Noble
IS OFFLINE
25
Renown
Moonglade
1,504 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Lady Kamille Verlithax on Jan 4, 2024 12:44:29 GMT -5
Kamille looked absolutely delighted by Noe's excitement. Despite his overall looks, he behaved like an overexcited puppy, and she couldn’t help but supress a small squeal.
"Most people feel uneasy before the undead, yes, I understand. Which is a shame, he is such a darling."
Kneeling down, she invited Noe to come closer so she could pet him, if he would allow her. As the subject of conversation turned, her smile became bittersweet.
"They are not bandits, much the opposite. They are a group that intends on protecting the people of Moonglade."
Which would mean, at the very least, that their goals were alligned. But as many things in life, people liked to make it more complicated than it was needed......
"The problem is... They are of the opinion the people should also be protected of people like you and me. Magic users, magical creatures, and everything in between that they deem dangerous. Such a shame..."
It wasn't her first dance with the Dial Fractum, and as long as she could avoid conflict, she would. She wouldn’t be the one to make the first move - and thus, their frail balance has been kept. A fine spiders silk line stretched more and more by the moment, until it came a day...
-snap- Kamille stood up, starting to walk once again. They would have to go to another tavern, that is all.
"Let us not have this put a damper on our plans. There are plenty of other places we could go! Tell me, Miss Sylvari: what other interests do you have? Do you like herbalism? That is another common reason people come over to Moonglade."
It was a quick walk. In a matter of minutes they would reach the main road that would lead them to the village. Allan had kept his distance, following the two women like a bodyguard. As people started to show up, it was clear there was some initial reaction to the vampiress, although compared to most places it might've felt faint and subdued. Kamille seemed to quickly grab onto their attention, seemingly intentional, waving at them and approaching to make quick small talk. It was only expected that the Witch of Moonglade would be fairly known around Moonglade - but she did seem to show genuine interest in the lives of people, asking about the resolution of their sickness, or state of affairs.
Nothing that would keep them too long, as she guided Sylvari to a lesser known tavern.
|
|
Fighter's Guild
IS OFFLINE
20
Renown
Crescent Isles
"I only bite if you want me to, dear"
793 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Sylvari Dawnsage on Jan 4, 2024 14:17:37 GMT -5
Thrilled by the acceptance of his offered affection, Noe sprang up, pressing his bony skull into Kamille's outstretched hand. As the Witch stood to address graver matters, the little dragonling wove his body between her legs, arching his back as a cat might.
Sylvari frowned at the explanation Kamille gave of the group, beginning to speak in an uncertain tone. "I know that there are unfortunately a variety of examples of bad actors amongst arcanists and the more exotic creatures of Charon, but surely that sentiment casts too broad a net. Though," the justiciar dipped her head slightly in shame as she continued. "I was much the same in my beliefs before my journey began. No doubt their rhetoric is popular with the common folk, particularly if they are effective protectors."
Kamille's bright words, changing the tone of their exchange shook Sylvari from her contemplative melancholy, as the vampiress again took up step slightly behind her companion. Sylvari only had to fake her happiness a little: Kamille was quite effective at redirecting emotions. She smiled, a little ruefully, at the Witch's question.
"I'm afraid my oath is rather all-consuming of my time, Lady Kamille. Anything not related to combatting the evils of the world has largely fallen by the wayside, I'm afraid. Oh, but please don't think I am ungrateful for my fate. I was never much of a great student, anyway. Besides, my mission is my purpose. It strengthens my step and allows me to rise each morning. Metaphorically, of course: I find I don't need much sleep these days..." Sylvari frowned slightly, feeling her answer unsatisfactory. "Oh! I like to look up at the stars!" Despite the relatively simple joy that stargazing entailed, it was clear the girl was genuinely enthused and amazed by the heavenly bodies.
As the pair of women and their escort came to the small village, Sylvari fought the urge to hide her gaze, feeling strangely vulnerable after so long walking amongst commoners with her eyes concealed. Even so, she managed to sneak glances at the people here and there, relieved to find them in good humors and fortunes. Kamille's influence, no doubt. I hope I can make people feel this sense of pervasive safety too, one day.
One figure in particular drew Sylvari's attention: a girl amongst the edge of the group of onlookers. Though seemingly well-fed and cared for, her eyes were puffy and red from continual crying. She clutched tightly to the neck of a softly bleating lamb, whose leg was twisted at an unnatural angle.
Sylvari frowned. Coming from a shepherding people herself, she knew well the reason for the child's tears. Defects or injuries that caused a member of the flock to hamper the rest of the herd had to be culled for the welfare of the healthy. It was a harsh reality of life: that for the sake of the greater whole, the weak had to be left behind. Sylvari remembered her own experience of her father making her kill a young goat that had fallen into a ravine and broken its legs.
The justiciar shook her head in defiance, marching over to the girl, without even the presence of mind to politely excuse herself from Kamille's presence. Romarii would have lectured her to no end for such a slight, but Sylvari didn't think of that at all. The only thing in her mind was that she wouldn't have this girl be subjected to the pain of life so early. If she could spare her even a single day more, it would be worth it.
The people parted like the waters of a river over a stone as Sylvari came amongst them towards her target. Upon reaching the girl, she knelt down, murmuring small words of comfort to the child. "Don't worry, dear. I'll help your friend." Calling upon the holy magics of her patron, Sylvari channeled a golden corona of healing energy, bathing the faces of onlookers and the small surroundings alike in the light of her shining hands [Celestial, Holy Gifts (Massive Healing)].
Sylvari gently pressed the leg of the lamb, which bleated in surprise as its twisted leg shifted to right itself. The young girl's eyes went wide in amazement, and without a hint of hesitation, threw her arms around the armored frame of the vampiress, who returned the embrace after a moment of shock. Sylvari felt a chord of rightness play within her heart. This was her purpose: to be a champion of the downtrodden. Where other shepherds would shirk the weak for the sake of the rest, she would venture far and wide to find the one and bring them comfort.
Sylvari bid the girl a fond farewell, now much more endeared in the eyes of the people, before returning to Kamille, with a slight blush on her features. "I'm sorry, Lady Kamille. My departure was most improper."
|
|
Noble
IS OFFLINE
25
Renown
Moonglade
1,504 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Lady Kamille Verlithax on Feb 13, 2024 7:51:55 GMT -5
" I had hoped they would have no sway here, since the druids are very respected and have aided these people for generations. Sadly, someone spun a tale about the earthquakes being their fault, among other things. When all of Charon suffered under Vulcadreaus' awakening, word spread that it was somewhat related to the magic users in the area. Despite most people giving those rumors no mind, since we all helped the village rebuild and heal, it still found some people that agreed."
Kamille looked tired talking about the subject. It was fairly frustrating, really, and she could only imagine it was even worse for the Druids Conclave. They have been aiding those families for far longer than Kamille, who already had a mixed reputation. The Witch was pained on their behalf, it seemed. She held the druids on the highest regard, and while she could withstand the blows to her reputation, it enerved her to know someone dared talk crap about the druids-....
Kamille looked surprised that Sylvari would abruptly walk away, especially since she had been lost in thought. Far from being displeased, she stood in the distance and watched, a small smile when she realized what she was about to do. Sylvari was the kind of person that it would take to revert the bad name that magic users - and especially the users of the dark domain and necromancers - had among some people. And it pleased her to see how natural it came to her to aid the others and help out, even if some would not be of the same opinion.
"Mother Raven... Look."
One of the unwritten tasks of the Black Quills that they quickly got on was to be more perceptive about their surroundings, something lost on the powerful, careless Witch. Allan had slided to her side to indicate a man acting suspiciously, detaching from the crowd to step away.
"Make sure we're not followed."
With a silent nod, Allan slipped into the darkness, his image shimmering before disappearing entirely [1].
When Sylvari came back, she would find Kamille to be alone once again.
"Don’t apologize, please. You have nothing to worry about that."
It was not her place to reprehend her, but if she was to be honest... If Sylvari hadn’t stepped forward, Kamille would probably do the same. Death was a lesson the world wouldn’t keep from the little girl - it needn't be today's lesson, though. Today it was about acceptance, one she was glad to learn as she wrappep her little arms around Sylvari's neck. When Kamille guided Sylvari away from the small crowd, she whispered with a small smile.
"I wish everyone would be so openminded as that little girl. Sadly, it's the close minded that bear arms against the like of us. I don’t want to alarm you, but be watchful."
Despite her warning, they found no one to pester them on their way to the tavern. It was clearly not one of the hot points around, with few patrons and suspicious glances.
Overall calm and quiet. Maybe too quiet.
[1]Invisibility
|
|