Completed Trial by Fire (Crypt)

[Sybel]

19th of Fall, 512 AV

It had been a long day of riding. When you were adequately saddled after a long rest, riding at full tilt was incomparably exhilarating. When Sybel had set out in the morning, it was with joy. Her spirit rode with her, unbridled and wild. That was how travel made her feel. Being able to move faster than your feet could carry you… There was nothing she had ever felt that could measure up. Of course, the best of life never lasted. Hours later, after several rest stops she was exhausted. It would be a few days before the saddle sores became profoundly uncomfortable, but the ride had exhausted her. She needed to stop and soon or she’d start snoozing as she rode. Lucky for her, her mount had known her for years. It would slow to a walk. There was no guarantee for low hanging branches which posed a problem. That above all compelled her to stop. The Nothern Kabrin road wound through the Cobalt Mountain range, parallel to the coast. It would take her toward Nyka and beyond, where she’d seek a boat to Konti Island. In retrospect it was hard to nail down the exact moment she’d decided to make the trip. It just seemed right at the time. That was Sybel’s great downfall and yet her strength. Impulsiveness. Despite her years she faced the consequences of childish behavior. Some found it endearing but most found it tiresome, herself included. Trying not berate herself, she redirected that line of thought to something more productive. Night had fallen almost entirely, the hours shortening with the changing of the watchtower. It was not quite mid-season but close enough for Leth to make his rise early. Sybel dismounted and began to lead her horse toward a cluster of nearby woods. It wouldn’t exactly be safe but she was running out of options, per usual. Brandishing her sword hilt she stalked off into the darkness. As she walked, something alarming caught her eye - the ruddy flickering of a fire in the distance. Normally she would turn away, repelled by the presence of another. But it had her curious – after all, Bandits certainly did not light fires. It was cocky but she felt equipped to deal with it if the situation turned ugly. Warily she approached, her feet nosily skirting the leaf-strewn ground. She really had to learn how to sneak. When she was in sightline of the campfire, she froze. Something didn’t seem right. Her eyes frantically shot to and fro, searching for the occupant. They didn’t seem to be there.

[Crypt]

A few minutes ago... Crypt smirked as he roasted what remained of a rabbit. The rest of it he had for lunch, and it was quite a satisfying and filling meal. If all went well, he would be in Syliras after two more days of travel, maybe one. His waterskin was full, he still had rations for about a week if anything went wrong, but then again, why would anything go wrong? Sure, the fool of a mercenary had to go and try to torture him and Maras, and he had to lose himself in the Bronze Woods in order to escape the mercenary's companions, and then there was that dire wolf that attacked him and got in a bite on his right shoulder, but what else could happen? The cute young healer had dressed his wounds the night before, using some sort of ointment to speed up recovery. He could still smell traces of it; a hint of lavender there, a trace of thyme over here. He took a bite of the rabbit absent-mindedly, after letting it cool for a while. "Well, Maras, today isn't such a bad day after all, eh? No one attacking us, no one trying to make a fool of themselves. Quite a nice and peaceful day. Go on, graze over there. I saw a patch of clover, so it should be a nice little supper for you." Said Strider moved to the indicated area, and starting consuming the plants. Crypt heaved a little sigh, leaning against the trunk of a nearby tree, tearing off another chunk of the rabbit meat. It would require more salt, and a tad more herbs and spices before it could taste delicious, but it was meat. Who was he to question it? Finishing off the last scrap, he was about to toss the bones off into the distance when he heard a tree branch break. Instantly, Crypt abandoned the bones and swiftly climbed up the tree he was leaning on. Quite fortunately, there was no lack of handholds, and as such it was only a few seconds before he reached a bough up high, where the leaves would hide him from any intruders, but still allowed him a peek at whoever was out there. Maras would be safe: he knew how to fight and flee. Crypt slowly drew his longsword, ensuring that he made no sound to alert the intruder as to his whereabouts. From his vantage point, he was nearly perfectly hidden. No one without highly enhanced senses or without any skill in Auristics would be able to detect him there. He breathed in and out slowly, letting the air out little by little, taking care to make as little noise as possible. Stealthy he had become.

[Sybel]

As her eyes scanned the area, the plot thickened. The campsite literally looked like it had been occupied just moments before. Her hand closed around her blade, ready to draw if the situation called for it. The air carried the scent of freshly cooked meat. That worried her profoundly. This could potentially be a very dangerous trap she’d wandered into. Staying alert, she released the reins of her steed and crept in to investigate further. A pile of bones caught her eye, their ivory pallor gleaming in the firelight. Her heart had shot into her throat before she realized they were a small creatures bones, just someone’s dinner. That would account for the mysterious smell of cooked game. With a grimace it occurred to her that there could be someone hiding either in or around that tree. Did Myrians sometimes ambush from trees? Angrily she chastised herself for being so frightened. Eight years of running and fighting for her life and she still scared like a child. If the person had intended to lure her in, they wouldn’t set up such an obvious campsite. She had crashed through the trees like a wild oxen. Therefore anyone trying to keep a low profile would have been spooked for a certainty. Sudden movement flickered in the corner of her gaze and her whole body froze. A soft whicker came from the darkness. A horse. There it was again, the fear Sybel found so abhorrent. If she could stop jumping to conclusions and be a bit more proactive about the predicament, it would resolve itself a lot faster. Clearing her throat, she attempted to will the panic from her voice. “Excuse me…” She intoned politely, her eyes fixed on the base of the tree. Gods this felt foolish. “If there is anyone hiding anywhere, I mean you no harm. I’m just looking for a safe place for the night.” Hopefully the individual wouldn’t see her as a threat. Otherwise she was screwed. It wouldn’t be the first time. Trying to seem less sinister, she pushed back the hood of her cloak to reveal her face. If nothing came of her announcement then she’d move on. In the meantime she stood her ground, one open palm in the air as to surrender, the other on the pommel of her steel.

[Crypt]

Wonderful. Another attractive woman I meet. Must be the Insatem luck, as my father used to say: We always meet good-looking ladies everywhere, but we almost never take them home. Crypt's eyes took in the golden brown skin of the unknown lady, observing her pale blue eyes dart across his tiny campsite. Her dark, curly hair was something he had never seen for a long time. Crypt idly wondered how it would be like, having to maintain such hair every day. His own was fine: a quick wash in the stream and he would be ready to go. His eyes narrowed as she fingered the handle of her sword. She wasn't wearing anything indecent, only a pair of hide pants and a leather vest, and Crypt was glad to see that. Of course, it was starting to get quite cold, so no one in their right mind would do such a thing. If it came to a fight, Crypt would battle. He was no stranger to combat, and he had the element of surprise. He would be able to down her with one single blow just from gravity alone and the weight of his longsword. Of course, he would have to use the Flux to toughen his ligaments and tendons in order to reduce the damage incurred with his impact with the ground, in turn causing him to limp badly for the next few days. It was not a serious problem; Maras would gladly bear him with no questions asked. Crypt smirked as she asked not to fight. Placing the Mask on his face, he adjusted it such that it would not fall off easily, and then climbed down the tree slowly and methodically. He landed with a deliberately loud 'thump' on the ground, alerting her to his presence. Overall, Crypt was quite pleased at his attempt at stealth - Although it would require much more work, for he found that remaining both still and alert was quite troublesome. “Very well,” Crypt's lilting voice, cheerful and carefree, was juxtaposed with his cold, stony Mask. “Speak then, lass. Tell me, who are you and why have you come here?” He motioned with his left hand for Maras to continue grazing.

[Sybel]

OOCIt’s a shirt with the vest overtop, not a skirt! She wears hide pants. Maybe I misspelled something somewhere. Whoops, lol!

A body dropped into view, startling her badly. Instinctually her sword arm drew, unsheathing in one sinuous motion. Her heart hammered against her ribcage as she took a few strategic steps away from the masked man. Sybel kept the point of her sword low, a defensive stance. He too held a longsword and held it capably. A very formidable looking opponent, if he chose to strike. What was incredibly strange however, was when he spoke. ”Very well,” he echoed from behind his mask conversationally. ”Speak then, lass. Tell me, who are you and why have you come here?” Deliberately she sheathed her sword, despite the fact she was only marginally convinced he wasn’t a psychopath. His tone was a bit too cheerful. If need be, she’d be able to draw it again. Well as long as he didn’t choose to hack off her hands. “Just a weary traveler,” she said by way of explanation. “I saw your fire and decided against my better judgment to approach.” Her tone was only slightly deprecating. She hadn’t come to regret that plan of action. Not yet anyway. “I could ask you the same thing,” she continued, smoothing a wrinkle in her cloak. “Your fire seemed to be a clever trap. You might call me the greater fool. Still, I rely on my instincts. You seem to be nice enough, what with hiding in trees holding drawn swords.” She said ironically, raising a tidy brow. “It certainly was nice of you to drop in.” The pun was too perfect to resist. It was hard to explain why Sybel decided to take such an affable approach, but she figured he would reveal his intentions more readily that way. If she portrayed herself as vulnerable, he would endeavor to take advantage. Once exposed, she could parry well enough to escape. It wouldn’t be her first quick exit.

[Crypt]

OOCQuite possible. Crypt stared at the young lady. It was unusual in that one wouldn't normally see a single female traveling, but these were strange times, especially after the Djed storms. “I am here to rest after a long day's walk. You are welcome to join me if you trust me enough not to cut your throat in the night, though the same could be said for me. Aren't I the gentleman, letting the lady go first and waiting for her to speak?” Crypt replied almost mockingly. The two ends of his mouth curved upwards slightly behind his Mask. The girl was a curious little figure, standing as she was in front of the still-blazing fire. Crypt threw a faggot of wood into the flames, watching the flames rise higher. “Times are hard, lass, times are hard. Not to mention harsh and dangerous. One can never be too... cautious. Don't you agree?” He spoke in a smoother, more soothing tone, almost akin to velvet.

[Sybel]

His expressionless mask was unnerving. When silent, there was nothing for her to gauge as he also kept quite still. It made their interaction one-sided in his favor. ”I am here to rest after a long day’s walk. You are welcome to join me if you trust me enough not to cut your throat in the night, though the same could be said for me. Aren’t I the gentleman, letting the lady go first and waiting for her to speak?” His response was equivocally sarcastic, though far creepier due to his unnatural appearance. This was not going quite as she expected, despite the fact she hadn’t expected much. As he tossed a piece of wood into the fire, something suddenly occurred to her. ”Times are hard, lass, times are hard. Not to mention harsh and dangerous. One can never be too… cautious. Don’t you agree?” He seemed placating, but she wasn’t buying it. “Yes…” She answered, biting her lip. “You take off your mask and I’ll stay. I’d like to see my would-be murderer before he puts his hands around my throat.” She intoned, her stance firm. There would be no ease between them until he assented. There was a cold barrier between them. The fear had been tamed for the moment, replaced by extreme suspicion. Normally she would dismiss it as paranoia, but this was too dynamic and unpredictable. If the guy was really crazy, he might have physical characteristics that would reflect the nature of his madness. It would explain why he disguised himself. That alone motivated her to inquire on it. "Please." She added politely, as an afterthought.

[Crypt]

Crypt inclined his slightly, displaying his assent to Sybel's request. He placed a hand to his mask and removed it slowly, revealing a young face clear of any wrinkles, with an amused expression on it. His black eyes were revealed fully, the left the deepest shade of pure darkness a person might have seen in his lifetime. No light there was inside that one eye, yet Sybel could still feel it move. His face, unlike the exposed area of his arms, was mostly untouched by the myriad tatoos, but the sign of the Ouroboros lay partially hidden on his left cheek. Crypt's voice shifted slightly, becoming more light and unrestrained. He watched her reaction with some curiousity; Nearly everyone had a different reaction to the revealing of his face behind the mask. “There... That's better. Now, milady, this one's name is Crypt. And over here...” Crypt gestured casually with his right hand, and Maras approached him from behind, the obsidian stallion emerging from the darkness of the Bronze Woods into the brighter area lit by the slowly dwindling flames. “... Is Maras. We are of Cyphrus, though we have been traveling to Syliras all the way from the frozen northlands of Taldera and the City of the Lady Morwen, Avanthal. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, miss.” Crypt made a short bow to Sybel, sheathing his longsword.

[Sybel]

To her surprise he removed the mask, revealing an altogether different face than the one she’d pictured. He was almost handsome, despite the odd discoloration of one eye. His face was free of adornment excepting a mark on his left cheek, which she couldn’t identify though it was familiar somehow. She smiled at him, feeling relieved. “There... That's better. Now, milady, this one's name is Crypt. And over here...” He gestured and the horse emerged from the pervading darkness to loiter at his side. ”Is Maras. We are of Cyphrus though we have been traveling to Syliras all the way from the frozen northlands of Taldera and the City of the Lady Morwen, Avanthal. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, miss.” He bowed low and sheathed his sword. She sighed deeply. “Same to you.” Visibly relaxing, she too bowed. “My name is Sybel from the tents of Alijah, descendent of Malech the clever of the Sons of Rapa. I am a humble Benshira merchant, traveling north past Nyka to seek a ship to Konti Isle.” It was a mouthful, but she managed to get it all out without stumbling too much. The title was cumbersome but necessary with certain strangers. She preferred to keep things simple. “May I make camp here with you? I have my own rations so you need not share any food. This is Eplah, by the way, my greatest friend.” As she reached out, her Eyktolian Desertbred nuzzled her hand. Eplah had been with her since her flight from Yahebah. She had been her Father’s horse and Sybel had known her since adolescence. “So, Alvadas…” She began conversationally. “What is it like? I’ve heard several different accounts but none of them make sense. Is it truly a city of illusions?”

[Crypt]

“Not quite a merchant, Sybel, for your goods are missing.” Still, her title was quite impressive-sounding. Crypt had never visited Eyktol (For it was too hot and dry) but it was beginning to look more and more interesting. “You are... Welcome to join me for the night, Sybel.” Crypt began slowly, returning the Benshira's smile with one almost as equally charming. “The nights of Fall are cold, and a warm fire is better to sit by than a long, lonesome road on which to travel all night. Have a seat, and enjoy the warmth.” Both parties having relaxed, becoming less suspicious of each other, Crypt took his previous seat close to the fire, on the opposite side of Sybel's location. And once again the urge was on him. Everytime he met a new person, he had to know more. And quite a few times the person had been unwilling to even say a word. At least this one was talking. Still, Crypt wanted to take a look. He closed his eyes as Sybel continued talking, channeling Djed to his eyes in preparation of having a ready-made supply to draw on. Once the operation was complete, Crypt opened his mind to the reading of auras and looked at Sybel. Before even registering the appearance of Sybel's aura, Crypt detected a strange fragrance that was unusually alluring, though not familiar to him. It wasn't strong; if anything, it was faint, but its presence made Crypt feel more calm. He brushed past it and gazed deeper into Sybel's aura. Crypt ignored the feeling of Djed draining slowly. Sybel's aura was wrapped around her like a shroud, with small brown threads emanating from her core. The majority of her aura looked as if it was living sand, constantly shifting around her body. It wasn't the abrasive, grainy sand though. It was the pure, smooth sand, so clean that one could wash his hands in it. However, after focusing more deeply, Crypt concluded that she did not practice magic at all, for he could only detect the normal reserves of Djed. Crypt cut off the flow of Djed, narrowly catching the end of her request. “Alvadas...” Crypt pondered for a moment, before grinning wildly. “Curious that you should speak of it. No, it isn't a City of Illusions. That would imply that most of what you see there is false. No, rather, there is not much difference between Reality and Illusion. Alvadas stands at the boundary of these two planes, and anything can happen there. I've thrown a flower into the air once and it blossomed into a new building around me. I've walked streets of diamond, sung with others in a harmony while swimming across a lake of cool lava and even played a few games with some children in a labyrinth with no visible exits. Yet we were able to simply step out of it any time we wanted. Does that answer your question?”