[RP]Obake Blade

[JasraLantill]

Aya giggled. "You think he's got her pinned in a corner, or perhaps...," she wiggled her brows, "it's the other way 'round?"

 

She reached her door. "Back in a flash," she said, entering her room. "And then..." She gave him a coy grin as she slowly closed the door. "Maybe... we can do some flirting? Or at least some cozying?"

[Rogue Nine]

Aya giggled. "You think he's got her pinned in a corner, or perhaps...," she wiggled her brows, "it's the other way 'round?"

 

"Aya!" Carwyn said, giving her a look of mock scandalization.

 

"Maybe... we can do some flirting? Or at least some cozying?"

 

"I thought we were past the flirting phase," Carwyn chuckled as he entered his own room. Tossing his damp tunic up on the bedpost, he spotted a set of dry clothes folded neatly on his sheet. Thank the gods for these monks, Carwyn thought as he shed his leggings and hung them over the post alongside his shirt. The monastery-provided wear was a bit coarser than he was used to, but dry and warm nonetheless.

[Rexraptor2000]

"A cold, wet journey always makes one appreciate a fine mug of ale and good food even more, does it not? Aya suggested I say hello to you, good sir Toa." the man said extending his hand, which Toa shook with a smile.

 

"That's nice of her. The name's Toa Firespitter, the only pyromacer you'll probably ever see roaming the North or Eastern fronts and ironically the only one getting killed around here. But the ale is defiantly worth it when mixed with some Insanity Spice," Toa replied to the man and then asked "What's your name?"

[JasraLantill]

After disrobing and haning her wet clothes up to dry, Aya chose a clean cotton shift from her pack to wear under the scratchy woolen monk's cassock that was hanging on a peg on the wall. She looked down, and deciding that it was probably better, and safer, if she could actually see her feet, she hiked up a length of the cloth and secured it with her belt.

 

"There. That's better," she said to herself,and she wiggled her bare toes. She glanced over at the door where a pair of sandals were laid out. She stared at them for a moment, looked down at her feet, then shook her head and said, "Nah."

 

Fearing that Carwyn was waiting on her, she hurried out into the hallway to meet him.

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn rubbed his hair a few last times with his towel, then tossed it on his bed. Tucking the bit-too-big tunic into his leggings, he ducked outside in time to meet Aya coming out of her room. She was dressed in a monk's cassock, with a belt wrapped around her waist. He smirked and said, "Well, you're just the height of fashion, aren'tcha?"

[Quist]

"Thanks," Maggie responded as she moved to meet him, feinting forward with her fists before lashing her leg out again in a series of flurried kicks, intent on catching Kyo unawares.

[JasraLantill]

Carwyn rubbed his hair a few last times with his towel, then tossed it on his bed. Tucking the bit-too-big tunic into his leggings, he ducked outside in time to meet Aya coming out of her room. She was dressed in a monk's cassock, with a belt wrapped around her waist. He smirked and said, "Well, you're just the height of fashion, aren'tcha?"

Aya smiled and did a twirl. "You like?" She wiggled her toes. "The sandals were a bit too big, and they sort of clashed with the rest of the outfit." She stuck out her arm. "Care to escort me down to the common room to partake in some light entertainment?"

[Rogue Nine]

"I'd be delighted to, milady," Carwyn said, linking his arm into Aya's. Leaning in, he kissed her lightly on the nose, then proceeded to lead her down the stairs. They navigated their way through the halls and finally came upon the main dining room again. "Still no Kyo or Maggie," Carwyn remarked as they passed through the doorway again.

 

Aya raised her eyebrows. "Very aggressive negotiations indeed," she commented, a dancing glint in her eyes.

 

Carwyn laughed. "You can be quite devilish sometimes, you know that?" he said to her quietly as they approached the bard.

[Jae Onasi]

"That's nice of her. The name's Toa Firespitter, the only pyromacer you'll probably ever see roaming the North or Eastern fronts and ironically the only one getting killed around here. But the ale is defiantly worth it when mixed with some Insanity Spice," Toa replied to the man and then asked "What's your name?"

 

The bard bowed with a hand flourish. "Takumi Nightsinger, weaver of words, teller of tales, and minstrel of melodies. The ale is a great credit to its brewer. Pyromacer? It is difficult to practice your craft in such a cold, damp place, no? The rain is quite unrelenting, as if it wishes to swallow us all up, and it very nearly did just that to me tonight."

 

Takumi looked up as two people entered the hall. He smiled brightly. "Ah, the fine Carwyn and the lovely Aya. I was just making Toa's acquaintance. I hope all went well with your travel preparations. I see the rain has made an attempt to dampen your smiles tonight but failed to break your fine spirits."

[ForceFightWMe12]

"Thanks," Maggie responded as she moved to meet him, feinting forward with her fists before lashing her leg out again in a series of flurried kicks, intent on catching Kyo unawares.

 

Dodging to the side to avoid her feinted attacks, it took Kyo only a moment to respond to her flurry of kicks. Throwing his arms up in a series of blocks, he retracted his arm just as she pulled back her leg, setting up for another block as she set up for another kick. Finally, he grabbed hold of her leg and, giving it a twist, knocked her from her feet and causing her to twirl before flipping to the ground.

[Quist]

Maggie thudded to the padded mat softly, but with enough force to still knock the wind out of her. "Oof", she exhaled as she came into contact with the mat. She didn't allow herself to linger, however. Pitching her legs up over her head, she tumbled in reverse, coming to stand and setting herself into a stance immediately. "I guess that one goes to you," she said to Kyo, her breathing a bit more labored now.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo stood from his kicking stance and gave a bow, his smile faint as he looked at Maggie. "My deepest apologizes...." he said, "I don't normally harm women."

[JasraLantill]

"Ah, the fine Carwyn and the lovely Aya. I was just making Toa's acquaintance. I hope all went well with your travel preparations. I see the rain has made an attempt to dampen your smiles tonight but failed to break your fine spirits."

Aya smiled, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Well, 'showers bring flowers turn frowns upside down,'" she said, quoting a common Southern nursery rhyme. "And besides Toa, our friendly cheerful and ever-and-always useful pyromancer, we've got an aeromancer lurking around here someplace." She held up two fingers. "Two, in fact," she added, remembering Takara's mother. "I'm sure they could just blow all the clouds away if the weather gets too wild."

 

She poured herself and Carwyn a cup of ale, then pulled out a chair to sit by the fire, motioning for the ranger to do the same and sit next to her. "So, Master Nightsinger, will you indulge us with a tale tonight? It's been a long time since I've had the pleasure of watching the performance of a 'true' bard. Months, in fact. And, perhaps, your talent will entice the others in our party to join us." She gave Carwyn a secretive glance. "That is," she murmured in Carwyn's ear, "if they can manage to pull themselves away from whatever they're doing."

 

She of course, was initially referring to Kyo and Maggie, but she was also wondering about what happened to the others--particularly Tellis, Kai, and young Katsuro. They had been conspicuously absent for the evening meal, having still been camped outside the monastery's gates, and she wondered if the rain had 'dampened' their spirits as well, or if they had managed to find shelter.

[Jae Onasi]

Takumi took a small sip of his ale before replying with a grin. "Well, I would be delighted to tell a tale. Would the lady have a preference, or shall I tell the story of the fateful encounter that brought me here?"

[JasraLantill]

"Ooh, the fateful encounter!" Aya chimed with the enthusiasm of a child. Then she gave an apprehensive, but quick glance at Toa and Carwyn. She cleared her throat. "At least, that's my vote," she said more demurely. She let out a small, wistful sigh. "'Fateful' sounds romantic and exciting all rolled up into one, don't you think, guys?"

[Rogue Nine]

"Fateful always sounded a lot like 'fatal' to me," Carwyn replied, a look of mock-seriousness on his face. Before Aya could frown at him, his lips split into a grin. "Kidding! It obviously wasn't fatal, at least not for Takumi, since he's sitting right here in front of us!" He winked at Aya, then turned to the bard. "That's another vote for how you got here, then," Carwyn said to Takumi.

[Rexraptor2000]

"Whether it was fatal and we're looking at a ghost right now or it fateful and exciting, I put my vote to it also. Then we can tell our story, although it'd probably sound like the tall-tales that my great-great-great grandfather used to tell me. I just have one question though: What's a bard?" Toa asked with a ting of curiosity in his voice.

[Jae Onasi]

"A bard is part storyteller, singer, teacher, entertainer and sometimes even keeper of the peace. That is, when the parties want peace. Which is what brought me to all of you," Takumi replied to Toa.

 

"Recently, I had been traveling with the band of brothers who affectionately called themselves the 'Red Bulls'. It was quite an appropriate description for their stubborn behavior, in particular the younger brothers, Moose and Fukutsurmoo. I had been hired by the eldest brother and my good friend, Durham, as teacher for his children. They were traveling with him to their mother's homeland in the northwest."

 

Takumi placed a hand over his heart and sighed deeply, looking heartbroken. "Durham's wife, Elisa, had passed away of the plague several months prior. Before she died, Durham promised her that she would be buried in her childhood homeland, and that their children would be able to frolic in the verdant rolling hills and delight in the wonders of the valley she called home as a child. We had completed that sad task and were slowly returning back to the Durham ranch in the south."

 

Takumi took another sip of ale to keep his voice strong, and looked at his little audience listening intently. "Well, after months of snide remarks about my colorful attire and the level of masculinity associated with my codpieces, I finally composed a special song to sing around the fire one night in honor of them. Could I help it if Durham and the children laughed uproariously at my observations of the resemblance of Moose and Surmoo to their namesakes? Or the insinuations of what they did with bovine excreta? Durham commented that it was the funniest song he'd heard in a long time, and made me promise to sing it every night on the way home and twice on rest-days." He grinned, and then looked serious once more.

 

"Needless to say, this did not sit well with the younger brothers, judging by the taurine frowns on their faces. They ruminated for some time and finally had their chance today to remove me from their 'herd'. Durham had decided to scout ahead to find a good hunting ground, and after he left, his brothers informed me that my sword was no longer needed. I noted that they wouldn't be able to find their own swords if the night women showed them where they were, which I think rather confused them, as they had theirs in hand, short as they were. They...advised...me that I pack my things quickly. I had no time to even change into more suitable traveling clothes.

 

"After a few choice words and a prod with the weapons," Takumi rubbed his rear dramatically, "I left. I saw the monastery on the hill and struck out in that direction, setting up camp when I saw the dark clouds heavy with rain roiling in. Unfortunately, that was not the end of this tale." The bard looked longingly at his empty mug. "However, I am in desperate need of another ale to wet my parched throat."

[Grace]

Takara had entered the room near the start of the tale, but had done so quietly enough as to be unobserved. At the bard's complaint of a parched throat, she shifted ever so slightly, but she remained standing at the far end of the room. She was beginning to think of Katsuro, wondering what sort of activity he'd found himself occupied with and she wanted to be near the door, an easy escape in case she decided the bard's tale was of no further interest to her. And she had the perfect excuse; a mysteriously absent son.

[Quist]

Maggie couldn't supress a small snort. "The only thing harmed is my pride," she said to Kyo as she returned the bow. As she straightened up, she cast a glance outside the high arched window of the training room. Her eyebrows shot up. "We've been here for nearly an hour! The moon's already up high!" She turned to look at Kyo again. "Should we head back? The others might be worried..."

[ForceFightWMe12]

He shrugged. "If you'd like to admit defeat." he said with a bit of a smile, "I've beaten you once at both stave and fist, while, as I recall, you've beaten me only once."

[JasraLantill]

"Unfortunately, that was not the end of this tale." The bard looked longingly at his empty mug. "However, I am in desperate need of another ale to wet my parched throat."

Not wanting to waste a moment of the bard's storytelling time, Aya rose enthusiatically from her seat. "I'll get it!" she said, darting over to the table and grabbing up the empty ale pitcher. With it in hand, she hurried into the back pantry. After a moment, she returned with a full pitcher, at a slightly slower pace so as not to spill any of the ale the monks were renowned for brewing.

 

With an appreciative smile, she began to refill the bard's empty mug, only slightly surprised that he allowed her to fill it right up to the very brim. She turned to the others and gave them an enquiring look one by one. "Any one else?" she offered.

[Rogue Nine]

"Just a bit," Carwyn said, pushing his mug forward. "I remember the last time I had a bit too much to imbibe," he intoned ruefully. "Luckily, Tellis was there to bail me out. Speaking of whom..." he glanced left and right, craning his head. "She hasn't been around for a while... wonder where she went?"

[JasraLantill]

Aya shrugged a shoulder as she filled Carwyn's mug. "Dunno," she answered. "Last I saw her, she was heading out to give Kai some food. But that was yesterday." She donned a puzzled frown. "You don't think that Tellis and Kai...." Her voice trailed off. "Well, you know," she said, attempting to infer that the hydromancer and the crazed fighter might be involved in some sort of romantic interlude in the same way as she suspected Maggie and Kyo might be.

 

Then she shook her head vehemently. "Nah...," she said definitively. "Katsuro was with them, too, I think. The three of them have probably playing 'Euchre' or something all this time."

 

She sat the pitcher down on the table near Toa, and then eagerly took her own seat again next to Carwyn. "Well, feel free to continue Master Nightsinger. Erm... when you're ready, of course," she added quickly. She knew bards did not like to be rushed and was hoping he wouldn't interpret her enthusiasm as impatience.

[Jae Onasi]

She sat the pitcher down on the table near Toa, and then eagerly took her own seat again next to Carwyn. "Well, feel free to continue Master Nightsinger. Erm... when you're ready, of course," she added quickly.

 

"Ahh, that does hit the spot," Takumi said, drinking deeply. He walked slowly in front of the fire, observing the different people in front of him. His sharp green eyes glimpsed the movement at the end of the room. He glanced discreetly that way over the top of his mug but didn't let on that he saw the woman shying away in the shadows of the far end of the room.

 

Smiling widely again at his audience, he continued. "Well, now, I had just set up my tent, and none too soon as the heavens broke loose with sheets of rain that I daresay would make the very fish of the sea feel soaked. I huddled in my tent, hoping that the gods of weather would take pity upon me and blow the rain away quickly. That's when I heard the scratching on the tent. And then growling." Takumi stopped, sipping ale again.