[Open Adventure] Sometimes The Luck Spills Out Of The Shoe

[Gossamer]

Timestamp: 45th of Summer, 509, Early Afternoon It wasn't often that excitement found its way to Syliras. The roads these days were considered somewhat safe, especially just outside the fortress city itself. Syliras was well known as one of those places that held a fortress so vast that its entire citizenry could disappear into the bowls of Stormhold and not be required to emerge for several generations, or so the jest generally went. When the Syliran Knights set their mind to something, especially the Dyres boys, they generally did it with style. And, under the Windoak's guidance, Syliras and its fortress were no exception. Things happened still though, situations which were completely unexplained. Old Jeb worked for Serena Windmount, and had for a long time. Part farrier, part old leather, Jeb had seen a lot of horses come and go - and had done his fair share of training them. In fact, his work as a farrier allowed him to hang an old horseshoe on a nail above his forge outside the barn, upside down to hold in the luck. It had sat up there for a long time... a long long time, undisturbed save for dust and the occasional spider nest. That morning, while he was shoeing a particularly nasty little mountain pony, the horse shoe abruptly lost one of its nails and upturned, swinging by its one remaining screw. Old Jeb could almost see the luck spilling out and knew that trouble was coming. Big trouble. It wasn't but a few minutes later that a Sungold clattered into the yard bearing a toddler, one that was crying, calling for her mother, and covered with blood. The horse had come up to the city gates and had been allowed through because of its breed. It had passed stoically through the streets, while curious onlookers noted its passing and the sobbing child it bore. It went straight and true for the stables, knowing help might be found there, for it had no other contact with its new owners to take the child anywhere else. So it came for Jeb. He remembered selling the Sungold horse, with its tidy little trot and its sound mind, to a family of two. A mother and daughter, who needed a new horse when theirs had came up lame three days ago. The beautiful woman had coin, lots of it, and needed something to watch out for her. The daughter had been cute too, just old enough to start jabbering. The horse he'd had for a long time, for they were expensive and not suited for just any sort of work. But babysitting was right up the mare's alley, and he'd gratefully recommended her for the job because she was young enough to carry two, and old enough to watch out for both of them. Sungolds were good for that. But the crying child, its sobbing fearful eyes, gave him pause. Old Jeb waited - children terrified him a little. The horse waited - uncertain what to do. All the while the child continued to cry - both seemingly baffled in the courtyard of Windmount stables, decidedly making a scene. It eventually spilled off the horse, still clutching its halter, and looked around, wanting comfort, wanting her mother. RS NotesOpen Adventure for anyone wanting to get to know the last or more accurately the first bastion of Civilization in the world better.

[Voreasos Alisier]

Voreasos just sighed softly under his breath as he walked on. He was in need of food...last time he ate was roughly half a day ago and it was a small rabbit but he could push but his need to eat for some time. His silver hair blowing around in the soft wind coming from northish area. His black cloak felt hot yet he kept it around him as he walked on.

He was seen here and there in the city and out of it but never staying for long. He looked rather human yet he knew he would not pass for a human up close. His deathly white grey skin, spider like web veins showing along his skin. His black sharp nails, amethyst color eyes standing out and silver like hair. When he opened his mouth one would see fangs that he could retract and such that could send out poison which he would use if he had to in a fight but mainly to eat. His sandals were just strips of leather showing black sharp toe nails as well.

He was not into fighting yet he was into other areas that meant for combat yet he needed time and resources to fund more then just basic ideas. He heard that an person would be able to help him get an horse and let him travel far greater points and let him spread his wings out.

However things never go as one would hope he saw as he saw an child like human crying, an horse and another older human looking lost. He should had took the hint and just left yet he did not. He might dislike humans yet he would help kids and younger then adults. That and the humans look harmless enough and worse came to it he would deal with it then.

He did not say a thing as he walked to the child, bending over picking her up and holding her a bit. He was use to kids and babies due to his race as he tried to clam her down. It was still new to him but he would try.

"shhh shh hush my little child its all right today. I am here for you now and I know you are safe. Hush my little child for it is all right." He singed softly rocking her back and forth trying to help.

[Fallan Windchaser]

It had taken a moment to calm is horse after the Sungold had come past them, him still leading it on rein as he'd taken his time to explore a new part of the city.

Curiosity piqued and frankly having nothing better to do, since the Sungold diverted into a yard just ahead, he followed. Entering the yard, he nodded to the man holding the child, his interest not on that, for what was one child in a city? He came instead to the Sungold, wondering at it, for it was the first time he'd been close. The horse had come here of its own accord, for surely the child had been but a passenger.

"A fine horse," he commented to the farrier, bringing his horse in close, his voice pitched such that it wouldn't spook the horse, though in truth it seemed much less flurried than he'd assumed back in the street.

[Ethan Blackfoot]

Ethan had walked out of the city with a specific destination in mind, looking down at the note he had written on his hand he needed to find a blacksmith to help replace one of his tattoo tools, and possibly see if he couldn’t negotiate for a new wood chisel. He had travelled to the outside gates because the price had seemed way to steep in the city for a couple of replacement needles and a timber for hitting them.

Ethan walked into the blacksmith shop knowing that even though the man was likely to have the jewelers skill for creation of the finer needles, he could always send a few days shaping them down, and it would save more than enough money in return. However, fate seemed to have different ideas from what Ethan had planned. A small child was crying, soaked in blood. It disturb Ethan that such violence could have taken place.

Seeing that a man was comforting the child he went over to the blacksmith. “Sir, do you know what has happened or do you know the child?”

[Ursus Umosa]

Two more visitors entered the courtyard- a man and a young girl remarkably similar in age to the one Voreasos was holding. He wore a katana and the smaller Wakizashi with authority on his waist. He held his young girl's small hand within a large, meaty paw. The young girl wore a simple, bright pink dress- dirty from the road but well maintained. Her eyes were slightly unsettling- she had the stare of one who had been through hell and back.

Both of them warily inspected the scene, the child following the adult's lead. Sensing little immediate danger Ursus released young Wren's hand and the child ran quickly to where Voreasos was. She watched silently for a long minute, staring into the other child's eyes. Wren gave a grave nod and ran back to Ursus. The burly warrior bent down and Wren whispered something to him. Ursus nodded gravely and took a step forward Wren clung to his leg.

Ursus regarded the other two visitors with cool detachment. He was wary of the Symenestra, old lessons had taught him to do so. The Humans remained wild cards.

"Yes Ferrier, please explain this." Ursus' loud voice was confident as he took a step towards Old Jeb, echoing Ethan's question. Years serving the Knights as a battle squire taught him a thing or two about presentation. On one hand he was interested in a possible payday. Would the solving of this mystery bring a payday? On the other hand the sight of a crying child drenched in blood scratched a memory to raw to explore fully. At the mere thought of not thinking of it he placed an affectionate hand on Wren's head. "What is this child and horse to you?"

[Gossamer]

As soon as the little girl was in Voreasos' arms, she started screaming. Her sobbing had been uniform before... the broke heart of a child scared beyond belief and half-way grieving. If one of the others had taken the child up first, perhaps the story would have been different, but it had been a Symenestra that had lifted her up, offered her comfort, and brought about her nightmares all over again. She screamed, again and again, her little fists balling and starting to beat at the creature that held her. She knew he smelled her blood, her fear, and she knew he could hunger for flesh. What the child had just recently witnessed spoke volumes to that.

The Sungold snorted at the outburst, having reasonably assumed that returning the child to the stable it had lived at so long - with its warmth and food - would sooth her. This... this was an unsuspected action and it backed away momentarily confused, as it bumped into Fallan's horse danced sideways, then went up on its hind legs to disentangle the girl from the creature that frightened her. Old Jeb, having never seen the horse act that way in his life, advanced, not sure whether to resolve the child's situation or try to take the horse under control first. He hesitated, lifting his hands, then glanced at Fallan. "Grab the horse!" Fallan was, after all, in the perfect position to reach out and secure the Sungold's lead.

Old Jeb then turned to the strange Symenestra, who while not exactly outlawed in Syliras, weren't exactly welcomed with eager warmth either. "You'd better... give her to me." He said, holding his hands out for the child. He was fearful for the child, but at the same time unsure why she was acting like she was in the presence of the stranger. Ethan's question almost went ignored as Jeb once more stepped forward and asked the Symenestra for the child. "I'm not sure, but she seems to not want to be where she is right now.... at all." He commented, glancing at the very human male with a commanding look asking for assistance in his eyes.

The strange little girl, the one with the hulking man, felt the strangest fear when she approached the Symenestra. It was as if the toddler's fear in the strange mans arms spilled over to her and infused her as well. Children were like that, tuned to each other in ways adults couldn't possibly understand. Her return trip to Ursus was hasty, worried, and her whispers fearful.

At Ursus' words, Jeb, still waiting for Voreasos to react, hastily spelled out the problem. "I sold that Sungold to little Jilla and her young mother not long ago. She's a good mare, solid, and Jilla's mother Nika paid good money for her. They were traveling and needed a new mount. I'm not sure why the horse has brought the child back, but sometimes they do things like that, strange things, when they feel threatened or confused. I fear the worse. The mother wouldn't leave the daughter. I'm certain of that. Something bad has happened." Jeb said, waiting for Voreasos to react.

[Voreasos Alisier]

Voreasos just tilted his head at her. Her soft fists hitting yet no where near hurting him. He just never understood humans yet he just handed her over to the other human who wanted her before jumping back and landing on all fours staring at them and the large horse that almost hit him. If he did not worry of the girl he would had attacked and made lunch out of it. The thirst for food showed in his eyes yet faded just as quickly.

He slowly stood back up, his mind tracking on the ideas to understand why she would react the way she did until it clicked that it had to be one of his kind that did this and how the horse reacted. However he had to know more then just what if's.

He raised his left hand to his mouth, his teeth or fangs if one would say showed as two teeth grew a bit downward as he pressed it on his thumb. The skin easily breaking letting crimson drops to the ground as he then slowly drew something on his right palm.

He was still learning Glyphing yet the Focus rune would help him more then anything right now. The rune was his own style, an half circle with small star at the end.

Auristics was a fun little form of Personal magic and yet so useful if done right. His mind just on the young girl and nothing else. He pushed and tapped into his Djed in such to synchronize his mind on the girl. His goal was to see what she was scared of. Even an novice like him could learn many things from looking at an aura.

He knew he would feel tired after wards and would need to eat something soon. Yet after some rest he would be fine.

[Alyxandyr Finn]

Alyx's was wandering the streets of the city on this particular day. He had found a pretty sweet gig. People would pay guides for just about anything so long as they knew what they were doing, and Syliras was where he'd grown up. A single miza was in his hand, getting rolled across his knuckles as his considerable bulk maneuvered the streets, his sneering tenor calling out.

"Travellers, listen! please take heed! I'll help guide for a modest fee!
If you don't like what we see; it's your money back! Guaranteed!"

Not the catchiest slogan on Mizahar, but it would suffice. As he continued to meander the streets--he usually stuck near the gates, as that's where most travellers seemed to congregate, a confused mass of huddled foreigners, not sure where to go or what to do in the busy, bustling fortress town. As he made his way, his keen hearing picked up on word of a Sungold horse having made it's way to Jeb's, bearing only a child.

A Sungold...I remember....uh-oh.

He turned and made for the old ferrier's, cursing quietly.

Fust! Of all the fusting things for those vagiks to do! One child! Is one child along with her mother really so hard a job? Why just the mother? ...never mind. best not to ask questions of those people. They give even me the creeps....but mizas are mizas. He felt a strange shudder run down his spine, as if an ice-cold fingernail had trailed it's way down it, and pushed the thought away.

As he came into view of the crowd, the cowardly kelvic had second thoughts.

If I disassociate myself now, no one will know...but then I'll have to find more work. Awww....fust it. I'll try.

Moving into the crowd, raising his hands, he looked down at the child.

"I know this girl. She was with her mother a short while ago...I saw what direction they rode, as well!" He gazed at the crowd, and the especially active people of the group only being males.

Figures. What's a guy gotta do to get some women involved? Ah!

"This child obviously needs someone maternal! Is there any women amongst you who cares enough for this poor child's life to step forward and comfort her?" his voice was chiding, and honestly he hoped the child never calmed down. The last thing he wanted was to be identified. What caught his beady little eyes, however, was that there was one of them in the crowd. What was he doing here? Loose ends, perhaps?

Don't be silly...might not even be from the same group...don't let anything slip. Unless there's some female blood in the group, no way I'm guiding them to my benefactors!

"Is there no one who is willing to step forward and aid this obviously distraught child?"

...and preferably someone who can break up this sausagefest?

[Fallan Windchaser]

The yard was becoming crowded all of a sudden, for it seemed he was not the only one whose eye had been caught by the Sungold. He felt the first stirring of irritation at the busy bodies who had it seemed nothing better to do than to clamour like housewives whipped up to a frenzy by a market trader.

His thoughts and his concerned eye for the pack on the back of his horse containing all of his worldly goods were abruptly distracted by the danger of the horse he'd been admiring. He dropped his own reins, trusting the mare to remain where she was and not abandon him. His hands were reaching for the Sungold even as the farriers words reached him.

Now here was a horse that he would aspire to for all that it might attract more attention than he would prefer. He ran his eyes across the scene as he soothed the horse, though likely it seemed that it was the screaming which upset the horse as much as it annoyed him. His lip curled at the small crowd, each of whom seemed only interested in their own importance. His eyes fixed on the Kelvic who seemed to know something of what was going on, even if he had a big mouth.

[Ursus Umosa]

Ursus placed a firm hand atop Wren's head. Be strong was the message, never show fear. The little girl got the message and sniffled a last time before composing herself.

Another member arrived- a pudgy man making demands. Ursus gave him a quick once over. he didn't look threatening and if he did in fact have information maybe this would be a valuable asset. He circled the compound and conducted a small investigation. His nostrils flared and he drank in the various scents of the compound with his keen sense of smell. He took particular interest in the smell of Vor, Alyx, and the horse. Could he pick up a clue this way?

At the end of his rather creepy lap around everybody he stood before Alyx.

"If you have indeed witnessed what you claim to have witnessed shouldn't you be along with this party? To act as the guide?" Ursus cocked his head. "Otherwise isn't stuff like this the jurisdiction of the city authorities? Perhaps you should tell them who you are and what you saw..."