Fantasy Sorcery!!! (Completed)

[Yokai]

>> Talk to him <<
​

Wait, what? Aquila didn't fight against the Orc's hold as she kept her hands and gaze firmly on his newly healed arm. Seconds ago there had been a cut there and a bite mark, and now there was freshly healed skin. She blinked owlishly down at the limb for a few moments before giving a distraught and confused hiccup.

"But you were bitten..." Aquila whispered, she had never seen wounds heal like that unless they were under the influence of a potion. Or in her case a guardian spirit. "How did you do that?" She asked, blue eyes now trained intently on Shank's face as if the answer would be written across his features.

 

[ArcticFox]

Shank smirked. Or at least it looked so by the way his eyes moved. He pulled her closer, not unlike the time that he had pounced on her in Torrepani.

"What do I get for telling you?"

- "Whatever you want."
- "Nothing."
- "Lunch."
- "A kiss."
- "Your life."

 

[Yokai]

>> What do you want? <<​

Aquila narrowed her eyes at him and sniffed delicately, fully pretending she hadn't been crying over his possible death. She wasn't going to cave into his demands, though it was hard not to like him after the stunt he just pulled. The fact he had almost died protecting Aquila from her own stupidity was definitely working in his favour. Still... Aquila squinted at him suspiciously.

"Well, what do you want?" Aquila asked, giving Shank a measured look. "Besides my luck that is." She added with a small, knowing smile; that wasn't something she was about to give up. Not matter how hard Shank pushed.

 

[ArcticFox]

"To eat. I'm starving." The Orc responded, letting go of her. Then he looked to his own arm and gave a slight shrug. "You waiting for me to turn into a werewolf? Can't happen twice." He said and then reached up with a finger to pull down his mask an inch, to reveal just briefly the sight of his canines. He did not have tusks, like his kind, his sharp fangs protruded from his upper lip, reaching down. Then he moved the finger away and his features were hidden again. "No more questions before lunch." He announced.

- Clean up at the fountain before proceeding.
- Go north.
- Go south.

 

[Yokai]

>> Clean up at the fountain before proceeding <<
​

That... explained a lot. The mention of 'brother' in the boat and the knowledge that the werewolf had been tampered with. Aquila stared at him for a moment as the pieces cane together, eyes trained on his recovered fangs. She had been so worried and guilt-ridden for nothing, and yet it still sat there below the surface. If Shank hadn't been a werewolf, things would have gone very differently.

"Alright," Aquila nodded to Shank, pulling herself out of her thoughts. "But we should probably try and clean up first..." Her gaze scanned their surroundings before settling on the fountain which she approached. Aquila doubted anyone would want to serve them as they currently are now.

 

[ArcticFox]

The water was fresh, if a little cold. There was not much freshening that Aquila could do, except take some of the murk out of her hair and bared skin. Her armour would be wet for the whole day probably and she would not smell the best, but it would pass until the next morning. Shank had it easier, he had only leather strips for armour.

"There." The Orc pointed toward the corner of the intersection. There was a tavern close by, doors opened and inviting. He strolled forward without waiting for Aquila.

- Go with him.
- Take this chance to slip away.

 

[Yokai]

>> Go with him <<​

Aquila sighed with such force that it was a surprise that her soul didn't fall out. It seemed she would be stuck smelling awful until she got back to the inn. She glanced over to the other side of the river. They would need to get back across at some point but for now she'd follow Shank's lead. Turning on her heel she hurried after the swift moving Orc and into the tavern. Hopefully they had something good to eat here, and hopefully they wouldn't mind the smell. Besides, if she remembered correctly, Shank had no coin on him so Aquila would need to pay for both of them.

 

[ArcticFox]

The tavern was half empty, but it was filled with a wonderful smell of cooking meat. The owner of the tavern greeted them at the entrance. "Guests, a meal for four pieces, a bed for six." He presented his prices right away.
"Food. Now." Shank ordered, not stopping to see what would Aquila say.
"U-um, right away." The innkeeper nodded and scurried out of his way and into the kitchens.

The Orc strolled to a table in a corner, catching curious looks from what little patrons there were. He sat on a chair positioned so he turned his back on all the other people of the tavern. Helpfully he pushed out a chair on the opposite of him, for Aquila.

The innkeeper arrived soon after, really not taking his time with their order. He set out two wooden plates of some sort of meat and vegetables in front of them, along with a chunk of bread. Shank attacked the food like a ferocious wolf.

- Eat in silence.
- Ask Shank something.

 

[Yokai]

>> Ask about rations <<​

Aquila's lips twitched up in amusement at Shank's straight-forward manner -- it was much funnier when you weren't on the receiving side. She followed him to the table and sat in the offered chair, it had a view over the other patrons in the tavern so she couldn't complain. From this seat she could watch the comings and goings of customers, and judge their looks in their direction.

"Thank you," She murmured to the innkeeper with a warm smile, grateful to be fed so quickly. Shank was intimidating that way. "Would you happen to sell rations here?" Aquila asked the innkeeper, before tucking into her own food. She was visibly less ferocious than Shank but that could be because she was attempting to be polite, at least while the innkeeper was there.

 

[ArcticFox]

The innkeeper gave her a hurried nod. "I can pack some bread and cheese for you for three coins a piece." He said quickly. It was still more expensive than Shamutanti, but it was much better than the prices she had come upon by then.

Shank had finished his food in a couple of minutes, pulling the mask back over his mouth. The innkeeper gave him a slightly uneasy glance, noticing his large teeth, but he did not comment on it.

- Buy rations.
- Don't buy.
- Optional: Talk to Shank.

 

[Yokai]

>> Buy rations: Talk to Shank <<
​

Aquila's expression brightened marginally at the price before she began to calculate how much that'd leave her. Eight coins for their current meal, and then nine coins for three rations. That'd leave her with only three coins left, which was pretty low. Aquila mentally shrugged that worry off -- these were the cheapest rations available to her and she needed to stock up. If that left her broke, then so be it. Perhaps she could find work somewhere to earn some coin, enough to line her pocket at least. It wasn't smart to be broke.

"Thank you, I'll take three rations, please," Aquila asked politely. She couldn't pass up on the deal, and that'd leave her stocked for the rest of her time in Khare and then into the Baklands. With the rations ordered she turned back to her food and continued eating, she offered Shank her piece of bread. He looked hungrier than her, and she didn't need to eat as much as him. "Here." She wiggled the bread enticingly.

"So, how long have you been a werewolf?" She asked, almost casually, though the bright curiosity in her face betrayed her.

 

[ArcticFox]

The innkeeper brought out the rations to Aquila and took the coin for them, bowing his head slightly and leaving them alone.

Shank snatched the bread out of Aquila's grasp and stuffed it behind his mask in one smooth motion, before answering her question.

"Even heard of Gaza Moon?"

And then he told her about his foolish quest. Apparently seven years ago, Shank was just a scrawny teenager who did not win a fight in his life. And friendly fist fights were apparently a thing in Orcish settlements. At some point Shank had grown tired of being the laughing stock of the village and sneaked out of it in the middle of the night, vowing never to return. He did not go further than the hilltop over the waterfall, as he was stopped by a strange old woman who invited him fro tea and cakes and even when he refused, she pretended not to hear him. Much like Aquila he had drank tea in her home, while she complained of being forgotten. Shank had told her about his running away from home and she offered to help him out.

"To be fair, I am stronger since that day." The Orc said with a low growl. "But the damn witch did not tell me that I would howl at every full moon."

- Ask about Vik and the werewolves.
- Ask what is he gonna do now.
- Ask something else.

 

[Yokai]

>> Ask about Vik and the werewolves <<​

Aquila finished eating and pushed the bowl aside in favour of leaning forward, listening with earnest interest to the Orc's tale. It seemed that Gaza Moon was as meddling of an woman as she was a powerful witch. Aquila suddenly felt even luckier to have gotten out of her own experience unscathed. In the end, it seemed, both of them had left her hut with a gift.

"I think she enjoys teaching people lessons," Aquila agreed quietly, Gaza Moon seemed like the type to help you while also point out your flaws. It was advice of a different kind, but not unappreciated. "What about the ones we saw today? It looked like this Vik has been doing something to them." Concern flooded her features as she recalled the lack of humanity to the werewolves. Experimentation was what first surfaced to mind and she shuddered slightly at the thought.

 

[ArcticFox]

"I don't know." Shank simply shrugged. "You are magic, you should know." He looked at her with a flat expression. Then he leaned over his shoulder to scan the innkeeper. The man was on the far side of the room, occupied with other patrons.

Without a warning, the bog Orc stood up, picked Aquila up and slung her over his shoulder and then ran out of the inn. Aquila did not have a chance to pay for their meal yet, which is what Shank realised as well, otherwise he would not be running. There was a self-satisfied snicker coming from the Orc as he slowed his pace down and then came to a full stop, although with Aquila still up over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

- Demand to be put down.
- Wait.

 

[Yokai]

>> Demand to be put down <<​

"I think you overestimate my magical abilities," Was what Aquila had been about to say when she'd suddenly been thrown over Shank's shoulder and escorted from the premises at speed. Instead she made a rather undignified squeak of surprise and tensed up, unable to do much over than attempt to hold onto the sprinting Orc. They hadn't even paid for their meal! Aquila realized belatedly, around the time he'd come to sudden stop and found herself more than a little disorientated.

"Shank!" Aquila admonished, a pale blush settled across her features and clashed against her auburn hair. "Put me down! I cannot believe we just dined and dashed..." She trailed off, though she didn't sound all that sorry -- Aquila really hadn't wanted to spend more than she needed to. And this way she wasn't completely broke on the streets of Khare, hopefully it wouldn't inconvenience the innkeeper too much.

 

[ArcticFox]

"Yeah." Shank nodded and then put her Aquila down in front of him. She only reached up to his shoulders and the Orc towered above her. He nodded, approving of his own actions. "Saved you, saved your coin. No problem." He placed a hand on her head and ruffled her ginger hair with a deep chuckle. "Have to go now, magic. But don't try to go too far, I'll know where you are." He patted his nose with one finger, before turning around and walking into the opposite direction, on some other business he suddenly found so pressing.

Aquila was back onto the first crossroads with the fountain, while the sun had climbed to its highest point on the sky. She still had plenty of sunlight left for exploring. The path led to the north and to south.

- Go north.
- Go south.

 

[Yokai]

>> Go North <<​

"Goodbye, Shank," Aquila replied with a smile, amused at the Orc's behavior as she found it suited what she'd seen from him so far. She watched him leave for a moment before she drew her map -- currently she wasn't exactly sure of her location. Blue eyes squinted down at the coloured dyes of Khare, determining where she was and where she needed to go.

It took a long moment of muddling through the streets but ultimately she decided to go North. Aquila folded the map away as she looked to the path she'd take; her primary goal was to get to the Red Quarter. She was already in East Khare, she figured that she might as well take care of some business there called Lorag. Aquila hadn't made much progress in regards to the lines of the spell, which subsequently were her only way out of this city. And so she set off in that direction, the incident with the werewolves behind her but weighing heavy on her mind.

 

[ArcticFox]

She followed a narrow winding street past shops and stalls. It was still early and the shops were not open yet, but there were stirrings from within the houses as the daily activities begun. A face appeared at one of the windows, seemingly watching her pass, although the creature's eyes were closed and Aquila could not be sure if the creature actually noticed her.

- Wave at it.
- Call out.
- Walk on.

 

[Yokai]

>> Call out <<
​

Aquila followed the winding, unfamiliar streets up past closed stores and stalls as she looked around her with large, curious eyes. With the werewolf incident behind her Aquila was looking forward to making head-way on her quest. She needed to find Lorag, the creatures she'd met -- what felt like a lifetime ago -- had mentioned she may find him in the Red Quarter. And so that is where she'd go.

Curious eyes settled on a strange face in one of the passing windows, the creature's eyes were closed and Aquila wondered whether it was sleeping. Or perhaps it was blind? That was not so far-fetched, after all. "Hello?" Grace called out, attempting to grab the creature's attention as she drew a little closer. She didn't want to startle or frighten it, but she also didn't want to be jumped.

 

[ArcticFox]

The creature ducked inside the house, not returning her greeting.

She walked on. Another similar creature stood in a doorway across the street, washing her body from a bucket. This one was a mixed breed female, although very gaunt and spindly with an elongated face - not exactly human, but not an Elvin either. Her eyes were closed too.

- Greet her.
- Ignore her.

 

[Yokai]

>> Greet her <<
​

Things around here appeared to be rather strange, Aquila concluded as she stumbled across another creature of similar bearing. She hadn't gotten a good look at the first one but Aquila now realized how, kind of scary looking the creatures were. It wasn't fair for her to judge on appearances however, she still remembered the friendly poachers she had met. Still, there was something unnerving at work here.

"Hello," She greeted the woman, not stopping for anything more as she passed by. Aquila didn't want to trouble the creature and she also didn't want to venture too close. It was a hard balance to maintain but she figured one couldn't go wrong with being respectful.

 

[ArcticFox]

But even as she spoke the woman turned around to soap her hair. Perhaps she kept her eyes closed because she did not want soap to sting her eyes. That must have been it.

At the end of the road, under a low arch, a group of kids and teenagers were loitering, talking and kicking stones into the gutter. They noticed Aquila and begun to point and talk amongst themselves. They also had their eyes closed, although it seemed that they have actually seen her. Or perhaps they have only heard her?

- Approach them.
- Take a side street to avoid them.

 

[Yokai]

>> Take a side street to avoid them <<​

Closed eyes appeared to be a trend around these parts and Aquila began to wonder whether she'd ventured into the wrong district. How the group of children and teenagers could see her was lost to her, she had begun to suspect they were part of a race unknown to her. Or, these people were simply under some sort of strange spell. Aquila would be lying if she said that the whole thing wasn't putting her on edge. When the group of children and teenagers began to point in her direction she finally decided it'd be better to slip away -- sometimes the younger generation frightened her more than the elder ones. Aquila spied a side street and changed her course abruptly, slipping away from the strange creatures with closed eyes.

 

[ArcticFox]

She saw an opening to one side and nipped it down. As soon as she turned toward the streets, the crowd of youths rushed after her!

They were very quick runners and Aquila would need to move fast in order to lose them. But, the alleyways were tight and she could not see what was around each corner as they approached.

- Run!
- Stand and face them!

 

[Yokai]

>> Run! <<​

Footsteps sounded from behind her and Aquila glanced over her shoulder to find the group of youths had bolted after her. Natural instincts kicked in and Aquila found herself sprinting away, attempting to put some distance between herself and them. But they were fast and the alleyways were unfamiliar and tight, Aquila had to physically throw herself around each corner, hoping that she wouldn't collide with some poor innocent stranger. It wasn't very nice of these kids to be terrorizing travelers, Aquila thought indignantly -- though the spark of fear within her chest was real enough.