Torod looks at Marten and seems to be about to say something before pausing. "Yeah. You did offer. I forgot. But even that doesn't keep me from being the one that should go with her."
"Quiet!" Asta snaps at the Half-Elven Druid. "We have all heard more than enough out of you for one evening! You are not going into that fortress until it is time for the battle to begin, and that - is - final!"
"So you're not dismissing me. You're dismissing me like I was a child." He gets up and and walks away.
"You have the emotional control of one!" the Witch hisses after the Druid. "Lewd, stubborn and merciless!"
"That is where you are wrong. All of you. I'm not angry, just sad that none of you can see what I see and frustrated that you fight me at every turn about what I know to be the truth."
"If you are not even angry when suggesting someone struggling to turn a new leaf be killed out of hand, I truly pity you," Asta says. "Your own superior in the order of Erastil confirmed Kressel's sincerity, and even that is not enough to move you out of this destructive rut."
Her smile remains as Elaina looked somewhat relieved in her opinion. Seraph didn't remark when she turned crimson it was one of the things she enjoyed around people because everyone reacts differently and the growing flush of her skin made her even more pretty.
Not wanting Asta to stay waiting she remarked quietly. "A story for another time then, I look forward to it~." She sighs and nods, releasing Elaina from the small hug she had given her and rises to her feet. She turns and offers a hand to her companion. "If your ready I think we best both go in, red eyed or not." She remarks comically after they're shared tear filled experience together.
"If we're lucky things might have cooled off." She adds, a hopeful note in her voice.
"Or not." Elaina whispers to Seraph as they enter the impromptu meeting room to find Asta and Torod glaring at each other.
Seraph bulked in the doorway at the intensity of the atmosphere as she entered and frowned as she felt the direct cause was partially centered on her poorly handled frustration. "Let me apologize." She bows her head. "I took what was said too personal. I shouldn't have lash out at Torod for his opinion nor mocked Old Deadeye if I did. Again I am sorry."
She hoped her apology would help cool this situation and allow them to finish their plans.
Marten sits back and just listens...
"And I hope you will accept my apology as well. Showing mercy is good. I'm not good with words and I think what I said what I wanted to say very well.
Elaina, I am still ready at any time to go with you, though others believe that I am not the right choice.
I hold Jhod in high regard, like I do you, Asta, but neither of you are my superior. Even if he was, that would not keep him from being wrong. And I never suggested killing that viper after our judgment was rendered. I continue to say you will come to regret not having killed her."
Torod turns his back and walks out.
"Let me know your decision. I have preparations to make." Those preparations take him outside of the walls of the trading post for the rest of the night.
If any look for him, he has set camp a few hundred yards away from the back wall. Strawberry is keeping him company.
She nods in acceptance to Torod's apology and doesn't comment as he leaves, allowing him time to finish his preparations.
Once he was gone she look to the others. "Again, sorry for the trouble everyone. My oaths do not allow me to act dishonorably and require me to take the hardest moral road. However..." She hesitates as she speaks. "I may disagree with his stance but I believe he is a good choice to go with Elaina. His abilities would be very useful as would Martens if they get in trouble. It would also be a boon to have his... companion there to fight too." She couldn't say the name without nearly chuckling. She wasn't quite used to Strawberry Deathstrike. For some reason she wanted Shortcake every time she started to think about it. Her eyes drift to the dessert she brought back in momentarily before she focused on finishing the conversation at hand...
"As I have told Elaina, her choice in who goes and there is the matter of my route to decide as I will need to be prepared to ride at first light then." She gives Asta a small nod, wanting to still speak with her after the meeting was over.
"The choice is Elaina's, indeed, but I advise against taking Torod," Asta says. "His emotional control is a fragile thing, and I worry what might happen if he lost his temper while he and Elaina were in the midst of those cutthroats." She shakes her head, frowning. "That man angers me, sometimes."
She turns to the sergeant. "Enough. How many men can you spare for this battle?"
"Torod's abilities were never in question, only his temper, Seraph. I agree with Asta. It is Elaina's choice, but I do not recommend taking him in. And he will be useful in the assult force as well." Marten says to Elaina and Seraph.
"I'm assuming that you won't just let me the only one to go in. I'd rather have Marten than Torod along. I trust Marten's temper more than I do the druid's." Elaina says, knowing she may have just doomed Marten along with herself if things went sour.
"I'm coming, too," Croft remarks from where he's pecking -- er, picking over the remains of the special dish Svetlana made for him. "Don'tcha worry, kid. If anyone tries any rough-stuff, I'll rough 'em up. Caw!"
Seraph nods. "I understand and ultimately leave up to you to decide. Although I think you'll do just fine Elaina." She gives her companion a reassuring smile.
She then looks from one to the next as she says. "Since our allies are spread far apart, is my route fine for me to pursue? I can ride far more quickly if I have little to slow me down. I will push hard which means I can reach the temple in under a day, granted that is if Perv and Tyg aren't playing hard to get." She smirks at the thought of chasing the fey through the woods. "By the time they are prepared and coming the rest of you and Asta will have spoke with the Sootscales. Which I will meet you there."
"You must not go alone, for the same reason that Elaina should not go alone into the bandits' stronghold," Asta says, sternly. "Marten, will you accompany Seraph on this trip, help her stay alive until we all join up again?"
She takes the stern talk from Asta seriously before smiling at Marten. "Don't worry Asta I'll make sure he lives through it~ But that is fine by me~"
"I will gladly accompany her. I am certainly not as good a rider as Seraph, but I should not slow her much." he answers to Asta and then smiles at Seraph's comment.
"So the plan is for me to go the temple with Seraph, then rejoin the rest of you at the caves and go with Elaina to the stronghold, right. It looks like I am the designated chaperon." he grins. "Good thing they are both capable of keeping me out of trouble as well."
She corrected Martin politely. "First the fey, then the temple and back to the group. Were going to be in for a rough ride Marten." She wanted to tease Marten but she didnt want to incur Asta's stern words again.
"Now that we have a plan, we should get some rest." Elaina says, getting up and making her way to the door. "Night, I'll see you all in the morning.'"
"Good night Elaina. If you need anything dont worry about waking me up. I'm a light sleeper." Again she kept her comments friendly but without her usual playfulness.
Torod speaks to Oleg first thing in the morning, then sets off to the south with Gerty and Strawberry Deathstrike.
If this is not something you want in the game, just say so and I'll drop it and we can pretend that what I am about to write never happens.
Elaina wishes Seraph and the others a good night as well. She finds a comfortable spot under the night sky and beds down for the night. Soon, she is asleep.
Then she heard his voice.
"So, li'l girl. You thought you had made me safe?"
The voice echoed off the trees, coming from everywhere and nowhere.
"I-I'm not afraid of you!"
"Oh but you are. I can smell it."
Elaina reached for her sword, to find it gone. Her dagger was missing, as were her bow and her arrows.
"Oh yes, very afraid." The voice said as a thousand icy fingers traced the unseen markings on her skin. Her body shivered under the barely felt touch and her eyes darted around, looking for the voice's owner.
"Show yourself!" She demanded, but terror choked the command form her voice.
"If you insist." The voice said, sending it's hot breath down on Elaina's neck, scaldingly hot after the freezing cold. She felt the tips of monstrously large fingers brush her back as she moved out of their way. She turned and her terror was complete. It was the man that had tried to have his way with her so long ago. He had grown much larger, his frame covered in powerful muscle. His eyes were filled with cold malice and his face was covered in a sadist's sneer.
[b]"You though me impotent, no longer a threat, but I can tell you that those were false hopes. I will have you, demonspawn. I will show you your place!"{/b] The man screeched as he lunged for her.
Terror fueled her flight, she ran through the woods, her feet carrying her. Her heart raced, her feet felt heavier with each step, her pace seemed to slow with each agonized breath, but she dared not stop. She ran for hours, never getting far ahead of the brutish terror at her back. Her panic was complete, she could not think, she could only run.
After what seemed to be hours, she tripped over a root that she could not see, and the man was upon her. She kicked out, trying to buy some time to get her feet under her, but all it did was allow him to grab her legs. Roots surged our of the ground and bound her wrists fast. The man chuckled evilly as he began his work.
First were the boots that were tossed into the gloom, Next the man undid her sword belt before tearing the chain shirt she wore with terrible ease. Piece by piece he removed her clothing. Her gauntlets, her padded tunic, her breeches, her blouse, he tore them from her with unnerving patience and laughed cruelly all the while as Elaina struggled to get free.
She was cold, colder than she'd ever been in her life as the monster sat there and drank in the sight of her in little more than her under clothes. Its eyes trace the sensuous curves of her body and and admired the blood-red markings on her body.
Tears of fear and terror streamed down Elaina's cheeks as she struggled to free herself. Then the brute stripped the last of her clothing and moved in.
She could do nothing but scream.
Elaina wakes screaming as cold sweat covers her. She sits there for a little while, panting and choking down the terror. When she has calmed down, and realizes it was only a dream, she breaks down, sobbing into her arms as she curls up.
She corrected Martin politely. "First the fey, then the temple and back to the group. Were going to be in for a rough ride Marten." She wanted to tease Marten but she didnt want to incur Asta's stern words again.
"Just so long as you're both amenable, know each other's names and addresses and use protection," Asta says, a small smile flickering about her lips.
Marten blushes. "Hope it will rain. Cold shower might be needed. I better go prepare for the ride. Ehrr... anyway, good night." he leaves the room, but has a hard time falling asleep that night.
Seraph chuckles lightly before controlling herself and smirks at Asta. "Amenable indeed. A nice ride to get to know each other~" She said it in a teasing way before leaving the poor man alone. That night after the long meeting Seraph approached Asta when she was mostly alone. "If you will accompany me, I'd like to do a short patrol and settle our business before we continue with what was discussed with today. It's important I aid you with all my strength..."
After the covenant - That night
Her sleep wasn't as peaceful as she wished and what had happened during the covenant had unsettled her. Not what Asta did but what had whispered in her ear, voices of men and woman she'd put down years before along with something... Else. Thats what unsettled her, never before had her curse been so present before, it made her wonder what would come next.
She expected the dreams this time but they were much worse...
She found herself standing unarmed in some dark clearing, she was sweating and her heart was racing already. This was a new and terrifying experience, however she was looking about the clearing for anything she could use to defend herself with. No matter how hard she looked all there was was gloom and darkness.
She felt something brush against her cheek and when she turned nothing was there. She growled as something moved in her peripheral vision, something slow...
And yet when she turned to look nothing was there. Again and again she saw something move and each time it drew closer to her until finally she just started pivoting as quickly as she could, looking wildly around and still feeling as if something were touching her. It was coming from everywhere and nowhere now and finally she shouted. "Where the hell are you!"
It was then she felt a massive hand close around her neck, it had somehow gotten behind her but how! It closed its grip so firmly she started choking as several fat fingers crushed her wind pipe and her struggles were so feeble that no matter how hard she tried she couldn't break free. After a few seconds she was pushed forward by the hand on her neck and slammed face first into the dirt and held her there choking as she kicked and struggled to free herself. She clawed for any type of hold but whatever it was held her down like a dog. It wasn't until her eyes started to roll back into her head that the hand suddenly released and she was left coughing and gasping for air.
She staggered to her feet, arm muscles flared and her hands now the size of a gorilla as she saw red. "Face m..." Her words were cut off as the collar around her neck was tugged forward, the chain snapping so hard that she was hurled forward and through a set of trees. She barely had time to shield her face as the branches tore up her clothes, she landed on her arms and skidded across the dirt as the chain slacked off.
She slowly lifted her head out of the dirt when as something exhaled over her. Its rank breath washed over her and nearly made her gag as she remembered the heavy breathing. The memory nearly stilled her heart as her eyes fell on a familiar foot. The nasty gnarled nails from a beast she'd killed long ago. Before she could react she felt the chain go tight and she was yanked backwards into the trees. The branches snapped under the heavy impact and she found she was pinned, choking against the trees.
The beast lumbered towards her, chain in hand as it smiled vilely at her with crooked and broken teeth. Each time it slacked off the chain its step forward would bring the chain tight again, leaving her grabbing at the collar as it choked her like a hangmans noose. Its lumbering sped up as it reached out like it did the last time, the ogre was drooling and it was so close that its foul breath washed over her like before. Her heart was pounding so hard she could hear her blood drumming in her ears, this beast coming for her was different and far more terrifying. Its eyes burned with a fire like she'd never seen, she tried to harden herself for what came next but just as the hand grabbed hold of her tattered clothes she started to open her mouth...
"NEVER...!" She awoke with a partial yell cut off by the bewildering rush of a different place, her arms were flared and sweat saturated her night clothes, her enlarged fists were already raised as adrenaline pumped through her veins. Yet the pressure was gone again, she looked around then, the collar remained in place but the chain was nowhere to be seen. "What the hell was that..." She fumes angrily for a moment, wiping her sweat soaked bangs out of her face as she tried to calm down...
"Do you mind?" a croaky sort of voice asks from nearby in the darkness. If Seraph looks for the source of the voice, she will find Croft sitting across the bed on the other nightstand, one eye open to stare at her balefully.
"Some of us are trying to sleep," the raven says, ruffling his feathers drowsily. His one eye peeks at Asta, who is lying back-to-back with Seraph and appears undisturbed. The Witch sleeps curled up, hugging a big pillow, her feet pressed against Seraph's legs. She murmurs a little, shifts and frowns, then settles down again, still dreaming.
"What dark bird flew over your dreams, then?" the raven asks, yawning. He spreads his wings and flutters over to the nightstand in front of Seraph. "Go on, tell the raven. You'll feel better and maybe we can all get back to sleep."
Her anger filled eyes flip towards Croft before she remembers she wasn't sleeping alone for once. It was an odd change, albeit a pleasant on. She inhales deeply and holds it as her heart hammered in her chest and slowly her arms start to resume their normal shape. Appearing human instead of monstrous. As she calmed down some she spoke quietly to Croft. "Sorry... Not used to company." She smiles warmly at the sleeping Asta but it's a somewhat forced smile as she still felt uneasy. She looked back at Croft then still trying to whisper quietly. "I expected to dream... The same one often of the ogre that battered me years ago, it usually ends the same way except this time it was different. The dream was more violent, more vivid and it... beat me..." She rests her head in her hands then, a mixture of disbelief and embarrassment over something so foolish.
"Ouch," the raven murmurs, ruffling his feathers. He cocks his head at Seraph and clicks his beak a few times. "This is not really a raven kind of problem," he admits. "Our dreams are simpler than you two-legs'. But Asta used to sometimes have bad dreams when she was smaller. Hmm."
The raven bobs up and down a few times, then says, simply: "We don't have your Gramma here to help, so hug the girl. Hold her until dawn, if you need to. I'll allow it, so long as you don't try anything funny, and she won't mind."
Seraph chuckles lightly at Croft words trying to stay quiet and not disturb Asta. "I'd never want to be on your bad side or hers. Besides moments like this are precious to me. Good night Croft and... thanks for listening." She was lucky Asta was smaller then her as it made it easier for her to snuggle in behind her. She tried not to wake her as she settled her arms at her side, wrapping her tail around her hand lest it got up to mischief in the middle of the night night. After that she easily fell asleep and slept far more soundly then before.
Elaina falls back into an uneasy sleep, the memory of the nightmare far too vivid for a peaceful night's slumber.
As you all re-group the next morning Oleg is the first to attempt to nail down the plan.
"So the plan is we marshall our forces and all march upon the Staglords fortress, with some attempting to sneak in as bandits?"
"Sneak in and open the backdoor for the main force." Elaina clarifies. The normally friendly ranger looks like she'd been up all night. Dark circles hang under her eyes and her normally clear eyes are bloodshot and hazy. Her voice is flat, and loud noises cause her to jump.
In short, this is not the Elaina that normally shows up for breakfast.
Torod is not at breakfast, but Strawberry comes in as soon as the door is opened. Cries of "Traitor!" can be heard from beyond the back wall.
"Hey Strawberry." Elaina greets the big cat, reaching down to pet her if she let's the ranger do so.
"We will also ask the Sootscale Tribe to set traps, to limit the bandits' routes of escape and attack," Asta says to Oleg. "And rather than march, we will sneak. I want this to be an overwhelming victory, preferably without a real battle. Some of the allies we plan to pick up can help to weaken the enemy to give us an even greater certainty of victory."
"Brilliant tactician as always, Mikmek" Marten smiles and holds his mug of tea in toast.
"Too bad we didn't think of that earlier. I don't think we have enough whiskey to get them properly hammered and keep all the troops happy at the moment." Elaina laments. She's smiling, but there's still something dark in her eyes.
Seraph listens quietly not really hearing anything of a change to the plan but Elaina's behavior perked her interest. "Are you okay Elaina? You look... well, terrible." Now wasnt the Tim for Cute remarks as Elaina looked tired out.
"Y-yes. I-i'm fine." Elaina tries to lie, but the brief spark of terror and the dark circles under her eyes give away that lie.
"I-it's nothing, just had a bad dream." she tells Seraph, again, trying to hide something, but doing very poorly at it.
She is being truthful on needing a woodsman as the route she is going to take requires some woodland knowledge. However it is an excuse to get Elaina alone...
Seraph nods at Elaina before looking towards Asta as if she hadn't seen through Elaina's poorly masked bluff. "Asta..." My Witch... "I had time to think last night and I have a small change of plans. I will need Elaina's company through the woods this time, lest I get lost. Nothing against you Marten, but Elaina's is a woodsman after all. You all will have Torod and Mikmek to guide you to the Sootscales, yes? This should actually hasten the journey considerably." The last part of her speech was a tad too hasty and she almost tsked at the slip.
Asta looks from Seraph to Elaina, then gently elbows Marten and says, in a perfectly deadpan voice: "You're on a 'certain' there, buddy. She can't trust herself alone with you."
The Witch smiles a bit and nods to Seraph. "It's not a problem with me. Travel fast and safely and meet us in good health."
Looking back to Marten, she raises an eyebrow. "Any good at braiding hair, then? If not, we'll just have to talk about magic as we travel."
Asta smiles at Svetlana. "You are very kind, m'lady, but time is pressing. We'll mend on the road what can't be mended here."
Finally, Asta raises an eyebrow at Strawberry Deathstrike.
Elaina shakes her head at Svetlana.
"Asta's right, besides, I'm used to sleeping in the open." She says with a weak grin that's not fooling anybody.
Looking perfectly innocent "There's a raven? I hadn't noticed. But I did see that fine horse you were kind enough to bring along for me. Yes. I think that will do nicely." She looks at Asta with a bit of a grin.