|
|
Post by skender on Jun 20, 2015 21:57:33 GMT
"Oi!"
Tamsin turned just in time for a huge, red fist to smash into her jaw.
Blackness, bright flashes of light, a strange mixture of white pain and tingling numbness. Her head thumped dully against the sand--when had she fallen?--and she lie there, sputtering hot liquid as it pooled in her throat.
Someone was tugging at her satchel. She didn't remember standing, or grabbing her dirk, but she felt her muscles working, and soon she was crouched a few yards from the caravan. As her vision returned, she caught sight of several disembodied fingers, huge and red and bleeding in the sand. A low scream filled her ears.
Tamsin panted, squinting at the ogre caravan before her. Wake up, she told herself, shaking her head in an attempt to clear it.
"What's in your head?" she slurred at the ogre who'd attacked her. He knelt doubled-over, gripping his newly-maimed and very bloody groper.
Another ogre answered. "Ol' Dag said ya stole 'is silver sack!" he barked, shouting over Dag's ragged screaming. The other ogres grunted in agreement, shuffling and flexing their sausage fingers.
Tamsin rolled her eyes. What was I supposed to do, after that ridiculous traveler's fee you made me pay? "Sun-sick halfwits!" she snarled. "Why would I steal from my only water source for miles?"
"Shoulda thoughta that before ya stoled from us!" Tamsin couldn't tell who'd spoken, but the other ogres seemed to agree with him. The thick, red-skinned creatures started toward her, teeth and tusks dripping with saliva. Fuck me, thought Tamsin, heart racing as she bounced on the balls of her feet. She'd have to--
An ogre leapt toward her. Tamsin feinted, burying her dirk in the back of his neck. A second ogre hurtled forward--Tamsin dodged right, whipped off her scarf, and caught him round the throat with it. She made a show of positioning her dirk under the ogre's buttocks, and hurled a fiery glare at the others.
"Take one more step and Gorag shits steel." She gave the scarf a sharp tug. Gorag gagged appropriately.
The other ogres held their ground, looking equal parts dumbfounded and irate.
Focus, Tamsin told herself. Her thoughts were racing.
"You," she said, nodding at an ogre. "Water."
With an angry growl, the ogre stepped forward, ripping the canteen from his neck and dropping it around Tamsin's. "Now stay back," she spat, not believing for a moment the ogres would do so.
Tamsin drew a deep breath. In three quick motions, she whipped the scarf from her captive's neck, shoved him toward the mob with all her strength, and bolted, fleeing into the empty desert as fast as her legs would carry her. Shouting filled the air, but ogres were not known for speed. They didn't chase her.
The wind tore through Tamsin's hair. "Thief," it whispered. "Murderer." She paid it no mind.
Once the caravan was well out of sight, Tamsin stopped, lungs and eyes burning in equal measure. She cried out in exhaustion, gripping her knees with both hands, sweat and blood dripping into the sand as she panted. "Was that worth it, Tamsin?" she growled at the ground. "Was it worth killing yourself for a few pieces of silver?"
Kicking at the sand in anger, Tamsin tore the canteen from around her neck. Time to walk, she thought, guzzling warm water and stumbling toward the sun.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nolza on Jun 21, 2015 23:13:44 GMT
The wind nagged Rajat, urging him to move. With a groan, he rolled over on the wind's currents, propping his head up by his elbow. Perfectly content with letting the high winds carry him over the Silver Sands, Rajat looked lazily to the sands far below him, automatically picking out the life thriving among and beneath the sands. A heated current carried him higher, and even his eyes could barely distinguish the shapes below.
Raj moved to sit on the wind, running a hand through his tangled, white hair. Awake enough now, twin? Nazanin's voice rang sardonically in Raj's mind. After hundreds of years together, Rajat didn't even blink at the familiar intrusion. As he shifted to smoke to better sail amongst the currents, Nin sighed in response to Raj's silence. I have information for you. Nin sounded tired, a characteristic quite unlike her. Rajat paused, worried, a smoky cloud still in the wind.
Sighing a long sigh, Raj whispered in their minds, You know I would take your place, if I could. The twins had been through much in the last 50 years, and their afflictions began to wear on their once vibrant, obnoxious spirits. I know, Raj. A pause, then, He hides in the Citadel. No one seems to know much more than that, though. Don't spook him. With that Nin's weary presence faded from Rajat's sorrowed mind.
Within seconds, Rajat shifted into an insignificant air serpent, and he shot off in the Citadel's general direction. Iridescent scales soaking in the sunlight, Raj dipped lower to the sands, hoping to catch a more swift current. Raj hid himself deep in the desert, in a place few dared travel, and it would be a long enough journey to the Citadel yet.
"Oi!" The deep voice threw itself in the wind, making serpent Rajat twitch in surprise. He floated higher, searching for the voice's source. Not too far from him, a scuffle played itself out on the sands. Raj rode a current toward the voice, a Nin-like curiosity motivating him closer. By the time he got close enough, a lone figure broke away from what Raj could now see was a caravan of ogres.
Deciding to follow the curiously alone figure, Raj hovered above and behind the figure, shifting silently back to smoke in the space of a heartbeat. The figure below--a woman--kicked at the sands angrily, and Raj drifted lower, a snort on his breath. A human, he thought in disappointment. He turned on the wind, intending to leave the woman to die in the desert, but Nin was suddenly very present in his mind.
You could use her, Raj. She was coming from the Citadel's direction. She may have information about the city, and we both know you'll need all the help you can get when it comes to primarily human cities. Raj stopped short, his smoky form roiling with annoyance. He knew she was right. I always am, dearest twin. Nin's voice held playful pride, and for a moment Raj felt relief at the normalcy of it all.
Loath to waste moments in deliberation, Rajat twisted in on himself, shifting to his humanoid form and hurtling toward the ground all at once. Just above the ground, Raj stopped his descent a good several feet from the bleeding woman. "New to the desert?" he asked without preamble, a knowing smile on his lips.
That's it, Raj. Just pretend she isn't human, and you'll only scare her a little.
|
|
|
|
Post by skender on Jun 23, 2015 2:06:00 GMT
"New to the desert?"
Panic. Without thought or hesitation, Tamsin turned on her heel and hurled her canteen at the voice, certain the ogres had somehow caught up to her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nolza on Jun 23, 2015 3:29:29 GMT
An object hurtled toward Rajat, and instinct shifted him into smoke within the second. Rajat felt the object--a canteen, he now saw--pass through his smoky form, and it hit harmlessly against the sand dune behind him.
Way to overreact, Raj, Nin snickered, the poltergeist sound echoing in her chambers a land away. Only a human would attack a djinni with a canteen. Raj grumbled, disgruntled and slightly annoyed, which only made Nin sober in her teasing way, You poked the bear, my dear inept brother. Then Nin cackled as only an Ifriti could. Well, half an Ifriti, anyway.
Ignoring his twin's vicarious fun, Raj "popped" back into his humanoid form, an eyebrow raised at the woman. He manipulated the air around the canteen with a finger and gently pushed the canteen back toward its owner. "Generally, water is precious to those new to the desert. I find its usually best to keep it close by." The wind moving around the canteen snickered its amusement as it returned the object to the woman.
Nazanin cleared her throat delicately, unable to resist, Perhaps next time, you should let the human sniff your hand before you get too close--they tend to bite. Barely able to reign in an eye roll, Raj growled to his twin, Oh, come off it, Nin. However, his venom was tempered by his dear sister's light-hearted response. They had few of these moments recently, and he just now realized how refreshing it all was.
|
|
Zanzhro
New Member
FLYING MONKEYS OF LIFE
Posts: 41 
|
Post by Zanzhro on Jun 25, 2015 2:41:51 GMT
Sorek trudged his way through the weird desert. He was searching for nothing in particular. He looked up at the sun beating down on him. Such a hot day. What kind of people would be here? Would any Imperials pass through here for any reason? Might as well keep searching.
After a while, Sorek spotted something on the horizon. He started running toward it immediately. When he got close, he saw a caravan of ogres, preparing to set out again. He heard some shouting and pointing, but what they were pointing at he couldn't make out. Then, realized he was out in the open. He quickly dashed behind a near dune. One of the ogres noticed the movement, but he immediately dismissed it, looking away from him. They soon started on their way, and when they were barely visible, Sorek ran to where they were and looked at what they were pointing at. They were footprints.
Imperials? He thought. Whatever it is, they have to be strong enough to throw ogres of their trail, so I must investigate. He followed the footprint until he saw a man talking to a woman. He drew his sword, and ran to the nearest dune. Suddenly, the woman turned around and threw a canteen at the man. The man turned into a puff of smoke, and the canteen went straight through him. He looked at the canteen, recognizing it as ogre craft. So they are the ones who overthrew the ogres.
Sorek then felt his parched throat. Hopefully they won't mind. He ran to the canteen and took a drink. It tasted so foul, Sorek spit it out. He looked at the woman. "This is no water. If that's what you wanted, you'll need to find something else." Suddenly, the canteen was ripped out of his hand by some force and returned to the woman. Whatever had happened, they obviously hadn't heard him, so he just kind of stood there, waiting for a reaction out of one of them.
|
|
|
|
Post by skender on Jun 26, 2015 5:16:21 GMT
OOC: Zanzhro - You accidentally bunnyhopped a little at the end of your post ("Suddenly, the canteen was ripped out of his hand by some force and returned to the woman. Whatever had happened, they obviously hadn't heard him, so he just kind of stood there, waiting for a reaction out of one of them." Do you see how you've accidentally made Rajat do something, and how you've decided how Tamsin and Rajat would react to Sorek's presence?). I'm just gonna write around that part, if that's okay. Let me know if I'm misinterpreting something, or something. 
Tamsin's mind refused to understand what she was seeing. First, an ogre had spoken. But when she'd turned to face it, she'd seen some sort of strange, white-haired man. Now she was staring at a cloud of smoke. She blinked, laying a hand over her forehead. The sun sickness can't've gotten me already. "Oh, sh--" Tamsin leaped backward and unsheathed both dirks when the man "popped" back into existence. Fragments of plans began to fly through her thoughts. I could throw a dirk and run. But couldn't he just change into smoke again? And what creature who can change himself into smoke would be susceptible to a dirk? So run ! But he'll catch me if I run! And even if he didn't, I've just lost my water...As if he could read her thoughts-- shit, can he read my thoughts?--the strange man pointed at her canteen. Tamsin fought the renewed urge to flee when the canteen began to float toward her through the air. "Generally, water is precious to those new to the desert," said the man. "I find its usually best to keep it close by." Tamsin felt her eyes bulging. She needed to do something--say something, ask something--to get herself away from this powerful personage. Come on, Tam! When are you ever this tongue-tied? Finally, she managed to speak. "What makes you think--" Something ran forward and snatched the floating canteen. What little remained of Tamsin's composure shattered. In three swift movements, Tamsin pulled her scarf over her face, drew a vial from the pouch at her hip, and smashed it against a rock in the sand. The world exploded into red as a cloud of opaque crimson smoke swallowed the three-person gathering. Tamsin felt her legs move, and soon she was once again fleeing into the desert. |
|
|
|
Post by Nolza on Jun 26, 2015 21:25:08 GMT
Red filled Raj's vision and lungs withing seconds, and he barely registered a third figure's appearance before Raj vaulted himself above the crimson cloud. Between his coughing and Nazanin's laughter, Raj almost missed what direction the woman had taken off in.
Damn-- Raj coughed, --it-- another cough all! More coughing. Nin couldn't even manage a reply, her laughter renewed by Raj's internal sputtering. Irrational anger filled Rajat as his coughing proved resilient. He looked below him, trying to find that illusive third figure, but the smoke and coughing clouded his vision.
"Fine," Raj growled aloud, teeth bared. Manipulating the air around him Raj flung himself toward the woman. Once he cleared the crimson cloud, he shifted into a solid black panther, golden eyes flashing. He hit the ground at high speeds, his enhanced panther form barely keeping up with his velocity. A growl rumbled through him as he caught up to the woman. He didn't pounce, as would be expected of a panther. Instead he aimed to barrel right under her, hoping to take her feet out from under her and ending their little chase.
Just before he lunged for her legs, Raj dared a look behind him, just in case that wild card third figure had decided and was able to follow.
|
|
Zanzhro
New Member
FLYING MONKEYS OF LIFE
Posts: 41
|
Post by Zanzhro on Jun 26, 2015 22:42:46 GMT
Disorientation filled Sorek. A red smoke explosion, then the man turned into a-a panther and chased her? Sorek sheathed his sword. No way that I make enemies with these people. He started walking forward gingerly, his head down, avoiding the smoke that might throw him into a loop.
Sorek breathed heavily through his nose, trying to get the burning sensation out of his nostrils. What was that made of? It feels like my throat and nose will burn forever. When he lifted his head, he saw the panther-man, or man-panther, glance back at him, as if to check if he was going to hurt them. Now, I can not mess this up. Be calm, do not make a move until you absolutely have to. They might know a thing or two. Maybe even three.
|
|
|
|
Post by skender on Jun 30, 2015 5:06:04 GMT
Rationally Tamsin knew there was no way should could escape, but her body seemed to believe otherwise. In this moment, there was nothing but her pounding legs, her racing heart, and the horizon. She could hear nothing but her own ragged breathing, and blood pulsing in her ears. She could feel very little--it was as if her body knew she would be hurting soon, and was numbing itself to spare her.
And, just as she'd predicted, she was caught. Something huge bowled into the back of her legs--she felt herself grow weightless, saw sky, an upside-down desert, and then nothing. Sand filled her mouth; she'd landed face-first in it.
Instincts took control of her muscles, and she was standing, spitting and shaking sand out of her hair. But as soon as she caught sight of the force that knocked her over, her legs nearly gave out. A night cat, like the ones she'd read about in her studies. But it was huge. Were they supposed to grow so big? Or was this the man she'd seen before? What could he possibly want with her? And...
Was this how she was going to die? After everything she'd been through, everything she'd accomplished? Alone in the desert? A thief and a deserter?
A laugh bubbled up from her lungs, though it sounded more like a whimper. There are worse ways to die, she thought hysterically, letting her dirks drop into the sand.
"Fine," she said, voice shaking pitifully. She couldn't bring herself to look at the hellish beast. "Do whatever you want with me. Just be swift about it."
Footsteps approaching from behind. Tamsin tried to ignore them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nolza on Jun 30, 2015 21:30:39 GMT
A triumphant growl reverberated through Raj as his aim proved true. The woman flipped through the air more than Rajat had intended, unused to human frailty as he was. Raj skidded to a stop, turning as he did so to face the woman. Her reflexes quick, she was on her feet again before Raj had turned around. Behind her, the third figure--a mere youth by the looks of him--approached slowly, cautiously. He, like the woman, was also human.
Too many humans in my desert. Raj spat internally. Nin giggled, then said snidely, Your desert? Hm, odd, I wasn't aware you owned the entire desert, my dear brother. Raj the panther snorted, barely catching what the woman had muttered half-hysterically.
Golden eyes sharply studied the woman who would not look up. Raj's gaze then flicked over to the blond human just before Raj began to shift. He slowed the process this time, realizing just now that humans did not react well to shows of magic and power. Unfortunate, that, considering that is all I am, he mused to himself. Nin agreed. His black panther form twisted, liquid smoke becoming a more humanoid form. The irons in his ears stung him as he shifted, a reminder of his weakness. It was hard to remember that others in the world would not think him weak. Come now, Raj, even among our races you are widely feared, Nin uncharacteristically stoked his ego. But he shook his head, white hair picked up by a desert breeze. He had once believed himself stronger than most, but recent events had caught him unawares and had proved him otherwise.
Rousing himself from his deplorable self-pity, Raj stepped forward menacingly. He raised a hand quickly--too quickly for a human--and lightly flicked the woman on the forehead. Idiot, the gesture seemed to say. "I'm not going to kill you or torture you, woman. Stop whimpering," he ordered gruffly, eyes turning to the approaching boy briefly. He folded his arms grumpily and stepped back, just out of reach in case the woman decided to use those dirks in the sand. "I'm not fond of choking on red smoke," he explained wryly. "Try those antics again, and I may actually kill you." I even returned her water to her, dammit, he added internally.
Speaking of water--"Boy, did you grab the water?" he raised his voice toward the boy expectantly, "or did the crimson cloud get in that as well?" He shot a reproachful look to the woman as he spoke.
|
|
Zanzhro
New Member
FLYING MONKEYS OF LIFE
Posts: 41
|
Post by Zanzhro on Jul 1, 2015 14:14:48 GMT
"Boy, did you grab the water?" the man said, raising his voice, "or did the crimson cloud get in that as well?"
Sorek looked up at the man, trying not to show his fear. "I did grab the canteen, but what's in it is no water." He lifted the canteen from around him and opened the top, pouring a small amount of green liquid out of it. "You'll have to find something else to drink." He tossed the canteen toward them, and it landed in between the two people. Stay calm. He reminded himself. Maybe they won't attack unless they think I fear them.
He looked at the man, wondering what kind of race he was, as he could change into a panther on demand. Can he change into other forms on demand? He wondered. Then he looked at the woman. Will she not fight back if threatened? Or is this a trick to lure the pursuer into a false sense of security? He stood there, not sure what else to say. I'll just wait and see what they do. This might be my grave site if I'm not careful.
|
|
|
|
Post by skender on Jul 3, 2015 22:01:01 GMT
Tamsin's pulse hammered against the underside of her skin; it was as if her entire body had become an enormous heart. Any moment she would feel the night cat's teeth in her flesh, see stars and taste iron. Then numbness, and darkness. Then whatever came after. It was with these thoughts in mind that Tamsin waited. And waited. And waited still. Confusion began to overwhelm her fear, growing more and more powerful with every eventless moment. She twitched at the touch of a strange breeze; it churned the air, plastering her clothes against her sweaty skin. Her brow furrowed. Overwhelmed with curiosity, she looked up. Her eyes bulged. The night cat was... disintegrating? Oily ribbons of flesh-turned-smoke lifted from its body, snaking through the air before congealing into a humanoid shape. Within seconds, Tamsin found herself face to face with a man. The white-haired mage. And he wasn't pleased. Tamsin's heart wrenched when the man stepped forward, glaring. He stopped mere feet away, allowing her, for the first time, to see him clearly. His skin was cinnamon, and his eyes gold. Sunlight glinted off the iron in his ears. There was a graceful severity to his angry features, an almost too-perfect symmetry Tamsin struggled to look away from, despite her fear. And those tattoos... Such singular shapes. And so familiar. Yes, she'd seen markings like those somewhere before... In her studies. "Djinni," she heard herself say, a sense of hope beginning to overwhelm her fear. A smile touched the corners of her lips. Something touched her forehead--she twitched. The man--the Djinni--had lifted his hand, lightly flicking her on the head. "I'm not going to kill you or torture you, woman," he said. "Stop whimpering. And I'm not fond of choking on red smoke. Try those antics again, and I may actually kill you." I have no doubt, Tamsin thought, smile widening. The Djinni looked away. "Boy," he barked. "Did you grab the water? Or did the crimson cloud get in that as well?" Tamsin caught the man's angry glance--she couldn't help but shiver--and then turned. There was indeed a boy, blonde and garbed in green. "I did grab the canteen," he said, timidly. "But what's in it is no water." Tamsin grimaced as the boy poured her life source into the sand. "You'll have to find something else to drink," he said, tossing the canteen forward. Tamsin shot out a hand and caught it. "Snot mead," she said, squinting into the canteen. "A native drink the ogres mix with their water. Fends off dysentery. And water thieves." She shot the boy a pointed glance. "So if you're not here to kill me," she continued, returning her attention to the Djinni. "what is it you want? Are you and your friend--" She nodded toward the boy. "--looking to hire?" OOC: Edited to fix a typo. |
|
|
|
Post by Nolza on Jul 5, 2015 18:34:11 GMT
Raj watched the boy pour the green liquid to the sand. "Snot mead," the woman said. "A native drink the ogres mix with their water. Fends off dysentery. And water thieves." An amused snort escaped him as he watched the humans' brief interaction. The woman seemed to be recovering quickly from her terror, which was fortunate, Raj supposed with mixed feelings. Terror had its place, after all, especially for a djinni.
What in the sands are they doing in this desert without water? Raj mused exasperatedly. He could feel Nin's mental shrug through their connection as she replied with playful sarcasm, They're humans, Raj. Their ways are as mysterious and ambiguous as their grooming habits. This time his eye roll couldn't be contained, a light chuckle on his breath.
The woman continued talking, turning to him, and again he almost didn't catch what she said. Dammit Nin, you're distracting, Raj told her in half-felt exasperation. "Not a friend," Raj corrected the woman distractedly, waving a dismissive hand. My dear redundant twin, that has never stopped you before, Nin smirked back.
Raj closed his eyes, moving his mind past his twin and to the present situation. The woman asked a good question, one Raj wasn't sure he knew the answer to himself. Could she indeed help him? Nin seemed to think so, but he, on the other hand, wasn't so sure. "That, my dear woman, remains to be seen," he answered her question, hands unfolding to rest on his hips. "I have a job, but . . . well, you may not be able to handle it," Raj spoke bluntly. Red smoke won't get you out of tough spot on this "job," after all, he added silently. Nin again shrugged mentally. You never know . . .
Turning to the boy, almost having forgotten the kid, Raj studied him, an eyebrow raised. "Know much about the Citadel, boy?" His eyes moved to the woman as he said this, extending the question to her, as well.
|
|
Zanzhro
New Member
FLYING MONKEYS OF LIFE
Posts: 41
|
Post by Zanzhro on Jul 10, 2015 22:09:16 GMT
"Know much about the Citadel, boy?"
It felt like a huge rock had been dropped on Sorek's shoulders. The Citadel had been the place where his friends had died. "Yes." He said reluctantly. "I do. What of it?" Sorek abandoned any calm or friendly looks he had on his face. "If it's anything to do with those blasted Imperial persons, I accept your offer, whatever it may be."
If this is an opportunity to avenge those I love and take revenge on those I don't, then I will accept whether he wants my help or not.
|
|
|
|
Post by skender on Jul 13, 2015 5:03:25 GMT
"That, my dear woman, remains to be seen. I have a job, but . . . well, you may not be able to handle it."
Tamsin locked eyes with the strange, handsome Djinni, lifted her water-mead mixture to her lips to hide her smirk, and said nothing.
After a moment, the Djinni turned away. "Know much about the Citadel, boy?" he asked, directing his question to the youth. The Djinni's eyes then flicked back to Tamsin; she assumed this meant the question was for her as well.
The boy answered first. "Yes," he said, tone stiff. "I do. What of it?"
So uncomfortable, Tamsin thought, watching the boy from the corner of her eye.
He continued. "If it's anything to do with those blasted Imperial persons, I accept your offer, whatever it may be."
The Imperials. How interesting. Tamsin offered no reaction to the boy's small outburst, repeated his words in her mind, and stored them away in memory.
Once the boy had finished, the Djinni returned his attention to her. She stood in silence for a moment, crafting her next sentence carefully. She had to be judicious with what she divulged. Even trivial information, if revealed to someone clever, could be used to exploit her.
"Perhaps if you told me your purpose," she said, tone cordial, "I would be more comfortable sharing my knowledge with you." She held the Djinni's gaze once she'd finished, searching his hard features for signs of a reaction.
|
|
