A Raptor and a Writing Desk

Log Info

• Title: What is the difference between a Raven and a Writing Desk
• Emitter: Elleandra
• Characters: Elleandra, Cryosanthia
• Place: W01: Wilderness Pointe
• Time: Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 10:31 PM
• Summary: Elleandra is struggling to write a letter to her grandmother when Cryosanthia rides up, returning from delivering news in Alexandria. The sith'makar delivers it to Elly as well, a druid has gone rogue, was poisoning Rocs, and aims to take down the Green Union. Elly advises that she will assist, but gauging the power of the druid based on his wildshape, she suggests that Durrankar and Un'eth be alerted also. Cryo indicates that she will do so, and the two end up talking, discussing dance, the sith's markings, and the letter Elly was attempting to write. Cryo offers to help, and also thanks Elly for the advice and kindness she has been extending, and while she is acting playful, she clarifies that 'cheerful isn't happy' and she still has a lot of things to get over that she's doing her best to ignore. It grows dark and the pair go the Wilderness Pointe Inn, where Cryo leaves Elly and then rides her swiftclaw to Mictlan.

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Wilderness Point is the last-ditch point of civilization before the great northern woods. It stands as a last bastion of trade, and a hub of activity between hunters, traders, and townsfolk.

A fairly wide path, flanked on either side by shallow ditches and tall trees, makes its way into the village from the southern roads, whose borders are outlined by a low stone wall. Sections of the wall have fallen apart here and there. At this point, it's more of a decoration than anything else.

The largest building in the village is an inn, a sign hanging over its door reading 'Wayfarer's Inn'. Its stone chimney has a thin wisp of smoke drifting off into the sky overhead.

At the center of the town is the Hunter's Market, beyond which the town ends along the river's banks, with the ferry providing passage to the other side.

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Elleandra    5'4"     108 Lb     Wild Elf          Female    Blue-haired, green-eyes, Sylvanori
Cryosanthia  6'9"     291 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
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It's a hazy evening, and though there's a few hours of sun left, the clouds have left the world largely a gray blur much of the day. The temperature, though it has started to come down slightly, has only made the air into something of a wet blanket. Standing near the edge of the village, Elleandra is resting with her back to a tree, writing carefully on a bit of paper. An ink well rests to her left, and a fair smudge of black marks her right palm. Moments later, it ends up on her left cheek as she drives away some manner of insect.

A rider comes thundering up the road. By the sound of the riding beast it's a Swiftclaw, which is not unusual this close to Mictlan. Several of the city-sith employ them to commute even though they are a tricky steed.

As the footsteps come closer, the rider is apparent. It's Cryosanthia, dressed up in her boots, gloves and sleeves as well as her old white leather armour. She has her haversack, and rides well, though it's clear she wants to make it home.

Until she spots Elleandra near a tree, decorating herself with ink. She rides up, "Peace, Elly, how are you doing?"

Elleandra seems unaware of her impromptu makeup session. She's so unaware in fact that Cryosanthia's charging up until the steed is not far away. Her reaction is a sort of a odd mix of attempting to scramble to her feet to losing her balance and ending up laying down on the ground for a moment as she slips and falls back. She lays there for a moment, perhaps gathering her wits. Or at least trying. A moment later she's scrambling to her feet and in so doing, manages to kick over her ink. Judging by the state of the writing, which appears to be covered with messy edits, it's perhaps time to take a break anyway.

"Cryosanthia! Hello!" she calls out cheerily. "You look dashing today! Where are you off to in such a hurry?" There's a softening in her eyes, concern and hope growing together.

"This one is going home." Cryo says, turning in the saddle and putting a leg over the beast. She gracefully slides down. It's mildly amusing, watching a lizard dismount a lizard, it's the tails. "Thanks, this one had news to deliver. Clothes seemed appropriate."

She glances at the heavily edited paper, and the ink which is spreading. A moment is taken to tie the Swiftclaw to a tree, somewhere near enough to watch but far enough away to avoid an impatient bite. The sith feeds it the the last of her jerky treats.

"I'm happy to see you clothed! I mean, not that you aren't lovely." Elleandra laughs at herself, reaching up to run a hand through her hair. Thankfully she uses her left hand. "Was it good news, I hope? Or just.. news?" she asks curiously. "And would you like to stay tonight, or do you mean to ride on through the forest? I imagine there's nothing there that would stop you on your way, but it can be more pleasant to ride before daylight is gone. I feel like we my have a thick fog this evening, as well."

"Yes... there does seem to be a lot of fog, that is troubling... This one can stay a while, but I need to Render back. He will not stay out overnight well. Darkness will not be a problem for us." Cryo explains, walking over to give Elly a tight hug. It's cool, as usual, not freezing. So that's a good sign. The sith spins and flops down, sitting with her tail out behind her, "The news was not good. Relating to Druids."

Elleandra returns the hug. And while she notes the chill, it never seems to make her hug any less tightly. She settles down in front of Cryosanthia, kneeling. It helps her stay somewhat close to eye level. "Oh, related to us? Hopefully there's not a fallen member of the order doing harm." Her tone remains even for the most part, but there's a slight shift in her voice that reveals her concern. "Really can't we simply get a bit longer of a respite?"

Cryosanthia blinks, "Oh. That is it. This one supposes not. There was a Vidor Hawfslur, who wanted to be a druid and wanted a Roc as a companion animal. He was inflammatory, angry, and argued with the Union. They rejected him. He was poisoning Rocs. Braelnoir, Nels and I, and a few others fought him. He had trolls. We nearly had him, but he turned into an elemental and flew away. From his rantings, it's possible he has other allies, but he has found power on the dark side of the pantheon and intends to destroy the Green Union."

"I'm sorry." She adds.

"Not your fault," replies Elleandra. "When druids go bad.. well, the hunt begins, I'm afraid. We can be annoyingly difficult to stop." She looks thoughtfully downward, her right hand coming up and somehow not adding further smudges as she strokes her chin. "I am tired of killing, Cryosanthia. I will help as I can, and I do feel that all druid actions are the responsibility of all druids, but.. that doesn't mean I am in a position to charge off and deal with him. You are likely to need a far more powerful member of the order."

"I know. Druids are just better." Cryo grins toothily, wobbling her head. "I used my breath weapon, Nels blasted him with his thunderbelcher, Mac Bee-One-Gee and Pelka used their artifice rays, and that barely slowed him down. As an elemental he vanished in a blink of an eye, flying out of range. This one felt out-classed, and frankly, he wasn't much of a conversationalist and there was no dramatic fencing opportunities."

She goes silent. Her fighting was more brutish than elegant, embarrassing if effective. "I spoke with the Green Wardens, they were able to identify him by his voice and demeanor, and general description. They seem occupied though, there are corruption issues, I'm sure you've seen some."

"Yes, there certainly are issues. And druids are not better. We are different, and can be extremely hard to contain unless you are prepared. I had hoped.." Elly stops herself. "Hope is not the topic. You have likely stumbled upon a very powerful druid, I'm afraid. You said he was an elemental as he ran off. Do you remember roughly how large he was in that form? It might give us some idea of just how dangerous he might be." She tsks softly, "I hate it when this happens. We should know better. We do know better."

"Well, pretty large." Cryosanthia says, looking around. She selects a tree, "about as tall as that. I fought an elemental before in the woods, it wasn't nearly as big. I managed to interrupt him casting a bunch of things, but it was a complete surprise when he wild-shaped."

She reaches over, stroking her hand along Elly's thigh, "It's Ok when you do it."

Elleandra looks at the tree and frowns. "Way out of my league, Cryosanthia. But.. honestly, my teachers would be of help to you. The druids I know that are best equipped to address such a threat are of your kind." She smiles at that, "So, perhaps you might find them when you reach your home. Though I'm not much of a student, every time I spoke with them I felt myself becoming more aware of what it truly means to be a druid. But.. should you have trouble finding them, let me know right away. I will try to reach out in what ways I can, but I can add more urgency. The longer we wait, the greater the danger becomes. Then again, it's always like that, isn't it?"

"Durrankar and Un'eth? This one knows them. Un'eth is a friend, perhaps. This one has not asked and she has not confessed, but we have talked. She has trusted me with secrets. She's wise, has good advice. This one will seek them out." Cryosanthia says, leaning back some, wiggling herself so she slides on her tail to a more reclined position, "it is all this one can do to raise awareness. I think him beyond me. Braelnoir was glorious, you should have seen her Elly. She took horrible wounds, great rents in her body, then a passion of a great beast welled within her. Truly she is scale-sister to this one, how she roared."

The druid smiles and nods quickly, "Yes, Durrankar helped me unlock this new life, this new path, and Un'eth shared her wisdom with me several times as well." She frowns at herself, "I haven't seen them lately. Like I said, I'm not a great student."

The news of Braelnoir's actions draws out an expected reaction. "Is she alright?" asks Elly, leaning forward, looking ready to take off at a sprint. "And yes, she is glorious. Lovely, courageous, perhaps a bit reckless, too. But most of all.. she is well now? Someone tended to her?"

Cryo grimaces, which shows off her teeth in an unpleasant way. It makes her look like an animal, too much a predator, too much like her riding raptor tied to the tree. Still, she speaks and that's a proof of intelligence that defies this temporary appearance. "We lost our Witch. She went scouting and didn't return. Our ranger went looking for her. The rest of us were martial. Pelka had some artifice healing devices, and we gave first aid, but she bled a lot until we returned. It was a difficult climb down. I helped her, always. I'd never abandon her. It... was not pleasant though."

Elleandra wrings her hands, a nervous shake in them. "She's.. she's okay, yes? How bad is it? Does she need any help?" A quick shake of her head, "Kamaria is going to be so upset. Maybe I should get Kamaria and go find Braelnoir." She sighs and finally looks down to notice that ink is now smeared on both her hands. "And.. I've gone and made a mess again, I see," she adds faintly.

Cryosanthia squeezes Elleandra's thigh, snaking her neck and leaning her head close to the wild-elf's, "She's fine, she is okay. It was a difficult travel back, but we got her to a temple. We weren't expecting to lose our healer, and while this one has spells, they're hardly useful. She's ok though, she's tough."

She looks at the ink blocks, "I can clean that mess off if you like."

Elleandra lets out a sigh, a little tremor going through her as tension she didn't quite know was there is released. "My apologies, I.. you are both family. I wish I had been there to help, somehow. I mean, not in the fight, but.. to help her." She sighs softly, feeling rather ashamed to not help. "And.. please, if you could? Kamaria will know something is wrong if I come in looking a mess." Says the druid with a big smudge of ink on her face.

Cryosanthia wiggles a litle more, now she's slid completely horizontal on the ground. The back of her skirt has ridden up quite a lot, but it still covers the tops of her thighs in front. She holds up her arms, hands open, for Elleandra to pull her up.

Elleandra smiles and reaches out, hoping that the ink doesn't make an even bigger mess for Cryo to deal with. She pulls as best she can, but honestly given her size and strength it's not likely to be more than a small difference. Casually she points out, "You know, I feel like I never tell you how beautiful you are. I hope you realize it."

Cryosanthia blinks, her pale-blue eyelids showing before they open again, revealing her sapphire eyes. She smiles, dolphin-like, her maw open and playful. Reclined as she, the light plays across her scales, refracting and highlighting the blue lines that decorate her in patterns. "Thanks. This one enjoys hearing that. This one knows. It is perhaps, the one thing She did that I am grateful for."

Holding her hands up was a tease, as the sith-makar is quite aware just how heavy she is, and how unfair it is to test others with it. A mental note, that she'd be a chore to get off a battlefield, files itself away for a later solution. "You are beautiful also Elly, since you've found your calling, there is an energy and happiness to you. Your true self has come out."

"I'm surrounded by the people I love most in the world," replies Elleandra. "I just wish they were all safer and could visit more often. Perhaps if I study baking I can keep your attention enough to have dinner here every night?" She laughs gently and a blush colors her cheeks, "And thank you. I mean, Kamaria says it often to me, but next to her I feel like a child when it comes to beauty, and next to you, honestly. I wish I had curves as graceful as yours. And your dancing.." She sighs and laughs at herself, "Well, at least I can cook and win your hearts that way."

Cryosanthia laughs, sitting up, "Perhaps! Bread is not a good diet for this one. Fruits and Meat, grains are... unusual. This one would love to come for dinner though, and share time with you and Kamaria. I am amused when you compliment my curves though, thank you, and this one is glad you like my dancing. I have been practicing."

The white lizard leaps to her feet, a smooth motion which shows off her strength. The muscles of her body are clearly defined, and she moves with a happy energy. She holds out a hand to Elleandra, pulling her for a low dip, supporting her back, "You are both lovely."

Elleandra laughs in delight at the graceful motion, and of course she made mental notes. She will make more inquiries to learn everything there is to know about sith'makar cuisine. And then she finds herself lowered into a dip. She is quite relaxed, and couldn't feel safer, honestly. "You are a marvel, Cryosanthia," she says gently. She lifts a hand and brushes her fingertips along the other woman's cheek. "And of course I admire your curves. Kamaria is better at this, but you are like a work of art."

The white lizard woman smiles, carefully setting the wild-elf upright. She doesn't blush, though there are cues in the way her eyes sparkle, and how it's only mildly cool around her. She's flattered and the compliments are helping, "Thank you. You've seen my markings, but I'll show you all they can do sometimes, it can be amazing."

She sounds wistful. She steps back and makes some graceful gestures in the air, her gloves start to glow as they are activated. She follows this with exaggerated motions, cleaning gestures, but done in a way that resembles a massage of Elly with an air-gap. Her hands follow her form, from feet, up her legs, over her rear then along her back, around to the front and finally washing past her face. The prestidigitation magic feels like a warm tingle and in its wake all dirt, ink, scents are removed. Elleandra is clean.

A similar, but swifter routine follows as Cryo cleans herself, magic-ing away the dust of the road and the ink she picked up touching her friend.

"I would be happy to see everything they can do!" Elleandra laughs and shivers a bit as Cryosanthia's magic traverses her body. "I've.. never done that before," she admits. She looks over her hands and grins, "This is so much better than soap and water. Though honestly a warm bath is still well worth the time." The druidess bounces slightly on her toes, feeling strangely excited and invigorated. "Cryo.. I.." The silence is allowed to linger in the air as Elleandra just looks into her friend's eyes. Finally she says, "I'm so happy to see you again. I mean.. you as the wonderful, loving, healed woman I've admired from our first meeting."

Cryosanthia's tail coils back and forth slowly behind her. She's silent for a moment, staring into Elleandra's eyes. Sith'makar minimal expressiveness is not helping her right now, anything could be going on inside her head, and perhaps is. There is a serious intonation in her words, "Elly... Cheerful isn't Happy. This one has... a lot more work, but I can set aside the hurt so it doesn't cripple me. The Tower will always be there, but it will be my unassailable fortress one day."

She slips into an embrace, holding her friend, exhaling deeply, "You are helping me get there. This one appreciates."

"That tower will be yours to command someday, Cryosanthia. And you are right, cheerful is not the same thing. For you, this journey is just beginning." Still, Elly isn't sad. "I'll go to the bottom with you any time, my dear one. You are everything to me. A part of your heart lives in me, and mine in you. We shall take care of each other as best we can." She smiles warmly, enjoying the embrace and holding Cryosanthia in a hug. "Though perhaps this time maybe we can just have a warm bath instead?" she suggests playfully.

"This one would love a warm bath, but Render would start eating passers by, the baths I enjoy last longer than my tail. This one will walk out from Mictlan, so we can spend a day together. Soon, I promise." Cryo taps Elly on her nose with a long, scaled finger, then grins at her. "Do you need assistance with your writing supplies? What were you taking notes of, if you might share? I can see you at least to inside the Inn."

Elleandra laughs at the thought of Render getting hungry. Still, that creature is no passive steed. Entertaining funny images of the creature running wild in her head, Elly does finally look down at her ink and lets out a sigh. Well, at least the bottle is okay! And a bit of ink remains in it. As for the paper, she plucks that up and holds it for Cryo to see. It appears to be a letter, but the messiest one ever written. Words are crossed out, notes are in the margins, and some really odd little sketches are added here and there. "I am writing a second letter to my grandmother," she explains. "I sent her one last week, now I wish to follow it up with another. This one.. is more her style. She hates it when I don't share with her completely, I know. No matter that she's been on a journey for over half my life, she sees through me as if I were a child."

Cryosanthia nods slowly, "Perhaps you could dictate to me. This one performed many scribing duties for Her, and is quite skilled." It is even mildly disturbing, how exactly Cryo's penmanship matches Salina's handwriting, to those who are familiar with it. She writes in an exacting, perfect script, the only result a Fae Queen would accept.

"If it is not too personal. There seem to be many thoughts there." Her tail sways slowly.

Elleandra laughs at her work and sighs, "It's.. bad, isn't it?" She can't deny it. Not much point, really. "Perhaps next time you are here you can help me. It's difficult, though. I want to express so many things to her, and I know she can see right through me. Plus she's a hero and she's amazing and.. part of me wonders if she's bored reading my letters, but the part of me that really knows her is certain she loves them and wants to hear the small things of my peaceful life. And she already has made it clear that babies are to come when I'm ready and not before. Which is the only time a family member hasn't urged me to get that going immediately." She pauses, blushes, and laughs again, "I am so sorry. I'm just.. babbling." She lays her cheek on Cryosanthia's arm, moving to her side. "And nothing is too personal to share with you, dear one."

Cryosanthia inhales sharply as babies are mentioned, her neck straightening a little, but no further reaction to the subject is forthcoming. She nods, absorbing the explanation of what her grandmother might desire to hear. It makes sense to her, she can see both sides. The sith smiles, "It is nice to hear you talk and you should not doubt yourself. This one will help, I have some skill at note-taking and organizing that I can lend to you."

She leans into the contact on her arm, tail slipping around to hug Elly's calves, "We should get you to the Inn, and Kamaria, then this one can ride Render home. I am glad to have run into you."

Elleandra inwardly chastises herself for mentioning babies. She knows better. She carefully avoids bringing it up again, "Lately I've had moments of doubt in many situations, Cryosanthia. I think I just dreamed about Kamaria so long that part of me is still struggling with the idea that this dream is coming true. Thanks to you, I might add." She hugs Cryosanthia's arm, letting her eyes shut as they walk towards the inn. "I'm delighted, too. I can't wait for you to come again and spend the night. We can try a hot bath then, and I'll have something special ready for you."

"It is such a long ago memory for me. I can call it back, but I seemed so light then, and easily frightened. It was a worthwhile effort, that I would do again. Anything, for your happiness." Cryosanthia promises. She might mean lightness in spirit or body, both apply, as she has grown since and carries a heavier soul, rather obviously.

"Come, let us get you inside, and this one promises she will come for the bath too. It sounds delightful." Cryo moves over to her Swiftclaw, untying him and taking the leads, holding them close beneath his jaw and at arms length. Her steps are jaunty as she returns, making for an amusing image.

One of the best things about Wilderness Pointe is that it doesn't take long to get anywhere. It's also really hard to get lost. The way to the inn is not far, and the usual friendly faces are seen nearby. Of course the Swiftclaw draws some looks. Folks have seen them before, from time to time, but that doesn't make them any less impressive. Or intimidating.

At the inn, Elleandra turns and embraces her friend. It seems that Kamaria is out, drafted into assisting a midwife, of all things, of she'd be joining the goodbye. "I will have my eyes out looking for you until you return, Cryosanthia. I pray it is not long, but no matter how many days pass, I will still be here, waiting." She rises as much as she can to press a soft kiss against her friend's cheek. "And if you see Braelnoir before I do, please remind her that we have an understanding. She's not allowed to get herself killed." With a little laugh, Elleandra steps back, giving Cryosanthia room to mount her steed. She will stay there, waving in farewell as her friend departs.