It was a cold and rainy day out on the road between Lyxian and Rolon. Usually the road was full of people going to trade in one city or another, but the weather had kept most of them indoors. Rain and chilly temperatures didn't stop bandits from making their usual routes, especially since Lyxian was known for its textiles and Rolon was know for its exquisite jewelry...two very valuable items for a highwayman.
A group of these unsavory men were busy spying on a lone woman out on the road. She was pretty, and half dressed which was a bonus for these scoundrels. They watched a moment longer to make sure that she was indeed alone, before the five men sprang out from behind some bushes, swords brandished.
The leader of the group stepped forward, a swarthy man with several missing teeth. He had a thick beard and mustache, and he was wearing some ragged pants and a bandanna over his hair. "Hello there pretty. You shouldn't have been out walking alone...we've been realllll lonely lately. Haven't we boys?" The men around her just gave her twisted smiles, as they eyed her like was fresh meat. "It's been real cold lately boss. We need something to warm ourselves with." Chimed another, as he took a step closer.
Fortunately for Aren, a pair of men were headed her way. The bandits couldn't see them yet, because they were hidden behind the last hill the woman had walked over. Anguath was chattering away at Olohorn, probably something that Olo didn't really care about hearing. Ang's hawk kept watch on the two of them from the trees off the side of the path. "...and that's why we should have taken the old woman up on her offer." The elf looked over at Olo, "Are you evening listening to me?"
A group of these unsavory men were busy spying on a lone woman out on the road. She was pretty, and half dressed which was a bonus for these scoundrels. They watched a moment longer to make sure that she was indeed alone, before the five men sprang out from behind some bushes, swords brandished.
The leader of the group stepped forward, a swarthy man with several missing teeth. He had a thick beard and mustache, and he was wearing some ragged pants and a bandanna over his hair. "Hello there pretty. You shouldn't have been out walking alone...we've been realllll lonely lately. Haven't we boys?" The men around her just gave her twisted smiles, as they eyed her like was fresh meat. "It's been real cold lately boss. We need something to warm ourselves with." Chimed another, as he took a step closer.
Fortunately for Aren, a pair of men were headed her way. The bandits couldn't see them yet, because they were hidden behind the last hill the woman had walked over. Anguath was chattering away at Olohorn, probably something that Olo didn't really care about hearing. Ang's hawk kept watch on the two of them from the trees off the side of the path. "...and that's why we should have taken the old woman up on her offer." The elf looked over at Olo, "Are you evening listening to me?"
Arendreila was having a really, really tough night.
It was raining, for starters. She didn't mind the rain.. if she was indoors. Out on the road, though, it was a severe weakness. In this case, it was very, very bad timing.
When the men jumped out at her, she scowled. Not a bit of her was dry. She had her dagger, and she was quite a fighter, even without her..assets, but against five large, heavily armed men? The odds were certainly not in her favor. As they taunted her, and slowly approached, she smirked and shook her head, wet curls sticking to her neck. "You really, really should find someone else to bother." It was true; on a good day, she would have burned them to a crisp already. This, as previously stated, as not a good day, though.
Aren stood her ground though, eyeing them as they began to circle her. If she tried to make fire now, all she'd get was some sizzling and steam, which, while still frightened off most things, would likely not deter these fellows. Her hearing was quite sharp, and through the rain pelting the road, she heard.. voices? It could either be her lucky day, or she should just quit now.
It was raining, for starters. She didn't mind the rain.. if she was indoors. Out on the road, though, it was a severe weakness. In this case, it was very, very bad timing.
When the men jumped out at her, she scowled. Not a bit of her was dry. She had her dagger, and she was quite a fighter, even without her..assets, but against five large, heavily armed men? The odds were certainly not in her favor. As they taunted her, and slowly approached, she smirked and shook her head, wet curls sticking to her neck. "You really, really should find someone else to bother." It was true; on a good day, she would have burned them to a crisp already. This, as previously stated, as not a good day, though.
Aren stood her ground though, eyeing them as they began to circle her. If she tried to make fire now, all she'd get was some sizzling and steam, which, while still frightened off most things, would likely not deter these fellows. Her hearing was quite sharp, and through the rain pelting the road, she heard.. voices? It could either be her lucky day, or she should just quit now.
Olo was just walking along with Ang feeding Muga some crumbs and completely ignoring the man chattering away at him. Olo was a man of few words, but he knew that Ang had many to share so when the question was asked if he was listening all the elf was given was a gruff grunt. He'd have to figure out on his own if that was in the positive or the negative.
They were cresting the hill when Olo spotted the bandits surrounding a woman and reached over to hit Ang's shoulder with his knuckles, before of all things pointing. Olo really didn't like to speak unless he had to and this didn't require any speech at all as he brushed Muga off and pulled his sword. Hopefully Ang was fluent enough in Olo's body language to know he was ready to maybe get them some coin, while at the same time saving a lady.
They were cresting the hill when Olo spotted the bandits surrounding a woman and reached over to hit Ang's shoulder with his knuckles, before of all things pointing. Olo really didn't like to speak unless he had to and this didn't require any speech at all as he brushed Muga off and pulled his sword. Hopefully Ang was fluent enough in Olo's body language to know he was ready to maybe get them some coin, while at the same time saving a lady.
Anguath frowned at Olohorn, "You never listen to me." He had been about to rant some more when Olo hit his shoulder and pointed. There was a woman in distress! Ang pulled out his sword. "Let's see if we can scare them off first." Ang didn't like killing people, but he would do it when the job called for it.
He headed down the hill and called to the men who had surrounded Aren, "I see you've found our charge! She must have wandered off while we were sleeping." The men sized the two of them up, but decided that two men and a woman weren't a match for them.
The leader stepped forward, "Well she's our charge now. Kindly be on your way." Ang shook his head, "See, I can't do that...this woman is worth a lot of money in Lyxian." That seemed to catch the bandits attention, and they turned their backs to the girl to face Ang. Hopefully Aren would play along with Ang, even though she had never seen these men before in her life.
Ang had the men where he wanted them though, with all their attention on himself and Olohorn, the girl could make a break for it! Of course he had no way to convey this message to her, so he just kept talking to the bandits in hopes that she would get the hint. "Yeah...ran off from an arranged marriage. Her father wasn't too please. Paid us a pretty penny to bring her back unharmed."
He headed down the hill and called to the men who had surrounded Aren, "I see you've found our charge! She must have wandered off while we were sleeping." The men sized the two of them up, but decided that two men and a woman weren't a match for them.
The leader stepped forward, "Well she's our charge now. Kindly be on your way." Ang shook his head, "See, I can't do that...this woman is worth a lot of money in Lyxian." That seemed to catch the bandits attention, and they turned their backs to the girl to face Ang. Hopefully Aren would play along with Ang, even though she had never seen these men before in her life.
Ang had the men where he wanted them though, with all their attention on himself and Olohorn, the girl could make a break for it! Of course he had no way to convey this message to her, so he just kept talking to the bandits in hopes that she would get the hint. "Yeah...ran off from an arranged marriage. Her father wasn't too please. Paid us a pretty penny to bring her back unharmed."
Aren had just tugged her dagger out, when the two men came into view. As they spilled out their story, her eyebrows raised. Arranged marriage? Running away? Yeah, that sounded convincing. She flashed a cheeky smile at the bandits that clearly said 'guilty as charged', before something..rather shocking happened!
She couldn't use fire, no, but she could make quite a bit of steam, hopefully enough to cause a bit of a further distraction, to let her getout of the way, and for the two men who seemed to be swooping in to rescue her to get a jump on the bandits. So she did. Her skin began to sizzle and snap, and like a thick fog, white, pufy steam, like from a boiling tea kettle, poured off of her hands and arms, the only parts not covered by her cloak. Once the bandits were thoroughly alarmed, she made a dash for the brush, ripping off the little waist tie that jingled, so they couldn't follow the sound.
She couldn't use fire, no, but she could make quite a bit of steam, hopefully enough to cause a bit of a further distraction, to let her getout of the way, and for the two men who seemed to be swooping in to rescue her to get a jump on the bandits. So she did. Her skin began to sizzle and snap, and like a thick fog, white, pufy steam, like from a boiling tea kettle, poured off of her hands and arms, the only parts not covered by her cloak. Once the bandits were thoroughly alarmed, she made a dash for the brush, ripping off the little waist tie that jingled, so they couldn't follow the sound.
Olo offered the elf a smirk and that's all he was going to say about listening to him, maybe he did, maybe he didn't but that was for Ang to determine. Ang pulled his sword and Olo followed pulling it out and squaring himself up as they trotted down towards the bandits.
Ang did manage to get sideways judgement from Olo about the particular story they were going with on this one but he shrugged, Ang was the talker. Olo just hit people with rocks. But then Aren did her little steam thing and Olo let out a little trill which put Muga on her path, just to be sure she'd stay safe. The phoenix would duck into the trees and go from branch to branch avoiding being seen by the bandits, at least Muga was well trained!
Ang did manage to get sideways judgement from Olo about the particular story they were going with on this one but he shrugged, Ang was the talker. Olo just hit people with rocks. But then Aren did her little steam thing and Olo let out a little trill which put Muga on her path, just to be sure she'd stay safe. The phoenix would duck into the trees and go from branch to branch avoiding being seen by the bandits, at least Muga was well trained!
Ang wasn't expecting the distraction from the woman, but it couldn't have been more well timed! The bandits didn't have room to say anything as Ang fell on them, blade flashing. He went after the leader first, hoping that putting that man down would make the others scatter.
The bandit leader seemed pretty good with a sword though, so while Ang was locked in battle with him, three of the others moved against Olohorn. The final bandit made for the trees, in hopes of finding the woman...but also so he could get away in case the tide of the battle turned. If Aren had tossed down her jingling belt, the bandit would pick it up and stuff it in his pocket.
The bandit leader seemed pretty good with a sword though, so while Ang was locked in battle with him, three of the others moved against Olohorn. The final bandit made for the trees, in hopes of finding the woman...but also so he could get away in case the tide of the battle turned. If Aren had tossed down her jingling belt, the bandit would pick it up and stuff it in his pocket.
The moment the bandit made it to the trees, Aren swung, with all of the force her petite frame could muster, and the hefty branch from a nearby fallen tree cracked into his nose, essentially clotheslining him across the bridge of his now-likely broken nose. The moment he stumbled, Aren reached out, and grasped the dry lining of the tattered cloak he wore, quickly wiping her hands free of moisture. It wasn't enough for anything over the top, hopefully enough for a distraction to aid the two men again. A puff of flame, the size of a basketball, was briefly seen, the flames crackling and roaring in the oppressive rain.
Olo watched as Ang went after the lead bandit, and without a second thought he plunged into the middle of the other three. He wasn't a slouch when it came to sword fighting, still didn't mean that he got a great deal of pleasure out of fighting three of them.
Olo parried and dodged, he twisted and took a few hits himself before pushing hard into the men. Instead of fighting them separately he focused on them as a whole, treating them as if they were a bubbling creek trying to hit him from all sides. It helped, it made his moves smooth and relaxed as he worked to attempt to disarm them and then subdue them. Subdue of course, by trying to knock them unconscious with the broadside of his sword.
Muga meanwhile was following Aren and this bandit and when the man went after Aren she soared down to try and poke at him with her beak. Of course, Aren had herself handled fairly well but that didn't mean that Muga couldn't try to come to her rescue!
Olo parried and dodged, he twisted and took a few hits himself before pushing hard into the men. Instead of fighting them separately he focused on them as a whole, treating them as if they were a bubbling creek trying to hit him from all sides. It helped, it made his moves smooth and relaxed as he worked to attempt to disarm them and then subdue them. Subdue of course, by trying to knock them unconscious with the broadside of his sword.
Muga meanwhile was following Aren and this bandit and when the man went after Aren she soared down to try and poke at him with her beak. Of course, Aren had herself handled fairly well but that didn't mean that Muga couldn't try to come to her rescue!
Anguath fought hard and eventually disarmed the leader. He gave him a sharp crack to the head, with no regard to the other man. If he had brain damage from it, it was his own fault. Ang turned to see Olohorn struggling with three of them, and he made his way to his friend. He knocked out one guy from behind, "Let's make this fight more fair shall we?"
He took on the bandit with surprising vigor for a man that had just been battling for his life. He would soon dispatch the man he was attacking, likely around the same time Olo finished his. "Should we go after her?" He felt like they at least had a duty to make sure she was okay.
Meanwhile in the woods, the bandit wasn't expecting the branch or the flames. He managed to get up while his nose was gushing blood, but then Aren shot fire at him! "Witch!!!" He stumbled backwards, only to be pecked by Muga. There was a screeching noise from the trees, and Toby swooped down and raked the Bandit's cheek with his talons. The man ran screaming deeper into the woods, likely with Toby and Muga hot on his trail!
He took on the bandit with surprising vigor for a man that had just been battling for his life. He would soon dispatch the man he was attacking, likely around the same time Olo finished his. "Should we go after her?" He felt like they at least had a duty to make sure she was okay.
Meanwhile in the woods, the bandit wasn't expecting the branch or the flames. He managed to get up while his nose was gushing blood, but then Aren shot fire at him! "Witch!!!" He stumbled backwards, only to be pecked by Muga. There was a screeching noise from the trees, and Toby swooped down and raked the Bandit's cheek with his talons. The man ran screaming deeper into the woods, likely with Toby and Muga hot on his trail!
Aren, despite her situation, couldn't help but snicker quietly as the man sprinted away from her. The reaction was always the same..which was a good indication of just why she was transferred alone.
She did scowl slightly, as she started to make her way back to the road. Her coins were gone. She was quite fond of them, and it was very unlikely that she would be able to find anything like it. Desert dwellers didn't often travel far from the sands. Her being so far was not her choice.
Cautiously, she slowly approached the road again, to see if the men who had jumped in to help her were alright. She would feel awful if something had happened to them.
She did scowl slightly, as she started to make her way back to the road. Her coins were gone. She was quite fond of them, and it was very unlikely that she would be able to find anything like it. Desert dwellers didn't often travel far from the sands. Her being so far was not her choice.
Cautiously, she slowly approached the road again, to see if the men who had jumped in to help her were alright. She would feel awful if something had happened to them.
Olo was glad for the help when Ang joined up with him, taking one out and then evening the odds some. He was happy enough to dispatch the man he'd been fighting only to realize Ang had tended to the other as well.
Ang got a look for his question and a nod as Olo took off towards the wood line, keeping the sword in his hand as he did so. Thankfully the birds were well trained, they'd keep the bandit away while Olo and Ang tracked Aren. Thankfully they wouldn't have to go far since Aren was coming back and once they came close to each other Olo looked to Ang and then to the woman, "Are you unharmed?"
Ang got a look for his question and a nod as Olo took off towards the wood line, keeping the sword in his hand as he did so. Thankfully the birds were well trained, they'd keep the bandit away while Olo and Ang tracked Aren. Thankfully they wouldn't have to go far since Aren was coming back and once they came close to each other Olo looked to Ang and then to the woman, "Are you unharmed?"
Anguath was glad to see that the woman was alright, or at least she looked alright. "These roads are dangerous to travel alone. Take care Madam...there are likely more bandits further down the way." He didn't want to invite himself to travel with her, especially since they didn't know anything about her.
It wasn't long after Aren had approached the boys that Muga came flying back with Toby hot on her tail. She was holding something shiny in her claws, that she dumped on the ground in front of Aren, before circling back and landing on Olohorn's shoulder with a trill. She'd been good!
Toby flapped and landed on Anguath's shoulder, which had been padded with leather so the hawk could sit with him. The bird fluffed up and shook off, clearly not a fan of the damp weather either. If Aren inspected the object, she'd find that the birds had returned her missing coin belt.
It wasn't long after Aren had approached the boys that Muga came flying back with Toby hot on her tail. She was holding something shiny in her claws, that she dumped on the ground in front of Aren, before circling back and landing on Olohorn's shoulder with a trill. She'd been good!
Toby flapped and landed on Anguath's shoulder, which had been padded with leather so the hawk could sit with him. The bird fluffed up and shook off, clearly not a fan of the damp weather either. If Aren inspected the object, she'd find that the birds had returned her missing coin belt.
Aren nodded at the first male. "Yes, I'm alright. Thank you, both of you.." She trailed off when their feathered companions rejoined them, and when she realized what they had returned, she grinned at them, before bending and scooping it up. Well, she might as well reward them. Tugging off two of the golden coins, she held them out, flat in her palm, for them to take. The gold was emblazoned with a flame, on each side. "Those are worth more than many villages are."
Olo nodded gravely at the woman after Ang's words, it was dangerous out here especially for those on their own. When Muga came back to him he reached up and rubbed her head, "There's a girl." The tone he used with the bird was warm and gentle, and she nuzzled her little head against his hand while he stroked her feathers.
When the woman offered the coin he quirked a brow, not one to turn down coin though Olo reached out and took it. "Thank you, just glad we could help." Of course, he was also happy for the prospect of getting some food too.
When the woman offered the coin he quirked a brow, not one to turn down coin though Olo reached out and took it. "Thank you, just glad we could help." Of course, he was also happy for the prospect of getting some food too.
Anguath hadn't been expecting coin, but he took it anyway. "Thank you fair lady." He made sure to tuck the coin into his pocket. "Where are you going that you had to travel in this downpour?" The rain didn't bother him much, he was used to being outside. "Would you perhaps...require an escort?" She had already given them both a gold coin each, so it seemed only fair to ask.
Aren crossed her arms as she examined the two of them. They seemed trustworthy enough..besides, they had already helped her out of one jam. Rather than spill the smooth lie she had told others she had encountered, she took a risk, with the truth.
"Hmm..an escort would be of use, I suppose. I have no destination, just a place of departure, and one that I would prefer to leave as far behind as I can." It was the truth. Just..not quite all of it. She reached to tie the coins around her hips once more, before she turned her unusual golden gaze upon them again. " I am Arendreila. You both, however, May call me Ren."
"Hmm..an escort would be of use, I suppose. I have no destination, just a place of departure, and one that I would prefer to leave as far behind as I can." It was the truth. Just..not quite all of it. She reached to tie the coins around her hips once more, before she turned her unusual golden gaze upon them again. " I am Arendreila. You both, however, May call me Ren."
Olo offered her a nod, he could understand having no destination. In fact he understood that all too well. When she looked at them again and offered her name he tipped his head forward, "I am Olohorn, this is Anguath." At that time he indicated his traveling companion before falling quiet again.
This woman was unusual and exotic, he very much doubted she was from this land at all but he had met several that were not and it wasn't nearly as surprising for him anymore. Muga was chittering away on his shoulder, which had him clucking his tongue and stroking her head feathers again.
This woman was unusual and exotic, he very much doubted she was from this land at all but he had met several that were not and it wasn't nearly as surprising for him anymore. Muga was chittering away on his shoulder, which had him clucking his tongue and stroking her head feathers again.
Anguath was surprised when Olohorn introduced them both and then he frowned, "You talk to Muga more than you talk to me." He looked back at Ren, "It's nice to meet you. You've already paid us enough to at least escort you to the next town. We're hoping to find more work there."
He looked up at the sky, "I don't think this horrible rain is going to stop any time soon though." His shoulder was starting to ache from the weight of Toby, but he didn't shake the bird off, "Shall we? The sooner we get to town the sooner was can get dry!"
He looked up at the sky, "I don't think this horrible rain is going to stop any time soon though." His shoulder was starting to ache from the weight of Toby, but he didn't shake the bird off, "Shall we? The sooner we get to town the sooner was can get dry!"
Aren smiled faintly, and nodded, gesturing for them all to start down the road she had been traveling on. After they began their trek, she glanced over to Olohorn, a small smile in place as she admired Muga. "Beautiful bird." She nodded towards Toby, not wanting to leave him out either. They were an odd grouping, the two men, and their birds, traveling with her, but, they would all likely be odd on their own, as well. After a while more, she spoke. "It is good to meet you both, and I do appreciate the escort into town."
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