Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » An Adventurous Quest (1x1)

(1x1 with Damir)

Apheris ran, her golden adornments jingling at the movement. The fabric of her clothes flew out behind her, as if wings aiding in her flight of escape. The roar of a lion pierced the peaceful quiet of the woods and Apheris tried to fun even faster. The beast was close on her heels, growling and snarling. They came to a large ditch, filled with water run-off from the latest storm, and Apheris leaped, barely making it to the other side. The lion was just as agile, jumping over the ditch with a roar. They were on the edge of a small grassy plain that separated the forest from the town, and Apheris knew immediately that she had to turn back; she couldn't lead the lion into town! But before she could get anywhere, the thick, heavy paw of the beast knocked her down. Needless to say, Apheris screamed.

The road had been nothing short of a long one. Cast out from the village he had aided for fear of the monsters' kin seeking revenge, the Hunter had reluctantly begun to move on only after managing to barter enough food and supplies so then he would not have to resort to the wilds for a few days. The slightly purple-tinged fur edging the cloak about his shoulders was ruffled by a suggestion of wind, as he loosely held the reins of the destrier as it methodically made its way along the road within the woodlands. The plain was to his right, opening out and leading down to the village. Out of habit, he was scouring the area at first for signs of ill-spawned beings; scents, sounds and even sights of a presence that was out of the norm'. And speaking of sounds...

...the scream had his focus rapidly changing. The horse sharply raised its' head, having had it lowered to occasionally forage casually along the ground as they moved. Nostrils flaring, it seemed to dance on the spot as he wheeled it round enough to look out onto the open area properly. That was when the lion was spotted, and the running woman. Even at this distance, he could easily determine that those garments were not the sort of attire that one accustomed to fighting such predators would wear, or even one not used to the outdoors. Drawing the one-handed sword from the scabbard at his left side, he kicked his heels in and with a shout, urged the stallion into a headlong charge. The distance was closed rapidly, and drawing the blade back, the momentum of both horse, distance and the strength in the rider's arms had the metal sinking into flesh, sinew and muscle with a sickening crunch. Even if not decapitating it completely, the likelihood of it at least having its throat torn and opened was reasonably significant.

(*cries tears of happiness for the awesome post of awesomeness*)

The last thing that the lost princess would have expected was for a man to come riding in on a horse and lopping the head off of the lion, yet that was exactly what happened. Apheris stared with wide glowing green eyes as the head of the lion hit the ground with a sickening thud and blood spewed out from the beast. She scurried back quickly, avoiding any touch of the thick red liquid. And then her attention went to the man with the bloodied sword. Apheris didn't know how to react, at first. Fear? Should she be afraid of a man that just saved her life, however violent it may have been? Taking in a deep breath, the woman got to her feet and brushed herself off, the expression of terror on her face vanishing and being replaced by a calm gaze.

"Thank you." She tried to avoid looking at him as much as possible; throughout her journey she had discovered the unfortunate fact that her glowing eyes often gained too much attention of an ill kind. She did stare at the body of the lion, however, the dead animal body reminding her of her homeland and the sacrifices they once gave. Such a thought brought her mind back to the moment, back to her goal. She was headed to town, and so to town she must go.

He was hardly going to let the animal eat her after all. While it was not the sort of creature that he ordinarily hunted or felt any sort of compulsion to do so, it was a threat to an innocent (and an unarmed one at that), and so had been dealt with accordingly. Wheeling the animal around easily with an assurance and ease of movement that suggested a length time of familiarity in the saddle, he considered her steadily through eyes that were of so pale a shade of gray that they almost seemed silver.

"You are welcome." His accent was heavy, although not to the point of obscuring his words. Clearly foreign then, and perhaps from an area that suggested a colder climate than the one they were in. The avoidance of his intrigued gaze only had his own attempting to seek hers out. While one eyebrow rose slightly if he managed to hold her glance if only for a moment and spotted the glow, there was no expression of overt disgust or surprise on his features. Only calmness.

"You do not seem the sort on first appearance who should be travelling alone." A matter of fact statement, an observation.

Upon a quick glance to her savior, their eyes met for only a moment. As soon as their gazes locked, she turned her eyes away again. "Your observation is correct, sir, I should not be travelling alone. Yet travelling alone I am, and thus I must continue. Good day." She gave a nod to him, then turned and started walking to the village. Travelling alone had brought her nothing but trouble. However, she simply couldn't trust anyone who might see her glowing eyes or the gold adornments on her body. The only cloak she had possession of had been abandoned in her flight from the lion. A new one would need to be purchased at the town, and then she would have to leave immediately for fear of thieves or other men of ill will.

It was all trouble, far too much trouble, and Apheris desperately wished for a place where she could rest for one night in peace. But the only place that seemed to give her such solace was far lost, and she had no hope of finding it within the next night. She wondered if all of the unfortunate circumstances were due to the fact that she had stopped sacrificing to her gods. But yet, there was no place she could find with the proper utilities and animals for such a sacrifice. Apheris' mind was bogged down with these troubles as she walked towards the town.

Without seeking a word of permission from her, when she began to move away, he simply lightly tapped the horses' sides and had it walking alongside her in measured steps. No rush and no concern readily apparent on his features, but it seemed likely that merely telling him to leave was not going to get him to leave.

He had seen the gold, certainly, and her eyes. But neither were going to cause anything for her to worry about, be it emotion or action. He had sufficient enough funds stored away here and there in various towns and cities in safe-houses not to have to even begin to consider stealing. And if he ever did somehow deplete his resources, he always had a trade or two to draw upon. Stealing was a last resort that he was at this point unwilling to consider.

"To where is it that you are heading?"

Apheris did not look at him as he trotted his horse along-side her. She refused. When he questioned her, however, she answered. "Immediately, to the town. Ultimately, to my homeland. If I can find it." She took in a sharp breath and frowned. "When I find it." she corrected herself. After a pause, she decided to address the fact that he was following her. "Why are you following me? If you are looking for a reward for saving my life, then just say so. If you are looking to carry me off as some prize of war, good luck." It wasn't as ridiculous as it may sound, she'd had it happen to her. Someone attempted to, at least. Didn't end up so well.

Apheris did not ask any more of him until he would address her current question. She neared the town, inwardly nervous but her outward appearance as calm and settled as an untouched pond. Not a flicker of doubt or fear on her face. She was very good at keeping emotions bottled up inside without letting them show.

He considered her words thoughtfully for a time, mulling them over before deciding to reply. "Following you? I am accompanying you." While his tone was not in any way suggesting malevolence or ill intent, there was an inflection of firmness to it. Certainly he would be more difficult to shake off than she assumed; words would not suffice, and nor would most actions either. So far as he was concerned, she was an Innocent. The encounter with the lion certainly proved that she was in need of some form of offered defence.

"You are a stranger to these lands, that much is blatantly obvious. Unless you want to be trussed up like a 'hog and sold at the nearest port where such business is legal, or worse, I am coming with you."

Apheris frowned slightly, but it was only a slight downward tug of her lips. "You know not where I am even going, or who I am. I am not one so easy to be 'trussed up and sold'." She took in a deep breath, considering his insistence on accompanying her. She stopped walking and turned to face him, this time letting him see her glowing eyes as she addressed him fully. "If you wish to accompany me on my journey we must make things clear. I do not trust you, nor will I ever trust you. You will be paid for your services upon the arrival to my destination." If there was anything left, that is. "You will not, ever, touch me. And I will be addressed as Lady Apheris. Any questions?"

Certainly laying down the law if he even wanted to think about coming with her.

The faintest suggestion of dry amusement appeared on his lips then at her adamant response. "If that is how confident you are of your abilities to avoid trouble like you avoided that lion...". Certainly her helpless display earlier had not done anything in the slightest to suggest to him that she was perhaps anything other than mildly 'off', loosely put. When she turned around however, the horse was brought to a sound stop, sudden and well-controlled. When her terms were made, his head tilted marginally and his eyes briefly narrowed. Certainly while familiar and generally one who adhered to the presence of social ranks, being addressed by a woman whose only supporting evidence for her claim was the gold and finery of material she wore was not convincing. For all he knew, she could be an escaped or disgraced concubine or prized slave. But no matter. He had set himself to the task, and would commit to it.

"I have no desire to touch you, Lady. You presume too much when you know too little." Curtly said, but not so much that it became a snap. Enough of a warning of sorts that while he seemed willing to accept her terms, the assumptions she was making were not readily accepted. "I have no need or desire for payment. I am doing my job, despite the fact that I have been hired by no-one." No, he answered to a higher class of beings; unseen and whispering even now, but capable of being blocked from intruding too much on his day-to-day thoughts with concious effort.

Apheris did not back down. "I know plenty, perhaps not of you, sir, but of others who have attempted to gain acceptance into my presence. I will get a cloak and food at this town, and then we will be on our way." She turned and started walking again. Things had to be dealt with firmly, she knew that from all her years as mediator between the gods and her people. They reached the town and she went to one of the shops, whether Damir followed or not, and purchased a cloak. Then she stocked up on some food supplies, gaining a bag to carry them in in the process.

"What is your name?" she finally asked. She did not know the man's name, and this realization had finally come through her preoccupied mind.

Damir, however, did not just stand around as she bought the cloak. Likely with some arguing, he would have escorted her into a dress-maker's shop, or some other place where clothing was sold. If a protest was made, thankfully the professionals within were able to size her just by a glance, which the silks certainly did a lot to help accentuate. A dress for more formal occasions was bought, then a pair of breeches, riding boots and a shirt. If asked, his reasoning was simple; her clothing was not in any way suitable for riding through some towns and cities they might pass through on the journey.

"Damir, born of Vaasa." Whether or not she had heard of it was another matter. A tundra wasteland, a wild and mostly inhospitable place yet one where profit could be made if you knew where to look.

Apheris did protest, insisting that her garb was appropriate. However, her resistance was futile, and she ended up with two new outfits. Finally, she resigned herself to accept that she may need a different change of clothes during the journey. When he gave her his name, and his homeland, she simply gave a nod. She had never heard of it, but then again before all her troubles, she had never been outside of her homeland so it was not a surprise that she couldn't recognize the name of his land. "What brings you to this area?"

Once he acknowledged that there was nothing else they needed to buy, Apheris would start walking again. She didn't want to stay at the town, she didn't trust it, not when everyone had seen her in her gold. Before they left the town, however, Apheris changed into the breeches and shirt, if only to pack away and hide her precious outfit and golden adornments. Even without the accessories she was a lovely vision. No wonder she'd had so much trouble before.

Damir did not at least force her to try them on. He trusted the judgement of people trained in that sort of thing, and instead simply stowed them away in his saddlebags for later use. His own clothing at least could pass easily enough from one town to another, unless they went into more desert terrains where finer fabrics and bolder colours were preferred. Leather, wool and cotton, all practical and very slightly faded from constant wear and frequent washing. Before they had set off, there was one thing that needed sorting out. Namely, transport for her. While he had no qualms about walking, doing so all day would still drain him of some energy, which they would need should they encounter trouble. When she was in the dressmakers, he had briefly left to make the arrangement and when she had come out, would he have been waiting with mare in hand. A feathery-footed creature, sleek and black as pitch, powerful and elegant all in one. "Work I suppose. I have a profession that requires travelling a lot. I am a Hunter."

Not of normal things however, but the supernatural. Anything that might pose a threat to humanity, was what he sought. Now that she had finally changed - and he had discreetly turned his back to her as she did - he seemed to relax just a little. Not quite so tense or snappy at least, even if still a little gruff and standoffish.

Apheris didn't outwardly show her delight in riding the mare. She had mounted easily enough to prove she'd been on horses before, and she pet and whispered to the horse often as they rode. "A hunter? Is that why you killed the lion?" She looked at him. He hadn't specified what he hunted, after all. The only hunters she knew of were hunters of game, hunters of animals. She didn't know that supernatural beings were hunted. "Why do you travel so much?" She was curious. She had never met a man like him, so while she tried to keep her calm and slightly superior appearance, she still wanted to learn more about him.

Besides, she would have to know much more about him before she could even begin to trust him. (I have to go, I won't be able to post for the rest of the night probably. If I can, I'll sneak a post in at some point, or before bed, but otherwise I'll post a response in the morning! Just so you know and aren't kept up waiting or anything.)

Damir hmmed quietly at that. "Somewhat. I hunt what is needed, where I am needed. Sometimes even though I have saved lives doing what I do, people do occasionally take an unpleasant view of it. More than once have I been driven out of a community for bringing peace to them." A hint of bitterness entered his voice then as he answered her questions, both at once in fact. "Werewolves, vampires, possessions..." Those tended to be the three main offenders, although he had taken on a Barghest before now, and had briefly been part of a group to take on a necromancer as well throughout the years that he had been in that profession.

(No problem! I'll get an email when you next reply anyway )

(Able to slip in a quick post between dinner and work!)

Apheris' complete attention was on him as he started listing what he hunted. Her glowing eyes studied him carefully, now searching for his aura. She was no such thing, but she was still supernatural, unusual. Would he hunt her if he knew what she could do? His aura would prove whether he held any ill will for her, unless he'd learned to disguise such things.

"...I see." She turned away after a bit of staring, and pet at her horse to calm her worries. "People often do not appreciate what it takes to keep them in peace." She knew that far too well.

She would have been able to sense no ill-will in him towards her. A sense of bitterness perhaps, a lingering cold and flickering of guardedness, but nothing directed towards her at any rate. He ignored the staring; given those eyes of hers, he knew nothing of what she might be doing and was not going to ask at this point either.

A faint twitch up of his lips suggested a smirk then. "True enough. Fair enough I will admit that I may have killed the occasional family member of theirs, but I reason that better the Devil they knew dead than the corruption and disease of the monsters are spread further." There at least marked the difference between him and a paladin. The latter would do all they could to purge the suffering, and to cause little collateral damage. He on the other hand, reasoned that sometimes to eradicate the problem fully, cauterising the damage around it was necessary.

"Are you armed at all? Any training in any form of defence or weaponry?" While he had volunteered to escort her, he was still curious as to whether or not he would be doing all of the combat should it arise again.

Apheris listened to him, taking in his words but giving no comment. When he spoke of fighting skills, that was when she responded. "Not against a lion, if that is what you're asking." she said dryly. "But I do have some self-defense skills." That was all she would say about it. She wasn't too used to fighting on her own, but had rather fair self-preservation instincts when push came to shove. Or flee, in the lion's case. She knew she stood no chance against a full-grown lion.

(Sorry it's short, running late and have to get to class!)

He was, at least, honest about his profession. Hiding it and having it come out later on would only have proven that he was not to be trusted. Curiosity had prompted the admittance, and curiosity too was what had prompted him to take up the job so suddenly as well. After all, the only other thing he would have been doing was travelling anyway, keeping his ears open for any rumours that indicated where he was next needed.

"With a weapon, or...?" Leaving that last part wordless, but giving her a pointed look. Magic, was what he was referring to. Whether or not she admitted to any sort of abilities along that line was entirely up to her.

(Ok!)