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Post by Nasrin the Wolverine Warrior on Jun 10, 2010 15:07:29 GMT -8
With a hop, she skirted another section of quicksand. Nasrin glanced back at the deceptively smooth section of land then turned her attention forward again. Lifting her spear, she rubbed as much of the sandy goop off the end of it as possible. This place was horrid. How had she ended up here again? Once the end of the spear was cleaned off as best as she could get it, considering all she had to work with was tree bark and grass, Nasrin proceeded to walk slowly forward, tapping the ground with the end of her spear as she walked. She honestly had no idea where she was; her tribe had never camped near this place before. There had been rumors amongst her fellow tribesmen about a marshy area where the undead walked, however. But these rumors had been told to them by outsiders, so Nasrin wasn’t sure how far she could trust the information.
After all, she had yet to see anything remotely undead. In fact, she’d hardly seen anything at all. Where was she, and how could she get out of here? Nasrin wasn’t by any means a girly girl; she had weathered through storms, lived in deserts, and faced starvation when the hunters and gatherers couldn’t find enough to feed the entire tribe. She could live without comfort, but she, like everyone else, did enjoy comfort. And this place was absolutely not comfortable in any way, shape, or form.
The end of her spear sank into the ground in front of her, and Nasrin came to a halt. Slowly, she tapped all around the area, learning where the ground was firm and where it would grab her and drag her under if she stepped on it. This particular area seemed to make stepping stones, with each only about a foot in diameter, so crossing it would be more of a challenge than her previous leaps. It would be no trouble for her, however. She hopped from section to section, using her spear as support when she had to, and finally landed on good, solid ground again. And, again, she cleaned the end of her spear. This was really dull. How was she supposed to learn anything if she was stuck in a marsh?
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Jun 12, 2010 0:02:41 GMT -8
Wind that meandered among trees and playfully tossed fallen leaves like untethered thoughts had another task today; carrying the thick, earthy scent of mud and water to the sharp senses of a lone Daemon, teasing the disarrayed dark hair of the same Daemon before moving on with a breathy chuckle.
Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar paused for a moment, head tilted. He'd come to the marshes.
He wondered why. Gabriel didn't believe in coincidences; everyone knew that Fate ruled this forest with whimsical interest, gambling carelessly with the lives of creatures within. He'd been running on instinct and basic desires for several days, careless of time or direction, unburdened for a while from politics and diplomacy. More animal than sentient being, he hunted and climbed and wandered his way here.
To his least favourite part of the forest. Wonderful.
The Daemon stood slowly from the instinctive crouch of a hunter, sanity returning to his eyes and expression. Perhaps this was Fate's way of gently telling him enough; his excursion had been healing, restoring, but it was time to return to his responsibilities. They were not defined or set in stone of course, not like the rigmarole Human leader's went through, but they did require him to be somewhere he could be found. It was probably about time he visited the Tunnels again.
But before Gabriel could turn and melt back into the caress of the shadows beneath the trees his sharp teal eyes caught a flash of movement. Intrigued, he moved closer, light tread instinctively avoiding the patches of danger. He did not particularly like the marshes but he knew them well, just as he knew all the forest. A couple of centuries was ample time to explore.
Perhaps he would have looked ghostly, here in a place where the silence and the mists played tricks on the mind. Palest white, wearing nothing but silver and black, with shocking sparks of colour for irises, he drew closer to the source of his curiousity.
Human? He hadn't bothered keeping to the shadows; why should he? He was a Daemon with more than four centuries of survival under his belt and fear was not normally a word in his vocabulary. So he simply stopped, confused by this turn of events, and waited for said Human to notice him - a pale mirage in the mist.
How odd. He'd never seen a Human in this part of the forest before. [/font]
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Post by Nasrin the Wolverine Warrior on Jun 12, 2010 8:39:52 GMT -8
Nasrin paused, breathing out in an exaggerated motion, and tilted her head back, staring up into the canopy of the gnarled trees. Their branches extended broadly over the marsh, successfully blocking out all light from the sun and forming an intricate web, which she followed with her eyes. One of the branches above her reminded her of a clawed hand, reaching down to grab her, but the tribal woman just looked away, her eyes drifting around her instead.
Nothing out of the ordinary; it looked like all the rest of the marsh had. But then her eyes caught a difference in the picture, and she focused her attention on the pale form standing near her, a silhouette in the fog. From what she could tell, it looked like it was facing in her direction.
For half a moment, a warning went off in her head. Walking undead; kill it. But then the more reasonable part of her brain kicked in, and the woman shook her head. The dead don't rise and walk; the tribe would have run across them by now. That's only a story told by outsiders.
Never the less... In a quick movement, she had flipped her spear around and gripped it tightly in both hands, pointing it at the silhouette and slipping into a slight defensive crouch. Just because it wasn't an undead (they didn't exist) didn't mean that it wasn't a threat. And Nasrin would be damned if she turned and walked away knowing that it was standing there, staring at her back. "Who or what are you?" she called, her voice confident and slightly hostile.
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Jun 12, 2010 15:06:37 GMT -8
Gabriel had no hostile intentions, despite the fact that it was a Human wandering around the marshes for no apparent reason. Most Daemons left it to the Fae to attack their betrayers on sight; Gabriel needed a somewhat better reason, most of the time. No, he was merely curious, and fearless enough (for better or worse) to act on that curiosity whenever he had the chance.
Of course, he very soon found a spear being brandished at him and although he'd remained wisely out of immediate stabbing range, the Daemon was slightly surprised.
Then he remembered. Human. Right. It wasn't really all that surprising that she'd jumped to defend herself so quickly. Very often the creatures of the forest were hostile to humans and even though this one looked rather different to the squidgy kind found in the City, your average Fae would still see Human and instinctively want to rip their head off.
Creatures that lived for over a thousand years were remarkably good at holding grudges.
Gabriel, fortunately, was not one of those. "My apologies, stranger, I didn't mean to startle you." The Daemon's voice drifted ahead of him through the mist, soft and alluring, honeyed velvet designed to reassure. He followed, deciding at least being able to see someone you stumbled upon in the dangerous forest of Litharia was a good start. He did, however, remain slightly out of spear range. Hopefully she wouldn't decide to throw it.
"My name is Gabriel. I was curious, that's all, as to why a human might be wandering the Marshes. We don't see many of your kind around here." The Daemon appraised said Human for a moment, curiosity well and truly piqued. She didn't even look much like a human at all, at least not the kind he was familiar with - only the lack of fur or animal markings gave her away. And what normal human voluntarily wandered the marshes?[/font]
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Post by Nasrin the Wolverine Warrior on Jun 12, 2010 20:19:28 GMT -8
The being's voice made her hesitate, her spearhead dipping two inches so that the sharp tip was pointed more at Gabriel's legs. His voice was nice, pretty to her ears and soothing the hostility she felt. That didn't stop her from continuing to point the spear in his general direction, however.
When he stepped from the mist into her view, Nasrin examined him quickly. Immediately, she pegged the very distinct daemon traits. The woman had only seen a daemon once, when one had visited her tribe, but she remembered the features of the creature in great detail; such a thing was not easily forgotten. She also remembered the wild, dangerous aura, which surrounded this daemon too.
He was cute. Normally, Nasrin's mind didn't think of that first, so it startled her. She was used to mentally deciding the lethality of her companions, not their physical attraction. However, the woman decided not to dwell on the subject. Her eyes stared into the daemon's, unyielding and brave.
"I'm Nasrin, a Wolverine Warrior from the Wolverine Tribe," she stated finally, drawing herself up from her defensive crouch proudly. Her tribe was the most important thing to her, and Nasrin was proud of it; so why not show it to the world? The spear was lifted and the end placed against the ground, spearhead pointing up, but Nasrin kept a good hold of it, ready to bring it forward. Daemons were untrustworthy. Of course, everyone was untrustworthy to Nasrin.
"I was told to learn, so I'm learning." That was her response to his curiosity. Her eyebrow quirked a moment later, and she cast a quick glance around the marsh before her gaze returned to Gabriel. "Unfortunately, the only thing I've been learning is that I would hate to live in a marsh like this one." Her free hand, which was her left, found itself on her hip, and she shifted her weight to the right foot. "But why, if I may ask, is it so strange that I'm here? The last I knew, a girl could walk where she wanted. At least where I'm from, that is." Nasrin knew nothing of the marshes, and so she found Gabriel's confusion very strange.
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Jun 12, 2010 21:45:23 GMT -8
As he appraised and listened to the Human with some interest, Gabriel was reminded of exactly why he didn't much like the Marshes. Thick mist curled at his feet and though it grew thinner up higher, towards head level, so that the air seemed clear enough at least to observe this new and strange company, it was still enough to dust the Daemon with dew which evaporated off his overheated skin as quickly as it settled. Blood-drinking insects were also too concentrated here for his liking, unable to get a purchase on his moonstone skin but causing the muscles to shiver involuntarily when they landed nonetheless.
All in all it was a dreary place, rather bereft of the charm that accented most of Litharia forest.
Surprisingly though, this Human had rather more charm than her City dwelling counterparts. Gabriel was quite intrigued. Humans had always seemed so soft to him, little more than unappealingly chatty prey. That wasn't to say that all of them were weak, far from it, but they showed an alarming lack of natural capabilities. For a creature that reveled in the sheer power of Daemon strength and the way sharp senses brought Litharia to life, it was inconceivable to think of living in cramped houses and employing horses to perform any kind of travel.
Nasrin, obviously, was quite different from the picture of a Human in his head.
She met his eyes, for a start. Most people unfamiliar with Daemons avoided doing that. There was something alien about a Daemon's eyes, and although the jewel-bright teal irises were undeniably beautiful they were also slightly startling and unnatural - hypnotic, even, much like a deadly predators. How apt.
She also didn't recoil in terror from the air of danger that any predator exuded. She seemed perfectly able to defend herself, rare for a Human that didn't have masses of armour and stolen magic. And, most distinctly, that soft human vulnerability was entirely missing from her lean warrior's frame - definitely a good thing since looking at an average Human made Gabriel think of dinner.
Learning? Gabriel glanced around the Marshes briefly. What on Litharia could she want to learn here? "Oh. Er, what, might I ask, were you hoping to learn here? Gabriel tilted his head quizzically, more confused than ever. Perhaps the tribe she mentioned had something to do with her odd behaviour. The Daemon elaborated willingly on his intrigue.
"Let's just say you're not like most Humans I've seen. In fact, every single one I've met up to this point would have been torn to shreds in a fit of Fae anger or eaten by a peckish Daemon by now. Where are you from, exactly?" This Wolverine warrior grew more interesting by the minute.[/font]
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Post by Nasrin the Wolverine Warrior on Jun 13, 2010 7:48:30 GMT -8
"Nothing." It was a straight to the point answer; Nasrin had had no intentions of learning anything here, considering it had been obvious before that anything remotely humanoid didn't live here and now Gabriel had helped verify her intial assumption. "I never meant to end up in this place."
Her eyes flicked back up to his, interested in the unnatural teal color. The only other daemon she had met before had had beautiful golden eyes, and Nasrin wondered if that was a trait of theirs. Of course, the warrior couldn't remember the other daemon's eyes being quite as hypnotic as Gabriel's (though they had been certainly hypnotic enough). With a small bit of reluctance, Nasrin finally tore her gaze away the other's eyes.
The woman laughed at his statement. "I'm not like other humans. I can take care of myself." A smirk pulled at her lips. "Let them try to tear me apart."
Ah, he wanted to know where she was from? "I told you before. From the Wolverine Tribe, or were you not listening?" Her natural distrust of outsiders made her wonder why he wanted to know; was he simply curious, or was there another reason? In truth, it was more likely to be the latter than the sooner, but Nasrin was stubborn in her beliefs - which included that all outsiders were untrustworthy until proven otherwise, a rare thing.
A mosquito landed on her arm, digging its nose into her flesh before she smacked it, the blood it had consumed splattering onto her hand. Nasrin stared at it for a moment before wiping it off on her leg. The woman had had about enough of this place.
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Jun 13, 2010 18:09:20 GMT -8
I never meant to end up here. Gabriel chuckled softly at this, amusement lighting his eyes for a moment. Of course she hadn't. Very few creatures came here intentionally when the rest of the forest, beautiful and infinitely more comfortable, beckoned. Not that there wasn't a certain beauty here, too. The mist gave the Marshes an ethereal quality, a grey in-between world uninhabited by the sane or the light-hearted. It just wasn't enough to convince Gabriel to live here. Ever.
"Coincidentally the very same reason I'm here. Normally you wouldn't find much lingering in the Marshes...the odd aquatic Daemon, perhaps, or some sorrowful creature wishing to escape a more vibrant life. I never intended my hunting to lead me here, somewhere so bereft of potential prey or even interest. Who should think I'd stumble upon a Human warrior?" The Daemon was plainly intrigued by Nasrin, and her mysterious hunter's tribe.
"And quite the contrary, love...I was certainly listening. I was wondering though where in Litharia such a tribe would call home? I've not heard of Humans that lack a settlement of some kind. Odd as the rest of us find that." Gabriel grinned for a moment, the strangely elegant tips of delicate, pointed fangs coming briefly into view. Nomadic, perhaps? More likely she didn't want to divulge such information, which wasn't surprising considering she was talking to the least trustworthy race in Litharia. Not that Gabriel had any ambitions of stealing land or overrunning anyone, but how was Nasrin to know that?
His train of thought was abruptly disturbed when the warrior crushed a blood-drinking insect, if only momentarily. A brief flare of bloodlust flickered in his eyes like coal-black flame, his Elemental blood boiling for a moment in response to the scent that seemed headily concentrated, even in such a small amount. Blood. He was a Daemon, after all. All his perceptions and senses were designed to notice and track the warmth of other living things, and it was the scent of blood that guided those behaviours. Fortunately Gabriel knew how to control himself despite the sudden, instinctive and very subtle reaction. He ignored it, continuing as though it hadn't happened. Indeed, it happened so quickly that most wouldn't have noticed.
"You do seem as though you could defend yourself better than the average Human. Your tribe must be a formidable one. Understand, I am only confused because you are so unlike every experience of Human's I have encountered before."[/font]
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Post by Nasrin the Wolverine Warrior on Jun 13, 2010 20:26:07 GMT -8
The warrior noticed the obvious intrigue the daemon had for her, and Nasrin tilted her head slightly, mildly amused by his curiosity. Most reacted hesitantly toward her, since she looked as if she could and would tear someone apart, and the interest was new. Sure, there was always interest in her tribe - after all, who wouldn't want to know more about a strange group of humans? - but it usually wasn't expressed. This daemon was different. He was confident enough to straight up ask her, instead of skirting the subject and giving subtle, terrified hints that he wanted to know more. Nasrin liked that.
She also didn't trust his questions. Not that she was too terribly worried about Gabriel attacking her tribe, or even massing a group to attack the tribe, as Nasrin was confident in the abilities of her fellow tribesmen. However, she was not stupid; any attack could lead to a member's death, which would cause her much grief. So, for half a second, she hesitated. "My tribe is nomadic. We have traveled all over Litharia, though there are certain areas, such as this marsh, that we have avoided. There isn't anything for us to live off of here. Right now, I don't know where the tribe is," the woman responded slowly, careful not to give away too much detail. Normally, she would not have given out any information, but Gabriel had something about him that made her want to talk to him.
The warrior didn't like it.
Your tribe must be a formidable one. Nasrin let out a bark of laughter at Gabriel's statement. Of course the Wolverine Tribe was formidable! "Yes, we are, and you would do well to remember that." It wasn't a threat, though the wording sounded like one. Unlike other humans? Of course she was. Other humans, the city-dwellers, the outsiders, were weak and hid behind walls. Nasrin snorted slightly as she thought of them. Yes, even her own kind she had distrust and dislike for; they were not tribesmen, so they did not matter.
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Jun 13, 2010 22:01:19 GMT -8
Gabriel had always been a curious type. The seemingly limitless, restless energy of his Fire Elemental blood combined with a natural talent for getting people to divulge information from his Bardic Golem blood and magic resulted in a sharply intelligent, inquisitive Daemon with, unusually, a long enough attention span to be interested in learning things that didn't involve surviving.
And indeed, the Daemon smiled as Nasrin kindly complied with his request for information.
She was sharper than most humans. Despite his natural allure, stronger to your average Human because most never left the City so when they did encounter a forest-dweller there was something ethereal about them, she was careful about what she revealed. It was enough to satisfy Gabriel though, who was surprised to hear of nomadic humans. Humans who, therefore, had none of the comfort or security of their little wooden structures. Which went some way to explaining why he perceived Nasrin as a warrior rather than as lunch.
"Oh, I will certainly remember," the Daemon assured her with a grin, swiping irritably at the insects who still struggled to pierce the flawless moonstone of his skin whenever he neglected to move for too long. He would remember that there were some humans, that could potentially pose a danger to Daemons, that seemingly travelled en-masse and therefore posed something of a threat. Daemons weren't humans and the simple existence of a threat wouldn't provoke them - many Fae and Shifters were threatening too - but it was interesting to learn that some Humans could hold their own. Gabriel wouldn't make the mistake of underestimating a Wolverine Warrior, should he ever meet one in a context of a disagreement. Seemed that natural curiosity could teach a person any number of things.
Reflecting for a moment that Nasrin handled being approached and interrogated by a strange Daemon remarkably well, Gabriel decided to inquire further. Why not? He was not needed urgently anywhere else. She had interesting insights into an unfamiliar human culture. He was probably pushing his luck, but politeness and genuine interest could get one far. "You must find me strange," the Daemon commented with a soft, amused laugh, the sound sighing briefly through the Marshes but quickly deadened by the thick air. "Of course, the creatures of the forest are incredibly varied but most Daemons don't have conversations with humans - armed humans - that they meet in the eerie regions of Litharia. I am merely curious, though; I don't mean to discomfort you with my enquiries." His voice was deliberately soft and entrancing, the verbal equivalent to mesmerizing music.
"Will you return to your tribe now that the Marshes have revealed no secrets? Or are you still searching for something to learn?"
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Post by Nasrin the Wolverine Warrior on Jun 14, 2010 8:54:50 GMT -8
"As long as your inquiries don't ask too much, then I don't care. I'm not going to pretend to trust you, and if you ask something I don't like, I won't answer it," the woman replied, staring at the daemon. Her hazel eyes bore right into Gabriel's unnatural teal for half a second before she looked away, her attention drawn to a mosquito that had passed through her peripheral vision. She was starting to look like she had some kind of disease. Little red bumps were popping up everywhere her skin was exposed, and they were starting to itch. Nasrin had to work not to scratch them. She had never had to deal with mosquitoes like this, since they seemed grossly concentrated here in the marsh.
The warrior shook her head at the daemon's question. "I haven't learned anything, so I'm not returning." In fact, she needed to find a human civilization. Nasrin had heard of Spirit from outsiders, but she had no idea how to get there. "It's time for me to go now," the warrior stated, looking at Gabriel for one long second before turning away and walking a few steps.
There, she hesitated. She still didn't know this area, and she was still lost. How was she supposed to find human civilization?
Instinctively, she looked up at the sky - or she would have had it not been blocked by fog and gnarled tree branches. Well, there went any chance of her knowing even which direction she was going. Nasrin was not a hunter, so she had never learned how to discern her direction without any signs. A irritated growl passed through her lips. Well, she could always continue to wander aimlessly... Or, and Nasrin dreaded the thought, she could ask Gabriel to be her guide.
The woman didn't like outsiders. She didn't trust them. She didn't ask for their help, since her pride was too much. However, Nasrin wasn't stupid. It wasn't the danger in the marsh that made her want to ask for his help (she would slaughter anything that tried to harm her); it was the mosquitoes. No matter how many times she smacked them away, more showed up. For a few moments, the warrior debated.
Ask for his help and risk the potential consequences if he ended up being as untrusworthy as she thought he was? Or don't ask for his help and brave the quicksand and the vampire insects?
Slowly, Nasrin turned back toward Gabriel, eyeing him up and down for a moment before her eyes settled on his again. As she spoke, it was very obvious that she was reluctant and unsure if this was the right decision or not. "If you know the way to Spirit or any other human civilization... can you guide me there?"
That actually hurt a little.
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Jun 14, 2010 13:23:43 GMT -8
She'd pretend to trust him? Gabriel laughed at that, amused and appreciative of how up-front she was. And, it seemed, not too offended by his seemingly pointless inquiries. Good. Of course, it was hard to be offended by Gabriel unless he particularly wanted to offend you. Charisma, though little more than a pretty veil for the predator lurking behind, worked well like that.
But naturally they couldn't stand in the Marshes all day. Although the insects struggled to pierce his skin they were hardly less annoying in their attempts, continually making him shiver in response to the insistent tickling sensation. And presumably, Nasrin had to learn something, even if it wasn't the something she'd originally planned on learning in the Marshes. So the Daemon inclined his head as she made to leave, and half-turned in preparation for his own travels.
If you know the way to Spirit... Gabriel paused midway through examining the mud for the minute signs of unsafe ground that he'd come to be able to recognise by sight, and turned back around to find Nasrin looking distinctly pained and uncomfortable. Apparently, she didn't like asking for help.
So the Daemon suppressed his grin and shrugged. "I know the way to Spirit. I know the way to any of the places any Daemon might care to visit. The Human City, the City of Thieves, the Boil, the Southern Tangle..." Gabriel pondered for a moment. Act as Nasrin's guide? Truth be told he wasn't ready to return to the Daemon Tunnels just yet. A few more days or weeks of a nomadic existence would actually be quite nice. And it wasn't as if he had to return - if anyone felt the need to challenge him, it was up to them to find him. His advisor might not like it, but Gabriel didn't much care.
"More importantly I know my way out of the Marshes, which can be easier said than done. Select your destination, love, and I will happily guide you there. I was only planning on slipping back into the hunter, letting instinct rule until I wished to return to civilization, but I am not averse to company instead."[/font]
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Post by Nasrin the Wolverine Warrior on Jun 14, 2010 20:04:55 GMT -8
Okay. So he would help her. Nasrin wasn't sure what she would have done had he refused, considering she'd already gone through the painful act of asking for an outsider's help. Maybe she would have thrown her spear at him; the warrior did have a horrible temper...
With her guide secured, Nasrin released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, closing her eyes for a moment. Maybe she could learn some of the daemon's culture as well while traveling with Gabriel. After all, her leader hadn't limited her to learning simply about the other human's world; if Nasrin was forced into learning about the outsiders, then she would do it right. It was probably wild. Her hazel eyes opened and she examined the daemon. Yes... definitely a wild, vicious species.
"I'd prefer to go to a city. Whichever is closer is fine by me," the woman stated, leaning against her spear. "And whatever gets me out of this marsh. Blood drinking insects annoy me."
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Jun 14, 2010 22:01:17 GMT -8
Gabriel nodded his head in assent, suddenly realising, after being prompted by a distinct expression of interest from Nasrin, that it was only fair for him to return the favour and elaborate on his own idiosyncrasies, and that of his kind, should she ask.
And naturally it could very well come up; their meeting had now extended beyond a brief chance encounter in the forest and had become an extended agreement.
As the Daemon promptly turned and started heading through apparently arbitrary paths of safety that wound through the Marshes, barely pausing to remind himself of the dangers that lurked beneath should he falter, he pondered this for a moment. Was that the kind of information he was prepared to give to someone who had just informed him she belonged to a particularly deadly and competent tribe consisting primarily of armed warriors?
He decided he couldn't see the harm. As a species the Daemon's had only one weakness - sunlight - and this was not easily manipulated by their enemies. Individual weaknesses existed naturally, but at least he didn't have to consider letting slip anything that would endanger the Daemons. What was more interesting is that she had no idea exactly who he was; if she did, and matched that with some understanding of Daemon culture, she might be less willing to employ him as a guide. After all this was the Daemon that had repeatedly and successfully defended off over a hundred years of challenges from the most violent and dangerous race in Litharia. He wouldn't bring such information up, though. Gabriel liked his anonymity, and outside of the Daemons few knew his actual role.
"Spirit is the closest, a day or so East of here. The Human City is larger though, and for those who know where to look and what to say, access to the City of Thieves can be gained. Security is much tighter there although I could get us past the guards. Depends what you want to learn, really. Spirit contains a little of everything, the City contains mostly humans but a decent underground." Gabriel naturally veered East, since it was the easiest way out of the Marshes.
"The choice is yours, love.[/font]
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Post by Nasrin the Wolverine Warrior on Jun 15, 2010 9:29:15 GMT -8
Nasrin quickly followed the weaving daemon, making sure to step almost identically to where he stepped. As they walked, the woman curiously dragged the end of her spear alongside them, amazed by how perfect Gabriel's footing could be; at times, the quicksand was only an inch away from where the daemon had stepped. Obviously, he knew this area well. That, or he was extemely lucky.
The warrior knew very little about daemons, even less than she knew about the fae and the shifters. She knew they lived to be about 800 years old; she knew they had a leader, but that for the most part they were left to do as they pleased; and, she knew they enjoyed stories. All of this Nasrin had learned from the visiting daemon. So, for the most part, the woman was clueless about the creatures.
The choice is yours, love. Oh, she hated that word. She was not his 'love', and she did not appreciate being referred to as such.. This wasn't the first time he had called her that, but Nasrin had simply ignored it before. "I'm not your love, so you won't label me as such." There was a hint of irritation in her voice.
"Spirit would be best," Nasrin replied, the irritation disappearing as quickly as it had come.
If she had decided to learn about all the races, then she might as well go where they gathered. After all, it was more convenient that way, instead of running around to different locations trying to find someone to learn from.
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Jun 16, 2010 17:09:35 GMT -8
It seemed Gabriel knew the Marshes well indeed, for seemingly at random he veered dramatically off course for a while before somehow finding a path that lead in the right direction again. He was avoiding the dangers that lurked within the marshes, far more significant dangers than quicksand - hunting packs of Dream Hounds, fiery wolf-like creatures that created thick patches of fog. And, worse, Marsh Basilisks which lurked in the larger swamps. Gabriel knew what to avoid and did so carefully - the Marshes were quite dangerous enough without running into a giant carnivorous snake.
Occasionally, though, the watching silhouettes of fog-shrouded wolves could be seen peering curiously at the travelers, or the keen cry of a hidden Thestral cut momentarily through the thick air. It only added to the creepy, other-worldly atmosphere of this place.
Gabriel ignored it, familiar with the aura and far more interested in his companion. At her protest he paused, turning to glance at Nasrin, before laughing shortly. "It's a habit, that's all. But I'll try to refrain if it bothers you." Plainly amused, the Daemon turned and continued his weaving, sure-footed progress through the Marshes. She certainly wasn't afraid to speak her mind, that was for sure. How refreshing.
"Spirit it is. Much nicer than the City anyway, in my opinion. Far more interesting too." It was a cut-throat kind of place, dangerous and brooding, but within the darkness and shadows lurked a culture of hedonistic pleasure and indulgence of vices. Unsurprisingly, Gabriel was a reasonably regular visitor whenever he was seeking Daemons for less innocent company, or access to alcohol, or even just interesting conversation with any manner of creature.
First, they had to get out of the Marshes though. The quickest way involved some dexterity, but Gabriel trusted Nasrin would manage. Leaping elegantly from safe-patch to safe-patch, the Daemon crossed the large stretches of unsafe quicksand with practiced ease.[/font]
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Post by Nasrin the Wolverine Warrior on Jun 16, 2010 22:02:28 GMT -8
That was good enough for her. She had her guide; she had her destination; now all she needed was a plan. How exactly was she supposed to learn? Should she become part of the society and learn by experience? That's how she had always learned. Should she question the different species? The woman was well-aware that she wasn't a people person, so that route seemed... difficult. Actually, both seemed unpleasant. Nasrin was highly set in her ways. If it had been up to her, this little quest would have never happened and she would be home, sparring with another Wolverine Warrior, raiding a nearby town, or preparing for the ritual that was in a few days. Speaking of the ritual, Nasrin needed to start thinking about what - or rather who - her sacrifice would be.
For half a second, her eyes flicked to Gabriel. No... he was useful. And she enjoyed his company, for some God awful reason that she couldn't fathom. Maybe it was the fact that he seemed a lot like her; daemons had always seemed to somewhat resemble her tribe, at least from the mannerisms of the last daemon she had spoken to. They had the wildness and the bloodlust that the Wolverine Tribe had. Of course, what could you expect from a group of humans who worshipped the wolverine, the only known non-magical animal to kill for fun?
As Gabriel expected, Nasrin easily kept pace with him, hopping from patch to patch. There were a few jumps that were a hare too much for her, and, although she made the jump, it threw her balance off and the warrior had to use her spear to catch herself. That was rare, though.
Around thirty minutes had passed before Nasrin spoke again, having been contemplating her questions for the daemon. Should she ask specific questions? Should she be open about her questions? Should she be careful? After all, if Nasrin was distrustful of Gabriel questioning her, couldn't he just as easily be distrustful of Nasrin questioning him? It was a logical consideration. "Tell me about the daemons, Gabriel." As said before, Nasrin was not a people person. She knew what she wanted and she was blunt. If he didn't want to tell her, the woman would be put off, yes, but she also understood. She could always find another daemon in Spirit to talk to, one with a looser tongue, if Gabriel chose not to speak. However, he seemed like the talking type, with his pretty words and voice. That would be so much more convenient.
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Jun 16, 2010 22:36:47 GMT -8
Gabriel sighed with relief as the Marshes began to give way to longer stretches of firm ground, and the mist began to thin and clear. The insects were back to regular density and the trees were less and less the kind that liked their roots immersed in muddy water, and more the kind that Gabriel had grown to appreciate. Silver-grey bark and silver-green leaves, many of them gnarled and ancient, and all very much alive. They responded to his casual touch with often visible movement, not as favourably as they did to the Fae but seemingly hardly less welcoming of the Daemon race.
Briefly, he wondered what the forest thought of Nasrin and her tribe. They were humans, yes, but not the ordinary kind. Did the forest make a distinction? He hadn't seen it pull any tricks yet, so perhaps. Most humans had to be extremely careful when they entered the dark, living, almost sentient woods of Litharia - the trees had not forgotten the betrayal and regularly pitted their full strength in making life miserable - and dangerous - for any unprepared traveller.
Tell me about the Daemons.
Gabriel smiled slightly, having slowed his pace now they were out of the worst of the marshes, trailing long elegant fingers across the trunk of a tree every now and then as he pondered that request. Where to start? The Daemons were complex creatures, highly individual. "What exactly would you like to know? The Daemons are a beautiful race, almost unfailingly. We're from Dream Land, you know, another world altogether, so although Humans and Shifters and the Fae share at least an origin here, we're almost alien to this place. Litharia has accepted us; much like the Fae, the forest is curious and benevolent to those who respect it." The Daemon paused for a moment, gathering his bearings. Unseen landmarks or perhaps an innate sense of direction from centuries of almost endless travel must have directed him, for he veered slightly left and began his languorous, cat-like progress among the trees again.
"No two Daemons are the same, though, so more specific questions might be needed to stop me going on for days," Gabriel grinned. "And also you'll be unsurprised to know that I'm biased. The Daemons, their safety and comfort here, are my prime concern. But I can offer you one piece of advice, at least - never underestimate a Daemon. They're striking, interesting, but almost always predatory. The beauty is little more than a disguise for most." Including Gabriel, obviously, who was even more dangerous for his bardic charm and magically emphasized beauty that gave him a hypnotic, mesmerizing presence.[/font]
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Post by Nasrin the Wolverine Warrior on Jun 17, 2010 8:48:26 GMT -8
Nasrin watched in fascination as the trees responded to Gabriel's touch, arching and moving like a happy cat. Obviously, the forest didn't react nearly as happily as it did to the daemon, but it didn't attack like most would expect. It was an odd thing. The forest had never harmed one of her tribesmen, but it also didn't go out of its way to help them, like it would for, say, a daemon or more specifically a fae. Nasrin knew that most humans couldn't enter the forest safely, and the woman had pondered over the reasoning for this for some time. Over the time she had thought about it, the warrior had simply come up with this:
The forest reacted so badly to ordinary humans because they killed the forest, taking the trees to build their houses and their castles and their walls. Nasrin's tribe was nomadic, so their homes had to be portable and they of course couldn't have a wall. Sure, the builders used the forest's resources, but not nearly as much as the other humans did. To her, it kind of made sense.
Ha, of course they were a beautiful race. Just looking at Gabriel would prove that. Nasrin had heard very little of Dream Land. The last thing she remembered was a tale her mother had told her when she was very young, before she even began her initial training at seven years old, and even that was vague and splotchy at best.
At Gabriel's warning, the woman stared evenly at his back as she followed him, brushing passed a tree. Nasrin would remember that. "Do daemons have laws?" She honestly didn't know. Her experience with daemons only numbered two now, but they seemed so wild and free that she couldn't imagine them having laws, or at least very strict ones. Maybe Nasrin was totally wrong, however, and daemons were actually slaves to their laws. Who was she to say?
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Jun 17, 2010 22:05:08 GMT -8
It seemed they had reached the point where they could officially count themselves as out of the Marshes, as Gabriel had ceased to watch his step and now seemed far more concentrated on weaving a path through the trees, unconsciously acknowledging those he passed directly with a brief touch as though he was steadying himself. He wasn't; the Daemon was perfectly capable of retaining his balance, but the trees made life easier for those who knew they were more than simple plants.
Indeed they never found themselves obstructed by ivy or fallen branches, and only rarely had to adjust course around large rocks or other obstacles. Dappled sunlight pierced the canopy now, sending pale gold fingers into the trees. Gabriel avoided it where possible. Daemons were all susceptible to sunlight as it didn't exist in Dream Land, but to varying degrees. Gabriel had a fairly strong aversive reaction to it - not enough to prevent him travelling during the day, but enough to ensure he spent as little time in it as possible. It was hardly surprising that most Daemons were pale, then. Gabriel's own bare torso was almost bleached, a curious silver quality adding beauty to the flawless skin.
In response to Nasrin's question, Gabriel nodded. "Only the most basic of laws. We do not obey the Fae laws and they do not try and force them on us. However all Daemons answer to a single Lord, who holds his or her position as long as they can fight off challengers. The Daemon Lord enforces the laws through violence, as well; all law breakers fight the Daemon Lord to the death."
Gabriel paused, considering that to an outsider his race must sound extremely violent. It was no more than the truth.
"The laws mostly regard our dominance hierarchy, the situations in which fights can be used, and the expectations around obeying the current Daemon Lord. We regard children of all races as precious, have laws around territory, and also governing ownership; slaves, if you will." Gabriel smiled for a moment, familiar pride for his proud, dangerous race almost a defining character for the Daemon.
"But the laws are very loose. All Daemons are individuals, and many will never even come into situations which call for them to consider dominance fights, or territorial disputes. As long as the basic rules are followed that uphold a very simple leadership hierarchy, almost anything goes."
Gabriel turned to glance at Nasrin as they walked. Her turn. "How does your tribe work? I trust it is not the usual human monarchy system. Do you have a leader?"[/font]
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