. The griffon is graceful, yes, but the elegance of the elf is preternatural, poetry in motion.

Sevanon is also fairly dirty, considering that he hasn't yet cleaned himself up from last night's misadventure at the edge of the Felwood. He finally catches up to Vera when he notices the unbelievably stylin' Elf. "By the Muse, Vera. Do you see that?!" He points over in Ga'Elian's direction.

Vera gasps aloud and, with the twinkling that accompanies most of her movements, she slides gracefully through the crowd gathered around the Dancing Duo, and positions herself right at the edge of what others have deemed their performance area. So many things she had never seen, for certain, were wandering the theatre district, but as a dancer herself, none evoked the same feelings as watching this Lithe elf and Majestic griffin dance about ever so expertly. Giddy, she balls her hands into fists and jumps up and down with excitement!

Ga'Elian seems to move with more feeling than thought, but doesn't fail to notice the attention stirred up by his companion and himself. Nor does his notice fail to discern the excitement of one particular Llyranesi woman. He makes a smiling nod at her, then looks into the griffon's eye, perhaps communicating through that look. The griffon spreads his wings wide and jumps in a 180-degree twist to face away from the elf while the elf's dance converts seamlessly into a breathtaking display of gymnastic excellence - he jumps forward and somersaults in mid-air to land upon the griffon's saddle, just as the powerful hind legs of the eagle-lion spring off into the air. The griffon levels off about 15 feet above the ground and circles back in a soaring glide. The elf rises to stand upon the beast's back then dives off, turning another somersault in the air before sticking a landing that would make an olympic coach drop his jaw in stunned amazement. The elf takes a bow, and the griffon touches down behind him. As the elf rises, he uses both hands to twist and point to his companion.

Sevanon's reacts like he just looked under his seat and found the deed to a new car, and Ga'Elian is Oprah Winfrey. The country Cleric whoops and cheers in Llyranesi fashion, the clarity of his voice causing him (and Vera) to stand out from the crowd. "So cool!" he calls out in Sylvanori.

Vera is all jangles of bells and long bouncing limbs, saturated through with manic energy. She begins to dance about herself, grabbing Sevanon by the hands and whirling him about in an excited fanatical dance "We've made it!! We've really done it!!" she exclaims in Sylvanori, twinkling laughter punctuating her phrases.

Ga'Elian can't seem to resist the exceptionally enthusiastic response of a pair of road-soiled Llyranesi, so he approaches them and cheerfully says, "Hail, friends. I love your excitement and energy." Pointing at the beast, he says, "Erithamiel is my partner, and I am Ga'Elian." In the Tradespeech Erithamiel means 'Silverbeak' and Ga'Elian literally means 'Ranger: Gift of Daeus'.

Vera smiles widely and halts her frenzied dancing as the duo introduces themselves. "Vera is my name!" she exclaims Sildanyari, extending a hand with long thing fingers and sharp fingernails. The other hand shoves a bit of hair out of her face. "Oh.. Well.. My apologies Erithamiel, I don't know if you can shake hands or not! Is there some other form of greeting I may offer your Majestic Feathered friend" she states in a bright voice!

Ga'Elian grins and says, "You can go pet him, I'm sure." He smiles. <sildanyari>

Vera is visibly even more excited (is that possible? seems so!) at the prospect. Gently, and on the balls of her feet, she edges her way closer. Her hand is outstretched, palm facing up, awaiting some sign from the Griffin that they are comfortable with the approach.

There is a tall man in the crowd, his height and his slenderness in that height making him stand out. He is wearing fine clothing and might have with his pale skin and unremarkable features managed to blend in. However his bright feline-green eyes make him stand out in the same way that his odd discordant movements do. He walks like a puppet drawn on strings. He moves toward the group with interest, making his way toward them with his eyes sliding over them with interest. "It was a beautiful display." His words are heavily accented with some human language, marking him as far away from here, but he speaks carefully so that his words are understood. The man steps very close to Vera. "But not half so lovely as you are."

As she closes on the griffin, she snaps her head to face the man who complimented her. "Listen can't you see I'm a little busy meeting a griffin here?? Some people are so rude." she huffs, turning her head with a deliberate motion that causes the bells in her hair to tinkle, and returning her attention to buddying up with this Majestic creature.

Morgan comes walking in the area as she notices the only Grifon she ever seen. "He loves apples." Said as she offers Vera one from her bag. She looks to Elian if thats ok to do.

Ga'Elian nods to Morgan. He says, "He does." Meanwhile, the griffon nuzzles Vera with his beak. Ga'Elian casts his gaze at the awkward human, scrutinizing him. He asks, "Can I assist you in some way." As he speaks, he never takes his eye off the man, but maneuvers his body to physically interpose between Vera and the stranger.

The man slides away from Ga'Elian neatly and with surprising ease for a man who moves so unnaturally. As he moves he lifts a hand and quite deliberately snags one of the bells in Vera's hair. Tugging on it quite hard. He is smiling the whole time, has been in fact since the first sighting of him. "It is rude to ignore my friend."

Vera accepts the apple from Morgan, just as the griffon nuzzles into her hand. A delighted laughter escapes her lips and she moved the hand holding the apple to Erithamiel's beak, bidding it to take the fruit from her. The apple falls to the floor and a yelp escapes Vera as she is tugged on. "OI WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM" she grumbles in Sildyanari, forgetting to use trade-speak.

Morgan looks to the man trying to determine if this man is dangerous, but his unnatural movements makes her wonder for a moment before she says a few words that makes her eyes glow blue for a flash.

GAME: Morgan casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 8 DC: 16

Sevanon busied himself chatting with some locals about how cool that triple-axle somersault was, but then he looks back and sees that some dude is accosting Vera. He puffs up his chest, clearly feeling protective towards his traveling companion. He flies off the handle and immediately marches over to the guy who is grabbing her hair. His hand is on the hilt of his rapier. "Remove your fingers or lose them, meathead," he barks in Tradespeak. He eyes up the weird human dude.

Unperturbed by the threat and by the woman yelling at him the man smiles and neatly keeps Vera between himself and Ga'Elian as well as between himself and Sevanon. "My you are a pretty one too, but I am much more interested... In this one." He reaches out to tug another bell, grinning all the while. He seems to understand her outburst and in sildanari answers her. "My problem? You are my twinkling one."

Morgan says for the ones around them. "He has magic items like we do so don't take him lightly Vera."

Ga'Elian goes stock-still for a few moments as if in a deep trance.

Sevanon draws his rapier now and points it at the guy's chest. "This is your final warning. Let go, and walk away. Now!" He is too angry to care, despite Morgan's warning.

Vera yelps once more and emits a string of curses and swears that would make a sailor blush. "You bumbling cretin unhand me!" she yelps, trying to stomp on his toes!

And into all this walks Azog, seven feet of no-nonsense oruch, who, seeing blades drawn, will head on over and see what's going on. "What have you done now?" he calls accusingly to Ga'Elian.

Kaj is slowly making his way from the warehouse district, happily having earned a lunch break. He's decided to enjoy it at the theatre district, and is carrying half a keg with a long bamboo 'straw' inserted in it, from which he sips as he ambles. On one shoulder are three ravens, and he is followed by half a dozen stray dogs. His height gives him a good vantage and means any spot is good for watching the actors, but it also allows him to spot the familiar griffon. Taking a long sip, capping it off with a smile, he starts making his way over, people parting for him without Kaj even really noticing he has that effect on the average humanoid.

Green eyes bore into Sevanon's the weight of some mystical power in them. Quite calmly he smiles. "Please." He utters the word again in sil, the words of elvish perfectly spoken as if he was raised on them. "Stab me." He lets loose a weird grating noise and he picks up Vera in the same moment, carrying her back a few steps and using her body to shield the lower half of himself. The weight of compulsion is in his eyes, demanding that Sevanon act on that impulse.

Sevanon is now just weirded out by the guy. Feeling the compulsion, he summons some deep well of liberatory energy from within himself. "He's... not in his right mind," he says aloud in Tradespeak, attempting to look away and sheathe his rapier.

Sevanon is now just weirded out by the guy. Feeling the compulsion, he summons some deep well of liberatory energy from within himself. "He's... not in his right mind," he says aloud in Tradespeak, attempting to look away and sheathe his rapier.

Ga'Elian arouses from his trance to see the Creepy Guy retreat through the crowd bearing the Llyranesi dancer away. He incants a spell as he pursues, nimbly weaving between bystanders.

GAME: Ga'Elian casts Freedom of Movement. Caster Level: 19 DC: 17

Vera flails about, a visage of pain across her face. As she's dragged the bells ring discordantly and onlookers curious faces turn towards the rather queer scene.

Now Ga'Elian can see the purpose behind this man's erratic movements. He's as agile as Ga'Elian is, quick and light on his feet, but he moves so unnaturally that it's difficult to keep up with where he will be. He drags Vera with him, slipping through the crowd towards an alley and neatly dodging Azog's attack which nearly hits Vera in the process. The limited space will give him an advantage over so many people. It seems that he is not stupid either.

Following along, Sevanon sees that attacks aren't really working. On a lark, he pulls out his beautifully-wrought lyre, and begins to play a pleasant, jaunty tune in the tinkly, complex Llyranesi mode. "Do you like this?" he asks. "Is it not prettier even than her bells? Let her go, and I shall play for you!"

Iskandar pushes his way in front of a few onlookers but gets himself turned to one side and ends up moving away from the altercation-in-the-making. He has to stop and reorient himself and then begin moving in that direction again. "Her too!" he suddenly booms. "I know both of them! But from where...it was just the other day..."

Vera says, "Can someone get this man OFF of me"

Azog is mid pose for his display of prowess, going through a few butch-looking sword forms, and looks over, sees Kaj and Ga'Elian. He calls out, "What's actually going on here!" When Vera requests aid, though he'll give over his display of martial prowess and aim a thrust at the fellow's head, so as to risk Vera as little as he can.

"I know not!" replies Kaj, obviously irked that his offer for a mini-keg has somehow been resisted and ignored. "Let us follow along and see what this entity intends!" To him this seems to be some sort of game...it's clear he thinks it some sort of performance art spilling out from the theatres...

The man stops right at the edge of the alleyway. Apparently considering something. Then in a flash he bites Vera hard on the neck, drawing blood there before he carelessly tosses her aside. Blood drips down his chin he grins at the group of you flashing unnaturally long fangs. If not for the fact that this is broad daylight... His moment is cut off by Azog's thrust which forces him backwards slightly. Even so the blade draws a nasty wound across his cheek. He grins at the man with his sword. "Again... /please/." He makes that weird grating noise and attacks Azog with a fist.

Vera ,as soon as she feels the bite on her next, releases a blood curdling scream. As she's dropped to the ground, she rolls and crawls into the crowd, away from the assailant. Her hand rises to her neck, and comes away with her fingertips stained with blood.

"Vera!" Sevanon cries, immediately dashing up to secure her. He places his hand on the wound as he attempts to gently lead her away, chanting in Sil as he evokes Vaire to heal this, her Voice of the Hymn! He interposes himself between her and the assailant as he does so.

GAME: Sevanon casts Obscuring Mist. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14

Even a thick Giantborn isn't going to think that's performance art for long...Kaj looks concerned, mainly because Azog and Ga'Elian look concerned. He cradles the mini-keg like a baby, jumps into the air, taking flight as his blue mane extends to resemble hair-whips, reaching out towards he-of-the-fangs.

Ga'Elian ignores Azog's and Kaj's questions as he is focused on one thing only. As the Creepy Guy bites, and then tosses Vera, Elian says out loud in mid-stride while pursuing Creepy Guy, "Mahal, that is my prey. Guide my hunt." He draws his bow from his quiver and nocks a pair of arrows. <sildanyari>

Azog takes the punch square in the chest, really he has no chance to dodge it, but pretty much ignores it. Azog is hella tough, and this guy is faster than he is strong. He'll rush in with his blade since Vera's out of the way, and try to cut the fellow down.

Amazingly the man makes no attempt to back away from Azog's attack, it slices him right across the chest, destroying his shirt. Then he does back up, one palm rising to touch the wound. He's still grinning as though the wound is exactly what he wants. As he lifts a hand to lick the blood from his fingers hair whips down and catches the offending limb. Without thinking the man cuts the hair with his other hand. Tearing it off where it touches him. Even so he's bent backwards with the weight of the attached person for a moment. Seemingly off balance... but then he simply bends back forwards and makes that weird grating noise again and you realize abruptly... that he's laughing. And also healing. The cut on his cheek is already closing, slowly... but closing.

"MORE!" He yells.

Iskandar moves to stand next to Vera and Sevanon, helping her to her feet if needed. "Who /is/ that?" he murmurs the question to her, although he doesn't take his eyes off of the green-eyed one. "Do you know him?"

Azog hrms. "Well, if it's a matter of healing ability versus hurting ability, this is going to get interesting." Not that Azog's a master of hurting, but he knows a few tricks. He takes his bastard sword in both hands, hauls off, and swings as hard as he possibly can. On most folks, this would be bad.

Floating above the regenerating 'man', Kaj holds out a palm towards Ga'Elian and Azog. "Stop friends, he is getting strength from our anger and our blows!" he says, sounding less sure than his words would lead one to believe. He then turns his attention back to the laughing entity…

Vera looks to Iskandar and chances a smile. "I'm not sure of what the cretin's business in, but he drug me across the courtyard and tried to turn me into a midday snack!" Vera feels a sense of pleasure as a healing spell washes over her, and she rises to her feet. "Do you suppose we should help them?" she murmurs, almost to herself. Her eyes are locked on the scene before her, and gasps as she watches the Awkward-One's wounds all but close in a matter of seconds.

This time the man seems to decide that he doesn't want to be hit by Azog's blade as it comes nowhere near hitting him. Instead he backs up further into the alley. "But I want to..." He doesn't seem to be talking to anyone, just quietly murmuring to himself as his green eyes look up. The wounds are healing faster now, the cut on his cheek gone and the wound on his chest starting to vanish. He grins at Azog and motions for him to come hither. "Is that all you have?"

Ga'Elian registers the witch's bellowed admonition and continues his pursuit, but stows the arrows and bow again in his quiver. That done, he leaps as if to intercept Creepy Guy's trajectory.

"Right, you were in the woods that night!" Sevanon tells Iskandar. "We were really drunk. I think there were vines, and I gave you a bit of luck. Right?" At Vera's question, he looks less immediately alarmed, but more generally concerned. "We have to get you to the Temple of the Muse. Such beings can pass on their curse through a bite, or so I have heard."

Azog shakes his head, and says, "Oh, no, I've got lots where that came from. Try some of this." And he'll attack, this time without the wild, vicious thrusts, and his attacks become much harder to dodge as he focuses on precisely hitting his target. It's still a blow like a sledgehammer, Azog's still a seven foot oruch, but he's much harder to dodge now.

Kaj speaks in a disturbingly low voice, floating above the regenerating entity, attempting to blast him with a Glitterdust incantation..

Golden dust rains down on the alleyway as Ga'Elian parkour's over the crowd. Seamlessly the man evades Azog's attacks, laughing in that odd grating voice of his. His motions lead him directly into Ga'Elian's hands, which wrap around him easily. The last attack from Azog manages to slice through and cut another swath in the man's chest, where the first is already healed and gone. The cut narrowly misses Ga'Elian's hands, particularly when the man begins to slip out of that same hold... He leans back against Ga'Elian, seeming pleased with the embrace. "I am Kol." He says as if this is merely a greeting place, as if this is /normal/. "Kol Demontry, and it is a /pleasure/ to meet you my friends."

Ga'Elian tries shifting his grip to (1) avoid getting sliced by Azog, and (2) keep ahold of the Creepy Fellow. He says in a calm voice, "Demon-Tree?" <abyssal>

Vera grabs both Sev and Isk by the hands and attempts to drag the two closer to the scene, hoping to be of some help.

Azog grumbles as the man avoids his attacks. He keeps trying, but his scowl is getting deeper as his frustration grows. He doesn't even bother trying to avoid Ga'Elian, the elf's slick enough to avoid his attacks. Unfortunately, this evil fellow seems to be that slick also. On the other hand, he hit hard enough that he's not actually just taking the blows. That might be as far as he gets, though. But he's going to keep trying. Maybe the fellow will get bored and leave? At least they got him to let go of Vera.

The man blinks at Ga'Elian's words and then laughs. "You speak my language, how lovely." It's with these words that you realize what that accent was. It was sil mixed with this other language. As if he was raised with both of them on his lips. Suddenly he slips free of Ga'Elian, right into the waiting blade of Azog. The cut nearly takes off his arm but he doesn't seem to mind, in fact he takes a second blow that nearly eviscerates him and then scales upwards - directly upwards scaling from one side of the alleyway to the other with little jumps until he's on the roof near Kaj. There he grins again. <abyssal>

"You can hurt me."

Kaj opens his arms wide, "I can. Come!" he says, motioning for the man to leap into his embrace.

Azog reaches with his free hand into a pocket, hurls a small bronze statuette of a griffon onto the ground, where it begins moving. Azog will mount up, and take off after this menace.

GAME: Ga'Elian rolls Knowledge/the Planes + Fiend: aliased to Knowledge/the Planes + 8: (4)+6+8: 18

Erithamiel, the griffon left behind when Ga'Elian ran off pursuing K.D., takes to the air also, as if he were the wingman to the magical griffon.

Vera shrugs. "Well, off into the sky they go. Too bad I've no wings," she whines, making her way over to the grounds where the two had traded blows with the villain. She examines the ground, and then looks up at the roof where the Villain had run off to.

While Kol Demontry takes a higher position, drawing away with him the attention of all whose eyes are glued to this unfolding scene, Ga'Elian disappears as if from existence. While nobody's looking, he follows his quarry up upon the roof, keeping a discreet distance, but not allowing the Creep to get too far, either.

Kol grins and waggles a finger at Kaj. "I must live, she commands it so, and I do /want/ to live." He grates out a laugh and tilts his head toward the flying things headed toward him. With that he turns and runs for the ledge of the building on the other side. He jumps there, not onto the roof of the building, but down into the other alleyway.

Iskandar tilts his head back to squint up. "Yes. But I think this Kol is dangerous. We shouldn't let our guard down, in case he comes back." Iskandar rubs his chest absently, where the string would normally be if he were wearing his bow slung across his back. "Or worse yet, if he tries to kidnap someone less capable."

Azog follows the fellow on his bronze griffon. As long as the chase doesn't go past 6 hours, he'll be okay. He keeps one hand on his sword and the other on the reins.

Ga'Elian pursues, still evading notice, but still on trail. He has studied the Creep's movement, and takes his abilities into account. His griffon follows along after Azog's.

Once he hits the shadows Kol disappears. Vanishes into the darkness and leaves only one glittering footprint in his wake.

Azog grumbles as the fellow disappears, and he looks around, eying Ga'Elian and Kaj. "So. What -was- that? Some kind of vampire demon?"

Kaj shrugs after landing on a rooftop. He holds on to a weathervane, his hair resuming its normal mane-like shape, though now it is red rather than blue. "Gods protect us if such a thing is possible...smart it was, would not come to me to be dropped from the heights," he adds, pointing up at the sky with the hand he's not using to cradle the mini-keg, which he never ever let go of.

Ga'Elian comes out of stealth standing at the spot where the last glittery footprint lingers. He looks at it, shrugs, shaking his head, and replies, "Near as I can tell, he's some kind of demon, but exactly what I can't quite tell. He sort of reminds of that Maggot abomination that was around a few months ago. Anyway, I'll report this to the Iron Book. First, though, the priority is ro make sure that that Llyranesi is okay and not bearing any residual effects of that bite." He walks back to where Vera is.

Vera raises her hand back to her neck, where the subtle punctuation marks still lay. Her scalp remains sore from having her hair pulled and she feels a bit shocked. "Oh.. I've read about foul beasts who snack on neck-blood.. I hope no lasting effect will come of this bite." She sighs, shoving her now tangled hair out of her face and looking about.

Erithamiel follows Ga'Elian until he clears the alleyway into open space, then lands and walks beside the ranger

Kaj follows Ga'Elian's gaze. "Perhaps we should decapitate her and put a stake through her heart?"

Azog rides back to the ground, and hops off the bronze griffon. He shrugs about the girl, and says to Kaj, "We'll wait for her to manifest vampire powers first. And they might have a cure for it. Don't just kill preemptively."

Vera looks rather startled. "I'd very much like to keep on living... I've only just left home 4 days ago!! And besides the sun is high in the sky. Was this being truly a vampire? I thought they were burned to crisps by the light of the sun? Or is that only in old story books?"

Kaj takes a pensive sip from his keg, then eventually nods. He brings up his fist to his chest in acknowledgement of Azog's honour, turns and heads back towards the warehouse--his lunch break is over, after all!

Passing by Vera, he gives her a long wink and a half smile.

Azog says to Vera, "Well, it bit you on the neck. If it's not a vampire, it certainly didn't have your best interests at heart. The Temple of Althea is where you want to go for help."

Ga'Elian glances at Kaj as if his face just erupted into more warts than a gobber would find attractive. He says, "Friend Kaj, I just don't know about you sometimes." Then to Vera, "I have business at the temple of Daeus. Will you accompany me? I'd like my contacts to have a look at your bite mark, and then yes, the Altheans should attend to it - just in case."

Azog agrees with Ga'Elian, "The Morning Lord's people will want to know that some fiend is loose in the city, yes."

Vera nods twice, sending her bells a'twinkling. "Lead the way.. I feel I'll find the company of priests more... inviting... than some of the company here.." she says, shooting a cutting glance at Azog. "Honestly the denizens of Alexandria can be... so rude!"

-End-