The way of the world. [open to PCs and / or mods]

[Akuaysun]

10th Day of Fall of 509 A.V.

Fall had come into being and with it came the changing of the world. All around the greenery of summer was beginning to fade, the tips of leaves starting to curl and turn from their lively hues to more subdued yellows and pale oranges. In the wilds young animals had begun to grow into their own and were already preparing for their first winters. Akuaysun was doing much the same, having spent the entirety of summer romping about and collecting things to help him on his way. Now as autumn approached, he felt a sadness encroaching, with each change in nature came the reminder of his god Leth, and with his change came the promise of longer nights to sit in wanting. The winter breeze would not be the only chill that crept over his flesh in the coming months.

Still in his Myrian form Aku sat under the mid afternoon sun staring out longingly. His eyes watched as Syna crept into the western expanses of the sky and signalled the day was falling. His hand ran over the grassy field he now relaxed in, as his steed munched happily on the straw that was golden with the passing of time. What was there to do in this realm, he could head west but that would bring little fruit just yet. Aku knew he was still far to weak to be walking into Taloba. He would have to gain power to earn respect there, and that was something that he thus far had little of. Few even challenged him for his Myrian looks, most fearful of the bedtime stories they had heard in their youth.

A long sigh escaped the man’s lips, things were slow moving it seemed. Though it was nothing to be angry about, he had a purpose and until that role was fulfilled he would not be able to rectify his current circumstance. Taking in a deep breath he looked beyond the horizon, letting his focus wander trying to spot anything out of place or movement that could be picked up in the distance. Swirls of emerald and gold watched carefully, his eyes sharp in his Myrian form. Hunters and warriors by nature through generations of evolution they were naturally accustomed to such tasks.

Not having a ranged weapon he was at the mercy of nature to find food. Fruits and vegetables were easy enough in the wilderness but meat was a bit harder. When stalking prey he had to go after predators, those that would not run when faced with food. To them he was the prey and vice versa. It was dangerous but the only option he had. In time he would have to fetch a bow and begin training his skills. Occasionally when he slept there were dreams of stalking the jungle with bow in hand, his tribesmen in to giving off the familiar whistles and calls of their warrior language. Absently his tongue ran over the lips that encircled his mouth, the thought of being on the hunt so very enticing.

Perhaps he should make his own excitement, wait for those that travelled or set up camp. Take from them what they did not deserve. It wasn’t a matter of being evil but more one of survival and completing a set of goals. That would be a bit of fun, and break him away from his boredom, not to mention give him a few more supplies. The only drawback would be the killing, people that didn’t truly deserve to die, of coarse they would be reborn, and Aku would only have to kill them if they tried to stand in his way. He could try not to kill them but that would likely cause more problems in the long run then it was worth. Whatever the case it was an interesting idea one to be thought and meditated on.

Aku let his eyes slip shut and slowed his breathing, regulating his heart and focusing on his inner energy. What would be simply would be, there was no use in fighting such things. Change was forever coming and with it the tide of recourse. What his path would be was still yet unknown but one thing was certain, he would continue his walk upon it until he had reason to change.

[Vaine]

Vaine stepped through the wilderness with a cloak that hung like a thread barren mantle across his shoulders. Strapped to his waist was a small wood cutter's knife which the dirty fingerless gloves he wore traced upon as if to bring the warrior some mild comfort. His belly still ached from the burn of spirits and his breathe stank, yet the mites digging against his flesh had no qualms.
Blinking his one eye, the Akalak journeyed on, upward along a steep trail that tossed the shale of stones against the drum of tree trunks. He wished for food.
Still searching the contrasting earth for tracks, Vaine scratched and twitched his darkened nose, breathing in the froth of life rising from the wealth of moss and moisture. Bending down he dipped two fingertips into the mud and droppings, reading into the subtle shifting of weight on hurried boots and a trail of hooves. Fresh.

Like a hawk these same two shoulder blades lifted up as if to fly, the pattern of his own feet following the footsteps of providence and stolen prosperity. Clearing his throat, the reaper demanded the return of his horse.. A wash of grays smeared his gaze through the clarity of a heavy skyline, swaying needles and the grind of branches that followed with the scent of wild honey.

He made better time, harder time, faster time. Pressing along the spine of the husky depths while ignoring the blisters beneath thin leather, Vaine chiseled his peerless resolve with a shallow line of thoughts hovering on primal execution and the order of such an epilogue. Meat. He smelled it.. squinting at the thought of his animal being eaten. Yes.. the backlanders who robbed and stripped the Akalak at sword point, leaving him hanging from a cliff with only a belt buckle round his arms would die.. just as the woodsman who loaned him these new clothes lay gutted with his throat slit out in some rocky ditch. His eyebrows raised slightly at the flutter of grouse beneath the bushes, reinforcing the use of silence in the pursuit of surprise.

[Akuaysun]

Ears twitched softly as sound carried across the open plains. In the distance an unnatural sound erupted from the tree line and carried across the vast expanses. It certainly was unlike any sound Aku had ever heard in this life, or previous that he could remember. Interesting was the only thought that drifted through the cleared and meditative state. His lips curled upward ever so slightly as eyes parted from their restful state and scanned the direction from which the sound had emanated.

Instinctively the deeply tanned hand of the Ethaefal in Myrian form drifted to his weapon. His hoe was much more weathered from the days when he first purchased it, performing a task that it had not been intended for originally. Its edge was still a razor’s sharpness from its regular maintenance, and however it appeared it was still more then capable of severing flesh and limb. Whist this action occurred his emerald eyes watched the shadow moving along the tree line, dodging about the lower hanging limbs in obvious haste, perhaps even on the hunt.

… Interesting…

Lazily a yawn rolled forth from the depths of the man’s gut, sucking in air and then slowly expelling it. He used the gardening implement as an old crone would their stave in rising from the ground, stretching out as he did so. Admittedly this creature had perhaps saved someone’s life from Aku’s boredom in his rush. Glancing from the shadow to his horse the warrior patted its neck softly and took its reins in hand. “Well my companion it would seem we are on the move. Let’s track this thing and see what pleasures it brings up eh?” Watching the beast as if actually expecting it to answer he smiled again before took a step forward toward the forest ahead. Leisurely he paced toward the direction the creature seemed to be heading.

Of coarse he fully expected to fall in behind the man, but it didn’t really matter, he would track him, just as Vaine did of his prey. Following the steps and trying to observe his behavior. He was after all of the Tiger Eyed… well previously of the Tiger Eyed, and they excelled in the hunt so this little venture brought great joy to his heart and mind. It was most definitely time for a bit of fun. Then again if the thing, man, whatever chose to turn on him it would appeal to his full Myrian nature, after all bloodshed was the best way to pass the time.

[Coatl]

The creature observed the curious game of cat and mouse with pleasure. It cared nothing for the strange combat capabilities of both myrian and akalak. It did not know of the ferocious nature of the myrian nor the calculating approach of the Akalak. Both warriors were respected in the world; both deadly. But that was in the civilied realm. This was the wilderness and as such was its territory. It was the deadly predator and anything walking its realm was prey even if it thought it could be a predator too.

The beast walked carefully, precisely, softly along the surface knowing what it took to maintain the silence of a predator. It too had no form of ranged weapon but had never needed one. It ate daily on the carcases of animals that had the best hearing, the best smell, or the best eye sight. There was nothing better than it. It was a solitary predator with the skill to handle all things on its own. There was no need of a pack or a pride.

The temptation of either person caused its nose to twitch. It enjoyed the hunt as much as it enjoyed to eat the hunt. But of all things it took notice of, it was Aku's horse that it desired most. The creature enjoyed the taste of horse flesh above all else. Especially after a foot race. The adrenaline of the horse racing through its veins made the meat taste sooo sweet. It could feel the blood of the horse already running down its cheek as it bit the flesh around the neck and felt the kick of the horse as its life left the body. But first it would have to dispatch of these humanoids.

Akuaysun did not feel as if he were prey, but he felt as if he was not alone. Something else was in this wilderness, but was it predator or prey.

[Vaine]

The Akalak turned suddenly, sounds of a horse drawing him back around the vaultless spires of evergreens. His body pressed between leaves and the collapse of shadows. Something attempted to follow him. Vaine let a moss covered trunk obscure his body from view, stalking low while masking his scent with a combination of mud and plastered needles. He gripped the densest of forest with a color akin to nature's palette. The weapon was drawn but covered in the same substance.. to avoid reflection of the sun. It appeared still now. Very still.

His breathing slowed among the roots and rocks, inching to advantageous ground.. with the animal to his left. Observing any creature that remained to be seen, Vaine stuck to the slope of the hillside cast in shadow. His intention was to observe. Given opportunity, he'd turn that distance to dagger point, but only if the lining and density of the forest cloaked the fabric of his every intention.

[Akuaysun]

The problem with the open plains was that sound often carried, a sharp set of ears could often pick up sounds nearly as far as one could see, or if the sound was loud enough even further. Aku was in on hurry on this day, he had rose from his resting position lazily and sauntered through the knee high grass toward the tree line at an even pace. He knew the dangers of being off the beaten path, but enjoyed that risk that went along with it. Still he knew where the trader’s road was and could easily return to it.

The man, if that had truly been what he saw running by, had passed and was already within the woods once more. Akuaysun had little trouble finding the tracks; they were deep and well spread from running, more then a simple task for following. Considering the time it had taken him to move from his resting place to the actual tree line, and the speed at which the man had been running, the Myrian had little reason to believe that Vaine knew he now had a tail.

Glancing into the dense trees ahead, a dark brow of black hair and bronze skin rose slightly. It was going to be interesting as the forest would prove to have many obstacles that man and pack horse could not simply avoid. The fallen leaves and dried branches below foot would also add to the hunter’s lack of stealth. It was indeed quite the predicament. Letting out a slow breath from between his lips and then drawing in a larger one through his nose, Aku relied on his sharp senses to pick up any extra clues.

The woods were shady, their summer foliage still dense and smelling of rich greens. Soon enough the leaves would change and truly reflect the coming days of fall, but for now they still clung to the warmth that filled the air. Petting the neck of his beast of burden the Ethaefal smiled and gave a soft tug of the reins to lead the creature along side him deeper into the wood trailing the heavy footsteps of their prey.

As he entered the shadows though a familiar feeling coursed through his veins. It was one of eyes upon him, not something that could be used as fact but simply the gut instinct of someone that was used to such things. Aku felt the chill run over his body but gave no outward sign. His ancient mother had always said that when one thought they hunted you never give away that you know their coming. It was so that when they struck, the surprise of your counter would be your upper hand.

No instead Aku’s lips curled into a wicked little grin as his day had suddenly went from very boring to very exciting. He held the reins of the horse that carried his heavier gear loosely in his right hand, and his left floated about absently, occasionally touching the bark of nearby trees, or looking as if it examined the trail they were on when Akuaysun paused. Occasionally a second set of tracks, much older then the set the Myrian trailed came into view. It was likely what his prey hunted, but now he to could be being stalked. Perhaps he had walked into a trap, or perhaps that which he sought would become his saving grace.

Only the gods knew.

[Coatl]

OOC:
Vaine - you make two comments in your first post that I simply do not understand 'Clearing his throat, the reaper demanded the return of his horse' and 'squinting at the thought of his animal being eaten. Yes.. the backlanders who robbed and stripped the Akalak at sword point, leaving him hanging from a cliff with only a belt buckle round his arms would die'. I've read your character sheet ... is there something taking place I am not getting? If you are after something specific, let me in on it so that I can incorporate it into this story.

Both - i'm unclear on the specific land structure that we are on. Vaine referneces hills, trees, and moss (which i might add is typically found in warmer, moister climates) and Akua references a field he's laying in that his horse happens to be eating in as well. I can work with this since Akua decides to enter the tree line in order to follow the moving shadow he had noticed (the shadow being Vaine). Let's remember the skill system. If you do not have so much as 1 point in a skill such as hiding, tracking, foraging, etc. then do not RP an assumption that you suceed. For that matter lets try to remember that all skill actions should stay 'attempt to perform' or some similar phrase. My job is to use the skill system and surrounding factors and determine the outcome. Now if you only have say 10 points in tracking and you RP using the skill with very limited success or even unsuccessfully for the sake of RP, i'll play along with that

From here out since nothing was defined to begin this - we are north of Syliras heading towards Taldera. Taldera is a northern wilderness realm so imagine the mountains and oceanside of Washington and up through Canada. I'll allow for the moss but there is a wild grass ground structure, you'll have to spend time to dig underneath for mud. There are a lot of trees but they are spread out ten to fifteen feet in a similar fashion to northern pines and stand around twenty five to forty feet high. The grass realm to which Akua was resting in is high hay like grass that rises to between three and four feet. It is a thick grass field and if one laid down, you'd probably not notice without training.

Back in Character …

Vaine picked up on the sounds of a horse. He did not spend the time to look for what might be following him and was unaware of this was his own horse he was worried someone was eating or a horse belonging to another. He found the safety behind a log leaning against one of the trees; the remains of a tree fallen long ago and erosion had taken its course. His attempt at reaching for mud was unsuccessful unless he planned to dally at this hiding place and dig below the wild grass surface. The sun would be nearing its final descent in the next few hours and dusk was upon them. This would make life a little easier for the dark skinned akalak to maneuver from tree to tree in an attempt to remain concealed. The Akalak used the small hillside as his means of travel hoping the shadows from the descending sun would provide him with sufficient cover.

His goal had been to keep the horse and man to his left which indeed he was able to do. His movements seemed swift and felt confident in his success. Vaine lacked the training to hide or move silently be it in the city or outdoors and had no idea he was following one who had a small amount of tracking experience. His final goal of remaining distance for the sake of observation was by far the best choice. Vaine’s gladiatorial instincts told him he would not get close enough to gain position to use the dagger. It was obvious the myrian was not moving quickly enough and thus was ever watchful of his surroundings.

The Ethaefal in myrian form had found entertainment in watching the potential prey come to the realization that he was being followed and hide. Akuaysun would not have found Vaine had the Akalak decided to stay in the cover of the downed tree remains. But the dark skinned warrior had decided to use the hillside that stood between him and the sun as a chance at moving from shadows reach to shadows beginning along the hill. The Akalak had been unsuccessful at remaining unseen, but he had used his speed to put a respectable distance between the two and stop at a place of observation that would make it difficult for the myrian form to hide from.

It was at this moment of realization that Akuaysun stopped. Not because he realized that the two might have found a stale mate and for them to face off would be more of an open confrontation, but because of that sixth sense that something else was out there. The tracker had come across the second set of foot prints, also of humanoid form but too old of tracks for his tracking knowledge to be able to read. Was the maker of these tracks the reason he felt a second presence? His mind raced with delight at the thought of becoming prey, not one feeling of boredom overcame him now.

The creature had keen eyesight as most dire creatures of the northern realm had. Its hearing and smell also play on equal terms with his eyes. This was a true predator. It slid through the edges of the high grass field so slowly and patiently its movements only rivalled the swaying of the grass in the dusk breeze that rolled in from the ocean. Had either of them been able to see this creature move, they was had been mesmerized by its perfect hunting style. It was intelligent enough to know that by the way both men moved it could not yet pierce the forest line without being seen, so it sat in anticipation to see who would make the first mistake. He would let the prey decide whom it would go after. It delighted in the idea of the kill, and then it would feast on horse flesh when it was done.

Vaine, from his vantage point, was able to gain a true look at the person following him. It was not the fact that the person was a myrian leading a horse; it was his combat knowledge that let him know the myrian thought there was something else out there by his actions. The Akalak’s one eye scoured the land around him, but he could see nothing. Three predators walked this realm, which one would become the prey?

[Vaine]

Keeping things steady, his body seared to contort to the principles that once guided it's frame. Stealth. Subterfuge. The stillness between thunder and the strike of lightening.

Something there? The Akalak frowned bitterly, breathing into the clarity of a forest teeming with incredible life. The grass irritated his face but the gaze of the one eyed warrior held focus, understanding instinctively that something terrible was on the verge of release. It took the full weight of the unhealthy drink in his stomach to keep his reckless nerves down..
Vaine's head buzzed with an early morning kill, adrenaline feeding against lack of rest into the tight rise of grim and passionate preparation. The kill would come, he just had to be patient and drink down the steam of liquor. The sickness fled hard like a slanted house through his pores but five fingers on the ground steadied his head and merciless courage.

Would it break? The snap of branches taunted at him to flinch, to roll, to run.. He stayed, ready to stab. Violence brewed without tidy reason, the rhyme of horse hooves under played by the score of an unquenchable heart. Beating. The blade was so ready to kill.
In this shroud of still green darkness he stayed, longing to end his parley with feeling. To be captured in the moment of endless passions.. Never a regret nor a care. His body but an abused toy to a dangerous play.
The lungs burned hot to howl as he waited in total silence. Scouring, appraising, ignoring. Pushing his focus through each sense that would betray that One sweet falter.. Give him the opportunity to press everything right about himself into something so extremely evil. Share the shutter of brutality. Now the Akalak smiled like a carnivorous demon. His knife the quill, your skin the contract. Sign the soul away..

[Coatl]

OOC: Gentle poke to Akuaysun

[Akuaysun]

Aku kneeled by the second set of prints he had spotted, his fingers tracing out the edges and checking the depth of the print. They were definitely older than those that he was tracking which meant that someone else had been through here earlier. He couldn’t tell how old they were however; he was out of practice, of course what could be expected with five hundred years of rust on his gears and on top of which the machine that was his mind was filled with huge gaps. Letting out a sigh he felt the chill something there again. It was hard to say what was in fact following him or if it was actually after his prey as well. The one thing that could not be taken away from him was a life full of experience, granted it was a life that was long gone, but his senses were exactly as they were when he died all those years ago.

Standing fully again he stretched out his muscles with a soft sigh through an even smile. He knew that whatever, or whoever was stalking him was still near enough to cast eyes on him. In situations like this it was best to keep your head and wait for just the right moment. That would reveal itself in due time. For now he had the concern of the shadow he had saw running earlier. Perhaps he had fallen into a trap, the site of a curious prey merely a diversion to pull him into the web of deceit. Whatever the case may have been, Akuaysun knew he was too far in to simply walk away. “Well my friend, we may have found ourselves in a situation, I hope that you will not abandon me.”

His hand patting the steed as they continued to follow the tracks slowly, gold green eyes scanned the less then dense foliage. He was looking for traps, or even the slightest of movements, anything that seemed out of place. From his back Aku drew his trusty hoe and used its flat bladed face for a walking stick through the thin mud, testing the saturation of water. The ground was soft, not overly so, more a shallow layer, but that would be enough to slow his movements substantially or worse, cause him to lose footing. Even as he walked he knew that the situation was bad. He hadn’t raised a finger since Sunberth, and before that Sahova. He was not the daily practiced warrior anymore. Instead he had turned into a patient man, one you studied and thought on his options and chose the path that provided best for him. Even his skills in the Flux were all but gone, a skill that had once carried him to a peak of respect amongst his fellow warriors.

Now was not the time to worry with such things however. If he made it out of this alive perhaps he would once again take to his training and push his body beyond its limits and fully develop his strength. Perhaps that is why Leth sent him back to the world of the living, to hone his skills once more.