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Post by Shuyruul on Jul 28, 2011 13:37:54 GMT -5
(OOC: This is in response to the challenge.)
The rain pelted the tired wanderer as he approached the lights of the tavern on his stallion. The elven mercenary had stopped in town for supplies when he heard rumors of an open job offer at the local tavern. A mercenary job, that is. Finding work was slow, despite his skills with the bow and arrow. This is exactly why he stopped in Niella, the home of the Thorn Warriors. Shuyruul wasn't looking to join unless approached, but he knew with their presence in the city it would increase his chances of finding an offer. He swung his leg over the horse's drenched saddle, and stepped off. "Stay here, Ingir. You'll be fine," his voice barely audible over the sound of the rain. The brown horse replied with a snort and followed his master inside a stable. Shuyruul took some rope from his pack and tied his mount to a pillar, then walked towards the tavern. He opened the door and wasn't surprised when he saw everyone glance at him. The elf took off his waterlogged cloak and made his way toward a table, where he sat and waited. Someone here must have some information about the job, Shuyruul thought as he scanned the establishment.
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Post by Raelia Arra on Jul 28, 2011 15:22:42 GMT -5
She didn't know what possessed her to do it. Five minutes in Neilla and she had found herself in the most popular spot. Most popular spot in the whole Plains, she would have bet. And after her came the rumors what she was going to pay someone for something. And of course all those blasted rumors about her running away came shortly after that.
Of course, not many could place Rae's face to the rumors. Most just thought she was a pretty young girl from a small town looking for a job and a husband. If only they knew...
Her thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the door to the tavern, and she joined in with everyone else who looked at the newcomer. She watched him, curiously, as he took off his rain soaked cloak and looked around. He was tall, certainly, and there was a look to him that said he had a lot of discipline. A warrior, then? Interesting...
She waited until he sat down before she walked over towards him, timidly for her. Still, to anyone else it would look like the giant of a woman was on the move. Without an invitation she plopped down in a chair in front of him, without any of the grace that a woman was supposed to have, and blurted out, "I take it you're not a normal patron, eh? What brings you around here?" She was able to keep her voice at a more or less whisper as not to alarm or disturb the regulars.
Because Nagasti forbid that someone makes too much noise.
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Post by Shuyruul on Jul 28, 2011 15:39:32 GMT -5
He had laid his eyes on a particularly... 'forward' patron, as she quickly walked towards him and took a seat at his table. Uninvited. The elf said nothing, eyeing the young lady and perking his pointed ears up as she quietly asked him what his business was. "I take it you're not a normal patron, eh? What brings you around here?" Was it really her business to know his reasons for being here? Shuyruul waited a few seconds, eyeing her up and down. She was obviously a human, an attractive one at that. Pretty tall for a lady, as well. "You're correct. I'm not from this... area. I'm Shuyruul," the elf introduced himself, leaning forward in his chair. "And why would you need to know my being here?" he said, raising an eyebrow, intrigued by this girl. The wanderer took a second to scan the tavern once more. People were still looking at him, yet he deemed it safe to relax. With a deep sigh he unstrapped his bow and quiver, then laid them down against his chair.
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Post by Raelia Arra on Jul 28, 2011 16:18:33 GMT -5
She quickly corrected herself when she saw the bow and quiver. Not a warrior, an /archer/. This was certainly interesting. She'd never seen one before. Or at least any decent one who made a living off of it.
Her mind barely caught his words, and it took a few minutes for her to process them. Well, at least he wasn't telling her to get the hell away from his table. That was a start.
Rae didn't notice his more or less examination of her in her probably a lot less subtle examination of him. She wasn't really looking for anything, she just liked to have an idea of what he looked like. Or if she'd have the chance to run away if he attacked her for whatever reason.
He was taller than she was and he looked like he was stronger. She didn't think her odds would be good. But, hopefully, he wouldn't be aggressive. After all, he did disarm himself.
Clearing her throat, she stated, "Raelia." Hopefully he would guess that it was her name. But then again, she had met other men who weren't so bright... "And I like to know what's going on around me." She dropped her voice, looking around to make sure no one was looking their way. "And, besides, you probably came here because you heard the rumor about someone offering work."
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Post by Shuyruul on Jul 28, 2011 16:41:25 GMT -5
"Raelia." said the girl, clearing her throat. "And I like to know what's going on around me. And, besides, you probably came here because you heard the rumor about someone offering work." So she did know about the job. Shuyruul gave a rare smile, then began a little prodding. Time to see what this girl knew about the job. "Raelia," he repeated. "Pretty name. And yes, I did come here for the job. What do you know about it?" said the elf, perking his ears up. This 'Raelia' was a certainly intriguing character. Perhaps she was the one offering the job? Shuyruul would soon know, so he decided to be patient. He leaned back and drummed his fingers on the table, waiting for her response. His cloak had dried a little bit since he had entered the establishment, as did his clothes and hair. The wanderer soon began to feel... comfortable, a rare feeling when in the presence of others. For him, at least.
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Post by Raelia Arra on Jul 28, 2011 19:55:06 GMT -5
His compliment shocked her slightly. She wasn't used to them for... rather obvious reasons -- her height being the main one. She was too tall for a woman. Even if the compliment was about her name being pretty she still felt flattered by the not so common words.
She ducked her head slightly, suddenly finding her hands rather interesting. Of course, he might not have meant the compliment at all and was just saying it to get her to shut up and spit out whatever he needed to know.
One of her hands went up to her hair and began to play with it. She kept her eyes averted from his, though a bitter and humorless laugh left her. "I would know about it. I'm the reason why the rumors of it started."
She paused and sighed, shaking her head slightly. "I do need help, but I don't know how I'll pay you," she stated, taking a quick glance at his face. Then she eyed his weapon. "And you most likely won't need that."
Not it was her turn to wait. She didn't have money and he wouldn't be fighting. Who knew if he would still be interested?
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Post by Shuyruul on Jul 29, 2011 9:31:17 GMT -5
"I would know about it. I'm the reason why the rumors of it started." So it was her. The elf had a feeling she would be the 'employer'. Now to ask what the job was and how much he would get paid. He opened his mouth to talk but she unknowingly cut him off. "I do need help, but I don't know how I'll pay you," Raelia said. Shuyruul narrowed his eyes, then stared as she eyed his weapon. "And you most likely won't need that." Who the hell did this girl think she was? Going around offering a job, then when someone comes to claim said job, she states she doesn't know "how" to pay for it. Shuyruul shifted in his chair, then grunted. His mind was at work, thinking whether or not to take a payless job. He hadn't had work in a while. This could keep him from getting... "soft". But he couldn't use his longbow, she said. Curious. The wanderer sat back and sighed, finally coming to a decision. "Erm... and what did you have in mind?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. This girl certainly was different. The elf rubbed his chin, deep in thought. A state he was in the majority of his time out of work.
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Post by Raelia Arra on Jul 31, 2011 12:11:08 GMT -5
He... He was actually interested? Rae's eyes snapped to his in a more or less vain attempt to see if he was lying. Why would be accept? She was just some woman in a spot of trouble who couldn't give a beggar a few coins... why would he be interested in helping /her/.
Well, she knew she wasn't going to let this chance go to waste. "There should be a man on the road to here, likely alone, probably not. He won't be one of the normal merchants; that much'll be obvious by how he dresses. I just need you to convince him that what -- more like who, really -- he's looking for is far away. Extremely far away," she spoke in a rush, almost as if she couldn't wait to get it off her chest. "I... just don't want him to find me. Any time soon, at least."
She cringed at how absolutely desperate she must sound to him. Especially since she has little to no way of paying him; especially since he won't have to kill anyone or get to use that blasted weapon of his.
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Post by Shuyruul on Jul 31, 2011 12:35:42 GMT -5
Shuyruul didn't take his eyes off her when a puzzled look came across her face. "There should be a man on the road to here, likely alone, probably not. He won't be one of the normal merchants; that much'll be obvious by how he dresses. I just need you to convince him that what -- more like who, really -- he's looking for is far away. Extremely far away, I... just don't want him to find me. Any time soon, at least." Raelia said in quite a rush. The elf sighed. He had a thing for helping people in need. Especially when they were desperate. He got up from the table and gathered his things. Shuyruul strapped on his quiver and longbow, then put on his cloak. He took a few steps towards the door then turned towards the girl, who seemed like she needed some help. Might as well give her what she wants. "I'll find and convince him you're not around these parts," he said, turning back to go for the door. As he neared it, the elf could hear the rain clearer. It was still pouring rain outside. Shuyruul opened the door, then walked towards the stable. The feeling of being pelted with rain was met with another grunt. Why was he doing this? He made his way into the stable and found Ingir lying down near the hay, resting. The elf rubbed his mount's neck, feeling his damp hair. "Wake up, my friend." The horse neighed, then slowly got up. Shuyruul mounted him, plopping into the saddle.
They rode a little down the road when they noticed a man out there all on his own, drenched, walking through the mud. The unfortunate man was obviously the person Raelia described. Shuyruul slowly rode towards him and asked him what he was doing. When the man blurted out the obvious answer, the elf did as the girl wished. The man asked where she was, Shuyruul answered Linya. This was met with surprise from the man, who thanked the elf then ran into town to find a horse. Shuyruul didn't feel sorrow for lying to the poor guy. He quickly rode back towards the stable and repeated what he had did almost an hour before. The elf opened the door and entered the tavern once more, people raising an eyebrow and obviously wondering why he had returned.
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Post by Raelia Arra on Jul 31, 2011 13:01:38 GMT -5
And the shocking events didn't end. He'd actually stood up, armed himself and told her he was going to help her. For nothing. Raelia felt her heart stop for a moment, probably in shock or having some miniature heart attack or something, and unable to respond until after the man had left. And then it was too late.
She really didn't have anything better to do than sit around at the now lonely table and wait. It didn't help that she felt nervous about this. What if he was unable to convince him? A long list of questions that she couldn't answer went through her mind. Later she would realize she probably looked odd, sitting at a table alone and messing with one of her fingernails, apparently lost in thought.
When the door opened again, who knew how much later, she turned her head to the door, like every other patron. And there the man was again, soaking at the front door. He lingered, like he had before, but she couldn't tell what he was doing... or waiting for. Finally she decided to timidly smile, in case he was looking around for her. She would have been much easier to spot if she was standing.
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Post by Shuyruul on Jul 31, 2011 13:13:18 GMT -5
His face showed no emotion as he scanned the establishment. Finally, he found what he was looking for. Shuyruul walked towards the girl and took a seat, not bothering with his soaking clothes. "You need not worry anymore. He's going to go on a trip to Linya soon." the elf said, pulling his hood back, his black hair drooping across his face. Raelia was smiling at him when he took his seat. Curious. It could've been friendly, probably wasn't. No one exactly cared to be friendly and kind to him, so why would she be different? He narrowed his eyes as he did before, waiting for her response. After that, he would set off. Where would he go? Telr? The Silver Woods? He'd almost circled Ellar a dozen times over the years, so he didn't know where to go. Shuyruul was deep in thought as he looked at the girl he had just helped "escape".
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Post by Raelia Arra on Aug 14, 2011 11:20:53 GMT -5
A trip to Linya...? He actually did it? For a moment Rae stared at him, dumbfounded, then began to slowly blink, still in some level of shock. At least she could stay here and rest for a bit while she tried to figure out what she would do next. Perhaps she would try to live in one of the Dwarven cities... no one would look there for her...
A burning in her hand snapped her from her thoughts. She looked down to her hands, folded in her lap, clutching something between them to death. Hesitantly she glanced up at him, sighed, then moved her hands to the table.
"Did he tell you anything? Wait, no, I don't want to know that answer," she commented, shaking her head slightly. She didn't want to know if he knew why she didn't want to be found. Really, she didn't. She looked to her hands for a moment longer before she opened them, dropping the object onto the table and bringing her hands back into her lap.
The rock was dull, but the glowing red symbol that she unconsciously traced on the surface was only just beginning to fade. Some sparks danced on the surface of the dull and rather battered stone, though the longer it was from her touch the fewer the sparks became until it wasn't sparking at all. "It's a Rune Rock. Even battered and old like that... it's worth quite a bit. Take it; it's all I can do to repay you for helping me."
As she spoke her eyes locked onto his for what was probably the first time since they'd met, whatever meeting they had, and there was a look in her eyes that clearly meant that she wasn't going to let him give the rock back to her.
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Post by Shuyruul on Aug 14, 2011 14:06:08 GMT -5
Raelia looked shocked as ever when the elf said the words. It took her a few moments to actually "come back to life". Shuyruul felt better after helping her escape her hunter. But then it occurred to him; what of her family? Family was a sensitive concept to him, an orphan. Despite being a bit over a century old, the deaths of his parents cooling over, he missed them dearly. He wasn't sure how exactly to react to what he did, but something must've been wrong due to the desperate manner he found her in. Raelia seemed to say something as his thoughts processed, but he wasn't paying enough attention to hear a thing. He snapped back after she placed an object on the table, then returned her gaze to the elf. "It's a Rune Rock. Even battered and old like that... it's worth quite a bit. Take it; it's all I can do to repay you for helping me." she said as he reached for the rock, which was giving off sparks and had an eerily-glowing red symbol on it. Shuyruul looked at the thing, looking puzzled as he felt it in his hands. He would fetch quite a sum for something like this. The elf bowed his head in appreciation and leaned back, slipping the Rune Rock into a pocket. "Is that all you need help with? I could give you a ride to your destination, if you'd like," Shuyruul said, gathering his things.
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Post by Raelia Arra on Sept 11, 2011 10:55:56 GMT -5
There she paused. It would be the logical thing to leave, but where would she go? Linya and the Silver Wood were out of the question; she would be looked for there. And she didn't want to go to the cities of the dwarves. The rumors about those places scared her more than being found.
She could roam the planes. Go up north to the Blightlands and stay there. No one would suspect her to venture there. But she didn't want to ask that of this near stranger. He was nice, but Rae doubted he twas quite that nice.
"I do not have plans to go anywhere; I don't even know where I wish to run to next. Thank you for your help; I hope the Rock can get you enough money to pay for your troubles. I fear, however, that I must decline your offer of a ride," she answered. It wasn't until she was done speaking that she looked at him, a timid smile creeping onto her lips.
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