Silena is silent for a few moments...
"It is not GROTEUS... I fear~. Your healing was kind and appreciated... but not not needed Sonya.. I was not ~harmed."
She is silent a few moments more seemingly anxious to be on with their tasks.
She bows her head at Sonya's admonishments, "... it is too late from me... sweet Sonya. There is a darkness within me, always has been, even before~ I cannot deny it, but I must master it... before it masters me... or... harms others."
"We tarry too long... let us be away to Kalemarane...!"
After the search Jengren will begin to cover tracks the best that he knows how. He scatters a few more trinkets and broken weapons from the other battle. When he is satisfied with the "scene set-up", "Silena's right lets not tarry."
Calain nods.
He approaches the gnolls as a hunter would apprach a bear that had established a territory too close to a settlement. He did not enjoy nor regret what he was about to do, it just was. Despite all the trappings of man. His 'civilization', the world still was as it had always been. Predators and prey. The strong eat the weak. The gnolls here were a natural menace that needed to be culled.
He does not see the need to prolong thier suffering so his first strike is a killing one a ragged gash across the neck of each that would make them bleed out almost instantly. When the lifebeat stopped he arranged them face down, side by side and placed many smaller slashes around their arms and torso.
The idea to make it seem tthey fought a longer battle, surrendering when the many smaller wounds made resistance impossible.
The they would seem to have been put on their knees and executed.
He arranged the bodies of the Three Paws around them, testament to the Kermalean Gnolls being surrounded and fighting hard before dying.
Is this sufficient?
"That works, now lets leave." Jengren did not like giving the order, or even making the suggestion, but it needed to be done.
Jengren will detect magic on the earring, then take the item.
Jengren will ride up to Sonya with earrings, "They lack magic but you may like these trinkets....they are becoming to the eye." He extends his hand offering up the items.
Sonya smiles sweetly to Jengren's offer taking the earring from him. "My thanks to you, it is a sweet offer." Sonya does her best to sound sincere as he truely appreciates the guesture but feels wrong wearing the twice stolen property of another man.
"So, we head to town. The general ruse is to to enter Calain into the fights but we spread the word that the Three Jaws tribe is preparing for an attack in retribution for their recent deaths." He jingles a few battle field trinkets.
Silena rode in silence... lost in thought... still worried about her...'state-of-soul'... but there was nothing for it but to endure and prepare for .. the unfortunate future.
Catching up on what Jengren said she replies, "...y-yes. Yes. To Kalemerane... we look a rough-enough bunch... though Sonya might not fit with our story as her appearance is more refined. Should we affect some disguses for Sonya and you perhaps Jengren?"
"My disguise is one of setting the betting book on the All Mighty Calain, the Master of the Pit." He nods, "But thanks for thinking about my well being."
Calain grunts in admission.
The challenge will be keeping me alive through the fights. You are not a lannista by trade Jengren. I have fought in such places before. The run will be easy at first. Bets on lesser fighters and new combatants are generally honest. But the closer I get to a real champion the more chance of interference. Owners who make their careers off blood sports do not like their champions displaced unless THEY want it so.
I'm going to electrocute this beast when I get back to the caravan. Long slow, painfully so. a thin smile appears on the Jengren's face after a particularly loud gaseous explosion.
Silena smiles, commenting as they pass the ruin of the defeated gnolls punctuated by camel flatulents, "..Camels,might be more efficient ... even smarter... but horses are certainly more pleasant to utilize, and easier on the eyes."
She pats 'Nightscream' on the neck affectionately and he nickers appreciatively.
We will spend the day trying to get withing eye sight of the town.
"What do you suggest for my disguise Selina?" Sonya watches the lights of the city nervous for what comes tomorrow.
Silena ponders the situation and resources available, "Hmm... we don't have much... it depends upon you Sonya.. how 'disguised' are you willing to be? When you are making an illusion.. always show your audience ... what they Expect to see! It makes the illusion more believable."
"I am not particularly good at lying or making disguises. With the burns covering my arms, I'll need to remain covered or the sun will bake what little flesh remains." anyone listening can clearly hear the self loathing and disgust as she talks about herself. I will do my best at whatever you think is best. This is not a part of the world I am familiar with so I seek your advice. Any of you have an idea?"
Silena smiles, "...you make my point exactly Sonya. We show them what they expect to see."
"Give me a little time before we enter the city... I shall 'arrange' your costume..."
Silena dismounts as they pass the pile of slain Gnoll bodies drawing her Falchion.. she collects a head from one of the gnolls before returning to her steed.
Once we are away from the site and reach a staging area before we approach the city Silena will call for a pause so she can fashion Sonya's disguise.
She will gather wood from the sparse trees about finding the most gnarled twisted but sturdy branch she can for a walking staff. Silena will start a fire and toss the gnoll head into the flames letting the meat cook as she cuts the sprigs from the twisted gnarled walking staff with he dagger. When the staff is complete she pulls the head from the fires with her guantleted hand and places the walking staff into the fires in place of it. This she watches as she only wants the staff to get a charred exterior not actually be consumed by the fire. Then she will pull it from the fire and douse the flames with sand.
As for the Gnoll head she will clean the flesh from the skull with her blades leaving behind the charred bone of its skull.
Then Silena will lash the gnoll head to the twisted staff to make a ...rather grizzle walking staff. She will then bury the staff in the sand to 'cure' it some with heat to dry it out even more.
Turning to Sonya, "Now let's deal with your part of the costume. Come with me over here I have clothing you will wear with a little modification."
Silena takes her behind a dune out of sight of the men-folk, "Now we don't want to ruin your cloths so we must remove them in exchange for more suitable set."
From the party loot Silena dressed Sonya in ragged clothing. Because it was once worn by the frame of a man it should be baggy on her which is well - for Silena wraps Sonya almost like a mummy in the rags! Then she gently removes Sonya's left gloved arm.
Silena then rolls up Sonya's clothing a puts them in a backpack for later.
Speaking, "Have you ever seen a leper colony Sonya? The poor wretches are so pitiable.. so ashamed of their own rotting forms that they wrap themselves from head to toe in clothing so they even do not have to look upon their flaking visages! People who are burn victims do similar... and most who see them have no interest in seeing what must be horrific underneath their concealing robes... too much of a reminder of what could be their own fate. Most ignore the unfortunate those cursed with deformities and scars.. they don't WANT to see them - so most of those unfortunate wretches spend their entire lives being ignored by those around them!"
"So... we are going to play on that in your disguise. You are burned and we want everyone to think horribly so... but unlike the wretches who hide themselves you will seem to Embrace it.. to revel in your deformities...or at least make your observers think you do! It will make them ignore you EVEN more!!"
"To that end we will leave one of your arms uncovered.. don't worry.. I'll cast upon you.. you will feel no discomfort I promise."
"The rest of you will be covered wrapped so no hint of skin is visible.. in these rags... but also... in this mask!"
Silena will drape the blood stained silk veil over Sonya's face and then place the Bronze Mask of Nethys over her head to totally conceal her features. From various places upon her rag wrapped appearance Silena will hang the sets of battered ceramic idols just to add a level of eerie madness to the appearance. Then Silena will retrieve the gnarled charred and burnt, gnoll-headed staff handing it to Sonya...
Then she will adjust the Mask of Nethys so it is not quite straight on her face... to add to the mad persona Sonya is assuming.
"Carry this staff in your covered hand... but leave your burned arm visible for all to see.. they will not question if the rest of you is burned..they will assume it is! Can you act sun-crazed? Speak only in raspy whispers... spouting contradictory drivel occasionally? Like ; stuff like that. They will think you mad.. a mad fire wielding burnt sage of Nythys.. none will give you a second look ... other than to avoid your presence as much as possible. I can't hide the fact your a woman... with what I have here, but hopefully the burned woman will be repellant enough that most will not give you a second look."
"When casting an illusion.. show your audience what they expect to see.. it makes the deception all the easier!"
"I'm sorry for the smell and grim nature of the costume.. but the freshly charred smell tinged with the scent of burnt flesh will simply add to the costume."
"Is this acceptable Sonya?"
While the women are at the back of the small hill, Calain remarks to Jengren.
I hope you are as skilled in lies as you are in magic friend. The one great flaw of this plan is that none of us is a skilled liar so far as I know.
"Where I grew up, I was not the strongest, but my resourcefulness did extend to bluffing. You'd be surprised what people will believe especially when adding in a touch of magic." With that he wiggles his fingers like a fan and there is a light breeze to cools the temperature. "Better?"
"No need to be out here exposed this evening, let's make our way into town. Is everyone ready?" He double takes when he sees Sonya, "excellent work."
Silena nods in acceptance, "..I would not have chosen such disguise had more alternative garb been available... I'm sure Sonya is ...sensitive about her maladies. But its all I have... when you want more but have less to work with, use what you have and accentuate it. Anyways.. lets be about getting into this city."
Turning to Calain, "Calain.. you need a pit name that sound impressive something like ! Or some other such non-sense like that! I know it sounds corny but the pit masters will expect something more.. than perhaps just 'Calain'. Come up with some name for Jengren to tell them, keep whatever names you choose to 'two-syllables'... they are easier for the audience to chant."
"Calain what did they cheer in the arena? That is what we should use, better hide in plain sight than risk someone remembering you from a prior life." Jengren looks at his crew, "The gladiator is simply doing what comes natural ...earning enough for his woman and booze...nothing more, nothing less."
"Silena perhaps you should play his traveling companion...exotic, unique and intriguing."
Silena ponders a moment casting a slight frown of consideration Calain's direction.
"Hmmm... that might work ..I suppose. Though I figured my role as arena healer and winnings-guardswoman was kind of obvious. You don't have your prize fighter guard his winnings.. to much of a chance of him being 'not-so-accidentally' hurt. You hire thugs for that, like me."
She shruggs, "It just so happens that I also am his arena medic."
Looking over at Sonya, "..and the ONLY reason that we might not have Sonya fill that role is beacuse she worships SARENRAE... it might raise a question as to exactly who we are if her devotions are recognized by the undoubtedly present shamans of LAMASHTU among the gnolls. ZON-KUTHON makes since to have be a pit fighter's healer and medic."
"But I'll leave that to you... the role I sort of put Sonya in is as your advisor and magic resource Jengren - but I'll leave it up to you.. whatever you decide I'll be fine with."
Calain remembered his arean days, the numbers of other gladiators who died at his hands....the friends whom he injured when he'd first discovered his RAGE and his inability to control himself through the haze. The crowd LOVED is madness even through it had nearly destroyed him. It was also what saved him.
My name IS two syllables. The crowd chanted Cay-lin, Cay-lin. But when I was presented to the crowd, I was called "Calain, the Mad Dog. Most Wild. The Land Shark." because it seemed I would kill ALL who were in the pit with me when I lost ckntrol, I had earned the Title God of the Areana only when I had earned my Nodachi from a visiting Tian Samurai who had to fight for his visiting masters honor. His skill FAR exceeded my own. The injuries I received should have killed me. But I won the fight of attrition.
Silena regards Calain as he recounts his memories and past in the arena as a pit fighter. His words come without any fire.. and.. in her opinion tinged with some... discomfort...
Silena ponders his words in silence, {Must be painful memories... I can understand... the midnight lord would savior a repast of such shame and pain... but... I don't feel ~ inclined to feed HIS endless hunger right now...}
She speaks up her tone subtly different, "..Well worry not.. I am not a professional liar of you want to call it that.. BUT I am fairly good at misdirection. I don't need to lie, I find it distasteful in the extreme - it stains one's honor... but what you don't say can be just as deceiving so don't fret, it will be fine. For the purposes of this endeavor... I'll lend the power of the Midnight Lord without any need of recognition in favor and expectation of the suffering we will inflict upon our quarry.. our betrayal of their schemes shall be full and complete! Thus, upon its eventual discovery.. they will have no one to blame but their own self-duplicity and the Midnight Lord shall have his repast of pain!"
To Calain, "Do not concern yourself overmuch of the arena fighting God-king, Calain... we shall be swift and keep your arena battles to a minimum. We will keep our focus on the mission. We only need put of a convincing front.. not revel in the pit fighting."
It is ... hard to tell in her dual meaning terms ... but it almost seems as if the Priestess of the Torment God.. just tried to give comfort with her words...
"Let's proceed to the town."
Silena rides forward to look the Gnoll in the eyes, "Does it look like were here to sell flowers? Were mercenaries.. heard some warlord or another was gathering swords... So we're here for business IF the pay is worth it! And... we heard there's a Battle Market, likely pit fights too.. we got our slayer - ... see if we can make some profit in bloodsport on the side. I'm 'Despair'..battle cleric of the Pain Lord of Midnight and medic for the our band. So... is your warlord looking for blades or not?!?"
Jengren sits atop his camel with a menacing look in his eyes,
He may be the weakest member of the party but he has a don't cross him demeanor.
"Interesting version of the truth....I like it.
Without any further comment Silena rides slowly through the town making her way to the Battle Market she notes the buildings and people she sees.
Thinking,
Silena glances back at the party as she goes ... eyeing Dashki meaningfully but gesturing to Oxvard to come forward to her side.
Softly she mutter to him, "Stay calm and Keep an eye our for your companions... but DON'T act... just identify them to us with the words ..."
At the indicated building Silena dismounts and leads Nightscream by the reins.. to a hitch post and looks the building over closely waiting for the others gather and dismount as well.
I've been super busy with work this week so my posting is limited but I'll catch up over the weekend.
Sonya can not even begin to put words to how much resentment she has for this outfit. The humiliation she feels letting all see her scars; and worst of all, spouting perversions of how her holy flames of the Everlight are some wicked gift to be feared. But this too shall pass.
As they walk the city streets Sonya keeps back from the rest of the party, that they will not be seen in the company of a leaper; but also to hide herself from their eyes. She wishes deep in her heart that she could shut their ears to her words, but says then all the same. Sonya's mind searches for each passage about flame in every holy text she can recall as they walk the city streets.
"in the beginning of time there was fire the first gift of the gods and only by wielding this gift can we ever become true gods. Believe in what I'm telling you of all the elements fire is is the strongest. earth is unyielding and unmoving but if you are strong enough you can move the earth itself; air goes where it wishes and is easily redirected; water flows and if you wish you can follow its current and if you're willing to Endure you may move against its current. But fire fire is different fire is life itself you can see it dancing and moving it lives, it breathes it struggles against the earth it tries to snuff it out it boils away the water that tries to kill it. Fire is life and only God can control life. By watching the dragons we learned out first taste of magic. Who know the power of fire better than those that breathe it. But beware, we are not gods yet flames can still harm us. the fires we started in the earliest days it took nine Hells to contain them. So be afraid of fire just as you should respect it.
Sonya sees an overly watchful group of onlookers and casts a torrent of flames in their direction ensuring she does not strike them but making sure they feel the heat. Seeing their fear Sonya attempts a cackling laugh as loud as she can.
Silena is impressed by Sonya's show and 'getting into the role'... but she is also concerned...
She can see the strain in Sonya's step, the angry clenching of her exposed uncovered burned limb's fist. the way she is not graceful or light of step...only things someone who was familiar with Sonya had traveled and been around her would notice...
Silena as the others dismount and prepare to enter the battle market she walks over to Sonya speaking loudly, "Alright burned woman...! That's enough of that... we're not here to burn down the entire market.. save your 'purifying' flames for our enemies!"
She stands close to Sonya as if use to scolding and reigning in their mad arcane caster...
Silena leans in close in her face as if bullying her with the forcefulness of her personality... to whisper~ to the appearance of all observers, perhaps menacing words to calm the ranting madwoman arcanist...
But to Sonya - Silena's whispered voice is tender very sorrowful, '..I'm so sorry Sonya! I know you hate this disguise.. you don't have to do this anymore.. I did not want to cause you such distress...'
Then she says loudly again, "AM I Clear? Now put your glove back on... and cover that arm before that it gets infected... again! I swear... I'll charge you this time if I have to cast another cure disease on it!"
With a swirl of her cloak Silena turns on her heel and stalks back over to her mount grumbling under her breath about mad arcanists and casts a angry glare at Jengren..as if blaming him for insisting on keeping her around!
Jengren yanks and pulls on his beastly camel until it stops moving.Finally damn beast doesn't listen. He scowls at his beast of burden. Camel stew. His expression brightens slightly as he dismounts and ties it to the post.
He tries to get an assessment of the town's layout.
"Calain..." He motions towards a tavern.
"Stay away with your false gods magics witch. These burns are like the molten flesh of the great Phoenix, and I pray for the day the blessed flame will take me and I shall emerge like the dragons themselves. Master of flame and life." Sonya mildly swings her staff at Selina but makes no real effort to strike her. The suns heat is boiling her frail skin, but Sonya does her best to endure; taking no heed to the instruction to replace her gloves.
"Jank, I presume!" More of a statement to the jester than a question. He glances around to make sure everyone has caught up before he follows the jester into the battle market. Instinctively the sorcerer pushes his sleeves up his forearms.