Decadents and Dropouts IC

[DeathsKnight]

Gryph

He noticed that she struggled to keep up in her dress, so without a word he scooped her up in both arms and started walking at a pace he used when in a hurry, but that would not tire him out. Let them find the tracks and follow it, by the time they catch up, Gryph was certain to have a defensible position. He felt something wriggle against his neck and looked down to find the longer of her snakes moving against him, he chuckled as he recalled how they writhed around earlier as she was impaled by both Aaron and him. He turned his thoughts back to their current predicament and continued walking.

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

Phyliis was surprised as Gryph just picked her up, but she found it quite pleasant to travel like that. Her snakes curled playfully around him, but hen she reminded herself of the dangerous situation they were in. Was she getting careless after all the leisure time and sensations at Marcus place? She looked around, while Gryph carried her. Then she samething in the wood, but she could not tell at once if it was a hiding creature or a dead body on the ground. "look there!" she whispered.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Gryph

He looked in the direction she mentioned, he noticed movement, but it was away from them. He grunted and walked faster, it was a dead body for sure, they must have bothered a scavenger from it's meal.

"It's a body, I judge it to be two or three days old. Bad omen I tell you, bad omen"

He chuckled

"I must sound like an old lady, carrying on about bad omens and such"

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

Phyliss was curious what kind of body it was, but she knew that it was wiser to move on fast, so she did not protest. They had to get throught to the city and find there way to the forges. Haerdon wouldn't give up easily, but his fellow men would probably not follow him, after they got plenty of loot from poor Marcus. and if Haerdon would come alone, he would be no math for Gryph, and this time she would be alert enough to petrifie him at sight. The only problem was, that the walk to the city would take at least two days, even with Gryphs speed. A horse would be useful for her, but she wondered what kind of horse was necessary for Gryph. Anyway, finding horses somewhere was very unlikely. And Gryphs endurance was probably not endless. They would have to find a place to sleep sooner or later. But as long as he went on, she snuggled and pressed her body against him, holding her bag with one hand, putting her other arm around his neck. Her snakes squirmed on his skin, but he did not complain.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Gryph

It was well into the early morning hours when fatigue finally caught up with Gryph, by now he judged they had covered quite a distance and just a few paces from them was what could be described as a hill. There was an overhang and that was what Gryph was eying, a place to sleep and regain his strength. He led the way and pulled out a food parcel he carried with him, he ate a meal and offered the food to Phyliss, the bread was almost dry, but not yet and the smoked meat still tender and tasty, he gathered that they could make at least another day, maybe two out of the food before they either finish it, or it starts to go stale. He yawned and laid down, using his backpack as a cushion

"Please excuse my rudeness, but I am kind of..."

He trailed off as sleep overtook him

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss

Phyliss wanted to say something nice, but Gryph dozed of right away. No wonder, he had been walking and carrying her including all baggage all night long. She was tired, too, even if she had fallen asleep for short moments in Gryphs arms. She wondered if it was wise to go asleep as well. She looked around the place, and found nothing dangerous at all, no sign of any people or creatures living her. The were not directly at the road, so they would not be seen by bypassers. Now it wa time to change her clothing. She put the dress back in her bag and got a black dress with green patterns, that was although long, but not as tight as the other one, and of more endurable material. She put it to the side an hesitated. Maybe she would just take a short nap herself. Falling asleep later, when they would go on walking, would be even worse. She never slept in her clothes, but she would not risk to put a nightie on, so she decided to sleep in her underwear, putting her boots and her dress just beside her, so that she could get dressed fast. She did not have a blanket with her, so she picked up a woolen cape and put it over herself and Gryph. She couldn't cover his long legs, but he didn't seem to care. She could not move his heavy bag, probably no simple human could. Just to be sure, she covered it with leaves and twigs. She used her own bag as cushion for her back, while she used Gryphs shoulder for her head. Her snakes would not disturb him by moving as long she was asleep. She listened once more for any sounds, and fell asleep as well.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Gryph

He woke early in the morning, just as the first birds started to chirp, he smiled at the feeling of Phyliss snuggled so close to him. He yawned and gently got up, shifting her so that she could remain comfortable, he climbed the rocks, staying out of the silhouette, not wanting to break the natural lines. He surveyed the area, it had clusters of trees, long wavy grass and hills, the road that led from the estate ran almost parallel in the direction they were traveling. He yawned, curling his tongue like a cat...or dragon would and sat in silence, a statue to any onlooker, except for his breathing.

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

Phyliss awoke later then Gryph, and saw him sitting in the setting sun. She smiled warmly at him and purred "Good morning.". Somehow she found it quite pleasant traveling with him. She wondered if she could get him wearing his hair longer, but she told herself that this was not a thing to worry right now. After all, she wasn't in love - probably not. She kept lying for some moments, then she got up and put on her dress and her boots, then she adjusted her looks in her small mirror. Nothing to be ashamed for it. Of course, if you would not object against snakes and the yellow iris of her eyes. This time it didn't even feel so bad to be in open nature, without proper bed and fresh water and a tub. Verialynn or Relic wouldn't even understand that she was so fond of cities and their benefits.
"Let us get going." she said. "I'll will feel safer in the city."

 

[DeathsKnight]

Gryph

"Good morning"

He watched her getting dressed and then as she went through what her surmised to be part of her morning ritual. He jumped off the perch he had and looked around, he had seen a rock with a hollow that seemed to have been grounded into it. Locating said rock he held a hand above it

"Quish"

Water seemed to flow from his fingers and palm into the hollow, but he knew that he had just drawn water from any available source and concentrated it where his focus was. He dipped his hands into the water and drank before he splashed it over his face and rubbed it vigorously. He then walked over to his back pack, picked it up and settled it on his back, the pace should be a bit slower today as he was sure that they had created some distance between them and the barbarian that seemed to be the one who organized the attack.

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

Phyliss looked surprised on the water.
"You are getting more useful from day to day. I even can have a bath at any place with you around."
She hurried up a little to catch up with Gryph. She could walk better now, and she was confident that they would reach the city soon. No sign of Haerdon yet - maybe he had lost their track after all?

 

[DeathsKnight]

Gryph

"It's a basic spell, I'm surprised that you don't know it, but then again isn't the gorgon magic more based on illusion and protection?"

He chuckled

"I'm also like any dragon very handy to make a camp fire"

He kept a healthy pace, one that shouldn't tax her too much, but also gave them enough distance.

"We should get you a horse"

He grinned

"And the type of horse that could carry me we will not find here, there is a draft horse in the Northern lands that can handle that as it is a large animal, but I have never met any of them"

He looked at her

"I have been meaning to ask, do you have any sensation in your...hair?"

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

Phyliss grinned. " I am full of sensations, in every part of my body."
She hurried a little again, to walk side by side by the huge figure.
"For magic, I learned mostly things to protect me... like healing, shielding, falling safe or breathe under water, even to melt with the ground. But I can't do any real fighting spells, except petrification. But I worry less now, being with you."

 

[DeathsKnight]

Gryph

"I can handle most physical threats yes, but my magic is not that strong yet. I'm an infant if you look at the time I could live, so what I know is basic spells, stuff that I was born with"

He gave her a smile

"But I will help you all that I can"

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

"I am happy abou that." Phyliss kept walking, but no horse or settlement got in sight. Rather late at the day, they saw a single house, about a yard from the road away, behind some trees. It looked old and not to small, but she could not see yet if it was abandoned or not. She pointed to it and went on in that direction. If they could stay in there over night, they should reach the city of forges tomorrow evening.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Gryph

He had noticed the settlement, but signs of habitation was clear and he carefully steered her away from the home, sticking to cover as they moved parallel with the road

"There was no crops nor livestock and though I'm sure we could handle who ever was hiding out there, it's best to avoid confrontation until we are sure that your barbarian isn't after us"

He grinned

"And I am sure that I can get you a horse tonight without any violence"

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

"How?" did she wonder, while she looked back to the house. Did he hear or smell anything about that house that worried him?
"Do you think there is something wrong with that house?" She was curious now. Would it be really dangerous to take a careful look?

 

[DeathsKnight]

Gryph

"Woodsmoke, unwashed bodies, dried blood and spilled ale and wine. I'm sure it would be a group of mercenaries or bandits"

He shrugged

"But if you wish we can always go back and draw unwanted attention to ourselves and if the barbarian is trailing us, we would be trapped with no where to go"

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

"Oh, I am not that curious. I just wanted to know." did she say.
"Anyhow, I think you could just finish them off."

 

[DormantEvil]

The Narrator

By now the mansion had been thoroughly ransacked. What guests survived had been left penny less and half naked. They had then been ran off the property. Marcus himself among them. The property now belonged to the men who had attacked it. A new HQ of sorts. Not too shabby at that. During the night they had made use of the servants by feasting and drinking, and bedding for hours at a time. It was in the early hours of the morning that the estate fell silent as everyone slept. Some escaped at this point, fed up with the treatment or outright abused. It wasn't until the birds began to chirp that Haerdon rose from his slumber. He had partaken in the festivities, but still his heart was heavy.

He had missed his chance at capturing the gorgon once again.

And his men were useless.

Rubbing his eyes he called out for one of the servants, and declared the hunt started once again. They would set out following tracks after breakfast.

Miles away, Blades and Mad Dog peacefully followed the tracks of Gryph and Phyliss. The assassin crouched down near the impressions where the two had slept. Looking at the leaves and twigs that had been disturbed. The ground held but a small amount of heat still, hours had passed since anybody had rested here.

Standing up, she walked over the Mad Dog who was looking out over the land. They seemed to be heading for a town. It was a logical choice. With a contented yawn, he moved off down the track, following Blades as she tracked them.

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

Phyliss knew it would be foolish to engage into another fight with some thugs, even if they would hardly stand a chance against her new friend. But maybe they did have gathered some gold she could use now very well... But Gryph was right: Maybe Haerdon was still behind them, although she doubted that he could mobilize much men after ransacking poor Marcus' home.

"I think you deserve some rest from fighting. We better go on and find another cozy place, and then we might reach the city tommorrow were we can look for a tavern to stay."

 

[DeathsKnight]

Gryph

He shook his head

"I tend not to test my luck when I feel uneasy"

They kept moving on past the settlement, the day was starting to draw to a close when they crested a hill and he could see the city limits in the distance. Gryph knew that they could not make it, but he did notice a few farms and where there was a farm there was bound to be a horse. Looking around he found a place for them to make camp.

"Let's stop here and I'll go find a horse for you"

He looked back down their trail and suppressed a shudder, it felt like a cold hand was reaching out for him, but he chided himself that he believed too much in omens

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

The gorgon sat down. She looked to the city. "Of course, we could walk there tomorrow. If you take a horse from the farm, wouldn't they search this place until they find us?"

 

[DeathsKnight]

Gryph

He grinned

"Oh but I won't be forcing any horse to go anywhere, it will come out of it's own free will. So they can try and follow the trail on the hard packed main road, but I'm sure that no farmer is that good"

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

"So, that is different. But please don't stay to long, so that I wont get worried. And will you make me a little water? I like to be fresh before going to sleep."

 

[DeathsKnight]

Gryph

"Sure"

He looked around for a suitable hollow, but the only one he could find was in the ground. He sighed and looked at her

"Well it seems like you will have to do with surface water"

He held both hands above the hollow

"Quish"

Agains water seemed to flow from his hands and he kept the spell until the water did not drain into the ground anymore, it was still clear and scooping up a handful it was sweet and tasty

"There you go"

Adjusting the straps to his backpack he slipped away, he was sad that the vampire could not have joined them for a few reasons. One of them being that she would have a lot of experience, tales to tell and would definitely have weapon skills that he could have learned. Coming to one of the farms he stuck to the shadows and he finally came to a corral, there was horses here. Reaching out he spoke to them, a young adventurous stallion seemed interested in adventure and Gryph bid him to follow. The stallion acknowledged the request with a toss of his head and a snort. Shortly after Gryph was walking down the road, the young stallion following him