Aventures on Darmus

[KillerMuffin]

Muffin climbed to her feet and looked around with a frown. Dragon was none too happy either, he was in his tensed "defense" mode.

Cerventes was gone, Rocky was with some woman who appeared to be chasing Cerventes, and Valdimer had disappeared into the cabin.

Sensing eyes beating into her back, Muffin slowly turned around, swallowing the lump in her throat. The heavily armored knights surrounded her in a loose semi-circle. She smiled shakily and swallowed the lump her throat. The middle one lifted his visor and glared.

"Um, hello Stagwort. Er, fancy meeting you here," Muffin said. A quick exit was in order, no doubt.

Dragon, ears flat and teeth bared, shouldered his way to stand next to Muffin. Stagwort shifted in the saddle and reached for his crossbow. There was no creature alive or dead that Stagwort hated more.

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen...

was looking over the cabin carefully. She glanced quickly at Rocky apon hearing his question. She mulled over her reply before answering. She wouldn't lie to him... he had a hard enough time trying to understand the world around him without her adding to his confusion.

"I... won't be causing him any permanent... physical damage... at this time..." she allowed herself to answer.

She edged her mare forward and saw that the rest of the knights had arrived. They appeared to have found a girl. Vixen narrowed her eyes trying to make out the girl's features. She had only the portrait the Lord had shown her to go by. She looked like a likely canidate... but she wanted to be sure.

She was torn... the cabin beckoned... and within it her ultimate prey... however... she did have a job to do.

She approached the knights. "Is this the one?" She asked abruptly halting the knight's attempt to aim at the beast at the girl's side. She turned to the knight who accompanied herself... "go guard the cabin... I don't want anyone leaving just yet..." She turned back to the knight who continued to glare down at girl and beast.

"Well??? Is she or isn't she the one?" Vixen growled... a small sharp dagger appeared in her left hand and she twirled it without thinking much about it as she awaited her answer.

 

[Ravenloft]

Cervantes:

Desperate whines of fear slipped from Cervantes's throat, not from the presence of so many fool knights errant, but her... Alwasy her, he had given her his gift in a time when he thought he was in love, yes he was rash with that gift from time to time, only she had conquered his influence, he had let her, willingly... The others, merely a hand full, two of which had been graced with it nearly the same day as Vixen, they slipped into the stream of life as it were, not having pressed the issue of their corruption by his hands... But Vixen was diferent. She would not let him rest, it was as though she were a croccodile with a clock of distruction within her stomach... He could not call her his nemesis, for deep inside, hidden from all, man, beast, even the gods, he still cared for her as he had no other, she was a sliver of wood within his heart... But he had been an arrogent fool during a stormy night, the night that could not be forgiven... As he scrambles about within Aristus's home, searching for protection... Or escape... the vision of that night struck, he had emptied a barrel ment for trade in port nearly on his own... She had spurned him, turned away, and what logical woman would not have? He had raged at her denighal and forced her into the rough sea... Sailing away, leaving her to her fate, and sealing his own.

"What a fool..." He said aloud to himself.

His eyes caught sight of the fire and the cauldron of stew upon it within the confines of Aristus's hearth. He let the painful thoughts of his past go at the vision of it. Before anyone could react he was at the Cauldon, tipping its fragrant contents upon the ashen fire, ruining it but dousing the fire, he was crawling up the chimney as all turned in amasment to see his handy work and was out the top by the time anyone could say a word. Looking down upon the knights on guard he barked, turning away, ready to leap for his freedom.

And as he intended... He did so, leaping from the roof, it would have stalled a normal man, but he was far from normal, his leg snapped audibly, but he launched into a run...

 

[Guest]

Well, what's Cervie doing up there? Rocky looked on with utter amazement. Cervie was actually on the roof, why was he on the roof? Certainly he could have just gone around, or tried the back door.
Grown up things, Rocky didn't understand at all. He lamented, saying that he didn't understand them. Besides, something else was happening that he didn't like. Those soldiers were harrassing the girl that Cervie was drooling over earlier. He walked up to them.
"Is everything ok?" he asked the girl, although he was looking at the knights. They didn't seem friendly at all, he wondered why Vixen would hang out with those guys. It was weird. He stood between them and the woman. He didn't know why, exactly, but all of the sudden he felt so protective.
"What's going on here?" he asked her, although his stare was still at the men.

 

[Psycho_64]

Amazed at what this obvious attempt at a pirate had just done to his laundry Aristus looked on in amazment as he scurried up the chimney like a small rodent.

"Fitting" he mumbled to himself.

Turning back to Valdimer he noticed that Val seemed more unkempt than usual. He also heard quite a ruckus outside and this annoyed him more than anything.

Looking right at Val he stated "If I get left behind in another dungeon after this I'll learn the 'Skin Valdimer Alive' spell!"

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen...

... raised one perfectly formed eyebrow as she watched Rocky stand protectively before the girl.

"You know this girl Rocky?" She asked deliberately.

Just at this moment she heard the other knight cry out in surprise. She didn't need to turn her head to realise who had managed to slip by him. She sighed debating whether to look around and confirm her suspicions or not.

Curiousity got the better of her and she twisted in her saddle to see the knight pushing his horse around the back of the cabin. Vixen's eyes narrowed. The urge to follow great. She was so close.

"M'Lady... to answer your question... this is not exactly the one we seek... but..."

Vixen stared at the knight, her attention caught. "She... is... NOT the one?" The knight looked flustered suddenly. He didn't like having to take the lead of a woman from the start but this particular woman just gave him the willies. He was sure she could stare down a rabid bear if she put her mind to it. Her eyes gleamed and he shivered feeling them piercing his very soul... he shook his head as if to clear it. This was ridiculous he was a knight... he wouldn't bow to this chit of a girl.

"No... but she will be of use in finding the one we seek."

Vixen looked down at the girl dubiously and then flicked a glance at Rocky who still stood gallantly before her... the to the beast at the girl's side. This caught her attention. She sniffed the air again. The hyenna part of her bestowed apon her by Cervantes himself bristled. She calmed herself, barely.

"Fine... we're wasting time here as it is..." she glanced back at the cabin... "something familiar about that place..."

She jerked her head at the knight. "Bring them along then..." she looked pointedly at the knight's weapon. "Do you really think you need such heavy armourment to contain her?" she smirked enjoying the heat of outrage that washed across the knights features.

"We need extra horses..." Vixen continued... "maybe the owner of yonder cabin will assist us..." She urged her horse forward fully expecting the rest to follow.

 

[KillerMuffin]

Dragon stuck his head out further and took a step forward, one hoof, on pace. He wasn't going anywhere without Muffin's sayso and that was that. Muffin patted his shoulder. "Easy, Dragon. It will be alright. Uncle taught me a thing or two, remember?"

Dragon ignored that. Knights were one thing, but this female creature was something altogether different. Canid.

"Knock it off Dragon, you're drooling. I'm going into the -"

Muffin's whispered plan was cut off by Rocky jumping out of nowhere, coming between her and the ass, Stagwort. The lady with them didn't look terribly pleased by this development.

"Um, I'm not going anywhere with Stagwort," Muffin said loudly.

Vixen gave her a short glare, obviously Muffin's opinion wasn't a consideration.

 

[Rockingham]

"Wait a minute," Rocky was confused again. He didn't like being confused, he thought it was honestly going to be unconfusing this time.
"I thought you guys were here for Cervie. Vixen, you said you wanted to go to Cervie, what does she have to do with that?"
He looked at the knights too.
"They aren't here cause Cervie didn't marry that one girl?" Things began spinning around. This made no sense. He turned to the woman, who exactly was she anyway? She just shows up mysteriously and now everyone is either drooling over her or wants to take her away.
"What is going on?"

 

[Ravenloft]

Cervantes:

His leg was trying to heal in mid stride, but every time he brought his foot to bare upon the ground it snapped painfully, if he hadn't any healing powers he would have been down already. But though it was the most pain he had felt in a long time, he kept running, surely this pain was nothing compared to what Vixen would dish out to him... So he ran and ran, trying not to look back.

 

[KillerMuffin]

"Well..." Rocky had actually asked a very good question. One that made Muffin rather uncomfortable. "That knight there wants to kill Dragon, my, um, horse. He wants to use me to find my sister for that bastard lord of his to work his nefarious purposes on. He's really mean, too. The knight, his name is Stagwort, wants to strangle me. I did something to him that he really didn't like. Um. I don't know where Cerventes went, or why. And Valdimer is inside doing something with the old guy. Uncle wants his book."

Muffin smiled at Rocky. "Thank you, for being kind enough to try to help me against Stagwort. Don't worry though, Uncle taught me well."

She reached out, and when he didn't flinch or jerk away, took his hand and squeezed it for a moment.

"Who is the Lady?"

 

[Earthgoddess]

The boots stood not more than an arm's length away, and Gwen made her move. Silently she crept forward and then lunged with both hands towards her uncle's upper thighs.

The attack took him by surprise and the barbs in her palms lodged themselves deeply. Gwen smiled so sweetly,licking her full lips as the poison entered him that he was caught off guard for a brief instant.

"What the?uuuunnnghh" The foxglove reached the rodent that passed for his heart, and suddenly it froze.

His body thudded heavily onto the ground-his lips blue. Gwen stepped lightly over him, removing his pouch, short dagger-and then heading over to his steed she glanced back to his still form.

"Muffin hear I come my sweet sister,Giyup Horse,"Gwen wheeled her horse around. Galloping up to her uncle she looked down at him, and leaning over the reins she opened her mouth and spat full in his face.

"May Mordred keep her crows from your eyes-at least until you've seen your flesh devoured. Many blessing Dear Uncle-Goodbye." The words fell like scraps of steel from her lips.

 

[Ravenloft]

Cervantes:

Rushing through the woods, Cervantes was nearly blind to his surroundings, his leg still ached but he ignored it with all his will. Suddenly he was robbed of his feet as he stumbled over something large and hairy... Looking back he barked "Who put you in my way! Damn it!" It was a man with blue lips, who looked nearly dead. Cervantes turned his head to the side for a moment, sniffing. "Hey, your not dead... But you look like you are... Cool." He heard the snuffling of a horse then and looked up. There, above him, setting astride a strong looking mare, was the girl he had beded just a few nights ago. Looking back down, sure enough, it was the same lout of an uncle who had all but sold her to him for the night.

"Good show, sweet thing!" Cervantes said with a smile as he stood, his leg feeling quite better for the short pause. He winked at her as he stepped closer to the horse, and to her.

He sniffed the air again, Vixen wasn't coming... What's her plan, he wondered, is it a trap she's set that I am to run into? Does the woman just like to chase me? What... What, what, what!!! He raged within his mind, saying none of it aloud. Looking up, he saw the girl staring at him with a steely expression.

"Uh... Hi pretty..." He said hesitantly, tilting his head ever so slightly to the side with a charming smile. the girls brow tightened ever so slightly in responce. And before anything more could be said or done, she found that Cervantes had jumped up onto the horse, astride, directly behind her. "Mind if I catch a ride?" He asked, his mouth inches from her ear as he stole the reigns away from her and flicked the horse into action.

 

[Rockingham]

Rocky felt the hand slip into his. He squeezed back, looking at the surrounding force. this didn't look very good anymore. He thought they were quite even until Cervie ran and everyone else went inside. Now there was just him and her surrounded by a bunch of knights, and Vixen.
Those guys were oodling over her, but in her time of need they leave. He didn't understand guys at all, or women, hell even some horses confused him.
He lamented, however. Whatever was going on, it wasn't right.
"Look, no one is touching this girl, or her horse. I can't allow that, not now or ever. She's a friend of mine, and Cervies."

 

[Valdimer]

Valdimer



Comotion stirred outside the cabin, and Valdimer turned around to have a look. Looking, he saw that Rockie and Muffin were surounded. "What the hell is going on?" he said as he drew his sword. "Come Aristus, I'll be DAMNED if any of my party gets taken!" Effortlessly climbing on his horse, he galiantly walked the short distance, aproaching the aromoured knights. Survaying the knights, the obvious leader being the girl, he spoke. " Who are you lady? And what is it that you want with these two? They have done nothing to the king or his lands, and I STRONGLY suggest you release them." Valdimer's eyes flared with excitment and readiness, awaiting the girl's reaction, his sword at the ready.........

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen...

... felt... actually FELT... her eyebrow twitch with irritation. She recalled Cervantes telling her it happened only to have her punch him soundly in the nose. She didn't like people telling her she was giving away her emotions. But now... now she could feel it. She was about to open her mouth in response to yet another new addition to the gathering crowd when the sound of a sould horse galloping towards them cut her off.

It was Frederick... the knight she had told to guard the cabin.

"M'Lady!" He hollared as he drew near.
"A beast/man escaped the cabin and ran into the woods... I followed as far as I could but he managed to find a steed M'Lady and seems to be heading North!"

Vixen clenched her dagger until her knuckles showed white. The knight didn't seem to notice he was in iminent danger.

She took a deep DEEP breath.

"Okay..." she pronounced slowly as she turned her attention back to Valdimer. "Sir.." she managed a nochalant bow... "my name is Vixen... I am here in service of a Lord... not the King... we are simply in search of a female they call Gwen... as a side... I do have a certain... personal interest in finding the one who calls himself... Cervantes..." at saying the name her whole body seemed to want to kill something... she manages to calm herself again to continue.

"Stagwort here is part of the team of knights the Lord gave me command of to complete my task... it appears this lass..." she nodded down at Muffin "may be able to assist us in finding her."

She looked at Valdimer carefully... "now... may I ask what your intentions are good Sir?" She smiled... letting some warmth into her eyes... she was not adverse to using her feminine charms when it suited her.

 

[KillerMuffin]

"You are a good man, Rocky," Muffin murmured. She considered what was best to do, and decided on PeaceCalm. It was a passive magic, one that merely calmed tempers and restored reason. No one would suspect magic had been preformed unless they heard her do it. The longer she kept it a secret, the better off she'd be, or so she figured. If the pirates ever figure out who Uncle was...

"In the even' of the day
Let the Peace make its way
Through the horde and bastion ware
Calm the soul of anger glare.
Within each a measure of peace
Within each a measure of calm
Peace and calm
Nature's balm."

Stupid doggerel, but it worked wonders. Muffin peeked around, satisfied that no one had noticed her mumblings. Rather, they were relaxing on their horses on feet. Weapons sagged down. Rationality reigned again.

Muffin smiled at Rocky, "Sssh, it's a secret. Papa didn't want me to learn magic, but I did. If he found out he'd wallop my backside."

"What's this about Gwen?" Muffin asked Vixen.

 

[Valdimer]

Valdimer


"First off, let me introduce myself. My name is Valdimer Elsworth, and I have sworn to this lady," glancing toward Muffin " that I would help her find her sister. I am also on a personal quest of my own, the details need not be told to you." he spoke as he lowerd his weapon to his side. A slight calm came over him, one he hadn't felt in a long time, almost like the calm of a child in thier mothers arms. His gaze never left Vixen though, and he was still constintly alert of his surroundings. "And of this Cervantes fellow? Do you have a description of this man?, and what do you want with him?" Val spoke, sword in sheath, hands pressed agianst the front of his saddle.....

 

[Rockingham]

Rocky smiled at Muffin. She had been so nice to him. Not many people he knew were nice to him first off. Some were downright mean, and then there were the guy's who shot arrows at him.
They were all on the same quest. He just figured that out, they were all on the same quest, in search of Muffin's sister.
Rocky noticed that Val was talking to Vixen about Cervie.
"Wait, no," he shook his head to Val, "Cervie and her are old friends. It's ok, they know each other."
He looked at the rest of them, "Now listen, we don't need violence here. We are all going to do the same thing right, find her sister, so why can't we join up?"
He counted the people, "7 people can find a sister better than just three."
He wasn't very smart, but that did seem like the best idea. Right now, they had a lost woman, and no clues.

 

[Valdimer]

Valdimer


Valdimer looked at Rockie, somewhat strangley. Moving his horse to get closer to Rockie, looking at Vixen, Val spoke " Forgive me m'lady, I did not mean to misslead you in anyway. Rockie speaks the truth, I do know Cervantes. Forgive me." he said giving a slight bow toward Vixen. Looking to Rockie, he said, " Now Rockie......Are you SURE she knows Cervantes?" looking down on Rockie, giving him a gentle expression. Giving a sideways glance, but still keeping Rockie within sight, Val said " And as far as us joining forces? I'm still not to sure about that. How can we trust you? Save for Rockie, none of us know you. And with the agression, it does make it quite hard for trust you know." he said, giving Vixen a challangeing stare, awaiting her response.......

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen...

... too felt a calm wash her spirit. She felt the tension leave her shoulders. Tension she had been holding for several hours ride. She looked back at Valdimer.

"Trust must always go both ways to be of any value... and you are not known to me either. Already the lie about Cevantes... I understand perhaps to protect him... he and I have unfinished business... but the task at hand takes precedence. You may or may not wish to join us... but it seems to me that if we are both after the same person then we will continue to bump into one another... so by default... at least for now it seems... we will be fellow companions in our travels."

She turned to Frederick but her glance brushed by Dragon and Muffin. She felt the hairs raise on her neck again but quickly shook off the feeling. "Frederick... lead us... you were the last to follow Cervantes... if he found a horse that means someone was out there... that's our only lead for now."

She urged her mare forward after Frederick who turned to leave the way he had arrived. "Come!" She barked at the other knights. Stagworth in particular bristling visibly at her tone... still he and his fellow knights followed.

 

[KillerMuffin]

Muffin slipped aboard Dragon quick as a wink. She pulled the horse up short, even though everyone else was galloping like the hounds of hell were on their heels. She offered Rocky her hand, pulling him up onto the dratted horse behind her. Dragon wasn't too fond of Rocky's extra weight, but the boy had a way of balancing that made him seem a part of the horse, rather than a mere rider.

Dragon lurched into a dead run, no way in hell he was letting anyone lead him around, and charged after the group. He passed the knights with ease, snapped at Valdimer's horse and got past him as well. Vixen's horse kicked out at Dragon, who took immediate offense.

Muffin smacked him on the head before he could finish the fight, and yelled, "Gwen, find Gwen!"

Dragon reached deep inside, found that thing that made him Dragonbait and not a horse, and surged past the remaining two horses as if they were running backwards. Rocky's arms clenched Muffin tightly, to keep from sliding from the back of the horse.

Thankfully, he dropped his rear, rather than his head, when he stopped, or Muffin and Rocky would have been airborne. Gwen!

 

[Guest]

Rocky gripped tightly. He clenched his teeth, and his eyes became nothing more than squints. Muffin felt warm against his touch, but all he could think about was this horse. He seemed to have a mind of his own. Rocky was indifferent about that.
He didn't even know what indifferent was, but someone said it to him. It seemed like a word that fit. His entire body shook with each hoofprint. Falling off would be a blessing if it would get him off of this horse.
Finally it stopped. Rocky looked up. Hey, there was Cervie. He was on a horse with a woman.
"Cervie.... CERVIE!!!" he yelled, waving his hands in the air. Cervie didn't seem to notice him. The other party was catching up to them, he looked back, noticing them and then the other girl. It was her, those whom they were looking for.
"Muffin," he asked, "What do those knights want with your sister anyway?"

 

[Psycho_64]

Watching Valdimer run out of the cabin was like watching the blind run around in the dark, completely useless. As before he was easily distracted and fought like he knew nothing else.

Aristus walked calmly out of his cabin to a small army, he sighed a large sigh and wondered exactly why all these people were disturbing the peace and quiet that hung here not a few hours ago.

These knights were obviously of the lowest class and everyone else appeared insane. He walked around his cabin and began to follow the crazy dolt who dumped his laundry on the fire.

Looking back at Valdimer, "Are you coming, or are you going to hit on all female species within ten miles of here."

 

[KillerMuffin]

Muffin patted Rocky's hands where they held her stomach, but ignored his question. "Gwen, it's Malvort. He sent Stagwort and some knights after you."

She looked over her shoulder nervously. The swell of the thunderous hoofbeats was rising. She squeezed Rocky's hands tightly, clenching Dragon with her knees. The horse danced irritably.

"They're coming!"

 

[Valdimer]

Valdimer

Valdimer whirled around, extended his hand to Aristus, who took it, and was off after the rest of the group. "Damn you Cervantes. What the hell have you gotten us all into?!" was all he could say as he pushed his horse to catch up to Muffin and Rockie. Riding close to Vixen, Valdimer pushed his horse harder, trying in a futile attempt to reach Cervantes first, but to no avail....

"Vixen, what do you plan to do with this girl once we reach her? And of Cervantes?" Val said, hastely riding alongside Vixen....