Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » The witcher and the child [ OPEN ]

The Katakan showed his ugly bat-like furry face. What was interesting about it was that it looked very weak and skinny, maybe he was trapped in here for 2 or 3 years. The creature was hungry and most likely - totally insane, living for that much years here, trapped between these four walls, in pitch darkness.
The monster inhaled and trembled for a moment.
- I can sense your blood - it said.
It started to pace around, looking directly at the witcher.
- I can sense her blood.
Katakans were extremely dangerous creatures, fast, with the ability to turn themselves invisible and jump on great distance. There was a rumor that a katakan killed a witcher once. But it seemed that this monster right here was too weak to be fast enough to land a hit on the witcher. But he was very hungry and crazy, making it difficult to predict his actions.
The katakan let out a piercing sound as it turned invisible, but still growling. Without any hesitation for his own life the creature jumped of his place, up towards the door and the witcher.
The monster wanted to get out at all costs and finally enjoy some blood. He was ready to do everything.
Evellien woke up from the sound of the monster, stood up and looked at the witcher.
- Verin?! - she said with a concern, watching him holding the trapdoor.

Verin grunted as the best slammed into the trapdoor, him groaning as he was just barely heavy enough. Fortunately with the cat potion, he could see the basement was mostly stone, so in that moment the Katakana slammed into the trapdoor, he threw the bombs down into the basement and then pulled the book case down, slamming down into the trap door before the Katakana could leap again. The thumps and blasts crackled as the basement turned from cold and damp into a burning cauldron of little mercy. The Witcher looked almost proud as he heard those blasts. Verin sat back on the book case once more, this time holding his silver blade to him. "Hello Eve, go back to sleep, I'm just taking care of the Katakan in the basement,"

Evellien just watched this... comical scene. Something tried to escape the basement, the witcher slammed him on the head with the trapdoor back in and dropped bombs inside. Pulled the bookcase back to where it was and a thunderous sound came from the basement.
"Hello Eve, go back to sleep, I'm just taking care of the Katakan in the basement," - he said.
She looked confused as if someone slapped her with a wet towel. He made this sound like he was dealing with some rat in the basement, not a blood sucking monster, and damn it sounded like it was something totally normal for him.
She had so much to learn.
- W... what... - she muttered, trying to comprehend what did just happened.
She heard scary monster's roar, then an explosion and now BOOM - everything was back to normal!
Two minutes later when she failed to analyze the situation and just stayed there with a dumb expression on her face she ran towards the witcher.
- I wanna see what's in there! I want! Move the bookcase, Verin! Please, please!
It was unusual for a girl at her age to not be scared, but her curious nature could prevail over almost all emotions. This was both good and bad.

Verin looked at her and blinked. Then he chuckled. "I'll go down first, make sure it's dead," he said, looking at her, his face completely neutral as he went to move the book case and drew his silver sword with a metallic hiss as it rubbed his scabbard gently as he drew it. Verin broke the chain by using his blade as a lever, kicked open the trapdoor and then jumped down then ladder, which was thoroughly singed, him slamming the door below him and casting a Quen sign in a manner so it would​ block and protect the trap door, not himself. It was a little trick her learned a long time ago from a sorceress that helped quite alot with containment, keeping an entryway blocked with a shield and right now, he needed that containment. The basement smelled of burnt flesh and was charred black. There was a chest, a singed bed and a sealed book case. Down here, along with the singed smell was a smell of magic, slightly unnerving for the Witcher. He spun his silver blade in his hand as he looked around, his left hand raising a small chain up further on his neck, it making an effective bite guard when a vampire got a mouth full of silver instead of flesh. Something he learned quite a long time ago was to always be prepared, even if you expect nothing, be prepared to fight everything, it was the reason for his silver knuckles, and the silver knife, and all the bombs and potions he carried.

- Come oooooon, Veriiiin - the girl was impatient - it's dead, there's no way he'd survive this.
Her blood was boiling, she wanted to go to the basement immediately, so she decided not to wait.
Evellien took one of the candles and opened the trapdoor. Without hesitation the girl jumped through the door, landing on her feet and touched the ground with her hand for balance. The distance was quite long for her, but she was fine, like a little kitten learning to jump and land on the ground safely. The girl immediately stood up.
- Ooooh - everything was dark - Verin, can you light the candle again?
She felt... strange. Excited, for no particular reason. She felt something she never felt before and wasn't able to describe this feeling. It was... electrifying, powerful, mysterious and old. She dropped the candle, she couldn't see anything, but she was drawn to something. She walked towards the the book case, even the fact that she couldn't see anything.
- Verin... I feel... strange.

Verin raised his hand to light the candle once more for her, his face tightened into a scowl as she disobeyed him, but then she dropped it and he blinked. His eyes were adjusted to the darkness fairly well thanks to the potion. His eyes continued to scan and throb as he walked behind her, Turing to defend her as she explored. "Yes, it is magic in the air, the old kind," he muttered. "Might be spell tomes in that bookcase but I can't really open it without leaving you unguarded," he muttered, his eyes scanning for the Katakan corpse on instinct, him being unnerved when he saw nothing, his ears listening for the smallest skitter and crunch, the smallest disturbance of the ash In Tha air, his body tensing like a cornered cat

- Magic... - she whispered into the darkness when she stood in front of the bookcase, looking at it with her eyes open wide.
"Spell tomes..." she thought.
The girl was interested about this, too interested. She knew the universe was hiding a lot of secrets and she wanted to learn them all.
Eve forgot about the creature, she forgot about almost everything, except the witcher and the bookcase.
She touched the bookcase with her hand. The witcher was protecting her right now, she knew that, but she wanted to be able to protect herself too in the future and the witcher as well. And to unravel every secret.
- Verin - she said - please, open it. I'll be right beside you.

Verin let out a sharp curse and sheathed his blade, him opening a pouch on his belt and pulling out a pair of picks and muttering to himself. He began to deftly work on the lock, him using skills he preferred not to use on a hunt. Considering what his school was known for, its not the best ability to fluant your knowledge of. However he was doing it for the girl. As he did, he casted the Quen sign on her. He didn't care if the Katakan left any longer, however he wanted her to be safe more than himself. Verin could take a bad hit, she, she was just a child and if she was harmed, he may not be able to forgive himself. He worked the lock quite well, him turning it after what seemed like a couple of moments with a click. As he opened the locked book case, he grabbed one of the tomes and opened it quickly. "Hen Llinge, Elder speech, written in a woman's hand," he muttered as he looked at it. Verin only read a little of the ancient Elven language, so he could only read bits, enough to understand that this was a spell book

The girl waited impatiently. The man seemed angry and cast something on her, but she didn't pay attention to this. She watched him closely how he worked with the picks and she was amazed.
- Oh, Verin, you have to teach me to do this, will you teach me, Verin? - she asked him in excitement.
The girl stood right beside him and as much as she wanted to go and take a look at that chest, she stayed close to him as she promised.
Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, thanks to the candle in the room.

When the witcher was done he opened the bookcase and took one book.
- What is Hen Llinge, Elder speech, Verin?! Let me see, Verin! Let me see, I want to see!
Evellien was impatient so the witcher could see two tiny hands from bellow grabbing the book.
Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth in excitement when she saw the content. She pointed the words with her finger as she read and traced the sentences.
- G....geas - curse. Aine - light. A'ta...eghane - today. D....darganfod - discover. Oh god... Treise - power. Zvaere - swear. Cáerme.
She looked at the witcher..
- Destiny.
She could understand some of the words and read them out loud.
Maybe it was a mystery for the witcher how a girl her age from a god forgotten village would read and even understand this language, but there was an explanation about everything.
All of a sudden the girl turned around and ran towards the ladder. She climbed, she was almost out when the ladder broke, it needed a little weight on it to break after the explosion. The girl didn't drop the book, but she managed to grab a part of the bookcase from above and pull herself.
She ran outside, holding the book, Eve was in a hurry, she wanted to know everything right now, this was the only thing in her mind at this moment, she was too curious, inquisitive, she had no patience, she'd risk her life for a piece of knowledge. She was like a storm, like a fire. This was her - when she finds something interesting she would immediately forget everything about how to be careful, she'd forget everything about safety, caution... prudence. She was wild.
The girl headed to the village with one thing on her mind.
"My mother's notes..."

Verin blinked as he watched her run off. Him confused about alot of the events he just saw, his head tilting. Then he saw the ashes move in an unnatural manner, heading for the ladder. As whatever it was runbing, he moved his fingers in the Igni sign as he cut it off, a gout of flame going towards the thing heading for the ladder. Verin, at the same moment drew his sword with a hiss, him scowling as it could only be one thing once the flames consumed it, the Katakan. "Come on Leather face, you ain't that sneaky," Verin grumbled as he spun his blade in his hand after cutting off the vampire. Verin's armor stretched once again as he took the pouncing and low stance he had, some would say it was unique to the cat school, but that was wrong, it was unique to Verin only.

The clouds were disappearing, showing the dim light from the sun that was about to rise. The rain has stopped, but it was still cold and veil of mist covered the roads.
The girl was running fast, holding the book in her hand. She knew these letters, she had seen them before.
Her heart was about the explode as she ran with all her strength, leaving the swamp area and also leaving her small footprints on the mud.
Evellien went on the road and was now able to see the small village in the distance. She stopped running for a moment to catch her breath. The girl knew that Verin might be angry with her, but for her this was important. And they were about to return to the village anyway, she just decided not to lose time.
The wind was playing with her long raven hair, as she walked towards the village. Eve wasn't stupid, she hid behind a big rock not so far from the village, watching and waiting for the villagers to leave their houses and go to the fields. She didn't want to cause panic, because that's what was going to happen if she show herself.
She let a long sigh and shivered as she watched the village.

The fight between the Katakan that verin had 'lovingly' named leatherface didn't last very long. The Katakan was weak, years without blood, almost incinerated, battered by a door and facing down a Witcher was a fate very few things could take. Verin took it's head as a trophy, packed up all the Spell tomes and closed his almost overfilled bag tightly. Then he threw it on his shoulder and looked at the chest. He could come back for it later if he really wanted to. He moved the chest over to the trapdoor and used it as a stool for him to jump-off and he pulled himself through the trapdoor and out to the shack once more. After a moment of looking at the mud, he saw her foot prints clearly and began to follow them. He moved fast, always did, he got to the rock and looked at her, him being like a ghost as he moved behind her, trying to make it so she couldn't hear him and then he said. "What are you afraid of," he chuckled softly. "If they are afraid of you, use that fear to get what you want," he said before handing her a pair of kid sized boots he found in the shack. They should do until he could get her to a proper tailor and cobbler. "It's not savoury, or kind, but it works well Eve," he said, turning to head into the village, him smile turning into a deep scowl. But if she looked at his face, he would wink at her, showing her he wasn't angry in the slightest, more on the impressed side with what she already knew. Verin was starting to walk towards the town, the vampire head hanging from his belt as he with a smooth step walked towards the little God forgotten village, he seemed confident in his step and for the first time, Evellienn would see that natural predatory gait in each step he made, it digging into the mud and bouncing off as if it never touched the ground. Verin held himself like a predator when around those he didn't like, to set them off guard, him seeming like he was the top of the food chain with how he carried himself

Evellien jumped a little when she heard the voice behind her. She turned to see Verin, but instead faced the face of the katakan staring dead at her. She panicked and tried to stand up, but fell on her butt. Then she met Verin's eyes and calmed.
- Oh, shit, Verin, you scared me!
She had very very bad mouth.
He spoke. He encouraged her, for first time someone actually made her feel ... confident. Then he gave her boots. She smiled. Pure happiness was written on her face when she took the boots and put them on her feet.
- T... thank you, Verin.
His smile disappeared as soon as he looked at the village, but he winked at her, so she felt even more encouraged. It was a good feeling indeed. Like she found her place under the sun, with someone that carried two swords, heads of monsters and all kinds of stories of adventures, pain, strength and hope for a better life. Under his serious cold face she could feel his warm soul, hidden from most of the people.
He walked towards the village, towards the light of the rising sun, confident, like a predator. Like a black panther among sheep. For them he was a monster slayer, striped off emotions. He would never have their peaceful life, he was made to die by the hand of a monster, for a pathetic amount of money, so they can continue with their peaceful life and die of old age in their beds, buried by their offspring. They would mourn for them for a while and then continue with their own life, facing the same destiny.
For her... she realized he was a hero. Hope. Endured everything and kept walking like a predator, not a sheep.

The villagers noticed the witcher and hurried to leave.

Veleena saw him entering the village. There was a disappointment in her eyes, but them she immediately saw the girl, running towards him with an excitement and smile on her face. Veleena smiled.
- Witcher! - she shouted - Evellien!
The girl turned to see her and immediately ran towards her, jumping in her hug.
- It smells of your tasty stew! And bread! Verin, come! - Eve said.
- And there's a lot of it! - Veleena answered - Come, both of you! You look like you just returned from hell.

Her home had three rooms and was clean and tidy. There were herbs all over the place and on the walls. The smell of stew was strong.
Veleena put on the table two bowls filled to the top of her tasty stew, two wooden cups, warm bread, white cheese, fruits on the table, water and Mahakaman mead.
Then she noticed the girl's red lips and placed her hand on her forehead.
- You have a fever - she said - Eat now, both of you. I'm going to fill the tub in the other room with warm water after you eat. You need a good rest. Witcher, put your things here, but place that... head in the backyard. I will prepare the tub for you and some clean clothes. Gonna take care of Eve and sew your clothes.
The girl immediately started eating and the woman sat on a chair close to her. She wanted to ask what happened, she really wanted to know and it was written all over her face, but she remained quiet.

Verin untied the head from his belt and with one movement threw it out the back and with a wet splat it landed outside in the yard, it rolling a few times before coming to rest by a pile of logs for a fire place, it staring at the road with the cold lifeless eyes it had, tongue hanging out of its mouth a little. At the sound of horror the chickens made, as they jumped and clucked, flying a little bit, verin watched as they slowly approached the dead beast and began to peck at its head, it took all of about a minute, stupid chickens. He set his blades down in a manner that they leaned against the table and he quickly pulled off his gambeson along with his chain mail sleeves. In a quick glance, his body spoke of excruciating pain, On his right shoulder down to over his heart, there was a large set of claw marks. On his back, dead in he center was a sloppy brand that was obviously a cattle brand in the dead center of his back, put there by dear old dad. His sides and his upper back had fresh wounds on them, though they were recently healed. On his abs were marks obviously made by blades, though they had left just enough to mark his flesh, not harm him for a long while. His shoulder and neck were marked with bite wounds, showing he had fought alot of vampires in his lifetime. Having to dance around claws and blades didn't always work as his body proved, though Verin didn't even notice his wounds.

Verin had a spoonful of the soup and then remembered something and smirked a little as he opened the bag. "Lass, in your rush...," he pulled out one of the books and showed it to her. "Ya forgot the rest," he chuckled before he put it back in the bag and clasped it shut. Then he set it down by the table and had a little of the cheese and another spoonful of the stew. It was indeed quite good and he indeed was happy to have fresh food to eat instead of bread, dried meat and Alcohol. Then he looked at Veleena and chuckled. "I've had worse days ta be honest. Couple of Drowners had her cornered on a tree, they didn't last long. Then I drew the Hym out and fought it on my terms, the ugly beast about killed me, threw me like a rock across the stream. But Veleena, what do you know about that shack about 22 paces into the marshlands, any story behind that," he asked as he gently patted his lips clean of some of the stew showing very table table manners. After he was finished asking his question, he drank some of the Mead and then set it down, enjoying the sweet taste of the honey wine.

Evellien stopped eating and stared into the witcher and his scars. She looked shocked and bit her lip. It was the first time she has seen someone with so much scars.
Veleena looked shocked as well.
Eve saw his swords and guessed that he always kept them close to him. He was always ready to fight and she thought that this must be exhausting. To always be prepared, to not be able to rest even for a moment.
And his scars... they looked so painful, but here he was, not paying attention to them, nor the recent wounds.

He spoke to her and showed her the books. She quickly looked the other way, pretending that his scars didn't leave an impression to her, but it was written all over her face, as she was still biting her lip.
She nodded, but didn't look at the witcher.

Verin asked the woman something and she smiled a little.
- No, witcher, I don't know anything about that shack - she answered him, but she wasn't a good lair. Veleena stood up and went outside, avoiding the conversation about that shack.
- Verin... - the girl said quietly, looking at him this time with her concerned face -... do... do you... feel pain?
She knew very little about witchers, so when she saw his scars that was the first thing that came to her mind.
Veleena got inside with a bucked of warm water and went to the other room to fill the tub. Then she'd do this three times.

Verin looked at Evellienn with a raised brow. HE thought it was an odd question for the most part. After a moment of Deliberation, he answered with a smile. "Yes, Splinters still suck, as do paper cuts from a good book," he chuckled softly as he looked at her. "Claw tooth and blade hurt as well, irritating monsters," he said, smiling at her as he had another spoonful of soup. After he swallowed it, he looked at Eve and chuckled. "It might not seem like it., but if you are nearly crippled with shooting pain enough, you learn to shrug it off, call it an occupational hazard," he said as he sipped the mead. Indeed he did feel pain like everyone else, but the scars were just that. scars from a very long time ago, fights that had ended in victory, bad luck with vampires, things like that. He was more interested in Veleena, and not in the sexual sense, it was easy to smell a liar when they were as bad at it as she was and he would like some answers. Verin intended to get them as well, but for now, he went back to eating, this time dipping some bread into the stew and then taking a bite of it and eating the stew a little faster now. That was until he heard angered yelling outside and he set down the glass of mead he ad just taken a sip of. Verin went to stand up and go and open the door, him hanging his steel sword on a coat hook right next to the door, him blinking as he went to find out why all the angry yelling was happening.

"Occupational hazard..." she thought... he made it sound like it was nothing, but the scars proved otherwise.
The girl had so many questions, she wanted to learn more about this guy, she didn't know him, so she was about to ask him another question, but something happened. People outside were yelling, and the witcher stood up.
Evellien put the bowl away, she finished eating. It looked like she barely touched the stew, but she didn't need much. She didn't have an appetite and this was normal, considering the recent events.

She scowled, looking at her feet and folding both arms across the chest. She had an idea about why people were yelling outside. And this made her angry.
Veleena got back inside the house, poured the last bucket of warm water into the tub and went outside, to the witcher.
- What happened? - she asked him - I've prepared the tub, but I can... try and saddle the horse...

Verin looked at Veleena as he watched The villages men approach to try and destroy the monster that they had believed had returned home. Verin shook his head and looked at her. "Evellienn needs a good night's rest, and a bath, can you give her one," he chuckled softly as he grabbed a small shirt from his bag and slid it over his torso, covering his scars. Then Verin took a step out into the muddy road towards the men of the village, them welding pitchforks and pieces of wood studded with nails and one maybe 2 swords, but the men barely numbered 9. Verin was not intimidated in the slightest. "Gentlemen, the night isn't calm enough for a mob," he said flatly as he looked at them, cutting them off from approaching Veleena's home. Verin's boots squelched in the mud and the cat took a sharp inhale as he looked at them. He had one grapeshot bomb in his belt, but he would prefer not to use it, though he did have a samnum bomb and his brass knuckles.

- Witcher - Veleena said - they are doing this for their children, trying to protect them. Just like you try to protect her now.
She turned and head back to the house. Her heart was beating fast and she was scared, but she knew she couldn't to anything.
The girl finally decided to see what was happening through the window and saw him. Sitting in front of all these armed people, all by himself and his sword.
She shivered, eyes widened and she head through the door, but Veleena grabbed her by the hand and closed the door.
- Verin! - Evellien screamed from inside the house - Let me go! Let me go, Veleena!
- Shhhh - she tried to calm her, while holding her, but it was difficult, the girl was too wild - stay here. He'll be fine.
- No, no, no! Let me go! He is tired, he is wounded, they're so many, let me goo, let me goooo! - tears started falling from her eyes on her cheeks and it was the first time she was crying for someone that was alive.

The girl cried at the top of her lungs and Veleena looked at her.
- Why do you care, you don't even know this man?! - she wanted to make sure that this was real.
- I don't know, let me gooo! Veriiin!
"The Law of Surprise..." - Veleena thought - "Fate, destiny... it really is a strong thing..."

The men wouldn't stop their mob, verin was well aware of that long before he went outside. His mind was mostly spent trying to predict how his actions would impact the fight and the fate of the village. He opened the pouch with his samnum bomb in it and shut his eyes as he threw it I. Front of the the group. As it flew, verin's hand slid into the pair of knuckles and he began to Sprint. As the men saw the bomb, it flashed and banged, leaving them deaf and blind. Verin's eyes shot open and he spun towards the first of the men and with one hard punch, he went from stiff and blind to knocked out. Verin was much quicker than most of them, and them being blocked did not help their fighting as he gut checked one, smashed the hand of another holding a blade and threw well aimed punched at spots where it would hurt then badly and cripple them in a fight without leaving them cripples for life or dead. In what seemed like 30 seconds, the mob was laying on the ground, writhing in pain, the ones that were consious were doing so at least. After that moment of panting, Verin smirked at the group. "Couldn't leave your cows without you, and I'm not talking about your cattle," he chuckled flatly before walking back to the house. After a moment, he opened the door and then shut it behind him.