[DragonMerge] Dreaming In Shades

[Sorano]

With her new friend making fast work of their new found enemies, she hadn't the chance to get off a shot. Immediately, she could feel the disappointment in Xolomon. He was without a doubt, upset. “Shh, stop. It's fine. Calm down.” Her words were less then a whisper.

Leaving Xolomon gripped tightly in her hand, she looked at the vampire that was now her traveling companion. Impaled with a spear, and obviously uncomfortable, she tried to fix the tarp like cloth that covered the top to give him some kinda of comfort.

“Indeed.” Ugly was not the word she would have used, more like odd that they would have picked that cart at the moment to attack. “Think they're gone?” She wasn't about to pop her head out and check, assuming they would know soon enough if they had left or not.

[THE KB]

Whoompf!

The covering of the tarp was pulled back over the pair, shielding them from the afternoon sun. KB didn't pay much attention to Sorano as he removed the spear from his person. Due to the length of the weapon and their tight confines he had to snap the thing in two which he did with his bare hands, tossing the splintered parts to the side. With the pot-helmet sitting lopsided on his head, the vampire smiled and leaned to the back of the cart. From there he was able to pull aside the material, revealing the two Gale Runners behind them scrambling to get back into the air.

"Not sure if those two are going to bother with us anymore." He answered, somewhat oblivious to the presence of any additional threats lingering in the sky.

[Sorano]

With the sound of the weapon breaking in half, she watched closely at the impressive strength KB had. If she had run into one of his kind before her rebirth, she certainly couldn't remember. Then again, there was a lot she couldn't remember.

Nodding to his words, she peeked out as well but didn't linger. Making herself comfortable, but not too much so, her eyes returned to KB. “We're an oddly matched pair you and I. I shall assume that we will be most active after dusk?” The damned, and the one touched by divinity. How could this have happened?

She'd take it in stride though. If this is what she was meant to do, and who she was meant to do it with, there had to be a reason for it. Everything had a reason, every person one met for any amount of time played some role in that life. “We need some kind of plan.”

[Morgan]

Spoiler:

With two of the Gale Runners dispatched rather quickly, albeit temporarily, you manage to recollect yourselves just in time for the second wave. In a flurry of bitter wind attacks, the second pair of spear-wielding Runners descend, this time they've targeted the horses pulling your carriage, as well as its driver.

[THE KB]

"I agree, a plan seems the best course of ac-" KB was cut off as the pair came under attack again, though this time indirectly. The cart shook violently as the air around it sprung to life, palpable currents threshing those outside. With an eerie quietness the driver was blown to pieces, his dead flesh covering the vehicle in ribbons of gore. The strange animal pulling the thing suffered little better, its hide being blasted open. Sheer size kept the thing from simply exploding, but the wound was clearly a mortal one. By force of KB's will the animal managed a few more steps before crumpling under its own weight, the two halves folding in on each other where the spine had been bisected.

Realizing what had happened, KB cursed under his breath. His situation was quickly becoming quite uncomfortable, and for what? He carried nothing of value to some ugly bird-thingies. It annoyed him to be badgered by such otherwise trivial creatures. "Destroy them." He seethed, ordering Sorano to spare them no mercy. It seemed clear that he intended her to obey his order. Almost as if he'd forgotten she held free will at all.

[Sorano]

Xolomon happily sprang back to life the moment KB's words had been cut short, as if he already knew what was going to happen. As the cart shook, Sorano quickly grabbed the edge, holding on as to not topple over. A gruesome display spread forth before her, but oddly enough, it didn't turn her stomach.

She knew what had to be done, and as KB barked an order to her, she flashed him an unmistakable look of distaste. Steadily she raised Xolomon, targeting the creatures. She'd wait, only a moment for the to be close enough for the blast to concuss them both.

She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, listening to Xolomon, only for his sounds to be drown out by a voice.his voice. “Xolomon is your strength. He uses Renovatios Miasma to fire concussive blasts that not only shatter bones, but nullifies all of mana and or other energies.” Her eyes burst open, targets in sight. “One shot, take them both down. For good.” Her lips moved with words that were less then a whisper. “Do as I say, this is not a game.” With that being said, a loud BOOM filled the air as she squeezed the trigger.

[THE KB]

Beasts beneath note, the winged raiders were left to their fate. The vampire regarded only the firearm with interest. It wasn't the relationship between the gunslinger and her weapon that appealed to him, but rather the mere existence of the gun itself. Edward had informed KB that firearms were rare and overlooked on Terrenus - a point he'd personally never understand.

With a shrug KB stripped his makeshift armor off and then pulled his ragged cloak tighter around him. The cart creaked and leaned to the side as he shambled over the edge and out into the daylight. Under the weight of the sun the monster began down the road, motioning with a covered arm to the path ahead. "There is no time to waste." He gasped, heaving forth a gout of smoke and spitting embers. Though the daylight weakened him, KB was unwilling to relent in his search for this source of monumental bloodshed.

[Sorano]

She holstered her weapon and shrugged out of her long coat. In a hushed voice she spoke to KB, her eyes averting to his, not wavering as she did speak. “I will gladly travel with you in a quest that seems not only to be mine, but yours as well. I will not however take orders from you. This you must understand.” With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the coat over to the creature.

Hoping over the side herself, she moved to his side down the path. This would make their journey much longer traveling this way, but as for now they had not other choice.

“I couldn't help but notice the way you looked at Xolomon. He's beautiful really, in his own way.” She smiled to herself as she pulled a strip of leather from her gun belt and tied her hair back. The sun was relenting, and it obviously hindered KB in some fashion.

“I'll gladly answer any questions that may weigh heavy on your mind. If we are to do whatever this is together, it is imperative that we have some sort of trust between us.” It was hard for some people to grasp that while she looked so youthful, she spoke as if she lived years ago. But for some reason, she felt as if she and her story would not be so odd to her companion.

[k1b22]

OOC: Hello there, if you don’t mind I would like to introduce an additional traveler to this story. His information is provided here if you would like to view it. Thanks for letting me participate! Any suggestion or comments would be greatly welcome.

IC: Dozing peacefully and enjoying a few hours of dreamless sleep, Erik found himself disappointed to be so rudely awoken by high pitch shrieks followed by the powerful boom of a discharging weapon. He crawled cautiously out of a small canvas tent and, as it seemed he was in no immediate danger, began packing the small tent alongside some dried fruits, salted meats and various tools of Erik’s trade within the only bag he carried. Task completed Erik refilled a leather canteen from a nearby spring, swung his pack over his shoulder, fastened his short sword to his belt, dusted off his shirt and began retracing his steps out of the wood, heading towards the road he’d left the previous night.

Erik was an entertainer by trade; well-trained in acrobatic tricks and possessing a talent for showmanship. He made a simple living performing to the small villages and cities he passed through here in Rosinder, but usually made it a point to never stay the night in civilized accommodations. Camping alone was safer, and cheaper, than remaining in the villages and risking the raid of bandits found all too often in times of war. Granted, this area was relatively quiet compared to the rest of Tellus Mater, but after being raised in this manner for seventeen years, habits stuck. The night before had been very routine for Erik; he’d entertained a small audience in the local village, used some of his earnings to buy a hot meal, and then continued traveling into the night to find a suitable campsite. This late night traveling being the norm, Erik had also picked up a habit of sleeping in late, adding to his irritation at the noise that had disturbed his sleep this morning.

By this time Erik had found the road. From what he remembered of it, the commotion had been behind him, farther towards the town he'd left yesterday. In that same direction, he could just make out the forms of two travelers moving towards him at a decent pace. Erik turned and set off down the road in the opposite direction of the travelers and purposefully set his pace slightly slower than theirs, allowing the two to slowly catch up. This way, the others were left to choose whether to join a stranger or avoid another traveling companion.

[Morgan]

Sorano

Spoiler:

The road you have been traveling on forks just ahead. To the left, a straight and wide path, clear of obstacles and the trees lining the road offer cool shade from the relentless sun. To the right, a twisted, narrow path, gnarled roots seem wont to grab out at wary travelers. Your rational side tells you that you should take the left, but a thought gnaws at the back of your skull and tells you that your answers may be found at the end of the path to the right.

Which do you choose?

Left

OR

Right

Choose wisely, my friend, as your destiny is in your hands.