Open Chronicles Alliria

[Elliot Aldmar]

"I wouldn't dare insinuate anything of the sort," Elliot said. Satisfied.

It was preferable this way. Syvis took responsibility for her own well-being, as well it should be. A detestable, sycophantic state of being to be shackled to another when you fully had the power to stand on your own two feet. That was the way his father had fallen into, little more than a sorry, hollowed-out man who loved his chains. As most men in Dornoch were, so Elliot reckoned. Elliot had but one reason to stay in Dornoch as long as he did and when she died, it was time to go and never return.

Well. Almost never.

Syvis always kept salt on her. Good. Useful for preserving hunted meat and for cleaning a battle off of one's clothes in the aftermath. Better to not let it get within splattering distance, but sometimes it simply could not be helped. Maybe he'd pick up a little extra once they got to the general store.

What's your steed's name?

"Doesn't have a name, but she does have the distinction of having lived the longest." Elliot guided the horse around a small group of people idling in the street in front of a vendor's cart of wares. "You come up with a good enough one for her and I'll keep it."

Syvis Ceridwen Dulthir

 

[Syvis]

Syvis made one of her faces at him. “Oooh you’re one of them. The brooding travelling men who could never be attached to something like a horse-“She threw a hand over her forehead like a fake damsel in distress before continuing “- or a woman!” She exclaimed sarcastically.

“So you’re from Dornoch yeah? Or is there some other place your kind come from?” She asked him trying not to be intrusive or rude. Just trying to make any sort of conversation. He intrigued her truthfully.

Despite being on the road so often he smelled nice. So there she lay head on his shoulder staring up at the sky. She looked at his side profile, he was stately like an elf, yet it seemed as if he had seen some things. He didn’t look to have many scars on him.

Back to naming the horse she thought, she gave the beast a pat. “What about Badger?” She asked him softly, “for the horse.”

 

[Dulthir]

Dulthir chuckled at Ceri's playfulness. Karrazark, wasn't impressed. He just grunted and walked alongside Dulthir. He followed Ceri, keeping an ever watchful eye on the surroundings. He had become... more personable the past few days, all due to Ceri, but, he still didn't trust most. They came into the market, he came up beside Ceri. He stroked the side of her neck.
"Well, guess we should wait fit the elves. Or, we could try to find this Cap'n Marghast ourselves. I'm sure he'll probably stick out. What do you think love?"
Ceridwen Syvis Elliot Aldmar

 

[Ceridwen]

Ceridwen chortled in idly boredom as Karrazark ignored her playing. She puffed up her feathers before looking towards the market. She coood softly as Dulthir stroked the feathers of her neck while they walked through the Market, her emerald eyes wandering, looking for their elven friends.

"Well, guess we should wait fit the elves. Or, we could try to find this Cap'n Marghast ourselves. I'm sure he'll probably stick out. What do you think love?"

She shrugged slightly, lowering her head and nudging his thighs, tempting him to get on her shoulders which would give him a much higher view of everything, and would also lower the space they took as they walked. She lowered her chest to the ground again, one forelimb folding beneath her chest, the other sticking out slightly as she waited to see if he should pull himself up.

Elliot Aldmar
Syvis

 

[Syvis]

(Just give Elliot a bit, please and thank you. A lot of my rp right now is dependent on him. )

 

[Dulthir]

(No rush love. Take your time)

 

[Ceridwen]

(Yup no worries, I think we are waiting on him from this point... When these 2 were leaving it was just us. hahah)

 

[Dulthir]

Ceri nudged him. Then she lowered herself to let Dulthir on. He never was one to get offended when folks joked about his height, and he figured he'd get a better view atop of Ceri. He climbed on and chuckled.
"Well lass, definitely a better vantage point up here. I'll have ta return the favor later."
He smiled and stroked the feathers on her neck.
"Now... let's see if we can find those elves."
They continued thru the market, Dulthir riding Ceri, and Karrazark following searching for food.
Ceridwen Syvis Elliot Aldmar

 

[Elliot Aldmar]

"Pretty short on the 'brooding' part of that, but otherwise," A tiny shrug of his shoulders, so as not to disturb her resting head, "fair."

The attachment part was a case of one foot on land and one foot in water. The Dreng'toth preached strict nonattachment to all things as part of their philosophy, and here was where Elliot parted with their view. While he could see the benefit of freeing oneself from cravings and desire, of shedding away the abundant excesses of life in favor of the essentials, Elliot had at that point grown to know himself enough to understand that this was something to which he could not fully commit. If it was, he would have never left the monastery. So he established a compromise for himself, delineating what he would allow for himself and what he would not. Attachment to coin, funny as it was given his profession, was one such excess that he happily did without.

Brooding. Well. Nightly self-reflection and morning meditation were the opposite of that.

And then Syvis had a damn good guess on where he was from. Or, on second thought, maybe not damn good but simply good. Not some tightly guarded secret that there was a dark elven enclave in Dornoch, one also in Volta--there were not many surface cities that openly accepted dark elves like these two cities did, Alliria included for that matter. So it was basically Dornoch, Volta, perhaps Alliria, and the dark elven capital of Zar'Ahal itself as the top four picks.

He had a choice. He could lie like he usually did, or he could not. Considering the whole of the matter though, if Syvis was an agent of the Dynast then she would have made a move already--she'd plenty of opportunities, and if it were so she likely could not risk him getting away once more. It stood to reason that she was not. And if she was every bit the thief she claimed to be, then both of their situations were precarious enough warrant a mutually beneficial silence between them on their illicit affairs.

So Elliot said, "Winner, winner. Dornoch, yes. My father, upon leaving Zar'Ahal and in all of his lacking wisdom, picked the worst spot on Arethil for a man to go. I wasn't going to live the same mistake."

He steered the horse around a carriage that had stopped inconveniently for everyone in the middle of an intersection so the passenger could talk with some acquaintance. Two Komodi kids went running from one end of the street to the other and Elliot bid the horse to stop as they passed and their minorly harried mother passed after them and then he snapped the reins again. The general store was near.

What about Badger?

Elliot actually tried to hide his smile. Failed. It spread and then spread wide into a grin and he let out a single breathy laugh.

"Badger. I tell you what, I actually do like that. Tenacious little bastards--suits her just fine. Alright. Badger it is."

Not long after they closed on the general store, and Elliot made Badger stop by the hitching post. A small establishment, just the way he preferred it. Single window with flower pots adorning it. Hanging sign on the door that said Welcome Anytime! in Common. Altogether it seemed more a cabin a seasoned woodsman might construct for himself in some remote part of the Reach or the Spine than a store in a big city like Alliria.

"I won't be long," Elliot said. "Did you need anything?"

Then a small, playful smirk and he added, "That you can't or don't feel like stealing?"

Syvis Dulthir Ceridwen

 

[Syvis]

So she had guessed his homeland correctly so it seemed. There was a rather large likelihood Elliot was lying to her but she’d accept what she could get. Her knowledge of his kind wasn’t extensive other then a few racial slurs she had heard her own throw at those brave enough to enter her city. It was sad really, they were all from the same cloth were they not? Such is the arrogant ways of the high elves, those who deem themselves fit to rule over all kind, be it true or not Syvis hadn’t a clue.

His laugh shocked her a tad, he seemed too serious a man to laugh on things. Yet she did enjoy the sound, enjoyment is contagious. At least that seemed to be a sign that the strange man didn’t hate her. She wondered how old he might be, it was hard to tell with their kind, he might very well be 1000 or 17, one could never tell. Elliot did have an aire of how shall she put it? Maturity? Even for their kind, like he had been through the realms and back. Maybe that was the case for all dark elves, normally they preferred not to interact with Syvis. She had deep seeded hatred to thank for that.

Syvis stared at the caravan as they passed, poor mother. This was what happened when you didn’t have a firm leash on your children. Her own father would have sentenced her to extreme training if she dared to pull such a stunt in general not to mention in public. That wasn’t what the upper class did.

Finally they arrived at the ever talked about general store, Elliot had made a sly comment about her thievery. She eyed up the family joint before saying in a calm tone. “I don’t steal from those who don’t deserve it.” Her eyes flashed to the elderly human woman running the desk of the store. Syvis worked on commission to steal from bad people, not elderly humans trying to make it by on their last legs of life. Sure they were pathetic creatures but it appeared this woman had did her time, she deserved tranquility now. “I need nothing.” She told him as she hopped off to braid Badger’s mane. She was a pretty horse.

 

[Ceridwen]

Ceri did her best to get Dulthir on her shoulders easily. Once he'd pulled himself up she opened her wings, leaving them partially open alongside his body, protectively.

"Well lass, definitely a better vantage point up here. I'll have ta return the favor later."

The statement was lost on her and she turned her head back to look at him, blinking with lack of understanding. He smiled, stroking her feathers and she chortled lightly before turning her head forwards and continuing on their path.

"Now... let's see if we can find those elves."

She lifted her beak to the air, scenting the particular horse she was after and headed in their direction. Her tail lashed from side to side as she walked, her emerald eyes finally catching sight of the elves. She lifted her head and screeched slightly, making her presence known and she pushed through the crowd towards them.

The crowd separated around her and she paid no mind to the looks she got, she didn't care.

Elliot Aldmar
Syvis

 

[Dulthir]

The looks the couple were getting was amusing to Dulthir. He chuckled. Well, that and he'd never actually moved around being taller than everyone.
"Well, love. I remember gray skin saying something about a general store. Let's keep an eye out for it."
He sat upright, his chest puffed out just a bit. Being this tall was kind of nice. He chuckled to himself, and rubbed Ceri's neck again.
Ceridwen Syvis Elliot Aldmar

 

[Elliot Aldmar]

Who don't deserve it. Elliot gave a single nod of understanding after Syvis had hopped down from Badger. She had a code, a tempering of her life's work from the wanton to the disciplined, a way to categorize the deserving and the undeserving. Blunt indulgence honed down into sharp purpose. Perhaps she viewed it differently, or placed less significance upon it, but Elliot regardless ascribed due credit to her character.

He jumped down off of the horse. Went through his saddlebags and collected a few items that were damaged or worn into the cradle of his arm. He heard a griffin's screech and spared a glance and saw the approach of Ceridwen and Dulthir from the direction Elliot and Syvis themselves had come. With his free hand he offered a curt wave.

Syvis said that she did not need anything. Ceridwen and Dulthir were presumably good to travel, so by Elliot's reckoning he was the only one who needed to enter the store. Wouldn't be long, like he said. A single glance up at the sun in the clear sky told that there would be plenty of time to get to the South Market.

Elliot turned to Syvis and gestured back with a cant of his head to Ceridwen and Dulthir and said to her, "Tell 'em a funny story while I'm provisioning. See if I make it back out in time to catch the ending."

Maybe she had one or maybe she had one that she could make up or maybe she had none at all. But Elliot still needed to restock in any case. So he pushed open the front door and entered the cabin-like general store and either sold or gave away his old goods to the owner and then set about collecting what he needed.

Dulthir Syvis Ceridwen

 

[Syvis]

Still braiding the horse’s mane she smiled at the duo. “Hello beautiful!” She called out to Ceri in her usual manner. “I think your feathers are just lovely.” She continued before freeing a hand to wave at Dulthir. “You look mighty pleased to be atop her.” Syvis finished with a wink. She could make lewd jokes every once and awhile.

Elliot had told her to tell a funny story, but she had none off the top of her head. “Um. I haven’t a funny story but... why do paladins wear chain mail?” She asked, starting a joke.

She halted her braiding to pick some flowers to put in Badger’s mane. Maybe she was meant to be a horse of battle but Syvis thought she looked pretty.

 

[Ceridwen]

Ceri saw them near the shop and headed that way. She came up alongside Syvis and nuzzled her lightly as she complimented her feathers. She nibbled playfully with her hair in her beak for a few moments as she purred lightly.

"Purdy too" she said softly before lowering her chest to the ground so Dulthir could dismount. Once he did she wandered into the shop after Elliot Aldmar curiously, folding her wings tightly to her so she could fit in the door of the shop.

She didn't go all the way in, just stuck her head in, her broad shoulders touching the doorframe, proving to her, she was probably better off not going in. Her tail lashed slowly as she looked around, watching him curiously.

<sorry kinda a meh post. I'm tired... lol... dang kids hurting themselves left and right>

 

[Syvis]

( don’t worry about it, life happens. Hope the kiddos are okay! <3 )

 

[Dulthir]

Dulthir slid off Ceri. He smiled at her curiosity. She stuck her head in the store. Dulthir heard the old woman that ran it scream. He couldn't help but laugh out loud. He patted Ceri's hindquarters.
"Perhaps we should wait outside love? Not sure that woman can handle a blast to the ticker."
He looked to Syvis.
"So, lass, why do paladins wear chain mail?"
He packed and lit his pipe while he waited for the punchline.
Ceridwen Syvis Elliot Aldmar

 

[Syvis]

“Because it’s hole-y.” Syvis finished with a dry laugh.

She stepped back from Badger, “What do you think??” She asked the trio.

She wondered what Elliot had to grab. He was taking a fair amount of time. He didn’t seem to carry much coin on him yet that might be for fear of her nimble fingers.

 

[Elliot Aldmar]

Elliot took note of Ceridwen peeking into the shop. Not so much because he had seen it for himself at first, but from the owner's shocked yelp. A look to the door and he saw then the head of a griffin sticking in. Elliot didn't pause in his shopping.

"It's alright," he said without glancing the old woman's way.

His unconcerned air and tone brought a measure of calm back to the owner. She said, sheepishly, "Was just a bit surprised, is all."

Wasn't a common sight, that was for sure. Elliot felt some of that same surprise himself when Ceridwen had casually entered the inn again as a griffin last night after leaving it as (ostensibly) a human. Certainly it'd be a more common sight in a place like Oban--he'd heard of that city. Like Dornoch, but reversed--which did not make it any better.

Elliot had what he needed and went up to the counter and made his coin pouch a bit lighter in exchange for the items. In the cradle of his arm he had a new waterskin (one of his had been shot through with a bolt), a new hatchet (blunted, his last, with a splintering haft), more thread for possible sewing and sutures (you never knew), more tinder and a new flint stone for his firestarter kit, and of course a restocking of travel rations.

He had heard Syvis laugh outside while he was paying the owner of the store. He came out (making way past Ceridwen), a few seconds too late to hear the joke or the punchline, but perhaps soon enough to see Dulthir's reaction. He walked up to Badger and filled his saddlebags with his items. Then he jumped back into the saddle.

Belated, perhaps, he spoke names in greeting anyway, "Dulthir. Ceridwen."

And then scooted back on the saddle, making room for Syvis up front. He would have offered his hand, but she was more than capable of hopping up onto a horse's back on her own. He did, however, take a small notice of the flowers that had gotten into Badger's mane. Hm.

To the three of them collectively, "To the South Market then, and we'll see what our coming days will look like."

Ceridwen Syvis Dulthir

 

[Syvis]

Syvis smiled at him as he came out. “You get what you need?” She asked as he swung up on the saddle.

He had moved back for her so she put a boot into the stirrup and tried to get on as minimally disruptive as possible for him. She swung a leg over and sat in front of him gracefully.

She gave his leg a pat, “Did you see Badger’s mane? Isn’t she so pretty.” Syvis leaned her head back on his shoulder to keep it out the way.

Syvis rolled her head to the side to look at the dwarf and griffin on the ground, they were cute together.

One day she’d have to ask Ceri to let her braid her hair, it was beautiful.

 

[Ceridwen]

The shop owner squeeled, startled by her and she hit her head on the doorframe, more startled than the woman most likely. She chortled softly as Dulthir suggested she withdraw her forebody from the store. She chirped slightly as she backed out of the store, bumping her flank into Badger on accident. She tilted her head at the joke, not getting it and just tossed her head from side to side slightly to smooth her ruffled feathers.

She nuzzled her beak lightly against Syvis with a nod of approval... saying "Purdy" about the horse, before lifting it and looking to Elliot Aldmar with a squeek. She moved to nuzzle Dulthir lightly as Elliot pulled himself atop his steed, waiting for Syvis to join him.

She lowered her chest to the ground once more, lowering one wing and tucking her foot under her so Dulthir could hop on.

 

[Dulthir]

Syvis delivered the punchline. Dulthir puffed his pipe. Luckily, Ceri backed out and bumped into the horse. Then Elliot came out of the store and put his belongings in the saddle bags, then hopped up on the horse, then Syvis hopped on in front of him. Ceri knelt down, again, and Dulthir climbed on. They headed towards the South Market. And, all at once, Dulthir roared with laughter.
"It's hole-y... that's funny. It's hole-y..."
He chuckled again, then puffed on his pipe. He rubbed Ceri's head.
"How are ye love? Not too heavy, am I?"
He looked over to Elliot.
"So, what's this Cap'n Marghast like? He a hhardass or what's? Curious to know about tha man imma meetin'"
Ceridwen Syvis Elliot Aldmar

 

[Elliot Aldmar]

You get what you need?

"I did," Elliot said. Things that he could have made do without if need be, but things that would improve his travels. There was a time that his bedroll and tent canvas had caught fire, clipped by a stray gout of a pyromancer's flame, and Elliot had to throw it from his previous horse. This, of course, happening during the winter when it was cold, but not quite cold enough to turn the rain to snow. Naturally, it rained for three days after. He did without, and his measure was taken in the endurance of privation and the illness from exposure to the elements that followed. Those items from the general store weren't essential like sheltering gear, but improve his travels they would.

Arms around Syvis's waist again, and he took hold of the reins and steered Badger around and toward the South Market. Dulthir on Ceridwen riding alongside. He didn't mind their company. He didn't mind Syvis's head on his shoulder. One of those chance encounters, this with the three of them, that started out one way and became another. Winter to summer.

Syvis got his attention shortly after setting off. The flowers in Badger's mane, she mentioned. "I see them," he said. "They'll last until she breaks into a gallop. Hold on tight if and when we need her to. Badger will keep going whether someone's on her or not. I know."

Dulthir then, as they crossed another intersection in the street and passed by one of Alliria's small mage academies, repeated a punchline. Ah, Syvis had entertained them with a joke.

So, what's this Cap'n Marghast like?

"The man's got charisma. He's a talker, and tailors himself well to whomever he's speaking with, whether that's a merc or a noble or another learned man. Captain Marghast is more studious than you might think. He speaks five languages, knows the various histories of Arethil as recorded by humans, elves, orcs, and dwarves, and knows his literature. He doesn't give many orders, but the ones he does give he expects to be followed."

Syvis Ceridwen Dulthir

 

[Syvis]

Normally she’d be mad at a man putting his arms around her waist but with Elliot it was nice, he didn’t have bad intentions that she could tell. Plus when they met she assessed him, it might be hard but if anything happened she reckoned it’d be a level fight. Even if you deem someone safe it’s best to stay on edge, after all you only have yourself in the end.

It was good he got all the supplies he required. It was always annoying when you needed things and you couldn’t grab them, sure most people who lived on the road could do without them yet it was nice to indulge a tad. Syvis herself only had to rough it once, she slept in a tree with no daggers and ripped cloak for a month, it was nice and tranquil although. Time alone in supreme circumstances was often cathartic.

She didn’t care if the flowers might fall out, he didn’t seem to be as vain as most were. Perhaps he lacked the time to be or perhaps it wasn’t something his people did, her and her friends often spent hours pruning themselves. Syvis always had to work that much harder to keep up with the elven standard of beauty due to her human blood yet it seemed her mother hadn’t been ugly persay. Regardless human men still found her pretty, and on a nomadic journey such as this it was necessary.

“I know to hold on, I’m not obtuse.” She joked looking at the buildings as they passed by. “Would you like me to remove my head off your shoulder as we approach? You know to seem manly, or to remove me as leverage.” It was survival for her as well, she didn’t want to be fighting people to keep herself alive because she might be viewed as a tool to hurt Elliot, although if he deemed the situation safe she’d remain there.

She listened intently to his description of the captain. It made sense, he didn’t seem unreasonable like many other merc men. Some were just large lugs that made Syvis wish to bludgeon herself off of a brick wall.

 

[Ceridwen]

Ceri shook her head slightly as Dulthir asked if he was too heavy. She fluffed up her feathers, almost as if insulted, tossing her head back too look to him upside down before snorting slightly through her nares at him. She chortled and bumped him with her beak before looking forward again, getting close again to Badger as she'd wandered slightly off track while looking to Dulthir.

Ceri listened to the three talk, keeping herself quiet and just listening. She only paid partial attention to what was being said, there were too many things for her to look at. She turned her eyes to Elliot Aldmar and Syvis for a moment before a butterfly passed before her.

Suddenly, she was even more distracted. She chirped as she watched the colorful bug flutter around and she almost bounded after it, but the weight of Dulthir on her shoulders reminded her she was otherwise busy and couldn't play right now. She was able to get herself back on track, moving closer to the Elves and playfully nudging them both with her beak as she softly cood.

Karrazark grunted behind them and she turned her head 180 degrees to look to the portly porkchop, making sure he was well and safe. He seemed well enough so she continued walking queitly.