Open Chronicles The Stalker of Minds

[Rebecca Fourtuna]

" T-thank you master Lazule f-for helping b-bear my s-suffering.." Rebecca whispered recoiling at yet more people being around when they entered.

She had never seen an estate so large.

The thought of it being one person's didn't even enter her mind.
She wondered why they would build another village inside of a town. Humans didn't make any sense to her sometimes.

Her grip tightened around Lazule with apprehension as they grew closer to the group. She seemed much calmer now that they were out if the bustle of the town however.

Her sobs had ceased and she simply clung to her master. Her cloaking shielding her from the new groups appraising looks.

The dwarf seemed to be hopeful about creating something to help her, and even though he was a stranger and not be trusted under any circumstances it was still a nice gesture she wouldnt forget.

Her tail shifted from Lazule's wrist to her left leg starting at her upper inner thigh and coiling down to almost her ankle. Her face staying nuzzled into her neck.

The only person she would ever want be this close to.... feel this close to. Her master was everything to her and had proven and time again she was worthy of such a place in Rebecca's heart.

Though her master was not one for showing those emotions in return Rebecca knew she showed them in her own ways. She wasn't naive enough to think her feelings were returned either.

Though she loved Lazule and her heart beat faster even looking into her beautiful eye..She knew there was no room in her masters heart for loving her back as deeply as Rebecca loved her.

Only her mission mattered for love was something one did for ones self, and there was no room for selfishness in the life of someone who's life was paid for by so many. Rebecca felt the ache her master had to make every second of the day count.

Never leaving a single moment to waste. She soon found her eye lids dropping as her breathing slowed. The days excitement and the general strain of the town had left her more exhausted than she realised. She softly began to snooze.

Her soft cat-like mewls tickling Lazule's ear as the grew ever closer to the crowd. Her cloaking remained however as she seemed to be able to remain invisible even in slumber.

 

[Teodron]

The women—or at least Lazuel—seemed to acknowledge the offer, and understand the limitations. There’d be more of those to come, Teodron knew, but for now he was choosing not to restrict his thinking too much. Indeed, some of the strongest mages found themselves incredibly limited by their lack of creative thinking. It was more important to be clever than to be powerful when it came to a lot of magic.

Of course, sheer, raw, magical energy did tend to help. The half-dwarf didn’t have that, so he relied on other means.

Before too long, they arrived at the estate. It was an impressive building, with a generous porch and courtyard. There was a tent set up in front, with a woman working on some sort of arcane device. Teodron, of course, was immediately drawn to whatever magic that was going on—though he noted the two warrior types of course—and under pretty much any other circumstances would’ve tried to assist the female mage.

However, two things stopped him. First, he didn’t recognize her craft, and didn’t want to interrupt a spell in progress; second, he had his own work to do, his own spell to cast. If he finished it by the end of the day, he could replenish his magic overnight and he’d avoid having to stick around after the excursion. That meant he could get back to the college, and his studies, more quickly. Granted, he didn’t know if they’d be heading right out or if they’d be waiting another day. However, given the female mage’s preparations he had a hunch they would have at least some time before they had to find the thing behind the visions and dreams. Honestly, Teodron was pleased there'd be so many people around for this one. On some of his missions, he’d been all alone.

Those were always the ones he felt most likely to die when something inevitably went wrong.

Seeing as he was still putting together the plan for the artificant he wanted to make for Rebecca—and seeing as he’d tagged along with the group and definitely didn’t feel like the leader—Teodron was content to let the men-at-arms or even Lazule take point. Rebecca was still clinging to the tall blonde’s back, although the half-dwarf frowned when he realized that, unless he focused his full attention on the reptilian woman, his eyes drifted right past her. That mystery, plus the female mage’s craft, plus his own musings on rune magic and what it could do for the nearly invisible Rebecca kept him silent.

 

[Lazule]

Into the courtyard of the Lord's manor.

Lazule glanced to the gathering of a dozen adventurers, and off to the tent with the robed woman in it, and then to the manor itself. Here a quality that Lazule had difficulty understanding, the stark separation between humans. The lack of pulling together in times of desperation, or the permanence of such if it so happened. Even the presence and peril of monsters seemed insufficient in achieving a lasting unity and unconditional caring among them.

She wished it was not this way. Alas.

The Tall Man went into the manor while the other men-at-arms stood out in the courtyard with Lazule and Teodron and Rebecca. A good thing. That Rebecca had fallen asleep. Odd, yet astounding, that she could so quickly and in such a way, but there in it a respite from her tension. It would be better once they left the town and began their journey. Better for both of them, for she did not wish to see Rebecca suffer.

An ember of hope, then, for Teodron's proposed solution to be successful. If not, perhaps he know someone from the College who could? It was not within Lazule's magical purview to give the aid that Rebecca so needed. For Luminomancy did not lend itself to such, even the utility provided by it served only her pursuit of slaying monsters. Rebecca's was a plight which Lazule was not properly equipped to handle, either in magical or mundane means. But she would have to do her best. For Rebecca's sake.

The Tall Man came out, and with him, the Lord of Grishino. A man in fine clothes, with a well-trimmed beard and black hair. Older, like Father, as attested by his skin and the slight graying of his hair. The two of them walked down the front steps of the porch and toward Lazule and the Tall Man explained the situation to the lord.

And the lord listened and nodded and looked then to Lazule and said, "What is your name?"

"My n-name is Lazule."

He regarded her for a moment. "Where is the other one? The other woman?"

"She is here. She will be c-coming along too."

He didn't spare much time on the matter. Said, "Very well then. My name is Lord Glanton Grishino. And if you say, Lazule, that you will compensate the wagon driver with your payment from this task, then so be it. I myself will be leading this expedition, so I will be able to keep my eyes on you. If you are honorable and uphold your end of this resolution, then we will have no quarrel. If, however, you do not, on account of desertion or any other reason, then I will be forced to deal with you in a more punitive fashion. Surely you understand this."

"I d-do."

"There is no reason to be nervous, Lazule. Conduct yourself with honor and display valor if it is so required in this expedition and there will be no misgivings between us and the incident with the wagon driver will be forgiven with your recompense provided."

Lazule nodded. Sometimes that was simply easier. Forming groups and parties with others was oftentimes difficult, given the shakes and the stutter that occurred in their presence. They would assume that this would only worsen in the face of monsters, and some did not accept her explanations.

"Then it is agreed," Glanton said. He glanced to Teodron for a moment, then at the other men and women in general in the courtyard. "Adventurers. Please, gather around."

And they did, forming a loose circle around the lord. And he said, "First, I thank you all for coming. I know that some of you have been waiting for several days now. But my friend in the College of Elbion has heard my plea for a solution to our problem. For those newly arrived, my scouts have located the place we who are ailing from these nightmares have seen. A town, north across the Sayve River, named Rostok. A town abandoned, and for good reason, for the very air in and around it is choked with some manner of poison or miasma. However, after some devising, the mage Devona has come up with the aforementioned solution. Specially-made leather masks, enchanted with air magic and strapped over one's nose and mouth, which will cleanse the air one breathes in. Equipped with these, we will venture into Rostok, and we will find what is causing these unnatural nightmares and put an end to it."

Glanton looked toward the tent then. "Tomorrow we will set out. But for now, acquire a mask from Devona, and ensure that it is a good fit and that the enchantment functions as intended, and keep it close at hand. Get what rest you can this day, and pray that the nightmares do not plague you as well."

 

[Rebecca Fourtuna]

As they approached the tent Rebecca perked up slightly.

Her grip tightened around Lazule like she was having a bad dream. Her form flickered as they entered the tent.

With a jump she slid from Lazules back and landed with a thrashing roll at the feet of the mage that occupied that very tent.

 

[Teodron]

As they waited patiently for the men-at-arms to fetch whoever they’d gone to fetch (presumably the lord here) Teodorn looked around at the estate. Elbion was a rich trading city, and the College of Magic was a marvel of magical engineering, but even so this was an impressive home. For the half-dwarf, who’d grown up in a nice household, but certainly not a rich one, the sight of such opulence was always a bit overwhelming. He felt small and awkward in the face of it.

Luckily, his earlier guess had been right, and the Lord of Grishino, Glanton, came out to greet them. Teodron listened to the exchange between Lazule and the lord closely, but thankfully the tall blonde woman’s offer to pay the driver’s debts with her own share of the cut was accepted. The lord’s speech was a little too flowery for the half-dwarf’s tastes—he much preferred the academic jargon of the professors of Elbion than the noble and presumably rousing speech here—so Teodron just stayed quiet.

At the command to gather round, the half-dwarf glanced at the others who came close. Lazule and Teodron and presumably Rebecca were already right there, but others joined them, enough to make the half-dwarf less worried that they would succeed in their endeavors.

The explanation, however, made the half-dwarf’s fear come back. This was far beyond what he’d thought: all he’d imagined would be a magical experiment gone awry, not an entire town plagued with nightmares and poison. Still, he couldn’t turn back now, both because this was his assignment and because he knew this people needed all the help he could get, even from a mere student. Chestnut, somehow sensing his unease, stamped her feet, and he made a soothing noise to get them both to calm down.

Orders given, Loren turned to acquire his mask from Devona. He had no idea how they were going to test that it was working, though he examined it closely for signs of the magic within. He picked up the gist of the female mage’s work; though he wasn’t an air mage, he had at least a foundation in elemental magic, because all students at the college were required to take classes on every magical discipline.

Rebecca, appearing out of nowhere, however, had beat the half-dwarf to Devona. Teodorn eyed the reptilian woman curiously, wondering where she'd come from and if she was going to attack again now that they were in a crowd.

 

[Lazule]

Lazule glanced to the tent indicated by Glanton. Others from the adventuring party were already heading over. Some with the same quiet acceptance as Lazule, some more apprehensive. Low voices among them.

"Did he say poison? That the air was poison?"

"What in the hell could do that?"

"You think it's always been like that?"

"Fuck me, the things I do for coin."

"I never did like magic, I'll tell ya that much."

Lazule walked with them, but said nothing. It did not matter what horrid conditions this threat was cloaked within. She had committed herself to end the nightmares and whatever was causing them, whether it was a living monster or something else. For they were a predation on innocent people, and in knowing this Lazule's path was clear.

Lazule entered the tent with Teodron and the dozen adventurers. All of them lined up in front of the table and the masks that were laid out on top of it.

And Lazule felt Rebecca rustling and moving. A touch of worry when she left her back, but she landed by Devona without further incident. A few of the other adventurers did a double-take at her surprise appearance. Rorik and Stigg glanced at one another, then back to Rebecca and Devona.

Devona looked to Rebecca and blinked and smiled awkwardly and said, "Oh. Um, hi. Hello. There." She cleared her throat and addressed the group as a whole. "Right. So. I've got plenty of extra masks here. Slightly different shapes and sizes. Please find one that's a good fit and covers both your nose and your mouth and straps tightly and securely. Go ahead, please."

Lazule was the first to reach down and pick a mask from the table, and the other adventurers followed. The straps were simple enough, secured with buckles against the back of the head. Uncomfortable, to a degree, once fastened as tightly as Devona instructed.

She took a breath. Stuffy and smothered and hot, as one might expect. She took another breath. This time a faint blue glow from the sides of the mask, and the air she breathed in was colder than before. More breaths, and each had that same cool quality to it. Though not quite as good as simply not wearing the mask at all, the air was breathable through the leather.

And as the adventurers all donned their masks, a few servants from the manner entered the tent then and placed on the table a few platters with metal lids over them. Each servant removed the lids and revealed sliced onions on all the platters and the servants stepped to the side.

"Now," said Devona. "If you are wearing the mask properly and the enchantment is working, the aroma of the onions should not be noticeable. Please, if you would, lean in close and inhale."

Lazule glanced to Teodron. And then to Rebecca. Concern in her eye.

 

[Rebecca Fourtuna]

Rebecca Opened her eyes slowly as she woke slightly. She retreated to Lazule's side when she realized she wasnt right next to her. Her tail curling around her wrist as she eyed everyone in the room with aggressive suspicion. Her eyes fell on Devona and softened.

The woman smelled of purifying magic. Purifying magic was closely tied to nature magic and most mage's using nature magic generally had always been accepted in her territory. While she hated mages that wielded fire and other destructive magic she had met a few very friendly mages in her years that wielded kinder magics and always seemed happy to be kind and feed her in exchange for being able to examine her up close.

She didnt know why they liked examining her having no idea how unique of a specimen she was. As a unique creature that represented the result of an almost perfect chimera and seemed to be a perfect hybrid of not two, or even three but four different species seamlessly incorporating the various traits of cat, insect, reptile, and human, rolling them into one durable killing machine.

In her mind however she couldnt comprehend why they liked looking at her fluffy fur, ears, and tail. And her claws, bone spines, and even some of the braver mages examining her unique mouth. Rebbeca had never particularly cared as long as they werent rough and she got her treats, pets and scratches. As she saw it hey weren't pirates and helped her forest friends and the trees that gave her life. They were no more different from a villager or a part of nature in Rebecca's opinion and could be trusted.

The woman had that familiar smell all mages of her type carried.

Rebecca slowly moved away from Lazule sinking onto all fours she would circle the mage sniffing curiously.
She smelled her hands before nudging Devona's hand signaling she was allowed a pat.

She seemed more at ease in the mages presence than she had around anyone else in the entire time Lazule had known her.

She picked up her own mask. watching as everyone put them on their faces. She was by Devona's side enjoying keeping herself pressed to the womans side like a grumpy cat that had made a rare new friend whether that person agreed to the friendship or not.

She looked to her master with a nervous glance as she seemed hesitant to place one on herself. She looked at the mask closely and began to pull it on when she stopped with a frown.

She stretched her jaw with a wide yawn.

If the mage was watching she would see her new found friend would witness Rebecca's 3 inch fangs pushing out and fully extending as her jaw unlocked with two sickening clicks as it closed back to normal size and her fangs shrinking back into her gums revealing the more normal if not more feline teeth rather than the serrated knife blades her retractable fangs were.

She didnt like being restricted and this magic mask would block her mouth. She looked to the mage as well. Conflicted. She suddenly began to tear up and she pressed her face into the mage's leg as five minutes later the onions were rolled in. Her eyes were wet and puffy along with her nose looking slightly red and irritated by the invasive smell.

 

[Teodron]

Teodron found a mask that would fit his smaller head, put it on without hesitation, and tightened the straps without a second thought. The magic hummed against his skin, unfamiliar, but similar enough to the enchantments he’d often practiced and felt himself at the college. As the cool air poured in—restrictive, but not too bad all things considered—he poked and prodded at the magic with his mind as best he could. So long as he was going to be subjected to this experience, he might as well learn something from it.

Although he thought he could feel how the air magic blocked out any adverse odors and particulates that might try to filter through his lungs, he wasn’t sure exactly how it functioned. Still, it was a fascinating bit of work, and he glanced over to ask Devona about it, ignoring the chatter from the rest of the adventurers as he did so.

Of course, then he saw that Rebecca had coilled up to the female mage and the half-dwarf hesistated. He didn’t particularly want to approach the lizard woman. Luckily they brought in the onions right about then, and he went over to test that his mask was indeed working properly; sniffing, he didn’t detect a single a single foul odor. He nodded approvingly, all the more impressed with Devona’s magic.

Looking over, he saw that the lizard lady was still by the female mage, and had apparently rejected the mask. Rebecca’s clear distress and unwillingness to use the filer might prove a problem for the group. So, sighing, the half-dwarf walked up to the two women. ”I’m not an elementalist, but I am a mage. Is there anything I can do to help?” While he wasn’t clear exaclty what Rebecca’s problem was—well, problems was likely a more accurate statement, given the earlier attack on the driver and the current relcutance to wear anything that might constrict the reptilian woman’s jaw—two sets of hands, eyes, and minds was probably better than none.

Besides, as Rebecca’s eyes grew irritated, the half-dwarf worried that there might be another incident. He wanted to be on hand in case he had to protect Devona, who likely had no idea the danger she was in.

 

[Lazule]

Rorik bent forward and his face hovered above one of the platters of sliced onions and he took a big whiff. Immediately he started coughing and gagging and his eyes watered. He stumbled back and wiped at his face.

"Ah hell, what gives, finger-waggler?" he said.

Stigg's muffled voice then. "You didn't strap your mask right, big guy."

A few laughs from the other adventurers.

Devona glanced down at Rebecca. A look of awkward uncertainty. Then she looked to Stigg and said, "Could you be a dear and help him with that?"

"I'll try," Stigg said. "But some things can't be fixed."

Rorik coughed again and said in a manner more jovial than otherwise, "You son of a bitch."

Lazule tested her own mask then, bending forward at the waist gingerly and breathing with her face close to the onions. The cool air. The faint blue glow. And no pungent smell. It seemed to be working. Good. She need only wear it properly. Perhaps ensure that others wore theirs properly as well, like the big man.

And Rebecca.

She was quite calm in Devona's presence. A welcome relief. But the prospect of trying on a mask made her visibly uneasy. Hesitation in doing so. A stopping just shy of strapping it on. A yawn and her fangs revealed. Devona stood still, but her nervousness was apparent; eyes near closed and a forced smile.

As a few of the adventurers filed out of the tent, satisfied with the efficacy of their masks, Teodron spoke up. He was quite charitable, wasn't he? The manner of man many professed to be. A unifier in times of light and times of darkness. The fire in her chest warmed. She was glad that he was coming with them.

"Well..." Devona said, scratching the back of her head. "I, um, well, I thought these masks would be a good solution for everybody. Um...darn. Would a cloth be better for you, er...?"

"Rebecca," Lazule said.

"Rebecca. Hmmm." Devona's hand moved from the back of her head to the front of her neck and she scratched there. A look to Teodron. "My magic needs to filter air being breathed in through the nose or mouth. So...it kind of needs to be in front of both? Right. Hence the masks. So...I'm not sure how else it could be done? Any, um, ideas on something else for me to enchant? That's more suitable?"

Lazule stepped close to Rebecca and crouched down to look at her eye-to-eye and said in a level but hushed voice, "Will the p-poison in the air even affect you? Do you know?"

It was possible. The transformation from Pandemonium changed Rebecca in many ways. Perhaps she could breathe safely where Lazule and Teodron and all the others could not. This, of course, was uncertain. For they did not know the nature of the poison in the air around Rostok, even if Rebecca knew from before that certain harmful airs did not affect her anymore.

Wise, then, to have a plan in reserve.

 

[Rebecca Fourtuna]

“I don’t think it will. There are very few things that can get to me. Sturdy lungs..” Rebbeca chuckled for a moment. Taking the moment of Lazule being eye level with her to lick her cheek with a grin. While cute to Lazule all it showed was her razor knives for teeth to Devona once again.

So with that settled she proceeded to walk over to Devona. She sniffed her all the way up from toes to hair not realizing personal space or how extremely uncomfortable the mage was. “She scared of me? And she wants to run..” Rebecca said with her eyes furrowed as her tail coiled up Devona’s leg like a python.

“Now scratch the part of my back I can’t reach before I bite your hands off.” Rebecca said with a giggle as she opened her mouth wide giggling like a school girl at how pale Devona got. Not realizing the meanness in the situation and simply thinking it was all in fun.