Tradesfolk
IS OFFLINE
27
Renown
Female
Fellblood
304 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Issala 'Izzy' Arodre on Feb 18, 2023 23:35:22 GMT -5
Hearing that she had hit the nail on the head-- not in so many words, this was simply how she chose to interpret that she was good with observation-- Izzy preens, smug and insufferable in her ability. At least she is tactful enough to keep it to herself, subtracting of course the subconcious strut that becomes part of her gait.
"First option, mm? Not a scholar or a guard? Just jumped on the first thing that crossed your path?" A beat passes and Izzy grins again, "That's the kind of attitude that'll make you a good at this gig. Nice way to expand your horizons actually. And, hey! That means you're not a narc!" She gives Askr a thumbs up; this was some kind of compliment. At least, Izzy thought so.
As Askr pauses, noticing the second set of prints, the smile flickers, just a bit. Her eyes narrow at the twining sets of footprints-- not a continuation of the earlier stumble at all. This was clearly two different sized feet. "Right you are, Quicksilver. Good eye." she clicks her tongue. Troubling to say the least; that meant this wasn't a mere environmental search-and-rescue, but had become a man-hunt. Her eyes follow the trail of the two sets of footprints up and through the bush, around the bed of a boulder embedded in the mountain. "Oooh, boy. Yep, alright, nice and quiet. Don't know what's up, but if there's multiple people involved, its probably murder or something illegal." Izzy looks at Askr with a wink and starts up the path, moving a little less devil-may-care and more like a purposeful hunter.
|
|
CCS Courier
IS OFFLINE
7
Renown
Male
Ash Lands
i wish you were here. i wish it were morning.
168 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Askr Mimameith on Feb 20, 2023 3:27:01 GMT -5
Issala Arodre is incredibly odd.
It is an unfair conclusion to make, really. Askr cannot throw stones from a glass castle; they are well-aware of the fact that most find them more than a little odd, after all, whether they are strangers passing them by in the street or the mercenaries they work with. And yet, it is a solid conclusion all the same-- they have never heard anyone speak the way Izzy does, never seen anyone vault so wildly between careful, detailed observation and cheerful, chirpy quips about things they do not understand. She is odd. Just... odd. There is no other word for it.
And yet, it is impossible to deny that she is circumspect-- she observes the world around her with a sharp eye, and her commentary may be woven through with oddities, but it is... accurate? Askr has truly never met an investigator quite like her, and they doubt they ever will again. She is one-of-a-kind, as some might say.
Time will tell if that is a good thing or not.
"...Mm," they shrug at Izzy's musings over their career choice. "It is work. It is... what I do."
They let the topic pass as the evidence before them takes precedence, listening in silence to Izzy's theorizing over what precisely could be going on with Miss Flamouria-- they frown just so at the mention of the possibility of murder, of illegal activity. It... makes sense. The Ash Lands are prime territory for crime, and Mount Drakolt and Devil's Ridge are both common sites for... disposals.
Hm.
"...then we should proceed quickly," they say, quick to follow Izzy along the winding trail of footsteps, the two pairs intertwining together in some strange trail that leads further and further up the mountain until the land levels out, strangely dipping toward a cleft between the rocks, beneath brambles.
Askr takes a few steps closer, their brow furrowing as soon as they see what that plantlife veils.
"...this... looks like a cavern, Miss Issala."
|
|
Tradesfolk
IS OFFLINE
27
Renown
Female
Fellblood
304 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Issala 'Izzy' Arodre on Feb 22, 2023 13:54:29 GMT -5
If Izzy is aware of or is bothered by the subtle hints of Askr's surmising of Izzy being an oddity, either she is very good at not showing it or she is simply, entirely, not at all affected. The cavalier attitude of the tiefling is a well worn cloak, a buffer of indifference against a world that would otherwise look down on her in some way or other. And that was, perhaps, why she decided she enjoyed the company of her new friend Quicksilver here.
She was aware Askr would be strange as all get-out by the standards of... well, pretty much everybody. But Izzy was a lover of oddities, the strange, the unusual. She felt a special kinship with them; his strangeness, such as it was, was actually a very pleasant experience. Even if he was very dubious and uncertain of her; that was actually more of a mark in his favour than against.
As they round a corner and come in front of a cavern, Izzy heaves a sigh. Oh good. Into the earth they go. "Sure does, mate. Lot of footprints in front of it too. Could be more than just two people in there."
That was problematic, but she'd dealt with worse and time was of the essence. She tilts her head sharply back and forth, cracking her neck, and turns to look at Askr. She puts a finger to her lips to indicate quiet, and then whispers. "If they spot us, I can be a damn good distraction. That happens, you find Flamouria and get her out of there. But, if we play this straight, we might just be able to be sneaky enough to achieve what we need,"[/b] She grins, a wide, sharp smile and then bends her knees. Walking forward, nimble and light even for someone her size, she starts to creep into the cave, minding the floor for traps or anything that could produce noise. If Askr wishes to take point, there is room for him to slip in front of her; Izzy would not mind either way.
|
|
CCS Courier
IS OFFLINE
7
Renown
Male
Ash Lands
i wish you were here. i wish it were morning.
168 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Askr Mimameith on Mar 1, 2023 2:07:42 GMT -5
Askr's expression does not change as Izzy mentions the likelihood of more than just two people lingering down in the depths of this cave, their lips drawn into that same unflinching line, eyes blank, revealing nothing of the thoughts that stir behind them. It is troubling to see so many footprints, yes, but it is no concern-- they have been sent into the wilds of combat with more men than this before, been sent on missions that demand one sword against five. It is concerning for Miss Flamouria, but they do not fear for themself-- nor do they especially fear for Izzy.
As odd and unpredictable as the woman by their side is, she is clearly sharp. She knows well what she is getting into and the trouble that may await them; she is not some inexperienced, lackadaisical layman chasing threads too complex for her to unravel. She knows what she is doing.
Askr may not trust her in the traditional sense-- not quite yet-- but they do trust her capability. She has left little room for doubt to fester.
"...let's go, then," they say, their voice hushed as soon as Izzy steps forward, stepping down onto the slope that leads down, down, down, flame-kissed earth twisting down into the unknown. Askr follows behind, a foreign tightness wound tight around their glass heart as they move forward, their ash-built lungs struggling to form proper breath-- they do not know why the tight walls and disappearance of the sky makes it strange and difficult to move forward. They do not understand.
But the memories of sitting and waiting for time unknown, the memory of walking and walking and walking upwards in search of clearer air, of a foreign sky, of something more than the dark cradle of the land beneath the earth ring clearer than they have in some time.
They elect not to think about it.
They do not spend long tracing footsteps before they catch onto a distant sound-- a voice, clear and unmistakable, a sense of fear thrumming through each spoken word--
"Oh, you lunatics-- I swear to Ginma, I-I--!"
"Threatening us will not change your fate, Miss Viola. There is no one to hear you, now."
Askr pauses where they stand, quick to tap Izzy's shoulder to catch her attention.
"...Miss Issala," they whisper, voice as hushed as they can get it. "...this sounds like a... hostage situation. We should move cautiously."
|
|
Tradesfolk
IS OFFLINE
27
Renown
Female
Fellblood
304 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Issala 'Izzy' Arodre on Mar 3, 2023 20:43:35 GMT -5
Izzy leads the way, carefully touching the walls and keeping her head low to avoid knocking her horns on stalactites while they silently make their way. Askr behind her is silent as the encompassing earth all around them, the warmth increasing as they slowly proceed. Gods its smothering down here. Izzy is not claustrophobic, but she is not fond of being trapped, and with a literal volcano over their heads, there was not much more that was more confining than that.
Even so, she hates the quiet. The few times she looks over her shoulder at Askr, she finds him... inscrutable, as he had been through this whole journey, but there's something else to his eyes. He's slowing down a little, picking his way in a sluggish manner that causes Izzy to pause. She doesn't know what's wrong, but something is.
...she has no idea what to do about it.
So, Izzy does what she does best; try and alleviate tension. The pinnacle of stealth, guile and skill, Issala Arodre, Private Investigator Extraordinaire-- dances.
The worst sort. The cheesiest dances one would see someone who was well into their cups performing with all the arrogant assurance of a bird conducting a mating dance, all in silent pantomime. It's odd, out of place, and, Izzy hopes, at least a little distracting.
Soon enough, she's distracted again anyway, by the sound of the voices. Scowling ahead of them, she turns her gaze bac to Askr at his gentle tap to her shoulder.
"Yeah," she agrees nodding slow. Izzy puts her finger to her lips and continues the pair of them forward, sticking to the dark places so they can move around quickly.
By her best estimation, there are six, seven others in here. She can't quite see down the tunnel where the voices are from, yet, but they do seem to be getting louder.
|
|
CCS Courier
IS OFFLINE
7
Renown
Male
Ash Lands
i wish you were here. i wish it were morning.
168 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Askr Mimameith on Mar 16, 2023 3:14:15 GMT -5
It is admittedly difficult to think about much as Askr navigates through the earthen channel, fiery veins pulsing in the stone and volcanic soil forming the space around them-- their mind runs wild with the ghosts of memories, with the echo of the inestimable time they spent waiting for someone who was not coming, with the call of the old realization that their mother never meant to keep her promise. They still do not know how long they spent languishing beneath the earth, but they know that most of their life was spent in the depths of Devil's Ridge, spent waiting, waiting, waiting--
Their throat feels tight, breath elusive-- such a thing is natural, they think. The air down here is stained by the burning heat emanating from Vulcadreus. It is... only natural that they would struggle so much to breathe in a place designed to ward off living things.
Yes. That is the reason their lungs feel so foreign and useless where they sit behind ash-forged bones.
That... that is it.
They must pull themself together, of course, force air back into their lungs and stride forward as always, move with nothing more than this mission on their mind, lest they fail, lest they cause Miss Issala to fail, lest Viola Flamouria perish here because they were not enough--
Askr pauses in the midst of choking on a breath in time to catch sight of Izzy... doing something.
She moves around with grand flourishes, her motions silent and ludicrous all at once, and it is enough to toss the strange feeling flowering in Askr's chest aside for a moment, enough to bring them back down to earth. They blink, confusion dimming their golden eyes as they watch the strange display, only for it to end as abruptly as it began as the voices in the distance sound louder, panic buzzing in the air.
Their focus hones in on the scene ahead-- Askr is quick to settle behind the shadow of a stalagmite, their gaze sharp as they look out. The silhouettes of several strange figures stand at the heart of the cave, their features indistinguishable beneath the shadows of their garbs-- there is one lone person unadorned in ink-dark garments, a woman with dark brown hair twisted into twin braids, green eyes pinched in a glare behind a half-shattered pair of glasses, her wrists bound behind her where she sits.
It is an overwhelming number of people, and Askr is beginning to wonder if they're truly equipped to make this rescue.
"...Miss Issala, we have to be very careful," they whisper, voice as low as they can get it. "...I do not think we can fight them all. We... need to divert their attention in order to get Miss Flamouria out safely."
|
|
Tradesfolk
IS OFFLINE
27
Renown
Female
Fellblood
304 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Issala 'Izzy' Arodre on Mar 18, 2023 13:40:36 GMT -5
Izzy watches the scene in silence for a long few moments, ember-eyes calculating at a rapid clip the best (and most fun) method to get what they need, not responding to Askr for a moment. Askr was correct; there were a lot of potential enemies here, moving through, clearly agitated about something to do with the volcano. If they moved to fast, they would probably just kill the hostage. Negotiating was a no-go; same scenario, and they seemed much too tense to be reasoned with. It was a veritable powder keg in there.
"We don't have to fight them," Izzy concurs, her voice a light, assuring coo that did not at all match the broad, sinister smile curving her lips. She looks back at Askr and winks. "I'll distract 'em. You get Flamouria free. If they see you, then I'll make sure I keep their focus. Aight?" She reaches back to pat their shoulder twice with her heavy hand, before she slips off between the stalactites, adjusting her cloak.
Getting closer, she can hear the back and forth banter between the members of the group.
"It hasn't been working! Supreme One, I do not think--"
"YOU are not meant to think!" the man snaps, eyes wild with rage and fear. "YOU are meant to obey! We will complete the ritual! Then, it is we who will have the power of the volcano! Do not let fear motivate you; that is what people like her want, to cause you to doubt, in your family, in me. As your leader, I must assure you; there is nothing to fear."
"Oooh, I wouldn't be so surreee~."
A voice purrs in the darkness, and the people fall silent. Hands go to daggers and weapons. "It's an intruder. Prepare the--"
"Intruder?" The shadows shift in the dark, a pair of horns moving among the darkness. There's a flicker of light highlighting a sharp toothed smile, before it vanishes [1]. "Not I. Did you not summon me? Invite me to your home with your... offerings~?"
There's a gasp, and a dagger clatters to the ground as Izzy gets the group's full attention. The leader is less convinced, but he can see the rapture in the eyes of his followers... he has to be careful, or his whole plan will come crashing down around him. "Speak your name, then! Confirm it is you we seek!"
Izzy exhales a long, languid sigh as she moves in the shadows. Glowing sparks, embers flash all around her, illuminating the red of her hair, the jagged horns of her head, and the glowing embers of her eyes. "I have no need for such things."
For a moment, the Supreme One looks triumphant. "Then--"
"Only a fool would give their true name." Izzy interjects, her voice still smooth and purring. Claws scrape the rocks as the shadow lurches forward a little. "I have had many names. Names given by those who came before you. They are gone. And yet... here I remain." The head in the darkness tilts sharply at an angle. "What is it they call me here?"
"Wrath," the one who spoke before whispers, her voice hushed. "You are called Wrath."
"Kalam!" The Supreme One hisses, furious.
"Wrath..." there is a light that seems to form in Izzy's mouth, highlighting it from within with flame. "I rather like that."
"I... if you truly are the Wrath, you-- you will perform for us a feat! You must, it is foretold!"
"What do I care for what the likes of mortals fortell?" She sounds bored... and playful. "But very well. Since you have summoned me... I will grant you my boon. Step forward."
There is an awkward shuffle before the one called Kalam and another cultist step forward, ushered to do so by the Supreme One, who looks more and more nervous as this goes on.
"To you, I bequeath my greatest gift..." Izzy's white, taloned hands reach out of the darkness and lay on the shoulders of the two cultists, doomed now by their ecstatic faith. "Undying rage."[2]
A pall seems to fall over the two cultists, faces contorting from bliss into a terrible fury. With violence, they yowl and throw themselves at eachother, tearing and striking wildly as they tumble to the ground in a tussle.
The Supreme One falters, stepping back. Instead of irritated or nervous, now he looks truly afraid. "It cannot be... the gift... the gift was supposed to be one of fire, one of destruction!"
"You dare question my gift?" Izzy's voice turns low and deadly. Within the shadows, she seems... to grow. Filling the cavern with a terrible, height until she is towering over the group, bowed forward by the ceiling[3]. Leering in the darkness, she twists her head up at an unnatural angle, so she can stare down at the Supreme One with blazing eyes, her chin and forehead nearly switching places. Her mouth opens, slavering tongue lashing over her pointed teeth. The Supreme One and his followers shriek, the scream ringing through the cavern. "You dare tell the WRATH what they are to have wrought? Insolent. Little. Tinder."
Izzy lashes out with her hand, large claws swiping the front of the Supreme One and knocking him backwards[5]. He strikes the wall and falls forward, clutching the bleeing wound in his chest as he heaves panic. The other cultists start to back away from their fighting brethern, from the creature that is digging its claws into the ceiling and grinning upside down at them from the darkness of the cave.
"You have summoned me here. I will bring you what you seek. Destruction. Madness. You're welcome."
[1] Minor Trickery [2] Infuriate [3] Red Rogue Cloak [4] Disjoint (Tattoo) [5] Claws[/i]
|
|
CCS Courier
IS OFFLINE
7
Renown
Male
Ash Lands
i wish you were here. i wish it were morning.
168 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Askr Mimameith on Apr 14, 2023 17:26:55 GMT -5
There are many things Askr knows very little about.
They know nothing of liquor, as Captain so often says– they know her favorite whiskey, but not why it’s her favorite or what makes it any different from any other whiskey, knows nothing of why the cocktails in the Rookery are called what they are called, knows nothing of why some spirits are clear and some are not. They know nothing of medicine, either– they do not understand how plants and minerals can stitch organic skin back together or chase illness from the body, or why measurements must be precise, or why some of it comes in liquid form and others come in capsules.
And in this moment, as they hear Izzy’s voice drop an octave, rich and low, sees her distort her body, unbound by the limits of bone and joints, they realize they know very, very little of the capabilities of an organic body.
They do not have time to delay, though; Izzy had said this would be a distraction above all, a way to avoid a clash of steel and magic, and it seems she has wholly seized the attention of every one of these strange cloaked men present. It is their job to move, to weave between the shadows to make their way over to where Viola Flamouria sits in shock, her eyes big with horror as she watches the scene before her unfold. Her unease is unsurprising. Askr supposes she has had quite the day– watching a mysterious pale woman distort and distend her body and speak of wrath and endings must be quite distressing on top of it all.
They are careful as they slip past the shadows of the cloaked ones, weaving in and out of the backdrop of chaos, careful to glance about to ensure that they remain unseen. Of course, they hurry all the same, not wanting to waste the opening Izzy has given them– and soon enough, they find themself by Viola Flamouria’s side, quickly drawing their sword to cut away the rope wound around her wrists, even as she jumps in surprise.
“Wh– Who are you…?” Viola squeaks, her voice soft yet pitchy, her attempt at a whisper broken by anxiety. “Y-You’re clearly n-not with them, b-but…!”
“Miss Issala and I are here to rescue you,” they say simply, because it is true. “We should move quickly. I do not believe she can distract them forever.”
“Th-That’s your companion?”
Viola’s concerned squeak goes unheard as Askr takes her hand and leads her back the way they came, their pace hurried yet quiet as they lead her back behind the barrier of stalagmites, sequestering her away from the sight of her captors. She still shudders, staring at the earth beneath their feet as she ducks out of the vision of the cloaked men, but she says nothing more, and neither does Askr– there is no need.
All that is left to be done is to wait for Izzy to finish wreaking havoc.
|
|
Tradesfolk
IS OFFLINE
27
Renown
Female
Fellblood
304 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Issala 'Izzy' Arodre on Apr 24, 2023 20:51:55 GMT -5
Screaming. Chaos. Fire. The cultists were either scrambling to flee, stunned with rapturous terror, injuring others or being injured.
And Izzy was having an absolute ball.
With far too much malcious glee, she screeches a malignant cackle, poisoning the minds of those she touched as she passed to induce them further into madness, chaos.[1] Slowly, she pulls herself forward along the ceiling, talons digging into the rock and producing a terrible scraping sound that only serves to accentuate her laugher.
"YESSS. WRITHE. CONTORT. SUBMIT TO YOUR VIOLENCE AND REND, TEAR, EVISCERATE THOSE YOU WOULD CALL FRIEND,"
The Supreme One scrambles back, clutching their wound. "PLEASE! NO! HAVE MERCY!"
"Mercy? From Wrath?" The laugh Izzy lets out is incredulous and genuine, baleful like the red hot back-glow of the volcano's innards behind her. "This is what you WANTED! Did you not summon me for dark and glorious purpose? Did you not beg the volcano for power and were gifted me? Does your heart trul quaver at the sight of such power?" Izzy reaches a hand down, bending her finger the wrong way to stroke the man's face with her talons. "Do you still think there is nothing to fear~?"
Her eyes lift as she catches the movement of the Askr freeing their target, and shifting away. Time for the peak of the story.
"NOW, YE FAITHFUL, WITNESS, TREMBLE BEFORE ME AS I-- oop," Izzy rights her head with a series of clicks, and then shakes her head at herself, "Would you look at the time, I have a dinner date with Ginma's hairy ass to get to. BYE-DEE-BYE CULTYPOOS!"
With a wild cackle, Izzy turns and flees, leaving the cultists to let the spells eventually peter out, and staring in pure, shocked confusion, entirely unsure of what had just happened.
And the perfect opportunity for Askr and Viola to make their escape, Izzy loping somewhere behind them as the now enraged and squabbling cultists became distracted with infighting behind them. Though only for so long; best to beat a hasty retreat.
[1] Infuriate
|
|
CCS Courier
IS OFFLINE
7
Renown
Male
Ash Lands
i wish you were here. i wish it were morning.
168 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Askr Mimameith on Jun 22, 2023 5:07:47 GMT -5
The only thing left for Askr to do as they sit with Viola Flamouria, carefully kept out of sight of the distressed, despairing cultists desperate to dodge Wrath herself, is listen-- keep their ear perked to the screams of terror, the outcries of the victims, the panic readily flowering to life through the cavern, all so they can sift through it all to find the traces of Izzy's voice, to find an indicator of when she's finally had her fun. Hearing her is not difficult. Her voice is raucous, a cacophony of deranged laughter and drama-- it echoes through the cavern so loudly that it even manages to drown out some of those distressed pleas.
What is difficult is knowing when she's through with the ruse.
They are not paying very close attention to Viola-- they should be, but it is hard to focus on the trembling scholar beside them and listen for a sign of the madness ending all at once. A mercenary of their caliber should be more than capable, but the noise is demanding, and Askr has never dealt well with volume to begin with. It is not as though Viola is doing anything other than trying to get her bearings, anyway. Askr does not blame her.
But then it happens-- Issala's voice shifts, abandoning its deific command and shifting to its usual cadence, her laughter no longer that of an eldritch madwoman and more that of an ordinary madwoman. She bids the cultists farewell, and then there's footsteps, and--
"Go," they whisper, clapping Viola on the shoulder. "You first. We will be behind you."
She does not wait to be told twice.
Askr is careful not to outpace her as they dart up the cavern's winding mouth, past stone, past shadow, past all the hallmarks of the world below the earth-- the air offered on the surface of Mount Drakolt is hardly fresh, the skies hardly light or blue or beautiful, but Askr finds themself letting out a quiet sigh of relief as soon as the cavern walls fade away behind them, as though they truly can breathe again, as if they've stumbled onto the surface in the freshness of the woods of the Moonglade instead of this. Their pace slows, their hurried footsteps easing as soon as they've made it a safe distance away.
As soon as Issala catches up with them, any weight on their shoulders finally feels like it's slipped away.
Viola lapses into a nigh-incomprehensible stream of thank-yous to them both, her speech so fast it's more like babbling, but Askr does not process a word of it. They step away, glancing back at that cavern and back down at the slope of the mountain, at the distance left between the three of them and the outpost-- the distance between them and safety. It's a long way down.
So be it.
"We should get moving," they say quietly, uncaring of if they're interrupting, looking back to both scholar and madwoman with blank eyes. "It's a long journey back down."
|
|
Tradesfolk
IS OFFLINE
27
Renown
Female
Fellblood
304 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Issala 'Izzy' Arodre on Jun 29, 2023 22:54:45 GMT -5
Even despite the need for stealth and the desire to not be chased down by roughly a dozen righteously angry cultists, Izzy cannot stop her incessant and delighted snickering as she scampers through the tunnels to follow Askr and their mark out and into freedom once more. The grin when she spots Askr waiting for her a little ways down the path is broad and genuine, and as she slows to a walk she gives the young Quicksilver a little bow. "Well done and well timed! Excellent work back there my friend, we make a hell of a team." she tips Askr an enthusiastic wink.
While Izzy has zero qualms about Viola's profuse thanks (indeed, she was rather lapping up the praise like a thirsty hound in the desert), she nonetheless turns her head towards Askr once again when they suggest heading off on their descent as quickly as possible. She lifted her gaze over the top of Askr's head, down the side of the mountain; it certainly was a long way down.
"Right'o then, we can walk and talk, can't we?" She flashes another grin at them before turning to Viola, to keep her occupied as they head down the mountain, asking her about what she had been here for, and what she had seen.
Though all of that would soon become apparent, a scant few hours later, when Mount Drakolt was sundered.
|
|