(no subject)
Scene: Moonlight meetings...
Players: Rhyl, Tonitrus, Yelisa, Yoshio
Wandering the Gardens
The white stone path continues onward here and this section of the garden is filled with artistically arranged plants. The flowers form a simple collage of white, purple, red, and blue. This living mosaic of color provides a nice contrast to the greenery behind it. Young slender saplings stand just beyond the floral arrangement and stretch towards the sky. One day, they will cast total shade upon this path.
The warrior wanders the garden under a star filled night sky. A cool breeze blows through every now and again as the flowers and the man's long black hair dancing gently in it. A thin quarter moon shines down on the garden, softly illuminating the stone path and the color in the flowers. Yoshio sighed softly as he walks slowly along the path, admiring the the beauty of the sky and the garden.
Yelisa makes her way through the forest mindful of her clothes, the moonlight showing her the way towards the Keep and the amusement for the night. Humming cheerfully to an old and forgotten tune, Yelisa finds her way by the river and up behind the roaring waterfall. Yelisa skips through the tunnel, the soft rhythmic scuffles of her feet echo. As Lhadner hears the soft, rhythmic pattern of her skips, he smiles and prepares to open the Keep's gates.
'And how are you tonight, lil' missus?' the ghostly form of Lhadner asks, bowing in such a manner as if she were a royal. Yelisa returns his salutation with a deep curtsy of her own and straightens herself as she begins to giggle. Waggling his finger half serious and half jokingly, Lhadner warns her, 'Don't you be causing any trouble tonight, lil' missus.'
Smiling sweetly at the guard, Yelisa knows he can't be fooled at least. 'If you keep keeping my secrets within the Keep, then I won't be troubling any trouble,' she replies sickeningly sweet.
Both nodding in understanding of the other's words, their nightly ritual is over and Yelisa slows herself down to a walking pace before entering the gardens to the west.
Yoshio finds a seat on a stone bench and takes a seat. His ears pick up the sound of someone approaching and turns his gaze down the path. He keeps one hand hidden under his tattered cape on the hilt of his blade. His other was place on his knee. Once he had seen it was the girl he has seen last night, he smiled softly, stood, and bowed slightly toward her.
Returning the acknowledgment with her own curtsy, Yelisa straightens out her dress as she sits down on the bench. Her thin fingers fold and rearrange meticulously the different layers and tucks of her gown and the folds of her cloak. The bright moonlight gives reason for her to retreat further into her hood, she'll just pretend it's cold. After she's finished, Yelisa gestures gracefully to the empty space beside her, Yelisa smiles sweetly at Yoshio. 'Won't you join me? After all, you were the only reason I had to come...'
Yoshio approaches the bench and takes a seat next to the girl. He kept quiet about what he knew. He kept his cape wrapped about his body, keeping his weapon concealed. 'I am glad you came,' he said softly.
'I should think so,' she retorts haughtily. Her tone changes to a wistful, pleading voice. 'I ran out of my bed just to join you. And you didn't even tell me why.'
'What did your father send you here to learn exactly?' he asked her as he turned his softly glowing eyes toward hers.
He has actually wondered if this girl was telling the truth about even having a father... the creatures darkness had always confused him.
Unperturbed by his nosiness, Yelisa begins the only way she knows to win mortals over. 'Well, at first he sent me here to learn arithmetic, reading, writing, and the Scriptures. The simple useful things that every woman should know.
'Then with the persuasion of some of the priests,' she continues. 'Who thought I was very clever, I was able to learn things like astronomy, Latin, Science, even navigation. Father Columbus always favoured me and he would take me with him on his vacations across the Azure Sea. He told me that I was his favourite pupil. Once, we went to several islands to look at the different plants for the herbalism lessons he was going to teach me. But that was when Father Columbus got sick.'
Yelisa's eyes drift off towards the distance as if nostalgia was reclaiming her. Carefully shaking herself out of her reverie, Yelisa smiles apologetically. 'Those were the end of my days of actual learning. Father would rather now have me grow up to be mindless like those barmaids and wenches,' she grimaces as if she really had a Father, who would hurt her like that.
Yoshio listens to Yelisa quietly. 'How long ago did were those days? When you actually learned something?' he asked. 'And what exactly are they teaching you now? Surely it cannot be nothing at all...'
'Let's see, my education had began when I was six with the Sisters. The days with Father Columbus had started when I was eight or so. I know because I went on two vacations with him, exactly a year a part from each other. His poor health started to fail him, when I was ten. So I couldn't continue my lessons without him, although I tried as best as I could, and so I got sent home...
The soil off the path sinks slightly as a pale, mud-covered hand with rather unsettling nails sprouts among the flowers, clawing blindly for something to grip. It is soon followed by another hand and a muffled sound that could pass for muttering.
'I've only recently returned to the Keep because it was my father's wish so that I could grow into a proper woman and learn about house chores and cooking and stitch work and more Scriptures. Proper ladylike things, so I needn't worry Men things.'
Yoshio stands up again and nods grimly. 'I see...' he said softly. He wasn't exactly getting at what he wanted, but he continued to keep quiet for now. He sighed gently and started walking down the path again, stops for a second and turns to her again. 'What do you want to do? What would you rather learn?'
"Suppressing the laughter from this ridiculous conversation has been a miracle," Yelisa thinks to herself with a bowed head. Her vibrant red tresses cover her face as she grins wickedly. "What does he want to do? Teach ME something?"
Yelisa recomposes her innocent face before lifting her head to see the standing figure of Yoshio. 'I suppose I should want to learn how to love an honourable man...' her voice trails off before she looks away blushing, as if on cue.
With another half-muffled mutter, a head burrows through the ground, the occasional flower petal still attached. A momentary wheeze and a sudden cough fires a mangled flower from its open mouth onto the path, beginning another string of muttered cursing.
Yoshio continues to walk, losing much interest in this girl. He had much more important things to think about at the moment than to worry about this girl, vampires, or this entire keep for that matter. He would most likely set out again tomorrow for another long lonely venture.
Tonitrus stands up slowly, stepping out onto the path. He begins, in a rather annoyed manner, to attempt to dust himself off, a scowl of disgust on his face.
'Should have worn a hood,' he mutters in self-reproach, 'Every single time. Should have worn a hood..'
Beneath a dark, somewhat ragged cloak, two semi-glowing eyes can be seen that seem to shimmer with an otherworldly light as they alternatively flicker from one target to the next or unfocused towards the distance: seeing everything or nothing. Peculiarly, even when the light is on them, the color seems to shift or remain altogether indistinct. When a chill breeze or sudden twitch disturbs the robes, various trinkets which seem to serve no purpose and a colorless grin can be seen. Pallid hands with long pointed nails jump in and out of the sleeves at various times in eccentric calculations. Tendrils of hair sneak out of the folds in the hood - which is never far open, as if a sacred protection against the invasion of light. Tonitrus looks to be about 5'8", and looks to be around 148 pounds. He wears his long brown hair straight. His grey eyes match softly with his white skin.
Forgetting about Yoshio, Yelisa's hood falls off as she tosses her head back in shrieks of laughter at the stranger's "fashionable" entrance. She moves to her feet and climbs upon the bench. At this height, she's almost taller than most men and on her tiptoes, Yelisa picks off some remaining flower heads from Tonitrus' head affectionately. 'Damn those flowers too,' Yelisa replies in a much huskier voice, more like the voice of a mature woman and not of a girl, of which it comes from.
Continuing on the path, Yoshio stops and listens. He is surprised to hear another voice and turns his gaze toward the two once again... He would have hoped he had more of a use here in his heart.
Tonitrus frowns slowly, gently sniffing the air and watching Yelisa intently. He opens his mouth to speak, then pauses, closing it abruptly. He then begins muttering, a confused expression plastered on his face. '...hello?' he finally manages, 'Who are you..?'
'Yelisa,' she replies in the same voice. 'And where did you tunnel from? You make an awful lot of racket...'
'I've been here for quite a while.. actually..,' he begins, absently.
'And, as for noise.., isn't it a bit late for young ladies to be out.. running around and in gardens and chatting..,' he begins to grin slightly as he continues, 'loud enough to wake the dead?!' [Tonitrus was eating and a cat typed the aforementioned lines up for him. Good kitty!]
Laughing throatily, Yelisa casts a sidelong glance at Yoshio. Twirling the head of a mum between her index finger and her thumb, Yelisa grins back. 'Who's alive to hear it?'
Yoshio sits down looking up at the stars. He would rather listen in anyway, rude as it was and he as he was being. The warrior hardly trust anyone of their type anyway, so he wondered why he should be so polite.
'Wasn't there.. a fountain here?' Tonitrus asks, looking about wildly in a sudden burst of energy. 'I know it was here somewhere.. I should probably go.. wash.. up.. a bit..,' he says slowly, examining his cloak.
Nodding in agreement, Yelisa begins to walk northeast towards the fountain, leading Tonitrus. As she walks in winding paths through the garden, she begins to sing an unusual melody. Yelisa casts another sidelong glance at Yoshio from her view from the fountain, hoping her Siren-like song will strongly call him to her.
Tonitrus rinses his hands delicately in the water at the base of the fountain, watching absently as the tendrils of dirt pollute the water. Bending over, he rinses his hair thoroughly, muttering occasionally at the dirt and coldness of the water.
He then slowly sheds his outer, dirt-coated cloak, revealing an identical, albeit neater, one underneath. 'Should have worn a hood,' he mutters again.
Smiling warmly at her vampire companion, unbeknown to her, Yelisa looks at the top of Tonitrus's head thoughtfully. Finally breaking her song, she replies emphasising the past tense, 'I was taught weaving skills as a bride-to-be... I could make you a hood. Then you'll always have one to wear while tunnelling underground.'
'Weaving..,' he repeats absently, '..like a basket? A basket-hat?'
'More like cloths,' she answers. 'Like a heavy woolen hood. Although, I can see it posing a problem against hard rocks. Not quite as sturdy.'
'Well..,' he says, in a strangely elderly tone, 'If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not have my head in a basket.'
'What would you rather have your head in?' Yelisa shoots back, annoyed. 'A woman's lap?'
Tonitrus frowns, as if deep in thought, 'Oh, that would be fine, I think,' he says slowly, failing to notice Yelisa's change in tone, 'The trouble with baskets is axes.'
Yoshio walks again to where Yelisa and Tonitrus stand, a bit cautiously and silently. He keeps one hand on his concealed weapon still. he bows to both of them slightly and softly says 'My apologies.'
'Axes,' Yelisa looks incredulously at the vampire, briefly acknowledging Yoshio for a second before coming back to Tonitrus. 'What axes in the ground? Show me the axes? There are no axes except where the dwarves are and where there's mining, but Lomar falls under neither category.'
Tonitrus stares blankly at Yelisa for a few moments. 'There are no baskets there either..' he says eventually. Making a vague effort to straighten his cloak, he nods to Yoshio, grinning an unnerving grin.
'I don't believe we've met?' he finally says, examining Yoshio carefully.
Yoshio shakes his head in response to Tonitrus. He detected the scent of the grave on this one... Yoshio figured this one was a vampire too. 'My name is Yoshio, I am a warrior from a foreign land.'
Yelisa gives Tonitrus a warning glance, as if to say, "don't be playing with my toys." Yelisa begins to sing another song, as a thick fog begins to roll into the Keep.
'And may I ask... who are you?' he said to the man in front of him.
'Ah yes,' Tonitrus chuckles, 'Come to rid the land of evil and all that? There is a great deal of evil in the land, no doubt..' He trails off, looking down, as if confused, 'Although I really don't know why anyone would want to sort through that much dirt.'
'You can call me Tonitrus, if you like, or perhaps something else, but, mind you, there are ladies present. Well, one anyway.. I guess.'
'To tell you the truth, Tonitrus, I have come to this land only to find a place to stay. I only slay those who get in my way whether they be good or evil.' he said calmly. Although he did not come to slay vampires, he certainly did not trust them. For now, he would keep alert.
"Well.. that's.... sensible..," Tonitrus says slowly, sounding fairly disappointed.
Laughing harshly, Yelisa retorts mockingly, 'A place to stay within the Keep? A place to belong and call home and think of the people here as quaint ol' humans?'
Yoshio growls and again turns away. 'You'd be surprised how useful I can be...' he said again walking away. What an infuriating woman! he thought to himself.
Yelisa's little legs jog swiftly to catch up with Yoshio. With a hand on his forearm, she is able to gently turn his body and reach his face, bringing him to down her level. 'What use could you possibly bring to us?' hissing softly, she gestures to the Keep around her.
Gazing meaningfully at the windows and balconies, they're filled with the oddly pale faces of the residents. Some are moaning in pain, while others are laughing heartily at the entertainment at the tavern. Either way, their pale necks bear the trademarks of the property of vampires.
Yoshio draws his blade with blinding speed, bringing the blade ever close to Yelisa'a chest as he leaped back. He stands on his own again, pointing the blade directly between Yelisa's eyes as he gazed deeply into them, calculating her movements. 'I can offer you my skills...' he said softly and darkly, his expression changing dramatically into a emotionless mask. 'Best me, and you may take my blood. Until then, you will watch your tongue.'
Tonitrus chuckles quietly to himself. 'Well, if you two will excuse me, I could use a bite to eat,' he says, his form blurring into a mass of whirling mists, 'Play nicely, children,' he adds, chuckling, as his form vanishes.
Scene: How to end the perfect group date...
Players: Rhyl, Yelisa, and Yoshio
Recap: Yoshio and Yelisa are in a slight "disagreement" about the usefulness of Yoshio within the Keep. Tonitrus the insane has left them both in search for food.
Looking sorrowfully at Yoshio's emotionless face, she pushes away the blade gently from her face. 'We would not want your blood,' she says barely audible. 'It's not quite to my taste. And resorting to violence against an innocent little girl is also barbarous.'
Yoshio keeps his eyes focused on her, not speaking a word "You not as innocent as I would like to believe, that you are certainly not." He steps back a bit, keeping his blade drawn and his senses alert.
Rhyl keeps her cowl well up, concealing her face in shadows, but the strands of creamy white hair the escape as much as her glowing crimson eyes give her away to anyone moving about. Fortunately, at this hour, that would be few.
Rhyl has already lost her way twice in this unfamiliar place, but feels she is on the right track now. She can smell the outside air and knows the way out is near.
Yelisa shrugs slightly with an impish grin. 'To some gods, a chaste young girl would be innocent as a lamb. But I'm not here to discuss theology with you.'
Looking up at the Keep's walls, Yelisa narrows her eyes and hisses at the pale faces in the window. With a frightened glance, they begin to scatter back to their rooms. The shadows of the residents flicker as they dance with the torch lights within the walls. 'You said you had skills,' she looks out at the corner of her eye and nods to the sword. 'You must surely have something more practical than that.'
Voices carry to her sensitive ears and Rhyl pauses. Listening, she tries to make out what she hears, and lays a hand against a cool stone wall, waiting.
A sly grin briefly appears on Yoshio's lips. "What would you consider 'more practical?'" he asked. Keeping his other concealed sword under his cape sheathed, as well as the one on his back. As he stared this small vampiress down, he contemplated if proving his worth to stick around this keep was really worth it.
Yelisa sniffs the crisp, night air delicately and sighs smiling, as if someone had baked a delicious apple pie. Deciding to leave it be, she turns back to Yoshio. 'Practical would be able to unquestioningly follow orders. Wielding a sword is all good and well, but it's not the be all and end all of things.'
Rhyl purses her lips, pulling them between her teeth, contemplating. The hair on the back of her neck stands on end and she shivers. Unquestionably, there is a vampire near. She shifts the small chest under her free arm and hesitates.
It is not a fear of vampires themselves, no, not with her history. What the drowess feels is brought on by temptation to return to the familiar, to escape life's maddening irritants.
Yoshio remains silent. It is not in his wished to become another dog and blindly follow these vampires... yet he was drawn to this vampiress for some reason. And what was confusing him more, he couldn't understand why.
"Depends on the circumstance I suppose" he said, the tone of his voice low and unchanging from when he pointed his blade toward this girl.
'The circumstances are irrelevant to you. They will not put you in extremely dangerous situations,' Yelisa replies putting on her small, lace gloves that fit perfectly for her petite hands. 'Though there is always some calculated risk, one must endure. Your fighting skills are good, but I'm sure there will be a true test later on.'
Rhyl breathes deeply, licking her teeth then setting her jaw. Enough of this stupidity. She pushes off from the wall and carries on, adjusting her hair in the cowl as she walks. Moments later, she steps out into the courtyard.
"Who's orders will I be following?" he asked Yelisa. Yoshio was just about to sheath his blade once again, but as the drowess steps into view his attention is taken away from what he was doing and focused on this woman.
Rhyl silently curses the colour of her skin and the relative light of the moonlit courtyard. And her glowing eyes. Light, but for once could she just walk out and be ignored?
However, she carries on without any appearance of noticing the two figures (is that a child?!). Maybe they'll just leave her alone.
Deliberately ignoring the question, Yelisa shrugs following Yoshio's gaze. This Drowess moves with all of her former poise and grace, her glare intimidating, her smile (when offered) intoxicating. Her amber eyes shine with a new purpose, alive as they haven't been in centuries. Her face has changed, too, taking into it the blood and breath of life. Where it had been unnaturally smooth with long centuries as a vampire, now it is fresh and folds minutely at her eyes and lips when she smiles or scowls. It is a youthful face though, the aging process having had no effect through all her years of undeath.
Dressed in a doublet of scarlet and gold and simple black pants and boots that come to her knees, she cuts a striking figure. Her silvery cream hair hangs loose about her shoulders and a short way down her back. About her hips is a heavy belt of black leather on which is hung a simple shortword, a long-bladed dagger, and below the sword a highly ornate, jewel encrusted dagger in an equally decorated scabbard. Here is the woman that ruled her nation not once but twice, though the lure of politics has worn off. Still a queen of shadow, hers will be a rule of a different sort, a private affair over this second life she has been granted.
Rhyl looks to be about 5'7", and looks to be around 100 pounds. She wears her long white-blonde hair straight. Her cerulean eyes contrast beautifully with her black skin.
Yelisa had never felt this much evil since her last visit to the central chambers within Ba'al's embrace. Such an overwhelming comfort, she places right hand on her heart and deeply curtsies to the woman in the respect one only shows to some nobility.
Hells. For a split second, Rhyl considers how to handle this. A child, curtsying to her... it can only mean this little girl is the vampire. She inclines her head, accepting the curtsy as though it were an everyday occurrence. Indeed, once, it was.
"Good evening," she says quietly. Outside the keep, there is a horse hobbled waiting for her. Outside the keep means she can be away with her goods. Oh well.
"Good evening," the man before her said. He bowed slightly toward her, however, the tone of his voice and his expression changed little. He had though he had encountered a person of her race once before... but only once before.
'So far, no one is trying to kill me,' she silently reminds herself, 'So this is good...' Again, she dips her head. "Please, do not let me interrupt..."
Smiling softly with albeit polite curiosity, 'But you already have...' Yelisa smiles cautiously, but slightly dangerously at the drowess. After all, this is her turf. 'What can we do to help?'
Rhyl curls her lips into a smile, white teeth contrasting against her dark flesh. "Ahh, yes. Really, I was on my way out. I was sharing a drink with an old friend." It's not exactly a lie, though 'friend' might be a bit extreme.
Yoshio still ponders who's orders he would be following if he were to serve here in the keep, however, with this recent visit, he supposed he'd have to wait for the answer. "You are of the drow, are you not?" he asked the newcomer.
Rhyl spreads out the arm not holding the chest, causing her cloak to flap on one side. She offers a flourishing bow. "I am." And lo, another bright star among many. "This is usually the point when you turn your weapon on -me-."
Rhyl straightens, the hood slipping off her head revealing a long, straight, creamy pale hair. Well, if anyone was watching from a window... How awkward.
Groaning inwardly, if she's not a drow, then she's not a damned vampire. Yelisa spreads open her empty arms, but her impish grin reveals her only weapon she chooses to keep on her undead body. 'I'd like to meet your friend, Ilharess...'
Rhyl holds the smile in place although it never touches her eyes. "I would be happy to arrange a meeting, but he is certainly in bed." She pauses, "Where most of the paler, short-lived folk are at this time."
Yoshio steps back, letting the two speak. He find the time to sheath his blade once again, steps behind Yelisa as if on friendly terms with her once again. He would remain silent until addressed again.
Perhaps this was someone Yelisa had spared, contemplating how the possibility of someone in the Keep slipping past her awareness seemed unfathomable. 'Indeed, good little residents of the Keep. But I believe they are happy with what they have,' turning to Yoshio for her own numerous reasons, but importantly her own safety. 'What do you think of the residents, Yoshio? Are they not cheery fellows?'
Yoshio gazes down into Yelisa's eyes and nods. "Yes, it seems they are happily enjoying the evening." he said in the same low tone. Ruling out all comments about the undead.
Rhyl takes the opportunity afforded by the change in focus, to dig a small token from within her doublet. She turns the small wooden coin over in her fingers. One side has her name 'Rhyl' encircled by a symbol of a mask, both burnt into the wood. She offers it to the child, trusting she'll know what it means, and if not, well no matter.
Yelisa flips the coin and catches it easily. Bringing the coin up to her nose, she can smell the faint soot of burnt wood, stirring up old memories. Examining the coin closely, she looks at Rhyl before nodding slowly in somewhat comprehension. Not knowing the purpose, but at least what side she was probably on. 'I have no tokens to offer you, Ilharess,' she replies letting the "s" sound drag out. 'But be welcome to travel freely through the Keep, and indeed... I have residences to the north, should you prefer more suitable tastes in accommodation.'
Rhyl nods again, slowly, concluding the conversation. So, the child rules here. Interesting. "My sincerest thanks," she says aloud. She glances at the male, lets the smile slip from her features and turns away. Her footfalls are nearly silent on the paving stones. As she exits, she replaces the hood of her cloak and fades into the night.
The starry night begins to fade as the rays of the sunlight begin to encroach slowly upon the land. Turning once again to Yoshio, she looks at him from head-to-toe. 'How many weapons have you got? Or what is your preferred method of fighting in melee?'
Yoshio's emotion slowly return to his face and he smiles once again. "I carry two longswords I conceal under my long cloak and this broadsword on my back. There is a spiritual enchantment upon the broadsword however... I must warn you now, try not to pick it up. Obviously, I prefer a sword. However, I am skilled upon horseback with a spear as well."
Yoshio notices the sun coming up and nods toward Yelisa. "Perhaps you should be getting some sleep?" he said smiling softly. "You do not take kindly to sunlight, correct?"
Yelisa's brow arches in slight bemusement, curiosity, and a pang of annoyance, 'My wellbeing is none of your concern. If you will kindly focus, I mentioned earlier of a true test. I suggest you should ready yourself because it will come soon for your blood.'
Without hearing another word, Yelisa turns away, her red hair bouncing with her movement. As she begins to take a step forward to walk away, swirling mists take her away.
Yoshio sighs with slight relief and lets his guard down once again. At least he would not have to deal with vampires for another day. He made his way to the keep to think things over and get some rest. He has to set out once again later this day, but it is his intent to return to the keep once again when his business is finished with the lady Annale. Something he had not mentioned yet to the vampiress he had just met.
Players: Rhyl, Tonitrus, Yelisa, Yoshio
Wandering the Gardens
The white stone path continues onward here and this section of the garden is filled with artistically arranged plants. The flowers form a simple collage of white, purple, red, and blue. This living mosaic of color provides a nice contrast to the greenery behind it. Young slender saplings stand just beyond the floral arrangement and stretch towards the sky. One day, they will cast total shade upon this path.
The warrior wanders the garden under a star filled night sky. A cool breeze blows through every now and again as the flowers and the man's long black hair dancing gently in it. A thin quarter moon shines down on the garden, softly illuminating the stone path and the color in the flowers. Yoshio sighed softly as he walks slowly along the path, admiring the the beauty of the sky and the garden.
Yelisa makes her way through the forest mindful of her clothes, the moonlight showing her the way towards the Keep and the amusement for the night. Humming cheerfully to an old and forgotten tune, Yelisa finds her way by the river and up behind the roaring waterfall. Yelisa skips through the tunnel, the soft rhythmic scuffles of her feet echo. As Lhadner hears the soft, rhythmic pattern of her skips, he smiles and prepares to open the Keep's gates.
'And how are you tonight, lil' missus?' the ghostly form of Lhadner asks, bowing in such a manner as if she were a royal. Yelisa returns his salutation with a deep curtsy of her own and straightens herself as she begins to giggle. Waggling his finger half serious and half jokingly, Lhadner warns her, 'Don't you be causing any trouble tonight, lil' missus.'
Smiling sweetly at the guard, Yelisa knows he can't be fooled at least. 'If you keep keeping my secrets within the Keep, then I won't be troubling any trouble,' she replies sickeningly sweet.
Both nodding in understanding of the other's words, their nightly ritual is over and Yelisa slows herself down to a walking pace before entering the gardens to the west.
Yoshio finds a seat on a stone bench and takes a seat. His ears pick up the sound of someone approaching and turns his gaze down the path. He keeps one hand hidden under his tattered cape on the hilt of his blade. His other was place on his knee. Once he had seen it was the girl he has seen last night, he smiled softly, stood, and bowed slightly toward her.
Returning the acknowledgment with her own curtsy, Yelisa straightens out her dress as she sits down on the bench. Her thin fingers fold and rearrange meticulously the different layers and tucks of her gown and the folds of her cloak. The bright moonlight gives reason for her to retreat further into her hood, she'll just pretend it's cold. After she's finished, Yelisa gestures gracefully to the empty space beside her, Yelisa smiles sweetly at Yoshio. 'Won't you join me? After all, you were the only reason I had to come...'
Yoshio approaches the bench and takes a seat next to the girl. He kept quiet about what he knew. He kept his cape wrapped about his body, keeping his weapon concealed. 'I am glad you came,' he said softly.
'I should think so,' she retorts haughtily. Her tone changes to a wistful, pleading voice. 'I ran out of my bed just to join you. And you didn't even tell me why.'
'What did your father send you here to learn exactly?' he asked her as he turned his softly glowing eyes toward hers.
He has actually wondered if this girl was telling the truth about even having a father... the creatures darkness had always confused him.
Unperturbed by his nosiness, Yelisa begins the only way she knows to win mortals over. 'Well, at first he sent me here to learn arithmetic, reading, writing, and the Scriptures. The simple useful things that every woman should know.
'Then with the persuasion of some of the priests,' she continues. 'Who thought I was very clever, I was able to learn things like astronomy, Latin, Science, even navigation. Father Columbus always favoured me and he would take me with him on his vacations across the Azure Sea. He told me that I was his favourite pupil. Once, we went to several islands to look at the different plants for the herbalism lessons he was going to teach me. But that was when Father Columbus got sick.'
Yelisa's eyes drift off towards the distance as if nostalgia was reclaiming her. Carefully shaking herself out of her reverie, Yelisa smiles apologetically. 'Those were the end of my days of actual learning. Father would rather now have me grow up to be mindless like those barmaids and wenches,' she grimaces as if she really had a Father, who would hurt her like that.
Yoshio listens to Yelisa quietly. 'How long ago did were those days? When you actually learned something?' he asked. 'And what exactly are they teaching you now? Surely it cannot be nothing at all...'
'Let's see, my education had began when I was six with the Sisters. The days with Father Columbus had started when I was eight or so. I know because I went on two vacations with him, exactly a year a part from each other. His poor health started to fail him, when I was ten. So I couldn't continue my lessons without him, although I tried as best as I could, and so I got sent home...
The soil off the path sinks slightly as a pale, mud-covered hand with rather unsettling nails sprouts among the flowers, clawing blindly for something to grip. It is soon followed by another hand and a muffled sound that could pass for muttering.
'I've only recently returned to the Keep because it was my father's wish so that I could grow into a proper woman and learn about house chores and cooking and stitch work and more Scriptures. Proper ladylike things, so I needn't worry Men things.'
Yoshio stands up again and nods grimly. 'I see...' he said softly. He wasn't exactly getting at what he wanted, but he continued to keep quiet for now. He sighed gently and started walking down the path again, stops for a second and turns to her again. 'What do you want to do? What would you rather learn?'
"Suppressing the laughter from this ridiculous conversation has been a miracle," Yelisa thinks to herself with a bowed head. Her vibrant red tresses cover her face as she grins wickedly. "What does he want to do? Teach ME something?"
Yelisa recomposes her innocent face before lifting her head to see the standing figure of Yoshio. 'I suppose I should want to learn how to love an honourable man...' her voice trails off before she looks away blushing, as if on cue.
With another half-muffled mutter, a head burrows through the ground, the occasional flower petal still attached. A momentary wheeze and a sudden cough fires a mangled flower from its open mouth onto the path, beginning another string of muttered cursing.
Yoshio continues to walk, losing much interest in this girl. He had much more important things to think about at the moment than to worry about this girl, vampires, or this entire keep for that matter. He would most likely set out again tomorrow for another long lonely venture.
Tonitrus stands up slowly, stepping out onto the path. He begins, in a rather annoyed manner, to attempt to dust himself off, a scowl of disgust on his face.
'Should have worn a hood,' he mutters in self-reproach, 'Every single time. Should have worn a hood..'
Beneath a dark, somewhat ragged cloak, two semi-glowing eyes can be seen that seem to shimmer with an otherworldly light as they alternatively flicker from one target to the next or unfocused towards the distance: seeing everything or nothing. Peculiarly, even when the light is on them, the color seems to shift or remain altogether indistinct. When a chill breeze or sudden twitch disturbs the robes, various trinkets which seem to serve no purpose and a colorless grin can be seen. Pallid hands with long pointed nails jump in and out of the sleeves at various times in eccentric calculations. Tendrils of hair sneak out of the folds in the hood - which is never far open, as if a sacred protection against the invasion of light. Tonitrus looks to be about 5'8", and looks to be around 148 pounds. He wears his long brown hair straight. His grey eyes match softly with his white skin.
Forgetting about Yoshio, Yelisa's hood falls off as she tosses her head back in shrieks of laughter at the stranger's "fashionable" entrance. She moves to her feet and climbs upon the bench. At this height, she's almost taller than most men and on her tiptoes, Yelisa picks off some remaining flower heads from Tonitrus' head affectionately. 'Damn those flowers too,' Yelisa replies in a much huskier voice, more like the voice of a mature woman and not of a girl, of which it comes from.
Continuing on the path, Yoshio stops and listens. He is surprised to hear another voice and turns his gaze toward the two once again... He would have hoped he had more of a use here in his heart.
Tonitrus frowns slowly, gently sniffing the air and watching Yelisa intently. He opens his mouth to speak, then pauses, closing it abruptly. He then begins muttering, a confused expression plastered on his face. '...hello?' he finally manages, 'Who are you..?'
'Yelisa,' she replies in the same voice. 'And where did you tunnel from? You make an awful lot of racket...'
'I've been here for quite a while.. actually..,' he begins, absently.
'And, as for noise.., isn't it a bit late for young ladies to be out.. running around and in gardens and chatting..,' he begins to grin slightly as he continues, 'loud enough to wake the dead?!' [Tonitrus was eating and a cat typed the aforementioned lines up for him. Good kitty!]
Laughing throatily, Yelisa casts a sidelong glance at Yoshio. Twirling the head of a mum between her index finger and her thumb, Yelisa grins back. 'Who's alive to hear it?'
Yoshio sits down looking up at the stars. He would rather listen in anyway, rude as it was and he as he was being. The warrior hardly trust anyone of their type anyway, so he wondered why he should be so polite.
'Wasn't there.. a fountain here?' Tonitrus asks, looking about wildly in a sudden burst of energy. 'I know it was here somewhere.. I should probably go.. wash.. up.. a bit..,' he says slowly, examining his cloak.
Nodding in agreement, Yelisa begins to walk northeast towards the fountain, leading Tonitrus. As she walks in winding paths through the garden, she begins to sing an unusual melody. Yelisa casts another sidelong glance at Yoshio from her view from the fountain, hoping her Siren-like song will strongly call him to her.
Tonitrus rinses his hands delicately in the water at the base of the fountain, watching absently as the tendrils of dirt pollute the water. Bending over, he rinses his hair thoroughly, muttering occasionally at the dirt and coldness of the water.
He then slowly sheds his outer, dirt-coated cloak, revealing an identical, albeit neater, one underneath. 'Should have worn a hood,' he mutters again.
Smiling warmly at her vampire companion, unbeknown to her, Yelisa looks at the top of Tonitrus's head thoughtfully. Finally breaking her song, she replies emphasising the past tense, 'I was taught weaving skills as a bride-to-be... I could make you a hood. Then you'll always have one to wear while tunnelling underground.'
'Weaving..,' he repeats absently, '..like a basket? A basket-hat?'
'More like cloths,' she answers. 'Like a heavy woolen hood. Although, I can see it posing a problem against hard rocks. Not quite as sturdy.'
'Well..,' he says, in a strangely elderly tone, 'If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not have my head in a basket.'
'What would you rather have your head in?' Yelisa shoots back, annoyed. 'A woman's lap?'
Tonitrus frowns, as if deep in thought, 'Oh, that would be fine, I think,' he says slowly, failing to notice Yelisa's change in tone, 'The trouble with baskets is axes.'
Yoshio walks again to where Yelisa and Tonitrus stand, a bit cautiously and silently. He keeps one hand on his concealed weapon still. he bows to both of them slightly and softly says 'My apologies.'
'Axes,' Yelisa looks incredulously at the vampire, briefly acknowledging Yoshio for a second before coming back to Tonitrus. 'What axes in the ground? Show me the axes? There are no axes except where the dwarves are and where there's mining, but Lomar falls under neither category.'
Tonitrus stares blankly at Yelisa for a few moments. 'There are no baskets there either..' he says eventually. Making a vague effort to straighten his cloak, he nods to Yoshio, grinning an unnerving grin.
'I don't believe we've met?' he finally says, examining Yoshio carefully.
Yoshio shakes his head in response to Tonitrus. He detected the scent of the grave on this one... Yoshio figured this one was a vampire too. 'My name is Yoshio, I am a warrior from a foreign land.'
Yelisa gives Tonitrus a warning glance, as if to say, "don't be playing with my toys." Yelisa begins to sing another song, as a thick fog begins to roll into the Keep.
'And may I ask... who are you?' he said to the man in front of him.
'Ah yes,' Tonitrus chuckles, 'Come to rid the land of evil and all that? There is a great deal of evil in the land, no doubt..' He trails off, looking down, as if confused, 'Although I really don't know why anyone would want to sort through that much dirt.'
'You can call me Tonitrus, if you like, or perhaps something else, but, mind you, there are ladies present. Well, one anyway.. I guess.'
'To tell you the truth, Tonitrus, I have come to this land only to find a place to stay. I only slay those who get in my way whether they be good or evil.' he said calmly. Although he did not come to slay vampires, he certainly did not trust them. For now, he would keep alert.
"Well.. that's.... sensible..," Tonitrus says slowly, sounding fairly disappointed.
Laughing harshly, Yelisa retorts mockingly, 'A place to stay within the Keep? A place to belong and call home and think of the people here as quaint ol' humans?'
Yoshio growls and again turns away. 'You'd be surprised how useful I can be...' he said again walking away. What an infuriating woman! he thought to himself.
Yelisa's little legs jog swiftly to catch up with Yoshio. With a hand on his forearm, she is able to gently turn his body and reach his face, bringing him to down her level. 'What use could you possibly bring to us?' hissing softly, she gestures to the Keep around her.
Gazing meaningfully at the windows and balconies, they're filled with the oddly pale faces of the residents. Some are moaning in pain, while others are laughing heartily at the entertainment at the tavern. Either way, their pale necks bear the trademarks of the property of vampires.
Yoshio draws his blade with blinding speed, bringing the blade ever close to Yelisa'a chest as he leaped back. He stands on his own again, pointing the blade directly between Yelisa's eyes as he gazed deeply into them, calculating her movements. 'I can offer you my skills...' he said softly and darkly, his expression changing dramatically into a emotionless mask. 'Best me, and you may take my blood. Until then, you will watch your tongue.'
Tonitrus chuckles quietly to himself. 'Well, if you two will excuse me, I could use a bite to eat,' he says, his form blurring into a mass of whirling mists, 'Play nicely, children,' he adds, chuckling, as his form vanishes.
Scene: How to end the perfect group date...
Players: Rhyl, Yelisa, and Yoshio
Recap: Yoshio and Yelisa are in a slight "disagreement" about the usefulness of Yoshio within the Keep. Tonitrus the insane has left them both in search for food.
Looking sorrowfully at Yoshio's emotionless face, she pushes away the blade gently from her face. 'We would not want your blood,' she says barely audible. 'It's not quite to my taste. And resorting to violence against an innocent little girl is also barbarous.'
Yoshio keeps his eyes focused on her, not speaking a word "You not as innocent as I would like to believe, that you are certainly not." He steps back a bit, keeping his blade drawn and his senses alert.
Rhyl keeps her cowl well up, concealing her face in shadows, but the strands of creamy white hair the escape as much as her glowing crimson eyes give her away to anyone moving about. Fortunately, at this hour, that would be few.
Rhyl has already lost her way twice in this unfamiliar place, but feels she is on the right track now. She can smell the outside air and knows the way out is near.
Yelisa shrugs slightly with an impish grin. 'To some gods, a chaste young girl would be innocent as a lamb. But I'm not here to discuss theology with you.'
Looking up at the Keep's walls, Yelisa narrows her eyes and hisses at the pale faces in the window. With a frightened glance, they begin to scatter back to their rooms. The shadows of the residents flicker as they dance with the torch lights within the walls. 'You said you had skills,' she looks out at the corner of her eye and nods to the sword. 'You must surely have something more practical than that.'
Voices carry to her sensitive ears and Rhyl pauses. Listening, she tries to make out what she hears, and lays a hand against a cool stone wall, waiting.
A sly grin briefly appears on Yoshio's lips. "What would you consider 'more practical?'" he asked. Keeping his other concealed sword under his cape sheathed, as well as the one on his back. As he stared this small vampiress down, he contemplated if proving his worth to stick around this keep was really worth it.
Yelisa sniffs the crisp, night air delicately and sighs smiling, as if someone had baked a delicious apple pie. Deciding to leave it be, she turns back to Yoshio. 'Practical would be able to unquestioningly follow orders. Wielding a sword is all good and well, but it's not the be all and end all of things.'
Rhyl purses her lips, pulling them between her teeth, contemplating. The hair on the back of her neck stands on end and she shivers. Unquestionably, there is a vampire near. She shifts the small chest under her free arm and hesitates.
It is not a fear of vampires themselves, no, not with her history. What the drowess feels is brought on by temptation to return to the familiar, to escape life's maddening irritants.
Yoshio remains silent. It is not in his wished to become another dog and blindly follow these vampires... yet he was drawn to this vampiress for some reason. And what was confusing him more, he couldn't understand why.
"Depends on the circumstance I suppose" he said, the tone of his voice low and unchanging from when he pointed his blade toward this girl.
'The circumstances are irrelevant to you. They will not put you in extremely dangerous situations,' Yelisa replies putting on her small, lace gloves that fit perfectly for her petite hands. 'Though there is always some calculated risk, one must endure. Your fighting skills are good, but I'm sure there will be a true test later on.'
Rhyl breathes deeply, licking her teeth then setting her jaw. Enough of this stupidity. She pushes off from the wall and carries on, adjusting her hair in the cowl as she walks. Moments later, she steps out into the courtyard.
"Who's orders will I be following?" he asked Yelisa. Yoshio was just about to sheath his blade once again, but as the drowess steps into view his attention is taken away from what he was doing and focused on this woman.
Rhyl silently curses the colour of her skin and the relative light of the moonlit courtyard. And her glowing eyes. Light, but for once could she just walk out and be ignored?
However, she carries on without any appearance of noticing the two figures (is that a child?!). Maybe they'll just leave her alone.
Deliberately ignoring the question, Yelisa shrugs following Yoshio's gaze. This Drowess moves with all of her former poise and grace, her glare intimidating, her smile (when offered) intoxicating. Her amber eyes shine with a new purpose, alive as they haven't been in centuries. Her face has changed, too, taking into it the blood and breath of life. Where it had been unnaturally smooth with long centuries as a vampire, now it is fresh and folds minutely at her eyes and lips when she smiles or scowls. It is a youthful face though, the aging process having had no effect through all her years of undeath.
Dressed in a doublet of scarlet and gold and simple black pants and boots that come to her knees, she cuts a striking figure. Her silvery cream hair hangs loose about her shoulders and a short way down her back. About her hips is a heavy belt of black leather on which is hung a simple shortword, a long-bladed dagger, and below the sword a highly ornate, jewel encrusted dagger in an equally decorated scabbard. Here is the woman that ruled her nation not once but twice, though the lure of politics has worn off. Still a queen of shadow, hers will be a rule of a different sort, a private affair over this second life she has been granted.
Rhyl looks to be about 5'7", and looks to be around 100 pounds. She wears her long white-blonde hair straight. Her cerulean eyes contrast beautifully with her black skin.
Yelisa had never felt this much evil since her last visit to the central chambers within Ba'al's embrace. Such an overwhelming comfort, she places right hand on her heart and deeply curtsies to the woman in the respect one only shows to some nobility.
Hells. For a split second, Rhyl considers how to handle this. A child, curtsying to her... it can only mean this little girl is the vampire. She inclines her head, accepting the curtsy as though it were an everyday occurrence. Indeed, once, it was.
"Good evening," she says quietly. Outside the keep, there is a horse hobbled waiting for her. Outside the keep means she can be away with her goods. Oh well.
"Good evening," the man before her said. He bowed slightly toward her, however, the tone of his voice and his expression changed little. He had though he had encountered a person of her race once before... but only once before.
'So far, no one is trying to kill me,' she silently reminds herself, 'So this is good...' Again, she dips her head. "Please, do not let me interrupt..."
Smiling softly with albeit polite curiosity, 'But you already have...' Yelisa smiles cautiously, but slightly dangerously at the drowess. After all, this is her turf. 'What can we do to help?'
Rhyl curls her lips into a smile, white teeth contrasting against her dark flesh. "Ahh, yes. Really, I was on my way out. I was sharing a drink with an old friend." It's not exactly a lie, though 'friend' might be a bit extreme.
Yoshio still ponders who's orders he would be following if he were to serve here in the keep, however, with this recent visit, he supposed he'd have to wait for the answer. "You are of the drow, are you not?" he asked the newcomer.
Rhyl spreads out the arm not holding the chest, causing her cloak to flap on one side. She offers a flourishing bow. "I am." And lo, another bright star among many. "This is usually the point when you turn your weapon on -me-."
Rhyl straightens, the hood slipping off her head revealing a long, straight, creamy pale hair. Well, if anyone was watching from a window... How awkward.
Groaning inwardly, if she's not a drow, then she's not a damned vampire. Yelisa spreads open her empty arms, but her impish grin reveals her only weapon she chooses to keep on her undead body. 'I'd like to meet your friend, Ilharess...'
Rhyl holds the smile in place although it never touches her eyes. "I would be happy to arrange a meeting, but he is certainly in bed." She pauses, "Where most of the paler, short-lived folk are at this time."
Yoshio steps back, letting the two speak. He find the time to sheath his blade once again, steps behind Yelisa as if on friendly terms with her once again. He would remain silent until addressed again.
Perhaps this was someone Yelisa had spared, contemplating how the possibility of someone in the Keep slipping past her awareness seemed unfathomable. 'Indeed, good little residents of the Keep. But I believe they are happy with what they have,' turning to Yoshio for her own numerous reasons, but importantly her own safety. 'What do you think of the residents, Yoshio? Are they not cheery fellows?'
Yoshio gazes down into Yelisa's eyes and nods. "Yes, it seems they are happily enjoying the evening." he said in the same low tone. Ruling out all comments about the undead.
Rhyl takes the opportunity afforded by the change in focus, to dig a small token from within her doublet. She turns the small wooden coin over in her fingers. One side has her name 'Rhyl' encircled by a symbol of a mask, both burnt into the wood. She offers it to the child, trusting she'll know what it means, and if not, well no matter.
Yelisa flips the coin and catches it easily. Bringing the coin up to her nose, she can smell the faint soot of burnt wood, stirring up old memories. Examining the coin closely, she looks at Rhyl before nodding slowly in somewhat comprehension. Not knowing the purpose, but at least what side she was probably on. 'I have no tokens to offer you, Ilharess,' she replies letting the "s" sound drag out. 'But be welcome to travel freely through the Keep, and indeed... I have residences to the north, should you prefer more suitable tastes in accommodation.'
Rhyl nods again, slowly, concluding the conversation. So, the child rules here. Interesting. "My sincerest thanks," she says aloud. She glances at the male, lets the smile slip from her features and turns away. Her footfalls are nearly silent on the paving stones. As she exits, she replaces the hood of her cloak and fades into the night.
The starry night begins to fade as the rays of the sunlight begin to encroach slowly upon the land. Turning once again to Yoshio, she looks at him from head-to-toe. 'How many weapons have you got? Or what is your preferred method of fighting in melee?'
Yoshio's emotion slowly return to his face and he smiles once again. "I carry two longswords I conceal under my long cloak and this broadsword on my back. There is a spiritual enchantment upon the broadsword however... I must warn you now, try not to pick it up. Obviously, I prefer a sword. However, I am skilled upon horseback with a spear as well."
Yoshio notices the sun coming up and nods toward Yelisa. "Perhaps you should be getting some sleep?" he said smiling softly. "You do not take kindly to sunlight, correct?"
Yelisa's brow arches in slight bemusement, curiosity, and a pang of annoyance, 'My wellbeing is none of your concern. If you will kindly focus, I mentioned earlier of a true test. I suggest you should ready yourself because it will come soon for your blood.'
Without hearing another word, Yelisa turns away, her red hair bouncing with her movement. As she begins to take a step forward to walk away, swirling mists take her away.
Yoshio sighs with slight relief and lets his guard down once again. At least he would not have to deal with vampires for another day. He made his way to the keep to think things over and get some rest. He has to set out once again later this day, but it is his intent to return to the keep once again when his business is finished with the lady Annale. Something he had not mentioned yet to the vampiress he had just met.